Advanced fragmentation hand grenade

Abstract

A fragmentation structure is provided with improved performance e.g., fragmentation, projectile generation, storage, and manufacturing. An embodiment can include an open fragmentation structure that can be separated into individual components that can include a structure body section with a compartment, a removable initiator or detonator, a top cap section having an aperture configured to accept the removable initiator or removable detonator, and an explosive. An exemplary explosive can be preassembled to fit within the structure without a need for pouring in an explosive. An exemplary structure or top cap of the structure can receive an embrittlement treatment increasing its fragmentation characteristics. An ability of the structure to be easily disassembled allows for safer storage and a longer shelf life. A design of an exemplary embodiment of the structure allows it to be used with a wide range of explosive materials in addition to many types of removable initiators or detonators.

1 . An advanced fragmentation device comprising:
 a device body having an interior compartment;   an explosive core comprised of a quantity of explosive material contained within said device body;   a coupling section comprising a selective coupling section formed in relation to said device body;   a removable detonator near the center of mass of the explosive core, wherein said removable detonator and explosive core are formed with materials and structure operable for detonating said explosive core so as to cause the body to disintegrate into a plurality of high velocity fragments, where the high explosive and the body are configured so that the fragments are projected in a direction relative to an axis of said device body formed through a longitudinal section of said removable detonator; and   a top cap section wherein said top cap section has an aperture adapted to accept said removable detonator;   wherein said coupling section is configured to selectively retain said removable detonator within said interior compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 1 , wherein the device body is comprised of embrittled carburized treated low carbon steel. 
     
     
         3 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 1 , wherein the device body is comprised of embrittled carbonitride treated low carbon steel. 
     
     
         4 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said coupling section comprises a threaded section of said aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said explosive core has a detonator well covered with a detonator well liner configured to isolate the explosive core from an outside environment. 
     
     
         6 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 1 , wherein said top cap section and device body is configured to be coupled together by press fitting said top cap section into said device body. 
     
     
         7 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 1 , wherein an interior or exterior surface of the device body and the top cap are pre-scored or are formed with a fragmentation pattern configured to have a different material strength of other sections of said device body. 
     
     
         8 . An advanced fragmentation device comprising:
 a device body having an interior compartment comprised of low carbon steel, wherein said device body comprised of low carbon steel has a first hardness and first structural integrity prior to application of an embrittlement process and a second hardness and second structural integrity after application of said embrittlement process comprising exposure to a high carbon environment and cooling step;   an explosive core comprised of a quantity of explosive material contained within said device body, wherein said explosive core contains a detonator well near the center of mass of said explosive core;   a detonator well liner placed inside detonator well configured to isolate the explosive core from an outside environment;   a top cap coupled to said device body, wherein said top cap section has an aperture adapted to accept a detonator; and   a removable detonator selectively coupled and retained to said top cap and placed in said detonator well near a center of mass of the explosive core for detonating said explosive core so as to cause the body to disintegrate into a plurality of high velocity fragments, where the explosive core and the body are configured so that the fragments are projected in one or more predetermined directions relative to an axis of said device body.   
     
     
         9 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 8 , wherein said top cap and device body are configured to be coupled together by press fitting said top cap into said device body. 
     
     
         10 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 8 , wherein said top cap and device body are configured to be selectively coupled together as well as removable by threated fitting said device body to said top cap. 
     
     
         11 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 8 , wherein said second hardness is harder than first hardness and said second structural integrity is less than said first structural integrity. 
     
     
         12 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 8  wherein said explosive core is comprised of PBXN-9. 
     
     
         13 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An advanced fragmentation device comprising:
 a device body having an interior compartment comprised of low carbon steel, wherein said device body comprised of low carbon steel has a first hardness and first structural integrity prior to application of an embrittlement process and a second hardness and second structural integrity after application of said embrittlement process comprising exposure to a high carbon environment and cooling step;   an explosive core comprised of a quantity of explosive material contained within said device body, wherein said explosive core contains a detonator well near the center of mass of said explosive core;   a detonator well liner placed inside said detonator well configured to isolate the explosive core from an outside environment;   a coupling section comprising a selective coupling section formed in relation to said device body;   a top cap coupled to said device body, wherein said top cap section has an aperture adapted to accept a detonator;   a removable detonator selectively coupled and retained to said top cap and placed in said detonator well near a center of mass of the explosive core for detonating said explosive core so as to cause the body to disintegrate into a plurality of high velocity fragments, where the explosive core and the body are configured so that the fragments are projected in one or more predetermined directions relative to an axis of said device body;   wherein said coupling section is configured to selectively retain said removable detonator within said interior compartment.   
     
     
         21 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 20 , wherein said top cap and device body are configured to be coupled together by press fitting said top cap into said device body. 
     
     
         22 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 20 , wherein said top cap and device body are configured to be selectively coupled together as well as removable by threated fitting said device body to said top cap. 
     
     
         23 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 20 , wherein said second hardness is harder than said first hardness and said second structural integrity is less than said first structural integrity. 
     
     
         24 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 20 , wherein said explosive core is comprised of PBXN-9. 
     
     
         25 . An advanced fragmentation device comprising:
 a device body having an interior compartment comprised of embrittled carburized treated low carbon steel, wherein said device body comprised of embrittled carburized treated low carbon steel has a first hardness and first structural integrity prior to application of an embrittlement process and a second hardness and second structural integrity after application of said embrittlement process comprising exposure to a high carbon environment and cooling step;   an explosive core comprised of a quantity of explosive material contained within said device body;   a coupling section comprising a selective coupling section formed in relation to said device body;   a removable detonator near the center of mass of the explosive core, wherein said removable detonator and explosive core are formed with materials and structure operable for detonating said explosive core so as to cause the body to disintegrate into a plurality of high velocity fragments, where the high explosive and the body are configured so that the fragments are projected in a direction relative to an axis of said device body formed through a longitudinal section of said removable detonator; and   a top cap section wherein said top cap section has an aperture adapted to accept said removable detonator;   wherein said coupling section is configured to selectively retain said removable detonator within said interior compartment.   
     
     
         26 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 25 , wherein said coupling section comprises a threaded section of said aperture. 
     
     
         27 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 25 , wherein said explosive core has a detonator well covered with a detonator well liner configured to isolate the explosive core from an outside environment. 
     
     
         28 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 25 , wherein said top cap section and device body is configured to be coupled together by press fitting said top cap section into said device body. 
     
     
         29 . The advanced fragmentation device of  claim 25 , wherein an interior or exterior surface of the device body and the top cap are pre-scored or are formed with a fragmentation pattern configured to have a different material strength of other sections of said device body. 
     
     
         30 . An advanced fragmentation device comprising:
 a device body having an interior compartment comprised of embrittled carburized treated low carbon steel, wherein said device body comprised of embrittled carburized treated low carbon steel has a first hardness and first structural integrity prior to application of an embrittlement process and a second hardness and second structural integrity after application of said embrittlement process comprising exposure to a high carbon environment and cooling step;   an explosive core comprised of a quantity of explosive material contained within said device body;   a coupling section comprising a selective coupling section formed in relation to said device body;   a removable detonator near the center of mass of the explosive core, wherein said removable detonator and explosive core are formed with materials and structure operable for detonating said explosive core so as to cause the body to disintegrate into a plurality of high velocity fragments, where the high explosive and the body are configured so that the fragments are projected in a direction relative to an axis of said device body formed through a longitudinal section of said removable detonator; and   a top cap section wherein said top cap section has an aperture adapted to accept said removable detonator;   wherein said coupling section is configured to selectively retain said removable detonator within said interior compartment;   wherein said coupling section comprises a threaded section of said aperture;   wherein said explosive core has a detonator well covered with a detonator well liner configured to isolate the explosive core from an outside environment;   wherein said top cap section and said device body is configured to be coupled together by press fitting said top cap section into said device body;   wherein an interior or exterior surface of the device body and the top cap are pre-scored or are formed with a fragmentation pattern configured to have a different material strength of other sections of said device body.