Internal reinforcement and confinement structure for warheads

Abstract

A warhead which is adapted to be launched in a predetermined axial direction includes a support structure having a plurality of walls which extend in a direction parallel to the predetermined axial direction. The support structure forms a plurality of closed chambers which are laterally spaced apart from each other and are elongated in the axial direction. A high explosive is contained within the structure cavities.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A warhead adapted to be launched in an axial launch direction comprising:
 a support structure having a plurality of walls which extend in a direction parallel to said axial launch direction and form a plurality of chambers which are laterally spaced apart from each other relative to said axial launch direction, each of said chambers having a critical detonation cross section area required for stable, sustainable detonation,   an explosive which at least partially fills said chambers   wherein each chamber has a cross section area greater than the critical detonation cross section area required for stable, sustainable detonation.   
     
     
         2 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said chambers are elongated in the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         3 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said chambers may be open, i.e. cell walls do not form a closed loop, or closed, i.e. cell walls form closed loops, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support structure separates adjacent chambers from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said support structure comprises a honeycomb. 
     
     
         6 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said chambers are each hexagonal in shape in cross section perpendicular to the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         7 . The warhead as defined in  claim 5  wherein each chamber spaced inwardly from the outer periphery of said structure is substantially the same size in said cross section. 
     
     
         8 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said structure is constructed of a structural material that comprises a polyamide. 
     
     
         9 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said explosive is a melt-cast high explosive. 
     
     
         10 . The warhead as defined in  claim 1  wherein said structure is constructed of a structural material comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy or other lightweight structural material. 
     
     
         11 . An explosive device adapted to be launched comprising:
 a device having a launch axis   a support structure having a plurality of walls which extend in a direction parallel to said axial launch direction and that form a plurality of chambers that extend longitudinally in the direction of the launch axis and that are separated and spaced apart from each other relative to said axial launch direction,   an explosive which at least partially fills said chambers wherein said explosive has a critical detonation area,   wherein each chamber has a cross section area, measured perpendicular to the axial launch axis, that is greater than the critical detonation area of the high explosive fill.   
     
     
         12 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said chambers are each hexagonal in shape in cross section perpendicular to the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         13 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said chambers are each rectangular in shape in cross section perpendicular to the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         14 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said chambers are each polygonal in shape in cross section perpendicular to the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         15 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said chambers are each circular in shape in cross section perpendicular to the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         16 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said chambers are each a parallelogram in shape in cross section perpendicular to the axial launch direction. 
     
     
         17 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said explosive is a melt-cast high explosive. 
     
     
         18 . The explosive device as defined in  claim 11  wherein said support structure is constructed of a structural material comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy or other lightweight structural material. 
     
     
         19 . A warhead adapted to be launched in an axial launch direction comprising:
 a support structure having a plurality of walls which extend in a direction parallel to said axial launch direction and form a plurality of chambers which are laterally spaced apart from each other relative to said axial launch direction,   an explosive which at least partially fills said chambers   wherein said warhead does not require multipoint detonation.   
     
     
         20 . An explosive device adapted to be launched comprising:
 a device having a launch axis   a support structure having a plurality of walls which extend in a direction parallel to said axial launch direction and that form a plurality of chambers that extend longitudinally in the direction of the launch axis and that are separated and spaced apart from each other relative to said axial launch direction,   an explosive which at least partially fills said chambers   
       wherein said warhead does not require multipoint detonation.