Device for disrupting improvised explosive devices (IEDS)

• US 7,481,146 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ELP GmbH European Logistic Partners
• Original Assignee: Ingrid Weiss
• Inventors: Weiss, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin; James S
• Application Number:
  US11/716,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 86/50, 102/430, 102/437, 102/440, 102/399, 102/439, 102/293, 42/11.1, 42/11.4, 42/10.6, 421/06, 89/420.1, 89/430.1, 89/11.1, 89/11.3, 89/11.4, 89/143
• US Class Current: 89/14.3
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/59 Electromechanical firing mechanisms, i.e. the mechanical striker element being propelled or released by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 9/0046 Disruptors, i.e. for neutralising explosive devices
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/062 by high-pressure water jet means
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/04 Blank cartridges, i.e. primed cartridges without projectile but containing an explosive or combustible powder charge

Abstract

A device for disrupting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) with a projectile, which serves to penetrate and/or destroy at least part of the IED. In addition, an accelerator is provided, which accelerates the projectile when the device is actuated and propels it through a barrel. The accelerator is a cartridge filled with propellant. The cartridge is stored in a magazine and contains an initiator for initiating the acceleration. A primer, which is located at the base of the cartridge, serves as the initiator. Initiation occurs when the primer is struck by a firing pin.

Claims

1. A device for disrupting improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the device comprising:

a barrel;

a firing pin;

a firing pin mechanism;

a projectile, which serves to penetrate and/or destroy at least part of the IED; and

an accelerator, which, when the device is actuated, accelerates the projectile and propels it through the barrel, wherein the accelerator is designed as a cartridge filled with propellant, and the cartridge is stored in a magazine and contains an initiator for initiating the acceleration, wherein a primer at the base of the cartridge serves as the initiator and that initiation occurs when the primer is struck by the firing pin; and

one or more compensating tubes, which are operated with water and compensate the recoil of the device upon initiation.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the projectile is a water projectile.

3. A device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the water projectile is enclosed in a bag.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plaster slug is used as the projectile.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the firing pin is spring-loaded in its inactive state before initiation.

6. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the firing pin is moved by a cam disk, which is moved during initiation and accelerates the firing pin towards the base of the cartridge.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the cam disk is moved by an electric motor, especially by means of a gear drive connected between them.

8. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein, during initiation, the firing pin is accelerated by a bridge igniter towards the base of the cartridge.

9. A device in accordance with claim 8, wherein the bridge igniter contains a propellant charge of 0.04 g which is electrically ignited.

10. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a commercial cartridge case is used as the cartridge.

11. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cartridge is sealed at its upper end with one or more layers of felt, corrugated board, coated paper, and/or wax.

12. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the barrel and/or the compensating tubes are closed with light plastic plugs.