Warhead Fragmentation Plate Active Ejection Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing warheads with fragmentation elements face issues in switching to a splinter-free blast mode due to fragmentation plates remaining in the detonation area, causing unintended fragmentation effects during detonation.

Innovation Solution

The warhead incorporates active ejection elements, such as ignitable pulse charges or compressed spring elements, to rapidly remove fragmentation plates from the warhead casing, ensuring they are outside the detonation radius by the time the main charge detonates, using a holding means that tears or releases when the ejection mechanism is activated.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fragmentation plates are fixed on the warhead casing using a holding means (outer shell or holding wires), then the warhead can operate in fragmentation mode, but the fragmentation plates remain in the detonation area when switching to blast mode, causing unintended fragmentation effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemode switching capabilityVSAvoidunintended fragmentation effect

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies preliminary action by actively ejecting the fragmentation plates from the warhead casing before the main charge detonates when switching to blast mode. The ejection mechanism (spring elements or pyrotechnic charges) propels the plates away from the detonation area in advance, ensuring they are no longer present to cause unintended fragmentation effects during the blast mode operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If the outer shell is used to fix fragmentation elements, then the elements are held firmly in position, but the outer shell must be automatically opened and removed during flight, complicating the device structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveholding strengthVSAvoidautomatic opening mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the fragmentation plates from the enclosed outer shell structure and holds them directly on the warhead casing using simple holding wires. This eliminates the need for a complex automatic opening mechanism while maintaining firm holding strength through the wire-based retention system that can be easily released when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If cutting cords are used to separate the outer shell, then the shell is severed and fragmentation elements are released, but the elements fall off loosely and may remain in the detonation area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation capabilityVSAvoidfragmentation effect in blast mode

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the passive mechanical separation method (cutting cords that sever the outer shell) with an active ejection mechanism. Instead of relying on gravity and loose falling of fragmentation plates after shell separation, the spring elements or pyrotechnic charges actively propel the plates away from the warhead, providing more reliable and complete removal from the detonation area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 ensures a pure blast mode detonation without fragmentation effects, as the fragmentation plates are actively accelerated away from the warhead casing, preventing collateral damage and achieving the intended splinter-free explosion.

Implementation Method 1

an ignitable pulse charge can be provided below each splitter plate as a switchable element. For active dropping and throwing away, an impulse charge is therefore ignited below each splinter plate, which shows an outwardly directed detonation effect

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDetonation: Detonation

Implementation Method 2

a spring element that is initially compressed and then released for active ejection. These are initially fixed in the compressed state by a corresponding locking device. If you want to switch from splitter mode to blast mode, the locking device is actuated accordingly, so that the spring elements are released and act on the splitter plates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentEP2813797B1Warhead

Publication Date: 2015.10.28 DIEHL BGT DEFENCE GMBH & CO KG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

Warhead comprising a warhead casing with fragmentation plates arranged on its outer surface, which are fixed in their arrangement on the outer casing by means of a retaining device, wherein each fragmentation plate (7) is assigned an element (11) by means of which the fragmentation plate (7) can be actively accelerated away from the warhead casing (2) after the retaining device (8) is released.