Projectile Reactive Charge Deflagration Neutralization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for combating explosive-charged weapon units, such as shells or missiles, often cause significant environmental damage due to detonation-induced pressure waves and splinters, posing risks to civilians and infrastructure.

Innovation Solution

A projectile with a reactive charge comprising a mixture of zinc and zinc stearate, designed to penetrate the weapon unit and initiate a hypergolic reaction that burns the explosive through deflagration rather than detonation, minimizing environmental harm. The projectile includes a gas-tight and liquid-tight container for the reactive charge and a movable metal body to facilitate penetration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional methods (shock effect, pressure wave) are used to detonate explosive, then the explosive-charged weapon unit is neutralized, but significant environmental damage occurs through pressure waves and splinters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental damageVSAvoidneutralization effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the reaction mode parameter from detonation to deflagration by using a reactive charge that burns the explosive without causing detonation. This parameter change reduces the harmful pressure wave effects while maintaining the neutralization function through controlled combustion of the explosive material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potentially harmful detonation process into a beneficial deflagration process. By using a reactive charge that promotes burning rather than detonation, the harmful shock waves and splinters are replaced by a controlled combustion process that neutralizes the explosive without causing environmental damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a reactive charge is used to burn explosive through deflagration, then environmental harm is minimized, but the projectile design becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental harmVSAvoidprojectile design complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the reactive charge components (zinc and zinc stearate) into a single integrated charge structure within the projectile. This combining of elements simplifies the overall design compared to separate components, while maintaining the deflagration function that reduces environmental harm

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite reactive charge made of zinc and zinc stearate that provides the desired deflagration characteristics. This composite material approach simplifies the design by using a single charge type rather than multiple separate systems, while achieving the environmental protection goal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If traditional explosive initiation methods are used, then the weapon unit is neutralized quickly, but handling, storage and transport safety are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveneutralization speedVSAvoidsafety during handling
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a disposable reactive charge that is safe during handling and storage but becomes active only upon impact with the target. The zinc and zinc stearate charge remains stable during transport but initiates deflagration quickly once the explosive is contacted, providing both safety and speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 effectively neutralizes explosive-charged weapon units without causing substantial environmental damage, enhancing safety during handling, storage, and transport, and allowing for simpler and more cost-effective production and deployment of the projectile.

Implementation Method 1

the reactive charge comprises at least one substance, which upon contact with the explosive of the weapon unit, reacts with the explosive by ahypergolic reaction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHypergolic reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

whereupon deflagration of the explosive is initiated and the explosive is burnt without detonating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeflagration: Deflagration

Implementation Method 3

A movable metal body is arranged behind the reactive charge, which metal body under the influence of its weight presses the reactive charge before it during the penetration process into the weapon unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2494305B1Method for combating explosive-charged weapon units, and projectile designed for the same
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 BAE SYSTEM BOFORS AB
  • EP2494305B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2494305B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of, with a projectile (1) comprising a reactive charge (4), combating an explosive-charged weapon unit (7), preferably an enemy shell, so that undesirable harmful effects on the environment are reduced, wherein the projectile (1) is configured to penetrate the surface (8) of the weapon unit (7) upon impact so that a passage (9) is opened into the explosive (10) of the weapon unit (7), through which passage (9) the reactive charge (4), under the influence of the kinetic energy of the projectile (1), is transferred to the explosive (10) of the weapon unit (7). The method can be deemed to be characterized in that the reactive charge (4), upon contact with the explosive (10) of the weapon unit (7), reacts and starts a hypergolic reaction with the explosive (10). The invention also relates to a projectile (1) for the said method.