High velocity projectiles

Abstract

A shaped charge and projectile combination for firing from a weapon, the combination including projectile ( 3 ), shaped charge ( 1 ) of high explosive material and metal liner ( 2 ) located between charge ( 1 ) and projectile ( 3 ). Charge ( 1 ) includes detonator ( 6 ) and cavity ( 4 ) in an external face facing the muzzle of the weapon, cavity ( 4 ) being shaped to axially concentrate explosive on detonation of charge ( 1 ) towards the rear ( 5 ) of projectile ( 3 ). Metal liner ( 2 ) forms a jet of liner material on detonation of charge ( 1 ) to impact the rear ( 5 ) of projectile ( 3 ) and so propel projectile ( 3 ) from the weapon at high velocity, typically greater than 1000 m/s and up to 6000 m/s. Projectile ( 3 ) therefore travels a flatter trajectory and has a higher penetrating power than a conventionally propelled projectile.

1 . A shaped charge and projectile combination including: 
 a projectile    a shaped charge of high explosive material including a cavity in an external face of the charge, shaped to axially concentrate explosive upon detonation of the shaped charge towards the projectile, and    a metal liner between the shaped charge and the projectile, to form a jet of liner material on detonation of the shaped charge to impact the rear of and propel the projectile.    
   
   
       2 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the shaped charge is housed in a casing forming a cartridge.  
   
   
       3 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the projectile is retained within the cavity in the shaped charge.  
   
   
       4 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3  wherein the projectile has a ballistic shape with a front end and a rear end and wherein at least the rear end includes a layer of temperature resistant material.  
   
   
       5 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the temperature resistant material is one of the group of carbon, titanium, tungsten, ceramics, steel, uranium or depleted uranium.  
   
   
       6 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the projectile includes an aperture facing the liner of the shaped charge.  
   
   
       7 . A shape charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  6  wherein the projectile includes stabilisation means.  
   
   
       8 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the stabilisation means includes external wings or fins.  
   
   
       9 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the stabilisation means includes dimples or grooves.  
   
   
       10 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the stabilisation means includes means to interact with rifling on the inside of a barrel of a weapon.  
   
   
       11 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10  wherein the projectile is a bullet.  
   
   
       12 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10  wherein the projectile is a shell.  
   
   
       13 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the cavity in the shaped charge has a concave shape.  
   
   
       14 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the cavity in the shaped charge has an ovaloid shape.  
   
   
       15 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  12  wherein the cavity in the shaped charge has a cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       16 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15  wherein the explosive of the shaped charge is arranged to be detonated by electrical ignition.  
   
   
       17 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15  wherein the explosive of the shaped charge is arranged to be detonated by a firing pin.  
   
   
       18 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15  wherein the explosive of the shaped charge is arranged to be detonated by laser ignition.  
   
   
       19 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the projectile has a diameter which is less than the widest cross-section of the cavity in the shaped charge.  
   
   
       20 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the liner is a ballistic disk.  
   
   
       21 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination including: 
 a projectile,    a body of a high explosive material forming a charge and including an internal cavity open to one end of the charge to axially concentrate explosive force upon detonation of the shaped charge towards the rear face of the projectile, and    a metal layer lining the interior of the cavity in the shaped charge.    
   
   
       22 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in  claim 21  wherein the shaped charge is housed in a casing forming a cartridge.  
   
   
       23 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the projectile is retained within the cavity in the shaped charge.  
   
   
       24 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  23  wherein the projectile has a ballistic shape with a front end and a rear end and wherein at least the rear end includes a layer of temperature resistant material.  
   
   
       25 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the temperature resistant material is one of the group of carbon, titanium, tungsten, ceramics, steel, uranium or depleted uranium.  
   
   
       26 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  25  wherein the projectile includes an aperture facing the liner of the shaped charge.  
   
   
       27 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  26  wherein the projectile includes stabilisation means.  
   
   
       28 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the stabilisation means includes external wings or fins.  
   
   
       29 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the stabilisation means includes dimples or grooves.  
   
   
       30 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the stabilisation means includes means to interact with rifling on the inside of a barrel of a weapon.  
   
   
       31 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  30  wherein the projectile is a bullet.  
   
   
       32 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  30  wherein the projectile is a shell.  
   
   
       33 . A ed charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  32  wherein the cavity in the shaped charge has a concave shape.  
   
   
       34 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  32  wherein the cavity in the shaped charge has an ovaloid shape.  
   
   
       35 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  32  wherein the cavity in the shaped charge has a cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       36 . A shaped charge and projectile combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  35  wherein the explosive of the shaped charge is arranged to be detonated by electrical ignition.  
   
   
       37 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  35  wherein the explosive of the shaped charge is arranged to be detonated by a firing pin.  
   
   
       38 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  35  wherein the explosive of the shaped charge is arranged to be detonated by laser ignition.  
   
   
       39 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  38  wherein the projectile has a diameter which is less than the widest cross-section of the cavity in the shaped charge.  
   
   
       40 . A shaped charge and projectile in combination as claimed in any one of  claims 21  to  39  wherein the liner is a ballistic disk.  
   
   
       41 . A method of propelling a projectile including: 
 providing a projectile,    providing a shaped charge of high explosive material including a cavity in an external face of the charge, the cavity shaped to axially concentrate explosive upon detonation of the shaped charge towards the projectile,    providing a metal liner between the shaped charge and the projectile, and    detonating the shaped charge at an end opposite the cavity to form a jet of liner material, and focus the jet on the rear of the projectile so that at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the jet is transferred to the projectile to propel the projectile.