Linear shaped charge backstop

Abstract

A linear shaped charge includes a sheath having an open end and an opposite closed end. A peripheral wall extends longitudinally from an end wall a predetermined length. The peripheral wall has a first wall thickness and the end wall has a second wall thickness. The second wall thickness of the end wall is equal to or greater than the first wall thickness of the peripheral wall. The peripheral wall and the end wall cooperatively define a cavity. The linear shaped charge also includes an explosive material disposed within and substantially filling the cavity.

1 . A linear shaped charge comprising:
 a sheath having a peripheral wall extending longitudinally a predetermined length, the sheath including an open end and an opposite closed end, the closed end defined by an end wall, the peripheral wall having a first wall thickness and the end wall having a second wall thickness, the second wall thickness being equal to or greater than the first wall thickness, the peripheral wall and the end wall defining a cavity; and   an explosive material located within and substantially filling the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the second wall thickness being equal to or greater than the first wall thickness.   
     
     
         3 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the second wall thickness being equal to or greater than two (2) times the first wall thickness.   
     
     
         4 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the second wall thickness being in a range between and including about two (2) times the first wall thickness and about three (3) times the first wall thickness.   
     
     
         5 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the sheath comprising a unitary component fabricated via an additive manufacturing process.   
     
     
         6 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 5 ,
 the additive manufacturing process including one or more of the following: direct metal laser melting (DMLM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), and electron beam melting (EBM).   
     
     
         7 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the peripheral wall defining a first periphery of the sheath,   the end wall having a second periphery, the second periphery being substantially the same size and shape as the first periphery,   the end wall coupled to the sheath via one of the following: an adhesive bond and a weld joint, to define the closed end.   
     
     
         8 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the peripheral wall defining a wall inner surface of the sheath,   the end wall having a second periphery, the second periphery being substantially the same size and shape as the wall inner surface,   the end wall coupled to the sheath via an interference fit.   
     
     
         9 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 8 ,
 the end wall coupled to the sheath via an interference fit and an adhesive disposed between the second periphery and the wall inner surface.   
     
     
         10 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the peripheral wall defining a periphery of the sheath,   the end wall comprising a backstop wall and a backstop peripheral wall that extends longitudinally from the backstop wall, the backstop peripheral wall defining an inner backstop peripheral surface, at least a portion of the inner backstop peripheral surface being substantially the same size and shape as at least a portion of the periphery of the sheath,   the end wall coupled to the sheath such that the least a portion of the backstop inner peripheral surface is in substantial face-to-face contact with the at least a portion of the periphery of the sheath.   
     
     
         11 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 10 ,
 the end wall coupled to the sheath via an interference fit.   
     
     
         12 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 11 ,
 the end wall coupled to the sheath via an interference fit and an adhesive disposed between the inner peripheral surface and the peripheral wall of the sheath.   
     
     
         13 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 10 ,
 the end wall coupled to the sheath via one of the following: an adhesive bond, a slip fit with an adhesive, and a weld joint.   
     
     
         14 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the end wall comprising a substantially planar base wall portion that extends substantially perpendicular to a pair of parallel sidewall portions.   
     
     
         15 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 the peripheral wall defining a V-shaped cross sectional shape of the sheath.   
     
     
         16 . The linear shaped charge in accordance with  claim 15 ,
 the V-shaped cross sectional shape being substantially symmetrical about a centerline, the peripheral wall including six (6) sides, including a symmetrical pair of inner legs, a symmetrical pair of sidewalls, and a symmetrical pair of upper walls.   
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 fabricating a sheath of a linear shaped charge, the sheath comprising a peripheral wall including an open end and an opposite closed end, the closed end defined by an end wall, the peripheral wall having a first wall thickness and the end wall having a second wall thickness, the second wall thickness being equal to or greater than the first wall thickness, the peripheral wall and the end wall defining a cavity; and   filling the cavity with an explosive material.   
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 the operation of fabricating the sheath comprises forming the second wall thickness in a range between and including about two (2) times the first wall thickness and about three (3) times the first wall thickness.   
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 the operation of fabricating the sheath comprises melting and solidifying particles of a powdered material.   
     
     
         20 . The method in accordance with  claim 19 ,
 the operation of melting and solidifying being performed via one of the following processes: direct metal laser melting (DMLM), direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), selective laser sintering (SLS), selective laser melting (SLM), and electron beam melting (EBM).