Simulating an explosion of an improvised explosive device

• US 7,597,047 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacific Coast Steel (Metalúrgica Gerdau SA), Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Coast Steel (Metalúrgica Gerdau SA), Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Doyle, Thomas, Schaeffer, Diana P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin; James S
• Application Number:
  US11/427,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 102/335, 102/355, 102/358, 102/360, 102/202.14, 434/11, 434/16, 86/50, 89/11
• US Class Current: 102/355
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/04 Acoustical simulation of gun fire, e.g. by pyrotechnic means
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 4/18 Simulations, e.g. pine cone, house that is destroyed, warship, volcano
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/28 Land or marine mines; Depth charges

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a system for simulating an actual explosion of an explosive device includes one or more firing devices and a control module. A firing device comprises a pyrotechnic device operable to direct a pyrotechnic explosion in a predetermined direction to simulate the actual explosion of the explosive device. The control module receives a trigger signal from a trigger device, which is operable to send the trigger signal in response to a trigger event. The control module detonates the firing devices in response to the trigger signal.

Claims

1. A system for simulating an actual explosion of an explosive device, comprising:

one or more firing devices operable to generate one or more pyrotechnic explosions to simulate an actual explosion of an explosive device, a firing device of the one or more firing devices comprising a pyrotechnic device operable to direct a pyrotechnic explosion of the one or more pyrotechnic explosions in a predetermined direction;

a control module coupled to the one or more firing devices and operable to;

receive a trigger signal from a trigger device, the trigger device operable to send the trigger signal in response to a trigger event; and

detonate the one or more firing devices in response to the trigger signal; and

a housing, the one or more firing devices and the control module disposed within the housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the explosive device comprises an improvised explosive device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more firing devices are coupled to a housing to direct the one or more pyrotechnic explosions in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the ground.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external device port operable to couple an external device to the control module.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external trigger device port operable to couple the trigger device to the control module.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control operable to transmit a command to the control module over a wireless link.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver operable to receive a command transmitted over a wireless link.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply operable to provide power to the control module.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the housing comprising one or more openings through which the one or more firing devices may direct the one or more pyrotechnic explosions.

10. A method for simulating an actual explosion of an explosive device, comprising:

receiving at a control module a trigger signal from a trigger device, the trigger device operable to send the trigger signal in response to a trigger event;

in response to the trigger signal, detonating one or more firing devices to generate one or more pyrotechnic explosions to simulate an actual explosion of an explosive device, a firing device of the one or more firing devices comprising a pyrotechnic device operable to direct a pyrotechnic explosion of the or more pyrotechnic explosions in a predetermined direction; and

a housing, the one or more firing devices and the control module disposed within the housing.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the explosive device comprises an improvised explosive device.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

directing the one or more pyrotechnic explosions in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the ground.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

communicating with an external device coupled to the control module through an external device port.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving at the control module the trigger signal from the trigger device further comprises:

receiving the trigger signal through an external trigger device port operable to couple the trigger device to the control module.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a command from a remote control to the control module over a wireless link.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving at a transceiver a command transmitted over a wireless link.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing power to the control module using a power supply.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

the housing comprising one or more openings through which the one or more firing devices may direct the one or more pyrotechnic explosions.

19. A system for simulating an actual explosion of an explosive device, comprising:

means for receiving at a control module a trigger signal from a trigger device, the trigger device operable to send the trigger signal in response to a trigger event;

means for, in response to the trigger signal, detonating one or more firing devices to generate one or more pyrotechnic explosions to simulate an actual explosion of an explosive device, a firing device of the one or more firing devices comprising a pyrotechnic device operable to direct a pyrotechnic explosion of the or more pyrotechnic explosions in a predetermined direction; and

a housing, the one or more firing devices and the control module disposed within the housing.

20. A system for simulating an actual explosion of an explosive device, comprising:

one or more firing devices operable to generate one or more pyrotechnic explosions to simulate an actual explosion of an explosive device, the explosive device comprising an improvised explosive device, a firing device of the one or more firing devices comprising a pyrotechnic device operable to direct a pyrotechnic explosion of the one or more pyrotechnic explosions in a vertical direction substantially perpendicular to the ground;

a control module coupled to the one or more firing devices and operable to;

receive a trigger signal from a trigger device, the trigger device operable to send the trigger signal in response to a trigger event; and

detonate the one or more firing devices in response to the trigger signal;

an external device port operable to couple an external device to the control module;

an external trigger device port operable to couple the trigger device to the control module;

a remote control operable to transmit a command to the control module over a wireless link;

a transceiver operable to receive the command transmitted over the wireless link;

a power supply operable to provide power to the control module; and

a housing, the one or more firing devices and the control module disposed within the housing, comprising one or more openings through which the one or more firing devices may direct the one or more pyrotechnic explosions.