Variable Spacer Munition for Pressure Wave Detonation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 40mm ammunition and grenades fail to achieve a high explosive effect on targets through pressure rather than splintering, and their design often compromises ballistic properties due to additional weight from spacer devices.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a mechanical distance ignition system with interchangeable spacers of varying lengths and materials, which initiates a time-delayed ignition upon impact, allowing for adjustable pressure waves and minimizing fragmentation, while maintaining optimal ballistic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a spacer device is added to achieve distance ignition, then the explosive effect through pressure waves is improved, but the ballistic properties deteriorate due to additional weight
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer device is divided into multiple interchangeable spacer elements of different lengths that can be selectively assembled. This allows optimization of the distance ignition function while minimizing the weight added to the projectile, as only the necessary spacer length is carried rather than a fixed heavy spacer structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses spacers of varying lengths to change the ignition distance parameter, allowing the same basic projectile design to achieve different explosive effects by simply changing the spacer length, rather than requiring multiple complete projectile designs with different weights.
2Length of stationary object
If the projectile length is increased to accommodate a spacer, then the distance ignition function is improved, but the aiming accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer is segmented into multiple small elements rather than one long spacer, which reduces the impact on projectile balance and aiming accuracy while still achieving the required ignition distance when the elements are assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing length in one dimension, the spacer elements are designed to be assembled in a configuration that minimizes disruption to the projectile's aerodynamic properties and center of gravity, thereby maintaining aiming accuracy.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional ammunition design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but the explosive effect through pressure waves is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer device serves multiple functions: it provides the distance ignition function, acts as a nose cone for the projectile, and can be used across different projectile types. This multi-functionality justifies the additional manufacturing steps while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer device is pre-assembled from modular elements before being attached to the projectile, allowing for quality control and verification of the ignition distance before final assembly, thereby ensuring the enhanced explosive effect without complicating the overall manufacturing process.
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 solution enables a high-explosive effect on targets through pressure waves, ensuring maximum pressure impact with minimal fragmentation and maintaining excellent aiming accuracy and safety standards, suitable for various tactical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The spacer detonates the explosive charge within the projectile before the nose strikes a target; that is, the spacer detonates the explosive charge inside the projectile before the nose actually impacts the target. This creates a pressure wave that impacts the target.
Implementation Method 2
This creates a pressure wave that impacts the target. The correct distance, in fact, determines the pressure wave.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Proposed is a munition (1) comprising a projectile (2) with a cap (4), as well as a high-pressure chamber (9) and a low-pressure chamber (10) in a cartridge case (7) that is functionally connected to the projectile (2). This munition (1) is characterized by having a spacer (6, 6', 6") that is variable in length (l, l', l"). For this purpose, the munition (1) includes a means on the cap (4) for connecting the different spacers (6, 6', 6"). Alternatively, the variable spacer (6, 6', 6") can be extended manually or automatically from the projectile (2).