Methods of preventing initiation of explosive devices

• US 7,810,421 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Hiza, Sarah B., Doll, Daniel W., Olson, Jared K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh; Samir
• Application Number:
  US12/020,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20090188379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 89/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/00 Safety arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/045 Detonation-wave absorbing or damping means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/60 Protecting data

Abstract

A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device. The method comprises substantially encasing an explosive device with a conductive foam. The explosive device is configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal, such as that emitted by a transmitter of a wireless door bell device. Deactivated explosive devices are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device, comprising:

combining a polyol solution, a curing agent, and a conductive material to form a conductive foam; and

applying the conductive foam to an explosive device configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal emitted from a transmitter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the conductive foam to an explosive device comprises applying the conductive foam comprising polyurethane and conductive carbon to the explosive device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the conductive foam to an explosive device comprises applying the conductive foam comprising polyurethane and graphite to the explosive device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the conductive foam to an explosive device configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal emitted from a transmitter comprises spraying the conductive foam comprising the conductive material substantially homogeneously dispersed in a polymeric material.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein combining a polyol solution, a curing agent, and a conductive material to form a conductive foam comprises combining a polyol solution comprising the conductive material dispersed therein and the curing agent to form the conductive foam.

6. A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device, comprising:

forming a foam-generating composition comprising a conductive material, a polyol, a curing agent, a foaming agent, and a cure catalyst;

foaming the foam-generating composition, and

applying the foam-generating composition to an explosive device configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal emitted from a transmitter.

7. A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device, comprising:

applying a conductive foam formulated to disrupt passage of electromagnetic radiation in direct contact with a receiver associated with an explosive device, the explosive device configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal emitted from a transmitter.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying a conductive foam formulated to disrupt passage of electromagnetic radiation in direct contact with a receiver associated with an explosive device comprises spraying the conductive foam comprising a conductive material incorporated in at least one polymeric material on to the receiver.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein applying a conductive foam formulated to disrupt passage of electromagnetic radiation in direct contact with a receiver associated with an explosive device comprises spraying the conductive foam on the receiver associated with the explosive device.

10. A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device, comprising:

applying a conductive foam formulated to disrupt passage of electromagnetic radiation to a receiver associated with an explosive device, the explosive device configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal emitted from a transmitter; and

substantially encasing the receiver associated with the explosive device with the conductive foam by spraying the conductive foam on the receiver associated with the explosive device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device with a conductive foam comprises covering exposed surfaces of the receiver associated with the explosive device with the conductive foam.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device with a conductive foam comprises substantially encasing an electromagnetic signal receiver of an improvised explosive device with the conductive foam.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device with a conductive foam comprises substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device configured to be actuated by an electromagnetic radiation signal with the conductive foam.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device with a conductive foam by spraying the conductive foam on the receiver comprises spraying the conductive foam on a receiver associated with the explosive device and configured to be detonated by an electromagnetic radiation signal produced by a detonation device selected from the group consisting of a cellular phone, a cordless phone, a pager, a garage door opener, a car alarm, a remote control model car controller, a remote control model airplane controller, a two way radio, a television remote control, wireless door bell device activation portion, and a baby monitor.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device with a conductive foam comprises disrupting communication between the receiver associated with the explosive device and a detonation device configured for wireless initiation of the explosive device.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein substantially encasing a receiver associated with an explosive device with a conductive foam comprises substantially encasing an object in which the receiver associated with the explosive device is at least partially contained with the conductive foam.

17. A method of preventing initiation of an explosive device, comprising:

applying a conductive foam formulated to disrupt passage of electromagnetic radiation to a receiver associated with an explosive device, the explosive device configured to be initiated by an electromagnetic radiation signal emitted from a transmitter; and

spraying the conductive foam on at least a portion of the explosive device to disrupt communication between the receiver and a detonation device thereof, the conductive foam comprising a conductive material substantially homogeneously dispersed in a polymeric material.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein spraying a conductive foam on at least a portion of an explosive device comprises forming a foam-generating composition comprising a conductive material, a polyol, a curing agent, a foaming agent, and a cure catalyst, foaming the foam-generating composition, and spraying the foam-generating composition on the at least a portion of the explosive device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein spraying a conductive foam on at least a portion of an explosive device to disrupt communication between a receiver and a detonation device thereof comprises directly contacting the receiver with the conductive foam.