GB2575431A - Projectile for piercing building fabric - Google Patents

Abstract

A projectile for piercing building fabric comprises a projectile body 10 and means for retaining the projectile (optionally a tail end 12) within a building fabric 16. A conduit runs through the projectile body 10 such that in use a substance can be deployed through the conduit and thereby through the building fabric 16.

Description

PROJECTILE FOR PIERCING BUILDING FABRIC

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of projectiles, in particular to projectiles for delivering a substance through the fabric of a building.

Background to the Invention

Forcible entry to an enclosed space is performed by emergency services, security personnel and military forces. The enclosed space may reside within a building, the persons seeking access being separated from the enclosed space by the fabric of the building (for instance doors, windows, walls, floors, roofs or ceilings). Access to an enclosed space may be deemed to be achieved when personnel are physically able to enter the enclosed space, or in certain scenarios when an apparatus or substance is able to be deployed into the enclosed space.

Manual forced entry may be sufficient to gain entry into an enclosed space. For instance fire-fighting piercing nozzles are manually driven through doors, roofs or other barriers, to deploy water or other extinguishing substances onto a fire. However such manual methods place a person, or persons, in close proximity to a barrier and any associated hazards (such as heat or backdraft effects from the fire). Alternatively ballistic weapons (guns, rifles) may be used to rapidly blast through the fabric of a building and deliver a substance. Ballistic entry through a building fabric can however have undesirable behind barrier effects - such as projectiles fired at the barrier propagating into the enclosed space and injuring persons or damaging equipment contained therein. Furthermore, blasting through a building fabric such as a door can cause the building fabric to fragment, again posing a hazard to those within the enclosed space.

Therefore it is an aim of the present invention to provide an alternative projectile for delivering a substance through a building fabric.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a projectile for piercing building fabric, comprising a projectile body and means for retaining the projectile within a building fabric, wherein the projectile body comprises a conduit such that in use a substance can be deployed through the conduit and thereby through the building fabric.

The projectile of the invention pierces through a building fabric (for instance a door, wall, ceiling or roof), but does not in its entirety pass through the building fabric. Instead the projectile remains embedded within the building fabric itself. The projectile therefore does not cause the building fabric to fragment, mitigating the hazard to both the user and persons or equipment beyond the building fabric itself. Furthermore the nature of a projectile means that the user is not necessarily required to be proximal to the building fabric being pierced, when operating the projectile. This is particularly useful in applications where being proximal to the building fabric presents further hazards to a user (for instance the heat from a fire).

A building fabric includes structural materials, cladding, insulation, or other materials that separate or divide parts of a building. For instance building fabric includes doors, walls, ceilings or roofs, or similar barriers typically presented to users attempting to gain forcible entry to an enclosed space. The person skilled in the art may also consider other significant structural elements as building fabric, such as the body/chassis of a vehicle, or the hull of a ship,for instance.

The projectile comprises a projectile body and means for retaining the projectile within a building fabric. The projectile pierces the building fabric but does not penetrate entirely through the building fabric i.e. the projectile body does not completely pass through the building fabric, instead remaining embedded therein. The means for retaining the projectile may comprise the physical shape of the projectile body. For instance a pointed projectile will be more penetrative than a flat nosed projectile or a projectile body that gradually increases in diameter from a nose-end to a tail-end will be slowed more as the projectile penetrates through a building fabric than, for instance, a projectile with a constant diameter body. The projectile body may be shaped to resemble a dart having a narrow diameter section and a wide diameter section. The narrow diameter section pierces the building fabric, but the wide diameter section presents a larger surface area to the building fabric that upon impact cannot penetrate, thereby stopping the penetration of the projectile and causing the projectile to remain embedded within the building fabric itself. Furthermore the material of the projectile and manufacturing processes (such as the heat treatment process) may also be used to tailor its penetrative effect- for instance higher density materials (metallic materials such as steel) may be used to manufacture a more penetrative projectile for building fabrics that are themselves of higher density. Similarly the amount of propulsion provided to the projectile when launched will contribute to the penetrative effect. The inventor has determined that a projectile dart formed from Steel of a suitable hardness grade, such as 4140 Chrome Molybdenum Steel, is suitable.

The projectile body of the invention comprises a conduit such that in use a substance can be deployed through the conduit and thereby through the building fabric. For instance a noseend of the projectile may impact a building fabric on an outward side (closest the user), and penetrate through the fabric and out of the fabric on an inward side. The nose-end of the projectile will thereby reside within an enclosed space separated from the user of the projectile by the building fabric. A tail-end of the projectile does not penetrate the building fabric, instead remaining disposed on the outward side of the fabric. The projectile remains embedded within the building fabric, but with a nose-end in the enclosed space, and a tailend substantially on the outwardly facing side of the fabric relative to the enclosed space. The conduit itself provides a passage through building fabric. The conduit may be one or more channels carved in an exterior surface of the projectile body, such that when the projectile is embedded within a building fabric, the channel and the building fabric define a passage through the barrier. Cables or wires, gas, liquid or other substance or device may then be fed along the channels and through the building fabric.

Preferably the conduit is a tube extending from a nose-end to a tail-end of the projectile body. When the projectile is in use and embedded within a building fabric the tube (which may be a hollow region defined by the projectile body) extends between a nose end of the projectile body (residing on an inward side of the building fabric) and the tail end (residing on the opposite outwardly facing side of the building fabric). This provides an enclosed conduit through the barrier through which a substance or indeed a device (such as a fibre optic cable) may be passed. The use of a tube as the conduit enables liquids or gases to be passed through the barrier without leakage. For completeness a substance may pass into the tube at the tail end and out of the tube at the nose end, or vice versa i.e. the projectile may be used to provide a substance through a barrier from either direction.

In even more preferred embodiments the projectile further comprises means for receiving a hose, such that in use a substance can pass from the hose into the tube and thereafter through the building fabric. The means for receiving a hose may be a hose coupling such as a screw or push fit connection. The hose coupling is preferably attached to the tail-end of the projectile body and interfaces with the conduit tube. When the projectile of these embodiments is embedded in a building fabric, the means for receiving a hose may be connected to, for instance, a fire hose, thereby providing a route of entry through the building fabric for water or another fire extinguishing substance. Similarly, the projectile in these embodiments may be used to pierce a vessel containing liquid, the projectile being connected to a hose via the means for receiving, and then to a pump. This particular embodiment may then be used to extract liquid from within the vessel (for example extracting oil from damaged oil tankers).

In some embodiments of the invention comprising a conduit tube, the projectile further comprises a substance vessel, such that in use a substance can pass from the substance vessel into the tube and thereafter through the building fabric. The substance vessel is attached to the tail end of the projectile and interfaces with the tube. The substance vessel is suitable for holding a substance to be deployed through the building fabric. For instance if the substance is a liquid then the substance vessel must be sealed to prevent escape of the liquid prior to deployment of the projectile. The interface between the substance vessel and the tube may in these embodiments comprise a burst valve, such that the liquid will not leak into the hollow region of the projectile dart until deployed. The materials chosen for the substance vessel may be chosen to be relatively hard wearing, such that the vessel can be used to contain a variety of different substances. (Viton for instance may be used). The use of a substance vessel enables a substance to be deployed to be packaged and deployed with the projectile, and therefore coupling to a separate source of a substance is not required.

Even more preferred embodiments of the invention comprising a substance vessel further comprise a means for expelling a substance from the substance vessel. In some applications of the invention the substance being deployed may be a pyrotechnic based substance (for instance pyrotechnic simulant pellets). Upon initiation, such pyrotechnic substances burn and generate a gas which will cause a pressure increase inside the substance vessel. As a result the generated gas is forced from the substance vessel through the conduit tube and out of the projectile body. In these embodiments the substance provides its own expulsion means. However other embodiments may use substances that cannot expel themselves from the projectile body. For instance a powder that is not burnt in order to be deployed, may require forcing out of the substance vessel. A high pressure gas cylinder may be provided in the substance vessel (or venting into the substance vessel) to provide the desired expulsion effect. Alternatively a pyrotechnic material (not mixed with the substance being expelled) may be introduced into the substance vessel (for instance the gases upon ignition being vented into the substance vessel) in order to increase the pressure within the vessel and force the powder (or other material) out.

The projectile in some embodiments of the invention may comprise a substance within the substance vessel. The substance may be in solid, gas or liquid form, but preferably is in the form of pellets. The pellets may comprise a pyrotechnic material. By way of example a plurality of stacked pellets may be provided in the substance vessel with a cambric strip running through them. The cambric strip may be ignited and used to propagate the ignition to the pellets.

Some embodiments of the projectile may have a conically shaped nose end. These preferred embodiments provide increased penetrative performance when the projectile is used.

Preferred embodiments of the projectile have a maximum diameter of 40mm. These embodiments may be used with current in-service 40mm grenade launchers. The projectile may therefore be suitable for mounting inside available 40mm round casings.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for piercing building fabric, the apparatus comprising the projectile of the first aspect of the invention, means for propelling the projectile, and a launch tube having a fore-section and an aftsection.

The means for propelling the projectile may be an eject cartridge. The eject cartridge may be attached to the projectile at the tail-end of the projectile body and comprise a propellant material (for instance a percussion charge). The propellant material upon ignition may generate a force upon the projectile (for instance a gas pressure behind the eject cartridge if the projectile when fired from a launch tube) to propel it towards a building fabric. The eject cartridge may detach from the projectile after launch, or may remain attached thereto. Alternatively a high pressure gas from a gas cylinder may be used as the means for propelling the projectile. The propulsion effect enables the projectile to penetrate the barrier and embed within the barrier, but does not cause the projectile to blast entirely through the barrier.

The means for propelling the projectile may be initiated by a device such as a hammer that impacts a percussion charge of the propelling means. Alternatively a stab detonator on a percussion charge may be impacted by a stab pin. Alternatively a low voltage electrical initiator may be used or a bridge wire. Other embodiments may use high pressure gas from a gas cylinder as a propulsion means. In these embodiments the means for initiating the propulsion may be a gas valve that vents gas into a launch tube behind the projectile, when triggered by a user. In embodiments where the projectile comprises a substance vessel and a substance to be deployed, after launch of the projectile the substance itself must also be deployed through the building fabric. This may be initiated upon launch by a suitable initiation means - for instance the projectile may comprise a pyrotechnic delay that is ignited when the projectile is launched. The pyrotechnic delay being selected so as to ensure the projectile is embedded within the building fabric being pierced, before the substance is deployed.

The launch tube contains the projectile. The term 'contains' is intended to mean the projectile is confined until launch, when the confinement is overcome by the force generated by the means for propelling the projectile. The launch tube may be conformal to an exterior surface of the projectile (for instance may be a cylindrical tube). The launch tube may be short in length, so as to solely hold the projectile and not provide directionality to the projectile when launched. Alternatively the launch tube may be elongate so as to also provide directionality upon launch of the projectile. A 40mm grenade launcher may provide the launch tube of the invention. Alternatively a disruptor such as the RE 70 M3 Plus De Armer may be used. The piercing apparatus may be used at a stand-off distance (for instance on a fixed stand) or may be used in close proximity to the building fabric being pierced.

The launch tube has a fore-section and an aft-section. The fore-section comprises the end of the launch tube from which the projectile is launched. The aft-section comprises the end of the launch tube wherein the projectile is contained prior to launch. In some embodiments of the second aspect of the invention the fore-section has a first diameter, the aft-section has a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter. The diameters refer to the internal diameter of the launch tube. In these embodiments the second diameter is such that the projectile, during launch, can propagate along the launch tube uninterrupted. For instance if the projectile itself has a 40mm maximum diameter, the second diameter may be substantially equal to 40mm. The first diameter is less than the second diameter such that, during launch, the projectile cannot entirely propagate along the fore-section, instead impacting the point of decreasing diameter and being stopped from further motion. The projectile in these embodiments will comprise an increasing diameter from nose-end to tail-end. Preferably the projectile body will comprise a dart type shape, such that a portion of the projectile body passes through and out of launch tube uninterrupted, but the tail-end has a greater diameter than the first diameter of the launch tube, such that the projectile is halted from further motion. Such a launch tube enables a single projectile to be used to pierce many different types of building fabric, because the launch tube itself provides assistance in reducing the penetration effect of the projectile. The position of the change in diameter from the fore section to the aft section of the launch tube is such that a sufficient portion of the projectile body exits the launch tube during launch, to enable a building fabric to be pierced and a substance subsequently deployed. For instance the aft section may have a length greater than the fore section.

Other embodiments of the second aspect of the invention further comprise a means for buffering the impact of the projectile. The means for buffering provides additional resistance to the penetration of the projectile through a building fabric. Separate projectiles of differing material compositions, shapes and sizes, may be manufactured for separate piercing applications. For instance a different projectile may be required to breach a metal door than would be used for a wooden door. Alternatively a single projectile (for instance a dart for piercing a metal door) may itself be augmented with a means for buffering its impact, to enable the same projectile to be used on a wooden door (which the projectile would otherwise blast through and not embed within). The means for buffering impact may be fins that deploy after launch and provide an increase in air resistance to the projectile. Preferably however the means for buffering impact comprises a buffer plate, the buffer plate comprising a launch aperture and means for receiving the fore-section of the launch tube. The launch aperture is of a diameter greater than the nose end of the projectile body, but less than the tail end of the projectile body, such that the projectile is 'caught' by the buffer plate during launch. Therefore the projectile body can pass through the launch aperture with the exception of the tail end. The buffer plate comprises means for receiving the fore-section of the launch tube such that the end of the launch tube from which the projectile emerges upon launch is received. The fore section of the launch tube is received concentrically with the launch aperture, such that the projectile upon launch propagates out of the launch tube and through the launch aperture. The buffer plate may comprise a tubular extension that fits around the launch tube to achieve this. For completeness as the projectile passes through the launch aperture the tail end (in these embodiments of wider diameter than the launch aperture of the buffer plate) impacts the buffer plate, slowing the projectile. The buffer plate also provides a larger surface area than the tail end of the projectile, and as such reduces the overall pressure experienced by a building fabric being pierced. These embodiments would allow a single projectile to be used for multiple building fabrics, by making the penetrative effect of the projectile adjustable. It is envisaged that a buffer plate will effect the aerodynamics of the projectile, and as such is preferably used in applications where there is no or minimal stand-off distance to the building fabric being breached.

In some embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, particularly embodiments used at no or minimal stand-off distance, a handle may be attached to the launch tube to enable a user to hold the piercing apparatus proximal to the building fabric.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of deploying a substance through a building fabric, the method comprising the steps of: providing a projectile for piercing building fabric, comprising a projectile body and means for retaining the projectile within the building fabric, wherein the projectile body comprises a conduit such that in use a substance can be deployed through the conduit and thereby through the building fabric; launching the projectile towards a building fabric; piercing the building fabric with the projectile such that the projectile is retained within the building fabric; and deploying a substance through the conduit thereby deploying the substance through the building fabric.

The term 'piercing the building fabric' is achieved when the projectile is embedded within the building fabric such that a portion of the projectile body (for instance a nose-end) has pierced through the building fabric completely, and a portion of the projectile body (for instance a tail-end) has not passed through the building fabric. This is such that the conduit provided by the projectile passes from an outward facing side of the building fabric through to the opposite inward facing side of the building fabric.

Deploying a substance through the conduit may involve passing a wire or cable through the conduit, or may involve passing a gas or liquid, or other solid such as a powder through the conduit.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure la shows an illustration of an embodiment of the invention comprising a projectile having a substance vessel in use;

Figure lb shows an illustration of an embodiment of the invention comprising a projectile having a hose coupling in use;

Figure 2 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the projectile of the invention comprising a substance vessel;

Figure 3 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the piercing apparatus of the invention comprising a disruptor launcher;

Figure 4a shows an illustration of an embodiment of the piercing apparatus of the invention comprising a disruptor launcher and a buffer plate;

Figure 4b shows an illustration of an embodiment of a buffer plate;

Figure 4c shows an illustration of an embodiment of the projectile of the invention embedded in a door with a buffer plate;

Figure 5a shows an illustration of an embodiment of the projectile of the invention inside an alternative launcher prior to deployment; and

Figure 5b shows an illustration of an embodiment of the projectile of the invention inside an alternative launcher post deployment.

Detailed Description

Figure la shows an illustration of an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. A projectile having a projectile body 10 with a nose end 11 and a tail end 12 is shown. A tube conduit extends internally to the projectile body 10 beginning at aperture 13 and extending to tail end 12. The tail end 12 is of greater diameter than the majority of the projectile body 10 and the nose end 11. The projectile is shown embedded in door 16. Nose end 11 has pierced the door 16 and is positioned on an inward facing side of the door 16. Tail end 12 has not passed into the door 16 and therefore is substantially on the outwardly facing side of door 16. Therefore a conduit has been provided through door 16 through which a substance can be deployed. Attached to tail end 12 is a substance vessel 14 containing a substance (not shown). The substance vessel 14 is connected to the conduit in the projectile body 10 such that a substance may pass from substance vessel 14 into the conduit, through door 16 and out of aperture 13. Attached to the rear of the substance vessel 14 is an eject cartridge 15 that has in the figure already been used to propel the projectile into the door 16.

Figure lb provides an illustration of a different embodiment of the first aspect of the invention. A projectile comprising a projectile body 20 having a nose end 21 and a tail end 22 is shown. The nose end 21 comprises an aperture 23 to a conduit extending through projectile body 20. The nose end 21 has pierced door 26 in the figure. The tail end 22 has not pierced door 26, the tail end comprises another aperture 24 to the conduit. The conduit extends between the apertures (23, 24) as a as a tube structure. Therefore a conduit has been provided through door 26 through which a substance can flow. The projectile further comprises a means for coupling a hose as aperture 24. In this embodiment this is a screw fit connection. Coupled to the aperture 24 is a hose 25 for supplying water. The dotted arrows in the figure indicate the flow direction of water being provided to the projectile. Water flows from hose 25 through aperture 24 and into the conduit of the projectile. The water then flows out of aperture 23. This embodiment of the projectile is suitable for use in deploying water into a room containing a fire. The projectile in the figure has been deployed at stand-off to avoid unnecessary exposure of a user to extreme heat at door 26 and/or backdraft effects when the projectile penetrating door 26. Once embedded in door 26 a user (a fire fighter for instance) has subsequently coupled hose 25 to aperture 24. Whilst the figure shows water being injected through door 26, this embodiment of the invention may equally function in reverse, with water or another liquid being extracted through door 26.

Figure 2 provides an illustration of an embodiment of the projectile comprising a substance vessel. The figure shows a projectile comprising a projectile body 30 having a nose-end 31 and a tail-end 32. The nose-end 31 has an aperture 34 to a conduit 33. The conduit 33 extends internally to the projectile body 30 as a tube from the nose end 31 to the tail end 32, wherein a further aperture 35 to the conduit is provided. A substance can therefore be passed through conduit 33 via the apertures (34, 35). The projectile in this embodiment is formed from metal and has a conically shaped nose-end 31 to improve penetration. Attached to tail end 32 is a substance vessel 39 containing three substance pellets 37 with a cambric strip 38 running through them. The substance pellets 37 comprise pyrotechnic material. Also shown is cambric disc 36 towards the rear of pellets 37 (relative to the nose end 31). A pyrotechnic delay charge 40 is also present in substance vessel 39. Attached to the rear of substance vessel 39 is an eject cartridge 41 comprising a percussion charge 42. To deploy the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the entire projectile is placed within a launch tube. Percussion charge 42 is activated by a low voltage initiator (not shown). The charge 42 generates an explosive force that thrusts the projectile out of the launch tube (not shown), leading with nose-end 31. In this particular embodiment eject cartridge 41 separates from the remainder of the projectile during use, such that eject cartridge 41 remains within the launch tube being used. The force generated by percussion charge 42 enables nose end 31 of the dart body 30 to pierce through a building fabric such as a door. However the force generated does not enable tail end 32 to enter the building fabric. The percussion charge 42 also ignites pyrotechnic delay charge 40. The delay charge is configured to ensure the projectile has embedded within for instance a door before pellets 37 are ignited. The pyrotechnic delay charge ignites cambric disc 36 to ensure the substance pellets 37 burn across their diameter. The cambric disc 36 burning also ignites cambric strip 38 to ensure the substance pellets 37 are all ignited along their length (along the elongate dimension of strip 38). As the substance pellets 37 burns they generate a gas containing the substance. The presence of the gas containing the substance increases the pressure inside the substance vessel 39, resulting in the gas propagating through aperture 35 and into conduit 33. The aperture 35 may comprise a burst valve, which owing to the high pressures inside substance vessel 39, would burst in use. The gas containing the substance then propagates along conduit 33 towards nose-end 31. At the nose-end 31 the gases escape the conduit 33 through aperture 34.

Figure 3 provides an illustration of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention comprising a disruptor launcher. A projectile 50 is shown inside a launch tube 51 which in this embodiment is a launch barrel of an explosive device disruptor. The De Armer disruptor RE 70 M3 Plus is considered suitable for this role owing to the launch tube 51 being straight rather than tapered, and the disruptor being suitable for launching 40mm rounds.

Preferably the disruptor 51 can be mounted on a stand at a stand-off distance from a door to be pierced. Preferably the disruptor 51 is recoilless. Stand arm 52 is provided attached to disruptor 51 to enable deployment on a firing stand or robot. The projectile 50 is initiated via a low voltage initiator 53 causing percussion charge 54 to ignite. The percussion charge 54 generates the force to propel the projectile 50 out of launch tube 51 and towards a door. Percussion charge 54 also ignites delay charge 55, which then in turn ignites substance pellets 56. This embodiment provides an improvement in operator safety by allowing operation of projectile 50 at stand-off. A stand-off distance from the door of 0.3m may be used, for instance, but the projectile may also be launched from a stand or robot. An end cap (not shown) may be fitted over an open end of the disruptor to keep the projectile within the launch tube 51 during transit.

Figure 4a provides an illustration of an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, comprising a disruptor launcher and buffer plate. A launch tube 60 is shown with a buffer plate 61 having a launch aperture 62 slidably received over the fore section of launch tube 60. The fore section of launch tube 60 has been received into a tubular extension 63 of buffer plate 61.

Figure 4b shows in more detail and in cross sectional view, a buffer plate 64 similar to buffer plate 61 in Figure 4a. An internal hollow cavity of a tubular extension of buffer plate 64 is shown as having a wide diameter region 66 and a narrow diameter region 65. The dotted arrow Ά' indicates the route a projectile of the invention would take through the buffer plate 64. The wide diameter region 66 slidably receives the fore section of a launch tube (not shown). A projectile of the invention can propagate through wide diameter region 66 uninterrupted by the buffer plate 64. The narrow diameter region 65 is narrower than the fore section of a launch tube being used, and therefore the narrow diameter region 65 abuts the launch tube. The narrow diameter region 65 is of larger diameter than the noseend of a projectile, but of lesser diameter than the tail-end of a projectile. Therefore whilst nose-end and indeed the majority of a projectile body can pass through narrow region 65 unhindered, the tail end of a projectile cannot. The tail-end impacts the buffer plate at the entrance to the narrow region 65 and therefore collects buffer plate 64. The buffer plate 64 may be carried a short distance with a projectile before impacting a door or other building fabric.

Figure 4c provides an illustration of a projectile with a buffer plate 69 embedded in a door 72. In this embodiment nose-end 67 of the projectile has pierced the door 72 but tail end 68 has not. Buffer plate 69 has provided a wider surface area over which the impact of tail-end 68 has been spread. This has reduced the pressure exerted on door 72 by tail end 68. Where a projectile is designed for piercing a metal door, the same projectile may not be suitable for use with a wooden door, for instance. Inclusion of a buffer plate 69 reduces the localised pressure on a door 72. This means the same projectile made for a metal door may be used on other doors or building fabrics, delivering the same overall effect of providing a nose-end 67 through the building fabric whilst retaining tail-end 68 on the opposing side of building fabric 72. Also shown in the figure is the tubular extension 70 of buffer plate 69 (for mounting onto a launch tube) and a means for coupling a hose 71 of the piercing projectile. The projectile dart in this embodiment may thus be used to breach a relatively fragile door (a wooden door for instance) into an enclosed space containing a fire, and be coupled to a fire hose to assist in extinguishing the fire.

Figure 5a shows an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the second aspect of the invention. A projectile 80 is shown within a launch tube 81. The launch tube fore section 83 has a narrower diameter than the aft section 84. The launch tube 81 is shown abutting a building fabric 82 to be pierced.

Figure 5b shows an illustration of the alternative embodiment in Figure 5a, after the projectile 80 has been deployed. The tail end of the projectile 80 is shown abutting the narrower diameter fore section 83 of launch tube 81. The nose-end 86 of the projectile 80 has pierced building fabric 82, whereas tail end has not owing to impacting narrow diameter fore section 83 of launch tube 81. Eject cartridge 85 has separated from the projectile 80 and is retained in the aft section of the launch tube 84. A substance may now be deployed from substance vessel 87 through the building fabric 82.

Claims (14)

1. A projectile for piercing building fabric, comprising a projectile body and means for retaining the projectile within a building fabric, wherein the projectile body comprises a conduit such that in use a substance can be deployed through the conduit and thereby through the building fabric.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the projectile body has a nose-end and a tail-end, and the conduit comprises a tube extending between the nose-end and the tail-end.

3. The projectile of claim 2 further comprising means for receiving a hose, such that in use a substance can pass from a hose into the tube and thereafter through the building fabric.

4. The projectile of claim 2 further comprising a substance vessel, such that in use a substance can pass from the substance vessel into the tube and thereafter through the building fabric.

5. The projectile of claim 4 further comprising means for expelling a substance from the substance vessel.

6. The projectile of any one of claims 4-5 further comprising a substance within the substance vessel.

7. The projectile of any one of claims 2-6 wherein the nose-end of the projectile body is substantially conical.

8. The projectile of any preceding claim having a maximum diameter of 40mm.

9. Apparatus for piercing building fabric, the apparatus comprising the projectile of any preceding claim, means for propelling the projectile, and a launch tube having a foresection and an aft-section.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the fore-section has a first diameter, the aftsection has a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for buffering the impact of the projectile.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the means for buffering the impact of the projectile is a buffer plate, the buffer plate comprising a launch aperture and means for receiving the fore-section of the launch tube.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 9-12 further comprising a handle attached to the launch tube.

14. A method of deploying a substance through a building fabric, the method comprising the steps of:

a. Providing a projectile for piercing building fabric, comprising a projectile body and means for retaining the projectile within the building fabric, wherein the projectile body comprises a conduit such that in use a substance can be deployed through the conduit and thereby through the building fabric;

b. Launching the projectile towards a building fabric;

c. Piercing the building fabric with the projectile such that the projectile is retained within the building fabric; and

d. Deploying a substance through the conduit thereby deploying the substance through the building fabric.