Penetrating projectile for bomb disablement

• US 6,439,127 B1
• Filed: 08/02/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Cherry, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TUDOR, HAROLD JAY
• Application Number:
  US09/365,652
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 102/517, 102/519, 102/402, 86/49, 86/50, 473/582-585, 588/202, 588/203, 89/11.3
• US Class Current: 102/519
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/54 by implantation, e.g. hypodermic projectiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/062 by high-pressure water jet means

Abstract

A specially designed projectile is disclosed which provides an initial cruciform-shaped slit or cut, followed by the creation of a round hole into a target. This controlled entry creates a very high localized pressure during initial impact to a target for a very short duration, followed by a longer sustained lower-impact pressure. This creates a fragment-free hole into the container and can allow the projectile to penetrate sensitive explosives inside the container without shock-initiating or igniting the explosives. The projectile can disable bomb circuitry itself or provide a controlled entry hole to allow low-pressure water or other projectiles incapable of penetrating the steel container to enter freely. The leading end of the projectile can, with a high degree of accuracy, sever wires, destroy batteries, capacitors, and other components within a bomb or select military ordnance. The projectile can be used alone or in tandem with water or other disablement projectiles.

Claims

1. A system for disarming explosive devices within a hard surrounding enclosure, comprising:

a projectile and a body frangibly connected thereto,

a leading end of said projectile having a slicing portion formed of a material of sufficiently high density and low surface area to slice the enclosure; and

a trailing end of said projectile having a ramming portion of sufficiently lower, density and larger surface area than said leading end to open a hole in said enclosure at the slice without detonating the explosive device;

wherein said body separates from the trailing end of the projectile upon impact of said projectile with the enclosure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said leading end comprises a plurality of blades extending from a central shaft.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said trailing portion comprises a cup surrounding said central shaft, said cup being rigidly affixed to said shaft by epoxy in said cup.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said leading end comprises a plurality of blades which make a generally cruciform initial penetration.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said blades comprise at least two circumferentially offset blades.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said blades comprise at least two longitudinally offset blades.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said body comprises a tubular member axially aligned with said cup, one end of said tubular member surrounding and being frangibly affixed to an end of said central shaft, said tubular member being filled with a material which adheres to said shaft end.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the material comprises a metal epoxy matrix.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a PAN distrupter for propelling said projectile and body, said PAN disrupter comprising a hollow tube filled with fluid from one end, and firing means at the other end for propelling said fluid from said one end, wherein said body is placed in said tube and said projectile extends from said one end.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said projectile cup seals said one end of said tube before said PAN disrupter firing means is actuated.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the leading end weighs less than the body.

12. A method of disarming an explosive device housed in a hard surrounding enclosure, comprising:

firing an PAN disrupter at the enclosure, the disrupter having a charge of fluid that propels a projectile having integral leading slicing and trailing ramming portions the trailing ramming portion including a body frangibly connected thereto,

impacting and penetrating the enclosure with said slicing portion with less impulse pressure than required to set off the explosive device;

punching a fragment-free hole in the enclosure with the ramming portion where the slicing portion impacted the enclosure, and

passing the charge of fluid through the hole into the enclosure to destroy the explosive device without detonation.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising firing the projectile at greater than 100 ft./sec.