Trip Flare With Flash Bang Deterrent
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Solution Overview
Problem
The M49 trip flare, while effective in illuminating an area and providing early warning, may not be sufficient to deter aggressors from attempting to occupy the secured area due to insufficient deterrent effect from illumination alone.
Innovation Solution
A trip flare design incorporating a flash bang component that discharges after the illumination component, featuring a body with a sidewall and hollow interior, a lid with a fuse, and a flexible tether connecting the flash bang charge to the lid, ensuring safe separation and enhanced deterrent effect through additional light and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a conventional trip flare is used to illuminate the area, then the area can be illuminated for investigation, but the deterrent effect on aggressors is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a conventional trip flare illumination component with a flash bang component into a single integrated device. The flash bang charge is positioned within the same body as the illuminant composition, allowing both functions to be delivered simultaneously when the tripwire is triggered. This merging of functions provides both illumination and the deterrent shock effect needed to stop aggressors.
Solution Approach 2:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: an illuminant composition for lighting, a flash bang charge for the deterrent effect, a pyrotechnic fuse for ignition timing, and a flexible tether for safe separation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together as an integrated system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a flash bang component is added to the trip flare, then the deterrent effect is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flash bang charge is nested within the existing trip flare body structure. The pyrotechnic fuse is positioned to ignite the flash bang charge after the illuminant composition burns for a predetermined time. The flexible tether is coiled within the body interior, allowing the flash bang charge to be safely separated when ignited without requiring complex external mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pyrotechnic fuse is pre-positioned and pre-configured to ignite the flash bang charge at the appropriate time after the trip flare is activated. The flexible tether is pre-coiled within the body to ensure safe separation. These preliminary arrangements eliminate the need for complex timing mechanisms or external control systems.
3Device complexity
If the flash bang charge is attached directly to the lid, then the structure is simplified, but safe separation during discharge is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible tether instead of a rigid attachment is used to connect the flash bang charge to the lid. This flexible connection allows the charge to be safely separated when ignited, preventing fragmentation and injury while maintaining structural simplicity. The flexibility of the tether enables safe discharge without complex mechanical separation mechanisms.
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 integration of a flash bang component significantly increases the likelihood of deterring aggressors by providing intense light and noise, complementing the illumination to secure the area more effectively than conventional trip flares.
Implementation Method 1
The interior of the body contains an illuminant composition in communication with the fuse
Implementation Method 2
The primer sets off the intermediate charge, and the intermediate charge ignites the first fire composition on the ignition increment of the flare
Implementation Method 3
a flash bang charge composition in communication with the fuse and attached to the lid by an elongated flexible tether
Implementation Method 4
combustion of the ignition composition ignites the pyrotechnic fuse
Implementation Method 5
combustion of the ignition composition ignites the pyrotechnic fuse
Implementation Method 6
combustion of the ignition composition ignites the illuminant composition
Data Source
AI summary
A trip flare with flash bang has a body having a sidewall and a hollow interior, a lid releasably attached to the body, the lid including a fuse, the interior of the body containing an illuminant composition in communication with the fuse, and a flash bang charge composition in communication with the fuse and attached to the lid by an elongated flexible tether. The tether may be a coil when received within the interior of the body. There may be an ignition composition proximate the illuminant composition such that combustion of the ignition composition ignites the illuminant composition. The flash bang charge composition may have a pyrotechnic fuse proximate the ignition composition such that combustion of the ignition composition ignites the pyrotechnic fuse. There may be a first fire composition proximate the ignition composition such that combustion of the first fire composition ignites the ignition composition.