136results about "Marine mines" patented technology

An intercept device for flying objects made of a light-weight, packable structure made of a pliable, tear resistant material that can be expanded to a large web-like structure by means of a deployment device, into the path of a flying weapon. To capture, hold and reduce the velocity of intercepted flying objects, activatable resistance bodies are incorporated into uniformly distributed masses that are connected to the perimeter of the web like structure. Contractable sections of the web, made of cable-like structures, connected to perimeter masses, act as drawstrings upon collision with flying object. This causes closure of the web around the flying object as a result of the mass's inertia and added resistance from deployable resistance structures that place tension on drawstring structures of the web. The flying object is subsequently captured within the web, held secure and it's velocity rapidly reduced.

A system has a containment blanket. The system further has a launcher configured to launch the containment blanket and logic configured to deploy the containment blanket. The containment blanket is configured to encompass an incoming projectile.

An armored, motorized unit incorporating a gimbaled gun sighted video camera and an attached multi-shot TASER(R) cartridge firing system to remotely fire one cartridge at a time at a remotely selected target. A remotely located operator rotates the unit in azimuth and elevation to aim at a target within the range of the firing system. The firing system has multiple cartridges that can be rotated into a boresight position, one at a time, and armed, one at a time, for firing a pair of wire-tethered contacts such as darts at the selected target.

A method of deactivating land mines buried in ground comprises projecting high-pressure water jets into ground, cutting through ground with the high-pressure water jets, and making at least one cut through a land mine or cutting through at least one land mine that had been under the ground, the cutting of the land mine reducing the performance of the land mine. The method may reduce the performance of the land mine by rendering the land mine inactive to normal detonation procedures for the land mine. To reach as many surface areas on the buried landmines, it is preferable that at least two high-pressure water jets are spaced apart are used to cut through the ground. The method may be practiced with the high-pressure water jet being carried on a vehicle and cutting is done in a line that is formed at least in part by movement of the vehicle over the ground while the high-pressure water jet is cutting ground. An apparatus for the reduction in effectiveness of land mines buried in ground may comprise a self-contained push-cart unit or a unit attached or attachable to a vehicle. A complete system could comprise a vehicle having a source of liquid, a high-pressure pump to move the liquid under high pressure, a nozzle directing a liquid jet path for the liquid, a support for the nozzle, abrasive delivery system, and nozzle being controllable to direct the liquid towards the ground while the nozzle is fixed relative to the vehicle.

Devices for navigating in a fluid medium having a solid boundary include a vehicle body and a fin attached to the vehicle body. The fin is configured to oscillate relative to the body such that interaction between the fin and the fluid medium produces propulsive forces that propel the vehicle body in a desired direction in the fluid medium. The fin is also configured to rotate relative to the body along a transverse axis such that engagement between the fin and the solid boundary propels the vehicle body in a desired direction on the solid boundary.

A system has a containment blanket. The system further has a launcher configured to launch the containment blanket and logic configured to deploy the containment blanket. The containment blanket is configured to encompass an incoming projectile.

A landmine detection and neutralization apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus to determine the location of landmines, comprises at least two detection modules utilizing different infrared, sound, and / or optical detection and a remotely operated miniature airborne vehicle, that may carry the detection modules at an optimum altitude over a surface that may contain landmines. The neutralization device may be a microwave, acoustic and / or infrared wave generator. The method for determining the location of land comprises using at least two different landmine detection techniques where the techniques are infrared, sound, and optical detection, operating the detection techniques in a close proximity to a surface that may contain landmines and maintaining this close proximity by operating a remotely operated miniature airborne vehicle. Neutralization may be achieved by directing microwaves or infrared waves at detected landmines.

Systems are described herein for remotely aligning and placing disruptive devices at or near suspicious targets such as suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs). In particular, tools connected to remotely controllable robots include disruptor guns for firing disruptive materials at the targets and disruptive devices filled with explosive materials, e.g., water, for controllably detonating or disrupting the detonation of the targets when placed in close proximity thereto.

A technique and apparatus for generating high voltage (100s-1000s kV) and supplying high current (fractional to many tens of kilo-amperes), projecting a parallel, two wire electrical transmission line over a large distance (10s-100s m), or a single conductor in which the return path is the earth, which is capable of sustaining high voltages and conducting high currents, and landing the terminating terminals of the transmission line across a pre-defined target zone resulting in a low impedance closure of the electrical circuit causing high electrical current to flow. The applications for the present invention, which falls into a class of directed energy and / or non-lethal device, include: suppression of Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and landmines; halting motorized platforms, including two and four wheeled motor vehicles and boats; damage and destruction of electronic systems; and destruction or incapacitation of electronic systems at substantial distances from a high voltage device.

A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device. The method comprises substantially encasing an explosive device with a conductive foam. The explosive device is configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal, such as that emitted by a transmitter of a wireless door bell device. Deactivated explosive devices are also disclosed.

A mine detonating apparatus to be mounted to an armoured personnel carrier (1) is disclosed. A front roller assembly (4) is mounted at the front of a vehicle body (2) of the armoured personnel carrier (1) to apply pressure to the ground forwardly of each track (3) of the armoured personnel carrier (1). A rear roller assembly (10) is mounted rearwardly of the vehicle body (3) to apply pressure to the ground behind the vehicle, the front and rear rollers (4, 10) being pre-loaded. The rear roller assembly (10) is connected to the vehicle body by means of hydraulic cylinders (15, 16) and a support frame (8) supporting the front roller assemblies (4) is connected to the vehicle body (2) by of a pair of hydraulic cylinders (17, 18). The hydraulic cylinders (15, 16, 17, 18) are arranged to maintain the position of the front roller assemblies forwardly of the respective tracks (3).

An air-delivered submersible vehicle system has a monocoque-construction shell made from a fiber-reinforced plastic material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics and thermoset plastics. The shell is equipped with a wing kit so that it can be deployed from an aircraft and fly through the air to a destination at a surface of a body of water. The shell is further equipped as a submersible vehicle so that it can be propelled through the water once it has reached its water destination.

The invention provides a method and a system for defeating a target containing a flammable or explosive fill and an incendiary penetrating projectile for use in the method and the system. The incendiary penetrating projectile contains a non-detonating incendiary composition that is ignited prior to penetrating a target.

A modular crowd control munition 10 fires a large number of non-lethal soft pellets into a crowd 100 using an explosive charge. The munition 10 contains a pellet matrix 22 that houses the soft pellets 40, and uses a low energy explosive sheet material 50 at the back of the munition 10 to disperse the soft pellets 40. The munition 10 is used for close-in, "last resort", crowd control to replace the necessity of using deadly force.

A land mine pressure fuse avoidance system has a base. A tread on the base contacts the ground around a land mine and independently distributes pressures around the ground. The tread has plural independent closed cell foam rubber elements. Each element is separated from adjacent elements for independently supporting only a portion of a load on the base, while other similarly independent elements support remaining portion of the load. The base is a cylindrical tire, a continuous track, a shoe sole attachment or a robotic foot, and the tread is conformed to and extends outward from the base. The independent elements of the tread are made of closed cell foam rubber formed as a tread on the base with notches between adjacent elements of the tread. Notches extend longitudinally along the tread, and notches extend across the tread, forming block shaped elements extending from the base. The notches extend into the tread for distances greater than heights above ground of clutter and of partially buried mines or fuses. In one form the tread has independent radially extending elements constructed of closed cell foam.

A multiple torpedo mine is capable of launching multiple torpedoes in water simultaneously or at predetermined intervals. The mine has an elongate container having multiple launch tubes with launch tube covers and each containing a torpedo. A programmable target detection sensor unit in the elongate container senses impinging stimuli indicative of an approaching target and generates representative target signals. A main controller in the elongate container is coupled to receive the target signals from the target detection sensor unit, and the main controller is preprogrammed to recognize targets of interest and generate appropriate launch control signals for the torpedoes. A launching system in the elongate container is coupled to the main controller and each of the launch tubes to feed high pressure gas to the base and interior of the launch tubes to launch the torpedoes into the water.

A method of deactivating land mines buried in ground comprises projecting high-pressure water jets into ground, cutting through ground with the high-pressure water jets, and making at least one cut through a land mine or cutting through at least one land mine that had been under the ground, the cutting of the land mine reducing the performance of the land mine. The method may reduce the performance of the land mine by rendering the land mine inactive to normal detonation procedures for the land mine. To reach as many surface areas on the buried landmines, it is preferable that at least two high-pressure water jets are spaced apart are used to cut through the ground. The method may be practiced with the high-pressure water jet being carried on a vehicle and cutting is done in a line that is formed at least in part by movement of the vehicle over the ground while the high-pressure water jet is cutting ground. An apparatus for the reduction in effectiveness of land mines buried in ground may comprise a self-contained push-cart unit or a unit attached or attachable to a vehicle. A complete system could comprise a vehicle having a source of liquid, a high-pressure pump to move the liquid under high pressure, a nozzle directing a liquid jet path for the liquid, a support for the nozzle, abrasive delivery system, and nozzle being controllable to direct the liquid towards the ground while the nozzle is fixed relative to the vehicle.

Systems and methods for underwater descent rate reduction are provided. In one embodiment, a method for underwater descent rate reduction for an underwater delivery vehicle is provided. The method comprises: opening a first valve based on a first hydrostatic pressure to permit water to flow into a first chamber of a hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; developing a pressure differential across a piston head separating the first chamber from a second chamber of the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; pushing the piston head into the second chamber to extend a piston rod from the hydrostatic pressure driven piston assembly; and pivoting a deflecting flap downward into a direction of vehicle descent as the piston rod extends.

A method and an apparatus for clearing land mines includes a mine detonator, a unmanned propulsion device and a rake member-electromagnet combination. The mine detonator includes a roller assembly, which is connected to and propelled by a prime mover of the unmanned propulsion unit. The mine detonator additionally may include a segmented column of weights that function to exert ground pressure to detonate hidden land mines. The rake member-electromagnet combination includes a rake member to turn up soil as the device advances in a minefield, and a magnetic member to pick up surface or sub-surface metal on the minefield.

A waterborne munitions system is disclosed. The system includes a submersible munitions platform and a remote control module. The munitions platform has a plurality of canistered munitions, either waterborne, airborne, or both, which can be remotely launched via the remote control module.

A mine neutralizing device that includes a buoy. The buoy includes a mine neutralizing device capable of swimming to an undersea mine to neutralize it. A method for neutralizing undersea mines includes locating an undersea mine, placing a buoy containing a mine neutralizer near the mine, and swimming the mine neutralizer to the undersea mine.

A mobile remotely controlled robot includes a robot platform and a robot arm maneuverable with respect to the robot platform. A housing is configured to be removably mounted to the robot arm. A sleeve is translatable with respect to the housing for receiving a weapon therein. There is a gear rack on the sleeve and a pinion gear, rotatably disposed in the housing, is engaged with the gear rack. A braking subsystem resists rotation of the pinion gear when the gear rack translates upon firing of the weapon.

A demolition charge system has a multi-primed initiation system with a rigid container having interconnected thin end walls, side walls, a base and a lid. The lid continuously fits onto the end and side walls to cover and contain an internal chamber. Each of the ends walls has a threaded opening longitudinally aligned with each other. An elongated thin-walled tube longitudinally extends through the internal chamber and has threaded ends engaging inner portions of the threaded openings to securely hold the tube in the container. At least one demolition initiator is capable of longitudinally extending in the tube and a main charge in the internal chamber is positionable in abutting contact along the tube to assure demolition. Magnets assure magnetic securing of the demolition system on a ferrous target.

A method for neutralization of the explosive content of mines and UXO by essentially completely consuming the explosive by combustion or decomposition before any explosion occurs. A charge of a compound that reacts with an extremely high heat-release rate is ignited on or near the casing of the device to be neutralized. The intense exothermic reaction generates high temperature combustion products that will disrupt the casing, thus leading to combustion or decomposition of the explosive. The holes melted in the mine casing enable ignition of a large area of the explosive charge and provide easy access for atmospheric air to support active burnout of the explosive.The apparatus comprises the compound that reacts with a high heat release rate, an ignition source, and a container for the assembly.

A propelled lance provides a wounding non-lethal anti-insurgent action when stepped on by piercing an enemy insurgent's foot with a lance penetrator. The lance penetrator lodges in the foot and further penetration is impeded by a stop plate. The lance penetrator may insert an RFID or other identifiable device or other payload into the insurgent. The lance penetrator provides anti-personnel, anti-vehicle and anti-robot action.

A semi-continuous duty, Green Technology, self-charging 14, unmanned electric vehicle providing protection and security from underground mines. A deflector blade 11 follows natural existing contours to maintain straight line paths, while simultaneously carrying a mine detector 10, a vertical reciprocating ram set 30, 32 and 33 that preloads soil while also creating forward motion, followed by an energy dissipation and containment canopy system 22, 24, 26&29. The comprehensive system provides protection from mines on existing pathways in desert environments using a self-sufficient energy source. In addition, the total system utilizes only Green Technology for all modes of operation.

The invention discloses a training mine for simulating actual anti-mine training. The training mine is characterized in that a training mine body comprises a housing, a fuse unit, a position indication unit, a power supply module, a balancing weight and a control unit, wherein the fuse unit, the power supply module, the balancing weight and the control unit are all fixedly mounted in the housing; the position indication unit is arranged at the upper end of the outside of the housing, and a connecting ring is arranged at the lower end of the outside of the housing; a mooring system comprises a connecting mooring system and a load rejection mooring system; a swivel of the connecting mooring system is connected to the connecting ring at the lower end of the outside of the pressure-resistant housing, one end of a chemical fiber rope is connected with the rotary ring through a shackle, and the other end of the chemical fiber rope is connected with an acoustic release transponder through a shackle; the front end of an anchor chain of the load rejection mooring system is connected with the acoustic release transponder through a shackle, the rear end of the anchor chain of the load rejection mooring system is connected with a ballast anchor through an inactive rope, and a floating ball and a pouring weight are sequentially connected to the anchor chain; the position indication unit consists of a communication module, a module housing and an antenna, and the communication module is connected with the power supply module in the training mine body through a wire; and the antenna is assembled at the upper part of the module housing.

A landmine detection and neutralization apparatus and method is disclosed. The apparatus to determine the location of landmines, comprises at least two detection modules utilizing different infrared, sound, and / or optical detection and a remotely operated miniature airborne vehicle, that may carry the detection modules at an optimum altitude over a surface that may contain landmines. The neutralization device may be a microwave and / or infrared wave generator. The method for determining the location of landmines comprises using at least two different landmine detection techniques where the techniques are infrared, sound, and optical detection, operating the detection techniques in a close proximity to a surface that may contain landmines and maintaining this close proximity by operating a remotely operated miniature airborne vehicle. Neutralization may be achieved by directing microwaves or infrared waves at detected landmines.