Explosive effect mitigated containers

• US 20050188825A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blastgard Technologies, Inc. (HighCom Global Security, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blastgard International Incorporated
• Inventors: Waddell, John Jr., Sharpe, Kevin John, Gordon, James F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,520,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 86/50
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/045 Detonation-wave absorbing or damping means
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/05 Blasting mats

Abstract

A container, such as a standard aircraft unit load device, a truck trailer, a ship'"'"'s cargo compartment, or the like, is fitted with a blast mitigating material located within the container. The blast mitigating material can be fitted to the container during manufacture, or an existing container can be retrofitted.

Claims

1. A method for protecting a container for transportation or storage from the effects of a blast comprising lining at least part of the container with a blast mitigation material.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the blast mitigating material is in the form of an assembly of two flexible sheets arranged one over the other and joined by a plurality of seams, the seams being arranged so as to form cells or recesses in the space between the sheets, and wherein the cells or recesses are filled with a shock attenuating material.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the shock attenuating material is perlite.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of unit load devices for aircraft, overhead bins in aircraft, containers for ships and trucks, and truck trailers.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the container is provided with at least one additional material selected from the group consisting of thermal insulation, fragment slowing or stopping material, intumescent materials, and materials impervious to alpha, beta, or gamma rays.

6. A blast-mitigated container for transportation or storage which is resistant to blasts comprising a container lined at least partially with a blast mitigating material.

7. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 6 wherein the blast mitigating material is in the form of an assembly of two flexible sheets arranged one over the other and joined by a plurality of seams, the seams being arranged so as to form cells or recesses in the space between the sheets, and wherein the cells or recesses are filled with a shock attenuating material.

8. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 7 wherein the shock attenuating material is perlite.

9. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 6 wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of unit load devices for aircraft, overhead bins in aircraft, containers for ships and trucks, truck trailers, mailboxes, and trash cans.

10. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 6 which is coated with or lined with at least one material selected from the group consisting of thermal insulation, fragment slowing or stopping material, intumescent materials, and materials impervious to alpha, beta, or gamma rays.

11. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 6 wherein the container is surrounded with intumescent-coated ballistic fibers.

12. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 6 wherein at least one face of the container is provided with fire-extinguishing gauze vents.

13. The blast-mitigated container according to claim 6 wherein the container is made of intumescent material.

14. An explosion-mitigating cassette comprising an outer shell of anti-ballistic material, an inner filling of a blast mitigating material, and a frangible inner face.

15. The explosion-mitigating cassette according to claim 14 wherein the outer shell is KEVLAR®

.

16. The explosion-mitigating cassette according to claim 14 wherein the blast mitigating material is perlite enclosed between two flexible sheets.

17. The explosion-mitigating cassette according to claim 14 wherein the frangible inner face is made of glass fibers.