Device for Initiating an Explosive Charge With Damming Means of Non-Explosive Shock Wave Attenuating Material Between the Outer Booster and the Liner

The present invention relates in general to the construction of explosive charges and, in particular, to a new and useful device for initiating an explosive charge which utilizes a central charge booster surrounded by an outer charge booster which extends into the main charge body.

In devices of this kind, known from German OS 27 10 612 for example, the booster charge is positioned to initiate the detonation of the explosive charge concentrically. The explosive charge may be a rotationally symmetrical hollow body having its front side covered with a centrally extending lining which is intended to form piercing fragments or stings. As known, it is important, for the target destroying effect of such a hollow charge, that the detonation wave hit the lining or coating forming the piercing projectile fragments or stings at as steep an angle as possible, preferably at a right angle, since this accelerates the fragments to speeds which are substantially higher than speeds which may be achieved with a skirting detonation wave. In addition, such accelerations are obtained in a substantially shorter time. To obtain such a favorable direction of the detonation wave, conventional designs provide bodies of inert material embedded in the explosive charge between the area of initiation and the top of the lining or coating to be fragmented, or, alternatively they provide specially oriented and located cavities in the respective part of the explosive charge (German OS 27 06 060).

The present invention is directed to an improvement of the above-mentioned devices, which ensures, in a simple and inexpensive way, that hitherto employed conventional means for orienting the detonation wave are no longer needed to obtain a large surface initiation in the peripheral zone of explosive charges of this kind.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an explosive device which includes an explosive charge having a recess therein, the explosive charge shaped to have an effective direction and to fragment a fragmental lining into particles, in the effective direction, an inner booster charge near the center of the recess and an outer booster charge around the inner booster charge and extending into the explosive charge, the outer booster charge being covered at least partly by a shock wave attenuating inert and non explosive damming lining.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device wherein a thin wall separates the inner booster charge from the outer booster charge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a space between the damming lining and the outer booster charge with openings in the thin wall separation between the inner and outer booster charge communicating with the space.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for initiating or igniting an explosive charge in a manner to apply substantially normal force to the fragmentable lining.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an explosive device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

In accordance with the invention, the positioning of the two booster charges relative to each other and to the explosive charge, in connection with the inexpensive damming, makes sure that if the inner booster charge is initiated centrally by means of the detonator, the detonation wave passes unhindered first crosswise to the predetermined effective direction of the explosive charge and symmetrically through the inner and outer booster charges up to the adjacent peripheral zone of the explosive charge, and therefrom symmetrically through the explosive charge in the predetermined effective direction.

If the explosive charge is provided on one or both front sides with a lining or coating to be fragmented into stings, the detonation wave hits the lining or coating symmetrically at a right angle.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the following, two embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an armor-piercing mine; and

FIG. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment having the same purpose.

Referring to the drawings in particular the invention embodied therein, in FIG. 1, shows an antitank mine 1.

The mine comprises a cylindrical case 2 accommodating an explosive charge 3. Charge 3 is provided on its both front sides with coatings or linings 4, 5 intended to be fragmented into piercing particles or stings to be projected in the direction of arrows 6 and 7. The mine is formed with a central through hole 8 of circular cross section, which is enlarged in the middle zone between the two coatings 4 and 5 to a coaxial annular cavity 8a. Central hole 8 receives a fuse casing 9. Accommodated in casing 9 are a detonator 10 and a booster charge 11. Detonator 10 is movable from a safe position (not shown) to the shown armed position, preferably by pivoting or shifting. Booster charge 11 has the shape of a circular solid disc which may be formed, on the side facing the detonator, with a conical or frustoconical extension 12 intended for obtaining an exactly centrical initiation or ignition of the charge 11. Booster charge 11 is disposed centrally in fuse casing 9, between the two coatings 4 and 5 to be fragmented, and occupies at the respective location the entire cross section area of the fuse casing. Casing 9 has a relatively thin wall which is provided, close to the zone of booster charge 11, with flow ports 14 forming passages from central hole 8 to cavity 8a. Cavity 8a accommodates an annular booster charge 15 disposed concentrically of booster charge 11. Transversely to the effective directions 6 and 7, both cavity 8a and booster charge 15 extend into the peripheral zone 16 of the explosive charge.

To prevent the explosive charge 3 from being initiated prematurely in the zones adjacent the surfaces extending transversely to the effective direction 6 and 7 of booster charge 15, circular discs 17 of an inert, shockwave attentuating material such as plastic or other synthetic material, are provided as damming means at those surfaces, with a gap 18 communicating with flow ports 14 in wall 13 of fuse casing 9 being left between each disc 17 and booster charge 15.

In a modification of the design of FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG. 2 provides that both the outer booster charge 15 with its damming disc 17 and inner booster charge 11 as well as detonator 10 are accommodated in a fuse casing 19 having a disc-shaped outline. The disc 17 either has a constant thickness or becomes narrower toward the outside of the charge 3 as with the embodiment of FIG. 1. In this design, again a relatively thin wall 20 with flow ports 21 is provided between the inner booster charge 11 and the outer booster charge 15, which, however, does not reach up to the front side coatings 4 and 5 to be fragmented, as was the case in FIG. 1. The cavity provided in explosive charge 3 and equi-distantly spaced from the coatings, is designated 22 in this embodiment, and receives the disc shaped fuse casing 19, and also extends into the peripheral zone 16 of the explosive charge, transversely to the effective directions 6 and 7 as was the case also in FIG. 1.

In both embodiments described in the foregoing, upon an initiation by detonator 10, the detonation wave first passes symmetrically and unhindered through inner booster charge 11 and thin outer booster charge 15 to the peripheral zone 16 of the explosive charge, in the direction of arrows 23, and therefrom in the direction of arrows 24 and 25 to the front side coatings 4 and 5 to be fragmented. Consequently, the coatings are hit by the detonation wave at a right angle which results in a particularly powerful projection of the piercing fragments or stings.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.