Shells Patents (Class 102/473)
  • Patent number: 5932835
    Abstract: A warhead has a pair of shells, each having an annular rim at one end and opening at the other end. The rims abut one another and are fastened together to define a chamber filled with explosive having a bore aligned with the openings. The explosive has sensitivity to detonation that requires axial detonation in the bore by a detonating cord to initiate explosion thereby preventing detonation by lesser stimuli. A tube extends through the openings and bore and is sized to receive the detonating cord. Opposite ends of the tube are crimped to hold the shells together. A line charge provided with a plurality of such warheads has significant pressure, shock, fragmentation energy, wire cutting ability and mine neutralization capacity as compared to contemporary devices. These improved capabilities are directly attributed to the explosive type and density of this design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert Woodall, Felipe Garcia, Gilberto Irizarry
  • Patent number: 5900580
    Abstract: An explosive projectile (10) with a projectile casing (12), a ballistic hood (14), an explosive charge (26) located within of the projectile casing (12), a base detonator (28) and a fragment packing (32) which is located towards the head end of the projectile. The ballistic hood (14) is constructed so as to be readily destroyable or, respectively, constituted of a readily destroyable material. The projectile casing is closed at its forward end and provided with a recess (30) in which there is arranged the fragment packing (32). The fragment packing (32) at the forward end thereof bounds the explosive charge (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Diehl Stiftung & Co.
    Inventors: Roland Beisswenger, Hans Strauss, Adolf Bankel, Hans Pauly, Stephen Kerk
  • Patent number: 5900579
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a dispersal or scattering dispenser (cannister) in accordance with the species concept of claim 1, in which the muzzle velocity of the munitions can be changed during the munitions ejection in a target dedicated manner by the chronologically phased opening of a pressure chamber arranged between the gas generator and the munitions tube. Embodiment examples are described and illustrated in the figures of the drawing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: LFK-Lenkflugkorpersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Hutter, Siegfried Bock
  • Patent number: 5880398
    Abstract: A dual-purpose bullet is provided consisting of a thermoplastic body, a base cap, and a pressed powder core. The bullet in the preferred embodiment can either penetrate destroying and disrupting large volumes of human tissue or not penetrate the human tissue delivering a strong shock event and creating a thermal nuisance. The lethal mode is achieved by a high-velocity launch of the bullet without ignition of the igniter mixture and pressed powder core. The less-than-lethal mode is achieved by a low-velocity launch with ignition of first the pressed powder core and softening of the plastic projectile body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Scientific Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gerard Crilly, Maurice Edward Grudza, David Charles Jann, Hugh Harper Gibbs
  • Patent number: 5872326
    Abstract: Avalanches, such as snow avalanches, are triggered with an explosive char The charge is propelled into a potential avalanche slope and detonated therein. The explosive charge is first located in a tube which is closed at one end and which also houses a propelling charge with which the explosive charge is propelled from the tube into the avalanche slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Michael Manhart
  • Patent number: 5864086
    Abstract: A spin-stabilized projectile containing a payload is presented. The projectile includes a projectile body with a payload chamber that may be laterally defined by a projectile casing, on top by an axial fixing device for a payload disposed in the payload chamber, and on the bottom, by a dividing wall. The projectile casing may include axial grooves on the inside, which on the contribute to the fixing of the payload and include intended break zones for freeing the payload. Below the dividing wall, an opening charge may be disposed, which includes complete radial contact and is axially spaced apart from the dividing wall by a damping device. The detonation of opening charge causes the projectile casing to immediately split open at the intended break zones to release, by centrifugal force, the payload from the payload chamber. The damping device prevents the payload from being damaged in the region of the dividing wall and prevents the release of the payload from being interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Oerlikon Contraves Pyrotec AG
    Inventor: Peter Ettmuller
  • Patent number: 5859090
    Abstract: Nontoxic, biodegradable injection-molded, plastic shotshell components, and method of manufacturing same, the components having a fused degradation composition comprising as its active ingredients polycaprolactone, amide stearate and vegetable oil, the latter two enhancing the degradation activity of the polycaprolactone and imparting injection-moldability thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Federal Cartridge Company
    Inventors: Mohammed Shahid, David C. Longren
  • Patent number: 5852256
    Abstract: A non-nuclear, non-focusing, active warhead that comprises a high explosive charge contained within a casing of reactive metal. When the high explosive is detonated, the reactive metal is dispersed and reacts with the air, which significantly increases the explosive yield of the warhead. The active warhead produces therefore much higher blast effects with significantly reduced weight compared to conventional munitions. The warhead is highly effective against such targets as aircraft which typically have thin fuselages, for example. The explosiveness of this warhead can be enhanced further by elevating the temperature and therefore the reactivity of the reactive metal before or during the explosion. New methods of enhancing the reactivity of the metal are also taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Howard C. Hornig
  • Patent number: 5786544
    Abstract: A device for imparting non-explosive and non-propulsive properties to a warhead during a slow cook-off test, which comprises a pyrotechnic pellet located inside a tube having a predetermined ignition temperature of at least 130.degree. C. but below the violent ignition temperature of the material under slow cook-off conditions, whereby the venting holes present in the aft closure of said tube, are covered by a composite material that loses its strength below the predetermined temperature, causing a pressure relief and a non-propulsive burning of said warhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: State of Israel--Ministry of Defence, Armament Development Authority, Rafael
    Inventors: Moshe Gill, Itzhak Avnon, Yehuda Katz, Tamar Yarom
  • Patent number: 5773751
    Abstract: A method for converting mortar shells into shells for use in smooth-bore gun barrels having an interior surface. The mortar shells include a warhead having a front end, a rear end, a tail fin, and a propellant charge. A guide casing is attached to at least the rear end of the warhead. The guide casing includes an outside surface. The guide casing supports at least the rear end of the warhead and is adapted for use with the smooth-bore gun barrel that the converted shells are to be fired from. A bourrelet is attached to the outside surface of the guide casing for sealing between the converted shells and the interior surface of the smooth-bore gun barrel that the converted shells are to be fired from.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Bofors Liab AB
    Inventors: Lennart Fredriksson, Arne Wikstrom
  • Patent number: 5763819
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to small arms bullets and relates in particular to frangible bullets and ordinance which fragments following penetration of a variety of obstacles prior to encountering the intended target zone. The disclosure relates specifically to small arms bullets which have a high likelihood of fragmentation after target zone penetration causing a significant crush cavity following passage through obstacles including clothing, glass, building materials and other structures. The disclosed bullet design is produced in a simple and inexpensive process, provides high accuracy and fragmentation and penetration in a 5 to 15 inch target zone, at either sonic or subsonic velocities, following penetration of shielding obstacles. The bullet disclosed is of a weight and design which will permit operation at sonic or subsonic velocities, without jamming, in civilian and military small arms including automatic weapons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: James W. Huffman
  • Patent number: 5728968
    Abstract: An armor penetrator projectile is disclosed that has an elongated rod penetrator core. The core has a central bore therein extending from a rear portion to a front end portion of the core. The front end portion is preferably conically shaped for impact with an armor plate. A self igniting pyrotechnic material such as thermite is packed within the rear portion and in the bore. The thermite is ignited by the frictional heat and pressure generated during projectile impact with a target armor plate. The ignited thermite ejects a molten jet of material through the bore and forwardly out through the impacting front end thus further melting the armor plate about the point of impact and enhancing the behind armor destructive effects of the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Primex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Gannon Buzzett, David A. Edmonds, Earl R. Edmondson
  • Patent number: 5698814
    Abstract: A penetrating bomb weapon comprising a long hollow cylinder constructed of high strength steel or similar material and including a pointed nose to aid in penetration of media such as concrete, soil, steel or a hardened surface. The cylinder contains an insensitive explosive that is separated into segments by shock attenuating materials so that one segment of the cylinder may detonate without detonating or destroying adjacent segments. The number of segments may be two or more depending on the complexity of the target to be attacked. Initiation of the main charge within each segment is achieved using explosive boosters positioned so that shocks transferred to adjacent segments, and the initiation train of these segments, is minimized. Separation of the segments is accomplished using explosive cutter charges which perforate and/or spall through the case wall of the penetrator bomb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Gary H. Parsons, Joseph Gregory Glenn
  • Patent number: 5656792
    Abstract: A ballistic projectile including a subcaliber-sized penetrator which is coaxially carried in the casing of the projectile, and in which the penetrator additionally carries an explosive charge. The projectile possesses a proximity fuze at its tip which electrically triggers a penetrator-propellent charge which is arranged in the projectile base and which fills the volume of the projectile base, which accelerates the penetrator through a therebetween arranged propellant base, and in which the penetrator additionally possesses an impact detonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Max Rentzsch, Manfred Schildknecht, Hans Strauss, Rainer Himmert
  • Patent number: 5652408
    Abstract: An explosive projectile has a splinter-generating body inside which is placed an explosive and/or incendiary load ignited by a primer. The projectile also contains an intermediate charge placed between the primer and the explosive load. The charge is composed of a mixture of an explosive and a first pyrotechnic composition including at least one oxidizing agent and at least one reducing agent. The explosive projectile may be utilized as a medium caliber projectile ignited upon impact by a pyrotechnic fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Manurhin Defense
    Inventor: Jacques Nicolas
  • Patent number: 5631442
    Abstract: A missile includes a warhead accommodated in an inner space at a front portion of the missile; a ball joint being in alignment with the longitudinal missile axis and pivotally supporting the warhead; and an aiming device for placing the warhead into a desired pivotal orientation. The aiming device includes a plurality of inflatable vessels arranged axially adjacent the warhead in a distribution about the missile axis. Each vessel has a first end oriented toward the warhead and a second end oriented away therefrom. The vessels are supported at their second end by a disk situated in the inner space of the missile. A gas generator is coupled to each vessel for charging the vessel with a gas to place the vessel into its inflated state. In the inflated state each vessel exerts a torque on the warhead about the ball joint by an engagement between the first end of the respective vessel and the warhead. Further, an electronic control system is accommodated in the inner space of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Becker, Dirk Kilfitt, Werner Grosswendt
  • Patent number: 5594197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a secondary projectile for a tandem warhead including a forwardly located active charge, a rearwardly located active charge and a fuze which is arranged therebetween, and whose triggering direction is oriented towards the forwardly located active charge, whereby the transmission of the ignition or triggering is implemented forwardly through the intermediary of a booster charge and towards the rear through the use of a cross-triggering device. The booster charge which is triggered by the fuze consists of an explosive material and lies directly against the forwardly located active charge, and wherein the booster charge at the other side thereof is separated by thin cross-ignitable wall segments of a housing of the cross-triggering device from at least two tongue-shaped explosive material poles of the rearwardly located active charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Klaus Lindstadt, Manfred Klare
  • Patent number: 5542354
    Abstract: A segmenting warhead projectile has a fore section integral with an aft section. A mid section is disposed between the fore section and the aft section. Up range of a target, an explosive contained within the mid section is detonated separating the fore section from the aft section. When a desired separation distance is achieved, explosives contained within the fore and aft sections detonate, fragmenting the housing of the sections. The fragmentation patterns of the two sections overlap, providing a high dispersion of fragmentation segments along the line of flight compensating for range errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Sigler
  • Patent number: 5515785
    Abstract: As an abstract of the disclosure, the invention is directed to a miniature rojectile having a forwardly contained charge which is laterally injected into a target upon impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1965
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Charles Zglenicki
  • Patent number: 5461982
    Abstract: A semi-permanent market material is carried by a missile, along with a warhead, to a target and responsive to impact of the warhead with the target, the identification material is released and applied to the "killed" target thereby providing for instantaneous and also future identification of the "killed" target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Inventor: Lynn L. Boyer, III
  • Patent number: 5370056
    Abstract: This invention relates to a safety explosion-sound generating type of bullet for a toy gun, and more particularly one having a cavity formed in a plastic body filled with a material which can produce an explosion-sound effect by collision with a hard object and it is covered by a thin layer. When the body is fired and lands against a hard object, the filling material produces a small explosion, like a sound produced by an actual gun. Furthermore, because the small explosion is produced within a very small bullet (for example, a BB), it is impossible to hurt people.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Inventor: Shi-Huang Huang
  • Patent number: 5363766
    Abstract: An armor piercing projectile having a ramjet engine located at the forward nd such that the exhaust nozzles of the ramjet engine are located at or near the center of gravity of the projectile. A warhead is contained in the center portion of the projectile and is either a shaped charge device or a high explosive warhead. A tail boom with stabilizing fins is located at the rear of the projectile. In an alternate embodiment, the ramjet engine is attached by an extension sleeve to the warhead allowing it to telescope after launch and provide increased standoff for better penetration by the shaped charge. Another embodiment allows the ramjet motor to detach prior to impact at the target to better allow the warhead to penetrate. A further embodiment incorporates an armor piercing subprojectile located within the centerbody of the ramjet motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Fred J. Brandon, Miles L. Lampson, Fred I. Grace
  • Patent number: 5341745
    Abstract: Grenade comprising an incendiary element (3) which is situated in a retainer (1) projecting into a bore (5) in a charge (10) in the grenade shell. The incendiary element (3) has been pressed into the retainer (1) and is situated behind a transfer or booster charge (4). The retainer (1) may be mainly circular- cylindrical, in order to permit that both the incendiary element (3) and the transfer or booster charge (4) can be pressed over the entire cross section of the retainer (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Inventors: Kare R. Strandli, Colin Foreman
  • Patent number: 5299501
    Abstract: The projectile, adapted to be fired from an automatic cannon, comprises a frangible porous brittle generally cylindrical casing having a tapered nose portion and made of a molded sintered powder material preferably consisting predominantly of 60 to 100% type 316 stainless steel powder, the remainder being pure iron powder. The rear end of the casing is formed with an axial bore wherein a hard dense penetrator rod is received, preferably made of tungsten or tungsten carbide. Behind the penetrator rod, the casing has an enlarged bore wherein an incendiary pellet is received, preferably comprising zirconium crystals molded in an epoxy matrix. A massive closure plug closes the enlarged bore behind the incendiary pellet. Upon impact with a target, the frangible casing disintegrates into granular fragments while the penetrator rod punches a hole in the target through which the fragments are propelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: BEI Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard V. Anderson
  • Patent number: 5271332
    Abstract: The detonation wave velocity in a solid explosive body of material, incred by the "channel effect", is further increased by compounding of the "channel effect" and/or by partial shock wave interruption by means of a threaded or rifled passage wall surface in a continuous, open channel arrangement. The high velocity detonation wave can be used to increase the jet velocity of shaped charges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Raafat H. Guirguis
  • Patent number: 5271330
    Abstract: A major increase in terminal explosive energy of a missile by reacting bulk aluminum, titanium, magnesium, steel, and/or organic matrix composite missile structure with oxygen enriched air which is collected as the missile flies to its target. Oxygen rich air is produced from a small amount of engine bleed or atmospheric air processed through a molecular sieve on board oxygen generating system (OBOG), and stored under pressure in the missile fuel tanks as they are emptied during flight. Explosive reaction of the oxygen with missile structure is achieved with a flexible linear shaped charge (FLSC) attached to tank wall structure. Initiation of an explosive reaction between the bulk aluminum and oxygen can be achieved by a conventional shape charge or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation, Convair Division
    Inventor: Edward E. Keller
  • Patent number: 5267513
    Abstract: An explosive round is formed by a bundle of fibers made of explosive matel held in peripheral contact with each other within an outer casing. Axially extending channel passages thereby extend between the fibers to conduct shock waves periodically impacting explosive blockage plugs in order to generate auxiliary detonation waves in forward and reverse directions. The auxiliary waves propagated in the reverse direction collide with the original detonation wave in the fibers between the blockage plugs at the locations of axial gaps between the fiber segments so as to reduce peak pressure oscillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Raafat H. Guirguis, Kibong Kim
  • Patent number: 5261629
    Abstract: A fin stabilized ballistic projectile comprises a projectile body having a plurality of stabilizing fins and an ejectable projectile tip detachably attached to the front of the projectile body. An ejection mechanism is operatively disposed for ejecting the projectile tip. A sensor is disposed in the projectile tip for scanning a target area. A warhead is disposed at the front of the projectile body behind the projectile tip and includes a curved fragmentation plate for discharging fragments at a target, with the fragmentation plate being openly exposed when the projectile tip is ejected, and an explosive charge disposed behind the fragmentation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Becker, Gerhard Glotz, Josef Osthues, Hans-Peter Opitz, Heinz-Josef Kruse, Jutta Peters, Helmut Peller
  • Patent number: 5243916
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an effective and explosive munition component of low vulnerability, consisting of a casing 1 containing an explosive charge consisting of an internal layer 2 made of plastic bonded explosive in which the filler contains at least one organic nitrated explosive, coated with a peripheral adjacent coaxial layer 3 made of less sensitive pyrotechnic composition consisting of a filled polymeric matrix in which the filler contains at least one inorganic oxidizing agent or an organic nitrated explosive.The interface between the two layers 2 and 3 is of star-shaped cross-section.The invention also relates to the process for obtaining a fragmentation effect by detonation of the layer 2, reaction of the layer 3 followed by bursting of the casing due to the pressure of the gases formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Nationale des Poudres et Explosifs
    Inventors: Alain Freche, Bruno Nouguez
  • Patent number: 5239929
    Abstract: A device and method are provided for sealing off an explosive charge compartment in a shell of the type in which the shell includes a shell case at its forward region and an element which is inserted into said shell case to cover an explosive charge and is provided with an outer annular abutment surface abutting against the inner contour of the shell case. The device includes a strand of sealant compound which is applied at least along an edge of the upper end portion of the element covering the explosive charge and a radially expendable ring which is forced by radial flaring against the sealant compound to straddle at least a joint between the edge of the upper end portion of the covering element and the inner contour of the shell case to accurately follow inner contours of the element and the shell case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Bofors AB
    Inventors: Stig Nilsson, Jan Fixell, Klas Larsson
  • Patent number: 5233929
    Abstract: An explosive device has a main charge explosive, and a booster explosive ring with main charge explosive filling the space in the center of the booster ring. When the booster explosive is set off, explosive shock waves converge on the space in the center of the ring, thus initiating the main charge explosive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Patrick F. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5229542
    Abstract: A selectable fragmentation warhead capable of producing a predetermined number of fragments from a metal plate, and accelerating the fragments toward a target. A first explosive located adjacent to the plate is detonated at selected number of points by laser-driven slapper detonators. In one embodiment, a smoother-disk and a second explosive, located adjacent to the first explosive, serve to increase acceleration of the fragments toward a target. The ability to produce a selected number of fragments allows for effective destruction of a chosen target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Courtney S. Bryan, Dennis L. Paisley, Nelson I. Montoya, David B. Stahl
  • Patent number: 5221810
    Abstract: In an explosive device having a main charge explosive, a booster explosive mbedded in the main charge explosive, and a detonator, a can or plate is embedded in the main charge explosive and provides a high impedance surface which is shaped and oriented so that shock waves from the booster explosion will strike the high impedance surface at normal incidence and be reflected back toward the booster explosion. This increases the pressure in the main charge explosive material between the booster explosive and the can or plate, thus increasing the effectiveness of the booster explosive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Patrick F. Spahn
  • Patent number: 5220128
    Abstract: A soft-recovery projectile having an aft portion, a forward portion and a gas seal mounted between the portions. The aft portion includes a recoverable payload such as projectile components or the like. The forward portion includes a parachute that is attached to the payload and is stored in a housing which is separably attached to the payload. The housing includes an explosive charge which is slectively triggered to cause separation of the housing from the payload and deployment of the parachute. A fin assembly, mounted on the housing, exerts a destablizing moment on the projectile when it is oriented with the fin assembly directed into the flight path. The projectile is launched with the fin assembly as the nose and the payload as the tail. After launch, the destabilizing moment will reorient the projectile into a position where the payload is the nose and the fin assembly is the tail. In this position, the fin assembly exerts a stabilizing moment on the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Inventors: John C. Grau, Gregory Malejko, John DiPalma
  • Patent number: 5196646
    Abstract: A dual purpose fuze for a projectile which can activate a quantity of material selected from a group including high explosive, low explosive, propellant and pyrotechnic compounds. The fuze includes a charge holder having a socket therein facing the quantity of material to be activated. A fuze charge located in the socket has a depression in it so formed as to cause the fuze charge to explode in a jet directed outwardly from the socket of sufficiently high energy to activate a high explosive in a high explosive projectile, the fuze charge being sufficiently small to prevent rupture of containment for a propellant in a cargo projectile. The fuze further includes mechanisms for arming and detonating the fuze charge as well as for activating detonation. A safety mechanism is provided to prevent premature detonation of the fuze charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventor: Paul N. Worsey
  • Patent number: 5194687
    Abstract: Rather than physically disabling tactical armored vehicles such vehicles can be rendered equally ineffectual as weapon systems by attenuating or distorting the electromagnetic radiation necessary to their control, communications, and target acquisition ability. This objective can be achieved by blanketing a portion of such vehicles with a rigid polymeric foam within which is dispersed metallic flakes. Upon activation of the foaming system by a proximity fuse foam is generated and ejected from the warhead. The foam expands and solidifies on ports, emitters or receptors of tactical armored vehicle, generally within a second or so after delivery, attenuating or distorting visible, radio-frequency, and microwave radiation sufficiently to destroy the effectiveness of the vehicle. The surface condition of the vehicle is of secondary importance, as chemical adhesion is not relied upon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Inventor: Moishe Garfinkle
  • Patent number: 5175392
    Abstract: A projectile adapted to be fired by a fire-arm comprises anchoring means between the outer surface of the tail (3) and the corresponding inner surface of the jacket (7), and the head (2) of the core (1) is connected to the tail by a shoulder (6) and, opposite the tail, the jacket (7) has a rear portion (12) which is of greater thickness than the remainder of the jacket, this rear portion (12) having on the outside undulations (13) adapted to form circular grooves substantially at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the projectile, a free space (14) being provided between the shoulder (6) and the corresponding part of the jacket (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Denis
  • Patent number: 5148750
    Abstract: A unitary ammunition unit comprising a propellant charge. An explosive sub-caliber projectile having a pull-drive type of sabot is mounted on the propellant charge. The sub-caliber projectile is at least partially formed of a heavy-metal-sinter alloy of high density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Becker, Karl W. Bethmann, Bernhard Bisping, Ulrich Theis
  • Patent number: 5133259
    Abstract: A pyrotechnically initiated explosive projectile has coaxially arranged, a nose incendiary, a penetrator core, a high explosive, and an overall jacket. A seal ring is installed between the nose incendiary and the penetrator core to preclude relative movement between the core and the jacket during projectile assembly, acceleration and spin up from prematurely igniting the incendiary charge. The seal ring has a front collar portion which preferably has a diameter greater than that of the inside diameter of the jacket so that the collar scrapes the inside wall of the jacket during insertion to remove incendiary residual so that no incendiary can lodge between the jacket and the penetrator core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventor: David K. Schluckebier
  • Patent number: 5119730
    Abstract: The conventional monocoque missile ordnance section is replaced by a compte sheet stringer design. The composite sheet stringer design consists of a full-length, filamentary composite outer shell attached to stringers. Bending and axial loads are carried by the stringers while the outer shell will resist shear loads. The forward part of the ordnance section is devoted to the warhead. Here, fragment material would be sandwiched between the stringers, the outer shell, and possibly a filamentary composite inner shell. Fragment options include discrete fragments, plates, or rods. The aft part of the ordnance section would be available for fuzing assemblies. The composite ordnance section is connected to the rest of the missile through end joints rigidly attached to the outer composite shell and stringers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles R. Garnett, William M. Henderson, Leonard T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5117759
    Abstract: The conventional missile warhead is replaced by a dual wall composite franting warhead. This design consists of two concentric composite shells which sandwich a layer of fragmentation material. All missile structural loads are carried by the shells. The warhead is connected to the rest of the missile through end joints rigidly attached to the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William M. Henderson, Charles R. Garnett, Leonard T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5115707
    Abstract: An outer jacket (14), an inner jacket (15) and an explosive charge (16) are ach independently manufactured on one of three parallel production lines (1, 2, 3) and assembled on a contiguous assembly line (4). The jackets (14 and 15) are designed to have a sufficient shape stability to be handled as separate components, and obtain the required firing strength due to their assembly. By changing the inner jacket (15), the ammunition body manufactured in this way can be prepared with different active bodies as suited for the application intended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft Vertretan Durch Die, EIDG, etc.
    Inventor: Jorg Kutzli
  • Patent number: 5107768
    Abstract: The invention relates to a projectile having an interior space in which disposable payloads and/or electronic components are arranged, and which are of a type intended to have an extended lifetime. To protect the interior components from corrosion, the interior space is filled with a protective gas, for example, argon, nitrogen or hydrogen, or a mixture of these gases. The protective gas may be present in the interior space at a greater than atmospheric pressure of, for example, three bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Langenohl
  • Patent number: 5107766
    Abstract: A follow-thru grenade for military operations in urban terrain uses a microsecond delay fuzed warhead to breach a target will to allow a deflector protected anti-personnel millisecond delay fuzed grenade to proceed through the wall breach to attach enemy personnel behind the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Inventors: Harold R. Schliesske, William Moscatiello, deceased, by Caroline Moscatiello, Administratrix
  • Patent number: 5097766
    Abstract: A long rod penetrator projectile comprises an elongated main penetrator body, a stabilizing fin assembly attached to the rear of the main body, and a perforated canister carried within the fin assembly. A pyrotechnic material such as pyronol is contained within the canister. The pyronol ignites during impact. The burning pyrotechnic material spews forth through the perforations in the canister to provide improved after armor effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph F. Campoli, Earl R. Edmondson, David A. Edmonds, Joseph G. Buzzett
  • Patent number: 5081931
    Abstract: To provide a complete seal in the region of the rifling, particularly in worn-out gun barrels firing spin stabilized carrier projectiles provided with a metal guide or driving band and a thin-walled projectile connected to a projectile base and having a wall thickness less than or equal to 0.05 times the caliber of the gun barrel and to reduce the ramming deceleration and the radial pressure stresses on the projectile shell during passage through the gun barrel, a plastic ram ring is disposed on the outer surface of the projectile shell in front of the metal guide band and in a region of the shell that is not supported radially by the projectile base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Frye, Klaus-Dietmar Karius, Heinz-Josef Kruse, Achim Sippel, Jurgen Meyer, Michael Primus
  • Patent number: H1150
    Abstract: An improved parachute recovery system for a gun fired projectile is discld. The projectile has a nose, a payload and a base section. The base section has a hollow cylindrical parachute cannister which is separated from the base section by rearward motion of an internal piston which is actuated by expulsion gas pressure initiated by a time fuze. The parachute cannister is thereby exposed and jettisoned to cause inflation of a parachute attached to the base section so that the parachute floats down in a nose-deployed projectile position for a soft landing and recovery. Also disclosed are alternative embodiments of a projectile base-deployed parachute recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Paul L. Fritch
  • Patent number: H1235
    Abstract: Improved armor-piercing projectile of either caliber or saboted, subcaliber esign for effectively penetrating and destroying a fast moving, armored target. The improved projectile is generally comprised of a dome-shaped nose, a fragmentable hollow body of thimble-like configuration, and an integrated base-plug and fuse device. The hollow body is advantageously made up of a heavy metal, preferably either a tungsten alloy or depleted uranium, having a predetermined density of at least eleven grams per cubic centimeter (11.0 gm/cc). The interior of the hollow body is filled with a suitable high energy explosive material. The improved projectile, by reason of its hollow body, not only exhibits an improved ballistic coefficient as compared to previous projectile designs, but also maintains a substantially more uniform velocity throughout its effective range so as to strike a target in shorter time and with greater momentum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Michael C. Canaday
  • Patent number: H1534
    Abstract: A gun fired, artillery projectile and parachute recovery system for fin-silized, non-spinning projectiles. It has a a cylindrical payload with several fins mounted at its rear end and a conical nose section attached on the front end. The nose section has a base attached to a hollow windshield by frangible shear pins. The windshield encloses a parachute housing containing a parachute assembly attached by a bridle line to the base at a base pin. A time fuze at the forward end of the windshield activates an expulsion charge capable of separating the windshield from the parachute housing. A deployment spring attached between the base and parachute housing at one side ejects the parachute assembly from a side of the parachute housing far away from the fins. Thus upon firing the projectile at an angle of from about 40.degree. to about 85.degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Paul L. Fritch
  • Patent number: H1779
    Abstract: The present invention is a process and material for forming warhead casin The material itself consists of tightly wound carbon fiber bonded by a low temperature (room temperature) resin. This process of formation gives several advantages, including the ease of manufacturing and the elimination of the need to do inside threading as the interior of the casing can be totally formed during winding of the carbon thread. This also increases the speed of the formation process. The use of carbon thread and low temperature resins also gives several key advantages. First, the low temperature aspect of the resin allows the resulting casing to break down at temperatures significantly less than the ignition point of the munitions held within it. Because the fibers tend to separate as the ambient temperature increases, the casing will auto-ventilate at high temperatures. Additionally, since the casing is formed from carbon fibers, it maintains a high tensile strength while minimizing the weight of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Fred W. Watson, Jr., J. Wayne Hannock, Robert G. Lam, George R. Evans