US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Jerry Lee Watson

Gould Gibbons, Jr

James M Garner

Bradford S Davis

James F Newill

William J Lawrence

John J Starkenberg

Deborah Pilarski

Robert B Frey

Michael J Zoltoski

A reactive armor includes an orderly stack of multiple leaves of explosive, interleaved with non-explosive compressible foam. The stack is enclosed between armor plates. The armor plates are moveable between a first position in which the stack is compressed and a second position in which the stack is not compressed. An igniter is in electrical communication with the leaves of explosive. Each of the multiple leaves of explosive has a thickness below the &ldquo;detonation failure thickness&rdquo; of the explosive. In the compressed state, the compressible foam is compressed and the explosive leaves are sufficiently close to support detonation. In the uncompressed state the compressible foam is expanded and the explosive leaves are not sufficiently close to support detonation, and the use of highly plasticized explosives prevents other types of explosion. The invention provides for switching the reactive armor between an explosive state and a non-explosive state.

Apparatus for reversing the detonability of an explosive in energetic armor

A fin disengagement device for limiting the range of a projectile uses an electronic safe and arm circuit to sense launch and spin levels. Once armed, the stored energy from the electronic safe and arm circuit is dumped into an initiator or directly to explosive bolts. The initiator ignites an energetic material to separate the fin from the projectile in-flight at a predetermined time. Alternatively, the explosive bolts separate the fin from the projectile in-flight at a predetermined time. In the embodiments using an initiator and energetic material, an opening or cavity in the rear portion of the projectile body or rod adapter acts as a pressure chamber. When enough pressure has built up from the burning of the energetic material, the front hub of the fin section expands enough to disengage the threads and separates the fin section from the projectile body.

Fin disengagement device for limiting projectile range

A composite, layered shield for protecting a vehicle housing explosives in an ammunition stowage compartment from the detonation of said explosives while in said compartment. Said shield comprises, in a layered fashion, a first layer of an energy absorbing rubber, a pusher plate layer, a crush element layer, and a second layer of an energy absorbing rubber. In order to protect the vehicle, the ammunition stowage compartment is lined with the composite, layered shield of the present invention. The shield is mounted in such a manner that the energy absorbing rubber is closest to the explosives, followed by the pusher plate, then the crush element, and finally the second energy absorbing rubber layer. The overall areal density of the shield is about 17.6 pounds per square foot. Said shield is light weight and provides effective blast and shock protection for the walls of the explosive containing stowage compartment as well as for the vehicle housing the stowage compartment.

Light weight attenuator of blast and shock from detonating munitions

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Darlington, MD, United States of America

Jerry Lee Watson