Modular charge system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303961-B1
Application number	US-201313998208-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 11, 2013
Priority date	Oct 11, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A modular charge system based on a standard module fitted with a flying plate or a liner and axially coupled to other modules to configure the size and type of charge. The explosive is enclosed in a casing, which has a cylindrical wall with a plurality of external longitudinal rails that run lengthwise. The rails are substantially parallel, and approximately equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the casing. The space between a pair of rails defines a channel. The casing rails function as a cylindrical tamper. The explosive is partitioned into removable portions and permanent portions, where the removable portions are separated from the permanent portions and any retained removable portions, therein enabling the module to be fitted with a variety of flying plates, liners and other hardware. Modules may be coupled utilizing internal slides, positioned in the channels to join modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular charge system, comprising:
a standard module having a charge of explosive material, wherein said standard module is fitted with one of a flying plate, a liner, and a projectile, and wherein the standard module is coupled with other modules therein configuring a total charge of explosive material and a total weight and composition with the flying plate, the liner, the projectile and other hardware, wherein said standard module is axially coupled to at least one said other module, said standard module is comprised of an explosive enclosed in a casing having a substantially cylindrical wall with a plurality of external longitudinal rails that run lengthwise, wherein said rails are substantially parallel and approximately equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the casing, wherein a space between a pair of rails defines a channel, said casing and rails functioning in-part as a cylindrical tamper around the explosive, wherein said explosive in the standard module is partitioned into substantially removable portions and permanent portions, wherein said removable portions is separated from the permanent portions and any retained removable portions, therein enabling the explosive material to be shaped and configured to multiple types of charges; and
a coupling mechanism utilizing elongate internal slides, being positioned in channels for joining said one standard module to said at least one other module,
wherein standardization and utilization of a partitioned explosive packed in at least one of the standard module and said at least one other module to condense and consolidate multiple explosives and explosive tools into a few relatively lightweight devices.

2. The modular charge system according to claim 1 , wherein each rail is comprised of an upper left side, a upper right side, a left under side, a right under side, and a bottom that is contiguous with a perimeter wall of the casing, wherein said upper left side and said upper right side intersect to form an apical edge, wherein said left under side and said right under side of each of the casing's rails are undercut, each side to form a sloped undercut surface.

3. The modular charge system according to claim 2 , wherein the type of charge is a shape charge, wherein the shaped charge is an explosively formed projectile, configured to use a plurality of coupled standardized modules, where a conical portion of the partitioned explosive is removed, therein to shape the explosive charge and enable room for a changeable conical liner to be fitted, and wherein the conical liner is comprised of material selected from one of copper, magnesium, and glass.

4. The modular charge system according to claim 2 , wherein the type of charge is a linear shape charge, where a plurality of a modules are consecutively coupled, wherein said plurality of modules are comprised of removable portions, which are wedges substantially semi-circular in shape that are removable and replaceable by an inserted angled liner of a bar of similar dimensions, and wherein the liner is comprised of a material selected from one of copper, magnesium, and glass.

5. The modular charge system according to claim 2 , wherein the type of charge is a linear shape charge, where a plurality of modules are consecutively coupled, wherein said plurality of modules comprise removable portions, which are wedges substantially elliptical in shape that are removable and replaceable by an inserted hemispherical copper liner of similar dimensions.

6. The modular charge system according to claim 2 , wherein the slides include a notch, and wherein the slides are fitted with stops, which are tightenable to prevent any further movement of the slides relative to the channel.

7. The modular charge system according to claim 1 , wherein the type of charge is a flyer plate configured to use a single standardized module with the partitioned explosive, where the explosive is slightly recessed from a rim of the casing, and substantially none of the removable portions of the partitioned explosive have been removed, and wherein the standard module is fitted with a changeable plate comprised of material selected from one of steel, copper, and aluminum.

8. The modular charge system according to claim 1 , further comprising an igniter access port.

9. The modular charge system according to claim 1 , further comprising an ancillary sight, wherein the ancillary sight is mounted on an external longitudinal rail.

10. The modular charge system according to claim 1 , wherein the explosive is selected from one of cyclo-trimethylene-trinitramine (RDX), cyclotetramethylenetetra-nitramine (HMX), pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN), hexa-nitrostilbene (HNS), and dipicramide (DiPam).

11. A modular charge system, comprising:
a backpack;
a plurality of standard modules being axially coupled to at least one other module, wherein each of said plurality of standard modules is comprised of an explosive in a casing, which has a substantially cylindrical wall with a plurality of rails that run lengthwise, wherein said rails are substantially parallel and approximately equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the casing, wherein a space between a pair of said plurality of rails defines a channel, wherein said casing and said plurality of rails define a cylindrical tamper around the explosive, wherein said explosive in one of said plurality of standard modules is partitioned into substantially removable portions and permanent portions, wherein said removable portions are separated from the permanent portions and any retained removable portions, therein to enable the standard module to be fitted with at least-one of a flying plate, a liner, and a projectile;
a plurality of flying plates;
a plurality of liners;
a plurality of projectiles;
a plurality of igniters;
a closing module plate; and
a coupling mechanism utilizing elongate internal slides, for positioning in a plurality of channels for joining one of said plurality of standard modules to another of said plurality of modules,
wherein said explosive, which is partitioned, enables consolidating multiple explosives and explosive tools into a plurality of lightweight devices, and
wherein said plurality of rails are a plurality of external longitudinal rails.

12. The modular charge system according to claim 11 , wherein each of said plurality of rails is comprised of an upper left side, a upper right side, a left under side, a right under side, and a bottom, which is contiguous with a perimeter wall of the casing, wherein said upper left side and said upper right side intersect to form an apical edge, and wherein said left under side and said right under side of each of the plurality of rails is undercut so that each side forms a sloped undercut surface.

13. The modular charge system according to claim 11 , further comprising a stand for positioning the charge.

14. The modular charge system according to claim 11 , further comprising an empty standard module initially absent an explosive, where said empty standard module is used to store a removed explosive, and wherein plastic bags are used to cushion and store water based solutions.

15. A standard module for shaped charges, comprising:
a casing having a substantially cylindrical wall with a plurality of rails that run lengthwise, wherein said plurality of rails are substantially parallel and approximately equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the casing, wherein a space between a pair of said plurality of rails defines a channel, wherein said casing and said plurality of rails define a cylindrical tamper around an explosive c

Assignees

• Frericks Lonnie
• Higdon Thomas
• Lincoln Michael D
• Brush Bob
• Hovenga Mitchell
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Frericks Lonnie
• Higdon Thomas
• Lincoln Michael D
• Brush Bob
• Hovenga Mitchell

Classifications

• F42B1/028 Primary

  characterised by the form of the liner · CPC title

• F42B1/02

  Shaped or hollow charges (blasting cartridges with cavities in the charge F42B3/08; oil winning using shaped-charge perforators E21B43/116) · CPC title

• F42B3/08

  with cavities in the charge, e.g. hollow-charge blasting cartridges · CPC title

• F42B1/032

  characterised by the material of the liner · CPC title

• F42B12/10

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