Patent ID: 6021716
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
A penetrator for impacting a target, said penetrator having a leading end, a trailing end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said leading end and said trailing end, said penetrator comprising:a plurality of penetrator segments positioned in axial alignment with each other along the longitudinal axis of said penetrator to form a stack, each of said penetrator segments having a nose portion and a rear portion, said plurality of penetrator segments including a leading penetrator segment, at least one intermediate penetrator segment, and a trailing penetrator segment;said leading penetrator segment being positioned at the leading end of said penetrator, the rear portion of said leading penetrator segment having a rearwardly opening cavity therein, the rearwardly opening cavity being shaped to secureably receive a nose portion of a forwardmost one of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment such that there is a press-fit between the rearwardly opening cavity of said leading penetrator segment and the nose portion of the forwardmost one of said at least one intermediate penetrator segments;the rear portion of each of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment having a rearwardly opening cavity therein, the rearwardly opening cavity of each of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment being shaped to secureably receive a nose portion of an immediately rearwardly positioned penetrator segment such that there is a press-fit between the rearwardly opening cavity of each of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment and the nose portion of the respective immediately rearwardly positioned penetrator segment, the rear portion of each of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment having a plurality of fins pivotally mounted thereon, each of the fins having a stowed position and a deployed position, the nose portion of each of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment being positioned within the rearwardly opening cavity of an immediately preceding penetrator segment;said trailing penetrator segment being positioned such that said at least one intermediate penetrator segment is located between said leading penetrator segment and said trailing penetrator segment, the nose portion of said trailing penetrator segment being positioned in the rearwardly opening cavity of a rearmost one of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment such that the nose portion of said trailing penetrator segment engages an element associated with each of said fins of the rearmost one of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment to thereby prevent the fins of the rearmost one of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment from pivoting from their stowed positions to their deployed positions; anda plurality of explosive elements, with at least one explosive element being positioned between each pair of adjacent penetrator segments when said plurality of penetrator segments are positioned in axial alignment with each other;whereby upon initiation of deployment of said penetrator, said plurality of penetrator segments remain in axial alignment until said plurality of explosive elements explode, thereby causing each pair of adjacent penetrator segments to separate from each other; whereupon the fins of said at least one intermediate penetrator segment pivot from their stowed positions to their deployed positions; whereupon said penetrator segments have separated from each other and each penetrator segment is aerodynamically stable and can separately impact the target in sequence.