EP0581668B1 - Device for neutralizing explosive charges, in particular improvised explosive charges having a resistant wall structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention is an appliance for neutralising explosive devices, in particular improvised explosive devices having a resistant casing, of the type comprising means for detonating an explosive charge (1), which projects a liquid (2) towards the device, a body (3) having an orifice (4) closed by means of a cover (6) and containing the explosive charge, and a vessel (5) for the liquid (2), the vessel being placed level with the orifice of the body and in contact with the charge which consists of an explosive sheet covering at least partially the outer wall of the vessel. The vessel (5) made of plastic has a cross-section of semi-circular shape and is closed by means of the cover (6) having a plane surface. The body (3) of the appliance is made of a thermoplastic material of the hard expanded polystyrene type. The invention is used for destoying explosive devices in the military sector and in the fight against terrorism. <IMAGE>

Description

The technical sector of the present invention is that of devices for neutralizing explosive devices more particularly applied to improvised explosive devices or trapped packages placed in a resistant capacity.

In this area, several embodiments relating to water cannons have already been proposed.

Such guns essentially comprise a metal tube of generally cylindrical shape containing the water to be sprayed, closed at one of its ends provided with a firing system, the other end being provided with an axial convergent. Such water cannons are the subject, for example, of patents EP-A-0 178 039 and EP-A-0 198 728.

Patent FR-A-2 661 490 describes a water cannon comprising in particular various extensions coming to be fixed between the end of the tube and the convergent in order to modulate the length of the tube and the quantity of water projected according to the speed of desired output.

All these water cannons operate by deflagration of a certain quantity of powder placed in a cartridge causing the projection of a jet of water at a speed of the order of a few hundred meters per second.

Although well suited to the neutralization and destruction of explosive devices or trapped packages placed in a weakly structured capacity (cardboard) or semi-rigid (case), these water cannons remain of questionable or even nonexistent effectiveness. to more resistant structures such as a car trunk, strong cabinet for example.

In addition, the use of this type of water cannon poses certain difficulties, particularly during manual interventions in confined or congested spaces.

Also known is US-A-4,955,939 which forms the base of the preamble of independent claim 1, describes an explosive device for piercing a target and injecting a material such as water through the perforation, to neutralize the explosive device placed behind the target. This device comprises in particular a cylindrical or semi-circular plastic container containing water and an internal explosive, said container being closed, at the front of the device, by a plastic cover in the form of a hollow charge. The outer surface of the container and that of the inner explosive are each covered with an explosive sheet.

The drawback of this device lies in its external envelope which is formed directly by the explosive, which represents a danger for the immediate environment of the device, during the detonation of the charge.

Also known is US-A-4 259 906 which describes a hollow charge projectile for piercing a target at the time of impact and dispersing a toxic agent or not inside the target. This projectile comprises in particular a hollow cylindrical body of metallic material, closed by a cover also metallic, containing a mass of explosive covering the external surface of a conical container containing the agent to be dispersed.

This projectile, initiated by the impact on the target, is not suitable for neutralizing an explosive device or an IED placed in the target, without causing the ignition of the device.

In addition, its metallic material body can generate dangerous splinters when fired.

Also known is US-A-3,960,082 describing an explosive device for breaking hard material such as rock essentially comprising an empty reservoir, filled at the time of the intervention, by immersing part of the device in a poured liquid in a hole, previously drilled in the material. The ignition of the explosive charge causes the liquid to be projected onto the walls of the hole to break up the material.

The implementation of such a device, requiring the prior drilling of the objective to be treated in order to introduce part of the device into it, is totally unsuitable for the neutralization of a submerged explosive device without causing it to explode.

The aim of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above by proposing a device for neutralizing explosive devices, in particular improvised explosive devices placed in a capacity with a resistant structure, capable of generating a jet of water powerful enough to perforate the rigid wall of the capacity and consequently destroy the explosive device contained therein, before it has been able to function.

It will be noted that the level of residual energy of the projected water is such that it does not cause the initiation of conventional secondary explosives used in the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.

The present invention also aims to facilitate interventions to neutralize and destroy explosive devices or trapped packages located in tight spaces difficult to access for existing intervention systems of the water cannon type, for example.

Another object of the invention is to position the neutralization device near the explosive device with maximum safety for the operator, by means of an autonomous routing means controlled remotely.

To do this, the subject of the invention is a device for neutralizing explosive devices, in particular improvised explosive devices with a resistant envelope, of the type comprising means for initiating an explosive charge projecting a liquid towards the device, a body having an opening and containing the explosive charge and a container for the liquid, the container being placed at the level of the opening of the body and in contact with the charge constituted by a sheet of explosive covering at least partially the external wall of the container, said container made of plastic material having a longitudinal section of semi-circular shape and being closed by the flat surface cover, device characterized in that the compact body is made of a thermoplastic material of the hard expanded polystyrene type, in that said opening (4) and said container (5) are closed by a cover (6) with a flat surface, and in that the device comprises a rier (14) and at least one insert containing an axis making it possible to fix the body to a stirrup by at least one screw, the body of the device being free to rotate relative to the stirrup made of polycarbonate and having a through hole used to fix the device on the end of the arm telescopic of an autonomous means of remote control.

Preferably, the ignition means comprise a pyrotechnic relay placed in contact with the explosive charge and an electric detonator positioned in a housing formed in the body of the device.

According to a variant of use, the device comprises an insert embedded in the body, allowing the device to be secured with a support of the tripod type.

Depending on the size or shape of the object to be treated, it will also be possible to combine by juxtaposition or superposition using connecting bars, at least two devices for neutralizing explosive devices according to any one of the variants of use set out above.

According to a variant of use during interventions underwater, the empty container is opened towards the front by removal of the cover, said container being filled at the time of the intervention, with the ambient liquid.

This very reliable device has the advantage of being very compact, which facilitates manual or remote interventions in tight spaces.

Another advantage lies in the constitution of the expanded polystyrene body and the polycarbonate stirrup which does not generate a shine when the device is ignited.

Another advantage is that this device has a very high efficiency in the face of thick and resistant capacities, thanks to its mode of operation by detonation causing the propagation of a shock wave at a speed of the order of 7 to 8000 m / s generating a jet of water projected onto the objective at a speed of the order of a thousand meters per second.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed, non-limiting description of an embodiment of the invention.

• la figure 1 représente une vue arrière du dispositif de neutralisation d'engins explosifs selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale selon A de la figure 1, du dispositif de neutralisation,
• la figure 3 représente une vue de côté de l'association par superposition de deux dispositifs de neutralisation fixés au bras télescopique d'un moyen d'acheminement autonome commandé à distance.

This description will be made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a rear view of the device for neutralizing explosive devices according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a view in longitudinal section along A of FIG. 1, of the neutralization device,
• FIG. 3 represents a side view of the association by superposition of two neutralization devices fixed to the telescopic arm of an autonomous routing means controlled remotely.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an explosive device neutralization device according to the invention is seen, consisting in particular of a compact body 3 made of hard expanded polystyrene in the form of a short short solid cylinder having a opening 4. The external cross section of the body is not limited to the octagonal shape shown in Figure 1, it can be circular, regular polygonal or any shape. The opening 4 is closed by a cover 6, of flat surface and of small thickness made of plastic, which constitutes the front face of the device.

• un récipient 5 réalisé en matière plastique fermé par le couvercle 6 et un joint d'étanchéité 7 en silicone, le récipient présentant une section longitudinale de forme semi-circulaire étant rempli en totalité par de l'eau 2 éventuellement additionnée d'un produit antigel,
• une charge explosive 1 constituée par une feuille d'explosif plastique à base de penthrite recouvrant en totalité la surface externe de la paroi du récipient.

In the opening 4 of the body are housed:

• a container 5 made of plastic material closed by the cover 6 and a seal 7 made of silicone, the container having a longitudinal section of semi-circular shape being completely filled with water 2 possibly added with an antifreeze product ,
• an explosive charge 1 consisting of a sheet of plastic explosive based on penthrite completely covering the external surface of the wall of the container.

The body 3 of the device has an axial housing 11 of cylindrical shape in which is positioned an electric detonator 17 associated with a cylindrical pyrotechnic relay 10 placed in contact with the explosive charge 1.

An insert 12 embedded in the body at the center of one of its lateral surfaces makes it possible to fix the device on a tripod (not shown) of known type. During manual intervention, this robust, stable and benefiting from a large height adjustment range ensures good positioning of the device relative to the objective to be neutralized.

Another insert 13, placed radially in the upper part of the body and symmetrically with respect to the front and rear faces thereof, contains an axis 18 at the ends of which is kept free to rotate by two nylon screws 15 a stirrup 14 in the form of U made of polycarbonate. This stirrup 14 has in the middle of its transverse part a hole 16 in which is fixed by any known means, for example screw, the end 19 of the telescopic arm of an autonomous remote-controlled routing means (not shown) of the type small remote-controlled robot.

During remote interventions, the original placement of the retaining pin 18 and the stirrup 14 relative to the center of gravity of the body, makes it possible to keep the device in a horizontal position, front face directed towards the objective, during the duration of transport by the robot and that of ignition of the device.

Figure 3 is a particular association by superposition of two neutralization devices.

The association of two or more devices can be achieved by means of two connecting bars 20. Each polycarbonate bar pierced with several holes is fixed by means of wood screws to the body 3 of each device.

The upper device can be connected to the end 19 of the telescopic arm of the robot by means of the stirrup 14, during a remote intervention.

Any different association, for example by juxtaposition, remains covered by the present invention.

The operation of the device is as follows.

Depending on the type of objective to neutralize and destroy, the user will possibly choose the association of two or more devices.

Depending on the smallness of the intervention space, it will also be possible to opt either for manual intervention on a tripod, or remotely via a remote-controlled robot transporting the device near the capacity likely to contain an explosive charge or a booby-trapped package, for example.

The front face of the device is placed approximately 2 to 3 centimeters from the external wall of the container. The electric detonator 17 is connected by an electric cable of sufficient length to a current source of known type, exploder, car battery for example.

When ignited, the detonator 17 initiates the explosive charge 1, possibly via the pyrotechnic relay 10, forming a detonation wave propelling and focusing the water 2 contained in the container 5.

The energy acquired allows the liquid to form a jet capable of passing through the wall of the objective and neutralizing its content.

The risk of projection of the pieces used in the construction of the device becomes zero at 25 meters from it.

During interventions underwater to neutralize an explosive device placed on the hull of a ship, for example, a simplified device is used (not shown) comprising in particular the container 5 empty and not closed by the cover 6.

As soon as the device is introduced into the water, it fills the container. The device is routed, positioned and fixed by any known means near the submerged explosive device to be neutralized. The operation of the submerged device remains identical to that described above.

It will be noted that the protection of the invention as described above extends to devices for neutralizing explosive charges, whatever the dimensions of its various constituent elements.

Claims (7)

1. A device for neutralising explosive devices, notably improvised explosive devices with a resistant covering, of the type comprising the starting means of an explosive charge 1, projecting a liquid 2 towards the device, a body 3 having an opening 4 and containing the explosive charge and a receptacle 5 for liquid 2, the receptacle being located near the opening of the body and in contact with the charge consisting of an explosive sheet covering, at least partially, the external wall of the receptacle, the said receptacle 5 being made of plastic, an apparatus characterised in that compact body 3 is made of a thermoplastic material of the hard expanded polystyrene type and in that said opening 4 and said receptacle 5 are closed by cover 6 having a flat surface and in that the apparatus comprises a stirrup 14 and at least one insert 13 enclosing an axle 18 which makes it possible to attach the body to said stirrup 14 by at least one screw 15, the device body rotating freely in relation to polycarbonate stirrup 14 and having a through hole 16 used to attach the apparatus to extremity 19 of the telescopic arm of a remote controlled autonomous conveying means.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the starting means comprise a pyrotechnic relay 10, located in contact with the explosive charge 1 and an electric detonator 17, positioned in a housing 11, made in the body of the apparatus.
3. An apparatus according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises an insert 12, embedded in the body, making it possible to join the apparatus with a support of the tripod type.
4. An apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the device body has a cross section which has a regular external polygonal shape 1.
5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that liquid 2 comprises water with an anti freezing product added.
6. An assembly comprising at least two apparatuses of neutralisation according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that the said devices are associated by juxtaposition or superposition by means of small connecting bars 20.
7. A method of utilisation during interventions under water of an apparatus of neutralisation according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that empty receptacle 5 is open towards the front by elimination of cover 6, the said receptacle being filled during the intervention with the ambient liquid.

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