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US3796158A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Explosive luneberg lens warhead

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1966-02-01
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Granted: 1974-03-12
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Expires: 1986-02-01
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Abstract

Abstract An aimable warhead in the form of an explosive Luneberg lens with individually controlled detonators evenly spaced about its spherical surface for aiming and firing same in any given direction by detonating a specific detonator on a side of the warhead opposite to the direction of aim, and containing a plurality of concentric spherical shells of explosive which upon detonation develop an explosive plane wave that propagates in the direction of aim.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Conger

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 05:13
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B12/00; F42B12/02; F42B12/20; F42B12/201; F42B12/204; F42B12/208; F42C; F42C19/00; F42C19/08; F42C19/095; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S102/00; Y10S102/701

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim 232 words
An aimable explosive warhead operable to be aimed without moving the warhead and fired in any given direction, comprising: a. an explosive Luneberg lens warhead constructed in the form of an inhomogeneous sphere, b. the Luneberg lens warhead having an outer spherical warhead fragmentation casing, c. the spherical warhead casing being filled with explosive, said explosive consisting of several concentric spherical explosive shells each of somewhat different explosive composition and having different detonation velocities, the detonation velocity of explosive at the center of said explosive lens being 1/ square root 2 times the detonation velocity of explosive at the periphery thereof, d. a large number of detonators evenly spaced and mounted about the spherical surface of said Luneberg lens warhead, e. fire control means for selectively firing any of said detonators upon command, f. said warhead operable to be aimed in any direction by said fire control means by selectively firing a detonator on the opposite side of the warhead from the desired direction of aim, g. said warhead upon detonation of any one of said detonators operable to cause detonation waves to be focused and progress from the point of detonation through the warhead detonating all the explosive therein such that a plane wave is developed which propagates concentrated explosive force in the focused direction of aim to direct a dense beam of warhead casing fragments in said direction of aim.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 232 words
An aimable explosive warhead operable to be aimed without moving the warhead and fired in any given direction, comprising: a. an explosive Luneberg lens warhead constructed in the form of an inhomogeneous sphere, b. the Luneberg lens warhead having an outer spherical warhead fragmentation casing, c. the spherical warhead casing being filled with explosive, said explosive consisting of several concentric spherical explosive shells each of somewhat different explosive composition and having different detonation velocities, the detonation velocity of explosive at the center of said explosive lens being 1/ square root 2 times the detonation velocity of explosive at the periphery thereof, d. a large number of detonators evenly spaced and mounted about the spherical surface of said Luneberg lens warhead, e. fire control means for selectively firing any of said detonators upon command, f. said warhead operable to be aimed in any direction by said fire control means by selectively firing a detonator on the opposite side of the warhead from the desired direction of aim, g. said warhead upon detonation of any one of said detonators operable to cause detonation waves to be focused and progress from the point of detonation through the warhead detonating all the explosive therein such that a plane wave is developed which propagates concentrated explosive force in the focused direction of aim to direct a dense beam of warhead casing fragments in said direction of aim.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
A warhead as in claim 1 wherein the adjacent explosive shells are each of different density.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US174325A Cited
US1240217A Cited
US1292408A Cited
US2845025A Cited
US2972949A Cited
US3249050A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-03-11 1977-09-10 1978-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-03-11 1981-09-10 1982-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-03-11 1985-09-10 1986-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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