Blast Resistant Safe Retro-fit Accessory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Safes and automatic teller machines are vulnerable to gas attacks, where combustible gases are injected and ignited to create explosive pressure, leading to destruction and unauthorized access, with existing protective measures being either ineffective or posing additional safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A blast-resistant and dispersal accessory is retro-fitted to safes, featuring a blast-resistant auxiliary casing with vent holes, a sacrificial exterior vent door, baffles, and optional features like a gas detector, fan, and spark arresting filter, designed to redirect and dissipate explosive gases safely, preventing direct access and flashback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protective panels and surround cages are added to prevent doors from being completely blasted off, then the security against gas attack is improved, but the device becomes highly bulky and only partially effective
Solution Approach 1:
The protective system is segmented into multiple functional components: an auxiliary casing with vent holes, a sacrificial exterior vent door, baffles inside the chamber, and a controlled release mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function in the gas redirection process, achieving effective protection without requiring a single bulky structure
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary casing acts as an intermediary structure between the safe and the external environment. It provides a controlled pathway for explosive gases to exit through vent holes and the sacrificial door, mediating the interaction between the internal safe contents and external blast forces, thereby protecting the main safe structure
2Reliability
If inert gas is provided to off-set and counteract the provision of combustible gas, then the first blast is neutralized, but the solution is only one-off and allows a second blast to destroy the safe
Solution Approach 1:
The system is designed to be self-activating through the gas detection mechanism that automatically triggers the fan and controlled release system when combustible gas is detected. The sacrificial vent door automatically deploys under pressure, and the ignition device can be remotely activated, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling continuous monitoring and response to multiple gas attack attempts
Solution Approach 2:
The gas detection system provides continuous monitoring of the safe interior environment. The fan operates continuously or as needed to maintain negative pressure and draw gases away. The controlled release system remains ready to deploy, providing ongoing protection against multiple blast attempts rather than a single one-off neutralization
3Quantity of substance
If exhaust gas fans are incorporated to draw away potentially combustible gas, then gas removal is achieved, but explosive gases are moved into building interiors creating dangerous situations with inadvertent ignition
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and isolates the combustible gas problem within a dedicated auxiliary casing structure rather than venting gases directly into the building environment. The controlled release pathway with spark-arresting filters and the sacrificial vent door contains the gas flow within a protected zone, separating the gas removal function from the building interior space
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful explosive gas into a controlled release scenario where the gas is directed through a protected pathway with ignition control. The sacrificial vent door and spark-arresting filters transform the potential hazard into a controlled venting process that protects both the safe and the building environment
4Stress or pressure
If vent holes are provided to allow gas escape, then pressure relief is achieved, but direct access to the safe interior is possible compromising security
Solution Approach 1:
The vent holes are provided with specific local qualities: they are positioned and sized to allow gas escape while being protected by the auxiliary casing structure. The spark-arresting filters and the sacrificial vent door provide localized protection at critical points, allowing pressure relief while maintaining overall security of the safe interior
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 solution effectively redirects and disperses explosive gases, enhancing the security of safes by preventing blast-induced damage and ensuring controlled gas dissipation, while maintaining a secure and tamper-proof design that minimizes additional space and risk.
Implementation Method 1
vent holes communicating with said interior chamber and adapted to communicate with the interior of the safe
Implementation Method 2
vent holes communicating with said interior chamber and adapted to communicate with the interior of the safe
Implementation Method 3
sacrificial exterior vent door or the like, adapted to deploy open or to dissipate said explosive gasses applied to the interior of said safe
Implementation Method 4
A spark arresting filter may be incorporated between the safe and the auxiliary casing to prevent flashback
Implementation Method 5
The interior of said auxiliary casing includes one or a plurality of baffles
Data Source
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AI summary
A blast resistant and dispersement accessory adapted for retro-fitting to an existing safe (1) or similar security device, said accessory comprising an auxiliary casing (2) formed of blast resistant materials adapted for retro-fitting to the body of said safe, said casing including an interior chamber (4) to receive the explosive gasses generated by said blast, one or a plurality of vent holes (3) communicating with said interior chamber and a sacrificial exterior vent door (5) or the like, adapted to deploy open or to dissipate said explosive gasses applied to the interior of said safe and conduited to the said interior chamber wherein said exterior vent door is positioned remote from said vent holes so as to prevent direct access to said safe upon deployment.