Inflatable Gas Bladder Shock Wave Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mitigating shock waves from explosions, such as solid barriers, mechanical venting, chemical agents, aqueous foams, and solid foams, are either too heavy, bulky, toxic, or impractical for widespread use, especially in battlefield conditions and personal protection scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a gas with specific acoustic impedance less than air to fill a contained environment or uses a convex gas lens to deflect shock waves, utilizing ultraviolet and infrared detectors for explosion detection and inflatable bladders filled with low impedance gases like helium or argon to reduce overpressure and dissipate shock wave energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If solid barriers are used to deflect and attenuate shock waves, then protection from shock effects is improved, but the structures become massive, immobile, expensive and time-consuming to erect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the protective material from solid to gas, specifically using helium or other low-density gases filled in inflatable bladders. This parameter change dramatically reduces weight while maintaining protective function through acoustic impedance mismatch with the shock wave
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pneumatic principles by using gas-filled inflatable bladders instead of solid structures. The gas pressure and density properties are utilized to create an effective shock wave barrier that is lightweight and deployable, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and structural mass
2Object-affected harmful factors
If blast mats are used for shock wave mitigation, then protection is provided, but they are heavy and bulky requiring large storage space and not easily moved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the protective system from a static, bulky solid structure to a dynamic, inflatable gas-filled system. The bladders can be compressed to minimal volume for storage and then inflated rapidly when needed, providing shock wave mitigation without permanent bulk or weight
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes volume parameter dynamically - the gas-filled bladders occupy minimal space when deflated for storage, then expand to full protective volume when inflated. This parameter change resolves the contradiction between providing adequate protection volume and minimizing storage volume
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mechanical venting is employed to mitigate blast overpressure, then overpressure release is achieved, but it requires facilities to be designed in advance and does not protect from blasts in open environments
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-filled bladder system is self-contained and self-deploying. It requires no pre-designed facility infrastructure, no external power sources, and no complex installation. The system simply inflates and provides protection autonomously in any environment, resolving the complexity and design requirement issues of mechanical venting
4Object-affected harmful factors
If chemical agents are used to suppress shock waves, then combustion process is interrupted, but they have toxic effects on humans at effective concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary substance (inert gas like helium) that physically intervenes between the shock wave and the protected target. This intermediary absorbs and dissipates shock wave energy through acoustic impedance mismatch, providing protection without the toxic chemical effects of combustion-suppressing agents
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
This approach effectively reduces peak overpressure by up to 61% within enclosed spaces and provides significant shock wave attenuation, making it suitable for various applications including vehicle and building protection, and personal body armor, with the added benefit of quick deployment and minimal storage requirements.
Implementation Method 1
releases a gas having specific acoustic impedance less than air into the substantially contained environment... the newly introduced gas reduces a peak overpressure that can occur in as a result of the shock wave
Implementation Method 2
interposes a convex gas lens between an explosion and the target to deflect, diffract, disburse or otherwise direct the shock wave away from the target
Implementation Method 3
detects an explosion external to the contained environment using, for example, ultraviolet and/or infrared detectors
Implementation Method 4
detects an explosion external to the contained environment using, for example, ultraviolet and/or infrared detectors
Implementation Method 5
inflatable bladders filled with low impedance gases like helium or argon to reduce overpressure and dissipate shock wave energy
Data Source
AI summary
The invention in various embodiments is directed to systems and methods for mitigating damage from a shock wave using a gas having a specific impedance less than air.