Arming Generator Relocator Adaptor for Penetrator Stress Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy penetrator designs face issues such as stress concentrations, plumbing components being dislodged, and premature explosive reactions due to the charging well and internal plumbing, leading to warhead failure during penetration events.
Innovation Solution
The design removes internal plumbing and the charging well, incorporating an Arming Generator Relocator Adaptor (AGRA) to relocate the fuze arming generator externally, ensuring wire routing and functionality while maintaining the warhead's structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If internal plumbing and charging well are used to mount FZU, then FZU can be positioned inside warhead casing, but stress concentrations occur causing warhead casing failure during penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The FZU is extracted from the internal charging well location and relocated to an external mounting position on the warhead casing. This eliminates the large hole and internal plumbing components that caused stress concentrations, thereby preserving the structural integrity of the warhead casing while still enabling FZU mounting and wire routing to the fuze.
2Ease of operation
If internal plumbing components are used to channel FZU wires, then wire routing is achieved, but plumbing components are ripped loose causing premature explosive reaction
Solution Approach 1:
The internal plumbing components are removed entirely. Instead, wire routing is achieved through external pathways on the warhead casing, eliminating the risk of plumbing components being ripped loose during penetration and causing premature explosive reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
An external wire routing system acts as an intermediary between the FZU and the fuze, replacing the vulnerable internal plumbing. This external routing system is more resistant to the extreme forces of penetration while still achieving the necessary wire connection.
3Ease of manufacture
If charging well is used to mount FZU, then FZU mounting is simplified, but charging well can be ejected exposing explosive material to friction and shock
Solution Approach 1:
The FZU is extracted from the vulnerable charging well location and mounted externally on the warhead casing. This eliminates the risk of the charging well being ejected during penetration and exposing explosive material to severe friction and shock, while still providing a secure mounting location for the FZU.
4Strength
If FZU is relocated externally using AGRA, then stress concentrations are eliminated, but additional adaptor components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The AGRA adaptor integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides external mounting for the FZU, incorporates the necessary wire routing connections, and attaches to the warhead casing as a unified assembly. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed while achieving the goal of eliminating stress concentrations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to an improved penetrator design and associated arming generator relocator adaptor. In some embodiments, the arming generator relocator adaptor is positioned external to the penetrator, thereby removing the need to mount the FZU inside the warhead or include traditional internal plumbing. The arming generator relocator adaptor allows the FZU to be rotated to an optimal position to arm the penetrator. While the improved penetrator design and arming generator relocator adaptor can be used independently of each other, in the preferred embodiment, they are utilized together.