초록 ▼

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the m

Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle. The fuel may be pressed particles heated below the melting point and then dispersed by a charge providing enough heat to melt the particles; may be a single component, fuel-rich thermite compound; and may include droplet surface tension reducing additives. Advantages are that the weight and volume of a warhead do not include explosives, binders, and underwater-use oxidizers employed with fuel particles in conventional energetic materials. A warhead may thus have greater density for effective penetration; and, since the fuel is not incorporated in an explosive, dispersing charges can be removed until use, and metal fuels hazardous when incorporated in an explosive can be used.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An ordnance device, comprising: a container; a quantity of a reactive metal comprising a melting point and disposed in said container; a heater embedded in said quantity of said reactive metal for heating said quantity of said reactive material to a temperature in a range of

What is claimed is: 1. An ordnance device, comprising: a container; a quantity of a reactive metal comprising a melting point and disposed in said container; a heater embedded in said quantity of said reactive metal for heating said quantity of said reactive material to a temperature in a range of temperature, including said melting point; and explosive material for dispersing said quantity of reactive metal at said temperature from the container in molten, droplet form, wherein said container is comprised of an insulating material, and wherein said explosive material is juxtapositioned to said quantity of said reactive metal exteriorly of said insulating material. 2. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said quantity of reactive metal is initially in solid and essentially pure form. 3. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said heater utilizes a thermite reaction. 4. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said heater heats said quantity of said reactive metal to a temperature at least equal to said melting point. 5. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said explosive material for dispersing said quantity of said reactive metal in molten, droplet form is juxtapositioned to said quantity of said reactive metal for detonation to rupture said container after said quantity of said reactive metal is at said temperature at least equal to said melting point. 6. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said quantity of said reactive metal comprising aluminum in solid form, and wherein said heater utilizes a thermite reaction. 7. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said heater is embedded within said insulating material. 8. The ordnance device of claim 1, wherein said container is a rupturable container to disperse said quantity of said reactive metal in said molten, droplet form for an energy releasing reaction with one of oxygen or water without the assistance of at least one of a catalyst, pyrophoric material, and an additional oxidizable material. 9. The ordnance device according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a plurality of heaters. 10. The ordnance device according to claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a plurality of heaters, which are substantially parallel. 11. The ordnance device according to claim 1, wherein said heater is enclosed and surrounded by said quantity of said reactive metal. 12. The ordnance device according to claim 1, wherein said heater is an ignitable heater. 13. The ordnance device according to claim 1, wherein said heater is a chemical-based heater. 14. The ordnance device according to claim 1, wherein said heater is a non-electrical conductive heater. 15. An ordnance device, comprising: a container; a quantity of a reactive metal comprising a melting point and disposed in said container; a heater embedded in said quantity of said reactive metal for heating said quantity of said reactive material to a temperature in a range of temperature, including said melting point; and explosive material for dispersing said quantity of reactive metal at said temperature from the container in molten, droplet form, wherein said heater comprises at least four side surfaces surrounded by said quantity of said reactive metal.