Device for the disruption of explosive objects

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for the disruption of explosive ordnance.

[0002] Bombs, mines and explosives employed by terrorists and criminals are most commonly improvised explosive devices (IEDs) rather than the conventional munitions (CMs) manufactured for military use. They differ from such military devices in that, with the exception of such small devices as may be made from steel pipe and end-caps, they are most commonly made using containers which are relatively less robust and are manufactured for other everyday purposes. Such containers may for example include paper and plastic bags, briefcases, dustbins and beer kegs. Particular problems are encountered when such IEDs are very large and their construction cannot be ascertained. An example is a large vehicle which is laden with explosive material and which may be provided with more than one means of initiation.

[0003] The walls of such containers are much more easily penetrated than are those of conventional munitions, and a commonly employed method of rendering them safe consists of projecting a mass of water at them. The intention of the method is the penetration of the container and the tearing of it apart, or the pressurising of it to the extent that it bursts, thereby separating the components so quickly that the initiation system does not have time to function.

[0004] The most common means of thus disrupting IEDs is a heavy steel gun barrel which employs a blank cartridge to discharge a mass of water. This has sufficient velocity to penetrate the wall of many IEDs but is much less likely to cause the explosion or deflagration of their contents than are projectiles of other materials such as metal. The very high thermal capacity of water limits the temperature rise of the projectile material much more than is imparted to metal projectiles.

[0005] Since the increments of water originating from the muzzle end of the gun attain a lower velocity than those increments originating from the breach end and accelerated along the entire length of the barrel, the projectile consists of a slug of water with a velocity gradient along its length with the rearmost components travelling fastest. This inherent instability causes the slug of water, once inside its IED target, to scatter violently sideways and to disrupt the target contents.

[0006] The effectiveness of such a water jet is mitigated by inherent limitations of velocity obtainable by means of such gun barrels as well as by the instability of the projectile. Muzzle velocities can be increased by the use of heavier and faster burning propellant charges, by longer barrels and by choking the barrel, but such increase is subject to the law of diminishing returns.

[0007] A further limitation of disruptors based upon the gun-barrel principle is the recoil generated. This exceeds the holding ability of many remote-controlled vehicles used for the deployment of such disruptors. If such a disruptor is fired with inadequate restraint, the gun then constitutes a potentially dangerous projectile capable of inflicting greater damage than many small or badly constructed IEDs.

[0008] One of my earlier inventions, described in British Patent Specification GB2292445 A, consists of a disruptor which combines the advantages of high explosive as a propellant with water as a projectile. Unlike conventional deflagrating propellants, high explosive does not need a heavy container to generate extremely high propulsive pressures and it imparts directionality to the aqueous projectile by a different mechanism. According to this invention, the device is in the form of a shaped charge and water, or some other liquid or liquescent substance, is used to line or to fill the cavity. Like conventional metal-lined shaped charges, this device may be used in radially symmetrical forms or in linear forms.

[0009] In its radially symmetrical form in particular, the velocity of the jet of water enabled it to penetrate the steel or iron body of a mortar bomb and, by suddenly increasing the pressure of the contents, to eject the fuse and booster without explosive reaction.

[0010] In its linear embodiment, an elongate explosive charge is provided with a cavity which is filled with water.

[0011] Since such charges are most conveniently designed using light plastics containers, the assembly disintegrates upon firing and no effective recoil is applied to the means of support. They may therefore be deployed by the smallest of remote-controlled vehicles.

[0012] Yet another invention generates a powerful linear jet of water by the simultaneous initiation of two elongate and parallel charges of high explosive each of which is placed along the long axis of a cylindrical container of water. Each charge increment generates a rapidly expanding cylinder of water and, as these two expanding masses collide, a flat elongate jet of water is generated and projected towards the target. A disadvantage of this apparatus is that a similar and equally energetic jet of water is projected in the rearward direction. Since disruptors of this type were intended for the disruption of large vehicle bombs, they are necessarily very large and cumbrous and use tens of kilogrammes of high explosive. One means of deployment of such a large disrupt is a remote-controlled vehicle of great expense which is destroyed as the disrupt furctions. Further expense may be caused by the rearwardly directed jet and the shock wave produced by the device. This expense is perceived as especially regrettable if the target is subsequently recognised as having not been a functional IED in the first place.

[0013] In the case of each of the above inventions, a disrupter of a given size will, at a given distance from a target, strike a given area of that target. Since it may be considered necessary or desirable for the effective disruption of that target to strike a larger area of that target, it is necessary in each case either to use a multiplicity of disruptors, all initiated simultaneously, or to use a larger disrupt. The use of a multiplicity of disruptors increases the amount of explosive and the overall charge weight in proportion to the area of the target attacked but it complicates deployment and the means of initiation. Simple increase in the size of a single disrupter in order to strike a larger surface area maintains the simplicity of the arrangement but increases disproportionately the amount of explosive and the overall weight of the charge, and increases the penetrating power to an extent that may be undesirable. Doubling the width of the target which is directly attacked, for example, also doubles the height of the target which is attacked and increases the weight both of the explosive and overall weight eight-fold.

[0014] GB2304177 A describes a device for generating a liquid jet comprising a former for supporting an explosive charge and two flexible, liquid-filled bags located within a container.

[0015] The present invention provides a device for generating a liquid jet, the device comprising two enclosures for receiving filler material and explosive charge between them, characterised in that said enclosures are capable of imparting a necessary shape to an explosive charge.

[0016] The present invention may include the features of any one or more of Claims 2 to 11.

[0017] The present invention also provides a plurality of devices according to claims 12 to 14.

[0018] Additionally or alternatively, a number of the devices of the present invention can be placed together in a modular form to provide a large-area, uniform explosive charge.

[0019] In either form, such a charge can be light-weight and can be assembled quickly and easily.

[0020] An object of the present invention is to provide a practicable and convenient means of perforating the case of a large improvised explosive device, such as an explosive laden road vehicle, using high explosive as the propellant and water as the projected material; another object of the invention is to disrupt and disperse the contents of the target munition so rapidly that its initiation system is unable to function.

[0021] A particular application of the invention is the rendering safe of an IED consisting of a large vehicle laden with explosive or containing one or more bombs. It is unlikely that the extent of the explosive fill and the position and nature of the initiation system will be known at the time that the device is recognised as a bomb, or that a decision is taken to treat it as such.

[0022] Though it may be assumed that certain parts of the vehicle are more likely to contain explosive than others, it is unlikely that the precise position of the initiation system can be ascertained with certainty even if preliminary entry is made by manual or remote means for the purpose of inspection. The presumption must be made that the perceived initiation system may, in fact, not be the real initiation system or that it is duplicated elsewhere. It may therefore be decided that the safest way to proceed in the disruption of the target is to attack that part of the vehicle which is perceived or suspected of containing an IED or explosive material over sufficient area and with sufficient violence to blow it out of the vehicle and disperse it before the initiation system has time to initiate it or, at least, a significant part of it.

[0023] In one form of the invention, there may be provided charge cases pre-filled with water (perhaps containing anti-freeze such as ethylene glycol or calcium chloride). Thus, the fragility of plastic bladders is eliminated and requires only the positioning of a sheet of plastic explosive inside the cavity of the tamping component, inserting a means of initiation, placing the projectile component in place, and fixing the sandwich together.

[0024] In one form, the present invention is applicable to disruptors used for large targets, typically bombs in vehicles. However, the present invention is also applicable to disruptors which are used for smaller targets, for example briefcases, wooden boxes and plastics cases.

[0025] An end-cap which does not form part of the present invention is also provided for use with a device according to the present invention.

[0026] In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description will be given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view from below of an embodiment of disruptor.

Figure 2 is a side view of the disruptor of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the longitudinal midline vertical section of the disruptor of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the rear component of the disruptor of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a transverse section along lines A-A' of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a view of the inside of a conjoined pair of end-caps.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal midline vertical section of an end-cap.

Figure 8 is an outside view of an end-cap.

Figure 9 is a view of a turret-like insert.

Figure 10 is an end view of an array of three conjoined end-Caps.

Figure 11 is an end view of three end-caps in a convergent arrangement.

[0027] Figures 1 to 11 show features of another form of disrupter 40 which consists of two major components, one being a water-filled enclosure 41 placed within the concavity in the explosive charge 42 and the other a water-filled enclosure 43 placed on the convex side of the explosive.

[0028] By providing enclosure 43 with a recessed area 44 extending for most of its length, a space is created to receive the explosive charge 42. The volume of this space is a function of the distance between enclosure 41 and enclosure 43 which is determined by the height of ridges 45 at each end of component 43 upon which the ends of enclosure 31 rest.

[0029] It is necessary for enclosures 41 and 43 to be held closely together after the explosive charge 42 has been placed between them. This is done by endcaps 46 into which the ends of both enclosures 41 and 43 may be fitted so that the peripheral walls 47 of the end-caps 46 constrain them. The endcaps 46 may be prevented from falling off the ends of enclosures 41 and 43 by providing them with one or more small projections 48 which fit into corresponding peripheral grooves 49 in the outer surfaces of enclosures 41 or 43 or both. '

[0030] Since it is advantageous on occasion to fire a close array of charges simultaneously, these may conveniently be held in suitable juxtaposition by forming a multiplicity of end-cap sections in a linear array (see Figures 6, 10 and 11). Individual end-cap sections comprising such an array may be mutually attached by means of a pair of interlocking ridges 50 on each side.

[0031] Thus the two major elements of disrupt 40 (namely enclosures 41 and 43) are supported, preferably but not necessarily in close proximity, with an explosive charge 42 trapped between them.

[0032] The disruptor 40 may comprise a single unit with two enclosures 41 and 43 having a charge between them. Alternatively, the disrupter 40 may be a linear array of parallel closely-spaced charges, all pointing in the same general direction. Additionally, disruptor 40 may be formed of two or more units arranged end-to-end in order to increase the overall length of the assembly.

[0033] The casing 41 of the assembled disrupt 40, which consists of the enclosures 41 and 43 with the explosive 42 between them, may conveniently be generally rectangular. Since, however, the water most adjacent to the longitudinal corners of casing 41 defining such a rectangle and most distal from the explosive charge 42 contributes little to the tamping effect on the explosive charge for which it is intended, these corners may advantageously be ablated. In this way, the total weight of the assembly may be reduced without diminishing significantly its performance. In order better to support casing 41, the end-caps may be provided with a correspondingly shaped internal wall 52 although retention of the generally rectangular peripheral wall of the end-caps facilitates the provision of a strong means of interattachment, such as the interlocking members 50.

[0034] A suitable method of producing the water-filled enclosures 41 and 43 is blow-forming. Though it is possible to form vessels with thick walls by this method, a greater volume of water and explosive can be contained within a given outer envelope by forming relatively thin walls. In order to reduce the tendency of liquid-filled, thin-walled vessels to undergo deformation as a result of internal hydraulic pressure, the peripheral grooves 49 may advantageously extend round the outward facing sides of casing 41 in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the charge.

[0035] The inner surface enclosure 43 can be depressed so as to provide space for the explosive 42. Space for the explosive could alternatively be obtain by the provision of a raised area of the other water-containing enclosure 41.

[0036] Further depressions 55 can be provided in either water-filled components to accommodate such other pieces of priming explosive as may ensure reliable initiation of the main charge 42 by a primary means of initiation such as a detonator.

[0037] It is desirable that explosive charges incorporate a strong means of attachment of the means of initiation, which include an electric detonator, a shock-tube detonator, a detonating cord booster or detonating cord, to the assembly. This is in order to prevent accidental separation or, in the case of electric detonators, accidental violent pulling of the electric wires through the end plug. Thus, the end-caps 46 may be provided with one or more projections 57 in the form of a hoop or hook to which detonating cord or detonator leads may be secured.

[0038] Thus disruptor 40 is based around a structure having two or more end-cap portions in line, with adjacent end-cap portions having an intervening web portion. In this way, there may be provided strips of end-caps (e. g. each strip having six end-caps in line with intervening web portions) which can be separated into single end-caps, pairs or whatever by cutting through web portions as appropriate. The end-caps are used to hold together all the other elements of the structure in a disrupter, namely the former, the box parts, the top and the explosives.

[0039] The strip of end-caps constitute a line of end-caps with intervening webs; the end-caps may be of shapes other than square or rectangular e. g. triangular (whether in identical orientations or in alternating opposite orientations), or hexagonal. The end-caps may be in two-dimensional blocks rather in one-dimensional lines, e. g. to provide a curved arrangement after selective cutting out of some end caps.

[0040] The intervening web between adjacent end-cap portions may be rigid and/or solid. Alternatively, the web may be flexible and/or expandable.

[0041] In one embodiment, the disrupt comprises units in a parallel array in a concave or a convex plane in order to concentrate, or focus the disruptive forces or, conversely, to generate a divergent mass of projectile material.

[0042] The end-caps may employ flexible means of attachment. Interconnection, for example, by blocks of flexible plastic or rubber foam enable an array to be flexed into a curved (convex or concave) configuration. When the material is stiff but crushable (as with paper or thin plastic honeycomb), then the hinge is made deformable but inelastic, thus facilitating rapid adjustment. The end-cap may have an expandable web.

[0043] Figure 7 shows an alternative means of providing an adjustable means of interconnection between end-caps in order to allow variable convergence or divergence of adjacent components of an array. A circular and rotatable turret-like insert 60 is passed through a hole 61 in the end-cap 46 and is constrained in that position by an integral external lip 62. The ability of insert 60 to rotate after insertion in the end-cap 46 may be prevented by the teeth 63 on the periphery of the lip 62 which engage in any of a multiplicity of possible positions in the teeth 63 surrounding the hole 61 on the inside of the end-cap 46. The insert 60 has a transverse hole 61 which may conveniently be rectangular. Insertion of a rigid rectangular sectioned lath 64 through the holes 61 in an array of interlocked end-caps 46 stiffens the assembly and provides a means of grasping and manipulating the array by remote means.

[0044] By rotating the inserts 60 in the end-caps 46 of two or more casings 41, an array 70 may be assembled by passing a pair of laths 64 through the holes 61 in the inserts 60 in which the individual charges project the matter contained within enclosures 41 in a convergent or a divergent manner, thereby to suitably direct or spread the effect of the disrupter as appropriate.

Claims

1. A device (40) for generating a liquid jet, the device (40) comprising two enclosures (41, 43) for receiving filler material and an explosive charge (42) between them, characterised in that said enclosures are capable of imparting a necessary shape to an explosive charge (42).

2. A device (40) according to claim 1, wherein the explosive charge (42) is trapped between the enclosures (41, 43).

3. A device (40) according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which one of the enclosures (43) comprises a recessed area (44) for receiving the explosive charge (42).

4. A device (40) as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the device (40) further comprises end caps (46) for holding the enclosures (41, 43) together.

5. A device (40) according to claim 4, in which the end-caps (46) comprise means to interlock with other end-caps.

6. A device (40) according to any preceding claim, in which the casing consisting of the two enclosures (41, 43) with the explosive (42) between them is generally rectangular.

7. A device (4) according to Claim 6 in which the longitudinal corners of the casing most distal from the charge (42) are ablated.

8. A device (40) according to any preceding claim, in which the enclosure (41, 42) are charge cases pre-filled with water.

9. A device (40) according to any preceding claim wherein the filler material comprises a liquid, a gel or a non-metallic solid that liquefies upon detonation of the device (40).

10. A device (40) according to any preceding claim, wherein the filler material comprises water.

11. A device (40) according to any preceding claim, wherein the filler material is a decontaminant.

12. A plurality of device (40) according to any preceding claim assembled to form an array.

13. A plurality of devices (40) according to claim 12, wherein the array lies in a flat plane.

14. A plurality of device (40) according to claim 12, wherein the array lies in a curved plane.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung (40) zum Erzeugen eines Flüssigkeitsstrahls, wobei die Vorrichtung zwei Umhüllungen (41, 43) für die Aufnahme von Füllmaterial und zwischen diesen eine Sprengladung (42) aufweist,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass die Umhüllungen geeignet sind, einer Sprengladung (42) eine erforderliche Form zu geben.

2. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 1,
wobei die Sprengladung (42) zwischen den Umhüllungen (41, 43) eingeschlossen ist.

3. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
wobei eine der Umhüllungen (43) einen ausgenommenen Bereich (44) zur Aufnahme der Sprengladung (42) umfasst.

4. Vorrichtung (40) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
wobei die Vorrichtung ferner Endkappen (46) zum zusammenhalten der Umhüllungen (41, 43) umfasst.

5. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 4,
wobei die Endkappen (46) Mittel zum Verriegeln mit anderen Endkappen umfassen.

6. Vorrichtung (40) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
wobei das Gehäuse, bestehend aus den zwei Umhüllungen (41, 43) mit der zwischen diesen liegenden Sprengladung (42), generell rechteckförmig ist.

7. Vorrichtung (40) nach Anspruch 6,
wobei die am weitesten von der Ladung (42) entfernten Längskanten des Gehäuses abgetragen sind.

8. Vorrichtung (40) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
wobei die Umhüllungen (41, 43) mit Wasser vorgefüllte Ladungsbehältnisse sind.

9. Vorrichtung (40) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
wobei das Füllmaterial eine Flüssigkeit, ein Gel oder einen nichtmetallischen Feststoff aufweist, der auf eine Detonation der Vorrichtung (40) hin flüssig wird.

10. Vorrichtung (40) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
wobei das Füllmaterial Wasser umfasst.

11. Vorrichtung (40) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
wobei das Füllmaterial ein Dekontaminierungsmittel ist.

12. Eine Mehrzahl von Vorrichtungen (40) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
zusammengebaut zur Bildung einer Anordnungsreihe bzw. eines Feldes.

13. Eine Mehrzahl von Vorrichtungen (40) nach Anspruch 12,
wobei die Anordnungsreihe bzw. das Feld in einer flachen Ebene liegt.

14. Eine Mehrzahl von Vorrichtungen (40) nach Anspruch 12,
wobei die Anordnungsreihe bzw. das Feld in einer gekrümmten Ebene liegt.

Revendications

1. Dispositif (40) destiné à générer un jet de liquide, le dispositif comprenant deux enceintes (41, 43) destinées à recevoir un matériau d'agent de charge, et une charge explosive (42) entre elles, caractérisé en ce que lesdits enceintes sont en mesure de transmettre une forme nécessaire à une charge explosive (42).

2. Dispositif (40) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la charge explosive (42) est piégée entre les enceintes (41, 43).

3. Dispositif (40) selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel l'une des enceintes (43) comprend une zone évidée (44) destinée à recevoir la charge explosive (42).

4. Dispositif (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, où le dispositif (40) comprend en outre des capuchons d'extrémités (46) destinés à maintenir les enceintes (41, 43) ensemble.

5. Dispositif (40) selon la revendication 4, dans lequel les bouchons d'extrémités (46) comprennent un moyen pour les interverrouiller avec d'autres bouchons d'extrémités.

6. Dispositif (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le boîtier constitué des deux enceintes (41, 43) avec la charge explosive (42) entre elles est généralement rectangulaire.

7. Dispositif (40) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les coins longitudinaux du boîtier les plus distaux de la charge (42) sont rognés.

8. Dispositif (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les enceintes (41, 42) sont des boîtiers de charge pré-remplis d'eau.

9. Dispositif (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le matériau d'agent de charge comprend un liquide, un gel ou un solide non métallique qui se liquéfie lors d'une détonation du dispositif (40).

10. Dispositif (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le matériau d'agent de charge comprend de l'eau.

11. Dispositif (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le matériau d'agent de charge est un décontaminant.

12. Pluralité de dispositifs (40) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes assemblés pour former un réseau.

13. Pluralité de dispositifs (40) selon la revendication 12, dans laquelle le réseau se trouve dans un plan plat.

14. Pluralité de dispositifs (40) selon la revendication 12, dans lesquels le réseau se situe dans un plan incurvé.

Drawing