MINE

Abstract: The invention relates to a mine with an impact body in the form of a so-called liner for generating the shaped charge effect. There is a primary charge for activating the explosive of the mine. A fuze initiates the explosive via the primary charge. According to the invention, a better utilization of the energy of the explosive is achieved upon transfer to the liner, by virtue of the fact that the primary charge is placed near the bottom of the mine and a spacing member is arranged between the primary charge and the liner. By means of this arrangement, a greater angle of incidence with respect to the liner and an extension of the detonation distance are obtained, and the detonation velocity thus increases, resulting in a mine which has an increased penetrating capacity or impact.

Description: Mine The present invention relates to a mine which comprises a triggering arrangement provided with trigger and fuze, a primary charge, explosive and impact body in the form of a liner for generating the shaped charge effect, which fuze initiates the explosive via the primary charge. There is a general need to be able to increase the impact of mines which function in accordance with the shaped charge principle. The mine should not just provide impact upon striking against the track of the tank, but also upon striking the belly of the tank, so-called full- width attack. The liner should in this case assume the form of a projectile which penetrates the belly of the tank at great speed. Secondary splinters generated at the belly of the tank are hurled into the vehicle and cause great damage to parts which are vital to the functioning of the tank. In known mines operating in accordance with the shaped charge principle, the initiation takes place centrally in the explosive with the aid of a large primer. The object of the present invention is to produce a mine which provides increased impact, for example in the form of greater penetration through armour plate, compared with present-day mines. The object of the invention is achieved by means of a mine which is characterized in that the primary charge is placed in close proximity to the bottom of the mine, and in that a spacing member is arranged between the primary charge and the liner. By lowering the point of initiation, the energy of the explosive is better utilized upon transfer to the liner. This is due, on the one hand, to the greater angle of incidence with respect to the liner and, on the other hand, to the fact that the detonation distance is extended and thereby also increases the detonation velocity. Trial explosions and calculations have confirmed the increased impact from the explosive. The spacing member can be of solid design or can have air gaps. Appropriate damping can be achieved by virtue of the possibilities of varying the design of the spacing member. In a preferred mine embodiment, that part of the spacing member facing towards the bottom of the mine has a shape which is essentially that of the circumferential surface of the frustum of a cone, with the base facing towards the bottom of the mine. This shape contributes to further lowering the point of initiation. The spacing member can consist of a separate unit, but it can also advantageously be made integral with the holder for the triggering arrangement, as a result of which coupling arrangements in the form of screw connections or the like can be simplified, and the number of components included can be minimized. In a further preferred embodiment, the triggering arrangement is arranged to act on the top side of the primary charge. In this way, the triggering arrangement can be assigned a higher position nearer to the top of the mine, and at the same time the primary charge is concentrated at the bottom. According to another alternative embodiment, the fuze of the triggering arrangement is arranged to act on the primary charge from a hole which is disposed at the centre of the primary charge. This arrangement ensures effective and symmetrical initiation of the primary charge and provides for an optimal angle of incidence with respect to the explosive and, consequently, maximum impact. The invention will be described in greater detail below by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an example of a known mine design, Figure 2 shows a first example of a mine design according to the invention, with a low point of initiation, Figure 3 shows a second example of a mine design according to the invention, with a low point of initiation, Figure 4 shows a third example of a mine design according to the invention, with a low point of initiation, and Figure 5 shows a fourth example of a mine design according to the invention, with a low point of initiation. The mine designs shown in Figures 1 to 5 comprise an explosive 2 and a primary charge 3 accommodated in a casing 4. The top side of the explosive is delimited by an impact body in the form of a liner 5. A cover 6 over the liner 5 forms, together with the casing 4, the outer limit of the mine. The purpose of the cover 6 is to keep the projectile-forming zone of the mine free from contamination, so that the shaped charge can develop undisturbed. In the centre of the mine 1 there is a holder 7 for the mine triggering arrangement, with trigger and fuze. The fuze includes a detonator. The trigger and fuze are of any known type and are therefore not described further. The fuze is intended to act on the primary charge 3. The triggering arrangement can be Introduced through an opening 8 in the cover 6. At the junction between casing 4 and cover 6, at the point where the liner 5 also joins, there are sealing means 9 in the form of a sealing compound, sealing ring or the like. The sealing between cover 6 and holder 7 can be obtained in a similar way. The known design shown in Figure 1 is provided with a large primary charge 3 which is placed centrally in the explosive 2 and which is intended to initiate the explosive. On the right-hand side of the Figure, the direction of incidence with respect to the liner has been shown for three cases, namely for impact on the centre- most part of the liner α 1# impact on the most peripheral part of the liner α 2 , and impact on the liner at an intermediate point α 3 . The directions of incidence can have the following values: a χ a 49°, at 2 — 14 ° an< <* 3 — 22°. Figure 2 shows a first mine design with a low point of initiation. A spacing member 10 is in this case introduced between the holder 7, or the triggering arrangement of the mine, and the primary charge 3. The spacing member shown is designed with an air gap 11 which affords good damping. Alternatively, the spacing member can be made of solid material. Directions of incidence corresponding to those in the case of the known design, as described with reference to Figure 1, have been inserted on the right-hand side of the Figure. The directions of incidence can have the following values: a = 56°, a 2 = 21° and α 3 = 31°. By comparing the directions of incidence, and the distances between the primary charge and liner, in the known design and in the design according to the invention, with its low point of initiation, it will be observed that the design according to the invention provides for greater angles and longer distances. A longer distance between primary charge and liner results in a higher detonation velocity being achieved. By means of the arrangement according to the invention, it is possible to achieve, on the basis of the above observation, a better utilization of the energy of the explosive and, finally, a more effective impact against a tank. Figure 3 shows a second example of a design according to the invention. In this case, the spacing member is made integral with the holder 7 for the triggering arrangement. A mine 1 according to the invention with a separate spacing member 10 is shown in Figure 4. The spacing member 10 is coupled to the holder 7 by means of a screw connection 12. Figure 5 shows a further example of a design with a separate spacing member 10 which has been coupled to the holder 7 by means of a screw connection 12. The primary charge 3 in this case differs from the previously shown designs in that it is without a central hole for the holder 7. The fuze of the triggering arrangement can in this case act on the top side of the central part of the primary charge.

Claims: Patent Claims 1. Mine comprising a triggering arrangement provided with trigger and fuze, a holder for the triggering arrangement, a primary charge, explosive and impact body in the form of a liner for generating the shaped charge effect, which fuze initiates the explosive via the primary charge, characterized in that the primary charge is placed in close proximity to the bottom of the mine, and in that a spacing member is arranged between the primary charge and the liner. 2. Mine according to Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the fuze of the triggering arrangement is arranged to act on the primary charge from a hole which is disposed in the centre of the primary charge. 3. Mine according to Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the fuze of the triggering arrangement is arranged to act on the top side of the primary charge. 4. Mine according to any one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the spacing member has an air gap. 5. Mine according to any one of Patent Claims 1 to 3. characterized in that the spacing member is solid. 6. Mine according to any one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that that part of the spacing member facing towards the bottom of the mine has a shape which is essentially that of the circumferential surface of the frustum of a cone, with the base facing towards the bottom of the mine. 7. Mine according to any one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the spacing member consists of a separate unit. 8. Mine according to Patent Claim 7, characterized in that the spacing member is coupled to the holder for the triggering arrangement by means of a screw connection. 9. Mine according to any one of Patent Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the spacing member is made integral with the holder for the triggering arrangement.

Inventors: OLOFSSON GOERAN, OLOFSSON, GOERAN
Applicants: BOFORS AB, OLOFSSON GOERAN, OLOFSSON, GOERAN
Application year: 1995
Main classification: F42B23
IPC codes: F42B23