Multidirectional Explosive Disruptor for IED Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing explosive disruptor tools face issues with inconsistent performance, reliability, and fragmentation when attempting to disarm hazardous devices, due to variations in size and shape, and difficulties in reliably detonating the disruptor tool without initiating sensitive secondary explosives.
Innovation Solution
A multidirectional explosive disruptor system utilizing a purpose-built disruptor tube and commercial fittings, filled with explosives, to propel a working liquid at high speed and velocity, ensuring consistent detonation and minimizing fragmentation by using a Nalgene bottle and C4 and C2 sheet explosives, with a design that separates the initiating and primary explosive chambers for controlled energy release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If shotgun style disruptors propel fluids at very high pressure in a relatively small circumference, then disruptive pressure is improved, but the area of disruption is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from unidirectional high-pressure disruption to multidirectional disruption by arranging multiple disruptor tubes in different orientations around a central water reservoir. This allows the water jet to propagate in multiple dimensions simultaneously, expanding the disruption area while maintaining high pressure at each direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The disruptor is divided into multiple separate disruptor tubes, each oriented in a different direction. This segmentation allows the system to cover a wider area by distributing the disruptive force across multiple directions rather than concentrating it in a single direction, thus resolving the contradiction between pressure concentration and area coverage.
2Force
If bowl charge uses high explosives to drive water to disrupt IEDs, then disruptive work is achieved, but performance varies and is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the explosive system by using multiple disruptor tubes with controlled charges rather than a single large bowl charge. Each tube contains a specific amount of explosive material positioned to drive water in a controlled manner, ensuring consistent performance across multiple disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical bowl charge system with a more controlled explosive propulsion system using multiple tubes. This substitution allows for better control over the water jet parameters through precise explosive placement and tube orientation, improving reliability and consistency.
3Reliability
If disruptor tube is packed with primary explosive and topped with initiating explosive, then detonation reliability is improved, but risk of initiating sensitive secondary explosives increases
Solution Approach 1:
The explosive system is segmented into distinct primary and initiating explosive chambers within each disruptor tube. This segmentation allows controlled detonation sequencing where the initiating explosive reliably triggers the primary explosive without excessive blast pressure that could affect nearby sensitive secondary explosives in the target device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different explosive types in specific locations within each tube - initiating explosive at the forward end and primary explosive in the main chamber. This local differentiation optimizes detonation reliability while controlling the blast characteristics to minimize the risk of sympathetic detonation of secondary explosives.
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 propels a volume of water to disrupt hazardous devices without initiating sensitive secondary explosives, providing reliable and controlled energy to disarm or neutralize IEDs with minimal solid material entry, ensuring efficient and safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
The explosive creates the effect of a wall of water, which confines the disruptive energy in a defined shape and directs the material into and through the target
Implementation Method 2
This system utilizes a purpose-built system of components consisting of both commercial off the shelf items and a purpose-built disruptor tube that can be filled with explosives and inserted into a Nalgene style bottle
Data Source
AI summary
A multidirectional explosive disruptor system including a disruptor container cavity; a disruptor tube having an initiating explosive chamber extending from a disruptor tube open end to a disruptor tube shoulder and a primary explosive chamber extending from the disruptor tube shoulder to a disruptor tube bottom wall; a container cap having a aperture formed therethrough; and a strain relief connector having a body portion with external strain relief connector body threads, the body portion being at least partially insertable through the aperture such that at least a portion of the external strain relief connector body threads extend through the aperture, the external strain relief connector body threads formed so as to interact with internal disruptor tube threads to repeatably threadedly attached the strain relief connector to the disruptor tube.