Warhead system

Abstract

Abstract 1. In a warhead system, in combination: A. A non-nuclear explosive charge, B. More than one detonator device each of which is spaced-apart from the others and located in cooperating relation to said explosive charge and each of which is exploded only by a highvoltage electrical energy charge, C. Storage means operable to contain a high-voltage electrical energy charge, D. A trigger control means which is connected to said storage means and which conducts a high-voltage electrical energy charge only when activated by a separate low-voltage electrical energy charge, E. More than one interlock control means each of which connects one of said detonator devices in conducting relation to said trigger control means and each of which conducts a high-voltage electrical energy charge only when activated by a separate lowvoltage electrical energy charge, F. First conductor means which conducts an activating lowvoltage electrical energy charge to each of less than all of said interlock control means to thereby impart selected directionality to the explosion of said explosive charge caused by said detonator devices, and G. Second conductor means which conducts an activating lowvoltage electrical energy charge to said trigger control means thereby causing high-voltage electrical energy to be conducted from said storage means simultaneously to those detonator devices which cooperate with the interlock control means activated by said first conductor means. This invention relates generally to warhead systems, and particularly concerns a form of warhead system which may be advantageously utilized in connection with missile-like weapons which are intended for use in accomplishing intercept-kill missions. Our invention has specific application to a type of warhead system which produces a directionally controlled fragmentation beam and which is provided with a non-nuclear explosive charge that is detonated by the initiation of one or more detonator devices located at particular detonation points to produce that beam, such particular detonation points (and detonator devices) being fewer in number than all of the detonation points (and detonator devices) associated with the system explosive charge. A low-voltage fuze signal developed by a conventional fuzing computer is effectively employed in connection with our invention. Such signal, in its preferred form, has at least two basic parts. The first portion of the low-Voltage fuze signal is, in relation to our invention, computer-developed to select the particular combination of detonator devices which must be initiated to establish the instantly-desired directionality of the explosion fragment beam; such selection portion of the fuze signal is subject to frequent change during a typical missileintercept mission. The other portion of the low-voltage fuze signal is developed in the conventional fuzing computer to establish the proper initiation time. The two parts or portions of the low-voltage fuze signal may be developed using known techniques related to conventional fuzing computers. Our invention makes use of a stored charge of high-voltage electrical energy to complete the simultaneous initiation of a selected number of a greater quantity of detonator devices cooperating with the warhead system non-nuclear explosive charge. The electrical energy charge is developed upon arming of the waRhead system. However, the electrical energy charge also is prevented from immediately initiating any detonator device in the system by a trigger control and by an interlock control operably connected in series. In our invention the two-part, low-voltage fuze signal is used to activate the series-connected trigger control and interlock control to complete the warhead system initiation. Because of the manner in which the trigger control and interlock control are interconnected in relation to the stored electrical energy charge and the warhead system detonator devices, we are able to permit continual changing of the selection of high-voltage-responsive detonator device combinations without subjecting the warhead system to premature detonation and without incurring any loss in system response to a fuze timing signal. An important object of this invention is to provide a means for selectively initiating one or more of a greater number of detonator devices which cooperate with a warhead system nonnuclear explosive charge. Another object of this invention is to provide means for selectively initiating one or more of a greater number of detonator devices which respond to high-voltage energy inputs to detonate a non-nuclear explosive charge with a capability for being regulated by essentially low-voltage fuze signals. A still further object of this invention is to provide means for selectively initiating one or more of a greater number of detonator devices which cooperate with a warhead system nonnuclear explosive charge with a capability for responding to changes in selection of particular detonator device combinations without subjecting the explosive charge to premature detonation. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during a consideration of the description and drawings.

Inventors

• 👤 Raymond W Harr
• 👤 Mathew Rothman

Bibliographic Details