System and method for neutralizing explosives and electronics

• US 7,775,146 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xtreme Ads Limited
• Original Assignee: Xtreme Ads Limited
• Inventors: Howe, Varce Eron, Busby, Ricky Lee, Bitar, Peter Victor, Lakey, Leroy Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): David; Michael D
• Application Number:
  US12/030,144
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 89/11.3, 102402-403, 86/50
• US Class Current: 89/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/12 Means for clearing land minefields; Systems specially adapted for detection of landmines
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/30 with rollers creating a surface load on the ground, e.g. steadily increasing surface load, for triggering purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/32 Decoy or sacrificial vehicles; Decoy or sacrificial devices attachable to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0043 Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/06 Dismantling fuzes, cartridges, projectiles, missiles, rockets or bombs F42B33/004 and F42B33/04 take precedence; elimination of undesirable components of explosives C06B21/0091
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/04 Rendering explosive charges harmless, e.g. destroying ammunition F42B39/14 and F42B39/20 take precedence ; extracting primers, dismantling ammunition F42B33/04, F42B33/06 ; chemical deactivating of explosives C06B21/0091; Rendering detonation of explosive charges harmless

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for neutralizing explosives and electronics utilizing a high voltage electrical discharge.

Claims

1. A system for neutralizing an explosive device disposed within a targeted ground area, the system comprising:

an artificial lightning generator operable to generate at least one electric spark; and

a discharge apparatus in electrical communication with the artificial lightning generator,

a vehicle;

a structure extending said discharge apparatus away from said vehicle;

an interface electrically coupling the discharge apparatus to the artificial lightning generator;

a point of rotation about which said discharge apparatus rotates such that a spark emission point rotates about said point of rotation; and

wherein, for neutralizing the explosive device, the artificial lighting generator is operable to discharge the at least one electric spark into the targeted ground area via the discharge apparatus.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor;

a commutator interface electrically coupling the discharge apparatus to the artificial lightning generator, wherein the commutator interface is operable to provide a discharge path from the artificial lightning generator to the discharge apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the artificial lightning generator includes a resonant transformer.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

an electrode defining the spark emission point; and

a commutator interface electrically coupling the electrode and the resonant transformer, wherein the commutator interface is operable to provide a discharge path from the resonant transformer to the electrode.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the artificial lightning generator includes:

a hollow core; and

a rod extending through the hollow core and physically coupling the motor to the electrode.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the artificial lightning generator is operable to generate at least 10,000 volts.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the discharge apparatus is in motion within the targeted ground area in concurrence with a spinning of the spark emission point in the predetermined pattern within the targeted ground area and a discharging of the at least one electric spark into the targeted ground area via the spark emission point.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a chain between said vehicle and the ground.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power generation and control system in electrical communication with the artificial lightning generator, wherein the power generation and control system is operable to supply power and control to the artificial lightning generator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power generation and control system includes:

an AC generator;

a step-up transformer in electric communication with said AC generator;

a spark gap in electric communication with said step-up transformer; and

a capacitor in electrical communication with said spark gap and said artificial lightning generator.

11. A system for neutralizing an explosive device disposed within a targeted ground area, the system comprising:

a vehicle;

a resonant transformer operable to generate at least one electric spark, wherein the resonant transformer is carried by said vehicle; and

a spinning breakout apparatus including an electrode in electrical communication with the resonant transformer,

wherein the spinning breakout apparatus is operable to spin the electrode in a predetermined pattern within the targeted ground area, and

wherein, for neutralizing the explosive device, the spinning breakout apparatus is further operable to discharge the at least one electric spark into the targeted ground area via the electrode.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined pattern is a circular pattern.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the spinning breakout apparatus is in motion within the targeted ground area in concurrence with a spinning of the electrode in the predetermined pattern within the targeted ground area and a discharging of the at least one electric spark into the targeted ground area via the electrode.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a motor physically connected to the spinning breakout apparatus,

wherein the motor is operable to control a spinning of the spark emission point in the predetermined pattern within the targeted ground area.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the artificial lightning generator includes:

a hollow core; and

a rod extending through the hollow core and physically coupling the motor to the spinning breakout apparatus.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a power generation and control system in electrical communication with the artificial lightning generator, wherein the power generation and control system is operable to supply power and control to the artificial lightning generator.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the power generation and control system includes:

an arm having a neutralizing end and a control end,

wherein the artificial lightning generator and the spinning breakout apparatus are mounted on the neutralizing end, and

wherein the control end is spaced from the neutralizing end to facilitate a neutralization of the explosive device within the targeted ground area.