Stand-off disrupter apparatus

• US 8,196,513 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Navy The USA As Represented By The Secretary of The
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: O'Rourke, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Bret
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tillman, Jr., Reginald
• Application Number:
  US12/653,414
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 102475-477, 102/480, 102482-484, 102/488, 102/489, 102/492, 102/494, 102/500, 102/501, 102/485, 102/448, 102/473, 102/438
• US Class Current: 102/483
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/204 for attacking structures, e.g. specific buildings or fortifications, ships or vehicles

Abstract

The invention in one variation is a stand-off disrupter apparatus that includes a delivery vessel having an enlarged rounded front end with an apex and an elongate cylindrical section that in part serves to fit the apparatus onto the barrel of a shotgun. The shotgun provides propulsion. The apparatus has fins, a sighting system, a firing pin system that fires on impact, a shell loaded with shot housed in a shell chamber, and a layer of disruption medium sealed in a dish forward of the shell and set-back from the apex. The disruption medium is energized on impact by the shot from the shell and a force of the impact. The energized disruption medium can neutralize an improvised explosive device.

Claims

1. A stand-off disrupter apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a delivery vessel with an adaptation for an extrinsic propulsion system, said delivery vessel having an enlarged rounded front end with an apex and an elongate cylindrical section with a rearward portion that is an axial shroud having a bullet trap and serving as the adaptation for the extrinsic propulsion system, and an aerodynamic component to stabilize flight;

a firing pin system that fires on impact;

a shotgun shell loaded with shot housed in a shell chamber;

a substantially expanding bore adjacent to the shell, where said bore opens outward in the enlarged rounded front end, providing a channeled pressure focal cone for the shot; and

a layer of disruption medium sealed in a dish proximate to the forward end of the bore and set-back from the apex;

where the disruption medium is energized on impact by the shot from the fired shotgun shell and a force of the impact;

wherein said energized disruption medium can neutralize an improvised explosive device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a sighting system for aiming the apparatus.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said disruption medium is selected from the group consisting of water, water-based materials or water-based slurries.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extrinsic propulsion system is selected from the group consisting of cranes, planes, helicopters, drones, helicopters, robotic devices, firearms and rockets.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said extrinsic propulsion system is a shotgun firing a, shotgun shell.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said aerodynamic component comprises two or more fins.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bullet trap comprises at least one resilient rubber layer laminated to a metal plate.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said axial shroud is hollow with a small groove cut axially down the top to receive a front sight on a barrel of a shotgun.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said axial shroud has a diameter that is sized so that it can readily accommodate the barrel of the shotgun.

10. A stand-off disrupter apparatus that is ready to be fired, said apparatus comprising:

a shotgun having a single barrel and a second shotgun shell;

a delivery vessel with an adaptation for an extrinsic propulsion system, said delivery vessel having an enlarged rounded front end with an apex and an elongate cylindrical section with a rearward portion that is an axial shroud having a bullet trap and serving as the adaptation for the extrinsic propulsion system, and an aerodynamic component to stabilize flight;

a firing pin system that fires on impact;

a first shotgun shell loaded with shot housed in a shell chamber;

a substantially expanding bore adjacent to the first shotgun shell, where said bore opens outward in the enlarged rounded front end, providing a channeled pressure focal cone for the shot; and

a layer of disruption medium sealed in a dish proximate to the forward end of the bore and set-back from the apex;

where the axial shroud is loaded onto the single barrel of the shotgun;

where the apparatus will be propelled by a force from the second shotgun shell;

where the disruption medium is energized on impact by the shot from the fired first shotgun shell and a force of impact, said force of impact being derived from the second shotgun shell;

wherein said energized disruption medium can neutralize an improvised explosive device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a sighting system for aiming the apparatus.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first shotgun shell is a 12 gauge shell.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said second shotgun shell is a 12 gauge shell.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said disruption medium is selected from the group consisting of water, water-based materials or water-based slurries.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said aerodynamic component comprises two or more fins.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bullet trap comprises at least one resilient rubber layer laminated to a metal plate.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said barrel fits approximately half way into the elongate cylindrical section.

18. A stand-off disrupter apparatus for neutralizing explosive devices, said apparatus comprising:

an elongate, hollow cylindrical section having an inside diameter sized to receive the barrel of a shotgun inserted therein at its rear end;

an enlarged, hollow, ellipsoidal front end coupled coaxially to the front end of said cylindrical section, said ellipsoidal front end having an apex at its forward end;

a bullet trap disposed in the interior of said cylindrical section;

a shotgun shell loaded with shot disposed forward of said bullet trap proximally to the interface between said cylindrical section and said ellipsoidal front end;

a firing pin system disposed between said bullet trap and said shotgun shell, said firing pin system comprising a firing pin disposed proximally to said shotgun shell and a spring restraining said firing pin from striking said shotgun shell;

a sealed dish disposed inside said ellipsoidal front end at a set-back distance from said apex;

a disruption medium contained within said sealed dish; and

a frustoconical bore disposed between said shotgun shell and said sealed dish, said frustonical bore opening outward from said shotgun shell towards said sealed dish;

wherein said spring is selected to allow said firing pin to strike the percussion cap in said shotgun shell when forward momentum is imparted to said firing pin due to impact of the standoff disruptor apparatus against a target.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 further comprising:

a sighting system disposed on the exterior of the apparatus for aiming; and

at least one stabilizing fin disposed on the exterior of the apparatus.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said disruption medium is selected from the group consisting of water, water-based materials or water-based slurries.