US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Molycorp, Inc.

Ernest L Baker

Arthur Daniels

Vladimir M Gold

William J Poulos

James Pham

Brian Edward Fuchs

Barry Fishburn

Jeffrey R Kraft

David Pfau

Pai-Lien Lu

Robert E Davis

David S Wesson

John L Burba, Iii

Stewart Gilman

Victor Stepanov

Eric P Scheper

David Charles Daniel

Jack Pincay

Chuck L Chin

Nausheen Al-Shehab

Tan Vuong

Bruce D Williamson

Stanley DeFisher

Irene Wu

Adam J Enea

David Hunter

Gregory Stunzenas

A nanocomposite explosive liner for a main fill charge in a warhead may include a secondary high explosive having a mean crystal size less than about one micron, and a binder. The porosity of the liner may be in a range of about 1% to about 20%. A weight percentage of the binder in the liner may be in a range of about 1% to about 20%.

Shock mitigation barrier for warheads

An Insensitive Munitions safety device mitigates the occurrence of a violent response of an anti-armor munition subjected to elevated temperatures. The anti-armor munition includes a projectile body having fore and aft ends, an explosive charge disposed in the projectile body, and a projectile-forming or jet-forming liner disposed in the projectile body. The liner includes an aft surface contiguous with the explosive charge and a fore surface that defines a void. A liner restraint abuts a fore end of the liner and restrains movement of the liner. A portion of the liner restraint comprises a material having a heat deflection temperature less than the critical temperature of the explosive charge in the munition.

Liner release mechanism for anti-armor munitions

A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical fragmenting body, a pair of concentric cylindrical liners within, made of plastic, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost liner. In one embodiment, one liner provides various 'legs' of liner material and the other liner provides various open receptacle areas, into which such legs may come to rest when the liners are slid together and/or rotated relative to one another. Various recessed and/or raised areas of liner material can thus be randomly created by such adjustments, which lead to select fragmentation of the warhead upon detonation.

Multiple size fragment warhead

A simple, inexpensive, device and method of use thereof for disrupting the jet of a shaped charge and thereby significantly reducing the penetrating capability by over 90% thereof; thus providing a means to mitigate the damage caused by the premature or accidental jetting of the shaped charge. The device has a central support, along which radiate a plurality of increasing radius, generally hemi-circular, thin discs&#x2014;such that the outline of the disc edges thereof form a cone that models the interior of the hollow open mouth of the shaped charge&#x2014;importantly, the discs are staggered along the length of the central support. The device, which can be molded of inexpensive plastic, must be lodged fully within the hollow open mouth of the shaped charge at the time of the premature or accidental jetting&#x2014;to provide the desired mitigation.

Shaped charge jet disruptor

A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical body, a pair of concentric cylindrical liners made of plastic, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost liner. The innermost liner includes patterns formed thereon of recessed areas and solid liner elements. The outermost liner's interior surface includes patterns formed thereon of raised areas and solid liner elements. The outermost cylindrical liner is arranged to be adjustable relative to the innermost liner through rotation or translation. The explosive charge is disposed adjacent to the interior of the innermost cylindrical liner. Upon detonation of the explosive charge and because of the random dampening and temporal delay in transmitting the detonation energy through various locations of the randomly aligned cylindrical liners, the warhead body is caused to shear and break into fragments with different sizes. It can be understood that adjustment of the outermost cylindrical liner can be used to influence the size of fragments ultimately generated when the warhead breaks apart through detonation.

Selectable size fragmentation warhead

A single multipurpose ammunition projectile/warhead is provided, which has the capability of clearing a variety of different types of hardened targets. The single projectile of this invention may be used for breaching steel reinforced concrete walls; may be used against light armor targets; may be used for defeating bunkers; and may also be used for antipersonnel applications. Huge savings in time, money, inventory and logistics are realized through utilizing only this one multipurpose ammunition against all these types of targets. This multipurpose projectile, among other superb capabilities, is able to puncture an eight inch double steel reinforced concrete wall timed to then have its warhead explode into fragments. This allows fragmentation in a more effective, nearly ideal direction. The projectile warhead of made of extremely thick walled 300M steel; with the projectile center of gravity to be located equidistant between a pair of bourrelets, for increased stability.

Multipurpose target breaching warhead

A warhead includes a body, a patterned liner made of plastic, and an explosive charge disposed within the liner. The liner pattern is formed of gaps and liner elements. The explosive charge includes a first set of sections that are disposed adjacent to the liner gaps and a second set of sections that are disposed adjacent to the liner elements. Upon detonation of the explosive charge and because of the temporal delay in transmitting the detonation energy between these two sets of sections, the warhead body is caused to shear and break into fragments with controlled size. The use of plastic as the liner material also provides a welcome safety feature for this warhead. In the event of unwanted heat ignition, the plastic (which is also low melt temperature material), would melt to seal the explosive and would also flow. Because of the plastic, neither sudden pressure nor heat/ignition inside the round, would therefore be as catastrophic.

More safe insensitive munition for producing a controlled fragmentation pattern

A shaped charge warhead having a longitudinal axis includes a casing; a liner disposed in the casing; an explosive disposed behind the liner; a wave shaper disposed in the explosive, the wave shaper comprising a low reaction rate high blast reactive material; and a detonator disposed adjacent the explosive. Preferably, the wave shaper is symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. The low reaction rate, high-blast material may be, for example, one of powdered silicon or boron and powdered silicon or boron in a plastic matrix.

Low reaction rate, high blast shaped charge waveshaper

Shaped charges that generate fan-like jets can produce slotted holes in rock formations. A shaped charge includes a case having on open front end, an external surface and a longitudinal axis, all transverse cross-sections of the case being bi-symmetric; an explosive material disposed in the case, the case including at least one opening extending from the external surface to the explosive material for initiation of the explosive material; and a liner disposed over the explosive material; wherein a pair of substantially identical longitudinal slots are formed on the external surface, the longitudinal slots being about 180 degrees apart.

Geometric/mechanical apparatus to improve well perforator performance

Various shaped charges and methods of operation produce multiple jets in various profiles by employing multiple initiation points to address various earthen formations and producing different types of perforations in well bores. The shaped charge device includes a configuration of components wherein multiple detonation tracks are used to allow selective initiation and operation. Dual or quad initiation may be provided to initiate operation.

Selectable output well perforator and method for producing variable hole profiles

An explosive fragmentation munition having a longitudinal axis which includes a cylindrical shell portion having a thickness and an interior; a rounded shell portion having a thickness and an interior, the rounded shell portion being disposed at a front end of the cylindrical shell portion; an explosive disposed in the interiors of the cylindrical shell portion and the rounded shell portion; wherein the thickness of the rounded shell portion equals the thickness of the cylindrical shell portion where the rounded shell portion joins the cylindrical shell portion, and wherein the thickness of the rounded shell portion increases in a forward direction along the longitudinal axis.

Multifunctional explosive fragmentation airburst munition

Explosive fragmentation munition

A non-linear shaped charge perforator for use in perforating an oil and gas formation into which a wellbore has been drilled comprises a monolithic, axisymmetric metal case in which is disposed a main explosive charge between the front of the case, which is closed with a concave metal liner, and the closed back end of the case. The main explosive charge contains multiple initiation points, preferably two initiation points located about 180&#xb0; apart on the outside surface of the charge, so that when the perforator is detonated the main charge is initiated such that the metal liner is collapsed into a non-circular jet, preferably a fan-shaped jet, that pierces the casing of the wellbore and forms non-circular perforations, preferably slot-shaped perforations, in the surrounding formation.

Method and apparatus to improve perforating effectiveness using a unique multiple point initiated shaped charge perforator

A machinable datum for use in a vacuum fixture is disclosed. The vacuum fixture comprises: a cylindrical stationary mandrel portion having a central cavity therethrough, and comprising: a first end mountable to a machine tool, such as a lathe; a second end terminating in a contact datum intended for contact with a workpiece; and, vacuum means capable of introducing a vacuum into a space between said contact datum and said workpiece; a cylindrical plunger portion residing within said central cavity of said cylindrical stationary mandrel portion, said cylindrical plunger portion comprising: a first end approximately coextensive with said first end of said stationary mandrel portion, comprising a biasing spring; a plunger comprising a cylindrical plunger residing within said central cavity of said cylindrical stationary mandrel portion, and biased away from said first end of said stationary mandrel portion by said biasing spring; and, a second end terminating in a contact datum intended for contact with a workpiece; and wherein at least one of said contact datums are comprised of an easily machinable material which can be shaped to facilitate contact with a workpiece.

Machinable datum for a self-centering vacuum fixture

Dual mode warheads utilizing high-blast explosives ( ) and a shaped charge liner ( ) and a process for forming such warheads.

Growing community of inventors

Wantage, NJ, United States of America

Ernest L Baker