Tubular Adapter Stabilizes Fluid Jet for IED Disruption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Propellant driven disrupters, particularly those using water jets, face limitations due to rapid dispersion and atomization of fluid jets, reducing their effectiveness and reliability in neutralizing improvised explosive devices (IEDs) across various conditions and materials.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a specially designed tubular adapter connected to the muzzle end of the disrupter, which stabilizes and controls the fluid jet by reducing the reverse velocity gradient, thereby enhancing stand-off distance, penetration depth, and impulse characteristics, and includes features like a longitudinal region with a taper to harness the Venturi effect and minimize turbulence.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a water jet is used to disrupt IEDs, then the risk of shock-initiated explosion is reduced and the cross-section for disrupting components is increased, but the jet rapidly disperses and atomizes, reducing its length, mass, and momentum transfer capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of IED disruptionVSAvoidlength of water jet

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter extends the disrupter barrel to provide a longer confinement length for the water jet before it exits. This preliminary extension allows the water jet to maintain cohesion and velocity over a longer distance, preventing premature dispersion and atomization. The extended barrel acts as a preliminary stabilization zone that prepares the jet for effective target engagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the water jet by extending the barrel length, which alters the jet's velocity profile, pressure distribution, and coherence. This parameter change allows the jet to maintain its integrity longer after exit, increasing both its length and momentum transfer capability while preserving the low shock initiation risk inherent to fluid jets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of stationary object

If the disrupter barrel is extended to maintain jet integrity, then the stand-off distance and penetration depth are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebarrel lengthVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The disrupter system is segmented into modular components: the original disrupter barrel and a separate extendable adapter section. This segmentation allows the barrel extension to be manufactured and attached as a discrete component, simplifying the manufacturing process compared to producing a single long barrel. The modular design also facilitates easier assembly, disassembly, and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Force

If the water jet velocity is increased to improve penetration, then the momentum transfer to the target is enhanced, but the reverse velocity gradient increases causing more rapid atomization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemomentum transferVSAvoidjet coherence

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The extended barrel changes the velocity profile parameters of the water jet by providing a longer acceleration zone. This results in a more uniform velocity distribution across the jet cross-section and reduces the reverse velocity gradient that causes atomization. The pressure and velocity parameters are optimized along the extended length to maintain jet coherence while achieving high momentum transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The adapter significantly improves the reliability and effectiveness of fluid jets by maintaining jet integrity, reducing the risk of shock-initiated explosions, and enabling breaching through various materials, with increased stand-off distance, penetration depth, and average jet velocity, while minimizing rarefaction waves and peak pressures.

Implementation Method 1

The longitudinal region has a taper configured to harness the Venturi effect and minimize turbulence

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVenturi effect: Venturi Effect

Implementation Method 2

a propellant driven disrupter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10794660B2Reverse velocity jet tamper disrupter enhancer with muzzle blast suppression

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION DEPT OF JUSTICE

AI summary

Provided herein are fluid jet enhancement adapters for use with a propellant driven disrupter, and more particularly muzzle blast suppressor. The fluid jet enhancement muzzle blast suppressor may comprise a suppressor bore extending between the proximal end and the distal end with an inner suppressor surface that defines the suppressor bore. An outer suppressor surface opposably faces the inner suppressor surface, with a suppressor chamber positioned between the inner and outer suppressor surfaces. A plurality of passages connect the suppressor bore with the suppressor chamber, wherein the plurality of passages are sized to allow gas to move from the suppressor bore to the suppressor chamber and minimize liquid movement from the suppressor bore to the suppressor chamber.