Projectile or warhead

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to obtain great final ballistic effectiveness of fragmentation bullets and warheads regardless of the impact speed while using as little explosive material as possible. Said aim is achieved by combining explosive shell ( 3 ) with a damming inner member ( 4 ) in connection with an accelerated outer jacket ( 2 ). This arrangement results in the best possible conversion of the explosive energy while offering great creative flexibility regarding the design. A wide range of additional possible effects is created by blast-compacting the inner damming member ( 4 ). Furthermore, the shape of the inner damming member allows the fragments to obtain a directionally controlled effect. Depending on the caliber and technical design, the amount of explosive material used can be reduced by 50 to 80 percent compared to conventional explosive bullets at comparable fragment speeds or sub-bullet speeds. The explosive material economized is available as additional effective mass. The accelerated jacket ( 2 ) can also be entirely or partly composed of preformed fragments or sub-bullets.

1 . A projectile or warhead forming fragments or subprojectiles (fragmentation munition) with partial explosive covering,
 characterised in that   a fragmentation projectile jacket ( 2 ) is arranged over an explosive layer ( 3 ) which is thin in relation to the projectile diameter and which in turn surrounds an internal body ( 4 ) damming the explosive layer ( 3 ).   
   
   
       2 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the thickness of the explosive layer ( 3 ) is between 2 mm and 20 mm. 
   
   
       3 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) is introduced by a casting technology process or in the form of a preformed body or pressed into position or introduced under a reduced pressure. 
   
   
       4 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) is in the form of a hollow cylinder of a cross-sectional shape and/or wall thickness which remains the same or is variable. 
   
   
       5 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) is homogeneous or contains additives or embedded bodies. 
   
   
       6 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that firing of the individual explosive segments ( 8 ) or a plurality of explosive layers is effected in point form, in line form or in ring form at one or more locations. 
   
   
       7 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  or  claim 6  characterised in that firing is effected by way of a time, distance or impact fuse, by way of a program-controlled signal or by means of radio. 
   
   
       8 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  and  claim 7  characterised in that firing of a plurality of explosive elements ( 8 ) is effected by pre-firing, simultaneous firing or serial firing (in time-displaced relationship). 
   
   
       9 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) is of a one-part structure (metallic or non-metallic) or a multi-part structure. 
   
   
       10 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) comprises a brittle material or a material which becomes brittle under dynamic loading. 
   
   
       11 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 9  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) contains subprojectiles (steel, hard metal, heavy metal). 
   
   
       12 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 9  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) is prefragmented or is subjected to mechanical or thermal preliminary treatment. 
   
   
       13 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) is in the form of a homogeneous or segmented penetrator or includes such a penetrator. 
   
   
       14 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 9  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) comprises a plurality of (identical or different) subprojectiles/internal bodies. 
   
   
       15 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 14  characterised in that the subprojectiles enclose an inert volume. 
   
   
       16 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  or  claim 14  characterised in that the internal body/the internal bodies ( 4 ) is/are of any cross-sectional area/any cross-sectional areas. 
   
   
       17 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) represents or includes a container. 
   
   
       18 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 17  characterised in that the internal body/container is filled with an inert or reactive medium. 
   
   
       19 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  and  claim 16  characterised in that the internal body ( 4 ) comprises a medium which is reactive under pressure loading or under a temperature influence. 
   
   
       20 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the projectile has two or more explosive layers in a radial direction. 
   
   
       21 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) is made up of interconnected surfaces or of surfaces which are separated (in the radial and/or axial direction). 
   
   
       22 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) forms an angle with respect to the projectile axis. 
   
   
       23 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) is formed from separate or connected segments of any surface configuration. 
   
   
       24 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterised in that the accelerated jacket ( 2 ) entirely or partially comprises preformed fragments or subprojectiles. 
   
   
       25 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 24  characterised in that the fragments/subprojectiles are accelerated in directionally controlled fashion. 
   
   
       26 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that fragment bodies are introduced between the explosive layer ( 3 ) and the projectile jacket ( 2 ). 
   
   
       27 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 26  characterised in that the fragment bodies are embedded into a matrix. 
   
   
       28 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that a layer of a brittle material is disposed between the explosive layer ( 3 ) and the projectile jacket ( 2 ). 
   
   
       29 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the layer backed with explosive is positioned within a projectile outer jacket. 
   
   
       30 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 29  characterised in that there is a hollow space between the explosive layer ( 3 ) and the projectile jacket ( 2 ). 
   
   
       31 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that a liquid enclosure is inserted between the explosive layer ( 3 ) and the projectile jacket ( 2 ). 
   
   
       32 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that a dynamically damping medium is disposed between the explosive layer ( 3 ) and the projectile jacket ( 2 ). 
   
   
       33 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that a layer dynamically supporting the damming action is disposed between the explosive layer ( 3 ) and the internal body ( 4 ). 
   
   
       34 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the longitudinal section of the explosive layer ( 3 ) is of any form (contour). 
   
   
       35 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 34  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) is of equal thickness over its entire length or has contours which are different at one side. 
   
   
       36 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the explosive layer ( 3 ) represents a hollow layer with ends closed at one or both sides or intermediate layers (explosive bridges). 
   
   
       37 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  or  claim 36  characterised in that introduced internal bodies are accelerated by way of explosive elements in the axial direction. 
   
   
       38 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the damming internal body ( 4 ) contains a pyrotechnic element. 
   
   
       39 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the projectile is of a one-stage or multi-stage structure in the axial direction. 
   
   
       40 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the projectile has a tip ( 1 C) which is partially or completely filled with explosive. 
   
   
       41 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that a tip or a tip region of the projectile comprises an inert portion which is operative in final-ballistic relationship. 
   
   
       42 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the operative body comprises a combination of individual arrangements. 
   
   
       43 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the operative body is spin-stabilised or aerodynamically stabilised. 
   
   
       44 . A projectile or warhead as set forth in  claim 1  characterised in that the operative body represents a canon-launched projectile, the warfare portion of a missile, a bomb or the warfare portion of a torpedo.