Ammunition and explosives – Projectiles – Nonlethal or deterrent
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-28
2001-04-10
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Ammunition and explosives
Projectiles
Nonlethal or deterrent
C102S512000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213024
ABSTRACT:
RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to military and law enforcement high-power air (gas) pressure waves, vortex-ring gas pressure waves, gas pressure wave generators, and propagation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Non-lethal (NL) weapons are being developed for use in controlling and/or isolating personnel, incapacitating personnel, seizing personnel, and for crowd control. Air pressure waves affect personnel through propagation in the air, resonant coupling onto body organs, and blunt impulses. Also, chemical (both lethal and NL) agents and markers may be precision-delivered to personnel using air pressure waves such as a vortex-ring by trapping the chemical agents and markers in the wave packet and dispensing them in the direct vicinity of the targeted personnel by direct impact with the target. Target effects may vary from a noticeable response, an uncomfortable response, incapacitation, injury, and death.
Many varieties of NL weapons are being considered, designed, and built for antipersonnel applications. These weapons have characteristics aimed at accomplishing a certain function. For example, a vortex-ring generator is suited for delivering air impulses over a large area of the body, and chemical agents, and markers onto targeted personnel with precision and accuracy. On the other hand, a sponge grenade or a bean bag is suited for delivering a blunt impact over a small area of the body with precision and accuracy at ranges out to 50-m. The choice of the NL technology used is scenario and objective dependent. Of extreme importance is the range from source to target. Air pressure wave generators (APWGS) will be most effectively used at source to target ranges less than about 100-m due to a number of reasons. Several of these reasons are size and weight constraints for the APWG, chemical agent and marker spillage during propagation, and atmospheric attenuation and dispersion due to wind, rain, snow, and etc. Crosswind dispersal and wind gust shattering can cause spillage and the air pressure wave (APW) and its chemical agents and markers to miss the target. The atmospheric considerations are extremely important in APW propagation; therefore, it is highly desirable to place the APWG as close to the target as possible and feasible in order to minimize energy loss and chemical spillage. This can be accomplished by flying the APWG on air platforms i.e., airplanes, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or by transporting the APWG around on platforms trucks, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and robotic platforms. Another technique is to use a chemical explosion to generate and place APWGs in the vicinity of the target. This technique is inexpensive and does not require an air, ground, or sea platform to transport the APWG.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved means of placing a high-power APWG in the vicinity of targets in a highly effective manner by using a compact projectile which contains an expendable APWG, chemical agents, and markers. The primary function of the projectile is to produce NL effects on personnel at ranges commensurate with the weapon platform capability. For example the MK19-3 and STRIKER 40-mm grenade launchers can fire a grenade out to a maximum of about a 2-km range. The Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) can fire a 20-mm projectile cut to a range of about 1-km. Objective Crew-Served Combat Weapon (OCCW) can fire a 25 mm projectile out to a range of about 2-km.
It is another object of the invention to minimize energy loss and chemical agent and marker spillage as the APW propagates to the target, by placing the APWG in close proximity to the target, thereby, greatly reducing the distance from generator to target.
It is another object of the invention to improve the target accuracy of the APW impulse and its corresponding chemical agents and markers by placing the APWG in close proximity to the target, thereby, greatly reducing the distance from generator to target.
It is a further object of the invention to extend the target effects range capability of the APWG by generating the APW in the vicinity of the target, thereby eliminating a bulky weapon platform which would be required if the APWG were at large distances from the target.
It is a further object of the invention to give tunable target effects by predetermining the distance of the APWG to the target via a “smart” projectile that uses a computer, rangefinder, and timing fuze means. Target effects may vary from a noticeable response, to an uncomfortable response, to incapacitation, to injury, and finally to death.
The foregoing and other objects are achieved by a projectile that is delivered at a predetermined distance to the target by rangefinder, computer, and conventional propellant means, or other more advanced launching means such as all electric power, thermal power, or hybrids thereof. An additional propellant and fuze means are used to activate an APWG, which generates an APW in the vicinity of the target and at a predetermined distance from the target. The projectile, also has means for containing chemical agents and markers that are delivered to the target by the APW trapping the chemical agents and markers in the core or central section of the APW packet.
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patent: 4359943 (1982-11-01), Majerus
patent: 4485742 (1984-12-01), Mamo
patent: 4961382 (1990-10-01), Bai et al.
patent: 5363766 (1994-11-01), Brandon et al.
Gher Thomas J.
Jasper Louis E
Jasper, Jr. Louis J.
Lucey, Jr. George K.
Bergin James S.
Clohan Paul
Poon Peter M.
United States of America
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