WO2009130398A1

WO2009130398A1 - Protective device for the containment of explosive objects with high velocity fragments

Info

Publication number: WO2009130398A1
Application number: PCT/FR2008/000601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Laubie
Original assignee: Sema
Priority date: 2008-04-25
Filing date: 2008-04-25
Publication date: 2009-10-29

Abstract

A protective device (1) for the containment of explosive or potentially explosive objects, including at least one layer of anti-fragmentation fabric of which one end is positionable on a surface in such a way that it at least partially surrounds a suspicious object resting on the surface, a plurality of mutually movable anti-puncture plates (2) including a hot-pressed multilayer composite of polyethylene fibres and aramid fibres, and a plurality of sealed flexible vessels (5) capable of containing water and arranged on one side of the anti-puncture plates (2).

Description

Protective device for the containment of explosive objects with high speed flashing

The invention relates to the field of protection for confining explosive objects or suspected objects as such.

In this field, EP 1 516 155 is known to prevent the propagation of chips and the blast effect in particular in a horizontal direction.

The invention adds to the protection offered.

The protective device is intended for the containment of explosive objects or suspected as such. The device comprises at least one layer of splinter-like fabric, adapted to be placed on a surface by one of its ends to surround at least partially a suspect object resting on the surface. The device comprises a plurality of mutually movable anti-perforation plates. The anti-perforation plates comprise a hot-pressed multilayer composite comprising polyethylene fibers and aramid fibers, and a plurality of sealed flexible tanks capable of containing water. The tanks are arranged on one side of the anti-perforation plates.

The risk of perforation by a flash, such as a steel ball is very low.

The invention is also expressed in the form of a protection system for the containment of explosive objects or suspected as such. The system comprises a protection device as described above and a sleeve of generally cylindrical shape comprising at least one layer of splinter-type fabric, the sleeve being adapted to be placed on a surface by one of its ends. by standing substantially vertically to surround a suspicious object resting on the surface.

The device is installed inside the sleeve on at least a portion of its inner surface.

A method of securing explosive objects or suspected as such includes installing a protective device as described above on at least a portion of an inner surface of a sleeve of generally cylindrical shape comprising at least one splinter-type fabric layer, and removing the sleeve around the suspect object, one end of the sleeve resting on a surface supporting the suspect object, the sleeve being substantially vertically to surround a suspicious object resting on the area.

The present invention will be better understood on studying the detailed description of some embodiments taken as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a top view of a protective device in the deployed state;

- Figure 2 is a view of the device of Figure 1 in the folded state; FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a antiperforation plate;

- Figure 4 is a top view of a protective device with two types of tanks;

- Figure 5 is a top view of a protective device with two types of tanks;

- Figure 6 is a top view of a protective device with two types of tanks;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a protection system;

- Figure 8 shows a variant of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a top view of an additional protection device; and

Figure 10 is a side view of the additional device of Figure 9.

When an abandoned object is discovered in a public place, people in the vicinity are quickly removed. Given the risk of explosion of the suspect object at an indefinite moment, we try to confine the suspect object to mitigate the effects of a possible explosion. In this respect is known the use of splinterguard protection cover or even splinterguard protection screen. During the explosion of an explosive device, a blast effect spreads in all directions by developing considerable forces on the obstacles that he meets. Splinters can also be projected in all directions. A protective cover is generally raised by the explosion so that it prevents splashing upwardly without effectively protecting an area horizontally surrounding the explosive device, nor preventing the propagation of the blast effect. Moreover, the explosive device covered with a blanket is rendered completely invisible, so that deminers who came to examine the explosive device have some apprehension when releasing the machine to examine it, which increases their stress.

A screen protects only one side of the explosive device and may also be blown by the explosion and tilt backwards thus providing more protection.

Document EP 1 516 155 marked a significant step forward in reducing the risks to people, including members of mine clearance services, and the potential damage to property, by preventing the spread of splinters and blast, in particular in a horizontal direction, with two sliding sleeves relative to each other.

However, the Applicant has realized that some of the most recent explosive devices are capable of projecting metal fragments, for example steel balls at a very high speed, of the order of 1200 to 1500 meters per second. a relatively high probability of perforation of the splinter cloth. The Applicant has also realized that ^" explosive devices with thermobaric effect are particularly dangerous. The Applicant has developed a protection device having a high probability of stopping projectiles at very high speed and offering a strong reduction of the thermobaric effect of an explosive device.

An explosive device with a thermobaric effect generally comprises two charges, a first explosive charge, the explosion of which causes the second explosive charge to be dispersed in the form of a fuel and / or an explosive in the surrounding atmosphere. The explosion of the second charge causes much greater damage to a conventional load of the same mass, in particular due to an alternating blast effect.

Referring to Figure 1, the protection device 1 comprises a plurality of plates 2 spaced apart from each other. In the embodiment shown, the plates 2 are two in number. Nevertheless, it will be understood that in practice the number of plates 2 may be greater than two, for example between two and ten. The plates 2 are said to be rigid, not only in the sense of supporting their own weight while maintaining substantially their shape, but still retaining their shape, for example under a bending force exerted by the hands of a user. In the embodiment shown, the plates 2 are planar. However, one could predict the plates 2 slightly curved in at least one direction. Each plate 2 is installed in a plastic bag. For example, a pouch 3 may comprise polyethylene and / or polyurethane. The bag 3 can be woven or non-woven. The pockets 3 corresponding to two adjacent plates 2 may be pivotally connected relatively loosely, for example by an elastic link 4 visible in particular in Figure 2. The plates 2 are arranged overlapping, for example tortoiseshell, cf figure 1.

The protection device 1 also comprises a plurality of water reservoirs 5 arranged on one side of a plate 2. The reservoirs 5 are in the form of a series of substantially parallel rods arranged in contact with each other. with the others. In the embodiment provided in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water tanks 5 comprise vertically extending tubes. The water tanks 5 may be made of one or more watertight films, for example based on polyurethane, or fabric, for example covered with an elastomer such as polybutadiene on its inner face. The water tanks 5 can be connected by construction to each other, in particular by continuity of material, welding, again by gluing. The tanks 5 can be filled with water at the construction. The tanks 5 may or may not be equipped with a replenishment / emptying valve.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the protection device comprises a series of water tanks in the form of substantially horizontal axis rolls. In addition, additional water tanks 7 are provided (shown in dashed lines), of axis crossed with the axis of the water tanks 5. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the water tanks 5 are arranged in a thickness. However, a plurality can be provided thicknesses of water tanks 5, for example arranged in staggered on two, three or four thicknesses.

Figure 1 shows a position of use of the protective device 1. The anti-perforation plates 2 may be parallel or intersecting.

Figure 2 shows a transport position in which each part of the protection device 1 is folded against each other. The connection between the anti-perforation plates 2 is provided by the elastic link 4. The water tanks 5 are arranged against each other and are thus protected by the anti-perforation plates 2 against an involuntary perforation. On the opposite side to the elastic link 4, a removable fastener, not shown, is mounted to keep the protective device 1 in the transport position.

In operation, the protective device 1 may be installed in a sleeve as described in the application EP 1 516 155 to which the reader is invited to refer. The water tanks 5 are arranged on the inside of the sleeve, while the anti-perforation plates 2 are disposed on the outer side in contact with the bore of said sleeve via the pockets 3. During the explosion of a explosive device around which have been installed a sleeve and a protective device 1, the explosion causes the punctured water tanks 5. The water vaporizing absorbs a significant amount of energy thus greatly reducing a possible thermobaric effect of the explosive device and the development of the flame. Tests have shown a complete smothering of the flame, depending on the amount of explosive. Moreover, in case of projection of high speed elements such as steel balls, they undergo a first braking through the water tanks 5 and are generally stopped by the anti-perforation plates 2.

It should be noted here that the thickness of the anti-perforation plate 2 may be between 5 and 20 mm, for example 10 mm. The structure of the anti-perforation plate 2 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 3. An anti-perforation plate 2 comprises a multi-layer, for example in the form of cross-plies of polyethylene fibers and aramid fibers. The multi-layer is then pressed hot giving it sufficient rigidity and its final shape. The polyethylene fibers and the aramid fibers can be alternated within the same layer or arranged alternately, layer by layer or several layers by several layers. Hot pressing makes it possible to obtain excellent mechanical cohesion between the different layers, hence a high capacity for projectile arrest, including steel balls at speeds of the order of 1200 to 1600 meters per second. .

The number N of fiber layers of a protective plate 2 may be between 10 and 500, preferably between 100 and 300. This ensures a good compromise between the mass and the resistance to perforation by high-impact projectiles. speed. The weight per unit area of an anti-perforation plate 2 may be between 7 and 20 kg m- ² .

The pocket 3 holding the anti-perforation plate 2 may also comprise aramid fibers to facilitate the holding the anti-perforation plate in position 2, even during the explosion of an explosive charge.

Furthermore, the water tanks 5 may have a diameter of the order of 15 to 50 mm, preferably between 20 and 35 mm in the case of a single thickness of the water tank 5. In the case of several thicknesses , the diameter of the water tanks can be decreased, for example between 10 and 20 mm, depending on the height of the tanks.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the protection device 1 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, except that it further comprises a thickness formed of reservoirs 6. The reservoirs 6 are arranged in staggered rows with the tanks 5. The tanks 5 are arranged between the tanks 6 and the pocket 3 housing the anti-perforation plates 2. The tanks 6 may have the dimensions similar to the tanks 5. The tanks 6 may be filled with anti-fire type salt. The tanks 6 may contain a powdery material comprising one or more of the following components: sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate. By their anti-fire properties, the tanks 6 can further reduce the maximum dimension that develops a flame during the explosion of an explosive charge of quantity, nature and shape data. In addition, the presence of the tanks of pulverulent materials provides a slight further reduction of the thermobaric effect and braking of any projectiles. This results in an overall increased efficiency of the protection device. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the protection device 1 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 4, except that the extinction tanks 6 are mounted substantially perpendicular to the tanks 5. The extinguishing tanks 6 are substantially horizontal in the normal position of use.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the protection device 1 is arranged in sleeves 21 and 20 which may be of the type of application EP 1 516 155. The anti-perforation plate 2 of the protection device 1 is arranged between the sleeve 21 and the water tanks 5. The suspect object 9 is surrounded by the sleeves 21 and 20 and the protective device 1. In this embodiment, the protection device 1 can be formed on at least one turn complete in the bore of the sleeve 21 thus providing excellent protection against the projection of chips at high speed in horizontal planes and slightly oblique, for example substantially up to 45 ° upwards.

In addition, the Applicant has realized that the development of the explosion from an upward thermobaric charge could have significant disadvantages. Indeed, the suspicious object 9 is likely to be both in an open area with, if necessary, overhanging constructions such as balconies or in a closed area likely to have very varied ceiling heights.

However, the upward thermobaric effect is likely to strongly damage constructions, and for example to cause the fall of balconies or even damage very important elements, for example to master elements of a construction such as metal beams. For this purpose, the Applicant has designed a cover 10 for limiting the propagation of projectiles at high speed and the thermobaric effect of such explosive devices in a direction generally upward from the explosive device 9.

The lid 10 comprises a plurality of water tanks 11, at least one splinter cloth 12 and a frame member 13 illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 9 and 10. The lid 10 is generally flexible which facilitates its handling. The cover 10 can be arranged on the upper edge of the sleeve 21.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the water tanks 11, the splinter cloth 12 and the frame 13 are arranged in this order from the bottom, in other words starting from an upper edge of the In practice, the frame 13 could also be disposed between the water tanks 11 and the splinter cloth 12 or under the water tanks 11.

As can be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the frame 13 comprises a plurality of reinforcing rods 14, for example based on glass fibers arranged in a crossed manner, the parallel rods being spaced from each other to form a mesh. The frame 13 also comprises a wide-meshed fabric 15 ensuring flexible holding of the rods 14 in position. The cloth 15 may be of the mesh net type. In addition, and as illustrated in FIG. 7, the lid 10 may comprise an outer rim making it possible to limit the development of the thermobaric effect and the emission of projectiles during a slight lifting of the lid 13. An inner rim 18 may also be provided, for example in the form of a skirt, see Figure 8.

The Applicant has realized that the presence of the water tanks 5 intended to burst during an explosion, ensures a certain smothering of the flame and a strong reduction of the thermobaric effect. The fact of mounting on the inner face of the cover 10 is particularly effective in protecting any infrastructure located above the explosive device 9.

In order to further increase the choking effect, provision may be made to implement the system according to FIG. 8 in which at least one additional water tank 16 is disposed between the protection device 1 and the explosive device 9 The additional water tank 16 may be in the form of a balloon that can have its shape adapt to the available space. The balloon (s) 16 may be provided with an expandable wall in two directions which also makes it possible to adapt the inflation of the balloons 16 to the type of explosive device 9.

The protection device 1 ensures a significant dissipation of the energy produced by the explosion, in particular thermal energy and blast energy. The water tanks provide a function of consumption of the energy produced by the explosion by physical effect. The extinguisher tanks, if present, provide a function of consumption of the energy produced by the explosion by chemical effect. The water tanks also ensure a certain dissipation of the kinematic energy of fragments such as steel balls, this dissipation being completed by the stop provided by the anti-perforation plates 2. It is thus possible to quickly secure an area in which a suspicious object has been found by greatly reducing the radius of the security perimeter which is forbidden to the public while waiting for the appropriate treatment of a suspect object 9. In addition, the reduction of damage in the event of an explosion proves to be particularly important for the regularity of the operation of public spaces and equipment. Since public disturbance is generally a goal sought by users of explosive devices, the reduction of public nuisance, whether in the absence of an explosion or after the explosion of an explosive device, is extremely interesting.

Claims

claims

Protective device (1) for the containment of explosive objects or suspected objects as such, comprising at least one layer of splinter-type fabric, adapted to be placed on a surface by one of its ends to surround at less in part a suspicious object resting on the surface, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of mutually movable anti-perforation plates (2), said anti-perforation plates (2) comprising a multilayer composite heat-pressed based on polyethylene fibers and aramid fibers, and a plurality of watertight flexible tanks (5) capable of containing water, the reservoirs (5) being disposed on one side of the anti-perforation plates (2).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the anti-perforation plates (2) are hinged to one another, the hinge being formed by a flexible member (4) for holding said anti-perforation plates.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-perforation plates (2) are mounted overlap.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the anti-perforation plates (2) have a thickness of between 5 and 20 mm, preferably between 7 and 15 mm and / or a density of between 5 and 25 kgm ^{" 2} , preferably between 7 and 20 kgπf ² .

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible tanks (5) contain water.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of additional flexible tanks (6) containing an anti-dusting material. fire, the additional tanks (6) being arranged in the vicinity of the water tanks (5).

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein an additional tank (6) is arranged between water tanks (5) and / or the water tanks (5) are arranged between the plates (2) and the additional tanks (6).

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the additional tanks (6) contain a composition comprising at least one of: sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, ammonium phosphate and ammonium sulfate.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tanks (5, 6) have a shape of elongate bead along an axis.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the water tanks (5) have a diameter of between 10 and 50 mm, preferably between 20 and 30 mm.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a mesh net (15) and an armature (14) comprising rods based on fiberglass or carbon conferring sufficient rigidity to install the device in a substantially horizontal position between supports while supporting at least its own weight.

12. Protection system for the containment of explosive objects or suspected explosive objects, including a device

(1) according to one of the preceding claims, and a sleeve (21) of generally cylindrical shape comprising at least one layer of splinter-like fabric, the sleeve

(21) being adapted to be placed on one surface by one of its ends while standing substantially vertically to surround a suspect object (9) resting on the surface, the device (1) being installed inside the sleeve (21) on at least a portion of the inner surface of said sleeve (21).

The system of claim 12, wherein the device (1) covers the inner surface of said sleeve

(21).

14. System according to claim 12 or 13, comprising an additional device (10) disposed on the upper edge of the sleeve.

15. System according to one of claims 12 to 14, comprising at least one water tank (16) disposed in the sleeve.

16. A method for securing explosive objects or suspected of them, comprising the steps of: - installation of a device according to one of claims 1 to 11, on at least a portion of an inner surface of a sleeve ( 21) of cylindrical general shape comprising at least one layer of splinter-type fabric, and - removal of the sleeve (21) around the suspect object (9), one of the ends of the sleeve resting on a surface supporting the object suspect, the sleeve (21) is substantially vertically to surround the suspect object resting on the surface.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising installing an additional device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11 on the sleeve.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising installing at least one water tank on the additional device.

19. Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, comprising installing at least one water tank (16) in the sleeve.