Reactive fragment
First Claim
1. A reactive fragment for an ordnance item adopted to release both chemical and mechanical energy upon impact with a target comprising:
- a fragment body having a blind recess formed therein; and
a plurality of layers of a chemically reactive material comprising a metal-metal oxide mixture disposed within said blind recess in said fragment body, said layers being of successively diminishing density and increasing reaction rate from bottom to top of said recess, the top layer being of a density such that it will ignite due to the heat and shock of explosive projection upon detonation of the ordnance item, and at least the bottom layer having been consolidated at a pressure greater than 130,000 pounds per square inch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fragment for an ordnance item having a blind recess within which are disposed a number of layers or pellets of thermite (Al-Fe2 O3) or a thermite-like metal-metal oxide mixture; the density of each layer being successively less than the layer beneath it, proceeding from bottom to top of the blind recess, due to the use of diminishing compacting pressures. The density of the top layer is such that it will ignite due to the heat and shock of explosive projection upon detonation of the ordnance item and produce the following reaction: 2Al + Fe2 O3 → Al2 O3 + 2Fe. Since the burning rate of the layers varies inversely with their density, a substantial portion of the thermite will remain unreacted over a considerable range until the fragment impacts with a target at which time the remaining chemical energy of the thermite will be explosively released.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A reactive fragment for an ordnance item adopted to release both chemical and mechanical energy upon impact with a target comprising:
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a fragment body having a blind recess formed therein; and a plurality of layers of a chemically reactive material comprising a metal-metal oxide mixture disposed within said blind recess in said fragment body, said layers being of successively diminishing density and increasing reaction rate from bottom to top of said recess, the top layer being of a density such that it will ignite due to the heat and shock of explosive projection upon detonation of the ordnance item, and at least the bottom layer having been consolidated at a pressure greater than 130,000 pounds per square inch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification