Payload expulsion system for deep-target penetrators

Abstract

Improved deep target penetrating munitions are disclosed which bring about controlled ejection of the payload following the penetration by the munition of the ceiling of a hardened facility. The ejection results from a plurality of selected propelling charges, which are activated following a signal from a fuze by a shock-hardened electronic trigger system. The shock-hardened electronic trigger system is programmed to automatically select the appropriate charges to match and cancel out the instantaneous terminal velocity of the munitions following the penetration of the ceiling of a hardened target facility. In this manner, the payload is deployed within the target facility for maximum effect and minimum collateral damage.

1 . Deep target penetrating munitions comprising a casing having reinforced nose cone, a payload to be ejected, a fuze to initiate the ejection of said payload, including a plurality of propelling charges and means for providing an expulsion system, which effects expulsion of said payload after penetration of and within a hardened target facility.  
   
   
       2 . Munitions according to  claim 1  wherein said expulsion system comprises within a hardened target facility, a shock-hardened electronic trigger system to control the sequence of expulsion of said plurality of propelling charges to bring about the ejection of said payload within said target facility.  
   
   
       3 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said means providing said expulsion system include means operational for effective payload ejection payload ejection upon the penetration by said munitions of a ceiling of said target facility but before said munitions reach a floor of said facility.  
   
   
       4 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said propelling charges are of different sizes.  
   
   
       5 . Munitions according to  claim 2  in which said shock-hardened electronic trigger system is operative to select some of said propelling charges for activation to bring about the ejection of said payload at a velocity that matches and cancels out the instantaneous velocity of said munitions immediately following the penetration by said munitions of said ceiling.  
   
   
       6 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said propelling charges are selected from the group consisting of said propelling charges of different sizes which are activated simultaneously and of propelling charges which are activated sequentially.  
   
   
       7 . Munitions according to  claim 2  in which said shock-hardened electronic trigger system is controlled by said fuze to initiate said expulsion sequence.  
   
   
       8 . Munitions according tor  claim 1  in which said propelling charges are of granulated propellant material.  
   
   
       9 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said propelling charges are compacted.  
   
   
       10 . Munitions according to  claim 9  in which a binding agent is included in said compacted charges.  
   
   
       11 . Munitions according to  claim 9  in which said propelling charges are of shape selected to facilitate expulsion of said payload  
   
   
       12 . Munitions according to  claim 9  in which said propelling charges include voids useful for containing means for igniting said charges.  
   
   
       13 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said casing has a nose cone and said propelling charges are installed in metal-lined cavities situated in said nose cone.  
   
   
       14 . Munitions according to  claim 13  in which said cavities are internally lined with inert material.  
   
   
       15 . Munitions according to  claim 9  in which said compacted propelling charges are encased in polymeric materials.  
   
   
       16 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said expulsion system includes means for igniting at least one of said propelling charges following said ejection of said payload.  
   
   
       17 . Munitions according to  claim 1  in which said propelling charges are selected from the group including charges which are stick, monolithic, and perforated propellant charges.  
   
   
       18 . Munitions according to  claim 2  in which charges are ignited in sequence and said shock-hardened electronic trigger system controls the timing of said ignition sequence of said propelling charges.  
   
   
       19 . Munitions according to  claim 2  in which said shock-hardened electronic trigger system comprises one or more microprocessors, a plurality of field effect transistor switches, and one or more power capacitors.  
   
   
       20 . Munitions according to  claim 19  in which said power capacitors provide electrical power to the electronic components of said shock-hardened electronic trigger module.  
   
   
       21 . Munitions according to  claim 20  in which said power capacitors are charged only following the release of said munitions from an aircraft.  
   
   
       22 . Munitions according to  claim 19  in which said field effect transistor switches responsive to signals from said microprocessors initiate the ignition of said expulsion charges.