GB2207986A - Explosive hoses; destroying mines, wire entanglements etc - Google Patents

Abstract

An explosive device comprises an elongate flexible sleeve 2 containing a charge of high explosive material 1 and means (not shown) for initiating the charge, the sleeve comprising a metallic material 3 provided around the sleeve in such a manner that when the charge is initiated metallic material is ejected or dispersed from the sleeve in a multiplicity of directions relative to the axis of the sleeve, the metallic material being in the form of a spiral. The metallic material may be indented or notched to enhance fragment formation. An outer protective covering 5 camouflages the device. The device is used for destroying land mines, trip wires and wire entanglements and may be applied to the obstacles by hand or launched by a rocket, mortar or compressed air launcher. <IMAGE>

Description

EXPLOSIVE. DFVICFS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF The present invention relates to explosive devices and methods of use thereof.

One of the problems which may be encountered by soldiers moving either on foot or in a vehicle during a military operation is the presence of obstacles such as fences, barbed wire entanglements and the like. Such obstacles have previously been attempted to be removed by known explosive devices. For example, such devices have depended on a high explosive blast alone or linked with the effect of a fragmenting grenade. However, these devices suffer the disadvantages of either rigidity or discontinuity of the explosive obstacle clearing element.

According to present invention in a first aspect an explosive device comprises an elongate flexible sleeve containing a charge of high explosive material and means for initiating the charge, the sleeve comprising a metallic material provided around or within the sleeve in such 3 manner that when the charge is initiated metallic rriaterial is ejected or dispersed from the sleeve in a multiplicity of radial directions relative to the axis of the sleeve, the metallic material being in the form of a spiral.

Desirably, the metallic material is elected or dispersed substantially uniformly in a multiplicity of directions.

The present invention provides an explosive obstacle clearing device with the advantages of flexibility and ar.

explosive obstacle clearing capability along the entire length of the device.

The device preferably comprises a continuous length of a flexible hiqh explosives material surrounded by a continuous, flexible sleeve covered by a metallic spiral to provide a high explosive blast and fragmentation obstacle clearing capability along the entire length of the flexible device.

According to the present invention in a second aspect a method of use of an explosive device according to the first aspect comprises draping or projecting the device across or under or passing the device through an obstacle to be cleared (partly or wholly) and initiating the high explosive charge of the said device to cut a path through the obstacle.

The device may also conveniently provide clearance of anti-personnel explosive devices such as land mines, trip wires and the like.

The metallic material included in the sleeve in the explosive device according to the first aspect may comprise a metallic spiral outer sheath or casing provided around a non-metal inner sheath, or a metal coated or loaded sheath eg. a metal loaded flexible plastics material.

Where the metal is to be dispersed as fragments the metallic material preferably comprises a snira1 of steel, copper or a metal loaded plastics mater al, which may he located around an inner sleeve which may comprise a elastics material. The metallic material may be shaped or formed in a number of ways well known to those skilled in the art so as to enhance the fragmentation effect, for example by indenting or scoring.

One form of the explosive device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a chary of high explosive material contained in a flexible plastics e.g. heat shrink, sleeve providing a environmental barrier around which a spiral wound metal sleeve is Provide. An outer sleeve, e.g. of plastics material may be provided over the metal spiral as a camouflage cover and outer protective coating.

By providing the metallic material in the form of a spiral the flexibility of the device may be maintained along its length thereby allowing the device to be conveniently deployed by a user.

The high explosive material of the charge in the device according to the first aspect may be any suitable high explosive well known to those skilled in the explosives art. For example, the material may comprise an extruded, cast or rolled plastic or plastics bonded material, a granular material, or a slurry or liquid material. For example, the material may comprise a mixture containing one or more of RDX (1,3,5-tricyclomethylene-2,4,6-trinitramine) HMX (1,3,5,7-tetracyclomethylene-2,4,6,8-tetranitramine) TNT (2,4,6-trinitrotoluene) nitrates or perchlorates of ammonium or barium or mixtures thereof, otionally together with a metallic fuel such as aluminium or magnesium.

Plasticising binders such as PTFF (polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, silicone rubbers, polyisobutylene, greases may be incorporated in the composition employed. A preferred explosive has the fol1ow}na notninal comoosition (by weight): RDX 72% lithium steara'e-' -qu d paraffin 12% pentaerythritoldioleate 1% aluminium li.

Where the high explosive material is granular or plastic bonded in form it may suitably be contained in a woven stockinette of nylon or other suitable fibrous material to facilitate filling with the explosive. Where a plastics, e.g. heat shrink, environmental barrier sleeve is provided this is pullez over the stockJnette substantially to cover it.

The charge in the device according to the first aspect of the present invention may be initiated by a conventional initiation unit contained at one or both ends of the device. For example, such a unit may comprise an exploding bridgewire detonator, electrical detonator, flash receptive detonator or detonating cord contained in an end fitting cap unit. Known hand generators, exploders, simple battery operated devices or percussion devices may be used to initiate the detonator. The completed device desirably incorporates a safety, arming and fuzing system. Such systems are well known to those skilled in the art.

The explosive device according to the first aspect of the present invention may conveniently have a length in the range 5 to 50 metres. It may be applied to an obstacle by hand or alternatively may be launched by a launching device which may for example comprise a rocket propelled device (e.g. similar to known rocket propelled line throwers), a mortar or a compressed air launcher.

Advantageously, the launching device includes an arrester system to ensure precise emplacement of the charge and to prevent coiling or bunching.

Preferably, the hose and launching device is portable e.n. hv two men.

The explosive device according to the present invention has the advantages, compared with known explosive obstacle clearing devices, of flexibility and an explosive cutting capability along substantially the entire length of the device.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by wav of example with reference to the accomoanying drawinqs, in which: Figure 1 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an explosive device embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2 the device shown comprises a concentric tubular arrangement in which a plastic explosive 1 is contained in a stockinette sleeve 2. The sleeve 2 is located inside a heat shrink plastics tube 3 which provides an environmental barrier for the explosive 1. A flexible metal casing 4 comprising a spiral wound metal strip is wrapped around the tube 3. Finally an outer plastic sheath 5 (not shown in Figure 2) is fitted over the casing 4 for camouflaging.

In use, the device is draped or projected across through or under an obstacle to be cleared and is initiated by one or more end detonators (not shown) fitted inside the tube 3.

Claims (11)

1. An explosive device comprising an elongate flexible sleeve containing a charge of high explosive material and means for initiating the charge, the sleeve comprising a metallic material provided around the sleeve in such a manner that when the charge is initiated metallic material is ejected or dispersed from the sleeve in a multiplicity of directions relative to the axis of the sleeve, the metallic material being in the form of a spiral.

2. An explosive device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the device includes a metallic outer sheath or lining provided around a non-metal inner sleeve.

3. An explosive device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the metallic outer sheath comprises a flexible, metal loaded plastics material in the form of a spiral.

4. An explosive device wherein the metallic outer sheath is shaped or formed to enhance projection of fragments or metallic material.

5. An explosive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the spiral is covered with a protective sleeve.

6. An explosive device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and wherein the inner sleeve comprises a flexible plastics sleeve.

7. An explosive device as claimed in claim 6 and wherein the inner sleeve comprises a heat shrink sleeve.

8. An explosive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the material of the charge comprises explosive material contained in a woven stockinette.

9. An explosive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the explosive device incorporates an initiation unit in an end fitting cap unit fitted in one or both ends of the device.

10. An explosive device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of use of an explosive device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which method includes draping or projecting the device across through or under an obstacle to be partly or wholly cleared and initiating the high explosive charge of the said device to clear a path through the said obstacle.