Composite Blast Mitigation Unit for Rapid Deployment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing containment vessels for explosive devices are heavy, bulky, and impractical for rapid deployment or portability, posing challenges in space-constrained environments like checkpoints and conveyances.

Innovation Solution

Development of lighter, less bulky Threat Mitigation Units (TMUs) using advanced composite materials, designed for one-man portability, with a focus on mitigating blast and fragmentation effects through innovative structural designs and materials like Kevlar and Dyneema, enabling efficient containment and scanning of suspected bombs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional steel containment vessels are used, then blast and fragmentation mitigation capability is ensured, but weight and bulk increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblast and fragmentation mitigation capabilityVSAvoidweight of containment vessel

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials consisting of multiple layers including aramid fibers (Kevlar), polyethylene fibers (Dyneema), and polymer matrices. These composite structures provide equivalent or superior blast and fragmentation mitigation compared to traditional steel vessels while significantly reducing weight and bulk, enabling one-man portability and rapid deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If traditional steel containment vessels are used, then structural strength is maintained, but portability and deployment speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidportability and deployment speed

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The use of high-strength-to-weight ratio composite materials enables the containment vessel to maintain structural strength while becoming lightweight enough for one-man portability. The composite construction allows rapid deployment without sacrificing the structural integrity needed to contain explosive devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If traditional steel containment vessels are used, then containment reliability is ensured, but space consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainment reliabilityVSAvoidspace consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The composite material construction achieves reliable containment of explosive devices with reduced volume. The multi-layer composite structure provides effective blast and fragmentation containment while making the vessel compact enough for placement in confined spaces such as vehicle trunks, cargo holds, or restricted checkpoint areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11307012B2Foldable explosive threat mitigation unit

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SEC OF HOMELAND SECURITY

AI summary

An explosive threat mitigation unit (TMU) stands ready to receive a suspected bomb, enclose it, and contain the explosion if one occurs. An operator protects bystanders and surroundings by putting the suspected bomb in a TMU and then closing the TMU. If the bomb goes off, the TMU mitigates the effects of both the blast and the fragments. One variation has a container, a tube, a cap, and a door. The container includes an opening. The tube, arranged in the container, aligns with the opening. The cap slides through the opening and over the tube. The door slides into place to close the opening and enclose the cap within the container.