Cellulose Fiber Grenade Reduces Fragment Mass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-lethal grenades made from flexible polymers derived from petrochemical derivatives project large fragments that can cause serious injuries and are not traceable after detonation, violating safety and traceability standards.
Innovation Solution
A non-lethal grenade with a body made of cellulose fiber and equipped with a dual-stage EOT trigger system that ejects the trigger before detonation, using a tamper-proof I-REF chip for traceability, and contains a delay mechanism without lead compounds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If non-lethal grenades are made from flexible polymers derived from petrochemical derivatives, then the structural integrity and durability are improved, but the fragment mass and injury risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from flexible polymer to cellulose fiber, fundamentally altering the fragmentation characteristics. Cellulose fiber naturally decomposes into smaller, lighter fragments upon detonation, reducing fragment mass below 5 grams while maintaining adequate structural integrity for the grenade's operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses cellulose fiber as a composite material that combines the necessary mechanical properties for grenade structure with the beneficial property of low-fragmentation. The cellulose fiber matrix provides structural integrity while its natural composition ensures fragmentation into biodegradable, low-mass particles.
2Ease of manufacture
If non-lethal grenades are made from flexible polymers, then manufacturing ease is improved, but environmental sustainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameter from synthetic polymer to natural cellulose fiber. This substitution maintains manufacturing feasibility through established cellulose processing techniques while fundamentally improving biodegradability, as cellulose naturally decomposes in the environment without persisting as microplastic contamination.
3Device complexity
If traditional grenade triggers are used, then the triggering mechanism simplicity is improved, but traceability capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds an electronic traceability device within the trigger mechanism housing. The nested design allows the traceability chip to be integrated into the existing trigger structure without significantly increasing external complexity or altering the basic triggering function, while adding the capability to track and identify individual grenades.
4Manufacturing precision
If grenades use lead compounds in delay mechanisms, then the timing precision is improved, but safety and environmental compliance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the delay mechanism from lead-based compounds to lead-free alternatives. This substitution maintains the required timing precision for the delayed detonation function while eliminating toxic lead content, improving safety for handlers and environmental compliance upon disposal.
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
Reduces fragment mass to less than 5 grams, ensuring operational safety and traceability, aligning with safety standards and enhancing sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
generation of biodegradable cellulose fiber fragments
Implementation Method 2
during its operation, the reduction of the quantity, size, and mass of the fragments
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention refers to a non-lethal article, which presents light and sound effects, with the body made of natural polymer, which provides during detonation the reduction of the quantity, size, and mass of the fragments, when compared to articles currently produced in flexible polymers, from petrochemical derivatives, thus mitigating the impacts arising from the projection, in addition to the generation of biodegradable cellulose fiber fragments. The present invention also refers to a method for the production of the non-lethal article, as well as its use, the use of a natural polymer, preferably cellulose fiber for the manufacture of a non-lethal article, as well as a kit comprising the non-lethal article. Preferably, the non-lethal item is a grenade.