Reactive personnel protection system

• US 6,029,558 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
• Inventors: Warnagiris, Thomas J., Stevens, David J., Marchand, Kirk A.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US08/855,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 89/36.17, 280/735, 280/736
• US Class Current: 89/36.17
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/007 Reactive armour; Dynamic armour

Abstract

A counter-terrorism, reactive personnel protection system which detects the presence of a concussive shock wave or ballistic projectile as it approaches a designated personnel target. Before impact, an air bag is rapidly inflated and interposed between the destructive force and the target so as to provide a protective barrier. The air bag is constructed from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material, and serves to halt or redirect the detected destructive force and thereby protect the designated target from attack.

Claims

1. A reactive personnel protection system comprising:

a radar-based projectile detection system;

at least one rapidly deployable anti-ballistic air bag, said air bag having a front surface and a rear surface; and

a gas-generating system for rapid deployment of said air bag in response to detection of the approach of a projectile in proximity to said person by said detection system, wherein the front surface and the rear surface are adapted to slow and redirect the projectile.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the rapidly deployable air bag is constructed from polyethylene material.

3. A reactive personnel protection system comprising:

a radar-based projectile detection system, wherein said radar based projectile detection system operates at a frequency of 8-20 Ghz;

at least one rapidly deployable air bag; and

a gas-generating system for rapid deployment of said air bag in response to detection of the approach of a projectile in proximity to said person by said detection system.

4. A reactive personnel protection system comprising:

a radar-based projectile detection system, wherein said radar based projectile detection system operates at a frequency of 10.5 Ghz.;

at least one rapidly deployable air bag; and

a gas-generating system for rapid deployment of said air bag in response to detection of the approach of a projectile in proximity to said person by said detection system.

5. A reactive personnel protection system comprising:

a radar-based projectile detection system, wherein said radar based projectile detection system has anti-jamming electronics;

at least one rapidly deployable air bag; and

a gas-generating system for rapid deployment of said air bag in response to detection of the approach of a projectile in proximity to said person by said detection system.

6. A method to reactively protect personnel from the rapid approach of an object by deployment of an air bag prior to the arrival of the object at the location of said personnel, comprising the steps of:

detecting the approach of said object, wherein said detecting step is accomplished using a radar-based projectile detection system and wherein said object is a ballistic projectile;

discriminating the presence of said object with respect to the presence of electronic noise;

activation of a gas-generation system in response to discrimination of the presence of said object; and

deployment of an air bag between said object and said personnel responsive to said activation of said gas-generation system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said radar-based projectile detection system operates at a frequency of 8-20 Ghz.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said radar-based projectile detection system operates at a frequency of 10.5 Ghz.

9. A reactive personnel protection system of a type in which at least one airbag is inflated responsive to detection of a destructive object prior to contact between said object and a person, said system comprising:

a destructive object detection system;

at least one rapidly deployable airbag; and

a gas-generating system for rapid deployment of said airbag in response to detection of the approach of said object in proximity to said person by said detection system, wherein said detection system is a radar-based projectile detection system operating at a frequency of 8-20 Ghz and wherein said object is a ballistic projectile.