Modular Target Range Shelter with Ballistic Composite Panels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing range shelters for live ammunition target practice are either easily damaged, pose fire hazards, and have environmental impacts due to their materials and temporary nature, with a need for a lightweight, modular, and environmentally friendly solution that minimizes damage from projectiles and allows for easy setup and disposal.
Innovation Solution
A portable modular shelter composed of galvanized aluminum or steel outer layers and high-density polyurethane foam inner layers, which allows ballistic projectiles to pass through with minimal damage and reseals automatically, using cam-lock connections for easy assembly and replacement, and is designed to be environmentally friendly with minimal footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If wood panels are used for range shelters, then the shelters are lightweight and replaceable, but they are easily damaged by live ammunition, pose fire hazards, and cause bullet scatter and ricochet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite panel construction combining aluminum outer layers with polyurethane foam core. This composite structure provides both light weight and high damage resistance, allowing bullets to pass through cleanly without the panels being easily damaged or posing fire hazards.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters from organic wood to inorganic aluminum and polyurethane foam. This parameter change eliminates fire hazards while maintaining light weight and improving ballistic performance by allowing clean projectile passage without scatter or ricochet.
2Reliability
If bullet containment panels are used, then bullets are stopped, but the shelters cannot be entered by shooters during target practice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material properties to different needs: the aluminum-polyurethane composite provides local quality of controlled projectile passage (not complete containment), enabling both shooter access and target practice functionality simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If ionomeric material targets are used, then projectiles can pass through, but the material is not environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ionomeric material with aluminum and polyurethane foam, changing the material parameters to environmentally friendly alternatives that still allow projectile penetration while being safe for disposal in the environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable panels made from environmentally friendly materials that can be easily replaced after use, minimizing environmental impact through proper material selection rather than complex recycling requirements.
4Ease of operation
If traditional range shelters are erected, then target practice can be conducted, but they leave environmental footprint and require cleanup
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable panels made from environmentally friendly materials (aluminum and polyurethane foam) that can be easily replaced after use. These materials do not leave harmful environmental footprints and require minimal cleanup compared to traditional wood or ionomeric materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameters from environmentally harmful materials to eco-friendly aluminum and polyurethane foam, enabling target practice capability while eliminating environmental footprint and cleanup requirements.
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 provides a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly target range shelter that reduces projectile scatter and damage, allowing for efficient setup and disposal, while maintaining structural integrity and safety during live ammunition exercises.
Implementation Method 1
The panels are comprised of one or more materials that allow a ballistic projectile to pass through the plurality of panels. The materials reseal and automatically fill up a ballistic hole after the ballistic projectile has passed through the panels
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a portable and modular shelter that are assembled and erected to serve as a background or expendable facade for range targets used in live ammunition target practice and combat exercises. The panels of the modular and portable shelter are ballistically designed to let rounds of ammunition pass through with as little damage to the panels as possible. Additionally, the panels do not cause the ballistic projectiles passing through to scatter, splashback, or ricochet. The modular and portable shelters have no lasting environmental impact if erected temporarily.