High Voltage Discharge System for Neutralizing Explosive Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for dealing with explosive devices like IEDs and land mines are inadequate, as they often require specific frequency jamming that can interfere with other communications and may not effectively disable or detect all types of explosive devices, especially those with tertiary explosives that require an intermediate booster for detonation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a high voltage electric discharge capable of penetrating the earth and traveling along its surface to reach conductors, employing a Marx generator and power supply to produce a high voltage electric discharge that can disable or detonate explosive devices, using a robotic vehicle equipped with flexible emitters and non-conductive supports to scan and interact with the terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specific frequency jamming is used to disable explosive devices, then communication with remote detonators is interrupted, but other communications may be interfered with and not all types of explosive devices are effectively disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electromagnetic jamming with a mechanical/electrical discharge system that physically contacts or comes into close proximity with the ground to deliver high voltage pulses. This substitution allows direct electrical interaction with conductive paths in explosive devices without relying on frequency-based electromagnetic interference, thereby avoiding interference with other communications while maintaining effectiveness against various explosive device types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters from low-power continuous electromagnetic jamming to high-voltage pulsed electrical discharge. By delivering intense electrical energy in controlled pulses through ground contact, the system can reliably disable diverse explosive devices including those with tertiary explosives, while the localized nature of the discharge prevents broad-spectrum communication interference.
2Reliability
If high voltage electric discharge is used to penetrate earth and reach conductors, then explosive devices can be reliably disabled or detonated, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the ground/earth as an intermediary medium between the power source and the explosive devices. By making contact with or coming into close proximity with the ground, the system uses the earth as a conductive path to deliver high voltage pulses to hidden or buried explosive devices. This intermediary approach simplifies the system architecture compared to direct targeting methods while maintaining high reliability in disabling or detonating various explosive threats.
3Device complexity
If conventional methods are used to deal with explosive devices, then the process is simpler, but they cannot effectively address tertiary explosives or all types of explosive threats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal system capable of disabling or detonating all types of explosive devices including primary, secondary, and tertiary explosives through a single high voltage discharge mechanism. The system's ability to deliver intense electrical energy through ground contact makes it adaptable to various explosive configurations and initiation methods, providing multi-functional capability that surpasses conventional single-purpose approaches while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 system effectively disables or detonates explosive devices by generating a high voltage electric discharge that can penetrate insulation and reach conductive parts, overcoming the limitations of existing jamming methods and addressing the challenge of tertiary explosives, providing a reliable means to neutralize a wide range of explosive threats.
Implementation Method 1
A system and method for providing a mobile means to produce a high voltage electric discharge capable of disabling or destroying electric devices
Implementation Method 2
High voltage can penetrate into the earth and/or travel along the surface of the earth to reach a conductor
Implementation Method 3
Initiation systems commonly utilize an electric charge to generate heat through resistance to heat the primary explosive sufficiently to initiate detonation
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an apparatus for neutralizing explosive devices that includes an electrical power supply that provides an electrical potential sufficient to neutralize an explosive device, a cathode emitter and an anode emitter, and a vehicle that moves the cathode and anode emitters along the earth in close proximity to the earth, wherein the cathode and anode emitters are arranged parallel and spaced apart from each other. A method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.