US3726223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adaptive warhead
Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1970-02-16
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Granted: 1973-04-10
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Expires: 1990-02-16
Abstract
Abstract Lethality of a missile warhead is made selective by packing a plurality of submunitions or submissiles in the warhead and adjusting the submissile impact pattern according to intelligence received by the missile during its flight to target. The mechanism comprises a collapsed diaphragm of sheet material surrounding a staged gas generator. The staged gas generator, when peripherally initiated, allows the application of a predetermined force over a relatively long time period against the submissiles with a resultant high ejection velocity in a radial direction. The same gas generator, if centrally initiated, will exhibit a short impulse duration to cause a low ratio ejection velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 R Moe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:51
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B12/00; F42B12/02; F42B12/36; F42B12/56; F42B12/58; F42B12/60; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S102/00; Y10S102/701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A warhead comprising: a housing; divider means in said housing; said divider means forming, with said housing, a plurality of peripheral compartments and a central chamber; submunition means in said compartments; gas generator means in said central chamber; initiating means for starting production of gas by said gas generator means; said gas generator means comprising a plurality of generator elements; and said initiating means comprising means for selectively and alternatively initiating gas production by said generator elements essentially simultaneously or in one or more predetermined sequences; initiation of gas production simultaneously by said generator elements resulting in expulsion of said submunitions from said housing with short impulse duration causing a low radial ejection velocity; and initiation of gas production by gas generator elements sequentially resulting in the application of the available force over a longer period of time giving a higher ejection velocity to the submunitions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A warhead comprising: a housing; divider means in said housing; said divider means forming, with said housing, a plurality of peripheral compartments and a central chamber; submunition means in said compartments; gas generator means in said central chamber; initiating means for starting production of gas by said gas generator means; said gas generator means comprising a plurality of generator elements; and said initiating means comprising means for selectively and alternatively initiating gas production by said generator elements essentially simultaneously or in one or more predetermined sequences; initiation of gas production simultaneously by said generator elements resulting in expulsion of said submunitions from said housing with short impulse duration causing a low radial ejection velocity; and initiation of gas production by gas generator elements sequentially resulting in the application of the available force over a longer period of time giving a higher ejection velocity to the submunitions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A warhead according to claim 1 wherein said gas generator means comprises a plurality of pyrotechnic elements.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A warhead according to claim 1 wherein said gas generator means comprises: first and second pyrotechnic elements; wall means between said element having inner and outer surfaces; said wall means being perforate with a plurality of rectangular openings with side walls diverging from said inner to said outer surface; and plug means comprising frustopyramidal prisms of solid material fitted into said openings.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A warhead according to claim 2 comprising: wall means between adjacent ones of said elements; said wall means having inner and outer surfaces and having a plurality of openings therein; said openings having side walls diverging outwardly from said inner surfaces to said outer surfaces; and wedge means closely fitted within each said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A warhead according to claim 1 further comprising means for sensing time of warhead approach to target; and means operable by said sensing means to cut open said housing at a predetermined time before the warhead reaches target.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A warhead according to claim 1 further comprising: means for sensing time of warhead approach to target; and pyrotechnic means in said housing responsive to said sensing means to make a plurality of longitudinal cuts in said housing at a predetermined time before the warhead reaches target.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
A warhead according to claim 1 wherein: said housing is substantially cylindrical; said divider means comprises a continuous web of sheet material convoluted to make a plurality of outwardly opening concavities and a like plurality of inwardly opening concavities; said outwardly opening concavities being enclosed by said housing to form said peripheral compartments; said housing Including end closure means and means extending beyond said end closure means for fastening said warhead to a missile body or the like; and means in said housing receiving time and target information and outputting distinctive signals related to the character of said information; and means responsive to each said distinctive signal to actuate said ignition means in a particular manner indicated by said information for greater warhead effectiveness under the existing circumstances.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-09 | 1976-10-09 | 1977-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-09 | 1980-10-09 | 1981-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-09 | 1984-10-09 | 1985-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |