Reverse velocity jet tamper disrupter enhancer

• US 10,451,378 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Bureau of Investigation (United States Department of Justice)
• Original Assignee: Federal Bureau of Investigation (United States Department of Justice)
• Inventors: Vabnick, Ian B., Sharkey, Thomas A., Santiso, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US15/896,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20190249944A1
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 9/0046 Disruptors, i.e. for neutralising explosive devices
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 9/0075 characterised by special nozzle arrangements, e.g. for a swirling effect or a directional effect
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/062 by high-pressure water jet means

Abstract

Provided herein are fluid jet enhancement adapters for use with a propellant driven disrupter. The adapter may comprise: a first end operably connected to a muzzle end of a propellant driven disrupter barrel and a second end, wherein a longitudinal region extends between the first end and the second end. The longitudinal region has: a longitudinal region inner surface that defines a longitudinal region lumen; a longitudinal region outer surface opposably facing the longitudinal region inner surface, with a longitudinal region wall having a wall thickness that separates the longitudinal region inner surface from the longitudinal region outer surface. The longitudinal region lumen has a first end inner diameter that is substantially equivalent to a muzzle inner diameter. The longitudinal region wall forms a continuous surface that radially isolates the longitudinal region lumen from a surrounding environment.

Claims

1. A fluid jet enhancement adapter for use with a propellant driven disrupter, the adapter comprising:

a first end operably connected to a muzzle end of a propellant driven disrupter barrel by a connector that connects the adapter first end to the propellant driven disrupter barrel muzzle end;

a second end;

a longitudinal region extending between the first end and the second end;

wherein the longitudinal region has;

a longitudinal region inner surface that defines a longitudinal region lumen;

a longitudinal region outer surface opposably facing the longitudinal region inner surface;

a longitudinal region wall having a wall thickness that separates the longitudinal region inner surface from the longitudinal region outer surface;

the longitudinal region lumen having a first end inner diameter that is substantially equivalent to a muzzle inner diameter;

wherein the longitudinal region wall forms a continuous surface that radially isolates the longitudinal region lumen from a surrounding environment; and

wherein the longitudinal region lumen is axially aligned with a disrupter barrel lumen and wherein the adapter longitudinal inner diameter is constant between the first and second ends and equal to the muzzle inner diameter to accommodate expulsion of either liquid projectiles or solid projectiles.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises threads or grooves on an inner or outer surface of the disrupter barrel muzzle end and corresponding grooves or threads in a portion of the adapter outer surface or the inner surface.

3. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a collet.

4. The adapter of claim 3, wherein a proximal-most portion of a connector outer surface comprises threads or grooves and a kerf cut and the collet further comprises a nut having an inner threaded surface configured to rotationally mount to the connector outer surface and decrease a proximal lumen diameter.

5. The adapter of claim 4, wherein the proximal lumen diameter is configured to receive a distal portion of the muzzle end.

6. The adapter of claim 5, having a resting proximal lumen diameter that is greater than the first end inner diameter, wherein the resting proximal lumen diameter is configured to accommodate the distal portion of the muzzle end and tighten with the nut to provide the proximal lumen diameter that is substantially equivalent to the muzzle inner diameter.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to retro-fit a conventional disrupter, thereby improving one or more fluid-jet parameters.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises:

a connector proximal end having a clamp configured to compressively fit over a disrupter barrel distal end; and

a connector distal end having a threaded inner surface configured to rotationally connect to a threaded adapter outer surface.

9. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal region has a length that is between 20% and 200% of a fluid-projectile length.

10. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the first end inner diameter is within 10% of a barrel lumen diameter.

11. The adapter of claim 1, having a longitudinal region length selected to reduce a reverse jet velocity gradient, increase penetration depth, increase stand-off distance, and increase average jet velocity.

12. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the second end is configured to receive a fluid-jet accessory.

13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the second end has a threaded outer surface configured to receive the fluid-jet accessory.

14. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the fluid-jet accessory is a Venturi tip or a suppressor.

15. A fluid jet enhancement adapter for use with a propellant driven disrupter, the adapter comprising:

a first end operably connected to a muzzle end of a propellant driven disrupter barrel;

a second end;

a longitudinal region extending between the first end and the second end;

wherein the longitudinal region has;

a longitudinal region inner surface that defines a longitudinal region lumen;

a longitudinal region outer surface opposably facing the longitudinal region inner surface;

a longitudinal region wall having a wall thickness that separates the longitudinal region inner surface from the longitudinal region outer surface;

the longitudinal region lumen having a first end inner diameter that is substantially equivalent to a muzzle inner diameter;

wherein the longitudinal region wall forms a continuous surface that radially isolates the longitudinal region lumen from a surrounding environment; and

a rammer having a diameter and a user-adjustable length to displace a desired amount of fluid from the disrupter barrel and to seat a fluid sealing plug at a distal end of a fluid projectile in the disrupter barrel.

16. A method of reducing a reverse jet velocity gradient in a fluid projectile ejected from a disrupter, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting a first end of a fluid jet enhancement adapter to a muzzle end of a barrel of the disrupter, wherein the adapter comprises;

a second end;

a longitudinal region extending between the first end and the second end;

wherein the longitudinal region has;

a longitudinal region inner surface that defines a longitudinal region lumen;

a longitudinal region outer surface opposite the longitudinal region inner surface; and

a longitudinal region wall having a wall thickness that separates the longitudinal region inner surface from the longitudinal region outer surface;

the longitudinal region lumen having a first end inner diameter that is substantially equivalent to a muzzle inner diameter; and

wherein the longitudinal region wall forms a continuous surface that radially isolates the longitudinal region lumen from a surrounding environment;

filling at least a portion of the barrel with a fluid projectile;

propelling the fluid projectile out of the barrel, into the longitudinal region lumen and out of the longitudinal region second end in a direction toward a target;

wherein the adapter reduces a projectile fluid velocity gradient in the longitudinal region lumen over the length of the fluid projectile.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of selecting a longitudinal region length based on a fluid projectile length, wherein the longitudinal region length is between 20% and 200% of a fluid-projectile length.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the longitudinal region length is empirically determined for each disrupter system and fluid projectile composition.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the fluid projectile is an encapsulated HEET fluid.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the fluid projectile has a length corresponding to a length of the barrel.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the adapter increases the velocity of a distal end of the fluid projectile under confinement in the longitudinal region lumen and decreases acceleration of a proximal end of the fluid projectile relative to the distal end.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein during use a propelled gas and fluid is confined within the longitudinal region lumen until the propelled gas and fluid exit from the longitudinal region second end.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of exerting a Venturi effect on the fluid projectile in the longitudinal region lumen, thereby increasing average jet velocity and jet length of the fluid projectile exiting the longitudinal region second end.