Ammunition Delaboration Tool for Steel Housing Cone Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for delaborating shells from cluster bombs or cluster rockets with steel housings require high pressures to disengage the metal cone from the housing groove, and are not suitable for shells without aluminum liners, as they can damage the steel housing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that uses an extraction tool with a blunt annular compression face to deform the tubular rim of the metal cone, allowing it to be removed from the steel housing with reduced pressure, and an alignment tool to ensure precise engagement, enabling the cone to be withdrawn with the extraction tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a compression punch is used to axially compress the tubular housing portion to disengage the cone from the groove, then the cone can be removed from the housing, but very high pressures are needed which may damage the steel housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an extraction tool as an intermediary device between the compression punch and the cone. This extraction tool has a circumferential groove that engages with the tubular rim of the cone, allowing the rim to be deformed into the groove for form fit engagement. This intermediary mechanism enables cone removal with reduced compression pressure compared to direct compression of the housing portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from compressing the rigid steel housing portion to compressing the more compliant tubular rim of the cone. By targeting the rim material which can be deformed into the extraction tool's groove, the required compression pressure is significantly reduced while still achieving effective cone disengagement.
2Ease of operation
If an extraction tool with a sharp blade edge is used to cut through the aluminum liner to access the cone, then the cone can be extracted, but the sharp edge tends to break when contacting steel housing
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a sharp blade edge to cut through material (as in prior art), the patent inverts the approach by using a blunt compression face to deform and push the tubular rim into a circumferential groove. This inversion from cutting to compressive deformation eliminates the risk of blade edge breakage when contacting the steel housing while still achieving effective cone extraction.
3Ease of operation
If the tubular rim of the cone is deformed into a form fit with the extraction tool, then the cone can be withdrawn with the extraction tool, but the extraction tool must be precisely aligned with the cone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an alignment tool that performs preliminary alignment of the extraction tool with the cone's tubular rim before the compression and deformation process begins. This preliminary alignment action ensures that the extraction tool is properly positioned, reducing the precision requirements during the subsequent compression and deformation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction tool is designed with multi-functionality, combining alignment features, compression surfaces, and groove formation capabilities in a single device. This universal design integrates multiple functions that would otherwise require separate tools, thereby reducing the overall precision requirements while achieving effective cone extraction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces the pressure needed to disengage the cone from the housing groove, making the process safer and more efficient, and is applicable to shells without aluminum liners, preventing damage to the steel housing.
Implementation Method 1
deforming a portion of the tubular rim into a form fit with the extraction tool
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the delaboration of ammunition, in particular shells having a housing with a tubular housing portion made of steel and open at one end, a cone made of ductile metal and fitted into the tubular housing portion, the cone having a base with a tubular rim, and an explosive charge contained between the housing and the cone. The method comprises a) inserting an extraction tool through the open end into the tubular housing portion for extracting the cone, b) axially compressing the tubular rim of the cone between the extraction tool and the explosive charge, c) deforming a portion of the tubular rim into a form fit with the extraction tool, d) withdrawing the extraction tool from the housing portion, and e) at least partially withdrawing the cone from the housing portion together with the extraction tool.