Apparatus and method for rapid detection of explosives residue from the deflagration signature thereof
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the presence of particulate from explosive materials, which comprises in combination:
- a light-tight enclosure;
a heated surface located within said light-tight enclosure for receiving the particulate and maintained above the deflagration temperature of the particulate, wherein an optical signature is emitted from the deflagration of particulate thereon; and
photodetector means located within said light-tight enclosure and disposed such that the emitted optical signature is detected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for rapid detection of explosives residue from the deflagration signature thereof. A property inherent to most explosives is their stickiness, resulting in a strong tendency of explosive particulate to contaminate the environment of a bulk explosive. An apparatus for collection of residue particulate, burning the collected particulate, and measurement of the optical emission produced thereby is described. The present invention can be utilized for real-time screening of personnel, cars, packages, suspected devices, etc., and provides an inexpensive, portable, and noninvasive means for detecting explosives.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the presence of particulate from explosive materials, which comprises in combination:
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a light-tight enclosure; a heated surface located within said light-tight enclosure for receiving the particulate and maintained above the deflagration temperature of the particulate, wherein an optical signature is emitted from the deflagration of particulate thereon; and photodetector means located within said light-tight enclosure and disposed such that the emitted optical signature is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for determining the presence of particulate from explosive materials, which comprises the steps of:
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depositing particulate on a surface heated to above the deflagration temperature of the particulate and located within a light-tight enclosure, wherein an optical signature is emitted from the deflagration of the particulate; and detecting the emitted optical signature.
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6. An apparatus for determining the presence of particulate from explosive materials, which comprises in combination:
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a light-tight enclosure; means located within said light-tight enclosure for heating the particulate to above the deflagration temperature thereof without direct excitation from flames or plasmas, wherein an optical signature is emitted from the deflagration of the particulate; and photodetector means located within said light-tight enclosure disposed such that the emitted optical signature is detected.
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7. A method for determining the presence of particulate from explosive materials, which comprises the steps of:
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heating the particulate to above the deflagration temperature thereof without direct excitation from flames or plasmas, within a light-tight enclosure, wherein an optical signature is emitted from the deflagration of the particulate; and detecting the emitted optical signature.
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Specification