US3490372A - Projectile acceleration arrangement - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 20, 1910 A. A. LAVINE 3,490,372

PROJECTILE ACCELERATION ARRANGEMENT Filed NOV. 9, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l A. A. LAVINE PROJECTILE ACCELERATION ARRANGEMENT Jan. 20, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1966 US. Cl. 10224 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE There is described in this patent application an explosive configuration in which a first high explosive charge member and a second high explosive charge member are combined to provide a constant angle Mach stem for the acceleration of a projectile or generation of a shaped charge. The first high explosive charge member has a detonation front velocity that is always greater than the detonation front velocity in the second high explosive charge member. The constant angle Mach stern generated in the second high explosive charge member provides a constantly increasing momentum for acceleration of a projectile or generation of a jet in a shaped charge.

This invention relates to the projectile art and more particularly to an improved means for accelerating a projectile to a very high velocity.

In many applications it is often desirable to accelerate a projectile, or other structure, to a very high velocity. Such applications, of course, include projectiles accelerated by high explosives as may be found in conventional ammunition, hypervelocity particle study, and heat generation studies obtained from the impact of high velocity projectiles. It will be appreciated that applicant uses the word projectile to encompass all forms of structure that may be accelerated by the techniques described herein and is not to be construed as limiting to any type or class of such structure.

While various techniques utilizing high explosives for providing high projectile velocities have heretofore been proposed, the maximum velocities actually achieved in such prior art arrangements have been on the order of 10,000 feet per second. Such arrangements have often utilized a high explosive in which there is generated a variable angle (Mach stem) as disclosed, for example, in The Science of High Explosives, by Melvin A. Cook, 1958, Reinhold Publishing Corporation, New York, NY. However, a variable angle Mach stern utilized in these high explosive techniques has not been able to provide the ultra-high projectile velocities in the above-mentioned applications wherein it is often desired to have projectile velocities on the order of 40,000 or more feet per second.

Accordingly, it is an object of applicants invention herein to provide an improved structure for accelerating projectiles.

It is another object of applicants invention herein to provide a high explosive charge arrangement in which a constant angle Mach stem is generated.

It is yet another object of applicants invention herein to provide a high explosive charge arrangement in which 'a constant angle Mach stem is generated for accelerating ited States Patent F 3490l37Z Patented Jan. 20, 1970 and the first end of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member is substantially coplanar with the first end of the first cylindrical high explosive charge member and the second end of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member is spaced from the base portion of the aperture.

An inert cylindrical member is positioned in the aperture intermediate the second end of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member and the base portion of the aperture. The inert cylindrical member is a wave shaper to shape a detonation front generated by the ignition or detonation of the high explosive charge members.

In this embodiment the exterior surface of the second end of the first cylindrical high explosive charge member is the preselected surface portion for ignition thereof to initiate the generation of a detonation front. The detonation front moves axially along the first cylindrical high explosive charge member and is intercepted by the abovementioned wave shaper. The detonation front velocity in the first cylindrical high explosive charge member is a first predetermined value and the detonation front velocity in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member is a second predetermined value less than the first value.

Therefore, as the detonation front passes the wave shaper it generates a detonation front in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member. However, since the detonation front velocity of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member is less than the detonation front velocity in the first cylindrical high explosive charge member, the detonation front converges toward a point along the axis of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member at a predetermined angle, and, according to the principles of applicants invention, this angle is preferably maintained comparatively small and is constant. This substantially constant, small angle generated by the detonation front in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member generates a Mach stem of increasing momentum comprised of comparatively high density gases. In this embodiment of applicants invention, the Mach stem is substantially conical in shape because of the symmetrical nature of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member about its axis.

As the Mach stem traverses the second cylindrical high explosive charge member, the momentum thereof substantially increases continually until it reaches the first end thereof.

A projectile which is to be accelerated is positioned on the first end of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member and the effect of the high momentum Mach stem on the projectile accelerates the projectile to comparatively high velocities.

In other embodiments of applicants invention there is provided a high explosive charge means in which a substantially Wedge-shaped Mach stem is generated to provide an arrangement for accelerating an elongated projectile.

The above and other objects are understood more completely from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar elements throughout and in which:

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 illustrate one embodiment of applincants invention and the principles of operation thereof;

FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURE 8 illustrates another embodiment of applicants invention;

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of applicants invention; and

FIGURE 11 illustrates a directed sheet warhead embodiment of applicants invention.

It will be appreciated that while applicant has chosen some specific embodiments of his invention for illustration of the techniques for providing high projectile velocities, such embodiments as illustrated and described herein are not to be construed as limitations upon the broad concepts of applicants invention. Further, where practical, the structure and design features illustrated in one embodiment may be equally well used in other embodiments to provide the improvements in high projectile velocity structures according to applicants invention.

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, there is shown the structure associated with one embodiment of applicants invention. As shown in FIGURE 1, there is a projectile accelerator, generally designated 10, comprised of a charge means 12 that, in this embodiment of applicants invention, is cylindrical.

The charge means 12 is comprised of a first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14 and a Second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16. An initiator or detonator means 18 which, for example, may be electrically ignited through source of electrical energy such as battery 20 and switch means 22, is utilized to ignite or detonate the charge means 12.

The first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14 has walls 24 defining an aperture 26 which has a base portion 28. As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16 is positioned in the aperture 26 and has a first end 30 that is substantially coplanar with the first end 32 of the first cylindrical high explosive charge member 12 and a second end 34 that is spaced apart from the base portion 28 of the aperture 26 and from the second end 36 of the first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14.

The detonator 18 is coupled or otherwise afiixed to the exterior surface 35 of the second end 36 to provide ignition or detonation of the high explosive charge means 12 to commence the generation of a detonation front therefrom.

An inert cylindrical member 38 is positioned intermediate the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16 and the base surface 28 of the aperture 26 and is a wave shaper to provide the proper shaping of the detonation front wave as it traverses through the charge means 12.

A projectile 40 is coupled or otherwise affixed to the second end 30 of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16 and, for this embodiment of applicants invention, the projectile 40, the first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14 and the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16 and the detonator 18 are substantially coaxially aligned.

When it is desired to accelerate the projectile 40, according to applicants invention herein, the detonator or initiator 18 is energized and this commences the generation of a detonation front from the second end 36 of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 14.

This phenomena is more clearly illustrated in FIG- URE 3. As shown in FIGURE 3, the detonation front indicated by the line 42a is traversing the first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14 in the direction indicated by the arrow 44. As the detonation front 42a is intercepted by the wave shaper inert cylinder 38, it commences to travel through the annular section of the first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14, which surrounds the aperture 26. As the detonation front approaches and impinges upon the peripheral edge 37 of the bottom surface 34 of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member, the detonation front is generated in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16.

The first cylindrical high explosive charge member is selected to have a detonation front velocity that is greater than the velocity of the detonation front in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16. As such, a generally conical detonation front is provided in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16 that has its apex along the axis 46 as the detonation front moves radially inwardly as indicated by the arrow 48 in the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 16 and the detonation front 42 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 44 along the side peripheral wall 50 of the second cylindrical explosive charge 16.

Thus, the detonation front 52 moving in the second high explosive charge member 16 generates a Mach stem 54 symmetrically aligned along the axis thereof that is substantially conical in shape as defined by the conically shaped detonation front 52. The angle generated by the detonation front 52 is indicated to be the angle equivalent to twice the angle a on FIGURE 3. This is the apex angle of the Mach stem 54. The angle a is determined by the relative detonation front velocities in the first high explosive charge member 14 and the second high explosive charge member 16.

However, at the intersection, that is the apex of the conical detonation front 52, the detonation front generates two streams as indicated by the arrows 56 and 58. The arrow 56 is generally moving backwardly with respect to the direction of movement of the detonation front 52 and the stream indicated by the arrow 58 is moving in the same direction axially as the detonation from 52 and the stream indicated by the arrow 58 generates the Mach stem 54. It will be appreciated that as the material in the Mach stem 54 moves in a direction indicated by the arrow 58 along the axis 46, the density of the gases contained therein remains substantially constant, but greater than behind the detonation front, but the size thereof constantly increases even though the angle a remains constant and therefore when the Mach stem 54 reaches the second end 30 of the second cylindrical high explosive charge member 14, there is a comparatively high momentum value associated therewith. This high momentum value is utilized to move the projectile 40 in a direction indicated by the arrow 60. In the preferred embodiment of applicants invention, the width of the Mach stem indicated by the letter w at the second end 30 of the second high explosive charge member 16 is greater than the diameter of the projectile 40, in order that edge losses which occur around the periphery of the Mach stem 54 cannot detract from the momentum exchange between the Mach stem 54 and the projectile 40.

From the considerations heretofore set forth, it can be seen, as shown on FIGURE 3, that the Mach stem is properly defined as the intersection of the wave fronts in second high explosive charge member 16. That is the Mach stem commences, in inertial space at the point designated 68 corresponding to a point on the axis of the second high explosive charge member 16 along the base surfaces 37 thereof. From a consideration of the velocities involved it will be noted that the detonation wave front 42a and 42b in the first cylindrical charge member 14 moves in a direction indicated by the arrow 44 at a first predetermined velocity. The detonation wave front 52 which, in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 is conical, intersecting and having its apex initially at the point 68, moves in a direction indicated by the arrow 70 with a second predetermined velocity less than the first predetermined velocity. However, when the detonation front 52 in the second cylindrical charge member 16 has moved from the position indicated by 52a to the position indicated by 521), it has traversed a certain distance indicated by the ledger a. In this same time interval, it will be appreciated, that the Mach stem has moved from the point 68 to the point 72 a greater distance than a. Thus, with respect to the inertial space point 68 the Mach stem has a velocity in the axial direction greater than the detonation front velocity in the second cylindrical charge member 16.

As noted above material from the second cylindrical charge member 16 flows into the Mach stern in the directions indicated by the arrows 56 and 58. That portion moving in the direction indicated by the arrow 58 is moving relative to the motion of the Mach stem and has, therefore, a total greater velocity with respect to the fixed inertial point 68 than the Mach stem velocity. Consequently, a Mach stem front 74 is generated that extends, in this embodiment of applicants invention, across the conical detonation wave front, as shown on FIGURE 3. The velocity of the Mach stem front 74 with respect to the velocity of the Mach stem is greater and consequently there is a material build up between the detonation front and the Mach stem front, as indicated at 54. The density of the gases and the portion designated 54 remains substantially constant, but because of the greater velocity of the Mach stern front 74 in the direction indicated by the arrow 76, there is a constant increase in the momentum associated with the moving Mach stem.

By the time the Mach stem has moved to the point designated 80 there is a fairly large mass contained within the portion designated 54 and, because of the constantly increasing mass the momentum associated therewith is comparatively high and is imparted directly to the projectile 40 for acceleration thereof in a direction indicated by the arrow 60. Thus, the constant angle Mach stem provides this high momentum portion designated by the numeral 54 for acceleration of the projectile 40. It will be appreciated that only with the maintenance of a constant angle Mach stern can the higher momentum associated with the portion 54 be achieved. That is, with a variable angle Mach stem there is not the constant momentum build up necessary to provide the ultra-high velocity imparted to the projectile 40. Thus, while the velocity of the detonation front 52 and the Mach stem front 74 are substantially constant for a given configuration, the constantly increasing mass in the portion 54 provides the high momentum that can provide the high energy for accelerating the projectile 40.

While the above embodiment of applicants invention describe the utilization of a constant angle Mach stem in a cylindrical configuration, it will be appreciated that such an arrangement may also be utilized with a rectangular configuration to provide a rod projectile accelerating arrangement. One such embodiment for achieving such a rod projectile arrangement is illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5. As shown thereon, there is a charge means 100 comprised of a first high explosive charge member 102 in the form of a prism or block. The high explosive charge member 102 has an upper surface 104 and a lower surface 106 that are parallel and the sides 108 and 110 thereof as well as the end portions 112 and 114 are also respectively parallel.

The first high explosive charge member 102 has wall portions 116 defining a slot therethrough that extends from the upper surface 104 towards the lower surface 106, but terminates a predetermined distance above the lower surface 106. A second high explosive charge member 120 is positioned in the aperture formed by the walls 116 and has its external surfaces coplanar with the corresponding external surfaces of the first high explosive charge member 102. An inert prism 122 is positioned in the aperture defined by the walls 116 of the first high explosive charge member 102 and is intermediate the base of the second high explosive charge member 120 and the first high explosive charge member 102. A rodlike projectile that is to be accelerated, designated 124, is positioned on the upper surface 126 of the second high explosive charge member 120. A linear initiator 128 is coupled to the lower surface 106, which surface 106 defines a preselected surface for ignition of the charge means 100 in this embodiment of applicants invention, and is substantially aligned to be symmetrical with respect to the first high explosive charge member 102 and second high explosive charge member 120.

The linear initiator may, for example, be fabricated from a material such as Du Pont deta sheets, a registered trademark of E. I. Du Pout de Nemours & Company, Inc. and commonly termed a line wave generator.

When the linear initiator 128 is ignited, in a manner similar to that described above, a detonation front 130 is generated in the first high explosive charge member 102 and travels from the lower surface 106 thereof until it is intercepted by the wave shaper 122. The wave shaper 122 performs the functions similar to the wave shaper means described above and, in this embodiment of applicants invention, provides a detonation wave front 132 in the second high explosive charge member 120. The wave shaper provides that the detonation wave front 132 intersects along a line 134 and thus provides a wedge shaped Mach stem. As the detonation front 132 traverses the second high explosive charge member 120, there is a constant increase in the mass of the high density gas contained within the limits defined by the detonation front 132 and the Mach stem front 134 as it moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 136. Since the detonation front velocity of the detonation front 130 in the first high explosive charge member 102 is greater than the detonation front velocity of the detonation front 132 in the second high explosive charge member 120, the detonation front 130 constantly provides the detonation front 132 as it traverses the first high explosive charge member 102 in the direction indicated by the arrow 138. When the detonation front 134 reaches the upper surface 126 of the second high explosive charge member 120, the rod-like projectile 124 is accelerated because of the high momentum contained within the constant angle Mach stem. The mechanism of this acceleration is, of course, similar to that described above in connection with FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 except that in this embodiment of applicants invention the Mach stem particles are contained within a wedge shaped configuration rather than within a conical configuration.

Wave shaping may be achieved by means other than an inert cylinder as described above. That is, the configuration and points of ignition of the high explosive charge member having the higher of the detonation front velocities may in itself provide the necessary wave shaping to provide the constant angle Mach stern. FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate a prism embodiment wherein rectangular prisms similar to the rectangular prisms described above in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5 are utilized; however, a separate wave shaper .means is not provided, since wave shaping is achieved by the unique points of application of the initiation of the detonation front. As shown on FIGURES 6 and 7 the charge means designated is comprised of a first high explosive charge member 152 in the form of a rectangular prism having an upper surface 154, a lower surface 156, end surfaces 158 and 160 and side surfaces 162 and 164. The first high explosive charge member 154 has walls 166 defining a slot therein extending from the upper surface 154 towards the lower surface 156. Contained within the slot defined by the walls 166 there is a second high explosive charge member 168'. The first high explosive charge member 152 has a higher detonation front velocity than the second high explosive charge member 168.

A rod-like projectile to be accelerated designated 170 is positioned on the upper surface 172 of the second high explosive charge member 168. Thus, this prism configuration of the first high explosive charge member 152 and second high explosive charge member 168 and rod-like projectile 170 is similar to the charge means 100 described above in connection with FIGURES 4 and 5, except that there is not included any separate inert wave shaper such as the wave shaper 122.

The intersection of the lower surface 156 with the side surfaces 162 and 164 are the lines upon which the preselected surface portions of the charge means 150 are ignited and may be ignited simultaneously along the entire length thereof by the linear initiators 174 which may be similar to the linear initiator 128 shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. In this embodiment they are in the form of triangular sections of Deta Sheet terminating in a point 176 which may be initiated by a detonator or similar means as described above.

When the linear initiators 174 are initiated from the point 176 by the detonator 178, the detonation front travels linearly therealong and ignites the entire line segment defined by the above-mentioned intersection of the lower surface 156 and side surfaces 1'62 and 163 of the first high explosive charge member 152. Detonation front then moves through the high explosive charge member toward the second high explosive charge member 168, impinges simultaneously along the lower corners 180 and 182 thereof. Since the linear velocity of the detonation front in the first high explosive charge member 152 is greater than in the second high explosive charge member 168, a constant angle Mach stem is generated and in this embodiment of applicants invention it is also in a wedgeshaped form as defined by the intersecting detonation front 184 in the second high explosive charge member 168 and the Mach stem front 186. This moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 188 towards the upper surface 172 of the second high explosive charge member 168 and upon reaching the surface 172 the high momentum associated with the material in the constant angle Mach stem accelerates the rod-like projectile 170 in a manner described above.

As above described applicants improved constant angle Mach stem has been shown as utilized to provide acceleration of a projectile. However, it will be appreciated that applicants invention herein may also be utilized to provide a shaped charge jet. One such embodiment for a cylindrical shape charge jet is shown in FIGURE 8. As shown thereon there is a charge means generally designated 200, comprised of a first cylindrical high explosive charge member 202 having an upper surface 204 and a lower surface 206 and walls 208 defining an aperture therein extending from the first surface 204 towards the second surface 206. Thus, this first cylindrical high explosive charge member 202 is similar to the first cylindrical high explosive charge member 14 described above.

Positioned within the aperture defined by the walls 208 is a tubular second high explosive charge member 210 and an inert cylinder 212 at the base of the aperture defined by the walls 208. A tubular metallic liner 212 is positioned within the tubular second high explosive charge member 210 and the outer peripheral walls of the tubular metallic liner 212 are continuous to the inner peripheral walls 01 the tubular high explosive charge member 210.

In this embodiment of applicant's invention axial portions of the lower surface 206 are the preselected surface portions for igniting the charge means 200 to provide a detonation front. When these surfaces are ignited by the igniter 214 in the manner described above, a detonation front progresses through the first high explosive charge member 202 from the bottom surface 206 towards the top surface 204. However, in the manner described above in connection with the embodiment in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, a detonation front 214 is generated in the second high explosive charge member 210. It will be appreciated that the detonation front velocity in the first high explosive charge member 202 is greater than the detonation front velocity in the tubular high explosive charge member 210.

However, in this embodiment of applicants invention, the tubular metallic liner 212 prevents the intersection of the detonation fronts 214, since the tubular second high explosive charge member 210 is not a solid cylinder. However, the detonation fronts 214 intercept with the tubular metallic liner 212 and provide a constant angle Mach stem at the intersection of the detonation front 214 and the metallic liner 212. Thus, there is a Collapsing of the metallic liner 212 to form a jet in a manner analogous to the formation of the typical shaped charge jet. However, in this embodiment of applicants invention the constant angle Mach stern as generated by the detonation fronts 214 provide the exceptionally high velocity to be imparted to the particles comprising the jet because of the constant increase in the momentum associated with the particles between the detonation front 214, the Mach stem front 216 and the, metallic tubular liner 212. Thus, the jet formed by the collapsing of the metallic tubular liner 212 is forced outwardly in a direction indicated by thearrow 218 at a comparatively high velocity because of the high momentum associated with the small constant angle Mach stem.

While the embodiment shown in FIGURE 8 is for a cylindrical configuration, it. will be appreciated that a jet may also be provided in a rectangular prism configuration to provide a directed sheet type of warhead.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate such an embodiment of applicants invention. As shown on FIGURES 9 and 10 there is a charge means 220 comprised of a first high explosive charge member 222 in the form of a rectangular prism having substantially parallel top and bottom walls 224 and 226, respectively, substantially parallel side walls 228 and 230, respectively, and substantially parallel end walls 232 and 234, respectively. The first high explosive charge member 222 has walls 236 defining a slot therein extending a preselected distance from the upper surface 224 thereof towards the lower surface 226.

A pair of second high explosive charge members 238a and 23812, which are identical, are placed in the slot defined by the wall 236 in a spaced apart relationship and a pair of metallic plates 240a and 240k are placed in a spaced apart relationship against the second high explosive charge members 238a and 238b, respectively, in a manner indicated in FIGURES 9 and 10. End plates (not shown) may be included if desired to close the ends of the charge means 220'.

The lower surface 226 of the first high explosive charge member 222 contains the preselected surface areas for ignition of v the charge means 220. When a wave shaper 242 is provided in the base of the aperture defined by the wall 236 a linear initiator 244 symmetrically aligns with the first high explosive charge member 222 and second high explosive charge members 238a and 238b may be utilized in a manner analogous to that described above in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5. However, it will be appreciated, that the wave shaper 242, which is formed from an inert rectangular prism, may be eliminated and linear initiators similar to those described in connection with the embodiments shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 utilized to ignite the edges 246 and 248 of the first high explosive charge member 222 to provide the constant angle Mach stem.

When the charge means 220 is ignited, a constant angle Mach stem is formed in the second high explosive charge members 238a and 238b and is a substantially wedge shaped configuration and collapses the pair of plates 240a and 24% towards each other to definea directed sheet warhead provided with a high velocity because of the high momentum associated with the material contained within the small constant angle Mach stem.

In all the above embodiments of applicants invention, it will be appreciated, there is provided two different high explosive charge members. The first high explosive charge member always has a detonation front velocity greater than the second'high explosive charge member and a wave shaper which may be the form of an inert object, or in the form of the configuration of the two explosive charge members themselves is utilized to provide the particular detonation front configuration ncessary to generate a small constant angle Mach stem. The mechanism of the constant angle Mach stem is such that the momentum associated with the particles contained within the constant angle Mach stem continually increases during the traverse of the constant angle Mach stem through the second high explosive charge member. Thus, the increase in momentum provides a high force for acceleration of a particle or jet dependingupon the configuration.

Applicant has found that HMX, PBX or similar explosives may be utilized as the first high explosive charge member since they have detonation front velocities on the order of 8500 to 9000 meters per second. Correspondingly, Comp. B or Comp. C, having detonation front velocities on the order of 7500 meters per second may be utilized as the second high explosive charge member.

Those skilled in the art may find many variations and adaptations of applicants invention. The following claims are intended to cover all such variations and adaptations falling within the true scope and spirit of applicants invention herein.

For example, the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 11 combines the features shown in the embodiment of FIGURES 9 and 10 with the embodiment of FIGURES 6 and 7. Thus, as shown in FIGURE 11, there is another variation of the directed sheet warhead embodiment, generally designated 250 comprised of a charge means 252 having a first high explosive charge member 254 and a second high explosive charge member 256. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 11 the first high explosive charge 252 and second high explosive charge 256 are in rectangular prism form, and FIGURE 11 is an end view thereof.

A pair of rectangular metallic plates 258 are coupled to the second high explosive charge member 256 and are in spaced apart relationship. A line initiator 260 is coupled to an external peripheral edge of the first high explosive charge member 254 to provide ignition thereof. The line initiators 260 may b efabricated from Detasheet and identical to the linear initiators 174 shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. The linear initiator 260 may be ignited by the detonator 262 to provide detonation of the charge means 250.

As described above in connection with FIGURES 9 and 10, a constant angle Mach stem is generated in the second high explosive charge member 256 to form a directed sheet warhead from the collapsing metallic plates 258. The charge means 252 may be held together in preferred relationship shown on FIGURE 11 by any desired sfructural arrangement. The detonation front velocity in the first high explosive charge member 254 is, of course, greater than the detonation front velocity in the second high explosive charge member 256.

This concludes the description of applicants invention. What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

What is claimed is:

1. In combination:

charge means having preselected surface portions for ignition thereof to generate detonation front emanating therefrom for travel through said charge means for said preselected surface portion;

said charge means comprises:

a first high explosive charge member having a first detonation front velocity and having said preselected surface portions thereon;

a second high explosive charge member in detonation relationship to said first high explosive charge member and having a second detonation front velocity less than said first detonation front velocity;

means in said charge means intercepting said de tonation front to provide an intersecting detonation front combination for generating a substantially constant angle in the intersection of said detonation front during at least a predetermined portion of the travel of said detonation front through said charge means;

said detonation front generates a Mach stem in said charge means and said Mach stem having an increasing momentum during said preselected portions of travel of said detonation front through said charge means;

a projectile means positioned in said charge means to be accelerated by the material in said Mach stem to regions external said charge means; and

said projectile means is positioned adjacent said second high explosive charge member.

2. The arrangement defined in claim -1 wherein:

said first high explosive charge member has a pair of spaced apart end surfaces, and wall portions defining an aperture extending from a first of said end surfaces into said first high explosive charge member a preselected distance from said first end surface thereof, and said aperture having a base portion spaced apart from a second end surface of said first high explosive charge member;

said second high explosive charge member is positioned in said aperture and has a first end substantially co-z planar with said first end surface of said first high explosive charge member and a second end spaced apart from said base portion of said aperture; and

said means comprises a wave shaper means comprising an inert member in said aperture intermediate said base portion of said aperture and said second high explosive charge member.

3. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said Mach stem defines a substantially constant angle cone.

4. The arrangement defined in claim 3 wherein:

said first high explosive charge member comprises a first cylindrical high explosive charge member having a first end and a second end, and having walls defining an aperture extending from said first end towards said second end and said aperture having a base portion spaced from said second end of said first high explosive charge member;

said second high explosive charge member comprises a second cylindrical high explosive charge member positioned in said aperture and having a first end substantially coplanar with said first end of said first high explosive charge member and a second end spaced from said base portion of said aperture;

said wave shaper means comprises an inert cylindrical member intermediate said base portion of said aperture and said second end of said second cylindrical high explosive charge member;

said preselected ignition surface portions comprise said second end of said first cylindrical high explosive charge member; and

said projectile means is positioned on said first end of said second high explosive charge member.

5. The arrangement defined in claim 1 wherein said Mach stem is substantially wedge shaped.

'6. The arrangement defined in claim 5 wherein:

said first high explosive charge member comprises a quadrilateral first high explosive charge member having substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces, substantially parallel end surfaces, and substantially parallel side surfaces, and walls defining a slot extending from a first end surface toward a second end surface and extending a preselected distance into said first high explosive charge member from said top surface thereof and said slot having a base portion spaced from said bottom surface of said first high explosive charge member;

said second high explosive charge member comprises a second quadrilateral high explosive charge member positioned in said slot in said first high explosive charge member and having to top substantially co-' planar with said top surface of said first high explosive charge member and a bottom spaced from said base portion of said slot;

said projectile is positioned adjacent said top of said second quadrilateral high explosive charge member; and

said preselected surface portions for ignition comprise the edges defined by the intersections of said sides and said bottom surfaces of said first quadrilateral high explosive charge member.

7. In combination:

charge means having preselected surface portions for ignition thereof to generate detonation front emanating therefrom for travel through said charge means from said pre-selected surface portion;

means in said charge means intercepting said detoation front to provide an intersecting detonation front combination for generating a substantially constant angle in the intersection of said detonation front during at least a predetermined portion of the travel of said detonation front through said charge means; and said charge means comprises:

a first cylindrical high explosive charge member having a first end and a second end, and Walls defining an aperture extending axially inwardly a preselected distance from said first end towards said second end, and said aperture having a base' portion spaced apart from said second end of said first cylindrical high explosive charge member, and said first high explosive charge member having a first detonation front velocity;

2, second tubular high explosive charge member positioned in said aperture of said first cylindrical high explosive charge member and having a first end substantially coplanar with said first end of said first high explosive charge member, and a second end spaced apart from said base portion of said aperture, and having a second detonation front velocity less than said first detonation front velocity;

a tubular metallic liner positioned in said second high explosive charge member having outer peripheral wall portions contiguous with inner peripheral wall portions of said second tubular high explosive charge member and said tubular metallic liner extending from said first end to said second end of said second tubular high explosive charge member;

said means comprises an inert cylinder member in said aperture of said first cylindrical high explosive charge member intermediate said base portion thereof and said second end of said second tubular high explosive charge member; and

said preselected surface portions for ignition comprise said second end of said first cylindrical high explosive charge member.

8. In combination:

charge means having preselected surface portions for ignition thereof to generate detonation front emanating therefrom for travel through said charge means from said preselected surface portion;

means in said charge means intercepting said detonation front to provide an intersecting detonation front combination for generating a substantially constant angle in the intersection of said detonation front during at least a predetermined portion of the travel of said detonation front through said charge means;

said charge means comprises a first high explosive charge member in the form of a rectangular prism,

and having walls defining a slot therein extending a preselected distance from a first end thereof towards a second end thereof;

a pair of second high explosive charge members in the form of rectangular prisms contained within said slot in said first high explosive charge member in a spaced apart relationship;

a pair of plate means in spaced apart relationship adjacent to said pair of second high explosive charge means;

said preselected surface portions for ignition of said charge means comprise edge portions of said base of said first high explosive charge member;

a pair of linear initiators coupled to said edges of said first high explosive charge member for initiation of a detonation wave therealong; and

means for detonating said linear initiator.

9. In combination:

charge means having preselected surface portions for ignition thereof to generate detonation front emanating therefrom for travel through said charge means from said preselected surface portion;

means in said charge means intercepting said detonation front to provide an intersecting detonation front combination for generating a substantially constant angle in the intersection of said detonation front during at least a predetermined portion of the travel of said detonation front through said charge means;

said charge means comprises a first high explosive charge member in the form of a rectangular prism, and having walls defining a slot therein extending a preselected distance from a first end thereof towards a second end thereof;

a pair of second high explosive charge members in the form of rectangular prisms contained within said slot in said first high explosive charge member in a spaced apart relationship;

a pair of plate means in spaced apart relationship adjacent to said pair of second high explosive charge means;

an inert rectangular prism Wave shaper contained within said slot in said first high explosive charge member;

said preselected surface portions for ignition comprise symmetrical centralized surface portions of said base of said first high explosive charge member; and

a linear initiator for initiating a detonation front in said first high explosive charge member along said preselected ignition surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS VERLIN R. PENDEGRASS, Primary Examiner US. C X-R,

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