Warhead Outer Shell Pyrotechnic Opening Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battleheads with splinter functions often cause collateral damage due to their radial splinter effect, limiting their use in certain situations, as they cannot be easily disabled to operate without the splinter effect.

Innovation Solution

The battlehead is designed with an automatically opening outer shell, utilizing pyrotechnic cutting cords that ignite to separate the shell into multiple parts, allowing the splinter elements to drop before detonation, enabling operation in both splinter and splinterless modes by controlling the ignition of the cutting cords.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the outer shell is made fixed to retain splinter elements, then the splinter function is enabled, but collateral damage occurs and the battlehead cannot operate in splinterless mode

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational modesVSAvoidcollateral damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outer shell transitions from a fixed state (providing splinter containment) to an open state (allowing splinterless operation) through pyrotechnic actuation. This dynamic transformation enables the battlehead to adapt between splinter and splinterless operational modes based on mission requirements, resolving the contradiction between maintaining splinter function and avoiding collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The structural parameter of the outer shell changes from closed to open through controlled pyrotechnic cutting. This parameter change allows the battlehead to switch between operational modes: when the shell remains closed, splinter elements are contained and projected radially; when the shell is cut open, splinter elements can be retained or disposed of, enabling splinterless detonation and eliminating collateral damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the outer shell is opened automatically before detonation, then the splinter effect is suppressed, but the battlehead loses its splinter function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollateral damageVSAvoidoperational modes
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pyrotechnic means automatically opens the outer shell without requiring external intervention. This self-service mechanism allows the battlehead to transition to splinterless mode autonomously when needed, while the possibility of maintaining the closed state preserves the splinter function, thus maintaining adaptability between operational modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If pyrotechnic cutting cords are used to open the outer shell, then safe and controlled opening is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafe openingVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pyrotechnic cutting cords are integrated into the outer shell structure, extracting the shell material along predetermined lines to create opening paths. This approach provides safe and controlled opening while minimizing the addition of separate complex mechanisms, as the cutting cords become part of the shell's structural design rather than independent components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 allows for safe and controlled suppression of the radial splinter effect, enabling the battlehead to detonate without collateral damage by ensuring the splinter elements are removed before ignition, thus allowing for flexible operational modes.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing pyrotechnic cutting cords that ignite to separate the shell into multiple parts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExplosion: Explosion

Implementation Method 2

The cutting cord ignites hollow charging, d. H. that the wedge-shaped deepening when ignited when narrow, elongated material posing is formed outward and the outer shell tears up or fragmented. As a result of the linear cutting effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDetonation: Detonation

Data Source

PatentEP2410284B1Warhead
Publication Date: 2021.09.29 DIEHL DEFENCE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2410284B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2410284B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2410284B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The warhead comprises a warhead casing (1) with fragmentation elements (15) arranged on its outer surface, and an outer casing (17) surrounding the fragmentation elements (15), wherein means (10) are provided for automatically opening the outer casing (17) which secures the loosely arranged fragmentation elements (15) in such a way that the fragmentation elements (15) fall off.