Munition with preformed fragments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9683822-B2
Application number	US-201514723804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2015
Priority date	May 28, 2015
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A munition that is adapted to enhance fragmentation effects upon detonation includes preformed fragments between a casing and a shell. The overall mass of the preformed fragments is greater than the overall combined mass of the casing and the shell for enhancing the degree of controlled fragmentation compared to uncontrolled fragmentation. By enhancing the dispersal of controlled fragmentation, the overall fragmentation area coverage and fragmentation pattern density may also be enhanced while limiting travel of the fragmentation beyond the target area for reducing collateral damage. The preformed fragments may fill a continuous volume between the casing and the shell to effectively utilize the munition volume and to maximize the amount of preformed fragments contained within the shell. The preformed fragments may be free flowing pellets that are poured into the volume between the casing and the shell for enhancing distribution of the fragments and for improving assembly of the munition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A munition comprising:
a casing;
an explosive enclosed by the casing;
a shell surrounding the casing; and
preformed fragments in a volume between the casing and the shell;
wherein the preformed fragments have a combined mass greater than the combined mass of the casing and the shell; and
wherein a ratio of the combined mass of the preformed fragments to the combined mass of the casing and the shell is in a range between 1.05:1 to 3.7:1.

2. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments fill the volume between the casing and the shell and continuously surround the radially outer surface of the casing from one end of the casing to the opposite end of the casing.

3. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments include free flowing metal pellets.

4. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments include balls having a diameter between 0.10 inches to 0.50 inches.

5. A munition comprising:
a casing;
an explosive enclosed by the casing;
a shell surrounding the casing; and
preformed fragments in a volume between the casing and the shell;
wherein the preformed fragments have a combined mass greater than the combined mass of the casing and the shell;
wherein the preformed fragments include balls having a first size distribution between 0.10 inches to 0.25 inches in diameter, and a second size distribution between 0.25 inches to 0.50 inches in diameter; and
wherein a ratio of the amount of preformed fragments having the first size distribution to the amount of preformed fragments having the second size distribution is between 1:1 to 20:1.

6. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments are enclosed as parts of self-contained fragmentation packs that are located in the volume between the casing and the shell.

7. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments are in cast fragment blocks that include multiple of the preformed fragments held together by a binder.

8. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments are made of metal selected from the group consisting of: steel, tungsten, aluminum, tantalum, lead, titanium, zirconium, copper, molybdenum, magnesium, zirconium-coated steel, zirconium-coated tungsten, and other similar materials.

9. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the volume between the casing and the shell includes interstitial spaces between the preformed fragments, and wherein the interstitial spaces contain a filler material.

10. The munition according to claim 9 , wherein the filler material is a polymer.

11. The munition according to claim 9 , wherein the filler material is a metallic powder.

12. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the shell is an airframe having a forward connection configured for mounting a nose kit, and an aft connection configured for mounting a tail kit.

13. The munition according to claim 12 , wherein the airframe is configured to emulate the aerodynamic properties of an existing munition airframe.

14. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the casing is a unitary welded casing made of steel or aluminum, and wherein the shell is made of aluminum, steel, and/or composites.

15. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the preformed fragments are disposed in the volume to enable emulation of the center of gravity characteristics of an existing munition.

16. The munition according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the combined mass of the preformed fragments to the combined mass of the casing and the shell is in a range between 1.2:1 to 3:1.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Kerns Keith A
• Spilotro John J
• Bootes Thomas H
• Cundiff Brandon J
• Waddell Jesse T
• Lee Wayne Y

Classifications

• F42B33/001

  Devices or processes for assembling ammunition, cartridges or cartridge elements from parts · CPC title

• F42B12/58

  Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles (F42B12/32 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F42B12/32 Primary

  the hull or case comprising a plurality of discrete bodies, e.g. steel balls, embedded therein {or disposed around the explosive charge} · CPC title

• F42B12/34 Primary

  expanding before or on impact, i.e. of dumdum or mushroom type · CPC title