Abstract:
A boot having an improved blast and fragment resistant vulcanized rubber boot sole (13) for protection against large anti-personnel mines is described. The sole comprises embedded protective material composed of at least one layer (18) of woven polyaramid (Kevlar) material. The boot further has an upper insole (19) having a critical supporting structure comprised of at least one polyaramid layer (18). An additional graphite or engineering polymer (e.g. Delrin 100) toe-cap (41) and shank are also described.
Abstract:
Disclosed are devices and methods for the destruction of an explosive device, such as mines and other unexploded ordnance, without the detonation of the explosive device. The devices comprise an explosive charge that penetrates and opens the casing of an explosive device and forces reactive material into the explosive device, thus neutralizing it.
Abstract:
A hand-held prodder capable of distinguishing inert rock from potentially hazardous landmines or other unknown objects. The prodder comprises a rod which is placed into contact with an object. A high frequency acoustic or incident wave is introduced into rod and travels along the rod to the object where it is reflected back towards the piezoelectric crystal. The piezoelectric crystal converts the reflected wave to an electric signal and a signal processor determines values representative of the frequency-time-amplitude characteristics of the object. Different materials exhibit different mechanical impedances and frequency damping characteristics. By comparing reflected wave characteristics to pre-determined characteristics for known materials, inert rocks and potentially hazardous plastic or metallic objects are distinguishable. Visual or audible signals inform the user whether rock (safe) or unidentified or known hazardous object were contacted.
Abstract:
An object detector for detecting metallic or non-metallic objects is disclosed which comprises a sound source such as a speaker (12) for generating impulse short sound bursts. A tube (16) conducts the acoustic signal from the speaker to the ground and at least one microphone M1-M3 is utilised for detecting reflections from the ground. A reflection from a buried object is compared with a reference signal which may be obtained from another microphone M1, M2 or earlier in time from the same microphone M3. The reflected and reference signals are subtracted to provide a difference signal and a difference signal is correlated with the original acoustic signal to provide an indication of an object. Time windows may be set to enable analysis of different depths to be obtained.
Abstract:
The invention relates to the chemical initiation of detonation of a fuel-in-air (FAE) cloud such as might be used in a minefield breaching system. A component of the system is adapted to carry fuel to the breaching site and is also adapted to carry a compatible chemical, either gaseous or liquid. Upon detonation of a suitable explosive within the component the fuel is dispersed outwardly to form the cloud and the chemical is jetted outwardly into the cloud in a turbulent manner. A chemical reaction between the chemical initiator and the fuel-air mixture leads almost instantaneously to an explosive shock wave that propagates through the cloud causing detonation thereof. Such detonation neutralizes the minefield along a desired path. With the invention it is not necessary to utilize secondary charges and hence a more efficient and reliable breaching system is achieved.
Abstract:
A detonation system for explosive rounds, such as a fuel air explosive, is made by providing a sealed launch tube detonator assembly arrangement. The cloud detonator provides for a booster charge which is attached to a pyro delay detonator. The pyro delay detonator permits the booster charge to be hurled a discrete distance into the fuel air cloud to insure proper cloud detonator position while at the same time waiting an appropriate time interval to permit complete cloud formation. The detonator assembly is self-sealing in its launch tube to prevent gases, which hurl the detonator assembly out of the launch tube, from burning the fuel air cloud. The cloud detonator assembly itself contains unique safety features which will prevent premature partial burning of booster charge.
Abstract:
A fuel-air explosive weapon launched from a remote distance is used for clearing minefields. A set timing pattern in the operation of the minefield clearance round permits varied range through retarding the length of time that a programed sequence of events occurs at the launch site. Upon flight, the round follows a predetermined pattern in deployment of a parachute, firing cloud detonators and initiation of a burster charge. An extendable probe at the front of the round permits detonation at a predetermined level above ground. The descent by parachute provides a relatively stable launching platform for cloud detonators if they are fired prior to the burster charge detonation for dispersal of the fuel-air cloud.
Abstract:
A magnetic influence minesweeping system and a method are disclosed whereinhree large area air core solenoid coils are arranged with their planes in mutually orthogonal relation. A battery power supply and alternating current pulse generator are utilized to successively energize each coil and generate three magnetic fields having mutually perpendicular principal axes.
Abstract:
A device for dismantling explosive devices, the device may include a handle for carrying the robot; a camera; infrared illumination elements; a payload compartment that is configured to hold, in a releasable manner, an explosive device dismantling payload; laser markers that are configured to be at a predefined spatial relationship with an optical axis of the explosive device dismantling payload; a transceiver; a controller that is configured to control the robot, at least partially in response to commands that are received by the transceiver; a base; and a rotation and tilt assembly for moving the payload compartment in relation to the base. The device may be without a driving unit for driving the device from one location to the other.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an apparatus that includes an electric power source that powers a Marx generator that is electrically coupled to a cathode emitter that is configured to discharge electrical potential into the earth. The apparatus also includes a load resistor that is coupled between the output of the Marx generator and either a relative ground or the input to the Marx generator.