Linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device with a backside boosted initiation
A linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device integrates an initiator and booster charge on the backside of a main charge and solid V-shaped liner. The initiator is responsive to an electric stimulus to produce a shockwave that detonates and propagates through the booster charge to magnify the shockwave, which in turn detonates and propagates the main charge to further magnify the shockwave that collapses the solid V-shaped liner and projects forward a shaped charge jet. A wave shaper may be positioned in the booster or main charge to flatten the wave front into an approximately planar wave front when the magnified shockwave interacts with the V-shaped liner. The wave shaper and main charge and possibly all components energetic and non-energetic, except the initiator, may be formed using additive manufacturing. Alternately, only non-energetic components may be formed using additive manufacturing. The device may be formed into a linear, are or ring-shaped form factor. Additive manufacturing enables device scaling and optimal device function resulting in enhanced shaped jet output beyond those of traditional LSCs.
1 . A linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device, comprising:
a non-fluted linear shape charge (LSC) including a housing oriented along an axis, a main charge formed in the housing and compressed to form a single, contiguous V-shaped channel whose apex lies along the axis and a single solid V-shaped liner in direct contact with the surface of the main charge,
a tapered booster charge having a lower surface in direct and intimate contact with a portion of the main charge opposite the apex of the V-shaped channel and an upper surface, said lower surface being broader than said upper surface,
an initiator in direct contact with the upper surface of the booster charge,
wherein the initiator detonates in response to an electric stimulus to produce a shockwave that propagates through and detonates the booster charge magnifying the shockwave opposite the apex axis of the V-shaped channel, which in turn propagates through and detonates the main charge further magnifying the shockwave that collapses the single solid V-shaped liner and projects forward a single shaped charge jet.
2 . The LSCe of claim 1 , wherein the entire LSCe device except for the initiator including the housing, the solid V-shaped liner, the main charge and booster charge are integrally created via additive manufacturing.
3 . The LSCe of claim 1 , wherein the axis is a straight line, wherein the LSC projects the linear shaped charge jet downward perpendicular to the axis.
4 . The LSCe of claim 1 , wherein the axis forms an arc, wherein the LSC projects the linear shape charge jet either perpendicular to the arc, inward toward a center of the arc or outward away from the center of the arc.
5 . The LSCe of claim 1 , wherein the shockwave has a wave front, further comprising:
a wave shaper embedded in the booster charge or main charge opposite the apex of the V-shaped channel, wherein said wave shaper flattens the wave front to collapse the solid V-shaped liner.
6 . The LSCe of claim 5 , wherein upon detonation the wave front is approximately spherical, wherein the wave shaper flattens the spherical wave front as the magnified shockwave propagates through the main charge to approximate a planar wave front.
7 . The LSCe of claim 5 , wherein the wave shaper is parallel to the axis and spans the length of the booster charge along the axis.
8 . The LSCe of claim 5 , wherein the wave shaper is perpendicular to the axis and spans the width of the booster charge perpendicular to the axis.
9 . The LSCe of claim 5 , wherein at least the wave shaper and the booster or main charge in which the wave shaper is embedded are created via additive manufacturing.
10 . The LSCe of claim 5 , wherein the housing, main charge, V-shaped liner, booster charge and the wave shaper are created via additive manufacturing.
11 . The LSCe of claim 1 , further comprising:
a high-density tamping liner that surrounds the main charge and booster charge to focus the shockwave onto the solid V-shaped liner.
12 . The LSCe of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of stand-offs on the housing that provide a sufficient stand-off distance to allow the linear shaped charge jet to form.
13 . A linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device, comprising:
a non-fluted linear shape charge (LSC) including a housing oriented along an axis, a main charge formed in the housing and compressed to form a single, contiguous V-shaped channel whose apex lies along the axis and a single solid V-shaped liner in direct contact with the surface of the main charge,
a booster charge having a lower surface in direct and intimate contact with a portion of the main charge opposite the apex of the V-shaped channel and within the housing,
a wave shaper embedded in the booster charge or main charge opposite the apex of the V-shaped channel,
an initiator in direct contact with an upper surface of the booster charge within the housing,
wherein the initiator detonates in response to an electric stimulus to produce a shockwave with a wave front that detonates and propagates through the booster charge to magnify the shockwave, which in turn detonates and propagates through the main charge to further magnify the shockwave, wherein said wave shaper flattens the wave front of the magnified shockwave as it propagates through the main charge to collapse the solid V-shaped liner and projects forward a shaped charge jet.
14 . The LSCe of claim 13 , wherein the wave shaper is parallel to the axis and spans the length of the booster charge along the axis.
15 . The LSCe of claim 13 , wherein the wave shaper is perpendicular to the axis and spans the width of the booster charge perpendicular to the axis.
16 . The LSCe of claim 13 , wherein at least the wave shaper and the booster or main charge in which the wave shaper is embedded are created via additive manufacturing.
17 . The LSCe of claim 13 , wherein only non-energetic components including the housing, the V-shaped liner and the wave shaper are created via additive manufacturing.
18 . A linear shaped charge electro-explosive (LSCe) device, comprising:
a non-fluted linear shape charge (LSC) including a housing oriented along an axis, a main charge formed in the housing and compressed to form a V-shaped channel whose apex lies along the axis and a solid V-shaped liner in direct contact with the surface of the main charge,
a booster charge having a lower surface in direct and intimate contact with a portion of the main charge opposite the apex of the V-shaped channel and within the housing,
an initiator in direct contact with an upper surface of the booster charge within the housing,
wherein at least the entire LSCe device except the initiator include the housing, the solid V-shaped liner, the main charge, and booster charge are integrally created via additive manufacturing,
wherein the initiator detonates in response to an electric stimulus to produce a shockwave that detonates and propagates through the booster charge magnifying the shockwave, which in turn detonates and propagates through the main charge to further magnify the shockwave that collapses the solid V-shaped liner and projects forward a shaped charge jet.
19 . The LSCe of claim 18 , wherein the shockwave has a wave front, further comprising:
a wave shaper embedded in the booster charge or main charge opposite the apex of the V-shaped channel, wherein said wave shaper flattens the wave front of the magnified shockwave as it propagates through the main charge to approximate a planar wave front that collapses the solid V-shaped liner,
wherein the wave shaper is created via additive manufacturing.