Explosive charge and shell having the same

Abstract

To provide a propulsion mechanism that provides concentrated explosions using molded explosive charges.SOLUTION: A propulsion mechanism 10 for launching an injection object 12 comprises a propellant which has an initiation point 16. The propellant is detonated at the initiation point 16, and the detonation proceeds in a rearward direction away from the injection object 12 through the propellant because the initiation point 16 is located at one end closest to the injection object 12 in a forward direction. A reflective surface 18 is provided on the opposite side of the injection object 12 to reflect the detonation toward the forward direction of the injection object 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] In some embodiments, the present invention relates to a propellant for injecting an ejecta or the like, and optionally to a projectile incorporating such a propellant.

Background Art

[0002] Currently, the effectiveness of a propellant is based on the ability to inject an ejecta associated with a charge by the propellant detonating at a specific speed to impart pressure into a chamber.

[0003] Current detonation velocities enable ejecta to be injected at a defined limiting velocity clearly defined in the art.

[0004] It has been proven that exceeding these limiting velocities does not lead to any benefits, and military engineers have moved to the use of railguns that use acceleration via a magnetic field aligned along rails to enable the ejecta to exceed the velocities possible with explosives.

[0005] Explosive-based propellants can achieve muzzle velocities of about 2.3 km / s or less, while railguns can currently achieve velocities in excess of 3 km / s and up to 3.5 km / s, and thus can provide a large amount of kinetic energy to the ejecta.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] This embodiment may provide a propulsion mechanism that uses one or more shaped charges to provide a focused explosion. In an alternative aspect, this embodiment provides a detonation that reflects after traveling backward and converges on the ejecta.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to one aspect of this embodiment, A propulsion mechanism for launching a projectile, a forward direction and a first end facing the projectile, and a backward direction and a second end facing away from the projectile; a propellant having an ignition point, the propellant being ignited at the ignition point, and the ignition point being at the first end closest to the projectile in the forward direction, so that detonation progresses through the propellant in the backward direction away from the projectile; a reflecting surface at the second end facing away from the projectile that reflects the detonation in the forward direction facing the projectile; A propulsion mechanism is provided.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present embodiment, a projectile provided with a propulsion mechanism for launching a projectile, a forward direction and a first end in the launch direction, and a backward direction and a second end opposite to the launch direction; a propellant having an ignition point, the propellant being ignited at the ignition point, and the ignition point being at the first end facing the projectile, so that detonation progresses through the propellant in the backward direction away from the projectile; a reflecting surface at the second end facing away from the projectile that reflects the detonation in the forward direction facing the projectile; A projectile is provided.

[0009] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a propulsion mechanism for launching a projectile, preparing an explosive; shaping the explosive into a hemispherical shape having a rounded first surface and a flat second surface; forming a hollow insert on the rounded first surface; providing an ignition part on the flat second surface; placing the shaped explosive in a casing; A method is provided that includes.

[0010] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a shaped charge, comprising: defining a desired shape of the shaped charge; constructing the shaped charge layer by layer using additive manufacture; A method is provided that includes the above.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a propellant having a first end and a second end and a detonation initiation point, wherein the propellant is detonated at the detonation initiation point, and the detonation initiation point is at the first end, so that detonation progresses through the propellant towards the second end; a reflecting surface at the second end for reflecting the detonation back to the first end; a casing extending from the reflecting surface to the opposite side of the first end to form a projectile; A propulsion mechanism and a projectile provided with the above are provided. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and / or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present invention, exemplary methods and / or materials are described below. In case of conflict, the patent specification including the definitions will prevail. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are merely illustrative and not necessarily intended to be limiting.

[0012] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Some embodiments of the present invention will be described herein by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that the details shown below with particular reference to the drawings are for purposes of illustration and for purposes of a detailed description of embodiments of the present invention. Similarly, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the present invention can be practiced by viewing the description in conjunction with the drawings.

[0013] Some embodiments of the present invention are described herein by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings for the sole purpose of illustration. The details shown below with particular reference to the drawings are for purposes of illustration and for purposes of a detailed description of embodiments of the present invention. It is emphasized that by viewing the description in conjunction with the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art how embodiments of the present invention can be practiced.

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] In some embodiments thereof, the present invention relates to a propellant for injecting an ejecta or the like.

[0015] The propellant for the ejecta detonates behind the ejecta and then is reflected back to the ejecta. A predetermined geometric shape of the cavity may accelerate the detonation wave. The cavity faces the source of detonation. For example, the cavity may be a cone, and its longitudinal axis passes through the apex of the cone and intersects at the origin of detonation.

[0016] Before explaining in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention, it should be understood that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the details of the configuration, the arrangement of elements, and / or the method shown in the following description, illustrated in the drawings, and / or exemplified in the examples. The present invention can have other embodiments and can be implemented or executed by various means.

[0017] Referring now to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a simplified cross-sectional view showing a propulsion mechanism 10 and an ejecta inside the barrel of a gun 14.

[0018] The propulsion mechanism 10 causes a pressure wave in the direction of the ejecta by detonating, and fires the ejecta from the barrel of a gun or the like.

[0019] The propulsion mechanism 10 is filled with an explosive that detonates from a detonation point 16. The detonation point is on the side facing the ejecta, and the propellant is detonated from the end of the ejecta. The detonation travels through the propellant in a backward direction away from the ejecta 12 until it collides with a reflecting surface 18 at the far end opposite to the ejecta. Then, the reflecting surface reflects the detonation wave back in the forward direction towards the ejecta.

[0020] The reflective surface 18 can be shaped to more precisely focus the detonation towards the projectile. In one embodiment, the reflective surface may comprise a predetermined geometric shape cavity 20. The cavity may, in one embodiment, face the initiation point 16. The cavity may be of any suitable shape, and in one example, is a cone. Each cone may have a vertex 22 and a longitudinal axis passing through the vertex. In one embodiment, the longitudinal axes of the various cones intersect at the initiation point 16.

[0021] Note that the radius of the hollow portion, the overall shape, and the depth towards the vertex are all variables that can be varied to achieve a specific level of output of the pressure wave. The various hollow portions may have different shapes from each other, may face different directions from each other, and the different shapes of the various hollow portions may result in the production of a propellant with a non-uniform profile.

[0022] Now refer to FIG. 2, which shows in more detail the structure of the propulsion mechanism 10 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the reflective surface 18 can be composed of a parabolic base 30 in which the cavity 20 extends. The hollow portion may simply be an insert into the explosive body used to manufacture the propellant, but in an embodiment, it may be lined with a structural material. Suitable structural materials for this use may include plastics, metals, particularly metal foils, as well as paper and cardboard. In many applications of shaped charges, metal is used for the lining to provide fragments. However, for a propellant, fragments are not essential.

[0023] In an embodiment, the hollow portion can be filled with a filler. The filler can be any inert material. As described above, the possible shape of the cavity may be a conical shape, and in an embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the cone passing through the vertex all faces the initiation point.

[0024] During detonation, the detonation wave returns from the ignition point to a paraboloid surface and is reflected therefrom as a focused beam. As a result, a reflected and focused pressure force for ejecting the ejecta from the gun is obtained. The hollow portion may serve to further focus, direct, and accelerate the beam. By further focusing the beam, the amount of energy lost to the side is reduced.

[0025] Here, refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are two schematic views showing the propellant 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 together with the casing 40. The casing 40 has a main body portion 42 having a hollow portion 44 adapted to the propellant 10. The plate 46 at the front of the casing facing the ejecta is optional. Generally, the front plate may function to increase the pressure until the pressure is strong enough to break the casing and then escape with a more dramatic effect. The back of the casing on the opposite side of the ejecta may have sufficient mass to cause preferential pressure release in the forward direction. That is, the pressure is released in the forward direction to fire the ejecta and receives a reaction in the rearward direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the casing is removed from the ejecta. Therefore, the propellant and the ejecta can be selected separately. Therefore, propellants of various forces can be selected to give various ranges or various penetrating powers. The detonation signal is sent by the wire 48 through the hole 50 in the plate 46 to the ignition point at the front of the propellant. The wire receives a trigger signal from the back of the casing at 52.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a complete casing 40 having a propellant and an ejecta in a gun.

[0027] Next, refer to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the casing 40 as described above. In the front plate 46, in the central region around the hole 50, the thickness of the plate is reduced. The thinner portion breaks preferentially over the rest of the plate during detonation, further focusing the blast towards the central axis of the ejecta.

[0028] Here, refer to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a modification of the present embodiment. In the modification, the propellant and the casing structure form the projectile itself, and there is no separate projectile.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a projectile 70 with a built-in propulsion mechanism for launching the projectile. As described above, the structure includes the propulsion mechanism 10 of the shaped charge and the casing 40. In this case, the barrel 14 includes a fixed mass 72 on the propellant side of the combined projectile 70. The detonation of the propellant occurs from the flat side of the propellant as described above, and the detonation wave travels towards the parabolic surface 44, is reflected by the parabolic surface, and returns until it hits the surface of the mass 72. As a result, the casing 40 is ejected from the gun at high speed. The casing can optionally include a payload such as a warhead (not shown). In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the trigger mechanism 52 may be arranged as shown, or may be at the front or side of the combined projectile 70.

[0030] Other parts are the same as those in FIGS. 1 - 5.

[0031] FIG. 7 is a translucent view of a projectile 80 according to any one of FIGS. 1 - 7, which is ready for firing, inside the barrel 14 of a gun. The gun may be a disposable gun, and the casing 40 may be incorporated into the barrel. Such a gun can be used to launch the projectile 80 onto an orbit.

[0032] Here, refer to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIGS. 8 and 9 show a modification of the projectile of FIG. 1. In this modification, a propellant casing 40, which is distinguished from the cartridge casing 102, is incorporated into the projectile body of the projectile 100. In FIG. 8, a front plate 46 is included, and in FIG. 9, the front plate does not exist.

[0033] As described above, the projectile may include a warhead (not shown), and the modification can include multiple warheads, or projectile parts, fragments, or bullets.

[0034] Next, refer to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a simplified flowchart showing a method of manufacturing a propulsion mechanism according to the present embodiment for firing a projectile. In box 110, obtain explosive. In box 112, form the explosive into a hemispherical shape having a rounded first surface and a flat second surface. In box 114, form a hollow insert on the rounded first surface.

[0035] Next, a detonator may be placed on the flat surface (box 115). In box 116, place the formed explosive within a casing to provide a detonating mechanism. Note that the detonation may be direct or via a secondary explosive.

[0036] Forming the explosive and then forming the hollow insert may be done in a single casting or molding process, or the hemisphere may be cast or molded and then the insert manufactured by machining. Alternatively, the hemisphere may be manufactured by machining and the insert also manufactured by machining.

[0037] In a variation of the manufacturing process, 3D printing or additive manufacturing may be used to provide layer-by-layer manufacture of the shaped charge. In this case, if an inkjet method is used, the temperature within the inkjet nozzle may be controlled so as not to reach the detonation temperature of the explosive. The temperature of the nozzle itself may be controlled so that detonable droplets do not cause the ejection to solidify and coalesce. Additionally, by cleaning the nozzle, for example by a jet of air, at a preset time or after a predetermined amount of printing, explosive residue will not cover the inside of the nozzle. Also, the printing area may be surrounded by a shield so that explosive residue remains within the printing area.

[0038] The 3D printing of the present embodiment may be used not only to create the shaped charge of the present embodiment, but also in any case where a specific geometry of the explosive is required.

[0039] Here, refer to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIGS. 11 and 12 show an ejector 200 having a propulsion mechanism 202 according to the present embodiment fixed around a side surface. The propulsion mechanism can be fixed to the ejector via a hinge 204. By being able to tilt the propulsion mechanism, two purposes can be achieved. First, by tilting some of the propulsion mechanisms and not tilting other propulsion mechanisms, directivity can be provided. Second, by tilting all the propulsion mechanisms in the same way, the total output can be changed, and thus deformation can be reduced.

[0040] As is known in the technical field of additive manufacturing, a wax support structure can be used to enable complex geometric shapes.

[0041] The terms "comprises", "comprising", "includes", "including", "having" and their conjugations mean "including but not limited to".

[0042] The term "consisting of" means "including and limited to".

[0043] The term "consisting essentially of" means that a composition, method or structure may include additional components, steps and / or parts. However, this is limited to the case where the additional components, steps and / or parts do not substantially change the basic and novel characteristics of the composition, method or structure described in the claims.

[0044] As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" also refer to the plural unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0045] For clarity, certain features of the invention described in connection with separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in one embodiment, and it should be understood that the description herein is to be construed as if such embodiments were explicitly described herein. Conversely, the various features of the invention described in connection with one embodiment may also be provided separately, or in any suitable partial combination, or in relation to any other described embodiment. The description herein is to be construed as if such individual embodiments, partial combinations, and modified embodiments were explicitly described herein. A given feature described in connection with various embodiments should not be considered an essential requirement of that embodiment unless the embodiment would be inoperative without that element.

[0046] Although the invention has been described in connection with its specific embodiments, numerous alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, all such alternatives, modifications, and variations are intended to be included within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

[0047] All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, and patent application were specifically and individually incorporated by reference. Additionally, any reference or identification of a reference in this application should not be construed as an admission that such reference can be used as prior art for the present invention. Also, the section headings used herein are not necessarily to be construed as limiting. Additionally, if there are priority documents for this application, the entireties thereof are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification.

Claims

1. A propulsion mechanism for generating a concentrated explosion, comprising: a forward direction and a first end for the focused burst, and a backward direction and a second end facing away from the focused burst; a propellant charge having an initiation point, the propellant charge being initiating at the initiation point using an initiation portion at the initiation point, the initiation point being at the first end in the forward direction such that a detonation travels through the propellant charge in the backward direction; a reflecting surface at the second end for reflecting the detonation in the forward direction; the reflective surface includes cavities of a predetermined geometric shape, the cavities being cones, each of the cones having an apex and a longitudinal axis passing through the respective apex, the longitudinal axes intersecting at the initiation point; Propulsion mechanism.

2. The reflective surface is shaped to focus the detonation in the forward direction.

2. The propulsion mechanism of claim 1.

3. 1. A propulsion mechanism for generating a concentrated explosion, the propulsion mechanism comprising: a forward direction and a first end for the focused burst, and a backward direction and a second end facing away from the focused burst; a propellant charge having an initiation point, the propellant charge being initiatable at the initiation point using an initiation part, the initiation part being disposed at the first end in the forward direction such that a detonation travels through the propellant charge in the backward direction away from the forward direction; a reflecting surface at the second end for reflecting the detonation in the forward direction; the reflective surface includes a cavity of a predetermined geometric shape, the cavity having a hollow portion, the hollow portion of the cavity being lined with a structural material or the hollow portion of the cavity being filled with a filler material; Propulsion mechanism.

4. The hollow portion of the cavity is lined with a structural material or the hollow portion of the cavity is filled with a filler material. A propulsion mechanism according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a casing configured to cause preferential pressure release in the forward direction; A propulsion mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The casing has a plate on a side facing the forward movement direction.

6. The propulsion mechanism of claim 5.

7. The reflecting surface includes a paraboloid. A propulsion mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The paraboloid is configured to reflect the initiation point as a focused beam.

8. The propulsion mechanism of claim 7.

9. The hollow portion is disposed on the paraboloid. A propulsion mechanism according to claim 7 or 8.

10. the hollow portion is positioned and configured to further focus, accelerate, or direct the beam; 10. The propulsion mechanism of claim 9.

11. 1. A propulsion mechanism for generating a concentrated explosion, the propulsion mechanism comprising: a forward direction and a first end for the focused burst, and a backward direction and a second end facing away from the focused burst; a propellant charge having an initiation point, the propellant charge being initiatable at the initiation point using an initiation part, the initiation part being disposed at the first end in the forward direction such that a detonation travels through the propellant charge in the backward direction away from the forward direction; a reflecting surface at the second end for reflecting the detonation in the forward direction; Equipped with the reflective surface includes cavities of a predetermined geometric shape, the cavities being cones, each of the cones having an apex and a longitudinal axis passing through the respective apex, the longitudinal axes intersecting at the initiation point; Propulsion mechanism.

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