Munition with controlled self neutralization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10955231-B1
Application number	US-202016873581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 11, 2020
Priority date	Oct 30, 2017
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for an area-denial munition configured for self-neutralization of an explosive ordnance. In one or more embodiments the munition including a housing including a chassis defining one or more openings such that the housing is an at least partially open structure exposing an interior to an ambient environment. In various embodiments the munition includes a detonation module including a detonation initiator and a deflagration module including a deflagration initiator coupled with a pyrotechnic primer, and munition control circuitry. In various embodiments the munition control circuitry receives instructions to deflagrate the explosive ordnance and instructs the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator. In various embodiments, the deflagration initiator causes a deflagration of the explosive ordnance for self-neutralization of the munition resulting in safe destruction of the munition's explosive charge and control electronics.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a munition configured for self-neutralization of an explosive ordnance, the munition including a housing for at least partially containing the explosive ordnance, the housing including one or more openings such that the housing is an at least partially open structure exposing the explosive ordnance to an ambient environment, the munition further including a deflagration module including a deflagration initiator and munition control circuitry, where the deflagration initiator is one of an exploding foil initiator (EFI) and a low energy exploding foil initiator (LEEFI), and is configured to initiate deflagration of the explosive ordnance via a deflagration voltage driven through a metal wire or strip, the deflagration voltage being reduced by 40% to 70% relative to a detonation voltage, the method comprising:
instructing, via the munition control circuitry, the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator; and
causing, via the deflagration initiator, a deflagration of the explosive ordnance by driving the deflagration voltage through the metal wire or strip.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are defined by at least a top annular edge and a bottom annular edge.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more openings are in a sidewall surrounding the explosive ordnance.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein deflagration of the explosive ordnance is a substantially non-pressurized in the munition such that pressure resulting from the deflagration escapes the housing via the one or more openings at a rate that is equal to or greater than a rate of pressure build-up within the housing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deflagration initiator is coupled with at least one of a pyrotechnic primer and the explosive ordnance, and when coupled with the pyrotechnic primer, the deflagration initiator is configured to cause a deflagration of the pyrotechnic primer for deflagration of the explosive ordnance.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, via an electronic safe and arm device (ESAD), that a set of arming criteria for deflagration is satisfied;
wherein instructing the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator is in response to determining that the set of arming criteria for deflagration is satisfied.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of arming criteria includes one or more of: the physical orientation of the munition, the acceleration of the munition, authorization credentials, target distance from the munition, sensor data confidence, and probability of successful engagement with a target.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the set of arming criteria includes authorization credentials transmitted from a human operator.

9. A munition configured for self-neutralization of an explosive ordnance, the munition comprising:
a housing including at least partially containing the explosive ordnance, the housing including one or more openings such that the housing is an at least partially open structure exposing the explosive ordnance to an ambient environment;
a deflagration module the deflagration initiator being one of an exploding foil initiator (EFI) and a low energy exploding foil initiator (LEEFI), and configured to initiate deflagration of the explosive ordnance via a deflagration voltage driven through a metal wire or strip, the deflagration voltage being reduced by 40% to 70% relative to a detonation voltage; and
a munition controller including a processor and memory, the memory including a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the munition controller to:
instruct, via munition control circuitry, the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator; and
cause, via the deflagration initiator, a deflagration of the explosive ordnance.

10. The munition of claim 9 , wherein the one or more openings are defined by at least a top annular edge and a bottom annular edge.

11. The munition of claim 9 , wherein the one or more openings are in a sidewall surrounding the explosive ordnance.

12. The munition of claim 9 , wherein deflagration of the explosive ordnance is a substantially non-pressurized in the munition such that pressure resulting from the deflagration escapes the housing via the one or more openings at a rate that is equal to or greater than a rate of pressure build-up within the housing.

13. The munition of claim 9 , wherein the deflagration initiator is coupled with at least one of a pyrotechnic primer and the explosive ordnance, and when coupled with the pyrotechnic primer, the deflagration initiator is configured to cause a deflagration of the pyrotechnic primer for deflagration of the explosive ordnance.

14. The munition of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions are executable by the processor to further cause the munition controller to:
determine, via an electronic safe and arm device (ESAD), that a set of arming criteria for deflagration is satisfied; and
wherein instructing the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator is in response to determining that the set of arming criteria for deflagration is satisfied.

15. The munition of claim of claim 14 , wherein the set of arming criteria includes one or more of: the physical orientation of the munition, the acceleration of the munition, authorization credentials, target distance from the munition, sensor data confidence, and probability of successful engagement with a target.

16. An area denial system for deployment in a region, the area denial system comprising:
a plurality of munitions;
wherein each of the plurality of munitions are configured for self-neutralization of an explosive ordnance, each of the munitions including:
a housing including at least partially containing the explosive ordnance, the housing including one or more openings such that the housing is an at least partially open structure exposing the explosive ordnance to an ambient environment;
a deflagration module the deflagration initiator being one of an exploding foil initiator (EFI) and a low energy exploding foil initiator (LEEFI), and configured to initiate deflagration of the explosive ordnance via a deflagration voltage driven through a metal wire or strip, the deflagration voltage being reduced by 40% to 70% relative to a detonation voltage; and
a munition controller including a processor and memory, the memory including a set of instructions executable by the processor to cause the munition controller to:
instruct, via munition control circuitry, the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator; and
cause, via the deflagration initiator, a deflagration of the explosive ordnance.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the set of instructions are executable by the processor to further cause the munition controller to:
determine, via an electronic safe and arm device (ESAD), that a set of arming criteria for deflagration is satisfied;
wherein instructing the deflagration module to activate the deflagration initiator is in response to determining that the set of arming criteria for deflagration is satisfied.

18. The system of claim of claim 17 , wherein the set of arming criteria includes one or more of: the physical orientation of the munition, the acceleration of the munition, authorization credentials, target distance from the munition, sensor data confidence, and probability of successful engagement with a target.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein deflagration of the explosive ordnance is a subst

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems Inc

Inventors

• Lucas James D
• Warp William E
• Miller Nathan W
• Fink Kenneth
• Lorentz Thomas

Classifications

• F42D5/04 Primary

  Rendering explosive charges harmless, e.g. destroying ammunition ({F42B39/14 and F42B39/20 take precedence } ; extracting primers, dismantling ammunition F42B33/04, F42B33/06 {; chemical deactivating of explosives C06B21/0091}); Rendering detonation of explosive charges harmless · CPC title

• F42B3/124

  characterised by the configuration or material of the bridge (F42B3/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B12/10 Primary

  with shaped or hollow charge (shaped or hollow charges per se F42B1/02 {; mines having hollow charges F42B23/04}) · CPC title

• F42C15/44

  Arrangements for disarming, or for rendering harmless, fuzes after arming, e.g. after launch · CPC title

• F42C19/0842

  Arrangements of a multiplicity of primers or detonators, dispersed within a warhead, for multiple mode selection · CPC title