Protection system

• US 8,281,702 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foster-Miller Incorporated (Thermo Fisher Scientific Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hoadley, David J., Knochenhauer, Robert, Truong, Thieu, Anderson, Gary, Farinella, Micheal
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, BRET C
• Application Number:
  US13/200,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20120011994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 89/360.1, 89/360.2, 89/360.7, 89/360.8, 89/361.7, 280/743.1, 296/187.06
• US Class Current: 89/36.17
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/02 Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0006 Ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals, e.g. ballistically deployed nets
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/007 Reactive armour; Dynamic armour
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/026 Slat armour; Nets

Abstract

A net deployment system which, in one example, includes a manifold assembly including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port. A weight is disposed in each weight duct and each weight is tied to the net. A bladder is behind the net and is over the bladder port. At least one inflator charge is associated with the manifold for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

Claims

1. A net deployment system comprising:

a net;

a manifold assembly including;

a central fitting including a bladder port,

weight ducts extending outwardly from the central fitting, and

at least one inflator charge plenum;

a weight in each weight duct, each weight tied to the net;

a bladder behind the net and over the bladder port; and

at least one inflator charge in the plenum for inflating the bladder and firing the weights out of the weight ducts to deploy the net in the path of an incoming threat.

2. The net deployment system of claim 1 in which the manifold assembly includes opposing inflator charge plenums extending outwardly from the central fitting and there is at least one inflator charge in each plenum.

3. The net deployment system of claim 2 in which there is an inflator charge plenum between each pair of weight ducts.

4. The net deployment system of claim 1 in which the weights are made of foam.

5. The net deployment system of claim 1 in which the net has four corners and there is a weight tied to each corner of the net.

6. The net deployment system of claim 1 in which the bladder includes a broad flat top and a side wall terminating in a flange securable over the bladder port.

7. The net deployment system of claim 6 in which the net is folded on the broad flat top of the bladder.

8. The net deployment system of claim 1 in which the net is square and between 2-3 m on a side.

9. The net deployment system of claim 1 in which the net is between 30 and 60 mm mesh.

10. A protection system comprising:

a sensor subsystem for detecting an incoming threat;

a flexible package net in a housing;

a net deployment subsystem including;

a bladder packaged in the housing behind the net;

at least one inflator charge for inflating the bladder;

a fire control subsystem, responsive to the sensor subsystem, configured to activate the inflator charge to inflate the bladder and deploy the net in the path of incoming threat;

a manifold assembly in the housing including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port,

a weight in each weight duct, each weight tied to the net, and the bladder is over the bladder port.

11. The protection system of claim 10 in which:

the housing is lengthy and has a channel therein,

the bladder is lengthy and is fixed to the housing and resides in the channel, and

there are attachments between the net and the bladder.

12. A net deployment system comprising:

a net;

a housing for the net;

a bladder in the housing behind the net;

at least one inflator charge associated with the housing for inflating the bladder to deploy the net;

a manifold assembly in the housing including multiple weight ducts and a bladder port,

a weight in each weight duct, each weight tied to the net, and

the bladder is over the bladder port.

13. The system of claim 12 in which:

the housing is lengthy and has a channel therein,

the bladder is lengthy and is fixed to the housing and resides in the channel, and

there are attachments between the net and the bladder.