Annular Battery Projectiles for Munition Payload
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Solution Overview
Problem
Munitions face limitations in lethality and logistical burdens due to the weight and size of inert materials and supporting subsystems, which reduce the volume available for high explosives and other payloads.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating batteries electrically connected to an electronic subsystem within the munition body, positioned adjacent to the explosive material, which are accelerated outward as projectiles after detonation, thereby increasing the effective payload by performing dual functions of power supply and projectile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If inert materials and supporting subsystems are added to munitions for structural support and guidance, then the munition becomes more accurate and functional, but the weight and size increase, reducing the volume available for high explosive and limiting lethality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by making the battery perform dual roles: serving as the power source for electronic subsystems during flight and as a projectile fragment after detonation. This eliminates the need for separate inert materials, allowing the same component to contribute to both guidance functionality and lethal effect, thereby increasing the volume available for high explosive while maintaining accuracy and functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If more high explosive is placed in the munition to increase lethality, then the damaging kinetic energy increases, but the weight and size of the munition increase, imposing logistical burden in transport and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The battery serves dual purposes as both power source and projectile, eliminating wasted inert mass. This allows more of the total munition mass to be allocated to high explosive content, increasing lethality without proportionally increasing overall weight, as the battery contributes to both functionality and lethal effect rather than being purely inert.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the functional parameters of the battery from a single-purpose power source to a multi-functional component that also serves as a projectile. This parameter change allows optimization of the explosive-to-total-mass ratio, increasing the proportion of high explosive while maintaining acceptable total weight for logistical handling.
3Ease of manufacture
If the munition size is reduced to ease transport and storage, then logistical burden decreases, but the volume for high explosive and supporting subsystems is limited, reducing lethality and accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
By making the battery multi-functional, the patent reduces the total number of components needed. The battery replaces both the power source and inert projectile materials, allowing the munition to be more compact while maintaining or increasing high explosive content. This enables reduced size for easier logistics while preserving or enhancing lethality.
4Reliability
If inert materials are used to form projectiles, then the structure is simple and reliable, but these materials do not contribute to stored explosive potential and increase weight and size
Solution Approach 1:
The battery becomes a multi-functional component that serves as both power source and projectile. This eliminates the need for separate inert materials, allowing the same mass to contribute to both electronic subsystem power and lethal effect. Consequently, the quantity of high explosive can be increased since the battery no longer represents wasted inert mass.
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
This approach enhances system efficiency, increases the range and effectiveness of the munition by combining the warhead and power supply, allowing for greater payload capacity and reduced size, while leveraging commercial power supply technologies to improve lethality and reduce costs.
Implementation Method 1
after detonation of the munition
Implementation Method 2
The projectiles accelerate during the detonation
Data Source
AI summary
A munition includes a munition body containing explosive material. An electronic subsystem is active between release and detonation of the explosive material. One or more batteries are electrically connected to the electronic subsystem to provide power to the electronic subsystem prior to detonation. The one or more batteries are positioned adjacent to the explosive material to be accelerated outward as corresponding munition projectiles after detonation, increasing the effective payload of the munition by performing dual functions. In one or more embodiments, the explosive material is cylindrically shaped and longitudinally aligned in a warhead section of the munition body. The one or more batteries are annularly positioned on lateral surface of the explosive surface to form a cellular fragmenting structure. In a particular embodiments, the munition body is a missile body containing a rocket propulsion system and the electronic subsystem comprises a missile guidance system.