US Patent 11486233 Sympathetically detonated self-centering explosive device

An explosive device includes a housing having an outer surface and defining an inner space; a plurality of primary liners arranged on the outer surface in a spaced pattern and having primary energetic material inwardly positioned in the housing relative to the primary liners; an initiation mechanism in the inner space for initiating the primary energetic material to drive the primary liners; and a plurality of additional liners positioned in the spaced pattern between the primary liners and having additional energetic material positioned in proximity to the primary energetic material such that the additional energetic material is sympathetically initiated by initiation of the primary energetic material. The device can find useful application in a military setting and also in the perforation of well casings in subterranean wells.