Weapon and Weapon System Employing the Same

Abstract

A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead having an outer casing that forms an internal chamber and a dart within the internal chamber. The dart includes a main body formed with a non-explosive material and is configured to exit the internal chamber via an opening therein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a weapon, comprising:
 providing a warhead with an internal chamber within an outer casing;   securing a dart within said internal chamber to aft end of said warhead with a restraining device about an aft end of said dart; and   restraining said dart with a restraining clamp about an outer side of said dart against a pressure saddle on an inner side of said dart.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said securing further comprises securing said dart to said restraining device with an adjustment bolt. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 2  wherein said adjustment bolt is coupled to a base at said aft end of said dart. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said restraining clamp and said pressure saddle are located on a central portion of said dart. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said dart comprises a conical nose and said pressure saddle is located on a sloping inner side of said conical nose. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising creating friction on said dart. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising creating friction on said dart with a friction adjustment bolt. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising locking said restraining clamp about said outer side of said dart against said pressure saddle on said inner side of said dart. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising locking said restraining clamp about said outer side of said dart against said pressure saddle on said inner side of said dart with a clamp adjustment bolt. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising securing a plurality of darts to said aft end of said warhead with said restraining device about an aft end said plurality of darts. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10  wherein ones of said plurality of darts are a different size. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising restraining a plurality of darts with said restraining clamp about an outer side of said plurality of darts against said pressure saddle on in inner side of said plurality of darts. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein ones of said plurality of darts are a different size. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising forming a fuze well within said warhead. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said dart is formed with a non-explosive material. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said outer casing is formed of a softer material than said dart. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said dart is formed with tungsten. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said dart comprises a conical nose, a main body and a rod. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said dart comprises a forward section including a central core formed of a first material and an outer surface formed of a second material. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said dart comprises a forward section including a central core formed of a first material, an aft outer body formed of a second material and an outer surface formed of a third material.