Reusable bomb diffuser

Details Reusable bomb diffuser Reusable bomb diffuser

2003-11-27

2004-11-09

Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3644)

Ammunition and explosive-charge making

Bomb disposal

C089S036070

Reexamination Certificate

active

06813986

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
None.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of explosion neutralizing devices used to safely contain and/or redirect the energy released by exploding bombs and land mines, specifically to a reusable bomb diffusing device having a core structure with all outer surfaces covered by a series of outwardly-extending and progressively upwardly-directed energy-absorbing vanes that are each fixed in position and separated from the next adjacent vane by an angle of approximately 3°, the device also having an outer chamber with solid side walls and a mesh top surface through which the fine debris and rapidly expanding gases from a blast is exhausted. A central bottom opening in the present invention permits placement directly over a bomb. Thus, it is moved to the location of a bomb, eliminating the inherent dangers associated with transport of a bomb to remote location for controlled detonation. Smaller present invention devices can be manually moved through the use of an upper handle, dolly, or other wheeled platform, while larger present invention devices can be adapted for movement via temporary or permanent attachment to a motorized vehicle. After detonation, the air/gases immediately surrounding the exploded device expands within the core structure and is directed to the vanes in vector geometry fashion, which reduce the gases' energy and drive them upwards to exit the outer chamber through openings in its mesh top. After detonation, the present invention device remains substantially in its pre-explosion position and in an undamaged condition ready for subsequent use. Police and military applications are contemplated.
2. Description of the Related Art
The police and military personnel worldwide are repeatedly exposed to a risk of injury due to unexploded bombs and land mines, as are private citizens in certain countries recently affected by war. A variety of methods and devices have been used to either detonate the explosives in a controlled manner, or render them inert to allow for their safe disposal. Such methods and devices include but are not limited to spraying explosives with cryogenic materials to render them temporarily inert and allow for their safe disposal, remote activation systems that permit detonation at a safe distance, pre-detonation devices that initiate controlled burning of an explosive charge to avoid or lessen its detonation impact, microwave energy exploding devices that can be operated at a safe distance, use of small animals such as rats to seek out and destroy active mines or unearth and mark them for later removal, and neutralizing devices that comprise a housing placed over an explosive device with a casing and include at least one explosive charge that penetrates and opens the casing and forces reactive material into the explosive device to neutralize it without detonation. All of these known devices and methods have some disadvantage, such as special handling requirements, great expense, time consuming animal training, and the like. In contrast, the shape and construction of the present invention utilizes physics to redirect explosive forces. Thus, the present invention is typically undamaged by an explosion and repeatedly reusable without interim refurbishment or routine maintenance, the present invention can be used in areas having structures such as trees, buildings, fences, and motorized vehicles nearby without damage to such structures, and it can be moved to the site of a land mine or other explosive device via a motorized vehicle and remotely lowered into place. Further, it can be simply and relatively inexpensively made. There is no bomb diffusing device known with the same features and components as the present invention, nor all of its explosion neutralizing advantages.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES
The primary object of this invention is to provide a reusable bomb diffuser that is able to eliminate the safety hazards posed by non-detonated ordnance such as bombs and land mines, as well as other explosive devices, by detonating them in a controlled environment that is configured to reduce the velocity of the expanding gases and debris generated by the detonation while concurrently redirecting all laterally moving gases and debris for release in a substantially upward direction. It is also an object of this invention to provide a reusable bomb diffuser that can be repeatedly reused without interim refurbishment or maintenance. A further object of this invention is to provide a reusable bomb diffuser that can be used while remaining attached to a motorized vehicle. It is also an object of this invention to provide a reusable bomb diffuser that during detonation does not move substantially from its pre-detonation position. A further object of this invention is to provide a reusable bomb diffuser that is easy to construct and simple to use. It is also an object of this invention to provide a reusable bomb diffuser that is cost efficient to make and use when compared to the costs associated with other ordnance elimination devices.
As described herein, properly manufactured and used, the present invention is a repeatedly reusable explosion neutralizing device that is constructed to completely cover the top and sides of a bomb at the time of ignition, or be placed over the identified site of buried ordinance, such as a land mine. Its size is adapted during manufacture according to the intended explosives or ordnance use. The cumulative design of the vanes outwardly directed from its core structure and separated from one another in 3° increments, cause the lower vanes to be placed in a substantially horizontally-extending position and the upper vanes to be aimed in a substantially vertically-extending position. Such positioning allows for nearly all of the outwardly expanding debris and gases from detonation to be driven upwards and reduced in energy by the vanes, with the walls of the outer chamber redirecting the gases and fine debris ii hitting it toward the mesh openings in the outer chamber's top surface. Bernoulli's Law states that “when a gas is accelerated, its pressure and temperature drop”. Thus, the gases within the core structure of the present invention are forced outward beyond the vanes and upward at a reduced velocity, as well as against the solid side walls of the outer chamber at a reduced velocity. After total expansion, the radiant gases exiting the core structure between the vanes will cause an implosive reaction within the core structure as the incoming gases equalize pressures therein back to atmospheric pressure. Further, since according to Newton's third law “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction”, and since the upwardly directed gases move through the top mesh at a reduced velocity, the outer chamber is held to the ground instead of being vertically lifted during a detonation. The vanes are at least one-eighth of an inch thick, to prevent their collapse during use. Although attachment of the vanes could theoretically be by any means able to withstand the maximum explosive forces anticipated during use, the vanes in the most preferred embodiment of the present invention are welded in place against the core structure. Thus, the present invention safely redirects the expanding gases released by a bomb, land mine, or other ordnance, and during an explosion the outer chamber does not move substantially from its pre-detonation position. Since the vanes deflect expanding gases through the spaces between them, and the solid side walls of the outer chamber are impacted by gases having a reduced velocity, the core structure and outer chamber are not damaged during use and can be reused many times without interim refurbishment or maintenance. The reduced velocity also causes a change in direction for laterally moving larger particulate debris after it passes between the vanes, whereby it tends to accumulate on the bottom surface of the outer chamber between its solid side walls

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Reusable bomb diffuser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Reusable bomb diffuser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Reusable bomb diffuser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3294125