AU2010200277B2

AU2010200277B2 - Explosive charge

Info

Publication number: AU2010200277B2
Application number: AU2010200277A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Colin Douglas Young
Original assignee: Chemring Energetics UK Ltd
Current assignee: Chemring Energetics UK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-01
Filing date: 2010-01-25
Publication date: 2011-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-25
Also published as: CA2757111A1; GB2469099A; WO2010112900A1; AU2010200277A1; EP2414768A1; HK1146311A1; US20120090491A1; GB2469099B; GB0905688D0

Abstract

EXPLOSIVE CHARGE An explosive charge comprising an elongate casing with elongate grooves running along the casing, each groove locally reducing the thickness of the casing. The grooves 5 are distributed in two or more groups around the circumference of the casing and the edge-to-edge spacing between each adjacent pair of grooves in a group is less than the edge-to-edge spacing between each pair of adjacent groups. Detonation causes the casing to break at a pair of grooves in one of the groups and form a fragment from material between the pair of grooves, the fragment cutting an obstacle. 10 [Figure 3] 2175178_1 (GHMatters) 25/01/10 N C\1 C\ c~co Ccw) CYC) Cc~J

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant(s): Chemring Energetics UK Limited Invention Title: Explosive charge The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 EXPLOSIVE CHARGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an explosive charge, particularly a charge suitable for use in a so-called "Bangalore Torpedo". 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional explosive charge is described in W02007/099362. The charge has one or more longitudinal concave grooves. Upon explosion, the contour of the groove results in a focussing effect on the wall material. The groove does not reduce the local thickness of the wall of the charge. 10 Another conventional explosive charge is described in GB-A-2214618. The inner face of the lining is formed with a set of V-shaped grooves interlinked around the axis of the charge. The grooves reduce the local thickness of the lining and result in material being ejected in a plurality of shaped charge jets one from each outward facing V-shaped region of the lining. 15 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the invention provides an explosive charge comprising an elongate casing with elongate grooves running along the casing, each groove locally reducing the thickness of the casing, wherein the grooves are distributed in two or more groups around the circumference of the casing and the edge-to-edge spacing between each 20 adjacent pair of grooves in a group is less than the edge-to-edge spacing between each pair of adjacent groups. A second aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts comprising two or more charges according to the first aspect of the invention, each charge having a head end adapted to be coupled to the tail end of an adjacent charge, and a tail end adapted to be coupled to 25 the head end of an adjacent charge. A third aspect of the invention provides a method of cutting an obstacle using the explosive charge of the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising detonating 21751781 {GHMattera) 25/01/10 - 3 explosive material in a compartment of the casing, the detonation causing the casing to break at a pair of grooves in one of the groups and form a fragment from material between the pair of grooves, the fragment cutting the obstacle. In GB-A-2214618 the grooves are distributed uniformly around the circumference of 5 the lining. In contrast, according to the present invention the grooves are distributed non-uniformly around the circumference of the casing so that they are bunched together in two or more groups. The relatively small edge-to-edge spacing between each adjacent pair of grooves in a group results in the generation of high energy fragments which can cut efficiently through an obstacle. 10 The edge-to-edge spacing between each groove in a group may be zero, but preferably it is greater than zero so that each groove has an edge which is separated from an adjacent edge of an adjacent groove by a non-grooved portion of the casing. Various other preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 15 Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an explosive charge; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along a line B-B in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a line A-A in Figure 1; 20 Figure 4 is a close up transverse sectional view showing a pair of grooves; Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a set of charges in use as a Bangalore torpedo; and Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view showing the torpedo exploding. 25 2175178_1 (GHMatters) 25/01/10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) An explosive charge 1 shown in Figure 1 comprises an elongate casing 2 with grooves 3, 4 running along the external wall of the casing. Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along a line A-A in Figure 1, which shows that there are four pairs of 5 grooves distributed around the circumference of the casing. The grooves are all identical so only the pair 3, 4 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 4. Each groove is V-shaped with a depth d. Each groove locally reduces the thickness of the casing, so the thickness ti of the casing at the bottom of each groove is less than the thickness t 2 in the un-grooved portion between adjacent pairs of grooves. 10 The grooves 3, 4 are separated from each other by a small non-grooved portion 10 of the casing in which the thickness of the casing is substantially constant. The grooves 3, 4 are relatively narrow, as is the width of the non-grooved portion 10 which separates the groove 3 from the groove 4. Specifically, each groove subtends an angle Ogi of only about 40 and the edge-to-edge angular spacing Og2 between the edges of adjacent 15 grooves within a pair is only about 20. Therefore each pair subtends an angle 6 g3 between its two outer edges of about 100, and the edge-to-edge angular spacing Opi (shown in Figure 3) between the edges of adjacent pairs of grooves is about 80*. The internal wall of the casing is circular in cross-section for ease of manufacture and to maximise the space available for explosive material. 20 Referring to Figure 2, which is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line B-B shown in Figure 1, the casing has an internally threaded head end 11 adapted to be screwed to the tail end of an adjacent charge, and an externally threaded tail end 12 adapted to be screwed to the head end of an adjacent charge. Figure 5 shows the device in use as a Bangalore torpedo being prepared to clear a path 25 through a series of wires 20 (for instance barbed wire or razor wire). A number of casing units 21, 22 (in this case two, but optionally more than two) are screwed together head to tail. An explosive charge (not shown) is contained inside the torpedo along its full length. A nose cone 23 is screwed to the head end of the front casing unit, and a detonator housing 24 with an initiator is screwed to the tail end of the rear casing. The 2175178_1 (GHMatters) 25/01/20 - 5 torpedo is fed under the barbed wire and placed on the ground with two pairs of grooves facing up and oriented at approximately +/- 450 to the vertical. The charge is then detonated, causing the casing to break initially at the bases of the eight grooves where the thickness t 1 is at a minimum. The casing material between the 5 grooves forms four small pre-defined fragments which are ejected at approximately +/ 450 to the vertical. The fragments from the two downwardly pointed pairs of grooves impact the ground and are not shown in Figure 6. However the fragments 25, 26 from the two upwardly pointed pairs of grooves are ejected upwardly and cut the barbed wire at locations 27 and 28 respectively, clearing a path through the obstacle. The relatively 10 large volume of casing between the pairs of grooves generates a set of relatively small and low energy particles 29, 30, 31 which have less cutting effect than the fragments 25, 26. Spacing the pairs of grooves apart, and making the spacing between adjacent grooves in a pair relatively small, ensures that the fragments 25, 26 have relatively high energy and cutting effectiveness. It is also believed that the tapering profile of the 15 grooves (in this case a V-shaped profile) provides a focusing effect on the detonation wave. Note that Figure 6 does not show the true shape of the fragments 25, 26 or lower energy particles 29-31 but merely intends to show the mode of operation schematically. Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more 20 preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, 25 the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 2175178_1 (GRMatters) 25/01/10 -6 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 5 10 15 20 2175178_1 (GHMatter) 25/01/10

Claims

1. An explosive charge comprising an elongate casing with elongate grooves running along the casing, each groove locally reducing the thickness of the casing, wherein the grooves are distributed in two or more groups around the 5 circumference of the casing and the edge-to-edge spacing between each adjacent pair of grooves in a group is less than the edge-to-edge spacing between each pair of adjacent groups.

2. The charge of claim I wherein each group of grooves has no more than two grooves. 10

3. The charge of any preceding claim wherein there are no more than four groups of grooves distributed around the circumference of the casing.

4. The charge of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein there are no more than four pairs of grooves distributed around the circumference of the casing.

5. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the grooves are distributed in three 15 or more groups around the circumference of the casing

6. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the edge-to-edge spacing between each groove in a group is greater than zero, so that each groove has an edge which is separated from an adjacent edge of an adjacent groove by a non grooved portion of the casing. 20

7. The charge of claim 6 wherein the non-grooved portion of the casing substends an angle at the centre of the casing and the average angle subtended by the non grooved portions at the centre of the casing, when viewed in transverse cross section, is less than 5*.

8. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the average edge-to-edge spacing 25 between the adjacent edges of each groove within a group is less than the average edge-to-edge spacing between the adjacent edges of adjacent groups by a factor of 10 or more. 2932561_1 (GHMatters) P83175.AU 10/11/11 - 8

9. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the grooves taper outwardly when viewed in transverse cross-section.

10. The charge of any preceding claim wherein each groove substends an angle at the centre of the casing and the average angle subtended by each groove at the 5 centre of the casing, when viewed in transverse cross-section, is less than 10*.

11. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the total angle subtended by the grooves at the centre of the casing, when viewed in transverse cross-section, is less than 90*.

12. The charge of claim 11 wherein the total angle substended by the grooves at the 10 centre of the casing, when viewed in transverse cross-section is less than 600.

13. The charge of claim 11 wherein the total angle substended by the grooves at the centre of the casing, when viewed in transverse cross-section is less than 30'.

14. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the casing has an internal wall and an external wall and wherein the grooves are formed in the external wall.

15 15. The charge of claim 14 wherein the internal wall is substantially circular in cross-section.

16. The charge of any preceding claim wherein the casing has a threaded head end adapted to be coupled to the tail end of an adjacent charge, and a threaded tail end adapted to be coupled to the head end of an adjacent charge. 20

17. A kit of parts comprising two or more charges according to any preceding claim, each charge having a head end adapted to be coupled to the tail end of an adjacent charge, and a tail end adapted to be coupled to the head end of an adjacent charge.

18. A method of cutting an obstacle using the explosive charge of any preceding 25 claim, the method comprising detonating explosive material in a compartment of the casing, the detonation causing the casing to break at a pair of grooves in one 2932561_1 (GHMatters) P83175.AU 10/11/11 -9 of the groups and form a fragment from material between the pair of grooves, the fragment cutting the obstacle.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising coupling two or more of the charges head to tail; and detonating explosive material in each charge. 5

20. An explosive charge substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A kit of parts substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of cutting an obstacle using the explosive charge in accordance with 10 the present invention substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 2932561_1 (GHMatters) P83175.AU 10/11/11