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US 6,640,723 B2Granted
Mission responsive ordnance
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsTimothy Spivak, Mark W. Sewell, Perry L. Fridley, Jr., Michael M. Canaday
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mission responsive ordnance of the present invention arranges a plurality of projectiles in a bundled configuration. The bundled configuration is defined by the projectiles and a bundling means which, together, form a combination that bears loads generated when the bundled configuration strikes and penetrates a target. Unbundling means, coupled to the bundling means, can be operated to selectively render the bundling means inoperative before the target is struck so that one or more of the projectiles are released from their bundled configuration.
Claims44
A mission responsive ordnance, comprising:
- a plurality of projectiles arranged in a bundled configuration, said plurality of projectiles defined by a core projectile and a plurality of peripheral projectiles distributed radially about said core projectile;
- first means for maintaining said bundled configuration with said first means and said plurality of projectiles coupled together to form, in a unitary mode of operation, an integral structural element that bears loads generated when said bundled configuration strikes and penetrates a target;
- and
- second means coupled to said first means for, in a sub-divided mode of operation, selectively rendering said first means inoperative before a target is struck wherein said plurality of projectiles are released from said bundled configuration into a surrounding environment.
1 more element
A mission responsive ordnance, comprising:
- a plurality of individually explosive projectiles arranged in a bundled configuration, said plurality of projectiles defined by a core projectile and a plurality of peripheral projectiles distributed radially about said core projectile;
- first means for maintaining said bundled configuration with said first means and said plurality of individually explosive projectiles coupled together to form, in a unitary mode of operation, an integral structural element that bears loads generated when said bundled configuration strikes and penetrates a target;
- and
- second means coupled to said first means for, in a sub-divided mode of operation, selectively rendering said first means inoperative before a target is struck wherein said plurality of individually explosive projectiles are released from said bundled configuration into a surrounding environment.
1 more element
A mission responsive ordnance, comprising:
- a plurality of projectiles arranged in a bundled configuration, said plurality of projectiles defined by a core projectile and a plurality of peripheral projectiles distributed radially about said core projectile;
- first means disposed about said bundled configuration for maintaining said bundled configuration with said first means and said plurality of projectiles coupled together to form, in a unitary mode of operation, an integral structural element that bears loads generated when said bundled configuration strikes and penetrates a target;
- and
- second means coupled to said first means for, in a sub-divided mode of operation, selectively rendering said first means inoperative before a target is struck wherein said plurality of projectiles are released from said bundled configuration into a surrounding environment.
1 more element
A mission responsive ordnance, comprising:
- a plurality of projectiles arranged in a bundled configuration, said plurality of projectiles defined by a core projectile and a plurality of peripheral projectiles distributed radially about said core projectile;
- first means for maintaining said bundled configuration with said first means and said plurality of projectiles coupled together to form, in a unitary mode of operation, an integral structural element that bears loads generated when said bundled configuration strikes and penetrates a target;
- and
- second means coupled to said first means for, in a sub-divided mode of operation, selectively rendering said first means inoperative before a target is struck, said second means further coupled to at least a portion of said plurality of said projectiles for expelling each of said projectiles from said bundled configuration into a surrounding environment.
1 more element
A mission responsive ordnance, comprising:
- a plurality of projectiles arranged in a bundled configuration, each of said plurality of projectiles having a nose and a tail;
- a nose cone assembly located forward of said plurality of projectiles in said bundled configuration, said nose cone assembly having rearward-facing sockets for capturing therein in a complementary fashion portions of each said nose from said plurality of projectiles;
- a frangible tubular body having a forward end and an aft end, said frangible tubular body coupled on said forward end thereof to said nose cone assembly and encasing said plurality of projectiles in said bundled configuration;
- an aft support coupled to said aft end of said frangible tubular body, said aft support having forward-facing sockets for capturing therein in a complementary fashion portions of each said tail from said plurality of projectiles wherein a combination of said nose cone assembly, said frangible tubular body and said aft support restricts axial, radial and lateral movement of said plurality of projectiles in said bundled configuration, and wherein said nose cone assembly, said aft support and said plurality of projectiles bear loads generated when said combination and said plurality of projectiles in said bundled configuration strike and penetrate a target;
- and
- means for selectively fracturing said frangible tubular body before striking the target wherein said combination disperses to thereby release said plurality of projectiles from said bundled configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.