Bullet trapping medium and system

• US 20050093243A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Weiss Jr, Edward J. Fransen, Joe G. Tom, Philip G. Malone, Steven L. Larson
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Weiss Jr, Edward J. Fransen, Joe G. Tom, Philip G. Malone, Steven L. Larson
• Inventors: Weiss,, Charles A. Jr., Malone, Philip G., Larson, Steven L., Fransen, Edward J., Tom, Joe G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,912 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/410
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 13/00 Bullet catchers

Abstract

A backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles generally includes a support structure having an inclined surface and a projectile trapping medium disposed on the inclined surface. The projectile trapping medium may be either a resilient granular ballistic medium or a combination of a ballistic medium with a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel. Preferably, the support structure is made of a shock absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete, such as SACON®. In embodiments, the support structure also includes an enclosure. Additives may also be mixed into the projectile trapping medium to control alkalinity and prevent leaching of heavy metals.

Claims

1. A medium for decelerating and trapping projectiles fired thereinto, said medium comprising:

a granular ballistic medium; and

a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel intimately mixed with said granular ballistic medium.

2. The medium according to claim 1, wherein said granular ballistic medium comprises a resilient granular ballistic medium.

3. The medium according to claim 2, wherein said resilient granular ballistic medium is selected from the group consisting of rubber chunks, wood chips, plastic scrap, and any combination thereof.

4. The medium according to claim 1, wherein said hydrated SAP gel is selected from the group consisting of sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate, sodium acrylamide, potassium acrylamide, sodium carboxylate, potassium carboxylate, and any combination thereof.

5. The medium according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additive mixed with said intimately mixed granular ballistic medium and hydrated SAP gel, said at least one additive being selected from the group consisting of phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, silicates, bicarbonates, and any combination thereof.

6. The medium according to claim 5, wherein said at least one additive reacts with the projectiles to inhibit leaching of heavy metals contained therein.

7. The medium according to claim 5, wherein said at least one additive chemically stabilizes said hydrated SAP gel.

8. The medium according to claim 5, wherein said at least one additive comprises at least one of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and aluminum hydroxide.

9. A medium for decelerating and trapping projectiles fired thereinto, said medium comprising a granular ballistic medium in a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel matrix.

10. The medium according to claim 9, wherein said granular ballistic medium comprises a resilient granular ballistic medium.

11. The medium according to claim 10, wherein said resilient granular ballistic medium is selected from the group consisting of rubber chunks, wood chips, plastic scrap, and any combination thereof.

12. The medium according to claim 9, wherein said hydrated SAP gel is selected from the group consisting of sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate, sodium acrylamide, potassium acrylamide, sodium carboxylate, potassium carboxylate, and any combination thereof.

13. The medium according to claim 9, further comprising at least one additive selected from the group consisting of phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, silicates, bicarbonates, and any combination thereof.

14. The medium according to claim 13, wherein said at least one additive reacts with the projectiles to inhibit leaching of heavy metals contained therein.

15. The medium according to claim 13, wherein said at least one additive chemically stabilizes said hydrated SAP gel.

16. The medium according to claim 13, wherein said at least one additive comprises at least one of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and aluminum hydroxide.

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

a support structure having an upper surface, said upper surface having at least one segment inclined with respect to the line of fire; and

a projectile trapping medium disposed on at least a portion of said upper surface, said projectile trapping medium comprising a granular ballistic medium intimately mixed with a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel.

18. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said projectile trapping medium further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, silicates, bicarbonates, and any combination thereof.

19. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said support structure further comprises at least one sidewall.

20. The backstop according to claim 19, wherein said support structure further comprises opposing first and second sidewalls.

21. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said support structure further comprises a back wall.

22. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said support structure further comprises a toe block.

23. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said support structure further comprises a shock-absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete enclosure surrounding at least a portion of said projectile trapping medium.

24. The backstop according to claim 23, wherein said shock-absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete is SACON®

.

25. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said granular ballistic medium is selected from the group consisting of rubber chunks, wood chips, plastic scrap, and any combination thereof.

26. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said hydrated SAP gel is selected from the group consisting of sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate, sodium carboxylate, potassium acrylamide, sodium carboxylate, potassium carboxylate, and any combination thereof.

27. The backstop according to claim 17, wherein said inclined segment is inclined by an angle less than or equal to an angle of repose of said projectile trapping medium.

28. A method of forming a medium for decelerating and trapping projectiles fired thereinto, comprising the steps of:

selecting a granular ballistic medium;

selecting a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel; and

intimately mixing the granular ballistic medium and the hydrated SAP gel.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein said step of selecting a granular ballistic medium comprises selecting a resilient granular ballistic medium.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein said step of selecting a resilient granular ballistic medium comprises selecting a medium from the group consisting of rubber chunks, wood chips, plastic scrap, and any combination thereof.

31. The method according to claim 28, wherein said step of selecting a hydrated SAP gel comprises selecting a hydrated SAP gel from the group consisting of sodium acrylate, potassium acrylate, sodium acrylamide, potassium acrylamide, sodium carboxylate, potassium carboxylate, and any combination thereof.

32. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one additive from the group consisting of phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, silicates, bicarbonates, and any combination thereof; and

mixing the at least one additive with the granular ballistic medium and the hydrated SAP gel.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the at least one additive reacts with the projectiles to inhibit leaching of heavy metals contained therein.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein the at least one additive chemically stabilizes the hydrated SAP gel.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein the said step of selecting at least one additive comprises selecting at least one of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and aluminum hydroxide.

36. The method according to claim 28, wherein said step of intimately mixing the granular ballistic medium and the hydrated SAP gel comprises forming a mixture of granular ballistic medium in a hydrated SAP gel matrix.

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

providing a support structure having an upper surface, at least one segment of the upper surface being inclined with respect to the line of fire;

intimately mixing a granular ballistic medium and a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel, thereby forming a projectile trapping medium; and

disposing the projectile trapping medium on at least a portion of the upper surface of the support structure.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising the step of enclosing at least a portion of the projectile trapping medium.

39. The method according to claim 37, wherein said step of enclosing at least a portion of the projectile trapping medium comprises enclosing at least a portion of the projectile trapping medium within a shock-absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete enclosure.

40. The method according to claim 37, further comprising the steps of:

selecting at least one additive from the group consisting of phosphates, carbonates, hydroxides, silicates, bicarbonates, and any combination thereof; and

mixing the at least one additive into the projectile trapping medium.