GB2198504A

GB2198504A - Improvements relating to impact contactors of contact warheads for projectiles

Info

Publication number: GB2198504A
Application number: GB08728464A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Didier Menin; Eddy Ichkanian
Original assignee: SERAT
Current assignee: SERAT
Priority date: 1986-12-11
Filing date: 1987-12-04
Publication date: 1988-06-15
Anticipated expiration: 2007-12-04
Also published as: GB2198504B; FR2608266B1; GB8728464D0; DE3738348A1; FR2608266A1

Description

4 - 1 - 2198501 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO IMPACT CONTACTORS OF CONTACT

WARHEADS FOR PROJECTILES The present invention concerns improvements relating to impact contactors or contact warheads installed in the nose or head at the leading ends of projectiles, such as, in particular, shells, bombs, rockets, missiles (this list being non-limiting), and being intended to actuate on impact the electric detonating devices of their main charge heads, e.g. such as explosive heads, smoke-producing heads, incendiary heads.

It is well known that numerous existing weapons, notably of the anti-tank variety, are already equipped with such impact contactors or contact warheads. This is for example the case with tactical missiles currently in service, which comprise a double warhead casing, in the form of a conductive internal casing and a deformable external casing, constituting the two termina.Is of the electric detonator circuit and capable of being brought into contact when the projectile hits the target.

In its French patents No. 2 070 389 and No. 2 402 853, the Applicant has described projectiles equipped with a rigid internal warhead casing having a metallised surface, and an overlying external casing in foamed polyethylene, provided with contact points, the internal casing and the contact points constituting respectively the poles of the detonator circuit.

The present invention has the object of improving these arrangements, while also offering further technical and operational advantages, among which may for example be mentioned:

- reduction in weight; - increase in the maximum angle of incidence to an angle in the neighbourhood of 900, so as to make it possible for the device to function by "shoulder contacC; - improvement in protection against premature operation due to impact with discontinuous objects, such as branches situated above the target; - reduced cost With the above in concerns an impact contactor warhead for a projectile, consists of a single component or a components comprising, towards its base, having a weakened, generally annular profile, generally more deformable than the rest of the structure, the terminals of the electric detonator circuit for the main charge or charges of the said projectile being incorporated in the said section, in such a manner that completion of the circuit, caused by contact between the terminals, is achieved by deformation or rupture of the said weakened section, under the action of the forces which are transmitted thereto by the other sections of the contact warhead upon impact with the target.

view, the invention or deformable contact characterised in that it p I ura I ity 0 f a section The above and other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show, without limitation, examples of its practical application The two examples of the invention to be described are directed more especially to an impact contactor for an anti-tank missile; however, it is to be fully understood that the invention finds equal application in any sort of projectile: missiles, rockets, bombs, shells, grenades etc.

J In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 represents a first example of an embodiment of a contact warhead according to an invention, constructed with two principal parts. In this Figure there are shown, in the lower portion, a longitudinal half section, and in the upper portion, the corresponding external half elevation.

Figure 2 shows a second example embodiment of a contact warhead accordina of a n to the invention, constructed with only a single principal part. In this Figure there are shown, in the lower portion, a longitudinal half section, and in the upper portion, the corresponding external half elevation; a n d, Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the first exemplary embodiment of the contact warhead after impact with the target.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the embodiment in the first example of a contact warhead according to this invention comprises a domed casing 1, preferably made from injection moulded plastics material, which may or may not be reinforced with glass fibre, carbon fibre or other fibres. This casing 1 may also be made in any other materials, metal or otherwise, and may be obtained by a method other than injection moulding, with"out departing from the invention. The casing 1 is preferably reinforced with ribs such as are seen at 7, preferably made in may or injection moulded plastics material, which may or not be reinforced with glass fibre, carbon fibre other fibres.

A base member 3 is preferably made in injection moulded plastics material, which may or may not be reinforced with glass fibre, carbon fibre or any be other fibres. This base 3 can also be made in other materials, metal or otherwise, and ma obtained by a method other than injection moulding.

In this embodiment, the base 3 is directly secured to the rest of the projectile P. The structure of the contactor thus consists of the two parts 1 and 3, assembled by adhesion, for example, or by any other method of assembly.

According to the invention, the structure of the contactor comprises, towards its base, a having an annular profile constituting portion which is generally more deformable section 2 a weakened than the rest of the structure. To this end, and in accordance with this example of the invention, this section 2 has the form of a neutral connecting web having a flexible profile.

This section 2, which is thus the most readily deformable portion of the said structure, is preferably made of injection moulded plastics material, which may or may not be reinforced with glass fibre, carbon fibre or other fibres; it can, without departing from the invention, be made in any other materials, metallic or otherwise, and may be obtained by a method other than injection moulding (without limitation as to the method).

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, this section 2 is located in the forward part of the base member 3. This example is not limiting in that the section 2 may be formed independently of the base 3, or it may be arranged in some different manner, without departing from the invention.

The stiffness parameters of the weakened section, such as its thickness, length, and orientation (these being non-limiting), may typically be adapted to the characteristics of the targets on contact with which the said contactor is to function and/or to the characteristics of light obstacles, in passing through which the contactor should not function, for example in passing through cover.

light branches met when firing from Between the casing 1 and the base member 3 there is interposed an insert 4, which is secured fast to the casing and which is preferably made in metallic material in the form of a ring having a small thickness and which is secured fast to the casing 1.

This insert 4 may also be made in any other material and shape, invention.

without departing from the The securing of the insert 4 and the casing 1 together may be obtained by in-mould incorporation, by adhesive bonding, or by any other method of assembly and can thus achieve, on the internal surface, absolute bonding.

A second insert 5 is interposed between the casing 1 and the base member 3, towards the exterior of the projectile; this insert 5, secured fast to the base member, is preferably made in metallic material in the form of a ring of small thickness; it may also be made in any other material or shape.

The insert 5 and the base member 3 may be secured together by in-mould incorporation, adhesive bonding, or any other method of assembly and can thus, in this non-limiting case and without departing from the broad framework of the invention, achieve absolute bonding on the internal surface.

The inserts 4 and 5, in the form of rings, are made from a conductive metal, for example plated brass or beryllium bronze. One of the insert rings has cheek portions and turned-over edge portions, all made by cutting, in such a manner as to ensure that the circuit is completed with the other ring under axial or lateral impact forces.

External closure of the assembly is obtained by means of a member 6 fixed to the casing 1 and the base member 3, for example by adhesive bonding or any other means. This closure member 6 is preferably made in insulating material of low hardness, being in the form of a sleeve of low thickness, or in any other material or shape.

The bonded construction enables a high degree of insulation resistance to be achieved between the electric circuits during storage.

Figure 2 shows another example of an embodiment of the invention, in which the warhead casing 1 and the base member 3, already described in connection with Figure 1, structure, preferably made plastics material, with glass fibre, comprising the w profile.

form a single monobloc in injection moulded or may not be reinforced fibre or other fibres, which ma carbon eakened section 2 with its annular This monobloc structure may also be made in or otherwise, and may be han injection moulding.

elements and functions with Figure 1 remain the repeat their description.

ce as follows:

Transmission of the shock wave, in an impact, under an angle of incidence in the range 0 0 to 900 (in shoulder contact), with any kind of target (modern, multi-layer, "active", in composite armour-plating steel or others), takes place across the warhead casing 1, which is to this end reinforced with the ribs 7, and allows the section 2 of the structure, situated for example on the base member 3 joined to the projectile P, to be deformed so as to permit completion of the electric circuit through the two conductive parts 4 and 5, joined respectively to the casing 1 and to the base member 3.

any other material, metalli obtained by a method other All the other described above in connectio same, and there is no need to Operation takes pl - 7 j 1 This completion of the circuit allows detonation of the main charge, which may be of any kind, particularly simple, double (tandem), or multiple, to take place. it is to be fully understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and/or illustrated, but it embraces all variants thereof within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. An impact contactor or a deformable contact warhead for a projectile, which comprises a structure incorporating towards its base, a section having a weakened, generally annular profile generally more deformable than the rest of the said structure, terminals for the electric detonator circuit for the main charge or charges of the said projectile being incorporated in the said section in such a manner that completion of the circuit, caused by contact between the terminals, is achieved by deformation or rupture of the said weakened section under the action of the forces which are transmitted thereto by the other sections of the contact warhead upon impact with the target.

2.

An impact contactor according to Claim 1, wherein the said structure is of monobloc construction.

3. An impact contactor according to Claim 1, wherein the said structure comprises a plurality of components.

4. An impact contactor according to either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the said structure comprises a warhead casing reinforced by ribs, a base member directly attachable to the rest of the projectile and assembled together with the said casing, the said section having a deformable, generally annular profile being situated in the leading portion of the base member.

5.

1 or Claim member An impact contactor according to either Claim 3, wherein the warhead casing and the base constitute a single monobloc structure, 1 i 1 including the said weakened portion having a generally annular profile.

6. An impact contactor or contactor warhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the section having a weakened, generally annular profile, has the form of a neutral connecting web having a flexible profile.

7. An impact contactor or contactor warhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stiffness parameters of the weakened section, thickness, length, orientation, are adapted to the characteristics of targets or obstacles upon contact with which the said impact contactor or contactor warhead is or is not to function.

8. An impact contactor or contactor warhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the terminals of the contactor is constituted by an insert in the form of a ring of an electrically conductive metal such as plated brass or beryllium bronze, one of these rings having cheek portions and turned-over edge portions, all made by cutting, in such a manner as to ensure that the circuit is completed by contact with the other ring under axial or lateral impact forces.

9. An impact contactor or contactor warhead according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the external security of the electric circuit is achieved, after assembly, by an external sleeve made in an insulating material of low hardness.

10. An impact contactor or a deformable contact warhead for a projectile, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1988 at The Patent Office, State House, 66.11 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1/87.