Device for destroying dangerous objects

Abstract

The subject of the invention is a device for destroying dangerous devices containing significant amounts of explosive material, in particular a sea mine.

Description

[0001] The invention refers to device for destroying dangerous devices, which destroys a dangerous object comprising significant amounts of explosive material, especially a sea mine.

[0002] There are known devices for destroying dangerous objects containing explosive materials by initiating the detonation of the explosive material contained in a dangerous device such as a sea mine or an aircraft bomb. Suitably large explosive charges detonated near the dangerous object are used for this purpose.

[0003] There are also known devices for destroying dangerous objects containing explosive materials, using shaped (cumulative) explosive charges. They can cause deflagration of the explosive material in dangerous objects or cause its detonation. However, using them underwater does not always generate the expected effect. The precise selection of its configuration, the size of the explosive charge, the material of the cumulative insert and the location on the object being liquidated are of great importance for obtaining the right effect using shaped charges.

[0004] There are also known devices for destroying dangerous objects containing explosives using various types of projectiles initiating detonation or deflagration of the explosive contained in the dangerous object. These projectiles may contain explosives detonated inside the dangerous object after piercing its external shell.

[0005] From the patent description US 4185580 B. a device in the form of an underwater vehicle equipped with a large explosive charge for destroying sea mines is known. The charge is placed near the mine, and its explosion initiates the detonation of the explosive material in the mine. The device is equipped with an independent source of energy, drive devices coupled to the energy source, and components for monitoring the surroundings. The cylindrical explosive charge is suspended under the body of the vehicle using a band closed with a pyrotechnic pin. The control station is located far from the vehicle, is connected to it by a cable, which is the only means of transmitting command signals sent to the device and receiving images by the observer. On the other hand, the explosion of the destructive charge is initiated by an acoustic signal.

[0006] From the patent description US 7299735 B2 there is known a device for destroying objects containing an explosive material in the form of a small shaped charge (cumulative) including many versions based on a plastic body, in which many different inserts and spacers and plastic charges of explosive materials of different mass can be attached to ensure the intended effect. The solution offers a wide range of housing capacities, and thus of the explosive material.

[0007] From the patent description GB 2083894 B there is known a device for neutralizing explosive materials etc., in the form of a gun containing a barrel, the cartridge chamber of which is accessible by means of a removable member closing the lock, characterized in that the barrel is internally divided into a first part of the opening of a smaller diameter, for receiving a cartridge containing a propellant charge and a second part of the opening of a larger diameter, for receiving a working projectile.

[0008] From the patent application WO 2012051604 A3 a device and method for neutralizing underwater sea mines, mines attached to ship hulls or underwater improvised explosive devices are known. The device comprises a housing, a barrel for housing the projectile, a control and positioning system and at least one setting tool connected to the housing and configured to set the underwater neutralizing device relative to the explosive target.

[0009] However, more efficient devices for destroying marine and underwater objects with the possibility of performing destruction in a targeted, controlled and fast manner are still being sought. The purpose of the invention was achieved, among other things disclosed in the patent claim, by equipping the device with a high-pressure oxygen tank, the front end of which is permanently closed, while the other end is permanently connected to a shut-off valve with a pyrotechnic drive controlled by an electric pulse, a controller, a reduction valve.

[0010] The invention refers to device for destroying dangerous devices, which destroys a dangerous object comprising significant amounts of explosive material, especially a sea mine preferably without initiation of explosive material contained within the dangerous device.

[0011] The subject matter of the invention is described in claim.

[0012] A more detailed description of the device according to the invention: The device for destroying dangerous objects contains a hermetic, pressure-resistant housing comprising of a jacket that is releasably closed with a front cover sealed with a gasket and releasably closed with a rear cover sealed with a gasket, in which a controller and a source of electrical energy in the form of, for example, a battery of chemical cells is mounted. The device has a high-pressure oxygen tank in the form of a spiral pipe, the front end of which is permanently closed. The other end of the pipe is permanently connected by a tube to a shut-off valve with a pyrotechnic drive of a known design. The pyrotechnic drive of the shut-off valve is controlled by electric pulse using an electric cable permanently connected to the controller. The shut-off valve, is permanently connected by means of a tube to a reduction valve controlled by the ambient pressure delivered by a tube connected to the environment through the rear cover of pressure resistant housing. The reducing valve is permanently connected by means of a tube to a cover with a gasket closing a cylindrical sleeve made of electrically insulating material. A piston made of electrically conductive material is slidably mounted in the sleeve and which piston is connected with an electric conductor to one of terminals of the energy source. A cylindrical electrode in the form of a steel pipe is permanently fixed in the piston and sealed with a gasket, while rods made of a material flammable in oxygen are arranged on internal circumference of the steel pipe, creating a channel for the flow of oxygen. At the rear end of the electrode channel is open in space inside the cylindrical sleeve between the cover and the piston, while the front end of the electrode is slidably fixed and sealed with a gasket in an ignition chamber made of electrically insulating material. Inside the ignition chamber that is closed with a plug sealed with a gasket, an electric spark gap is permanently and tightly fixed and permanently connected with a electric conductor to a pyrotechnic switch and further connected to other terminal of the energy source by an electric conductor while a pyrotechnic drive of the pyrotechnic switch is controlled with an electric impulse by an electric cable permanently connected to the controller. The controller sending signals initiating the pyrotechnic drive of the shut-off valve and the pyrotechnic switch of the electric spark gap is powered from the power source by an electric supply conductor and on which conductor a hydrostatic switch of a known design is mounted. This switch is controlled by external pressure delivered through a tube passing through the rear cover of the pressure housing and on which conductor a magnetic switch is also mounted and controlled by the magnetic field of a permanent magnet inserted into a cavity made in the rear cover. The controller is also permanently connected to a control cable connected at its other end to an external initiating device. The pressure-resistant housing is mounted in an external clamp, preferably made of an upper part and a lower part, between which at least two pyrotechnic applicators of fastening nails of a known design are mounted. When the nails are pushed out of the applicators and driven into the body of a hazardous object filled with explosive material, the combustion products of the body material and the explosive material of the dangerous object are ejected from the hole by a stream of oxygen and other products of reaction flowing from the ignited front part of the electrode.

[0013] The elements of the device are connected to each other by tubes in such a way that after the valve is opened by the pyrotechnic drive, oxygen from the tank flows through the pressure reducer and the channel in the electrode and the hole in the ignition chamber. After opening the shut-off valve, the spark gap is switched on, the operation of which causes the electrode to ignite and the hazardous object is being destroyed by the products of the exothermic reaction that begins deflagration of the explosive material. The operation of the device is controlled by the controller that implements an algorithm to check ability of the device and control operation of the device by opening the oxygen shut-off valve and initiating ignition of the electrode in contact with the dangerous device to be destroyed.

[0014] The device according to the invention can be carried and attached to a dangerous device by a person or a remotely controlled vehicle. In order to destroy a dangerous object containing explosive material, the front cover of the housing is rested against the body of this object, e.g. the hull of a naval mine, and attached to the object in a known manner. At least one pyrotechnic fastening nail applicator initiated by an electric signal is used to attach the device to the object. After attaching the device to the object and another electric pulse received by the controller, the oxygen valve is opened and the sparker is switched on, initiating an electric arc and ignition of the combustible material of rods in the electrode. The ignited electrode burns a hole in the ignition chamber plug and rests on the surface of the object's hull, burning a hole in it, and then penetrates the explosive material filling the object, initiating its thermal decomposition (deflagration).

[0015] The subject of the invention is shown in an example and the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the device, Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the device with a visible oxygen tank in the form of a spirally wound pipe and functional elements mounted inside the housing, Fig. 3 shows a front view of the cross-section of the device, Fig. 4 shows a longitudinal section of the front part of the device mounted to the dangerous device before activation, Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section of the front part of the device mounted to the dangerous device after activation, when the front end of the electrode is located in the hole burned in the body of the dangerous object.List of symbols:

[0016] 1. housing 2. jacket 3. front cover 4. gasket 5. rear cover 6. gasket 7. controller 8. electrical power source 9. electrochemical cell 10. oxygen tank 11. spiral pipe 12. tube 13. shut-off valve 14. pyrotechnic drive 15. electrical cable 16. tube 17. reduction valve 18. tube 19. tube 20. cover 21. cylindrical sleeve 22. gasket 23. piston 24. gasket 25. electrode 26. steel pipe 27. rods combustible in oxygen 28. oxygen flow channel 29. space 30. ignition chamber 31. gasket 32. plug 33. plug gasket 34. electric spark gap 35. electric conductor 36. pyrotechnic switch 37. switch drive 38. electric cable 39. electric conductor 40. power supply conductor 41. power supply conductor 42. hydrostatic switch 43. tube 44. magnetic switch (reed switch) 45. permanent magnet 46. housing hole 47. control cable 48. external initiating device 49. outer clamp 50. upper part of clamp 51. lower part of clamp 52. left pyrotechnic applicator 53. right pyrotechnic applicator 54. fixing nail 55. fixing nail 56. body of the hazardous object 57. explosive material of the hazardous object 58. hole in the hazardous object 59. combustion products Example

[0017] Device for destroying dangerous devices in an example embodiment consists of a hermetic housing 1 resistant to external pressure consisting of a jacket 2, releasably closed with a front cover 3 sealed with a gasket 4 and releasably closed with a rear cover 5 sealed with a gasket 6. A controller 7, a source of electrical energy 8 in the form of a battery of chemical cells 9 and a high-pressure oxygen tank 10 in the form of a spiral pipe 11 are mounted in the housing 1. The front end of the pipe 11 is permanently closed, while the other end of the pipe 11 is permanently connected by a tube 12 to a shut-off valve 13 with a pyrotechnic drive 14 of a known design.

[0018] The pyrotechnic drive 14 is controlled by an electric impulse by means of an electric cable 15 permanently connected to the controller 7. A tube 16 is also permanently connected to the other side of the shut-off valve 13, and connected to a reduction valve 17 controlled by the ambient pressure through a tube 18 open to the environment. A tube 19 is also permanently attached to the housing of the reduction valve 17 and connected at its other end to the cover 20 of the cylindrical sleeve 21 made of an electrically insulating material, the cover 20 of which is sealed to the sleeve 21 by a gasket 22.

[0019] A piston 23 made of an electrically conductive material is slidably mounted in the sleeve 21 and sealed with a gasket 24 which piston 23 is connected with an electric conductor 39 to one of terminals of the energy source and to which piston 23 a cylindrical electrode 25 in the form of a steel pipe 26 is permanently mounted, while rods 27 made of a material flammable in oxygen are arranged on internal circumference of the pipe 26, forming a channel 28 for the flow of oxygen. The channel 28 is open into a space 29 in the ignition chamber 30 made of an electrically insulating material. The front end of the electrode 25 is slidably mounted in the ignition chamber and sealed with a gasket 31. In the ignition chamber 30 closed with a plug 32 with a gasket 33, an electric spark gap 34 is permanently and tightly mounted and connected to the other terminal of the power source 8 by an electric conductor 35 through a switch 36 with a pyrotechnic drive 37 controlled by an electric impulse through an electrical cable 38 permanently connected to the controller 7.

[0020] The controller 7 sending signals initiating the pyrotechnic drive of the shut-off valve 13 and the pyrotechnic drive 37 of the switch 36 of the spark gap 34 is powered from the power source 8 through electric lines 40 and 41, on which line 41 a hydrostatic switch 42 of a known design is mounted, controlled by external pressure through a pipe line 43. A magnetic switch (reed switch) 44 is also mounted on the line 41, controlled by the magnetic field of a permanent magnet 45 inserted into the cavity 46 made in the rear cover 5. After inserting the magnet 45 into the hole 46 and after immersing the device to the depth at which the hydrostatic switch 42 operates, a signal is sent to the controller 7 through the control line 47 from the external initiating device 48, starting the operation of the device according to the invention.

[0021] The housing 1 is mounted in an external clamp 49 made of an upper part 50 and a lower part 51, between which two pyrotechnic applicators 52 and 53 of fastening nails 54 and 55 of a known design are mounted. The nails 54 and 55, after being pushed out of the applicators 52 and 53, penetrate the body 56 of the dangerous object filled with explosive material 57, and the oxygen stream flowing from the ignited front part of the electrode 25 ejects combustion products 59 of the material of the body of the destroyed object 56 and the explosive material 57 from the opening 58 and initiates deflagration of explosive material.

Claims

1. Device for destroying dangerous objects comprising a housing (1) resistant to external pressure, closed with a detachable cover, in which housing a controller and a source of electrical energy are mounted, characterised in that it comprises a high-pressure oxygen tank (10), preferably in the form of a spiral pipe (11), the front end of which pipe (11) is permanently closed, while the other end is permanently connected by a tube (12) to a cut-off valve (13) with a pyrotechnic drive (14) controlled by an electric impulse, preferably by means of an electric cable (15) permanently connected to the controller (7), and a tube (16) is permanently connected to the reduction valve (17) controlled by the ambient pressure through a tube (18) open to the environment through the rear cover (5), and a tube (19) is permanently attached to the reduction valve (17) connected by its second end to the cover (20) of a cylindrical sleeve (21) made of an electrically insulating material with the cover (20) and in which a piston (23) made of a conductive material is slidably mounted, and which piston (23) is connected to a terminal of the power source (8), and in which piston (23), preferably sealed with a gasket (24), a cylindrical electrode (25) is permanently mounted, preferably in the form of a steel pipe (26), in which rods made of a material flammable in oxygen (27) are arranged on the internal circumference, forming a channel (28) for the flow of oxygen, while the front end of the electrode (25) is slidably mounted in the ignition chamber (30) made of an electrically insulating material and sealed with gasket (33), in which an electric spark gap (34) is permanently and tightly mounted and connected to other terminal of the energy source (8) by means pyrotechnic switch (36) with a pyrotechnic drive (37) controlled by an electric cable permanently connected to the controller (7), and preferably by means a cable (38), wherein the controller (7) sending signals initiating the pyrotechnic drive (14) of the shut-off valve (13) and the pyrotechnic switch (36) is powered by the energy source (8), and furthermore the device comprises a hydrostatic switch (42) controlled by external pressure through a tube (43) passing through the rear cover (5), and a magnetic switch (44) controlled by the magnetic field of a permanent magnet (45) inserted into the cavity (46) made in the rear cover (5), while a control cable (47) is connected to the controller (7) and connected with its second end to an external initiating device (48), and the housing (1) is mounted in an external clamp (49), with at least one pyrotechnic applicator (52, 53) of a fastening nail (54, 55), which is pushed out of the applicator (52, 53) and driven into the body (56) of the hazardous object, and the combustion products (59) of burning electrode (25) are ejected from the opening (58) by a stream of oxygen flowing from the ignited front part of the electrode (25).

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