Electromagnetic vehicle disabler system and method

• US 6,371,000 B1
• Filed: 07/11/1994
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Jaycor, Inc. (Titan Corporation)
• Inventors: Lane, Phillip D., Youngman, James, Will, John E., Hutmacher, Henry H., Bell, Michael V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US08/273,560
• Time in Patent Office: 2,836 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9-- 1, 361/230-235, 180/271-273, 180/167, 180/279, 180/283, 180/284, 180/287, 180/289, 180/730-735, 280/727-735, 123/198.B, 123/198.DB, 123/198.DC, 89/11.1
• US Class Current: 89/1.11
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/08 Barbed-wire obstacles; Barricades; Stanchions; Tank traps; Vehicle-impeding devices; Caltrops making barbed wire B21F25/00; barbed-wire fencing E04H17/04; road barricades, obstructing passage of vehicles or pedestrians E01F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0037 for remote electrical discharge via liquid jets details of the gun for generating the liquid jets F41B9/00

Abstract

An electronic vehicle disabler system and method uses a current supply capable of delivering an electrical current to a fleeing or moving vehicle that inhibits self-propelled movement of the vehicle. The electrical current is delivered by establishing a momentary forward current path between the vehicle and the current supply, at the same time that a return current path between the vehicle and current supply is established. The forward and reverse current paths may, e.g., include electrically conductive wires or electrically conductive streams of fluid or gas. The forward and reverse current paths are electrically coupleable to the fleeing vehicle through a variety of direct conductive linkages that are temporarily or permanently laid down on a roadway over which the fleeing vehicle passes, or that are coupled to the fleeing vehicle from a pursuing vehicle.

Claims

1. An electronic vehicle disabling system for inhibiting self-propelled movement of a vehicle, the system including:

a current supply capable of delivering a current that inhibits self-propelled movement of the vehicle;

a forward current path coupled to the current supply; and

a return current coupled to the current supply, the forward current path delivering the current from the current supply to the vehicle in the event the forward current path and the return current path are electrically coupled to the vehicle, and the return current path returning the current to the current supply from the vehicle in the event the forward current path and the return current path are electrically coupled to the vehicle;

whereby vehicle movement is inhibited in the event the forward current path and the return current path are electrically coupled to the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 including:

a switching device coupled to said current supply, the switching device having a first state in which said current is delivered through said forward current path to said vehicle in the event said forward current path is electrically coupled to said vehicle, and a second state in which said current is not delivered through said forward current path to said vehicle;

whereby vehicle movement is inhibited in the event said forward current path and said return current path are electrically coupled to said vehicle, and in the event the switching device is in the first state.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said current supply is capable of delivering said current that inhibits self-propelled movement of said vehicle, wherein said current inhibits electrical components within the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said forward current path includes a first electrically conductive wire.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first electrically conductive wire projects from a driving surface so as to be in electrical communication with said vehicle when said vehicle drives over the driving surface.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said return current path includes a second electrically conductive wire, said second electrically conductive wire projecting from said driving surface so as to be in electrical communication with said vehicle when said vehicle passes over said driving surface.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said driving surface is a portable surface that can be rested on top of a fixed road surface.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said driving surface is a fixed road surface.

9. The system of claim 4 including:

a launcher that discharges said first electrically conductive wire against said vehicle, said first electrically conductive wire being capable of coming into electrical communication with said vehicle when projected thereagainst.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said return current path includes a second electrically conductive wire, said laucher discharging the second electrically conductive wire against said vehicle, the second electrically conductive wire being capable of coming into electrical communication with said vehicle when discharged thereagainst.

11. The system of claim 9 including:

a self-propelled mobile unit mechanically coupled to said launcher, the self-propelled mobile unit being capable of moving said launcher to within a prescribed range of said vehicle before said launcher discharges said first electrically conductive wire against said vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said forward current path includes a first electrically conductive fluid stream.

13. The system of claim 12 including:

a first nozzle that discharges said first electrically conductive fluid stream against said vehicle, said first electrically conductive fluid stream being capable of coming into electrical communication with said vehicle when discharged thereagainst.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said return current path includes a second electrically conductive fluid stream, said system including:

a second nozzle that discharges the second electrically conductive fluid stream against said vehicle, the second electrically conductive fluid stream being capable of coming into electrical communication with said vehicle when discharged thereagainst.

15. The system of claim 13 including:

a self-propelled mobile unit mechanically coupled to said first nozzle, the self-propelled mobile unit being capable of moving said first nozzle to within a prescribed range of said vehicle before said first nozzle discharges said first electrically conductive fluid stream against said vehicle.

16. A method for inhibiting self-propelled vehicle movement including:

contacting the vehicle electrically with a first current path;

contacting the vehicle electrically with a second current path;

generating a current that is capable of inhibiting self-propelled movement of the vehicle;

delivering the current through the first and second current paths so as to inhibit the self-propelled movement of the vehicle;

whereby self-propelled vehicle movement is inhibited.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said contacting said vehicle electrically with said first current path includes:

contacting said vehicle electrically with a first electrically conductive wire.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said contacting said vehicle electrically with said second current path includes:

contacting said vehicle electrically with a second electrically conductive wire.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said contacting said vehicle electrically with a first electrically conductive wire includes:

positioning said electrically conductive wire so as to project from a driving surface so that, in the event said vehicle passes over the driving surface, the electrically conductive wire comes into electrical communication with said vehicle.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said contacting said vehicle electrically with said first current path includes:

contacting said vehicle electrically with a first electrically conductive fluid stream.

21. A method for inhibiting self-propelled vehicle movement including:

a first current path;

means for contacting the vehicle electrically with the first current path;

a second current path;

means for contacting the vehicle electrically with the second current path;

means for generating a current that is capable of inhibiting self-propelled movement of the vehicle;

means for delivering the current through the first and second current paths so as to inhibit the self-propelled movement of the vehicle;

whereby self-propelled vehicle movement is inhibited.

22. A method for disabling a first vehicle, comprising:

administering a discharge to an undercarriage of the first vehicle;

overloading at least one electronic engine control of the vehicle; and

causing failure of the at least one electronic engine control of the first vehicle.