US 8,297,190 B1Granted

Door breaching device with radially expandable explosive

OwnerFrank J Dindl, Kenneth R Jonesinventors

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Abstract

A cartridge assembly for breaching a door including a cartridge case, a cartridge body, and a fuse. The cartridge case contains a first propellant and a primer. The cartridge body has a rearward end in locking engagement with a forward end of the cartridge case, a channel located in the cartridge body contains an extrudable explosive, a piston in slidable engagement in the channel is in a forward end of said channel, the piston being forward of the extrudable explosive contained in the channel, whereby rearward movement of the piston forces extrudable explosive rearwardly and radially outwardly through extrusion ports into a cavity inside of the cartridge body where a bladder is stowed. The piston has a rearwardly projecting detonator pin which upon movement to a rearward most position engages a rearward escapement and detonator which in turn initiates detonation of explosive in the bladder. A fuse is attached to a forward end of the cartridge body. A proximity fuse or contact fuse may be used.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cartridge assembly for breaching a door without a shaped charge, comprising:

(a) a cartridge case containing a first propellant and a primer in its rearward end for initiating combustion of said first propellant;
(b) a cartridge body having a rearward end in locking engagement with a forward end of said cartridge case, a channel located in the cartridge body, said channel containing an extrudable explosive, a piston in slidable engagement in said channel, said piston positioned in a forward end of said channel, said piston being forward of said extrudable explosive contained in said channel, whereby rearward movement of the piston forces extrudable explosive rearwardly and radially outwardly through extrusion ports into a cavity inside of the cartridge body where a bladder is stowed, said piston having a rearwardly projecting detonator pin which upon movement to a rearward most position engages a rearward escapement and detonator, said rearward escapement and detonator in turn initiates detonation of explosive in the bladder, and
(c) a fuse attached to a forward end of said cartridge body, said fuse being connected to a forward escapement which detonates either upon impact or at a pre-selected distance from a door to be breached, said forward escapement initiating combustion of a second propellant positioned forward of said piston, whereby combustion gases from said second propellant force said piston rearwardly which in turn forces explosive in the channel rearwardly and radially outwardly through extrusion ports, thereby filling the bladder with explosive.

A cartridge body and fuse adapted to be mated with a cartridge case for firing from a launcher or gun comprising:

a cartridge body having:
a forward end of said cartridge case in locking engagement with a fuse;
a channel located in said cartridge body, said channel containing an extrudable explosive;
a piston in slidable engagement in said channel, said piston positioned in a forward end of said channel, said piston being forward of said extrudable explosive contained in said channel;
whereby rearward movement of the piston forces extrudable explosive rearwardly and radially outwardly through extrusion ports into a cavity inside of the cartridge body where a bladder is stowed, said piston having a rearwardly projecting detonator pin which upon movement to a rearward most position engages a rearward escapement and detonator, said rearward escapement and detonator in turn initiates detonation of explosive in the bladder;
and
a fuse being attached to a forward end of said cartridge body, said fuse being connected to a forward escapement which detonates either upon impact or at a pre-selected distance from a door to be breached, said forward escapement initiating combustion of a second propellant positioned forward of said piston, whereby combustion gases from said second propellant force said piston rearwardly which in turn forces explosive in the channel rearwardly and radially outwardly through extrusion ports, thereby filling the bladder with explosive and expanding the bladder substantially outside of the cartridge body.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/721,562Filed 11 Mar 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Mar 2009
Granted: 30 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

F42B 12/34
Characterised by the warhead or the intended effect: expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type
F42B 5/145
Cartridges, i.e. cases with charge and missile: for dispensing gases, vapours, powders, particles or chemically-reactive substances
F42B 12/204
Characterised by target class: for attacking structures, e.g. specific buildings or fortifications, ships or vehicles
F42B 12/207
Of high-explosive type: characterised by the explosive material or the construction of the high explosive warhead, e.g. insensitive ammunition