Solid metal fragmentation sleeve

Abstract

A fragmentation sleeve for use with a non-fragmenting explosive device is disclosed. The fragmentation sleeve may include a cylindrical side wall having a plurality of fragmentation portions. The cylindrical side wall may further include a plurality of longitudinally extending separation portions and a plurality of circumferentially extending separation portions.

1 . A fragmentation sleeve for use with a non-fragmenting explosive device comprising:
 a cylindrical side wall defining a longitudinal axis, the side wall including:
 a plurality of fragmentation portions having a first wall thickness; 
 a plurality of longitudinally extending separation portions, each longitudinally extending separation portion extending between circumferentially spaced fragmentation portions; and 
 a plurality of circumferentially extending separation portions, each circumferentially extending separation portion extending between longitudinally spaced fragmentation portions, wherein the longitudinally extending separation portions and the circumferentially extending separation portions have a second wall thickness, the second wall thickness being less than the first wall thickness. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall thickness of the cylindrical side wall is at least 0.20 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fragmentation portions are comprised of metal. 
     
     
         4 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the fragmentation portions are configured in the shape of a parallelepiped. 
     
     
         5 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 4 , wherein the fragmentation portions include a length of at least 0.13 inches and a width of at least 0.10 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of fragmentation portions includes at least 220 fragmentation portions. 
     
     
         7 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 6 , wherein the fragmentation portions are configured in a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced columns and a plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced rows, the longitudinally extending columns being perpendicular to the circumferentially extending TOWS. 
     
     
         8 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced columns includes 40 columns. 
     
     
         9 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced rows includes 20 columns. 
     
     
         10 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending separation portions and the circumferentially extending separation portions are comprised of metal. 
     
     
         11 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 10 , wherein the longitudinally extending separation portions include a width no greater than 0.06 inches and the circumferentially extending separation portions include a width no greater than 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein the second wall thickness of the longitudinally extending separation portions and the circumferentially extending separation portions is no greater than 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         13 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the longitudinally extending separation portions extend axially at least 3.3 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the circumferentially extending separation portions extend at least 7.8 inches around a circumference of the fragmentation sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , further comprising a base member, the base member being coupled to the cylindrical wall. 
     
     
         16 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the base member is comprised of metal, the side wall is comprised of metal, and the base member is integral with the side wall. 
     
     
         17 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 15 , wherein the base member includes:
 a plurality of fragmentation portions, the fragmentation portions having a first base thickness;   a plurality of first separation portions extending in a first direction; and   a plurality of second separation portions, the second separation portions extending perpendicular from the first separation portions, wherein the first separation portions and the second separation portions have a second base thickness, the second base thickness being less than the first base thickness.   
     
     
         18 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein the first base thickness is at least 0.20 inches and the second base thickness is no greater than 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein the first separation portions of the base member include a width no greater than 0.06 inches and the second separation portions of the base member include a width no greater than 0.06 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 17 , wherein the base member includes an outer diameter of at least 2.5 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer clip, the retainer clip being configured to cooperate with a retaining groove within the cylindrical side wall, the retainer clip coupling with the explosive device to retain the explosive device within the cylindrical side wall. 
     
     
         22 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 21 , wherein the retainer clip includes a first portion and a second portion to be retained on the non-fragmenting explosive device, the second portion biased partially outwardly away from the first portion to be received within the retaining groove. 
     
     
         23 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical side wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface including a plurality of wedged-shaped portions arranged in a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced columns and a plurality of circumferentially extending, longitudinally spaced TOWS. 
     
     
         24 . A fragmentation sleeve for use with a non-fragmenting explosive device comprising:
 a wall including an inner surface defining a chamber configured to receive a hand held, non-fragmenting explosive device, the wall further including:
 a plurality of fragmentation portions; 
 a plurality of first separation portions extending longitudinally between adjacent fragmentation portions; 
 a plurality of second separation portions extending substantially perpendicular to the first separation portions between adjacent fragmentation portions; and 
   a coupler supported by the wall and configured to releasably couple the hand held explosive device to the wall.   
     
     
         25 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 24 , wherein the fragmentation portions have a first wall thickness and the separation portions have a second wall thickness less than the first wall thickness. 
     
     
         26 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 24 , further comprising a base member coupled to the wall and including:
 a plurality of fragmentation portions having a first base thickness;   a plurality of first separation portions extending in a first direction; and   a plurality of second separation portions extending perpendicular from the first separation portions, wherein the first and second separation portions have a second base thickness, the first base thickness is at least 0.20 inches and the second base thickness is no greater than 0.06 inches.   
     
     
         27 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of first separation portions of the wall and the plurality of second separation portions of the wall include longitudinally extending separation portions and circumferentially extending separation portions, the longitudinally extending separation portions perpendicularly intersecting the circumferentially extending separation portions. 
     
     
         28 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 27 , wherein the fragmentation portions are defined intermediate the longitudinally extending separation portions and the circumferentially extending separation portions. 
     
     
         29 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 24 , wherein the coupler includes a retainer clip, the retainer clip being configured to cooperate with a retaining groove within the wall, the retainer clip coupling with the explosive device to retain the explosive device within the sleeve. 
     
     
         30 . The fragmentation sleeve of  claim 29 , wherein the retainer clip wherein the retainer clip includes a first portion and a second portion to be retained on the non-fragmenting explosive device, the second portion biased partially outwardly away from the first portion to be received within the retaining groove. 
     
     
         31 . A method of using a fragmentation sleeve with a non-fragmenting explosive device comprising the steps of:
 providing a hand held, non-fragmenting explosive device;   slidably receiving the explosive device within a fragmentation sleeve having a side wall supporting a plurality of fragmentation portions;   detonating the explosive device, wherein the side wall separates along a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending separation portions and a plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending separation portions; and   propelling the plurality of fragmentation portions positioned between the plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending separation portions and the plurality of longitudinally spaced, circumferentially extending separation portions.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising the step of providing a base member at an end of the side wall. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising the step of coupling the explosive device to an inner surface of the side wall. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising the step of inserting a retainer clip within the sleeve between the inner surface of the side wall and the explosive device, a portion of the clip received within a groove formed in the inner surface.