Munition Inert Charge Placement Reduces Collateral Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current munitions fail to effectively reduce collateral damage in urban environments while maintaining architectural, mass, and ballistic characteristics, and their manufacturing processes are complex and expensive.
Innovation Solution
A munition design where the inert charge is positioned between the firing device and the explosive charge, with a pyrotechnic transmission unit and pyrotechnic extension that allows for detonation initiation by the firing device, directing the air blast and shrapnel towards the target, reducing collateral damage without altering the munition's mass or aerodynamic characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the inert material lines the inner wall of the casing before introducing the explosive charge, then collateral damage is reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of lining the casing with inert material first and then adding the explosive charge, the patent inverts the sequence by placing the explosive charge first and positioning the inert material at the front end to surround it. This reversal simplifies manufacturing while achieving the same collateral damage reduction effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the inert material from its traditional role as a lining and repositions it as a surrounding structure at the front end. This separation allows the inert material to be added independently after the explosive charge is in place, simplifying the manufacturing process.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the inert material replaces part of the explosive charge, then collateral damage is reduced, but the explosive effectiveness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the inert material specifically at the front end of the munition where it directs the air blast and shrapnel toward the target. The explosive charge maintains its full strength in the regions where detonation power is critical, while the inert material locally modifies the blast pattern to reduce collateral damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The inert material acts as an intermediary between the explosive charge and the surrounding environment. It shapes and directs the explosive energy forward toward the target rather than allowing it to disperse in all directions, thereby reducing collateral damage while preserving the explosive's effectiveness against the intended target.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the explosive charge volume is reduced to lower collateral damage, then the air blast is directed towards the target, but the total destructive power decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses this contradiction by adding a spatial dimension to the solution. Instead of simply reducing explosive volume, it introduces inert material positioned at the front end that shapes and directs the blast wave forward. This dimensional addition allows the explosive charge to maintain its volume and power while the inert material controls the direction of energy release to reduce collateral damage.
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 design effectively reduces collateral damage by directing the blast and shrapnel towards the target, maintains the munition's interchangeability and compatibility with existing systems, and simplifies the manufacturing process by rearranging existing components.
Implementation Method 1
said pyrotechnic transmission unit coupling the explosive charge to the firing device to allow said explosive charge to be detonated by the action of the firing device
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a filler material for a munition, inluding an explosive charge, an inert charge and at least one pyrotechnic transmission unit adapted to transmit a remotely initiated detonation to said explosive charge. The invention also concerns a munition incorporating said filler material, said munition including a hollow elongate casing suitable for housing the explosive charge and the inert charge, and a firing device, at least a portion of the inert charge being interposed between the firing device and said explosive charge, and the pyrotechnic transmission unit being provided with a pyrotechnic extension and coupling the firing device to the explosive charge in order to prime detonation of the explosive charge under the action of the firing device.