USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Harold W Sandusky

Gerrit T Sutherland

Phillip J Miller

Raafat H Guirguis

Mary Hilker Sherlock

Joshua E Felts

Carl Gotzmer

Steven S Kim

Brian A Cole

John M Kelley

Lori A Nock

Wade Babcock

George P Chambers

Charles Stevens Coffey

Kyle Matthew Beckett

Forrest R Svingala

Kendall C Elliott

Reid M McKeown

Frederica A Coffey, Legal Representative

Richard H Granholm

Douglas G Bohl

A fuze booster includes a first explosive charge having a cavity with an annular portion of the first explosive charge encircling a first axial portion of the cavity and a semi-annular portion partially encircling a second axial portion of the cavity. The annular portion abuts the semi-annular portion. An explosively-inert material abuts the semi-annular portion, abuts the annular portion, and partially encircles the second axial portion of the cavity. A second explosive charge abuts the explosively-inert material, abuts the semi-annular portion, and partially encircles the second axial portion of the cavity. The second axial portion of the cavity is thus completely encircled by a combination of the semi-annular portion, the explosively-inert material, and the second explosive charge.

Detonation-wave-shaping fuze booster

A warhead fuse mechanism is used to prevent an accidental explosive event of a warhead by separating the booster lead into a plurality of booster lead segments, with each of the individual booster lead segments having a diameter less than the failure diameter of the booster lead explosive. A separating device separates the booster lead segments from each other to maintain the failure diameter until detonation is desired.

Warhead fuse

A friction tester for explosive material includes a cylinder with a piston disposed therein for sliding movement along the cylinder's axial dimension. The piston includes first and second opposing faces. A plate is coupled to the piston and extends away from the first face thereof along the cylinder's axial dimension. The plate includes a portion extending from the cylinder. The plate has opposing surfaces of defined surface roughness. A sample holder disposed adjacent to the cylinder holds an explosive material sample against each of the opposing surfaces of the plate at the portion thereof that extends from the cylinder. A driver coupled to the second face of the piston drives the piston in the cylinder's axial dimension such that the plate moves relative to and against each explosive material sample.

Sliding friction tester for explosive material

Compounded High Explosive Composites provide a novel family of low-cost explosives that exhibit anisotropic (directionally dependent, non-symmetric) sensitivity properties to replace current homogenous plastic bonded high explosives that are vulnerable to unwanted detonation from a variety of hazards and operating conditions. Anisotropic sensitivity behavior is largely achieved by manipulating the bulk property of critical diameter to fine-tune the compounded geometry of the explosive composite. As such, Compounded High Explosive Composites represent structural arrangements of small, spatially distributed, highly consolidated explosive units (pellets) arranged in a prescribed (but versatile) fashion in a motion and energy-dampening rubbery matrix. The compounded geometry and structural arrangement allows the explosive pellets to function cooperatively and detonate in an exemplary orientation, while ensuring the pellets do not cooperate in other directions to mitigate against known vulnerabilities and threats.

Compounded high explosive composites for impact mitigation

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives. Advantages are that the weight and volume of a warhead do not include explosives, binders, and underwater-use oxidizers employed with fuel particles in conventional energetic materials. A warhead may thus have greater density for effective penetration; and, since the fuel is not incorporated in an explosive, dispersing charges can be removed until use, and metal fuels hazardous when incorporated in an explosive can be used.

Melted metal dispersal warhead

The invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating energetic materials for ignitability, flamespread, pressure and thermal characteristics, energetic material interaction, and other properties. The invention is directed to an apparatus for analyzing the suitability of energetic materials for interactions with other energetic materials, explosive or non-explosive. The invention includes a vented combustion chamber, an ignition tube and a firing mechanism. The invention also includes methods for using the apparatus. For example, the apparatus of the invention may be used to analyze energetic materials for their use in destroying rubble which may contain explosive material.

Apparatus and methods for evaluation of energetic materials

A warhead fuse mechanism is used to prevent an accidental explosive event of a warhead by positioning a booster lead carrier, having a booster lead segment, positioned between the warhead detonator and warhead explosive. In a safe position the booster lead segment is off-set from alignment with the warhead detonator and warhead explosive. The warhead fuse is armed by rotating either the warhead detonator or booster lead carrier to align the warhead detonator and booster lead segment to form a detonation chain between the warhead detonator and warhead explosive.

Weapon fuse method

An apparatus for conducting a small-scale shock reactivity and internal blast test (SSBT), and a related test method that simulates a large scale test of explosive materials while employing small quantities of materials for the characterization. The apparatus includes a small scale shock reactivity test (SSRT) device, and an internal blast test device including a pressure chamber with an accessible interior, a pressure transducer, a multipurpose port provides an electrical connection to the shock reactivity test device, and a small gas port. The SSRT device is housed within the pressure chamber, and gases and materials produced during a small scale shock reactivity test are quasi-statically retained by the pressure chamber. The pressure transducer is in communication with an instrument that can display the pressure detected in the pressure chamber for analysis.

Small-scale shock reactivity and internal blast test

A reusable small-scale explosive testing apparatus has a structural member with a curved internal chamber, a head piece that inserts into the chamber, a cap to hold the head piece, a pressure-time gage, water to fill the chamber and a pressure release mechanism. The apparatus is used to test small amounts of explosive.

Inertial confinement cylinder for explosive characterization

A universal receiver having a pneumatic safe/arm/firing mechanism is provd. The receiver comprises a receiver shell with a threaded barrel clampnut on one end and a threaded breech plug assembly on the opposite end. The breech plug assembly includes a cocking and striker piece and a pneumatically-operated sear. A separate pneumatically-operated safety bar interlocks with the cocking and striker piece to prevent inadvertent firing. A multi-port pneumatic valve is connected to sequentially operate the safety bar retractor followed by the sear retraction, thereby firing the gun.

Growing community of inventors

Fulton, MD, United States of America

Harold W Sandusky