Stand-off Breaching Round with Inverted Detonation Wave

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current stand-off breaching devices are inefficient due to the wastage of explosive energy and fragmentation issues, as they require direct access to the barrier and use cylindrical explosive charges that generate radial overpressures, leading to increased mass and risk of harm to the user.

Innovation Solution

A stand-off breaching round with a conically formed explosive main charge, where the detonation occurs at the rear-end, allowing the detonation wave to propagate towards the barrier-end, reducing wasted energy and fragmentation, and incorporating a proximity sensor for remote detonation at a preselected distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a cylindrical explosive main charge is used in stand-off breaching rounds, then the device can be fired from standard guns or rifles, but the detonation wave propagates away from the barrier resulting in inefficient energy use and requiring relatively high mass explosive charges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompatibility with standard firearmsVSAvoidexplosive energy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional detonation approach by positioning the detonator at the rear end of the cylindrical explosive main charge rather than at the barrier end. This inversion causes the detonation wave to propagate from the rear end through the explosive material towards the barrier, ensuring that the majority of explosive energy is directed usefully at the barrier rather than being wasted in the opposite direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If the detonator is positioned at the barrier end of the explosive main charge, then direct impact detonation can be achieved, but the detonation wave propagates away from the barrier causing significant energy waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreaching speedVSAvoidexplosive energy directionality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional detonation approach by positioning the detonator at the rear end of the cylindrical explosive main charge rather than at the barrier end. This inversion causes the detonation wave to propagate from the rear end through the explosive material towards the barrier, ensuring that the majority of explosive energy is directed usefully at the barrier rather than being wasted in the opposite direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Force

If cylindrical explosive main charges are used, then radial overpressures are generated that exceed axial overpressure, but this results in barrier fragmentation and increased risk of harm to the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverpressure magnitudeVSAvoidbarrier fragmentation
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional detonation approach by positioning the detonator at the rear end of the cylindrical explosive main charge rather than at the barrier end. This inversion causes the majority of the explosive energy to be directed axially towards the barrier, minimizing radial overpressures and thereby reducing barrier fragmentation and the associated hazards to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enhances the axial directionality of the explosive energy by introducing a conically formed explosive main charge with a larger diameter at the barrier end and a smaller diameter at the rear end. This geometric modification concentrates the detonation energy more effectively in the axial direction towards the barrier, further reducing radial overpressures and fragmentation while maintaining breaching effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design achieves a more efficient breaching effect with reduced mass and fragmentation, allowing for safer and more effective barrier penetration from a stand-off distance.

Implementation Method 1

the detonator is configured to detonate the explosive main charge at the rear-end, such that the detonation wave propagates from the rear-end towards the barrier-end

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectExplosion: Explosion

Implementation Method 2

The detonation of the explosive main charge generates an axial overpressure that acts upon the barrier in an attempt to force the barrier open

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShock wave: Shock Wave

Data Source

PatentEP3682188B1Stand-off breaching round
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 THE SEC OF STATE FOR DEFENCE IN HER BRITANNIC MAJESTYS GOVERNMENT OF THE UK OF GREAT BRITAIN & NORTHERN IRELAND

AI summary

A stand-off breaching device (20) for breaching a barrier, comprising a housing (21), an explosive main charge (24) having a barrier-end (25) and a rear-end (26), a detonator (29), and means for initiating the detonator (27) when the explosive main charge (24) is at a preselected distance from a barrier. The detonator (29) is configured to detonate explosive main charge (24) at the rear-end (26) such that the resultant detonation wave propagates through the explosive main charge (24) towards the barrier-end (25) and the barrier being breached. This configuration provides more efficient transfer of explosively generated overpressure towards a barrier, thereby enabling the use of explosive main charges (24) with reduced mass, and the associated improvements in operator safety. The breaching device (20) is particularly suited to use in door breaching operations.