WO2005057126A1

WO2005057126A1 - Vodopad explosive ammunition impact containment device

Info

Publication number: WO2005057126A1
Application number: PCT/RU2003/000556
Authority: WO
Inventors: Galina Vasilievna Bushueva; Valery Vazgenovich Georgiadi; Andrei Stanislavovich Klyamko; Vakhtangi Archilovich Lukashvili; Vasily Vladimirovich Nechiporenko; Vladimir Mihailovich Golichin; Aleksei Petrovich Diachkov; Andrei Nikolaevich Silnickiy
Original assignee: Long-Range Researches Center
Priority date: 2003-12-15
Filing date: 2003-12-15
Publication date: 2005-06-23

Abstract

The invention ensures safety during detection and neutralization of explosive ammunition (EA) or safe storage of blasting cartridges. The explosive ammunition impact containment device comprises structural components as one or more chambers, and a fragment shield. The components are filled with a waveabsorbing substance, are arranged in a closed circuit in their horizontal cross-section, and form an open-bottom effective cavity to contain an explosive ammunition. Provision is made for the cavity's full or partial isolation from the ambient space with one of the components. The components are designed as a set of screen modules and a cover module. The screen modules are arranged symmetrically in relation to a common vertical axis, with gaps, and on one plane. The cover module is freely installed on the end or above the end of the smallest screen module, enabling its free traveling upwards under the impact of the exploded ammunition. The effective cavity is formed by the inner walls of the smallest module and the cover module. In special recommended embodiments of the invention: -the screen modules have different heights, - the screen modules and the cover module are of a multi-layered design, using a formed wave - absorbing substance, loose granulated dispersant, fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, and a strong pliable case, - the screens are designed as interconnected packages of membranes fixed along their periphery, and arranged predominantly checker-wise, with the layers relatively displaced.

Description

VODOPAD EXPLOSIVE AMMUNITION IMPACT CONTAINMENT DEVICE

The invention relates to engineering devices intended to ensure safety during detection and neutralization of explosive ammunition (EA) or safe storage of blasting cartridges, and may be used for efficient suppression of fragmentation, demolition, and thermal impacts of a blast. There are known methods and devices to diminish the shock wave (SW) using foam or porous materials, without any supplementary extinguishing tools [1, 2].

However, their efficiency is inadequate, as their application requires large resources of consumables, time, and space, which seriously reduces their capacities and restricts their range of application. Liquid EA isolators are widely used, such as LB A System bomb inhibitors [3] and products of the Fountain series [4], which are containers comprising chambers with elastic cases filled with non-combustible fluids. Classified in this group of isolators may also be the device with a U-shaped, in the vertical cross-section, screen of a porous open-cell material (such as foam rubber) filled with a non-combustible fluid [5], -._\ , For application, these devices are placed so that they shield EA (or a suspicious article) on the sides and the top. Should EA go off, a significant portion of the blast energy would be wasted to deform and destruct the isolator. A common disadvantage of such devices is obstructed visual diagnosis of a suspicious object covered by the device, while such diagnosis is required for neutralization and subsequent liquidation of EA, and insufficient degree of suppression of SW and entrapping of fragments. The closest to this invention in its purpose and integrity of essential design features is an explosive ammunition (bomb) impact containment device comprising structural components as one or more chambers filled with a wave- absorbing substance, arranged in a closed circuit in their horizontal cross-section, and forming an open-bottom effective cavity to contain an explosive ammunition, that may be fully or in part, as appropriate, isolated from the environment above with one of its structural components, and a fragment shield [6]. The above structural components are designed as elastic containers. A non- combustible fluid is used as the wave-absorbing substance. Partial isolation of the effective cavity containing the explosive ammunition from the ambient space is provided by arranging a narrow aperture directly above the effective cavity, with a plug in the form of one of the said elastic containers with non-combustible fluid. The fragment shield is a screen designed as a "skirt" attached along the periphery of the container, and is located fully inside the device. The rest of the containers (main containers) and the fragment shield are joined and make an integrated structure. The effective cavity is formed by the walls of the toroidal container on the sides, and (essentially) by the elastic bottom wall of the container on the top, and by the plug end (to a lesser extent). This design, however, has several disadvantages. As in close analogs, containment of SW is restricted due to the closed semi-spherical shape of the device (its design being axisymmetric). When EA explodes, the resulting force of the direct and the reflected SW tosses the device upwards, thus disconnecting the effective space along the plane of the surface on which it is installed. The blast products escape, and fragments are projected out to the ambient space through the resulting gap, their kinetic energy unmitigated, while the insufficient pressure reduction (10 to 15 times) may lead to temporary hearing loss and other barotraumas. Moreover, the design of the aperture for insertion of monitoring, diagnostic, or EA destruction instruments into the cavity requires several approaches of the blast man to EA, and does not ensure continuous monitoring of relative positions of EA and the device walls, either. Such monitoring is not provided during the installation and removal of the device. The narrowness of the aperture (as related to the longitudinal dimension of the device's effective space) obstructs these actions. All this materially reduces the safety level during the installation of the device, diagnosis of a suspicious object, and its neutralization if EA is found in it. The goal of the claimed invention is to improve the efficiency of containment of fragmentation and demolition impact of explosive ammunition, to mitigate damage from its possible explosion, and to improve safety of its handling, without reducing the protection degree for the blasting personnel and property during neutralization of EA. This goal is achieved in that an explosive ammunition (bomb) impact containment device comprising structural components as one or more chambers filled with a wave-absorbing substance, arranged in a closed circuit in their horizontal cross-section, and forming an open-bottom effective cavity to contain an explosive ammunition, that may be fully or in part, as appropriate, isolated from the environment above with one of its structural components, and a fragment shield, where the said structural components are designed as a set of screen modules and a cover module, with the screen modules arranged symmetrically in relation to a common vertical axis, with gaps, and on one plane, with the cover module freely installed on the end or above the end of the smallest screen module, enabling its free traveling upwards under the impact of the exploded ammunition, and with the effective cavity formed by the inner walls of the smallest screen module and by the cover module. The goal is also achieved by a number of additional design features of the device

(based on the above-described integrity of essential features): the screen modules in the said set may be designed differing in height, so that the height of a screen modules increases with any increase of its horizontal dimension, which simultaneously ensures easy viewing of the suspicious object and sufficiently wide safety zone in the "monitoring, diagnosis and/or destruction" functioning mode; the screen modules and the cover module may be designed multi-layered, the smallest screen module consecutively comprising, in a horizontal direction from the effective cavity, a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance with the cavity filled with loose granulated dispersant, one or more fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, and a strong pliable case, with each of the rest of the screen modules consecutively comprising, in the same direction, a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance and one or more fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, while the laminated structure of the cover module, as in the smallest screen module, is a combination of a layer of foamed wave- absorbing substance, a cavity filled with loose granulated dispersant, and one or more fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, the integrity of all the fragment screens in reinforced sheathes forming the said fragment shield (this allows, with a device of moderate dimensions and weight, to achieve high efficiency of containment of the demolition impact with a thermal component, and the fragment impact of exploded EA, and to provide high unit performances with integrated use of protective properties of each substance and composite structure used, i.e. a "synergic effect" compared to separate use of the substances); each fragment protection screen may be designed as interconnected packages of membranes fixed along their periphery, and arranged predominantly checker- wise, with the said membrane packages (layers) of adjacent fragment protection screens relatively displaced within the module, which increases the protective properties of each module, and respectively of the device in general. The claimed explosive ammunition impact containment device is shown in drawings as follows: Fig. 1 shows the assembled device available for the "standard containment" service mode, as a vertical section along the line of symmetry, where: Rj, R₂, and R₃ are typical horizontal dimensions of the screen modules; Hi, H₂, and H₃ are heights of the screen modules; Δ = gap between the screen modules; δ = gap between the ends of the smallest screen module and the cover module; Fig. 2 shows the laminated structure of the smallest screen module as a vertical section; Fig. 3 shows the laminated structure of other screen modules in the set as a vertical section; Fig. 4 shows View A in Figs. 2 and 3 (checker-wise arrangement of membrane packages; Fig. 5 shows the device with its cover module removed, in the "monitoring, diagnosis and/or destruction" functioning mode, as a vertical section along the line of symmetry, where α = space angle describing the safety zone (with the cover module opened in the said mode). The explosive ammunition (bomb) impact containment device comprises (see Fig. 1) structural components arranged in a closed circuit as a set of screen modules 1, 2, 3 (in the order of increase of their horizontal dimension) and cover module 4. Screen modules 1 - 3 are generally shaped as (predominantly) long rings and/or short tubes, and the cover module, as an inverted echelon pyramid composed of two short cylinders. Furthermore, the said horizontal dimension of screen modules 1, 2, 3 is their internal diameter Ri, R₂, and R₃, respectively. In a general case, the set for containment of a suspicious (for presence of explosive ammunition 5 therein) article 6 comprises a smallest screen module 1, which is the basic one and which is selected on the term that diameter Rj and height Hi exceed the maximum horizontal and vertical dimension of the article, respectively; "lightweight" (in terms of their thickness and structure) screen modules 2, 3 in the number of 1 to n, subject to the expected power of EA 5; one cover module 4 to suit the size of screen modules 1 and/or 2. Furthermore, a supply of a wider range of modules 1-4 should be available, of different geometry, size, and protective capacity, to suit possible diversity of shapes, dimensions, and power of EA 5 in articles 6. In the assembled device (see Fig. 1) screen modules 1-3 are arranged symmetrically relative to their common vertical axis 7, with gaps Δ, and on one plane (which is horizontal bearing surface in Fig. 1 ). As the preferred option, it is recommended to use screen modules of different height, i.e. Hi <H₂ < H₃, within the set, so that the height (Hi - H₃) would increase proportional to the increasing height of the horizontal dimension (Ri - R₃). Cover module 4 is freely mounted on the end of screen module 2 so that the bottom end of cover module 4 would overhang above the end of screen module 1 with gap δ (in this embodiment as per Fig. 1). It may also be installed on the end of screen module 1 (δ =0). In either option, the cover module can travel upwards under the impact of the shock wave of an exploded EA 5. Provided that Hi <H₂ < H₃ and that cover module 4 is removed ("monitoring, diagnosis and/or destruction" mode), two typical zones described by space angle α may be distinguished, i.e. the zone (cone) of probable free scattering of fragments of EA 5 and the zone of relative safety (see Fig. 5). The internal walls of screen module 1 and the bottom end of cover module 4 form effective cavity 8 to accommodate suspicious article 6. Structural components 1-4 may be interconnected in one structure to be carried by a person or to be handled by a robot (with pieces of fabric, straps, belts etc.), for which purpose, an appliance for carriage and/or handling (not shown) may also be used similar to the handle in the prototype. However, an option where components 1-4 are not interconnected may also be embodied. In this latter case, the structure as per Fig. 1 should be assembled by consecutively installing modules 1-4 or 1, 2, 3, 4. Modules 1-4 have a multi-layered structure. Consecutively located in screen module 1, in a horizontal direction from the effective cavity 8 (see Fig. 2), are layer 9 of foamed wave-absorbing substance (such as foam polystyrene) with the cavity filled with loose granulated dispersant 10, one or more (as in this example) fragment protection screens 11 in reinforced sheathes (which are in fact composite anti-fragment layers), and a strong pliable case 12, preferably of fabric. Each of screen modules 2,3 consecutively comprises, in the same direction (see Fig. 4), a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance 13, and one or more (as in this example) fragment protection screens 14 in reinforced sheathes. The laminated structure of cover module 4, as in screen module 1, is (see Fig. 1) a combination of a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance 15, a cavity filled with loose granulated dispersant 16, (the cavity may also be formed by layers of substance 15 similar to screen module 1), one or more fragment protection screens 17 in reinforced sheathes, and a strong pliable case 18 (the latter is optional). The sequence of layers in cover module 4 may vary. Each fragment screen 11, 14, 17 is designed as interconnected packages 19 of membranes (in particular, of cellulose) fixed along their periphery. Packages 19 are arranged predominantly checker-wise see Fig. 4). In case of a multi-layered anti- fragment composite, membrane packages (layers) 19 of adjacent fragment protection screens are relatively displaced within each module 1-4, preferably in the azimuthal and vertical direction simultaneously. The above-described embodiments do not prevent other embodiments realizable within the framework of the claims here of. The device operates as follows. In the main "standard containment" service mode, the containment device selected to suit the dimensions of the detected suspicious article 6, complete with a set of components 1-4 of an appropriate geometry, shall be applied to cover article 6 so that effective cavity 8 should fully separate it from the ambient space, provided its preferable location in the center (at axis 7). Thereafter, the required actions to provide safety at detection of EA shall be implemented. As soon as EA 5 in article 6 responds, the resulting SW directed upwards lifts cover module 4 freely(i.e. unobstructed), thus opening the conditionally closed effective space 8 and ensuring relief of excessive pressure, which prevents jumping of the entire structure upwards (typical for the prototype). SW is partially absorbed in layers 9 and 15 of foamed wave-absorbing substance. The exothermal process associated with SW triggers a reverse high-speed endothermic reaction of granulated dispersant 10, 16 and material dissipation of the blast energy. The quantity of energy absorbed in the endothermic reaction is commensurable to the quantity of energy emitted with the blast, and is directly proportional to the weight of dispersant 10, 16. In joint action, modules 1 and 4 suppress the thermal effect of the blast, preventing burns to people and ignition of objects. In addition, maximum absorption of the blast energy is provided, and therefore mitigation of the fragmentation effect due to reduced initial energy of fragments. Secondary absorption of SW is achieved during destruction or elasto-plastic deformation of the remaining modules 2 and 3. The claimed combination of layers in each module 1-4, their sequence, and the physical and chemical properties of selected structural materials will ensure a high damping factor and prevent scattering of fragments. An anti- fragment, and multi-layered in a general case, developed composite in each module 1-4 helps wave-absorbing substance 9, 13, 15 to provide, in its destruction, considerable dissipation of S W energy and reduction of the fragment speed to values close or equal to zero.

Case 12 serves not only as "packaging" during storage and carriage (handling) of the device, but also as a protective component. In the "monitoring, diagnosis and/or destruction" functioning mode, the blast man removes cover module 4 (personally, or with the aid of a robot), inspects article 6 staying preferably fully in the safety zone (see Fig. 5), and provides where necessary a diagnosis of article 6 with instruments (optical, infrared, X-ray, etc.) This completed, a decision on the use of means of neutralization of detected EA 5 is made. In particular, authorized destruction of article 6 may be done in this position as well.

After this, the blast man replaces cover module 4 to its standard position, and performs the neutralization work. Should unauthorized explosion of EA 5 take place with cover module 4 opened, the fragments with their paths within the cone α will escape into the ambient space unobstructed, while the rest of the fragments (given partial containment of the demolition and thermal impact of the blast) will be entrapped by structural components 2 and 3. In this case, humans (the blast man included) and property staying in the safety zone (see Fig.5) will be protected against hitting. The tests of the Vodopad device have shown that the containment device in the claimed embodiment (a combination of three tubular screen modules with one cover module) ensures 100% protection of humans against fragmentation and demolition impacts of encased EA at distances over 1 m from the focus of the blast.

Sources Considered

1. Kudinov V. M., Palamarchuk B. I., Gelfand B. E., Gubin S. A. Shock Wave Parameters for a Blast of Explosive in Foam // Reports of the USSR

Academy of Sciences, vol. 228, 1974, No. 4, pp. 555-558. 2. Gelfand B. E., Gubanov A. V., Timofeev E. I. Interaction of Shock Waves and a Porous Screen // Gazette of the USSR Academy of Sciences MZG. 1983, No. 4, pp. 79-84. 3. US 4836079 A, 06.06.1989. 4. RU 2125232 Cl, F42B 39/00, 33/00, 23.09.1997. 5. RU 2150669 Cl, F42B 33/00, F42D 5/04, 15.03.1999. 6. RU 2150670 Cl, F42B 33/00, F42D 5/04, 15.03.1999 (prototype).

Claims

CLAIM 1. An explosive ammunition impact containment device comprising structural components as one or more chambers filled with a wave-absorbing substance, arranged in a closed circuit in their horizontal cross-section, and forming an open- bottom effective cavity to contain an explosive ammunition, that may be fully or in part, as appropriate, isolated from the ambient space above with one of its structural components, and a fragment shield, differing in that the said structural components are designed as a set of screen modules and a cover module, with the screen modules arranged symmetrically in relation to a common vertical axis, with gaps, and on one plane, with the cover module freely installed on the end or above the end of the smallest screen module, enabling its free traveling upwards under the impact of the exploded ammunition, and with the effective cavity formed by the inner walls of the smallest screen module and by the cover module.

2. A device according to Claim 1, differing in that the said screen modules are designed to be of a different height within the said set, so that the height of a screen module would increase proportional to the increasing height of its horizontal dimension.

3. A device according to Claim 1, differing in that the said screen modules and the cover module are designed multi-layered, the smallest screen module consecutively comprising, in a horizontal direction from the effective cavity, a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance with the cavity filled with loose granulated dispersant, one or more fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, and a strong pliable case, with each of the rest of the screen modules consecutively comprising, in the same direction, a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance and one or more fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, while the laminated structure of the cover module, as in the smallest screen module, is a combination of a layer of foamed wave-absorbing substance, a cavity filled with loose granulated dispersant, and one or more fragment protection screens in reinforced sheathes, the integrity of all the fragment screens in reinforced sheathes forming the said fragment shield.

4. A device according to Claim 3, differing in that each fragment protection screen is designed as interconnected packages of membranes fixed along their periphery, and arranged predominantly checker-wise, with the said membrane packages of adjacent fragment protection screens relatively displaced.