Abstract:
A method of converting a cluster bomb having an expelling charge and submunitions into a unitary bomb, the method comprising: preparing the cluster bomb for the insertion of a shock wave destructive charge including removing the expelling charge; and inserting the shock wave destructive charge into the cluster bomb such that the destructive charge operatively contacts at least one submunition.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to conversion of cluster bombs into unitary bombs.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Cluster bombs dispense submunitions, often referred to as bomblets, and are commonly used to provide for multiple detonations above a target. At some point after launching, the submunitions are dispensed as a result of a time fuze or proximity fuze at a predetermined height above the target in a spread out pattern.  
         [0003]     In the more common types of cluster bombs, the fuze ignites an expelling charge that pushes a piston to expel the submunitions from the bomb or dispenser. When they fall, the submunitions tend to explode when they hit the ground. Unexploded submunitions stay on top of the ground, unlike regular bombs which tend to bury themselves into the earth such that, even in cases where they do not explode, they are generally harmless.  
         [0004]     Contrary to this, unexploded bomblets (duds), which tend to remain on the ground&#39;s surface, are left long after a conflict ends and these duds often maim and kill unintended victims. The tendency for duds increases with the age of the submunitions and at some point they become obsolete and they need to be destroyed, as leaving behind duds is clearly an unwanted side-effect of using the cluster bombs.  
         [0005]     Destroying cluster bombs is expensive and time consuming and there has been a long-felt need to provide a remedy to this issue.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of destroying or otherwise utilizing a cluster bomb, in particular by converting the cluster bomb into a unitary or single-hit bomb; and it relates to the unitary bomb thereby produced.  
         [0007]     The method of the present invention relates to converting a cluster bomb having an expelling charge and submunitions into a unitary bomb, the method comprising: preparing said cluster bomb for the insertion of a shock wave destructive charge including removing said expelling charge; and inserting said shock wave destructive charge into said cluster bomb such that said destructive charge operatively contacts at least one submunition.  
         [0008]     The bomb of the present invention relates to a unitary bomb comprising a fuse; submunitions and a shock wave detonation charge operatively connected to at least one of said submunitions.  
         [0009]     In addition to disclosing a convenient means for providing bombs, which, for example, can be used in training exercises, thus achieving the destruction of otherwise obsolete cluster bombs, the method also may reduce the tendency to use older cluster bombs, for example, in training exercises or military operations. This in turn reduces the amount of unexploded submunitions thereby reducing the maiming and killing which often occurs long after the end of military operations. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention may be more clearly understood upon reading of the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a cross-section of a typical (prior art) cluster bomb;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section along the line II-II of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of a unitary bomb converted from a cluster bomb according to the present invention; and  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a method for converting a cluster bomb into a unitary bomb according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-section of a typical (prior art) cluster bomb  50 . It comprises a fuze  52 , an expelling charge  54  held by a holding cup  55  at an annular shoulder  56 , disposed in a space  58  and positioned by, a piston  60 , submunitions  62  and a base  64 . The fuze  52  is shown with dashed lines as cluster bombs are typically not shipped with fuzes and they are added afterward so that the particular desired fuze can be assembled to the bomb.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates a typical arrangement of the submunitions  62  in the cluster bomb  50 .  
         [0017]     At a predetermined proximity or time after the cluster bomb  50  is fired, the fuze  52  ignites the expelling charge  54  providing a force on the piston  60  whereby the submunitions  62  are expelled from the cluster bomb  50  via the base  64 , which is sheared due to the force of the expelling charge.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a unitary bomb  10  produced by a method according to the present invention, namely, converted from a cluster bomb, such as cluster bomb  50 . The unitary bomb  10  is shown without a fuse for the reason explained above with reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0019]     The bomb  10  comprises a detonation charge, in particular a shock wave destructive charge (SWDC)  12 .  
         [0020]     It is a particular feature of the present invention that the destructive charge is a shock wave destructive charge in that such a charge tends to provide for a particularly rigorous detonation of the submunitions  62 . In fact, a series of tests have been conducted, and the converting method of the present invention resulted in a 100% destruction of the submunitions  62  in all of the tests.  
         [0021]     In contrast, other types of charges, for example, shaped charges, often result in less than 100% detonation of the submunitions.  
         [0022]     Without limitation to theory, it is believed that the SWDC  12  used in the method and bomb of the present invention provides for an essentially higher order detonation of the submunitions  62  due to its producing a shock wave into the center of the array of submunitions  62  whereas other types of destructive charges may be affected by the bomb&#39;s spinning when in flight, which may result in low order detonation and therefore less than 100% detonation of the submunitions.  
         [0023]     Further noticed in  FIG. 3 , is (a) that the SWDC  12  protrudes through an opening  14  which has been made (e.g. machined) in the center of the piston, now designated as  60 ′, (b) that the SWDC  12  is in “operative contact” (typically almost in contact, in a less than 1 mm proximity; or in direct contact) with one of the submunitions  62  (i.e. the central proximate submunition, designated as  62   a ), and (c) that the annular shoulder  56  has been removed (e.g. machined) to allow for entry of the SWDC  12 , which is now held in place by the piston opening  14 .  
         [0024]     Operational contact between the SWDC  12  and the proximate submunition  62   a  (typically direct or near contact) is necessary in order to ensure proper and complete detonation of all of the submunitions  62 .  
         [0025]     In  FIG. 4 , a flowchart of a method according to the present invention for converting a cluster bomb into a unitary bomb, such as unitary bomb  10 , is presented; and it will be described with reference to the components referred to herein above.  
         [0026]     In a first step  41 , the existing expelling charge  54  is removed, and in a second step  42 , an appropriate passageway for inserting the SWDC  12  is ensured, typically entailing removing shoulder  56 , e.g., by machining. In a third step  43 , the piston opening  14  is made in the center of the piston  60 , also typically by machining; the size of the opening typically corresponding to the diameter of the SWDC  12 . In a fourth step  44 , the SWDC  12  is inserted and glued in place through the piston opening  14 , else held by a sliding fit therein, to a point of operational contact with the proximate submunition  62   a . At this point, the bomb  10  is ready for a fuze, such as fuze  52  to be attached whereby it is ready for firing.  
         [0027]     The above description has been provided with respect to a typical cluster bomb, as exemplified herein. It should be understood that if the cluster bomb provided is different from the one exemplified, various embodiments of the present invention can be devised. For example, if the cluster bomb provided does not comprise a shoulder (e.g. shoulder  56 ) or other obstacle for inserting an appropriate destructive charge (e.g. SWDC  12 ), then there is obviously no need for it to be removed. Thus, in effect, the cluster bomb provided must merely be in a condition for the insertion of a destructive charge, preferably wherein the charge is a shock wave destructive charge and that the charge almost contacts or contacts a submunition either directly or there is, or at least almost, a metal-to-metal contact provided (i.e. there is “operative contact”).  
         [0028]     Likewise, other variances on the cluster bomb provided for converting would potentially require more or less steps and possibly different steps and these would none-the-less fall within the scope of the invention.  
         [0029]     In accordance with the method of the present invention, a unitary bomb as described above can be produced and be available for use, for example, in training exercises, without concern for duds remaining on the training field, which may endanger lives. Also, there should hopefully be less of a tendency to use older cluster bombs and thus a corresponding reduction in the number of unexploded submunitions waiting to maim and kill innocent passers-by after the cessation of a conflict. In addition, the above present method provides for a way to destroy otherwise obsolete cluster bombs.  
         [0030]     It should be understood that there are various methods of converting a cluster bomb into a unitary bomb that can be devised according to the present invention and that the above description is merely explanatory. Thus, the present method and unitary bomb can be embodied in a variety of aspects falling within the scope of the present invention, mutatis mutandis.