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US3566794A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Controlled fragmentation of multi-walled warheads

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1958-11-26
•
Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1978-11-26
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Abstract

Abstract A fragmentation device comprising; an inner fragmentation casing comprising a right circular cylindrical tube of fracturable material of uniform wall thickness adapted to be impulsively loaded internally thereof, said wall having intersecting sets of equally spaced helical stress-forming grooves therein disposed circumferentially about the inner surface thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube, the spacing and depths of said grooves with respect to the thickness of said wall being such that upon a predetermined amount of internal impulse loading, cleavage surfaces due to shear propagation and emanating at a groove, are formed in two outward directions at 45* away from a diametrical plane containing the axis of the tube and a groove and each cleavage surface intersects, at the outer surface of the tube, with a like cleavage surface emanating from an adjacent groove and an outer like fragmentation casing surrounding said inner casing with its inner surface engaging the outer surface of the inner casing, whereby impulsive loading within the inner casing transmits forces to the outer casing prior to fragmentation of the latter and both casings fragment simultaneously.

Inventors

  • 👤 John Pearson
  • 👤 Robert G S Sewell
  • 👤 Richard T Carlisle

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 01:44
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B12/00; F42B12/02; F42B12/20; F42B12/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A fragmentation device comprising; an inner fragmentation casing comprising a right circular cylindrical tube of fracturable material of uniform wall thickness adapted to be impulsively loaded internally thereof, said wall having intersecting sets of equally spaced helical stress forming grooves therein disposed circumferentially about the inner surface thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube, the spacing and depths of said grooves with respect to the thickness of said wall being such that upon a predetermined amount of internal impulse loading, cleavage surfaces due to shear propagation and emanating at a groove, are formed in two outward directions at 45* away from a diametrical plane containing the axis of the tube and a groove and each cleavage surface intersects, at the outer surface of the tube, with a like cleavage surface emanating from an adjacent groove and an outer like fragmentation casing surrounding said inner casing with its inner surface engaging the outer surface of the inner casing, whereby impulsive loading within the inner casing transmits forces to the outer casing prior to fragmentation of the latter and both casings fragment simultaneously.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 184 words
A fragmentation device comprising; an inner fragmentation casing comprising a right circular cylindrical tube of fracturable material of uniform wall thickness adapted to be impulsively loaded internally thereof, said wall having intersecting sets of equally spaced helical stress forming grooves therein disposed circumferentially about the inner surface thereof and extending in the longitudinal direction of the tube, the spacing and depths of said grooves with respect to the thickness of said wall being such that upon a predetermined amount of internal impulse loading, cleavage surfaces due to shear propagation and emanating at a groove, are formed in two outward directions at 45* away from a diametrical plane containing the axis of the tube and a groove and each cleavage surface intersects, at the outer surface of the tube, with a like cleavage surface emanating from an adjacent groove and an outer like fragmentation casing surrounding said inner casing with its inner surface engaging the outer surface of the inner casing, whereby impulsive loading within the inner casing transmits forces to the outer casing prior to fragmentation of the latter and both casings fragment simultaneously.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
A fragmentation device in accordance with claim 1 whereiN the grooves of the inner casing are misaligned radially with the grooves of the outer casing a circumferential distance equal to one-half the groove spacing, whereby the intersection of cleavage surfaces emanating from adjacent grooves in the inner tube intersect a groove in the outer tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A fragmentation device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the grooves of the inner casing are radially aligned with the grooves of the outer casing.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1303727A Cited
GB542463A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1974-03-01 1974-08-31 1975-03-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1978-03-01 1978-08-31 1979-03-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1982-03-01 1982-08-31 1983-03-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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