Initiation disruptor systems and methods of initiation disruption

• US 8,839,704 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Issued: 09/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Baum, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TILLMAN, JR, REGINALD S
• Application Number:
  US13/149,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20120304882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 102/301, 102/303, 102/314, 102/316, 102/364, 102/402, 102/403, 86/50, 89/11.3, 89/361.7, 588/403
• US Class Current: 86/50
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 39/16 Fire-extinguishing
• 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

A system that may be used as an initiation disruption system (IDS) according to one embodiment includes an explosive charge; a plurality of particles in a layer at least partially surrounding the explosive charge; and a fire suppressant adjacent the plurality of particles. A method for disabling an object according to one embodiment includes placing the system as recited above near an object; and causing the explosive charge to initiate, thereby applying mechanical loading to the object such that the object becomes disabled. Additional systems and methods are also presented. A device according to another embodiment includes a plurality of particles bound by a binder thereby defining a sidewall having an interior for receiving an explosive; and a fire suppressant adjacent the plurality of particles and binder. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an explosive charge;

a plurality of particles in a layer at least partially surrounding the explosive charge; and

a fire suppressant adjacent the plurality of particles,

wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one of;

a heavy metal and a heavy metal alloy.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the explosive charge has a cylindrical shape having a length-to-diameter ratio within a range from about 0.25 to about 2.5.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the length-to-diameter ratio is about 1.0.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one of:

tungsten and tungsten carbide.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprise microparticles having a longest dimension in a range from about 20 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprise a non-conductive material.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprise a material having a density of greater than about 7 g/cm³.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles comprise microparticles having a substantially uniform size in a range from about 25 μ

m to about 120 μ

m.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles are positioned in a particle layer completely surrounding the explosive charge.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the fire suppressant is positioned in a fire suppressant layer completely surrounding the particle layer.

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of particles and the fire suppressant are mixed together and positioned in a layer at least partially surrounding the explosive charge.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the fire suppressant comprises at least one of:

ammonium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and antimony trioxide.

13. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an initiator for initiating an explosion of the explosive charge.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the initiator is positioned near a center of the explosive charge.

15. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the explosive charge has a uniform shape having a ratio of greatest dimension-to-least dimension in a range from about 0.25 to about 2.5.

16. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system has a cylindrical shape having a diameter of no more than about 15 cm, a length of no more than about 15 cm, and a mass of no more than about 10 lb.

17. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of second particles distributed in the explosive charge.

18. A method for disabling an object, the method comprising:

placing the system as recited in claim 1 near an object;

causing the explosive charge to initiate, thereby applying mechanical loading to the object such that the object becomes disabled.

19. A method for producing an initiation disruptor system (IDS), comprising:

at least partially surrounding an explosive charge with a plurality of particles; and

at least partially surrounding the plurality of particles with a tire suppressant,

wherein the plurality of particles comprise microparticles having a density of greater than about 7 g/cm³ and a longest dimension in a range from about 20 μ

m to about 500 μ

m.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising recessing an initiator in the explosive charge for initiating an explosion of the explosive charge.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein an initiator is positioned near a center of the explosive charge.

22. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the explosive charge has a uniform shape having a ratio of greatest dimension-to-least dimension in a range from about 0.25 to about 2.5.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the ratio of greatest dimension-to-least dimension is about 1.0.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one of:

a heavy metal and a heavy metal alloy.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one of:

tungsten and tungsten carbide.

26. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of particles comprise microparticles having a substantially uniform size in a range from about 25 μ

m to about 120 μ

m.

27. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the plurality of particles are positioned in a particle layer completely surrounding the explosive charge.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the fire suppressant is positioned in a fire suppressant layer completely surrounding the particle layer.

29. The method as recited in claim 19, further comprising mixing the plurality of particles with the fire suppressant prior to at least partially surrounding the explosive charge with the plurality of particles and the fire suppressant.

30. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the fire suppressant comprises at least one of ammonium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and antimony trioxide.

31. A system, comprising:

an explosive charge;

a plurality of particles in a layer at least partially surrounding the explosive charge; and

a fire suppressant adjacent the plurality of particles,

wherein the plurality of particles comprise microparticles having a substantially uniform size in a range from about 25 μ

m to about 120 μ

m.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the plurality of particles comprise at least one of a heavy metal and a heavy metal alloy.

33. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the plurality of particles comprise a material having a density of greater than about 7 g/cm³.

34. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the plurality of particles are positioned in a particle layer completely surrounding the explosive charge.

35. The system as recited in claim 34, wherein the fire suppressant is positioned in a fire suppressant layer completely surrounding the particle layer.

36. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the fire suppressant comprises at least one of ammonium phosphate, aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and antimony trioxide.

37. The system as recited in claim 31, further comprising an initiator for initiating an explosion of the explosive charge, wherein the initiator is positioned near a center of the explosive charge.

38. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the system has a cylindrical shape having a diameter of no more than about 15 cm, a length of no more than about 15 cm, and a mass of no more than about 10 lb.

39. The system as recited in claim 31, further comprising a plurality of second particles distributed in the explosive charge.