Method and device for the visual simulation of exploding bodies

• US 20030150370A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RUAG Simulation & Training AG (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Ruag Electronics
• Inventors: Lazecki, Rene
• Granted Patent: US 6,814,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 116/200
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/06 Apparatus for generating artificial fog or smoke screens for producing special effects on stages A63J5/00; smoke-pot projectors, e.g. arranged on vehicles, F42B5/155

Abstract

The detonation of e.g. a grenade or another explosive body is simulated by the evaporation of a liquid and subsequent ejection through a nozzle 17, thereby forming a cloud of vapor at the location of the detonation. The device includes an evaporator 10 heated e.g. by combustion means. The heating system 14 is designed to produce the heat for a continuous evaporation of a liquid in the evaporator. The liquid is preferably a mixture of ethylene glycol in water. It is thereby possible to simplify the handling and application and to reduce the danger potential.

Claims

1. A method for the visual simulation of exploding bodies, wherein a liquid, more particularly a liquid preponderantly composed of water, is evaporated in order to form a cloud of vapor marking the simulated explosion site.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said evaporation is effected by heating said liquid in an evaporator, the heat required for the evaporation for the simulation of at least one exploding body mainly being stored in a heat accumulator (1), and wherein the liquid to be evaporated is brought into thermal contact with the heat accumulator in order to obtain a short delay between the initiation of the simulation and the generation of the vapor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said heat accumulator (1) is kept at a predetermined operating temperature by heat supply in order to have the temperature and the amount of heat required for the evaporation available, and wherein said heat accumulator (1) is provided with a thermal insulation (20) in order to significantly reduce the heat emission to the environment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid contains water and optionally further components representing only a small and preferably no sanitary and/or environmental risk.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein another one of said components preferably the only other component of the liquid is ethylene glycol.

6. A device for carrying out the method of claim 1, comprising an evaporator for the liquid to be evaporated, wherein said evaporator is provided with a heat accumulator (1) and a heating device (15) that is thermally connected to the heat accumulator (1), said heat accumulator being capable of delivering essentially the amount of heat required for evaporating a quantity of liquid sufficient for the simulation of at least one event, and said heat accumulator being enclosed in an envelope of thermally insulating material (20) in order to substantially reduce the heating power required for maintaining the operational condition in which said heat accumulator is capable of delivering the evaporating heat.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein a supply of the energy source required for the operation of the heating device (15) is provided that allows to maintain an operational condition for at least one day, preferably at least three days, and more particularly for at least seven days.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the heating device (15) is designed for the combustion of a gas that is capable of being stored in a storage container (16) of the device in a liquefied form.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the heating device (15) is a device for the flameless combustion of a fuel, preferably by catalytic combustion.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein said heat accumulator (1) is composed of metal essentially and provided in its surface with a channel-shaped groove (2) of such a length that a liquid can be evaporated by conducting it through said groove.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the outlet of said evaporator comprises a steam jet nozzle (30) whose aspirating portion is connected to at least one storage container (27) for color.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the duct for the energy source from said storage container (16) to the heating device (15) is provided with a closure means (17) capable of being closed by a control (22) that is operatively connected to sensing means designed for determining the direction of the gravity acting upon the liquefied gas, at least in the event of an excessive deviation of the direction of the gravity from a given direction in order to prevent the penetration of liquefied gas into the heating device.

13. The device of claim 6, comprising a control (22) that is capable of being selected and activated remotely, more particularly by radio, among a plurality of similar devices, thereby allowing to trigger the device for the simulation of an explosion.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein a pump (12) is arranged between a storage container (16) for said liquid and said evaporator, said pump being capable of being switched on and off by said control (22), thereby allowing to generate the simulation by switching on said pump when the device is activated.

15. The device of claim 6, wherein acoustic and/or optical signal sources are provided in order to improve the perceptibility of the simulation.

16. Application of the device of claim 6 for the simulation of exploding projectiles, more particularly in maneuvers and other combat exercises involving exploding weapon bodies, in the field and/or on artificial objects such as vehicles and buildings.