Joseph T Metzger

US Patent:

7845282, Dec 7, 2010

Filed:

May 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/806221

Inventors:

Edward W. Sheridan - Orlando FL, US
George D. Hugus - Chuluota FL, US
Joseph G. Metzger - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

F42B 12/22

US Classification:

102473, 102491, 102492, 102497, 102476, 102475

Abstract:

A munition includes a casing, the casing formed at least in part from a material comprising (i) a meltable or phase-changing material, and (ii) an energetic material; an explosive payload contained within the casing; and a fuze arrangement, the fuze arrangement comprising a main fuze configured and arranged to ignite the high explosive, and at least one secondary fuze configured and arranged to cause the casing material to melt or undergo a phase change. A method of selectively altering the mode of operation of a munition includes: forming a casing, the casing comprising a material comprising (i) a meltable or phase-changing material, and (ii) an energetic material; introducing an explosive payload into the casing; providing a fuze arrangement comprising a main fuse and at least one secondary fuze configured and arranged to cause the casing material to melt or undergo a phase change; and selectively activating the main fuze and the at least one secondary fuze in a manner that provided at least a first and a second mode of operation, the first mode of operation comprising blast coupled with fragmentation effects, and the second mode of operation comprising mainly blast effects.

US Patent:

8033223, Oct 11, 2011

Filed:

Jun 11, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/814226

Inventors:

Edward W. Sheridan - Orlando FL, US
George D. Hugus - Chuluota FL, US
Joseph G. Metzger - Grapevine TX, US

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

F42B 12/22

US Classification:

102473, 102491, 102492, 102497, 102476, 102475

Abstract:

A munition includes a casing, the casing formed at least in part from a material comprising (i) a meltable or phase-changing material, and (ii) an energetic material; an explosive payload contained within the casing; and a fuze arrangement, the fuze arrangement comprising a main fuze configured and arranged to ignite the high explosive, and at least one secondary fuze configured and arranged to cause the casing material to melt or undergo a phase change. A method of selectively altering the mode of operation of a munition includes: forming a casing, the casing comprising a material comprising (i) a meltable or phase-changing material, and (ii) an energetic material; introducing an explosive payload into the casing; providing a fuze arrangement comprising a main fuse and at least one secondary fuze configured and arranged to cause the casing material to melt or undergo a phase change; and selectively activating the main fuze and the at least one secondary fuze in a manner that provided at least a first and a second mode of operation, the first mode of operation comprising blast coupled with fragmentation effects, and the second mode of operation comprising mainly blast effects.