Apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable and related methods

• US 9,488,452 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Original Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance LLC (Battelle Memorial Institute)
• Inventors: Daniels, Michael A., Steffler, Eric D., Hartenstein, Steven D., Wallace, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers, Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEMICK, JOSHUA T
• Application Number:
  US14/693,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20160313099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 86/50, 110235-259
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/085 High-temperature heating means, e.g. plasma, for partly melting the waste
• CPC Class Codes: F23G 5/245 with perforated bottom or grate
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/44 of incendiary type F42B12/46 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/46 for dispensing gases, vapours, powders or chemically-reactive substances F42B12/70 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/18 Caseless ammunition; Cartridges having combustible cases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/0245 Bulk erasing

Abstract

Apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable may include a containment structure having a first compartment that is configured to receive a device therein and a movable member configured to receive a cartridge having reactant material therein. The movable member is configured to be inserted into the first compartment of the containment structure and to ignite the reactant material within the cartridge. Methods of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable may include disposing the device into the first compartment of the containment structure, inserting the movable member into the first compartment of the containment structure, igniting the reactant material in the cartridge, and expelling molten metal onto the device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable, the apparatus comprising:

a containment structure comprising a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall, the containment structure having a first compartment proximate the top wall and having a floor structure vertically spaced from the top wall; and

a movable member coupled to the containment structure and at least partially movable into the first compartment through a guide hole in the top wall, the moveable member configured to receive at least one discrete cartridge to be seated therein;

at least one discrete cartridge containing a reactant material comprising a metal material seated in the movable member; and

at least one ignition mechanism carried by the movable member and selectively actuable to ignite the reactant material of the at least one discrete cartridge to liquefy the metal material to be expelled out of the at least one discrete cartridge.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a handle operably coupled to the movable member;

a trigger mechanism attached to the handle and configured to, upon actuation, cause the at least one ignition mechanism to ignite the reactant material within the at least one discrete cartridge.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the containment structure further comprises:

a second compartment below the floor structure of the first compartment; and

wherein the floor structure is selectively movable to allow a device supported on the floor structure to fall from the first compartment to the second compartment.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the containment structure further comprises:

a third compartment below the second compartment, the third compartment comprising;

a vent communicating from an interior of the third compartment to an exterior of the containment structure; and

a motor driven fan positioned in operable relationship to the vent.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable member further comprises an outer casing defining a cartridge storage chamber and an ignition chamber therein, and wherein the at least one ignition mechanism is disposed in the ignition chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one discrete cartridge comprises a plurality of discrete cartridges and the ignition chamber of the movable member comprises a plurality of ignition mechanisms located and configured to ignite a respective discrete cartridges of the plurality.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a nozzle end of the at least one discrete cartridge includes a plurality of ejection holes.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reactant material within the at least one discrete cartridge comprises a metal powder, fuel, and a metal oxide.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reactant material within the at least one discrete cartridge comprises a thermite.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable member of the containment structure is configured to orient the at least one discrete cartridge proximate to a device supported on the floor structure within the first compartment and to ignite the reactant material of the at least one discrete cartridge with the ignition mechanism.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable member further comprises:

a storage chamber containing a storage rack for storing cartridges; and

an ignition chamber having the at least one ignition mechanism disposed therein for cartridge ignition.

3. An apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable, the apparatus comprising:

a containment structure having a first compartment configured to receive a device; and

a movable member coupled to the containment structure and configured to have at least one cartridge containing a reactant material comprising metal seated therein, wherein the movable member is configured to move the at least one cartridge to a location proximate the device and to ignite the reactant material to liquefy the metal and cause molten metal to be expelled out of the cartridge;

wherein the movable member comprises;

a storage chamber containing a storage rack for storing cartridges; and

an ignition chamber having at least one ignition mechanism disposed therein for cartridge ignition.

19. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising at least one cartridge seated in the movable member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one cartridge comprises a nozzle end including a plurality of ejection holes.

21. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reactant material within the at least one cartridge comprises a metal powder, a fuel, and a metal oxide.

22. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reactant material within the at least one cartridge comprises a thermite.

23. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the movable member of the containment structure is configured to orient the at least one cartridge proximate to a device supported on a floor structure of the first compartment and to ignite the reactant material of the at least one cartridge with the ignition mechanism.

12. A method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable, the method comprising:

disposing a device on a floor structure of a first compartment of a containment structure comprising a top wall, side walls and a bottom wall, the first compartment proximate the top wall and the floor structure vertically spaced from the top wall;

seating at least one discrete cartridge containing a reactant material comprising a metal material in a movable member coupled to the containment structure and at least partially movable into the first compartment through a guide hole in the top wall;

inserting the movable member at least partially into the first compartment of the containment structure through the guide hole until the at least one discrete cartridge is located proximate the device; and

igniting the reactant material in the at least one discrete cartridge to liquefy the metal material with a selectively actuable ignition mechanism carried by the movable member and expel molten metal material onto the device.

13. The method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable of claim 12, wherein igniting the reactant material in the at least one discrete cartridge comprises igniting a thermite in the at least one discrete cartridge.

14. The method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable of claim 12, wherein disposing a device in a first compartment comprises:

disposing the device on the floor structure of the first compartment; and

mutually aligning a selected portion of the device and the at least one discrete cartridge seated in the movable member.

15. The method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable of claim 12, further comprising moving the floor structure of the first compartment to allow the device to fall into a second compartment of the containment structure below the first compartment.

16. The method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable of claim 12, wherein inserting the movable member at least partially into the first compartment of the containment structure further comprises moving a handle assembly that is operably coupled to the movable member.

17. The method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable of claim 12, wherein igniting the reactant material in the at least one discrete cartridge further comprises:

actuating a trigger mechanism of a handle assembly that is operably coupled to the movable member to cause the ignition mechanism to produce a spark proximate an end of the at least one discrete cartridge to ignite the reactant material thereof.

18. The method of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable of claim 12, wherein igniting the reactant material in the at least one discrete cartridge further comprises:

actuating a trigger mechanism of a handle assembly that is operably coupled to the movable member to cause the ignition mechanism to contact a primer disposed in an end of the at least one discrete cartridge with a firing pin.