Mechanism for reducing the vulnerability of high explosive loaded munitions to unplanned thermal stimuli

A system of explosive loaded projectiles protected from chain explosion caused by possibility of fire, with reduced probability of accidental detonation of the projectiles when subjected to an unplanned thermal stimulus, comprising projectiles that have:

• a projectile body having a forward end, an aft region, and an inner surface, said forward end having a cylindrical opening for placement of a fuze, said opening having internal threads disposed therein, said projectile body having explosive disposed within the inner surface thereof;
• said fuze comprising a plug end, said plug end having external threads thereon;
• an annular cylindrically shaped ionomer plastic member, said plastic member having external threads which are sized so as to mate with said internal threads of said projectile body cylindrical opening, and said plastic member having internal threads to match the fuze plug external threads, said plastic member being disposed wholly internal to said fuze body cylindrical opening annuarly surrounding said plug region of said fuze, so as to secure said fuze to said projectile body and support the fuze therein,
• wherein said plastic member softens at a temperature substantially below the auto-ignition temperature of said explosive and by a factor of at least 40% below such auto-ignition temperature, said plastic member softening at a temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit to about 206 degrees Fahrenheit, such that during an unplanned thermal stimulus the plastic member softens or melts so as to no longer firmly secure and support said fuze within said projectile body,
• whereby if combustion gases are generated by an auto-ignition of said explosive, such gases can vent around said fuze plug or cause said fuze to detach or be expelled to likewise vent such gases;
• said allowance for venting of such gases preventing a more seriously potent explosion of the projectile body were it a fully sealed device if completely closed by the fuze without possibility of venting of gases;
• wherein the explosive loaded projectiles are stored in an accompanying box, said box fully coated externally and internally with an intumescent paint, said intumescent paint slowing the advance of a fire external to said box, such that the temperature of the projectiles in the box advances at a slower rate of heating to more assuredly allow heat to be adequately absorbed in each projectile plastic member sufficient to soften such members prior to the time that the explosive of a projectile can reach its auto-ignition temperature thus more assuredly allowing for the possibility of venting of combustion gases at such time when the explosive might reach its auto-ignition temperature.