Abstract:
An explosive container positioning saddle for munition demolition includes a base having a first surface defined by a portion of a cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis. The base includes a second surface opposing the first surface. Sleeves are coupled to the second surface of the base and extend away therefrom. Each of the sleeves has a longitudinal axis and is oriented such that the longitudinal axis associated therewith is aligned to intersect with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shape.

Description:
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by employees of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used, licensed by or for the Government for any governmental purpose without payment of any royalties thereon. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to munition demolition, and more particularly to a positioning saddle that positions explosive containers at the surface of a munition that is to be detonated. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The demolition of dud or unused munitions is typically accomplished by attaching one or more explosive devices to a munition casing. Placement of the explosive devices for effective demolition is an inexact process leading to demolition operations that can be ineffective and/or dangerous. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus that positions explosive devices on a munition that is to be detonated. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that positions explosive devices on a munition such that munition demolition is guaranteed to be effective. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings. 
     In accordance with the present invention, an explosive container positioning saddle for munition demolition includes a base having a first surface defined by a portion of a cylindrical shape having a longitudinal axis. The base has a second surface opposing the first surface. Sleeves are coupled to the second surface of the base and extend away therefrom. Each of the sleeves has a longitudinal axis. Each of the sleeves is oriented such that the longitudinal axis associated therewith is aligned to intersect with the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shape. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the exemplary embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an explosive container positioning saddle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the underside of the explosive container positioning saddle illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the explosive container positioning saddle illustrated in  FIG. 1  with an explosive container in each sleeve of the saddle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an explosive container positioning saddle in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the underside of the explosive container positioning saddle illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, simultaneous reference will be made to  FIGS. 1-3  where an explosive container positioning saddle in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown and is referenced generally by numeral  10 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate saddle  10  in top and bottom, respectively, perspective views.  FIG. 3  illustrates saddle  10  positioning four explosive containers  100  adjacent to the surface (or casing) of a cylindrical munition  200 . While saddle  10  clusters four explosive containers  100  adjacent to munition  200 , saddles in accordance with the present invention may be configured to position fewer than four or more than four explosive containers without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Saddle  10  includes a base  20  and a plurality of alignment sleeves  30  clustered together. Base  20  and sleeves  30  may be made from a various materials, including plastic material, the choice of which is not a limitation of the present invention. Base  20  and sleeves  30  may be constructed to be integral with one another using, for example, injection molding techniques, three-dimensional printing techniques, or other techniques. 
     In general, base  20  is shaped as a portion of a cylindrical shape whose size/shape is defined by cylindrical munition  200  ( FIG. 3 ). More specifically, the underside surface  22  of base  20  that will rest on munition  200  is matched in size and shape to the cylindrical exterior surface of munition  200 . In other words, underside surface  22  essentially defines a portion of a cylinder (i.e., munition  200 ) having longitudinal axis  200 A. The topside surface  24  of base  20  may be parallel to underside surface  22  thereby making the thickness of base  20  constant. 
     Each of (the plurality of) sleeves  30  defines an interior shape that will cooperate with an explosive container  100  in order to hold/position container  100  in saddle  10 . In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, explosive containers  100  are cylindrical so that sleeves  30  are also cylindrical. Holding/positioning of containers  100  may be achieved, for example, when the diameter “D” of each sleeve  30  provides for a press-fit engagement between the outer surface of container  100  and sleeve  30 . 
     Each sleeve  30  also has a longitudinal axis  30 A. Sleeves  30  in base  20  are oriented such that each sleeve&#39;s longitudinal axis  30 A is aligned to intersect with longitudinal axis  200 A of munition  200 . In other words, each sleeve&#39;s longitudinal axis  30 A is aligned to intersect with the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical shape defined by the underside surface  22  of base  20 . In this way, when saddle  10  with explosive containers  100  is placed on munition  200 , the longitudinal axis  100 A of each explosive container is coincident with sleeve axis  30 A and is guaranteed to intersect with the longitudinal axis  200 A of munition  200 . Since underside surface  22  is matched to the cylindrical surface of munition  200 , proper alignment of explosive containers  100  is guaranteed when base  20  is attached (e.g., glued, taped, etc.) to munition  200 . By guaranteeing such alignment, the right combination of pressure waves are able to collide to produce the desired effect. 
     In order to allow the explosive force of each detonated explosive container  100  to act, directly, on munition  200 , base  20  has holes  26  aligned with each of sleeves  30 . Each hole  26  extends entirely through base  20 , i.e., from underside surface  22  to topside surface  24 . 
     As mentioned above, the present invention is not limited to four alignment sleeves as just described. For example,  FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of the present invention where a saddle  50  has a base  60  and three alignment sleeves  70 . Saddle  50  is constructed to have the same explosive container alignment attributes described above. In addition, sleeves  70  have indexing channels  72  defined axially along an inner surface thereof. Channels  72  may be provided to cooperate with outer surface protrusions present on other types of explosive containers (not shown). In still other exemplary embodiments, the inner surface of the sleeves may be threaded to cooperate with threads on explosive containers. 
     The advantages of the present invention are numerous. The saddle defines optimal clustered positions for explosive containers used in munition demolition. Optimal positioning is achieved simply by placing the saddle on a munition casing thereby eliminating guesswork related to explosive container positioning. 
     Although the invention has been described relative to a specific exemplary embodiment thereof, there are numerous variations and modifications that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. 
     Finally, any numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations (for example, by using the term “about”) that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should be at least construed in light of the number of significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding.