Statement regarding federally sponsored research or development

• US 20040212151A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The United States Government As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Original Assignee: The United States Government As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Malone, Philip G., Larson, Steven L., Weiss, Charles A. Jr., Peiten, Jeffrey, Tom, Joe G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,354,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/404
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

A backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles includes a support structure having an upper surface and at least one bin region shielded from incoming rounds. A projectile trapping medium, preferably a mixture of a resilient granular ballistic medium and a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel, is disposed on the upper surface and within the bins. Bins are defined by one or more transverse baffles spanning substantially the entire width of the backstop. The baffles are preferably constructed of a non-ricochet producing material. Natural or induced vibrations will urge trapped rounds downwards into the bins. In embodiments, the lower surface of one or more bins declines toward either or both sides of the backstop, such that vibration urges spent rounds towards collection points along the sides of the backstop. Access ports may be provided in the backstop sidewalls proximate these collection points to allow for removal of spent rounds. The volume removed may be filtered to reclaim projectile trapping medium for reuse in the backstop.

Claims

1. A backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles traveling along a line of fire, said backstop comprising:

a support structure having an upper surface and at least one bin; and

a projectile trapping medium disposed on said upper surface and within said at least one bin.

2. The backstop according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bin is defined by at least one transverse baffle extending substantially a full width of said backstop.

3. The backstop according to claim 2, wherein said at least one transverse baffle comprises at least one angled stair-shaped segment.

4. The backstop according to claim 2, wherein said at least one transverse baffle comprises at least one substantially vertical wall disposed within said projectile trapping medium.

5. The backstop according to claim 4, wherein said at least one substantially vertical wall is disposed entirely within said projectile trapping medium.

6. The backstop according to claim 4, wherein said at least one substantially vertical wall is at least two substantially vertical, substantially parallel walls.

7. The backstop according to claim 2, wherein said at least one transverse baffle comprises at least one non-ricochet producing barrier.

8. The backstop according to claim 7, wherein said at least one non-ricochet producing barrier comprises at least one shock absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete barrier.

9. The backstop according to claim 8, wherein said shock-absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete is SACON®

.

10. The backstop according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bin further comprises a base inclined in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the line of fire and oriented to form at least one collection point proximate at least one sidewall of said backstop.

11. The backstop according to claim 10, further comprising at least one port on said at least one sidewall, said at least one port located to facilitate access to said at least one collection point.

12. The backstop according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bin extends a full width of said backstop.

13. The backstop according to claim 1, wherein said projectile trapping medium comprises a resilient granular ballistic medium.

14. The backstop according to claim 13, wherein a depth of said at least one bin, measured along the line of fire, is at least three times greater than a largest dimension of particles comprising said resilient granular ballistic medium.

15. The backstop according to claim 13, wherein said projectile trapping medium further comprises a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel mixed with said ballistic medium.

16. A method of forming and maintaining a backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles traveling along a line of fire, comprising the steps of:

providing a backstop comprising a support structure having an upper surface and at least one bin; and

disposing a projectile trapping medium on the upper surface and within the at least one bin.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of sloping a base of the at least one bin in at least one direction substantially perpendicular to the line of fire to form at least one collection point proximate at least one side of the backstop.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of removing trapped projectiles from the backstop at the at least one collection point.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of vibrating the backstop, thereby urging trapped projectiles towards the at least one collection point.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

filtering projectile trapping media incidentally removed from the backstop during said step of removing trapped projectiles, thereby removing trapped projectiles; and

returning the filtered projectile trapping media to the backstop.