GB2249821A

GB2249821A - A mine having a propulsion unit and a warhead unit

Info

Publication number: GB2249821A
Application number: GB9121737A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Rudenauer
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1990-10-25
Filing date: 1991-10-14
Publication date: 1992-05-20
Anticipated expiration: 2011-10-14
Also published as: FR2668587A1; DE4033899C1; GB2249821B; FR2668587B1; GB9121737D0

Abstract

A mine has a propulsion unit 8 to raise a warhead unit 1 out of waiting position to above a target area. The warhead unit 1 has a bursting charge 2 which is detonatable by a detonator 5 upon response of a seeker sensor 3. In order to achieve the fact that the warhead unit 1 is explodable also in waiting position, associated with a bursting charge 2 of the warhead unit 1 and with a driving charge 9 of the propulsion unit 8 is a common safety device (12, figure 2). This has two electrical switches (13, 14) which respond to different arming criteria. It is armed in the waiting position. The detonator 5 for the warhead unit utilises secondary explosive 17. A further sensor 16 is provided for the detonation of the bursting charge 2 in the waiting position. <IMAGE>

Description

2 2 4 ?; - ' 1 A MINE HAVING A PROPULSION UNIT AND A WARHEAD UNIT The

invention relates to a mine having propulsion unit which has a driving charge which in the armed state ignites upon the response of a sensor, and having a warhead unit which is raisable by means of the propulsion unit out of a waiting position of the mine to above a target area and which has an explosive or like charge hereinafter referred to as a bursting charge which is detonatable by means of a detonator upon the response of a seeker sensor, in which respect a safety device is provided.

Such a mine is described in DE 38 17 265 Al. Such mines are set down on the ground, for example from the air. They stand there aligned vertically as a result of supporting legs. Upon the setting-down the driving charge is armed as a result of the evaluation of two arming criteria. A sensor ignites the driving charge upon the approach of a target object. in this way the propulsion unit raises the warhead unit above the target area. At a certain height the warhead unit detaches itself from the propulsion unit and floats down, decelerated by a parachute, onto the target area. In this respect, the warhead unit is armed as a result of the evaluation of two arming criteria. Since the detonator in accordance with the prior art utilises a primary explosive, in accordance with regulations additionally a detonation chain

2 interruption has to be provided, which is f ormed by a slider or rotor, in which the detonator is arranged. This detonation chain interruption is cancelled upon the descent of the mine. If the seeker sensor detects a target, detonation is affected.

This construction leads to the fact that the warhead unit in the waiting position of the mine cannot be caused to detonate, since in the waiting position it is not yet armed. Thus, no possibility exists of preventing an undesired clearing of the mine.

Difficulties arise from the fact that, until the delivery of the mine into the waiting position, the arming criteria for the propulsion unit can indeed be produced, but not readily the arming criteria for the bursting charge. The latter arise only as a result of the launching acceleration and the build up of spin of the propulsion unit. The arming criteria, e.g. acceleration and spin, act as physical forces on all points of the warhead unit and can thus be sensed directly by the safety mechanism or respectively the mechanical detonation chain interruption of the bursting charge, without a mechanical link between the propulsion unit and the warhead unit being necessary.

In the waiting position, though, these criteria do not yet exist, so that the bursting charge remains in "safe" I- 3 bursting charge in the waiting position is required, problems arise more especially when the mine is to be laid by hand. In this case the safety mechanism of the propulsion unit could indeed be armed by way of a manual switch. However, the arming of the safety arrangement of the bursting charge by means of a manual switch is hardly possible, since this, in order to be actuable, would have to be positioned on the outside of the propulsion unit housing, but the safety device with the mechanical detonation chain interruption of the bursting charge is arranged at an inaccessible point in the warhead unit. Accordingly, a mechanical link would have to be provided between the propulsion unit housing and the warhead unit. Such a link can be scarcely be realised, since the warhead unit in the later instance of functioning has to be able to separate itself from the propulsion unit housing.

Electrically initiatable detonators which do not work with primary explosive, but with secondary explosive, are described in US-4 368 670 and in US 4 788 913.

An object of the invention is to provide a mine, of the type mentioned at the beginning hereof, the warhead unit of which is also explosible in the waiting position.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a mine comprising a propulsion unit which has a driving charge which in the armed state ignites upon the response 4 of a sensor, and a warhead unit which is raisable by means of the mine to above a target area and which has a bursting charge which is detonatable by means of a detonator upon the response of a seeker sensor; characterised in that associated with the bursting charge of the warhead unit and with the driving charge of the propulsion unit is a common safety device which has electrical switches responding to different arming criteria and which is armed or armable in the waiting position; in that the detonator is an electrically initiatable detonator with secondary explosive, and in that a further sensor is provided to actuate the detonator for detonating the bursting charge in the waiting position.

is When the mine is set down into the waiting position, the safety device is armed or respectively armable. Since this is associated with the warhead unit and the propulsion unit, both of said units are armed. This arming of the warhead unit in the waiting position is not dangerous, since the detonator of the bursting charge of the warhead unit does not work with primary explosive, but with secondary explosive. A mechanical detonation chain interruption with slider or rotor for the detonator is thereby superfluous.

If the further sensor, which is more especially a lift-up detecting or anti-clearing sensor, responds, then 1 i 1 1 the bursting charge of the warhead unit, standing in the waiting position, is initiated. The further sensor can, in this respect, be designed in such a way that it either responds to an attempt at clearing and/or is triggered in 5 a time-dependent manner.

If the sensor of the driving charge responds, then the propulsion unit lifts the warhead unit above the target area. ejects the warhead unit and the warhead unit is 10 detonated when the seeker sensor thereof responds.

Because the saf ety device is common to the warhead unit and to the propulsion unit, the different arming criteria can be detected simultaneously and by the same devices. The safety device can be arranged at a point of the mine at which the arming criteria can easily be detected and which is easily accessible in the waiting position. The safety device does not need to be arranged in the warhead unit. An electrical connection between the saf ety device and the detonator of the warhead unit is sufficient.

A further advantage of the invention consists in that an additional charge for destruction the mine in the event of clearing or of self - destruction is superfluous, since the bursting charge itself assumes the function of a destruction charge. This also avoids the need for an additional safety mechanism which would also be necessary 6 for any additional destruction charge.

The safety device can also be arranged in such a way that a switches thereof on the mine can be brought manually into the armed position or be set back out of the armed position into the safe position. Thus, the mine is suitable both for aerial laying and for manual laying.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 shows a mine in L-he waiting position, Figure 2 shows a block wiring diagram of the ignition and detonation circuit and Figure 3 shows a detonator of the mine.

A mine has an ejectable warhead unit 1, whichis formed by a submunition. A bursting charge 2 is arranged so as to be ejectable in the warhead unit 1. An antenna 3 serves as seeker sensor, and is connected to a detonation circuit 4 which is connected to a detonator 5 which is arranged on the bursting charge 2.

The warhead unit 1 is carried by a retaining mechanism 6 which is supported on the ground 8 by supporting legs 7.

7 The warhead unit 7 is aligned vertically in the retaining mechanism.

Fastened releasably to the warhead unit 1 is a propulsion unit 8. This works with a driving charge 9, which is ignitable by way of an ignition circuit 10 by a sensor 11. The sensor 11 responds, for example, to noises or vibrations.

Connected prior to the detonation and ignition circuits 4 and 10 is a common safety device 12. This comprises two electrical switches 13, 14 which respond to different arming criteria. Connected prior to the safety device 12 is an electrical energy source 15 (see Figure 15 21,.

Connected to the ignition circuit 4 is a further sensor 16. This responds when an attempt is made to clear the mine standing in the waiting position.

The detonator contains an electrically detonatable secondary explosive 17 and is connected to the detonation circuit 4. Since the detonator 5 does not work with primary explosive, it is not necessary to arrange this in a mechanically movable component part providing detonation c.n.ain interruption. The detonator 5 with the detonation circuit 4 only has to be connected electrically to the safety device 12. This can therefore be arranged at a 8 spatially favourable point of the warhead unit 1.

The safety device 12 with the energy source 15 can be arranged in a central subassembly 18, which can be disposed in any suitable part of the mine. The saf ety device 12 is preferably arranged at a point at which the arming criteria can be evaluated in a simple manner. A link 19 exists between the safety device 12 and the detonation circuit 4. Upon the severing of the link 19 the ignition energy is stored in the detonation circuit 4 until detonation is triggered.

When, optionally, a manually actuable actuating element is provided for the two switches 13, 14, the arming of the mine in case of need can be undertaken manually or can also be cancelled manually.

The mode of operation of the described mine is for instance as follows:

Upon the setting-down of the mine the two arming criteria are detected. After that the safety device 12 is armed.

If the sensor 11 responds, then the driving charge 9 is ignited and the propulsion unit 8 raises the warhead unit 1 above the target area. The warhead unit 1 thereupon detaches itself from the propulsion unit 8, in which respect the link 19 breaks, and floats downwards, 1 i i 1 i 9 decelerate by a parachute, and the seeker sensor 3 scans the target area. If the sensor 3 detects a target, the bursting charge 2 is detonated by way of the detonation circuit 4 and the detonator 5.

If on the other hand, the mine is standing in the waiting position and it is not the sensor 11, but the further sensor 16, which responds, for example because an attempt is being made to clear the mine with a clearing implement, then, whilst the mine is standing in the waiting position, by way of the detonation circuit 4 and the detonator 5 the bursting charge 2 of the warhead unit 1 is detonated.

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Claims

1. A mine comprising a propulsion unit which has a driving charge which in the armed state ignites upon the response of a sensor, and a warhead unit which is raisable by means of the propulsion unit out of a waiting position of the mine to above a target area and which has a bursting charge which is detonatable by means of a detonator upon the response of a seeker sensor characterised in that associated with the bursting charge of the warhead unit and with the driving charge of the propulsion unit is a common safety device which has electrical switches responding to different arming criteria and which is armed or armable in the waiting position; in that the detonator is an electrically initiatable detonator with secondary explosive and in that a further sensor is provided to actuate the detonator for detonating the bursting charge in the waiting position.

2. A mine as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the further sensor is connected to a detonation circuit of the detonator, and the seeker sensor of the warhead unit is also connected to this detonator circuit.

3. A mine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the further sensor responds to a criterion indicative of an attempt to clear the mine.

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4. A mine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the further sensor operates in time controlled manner.

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5. A mine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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