Mobile device for neutralizing a chemical or biological weapon

A device for neutralizing a chemical or biological weapon includes a sealed enclosure which delimits an internal volume and which is movable between a retracted position and an extended position, a pyrotechnic neutralizing charge which is disposed inside the enclosure, a decontaminating agent which is disposed inside the enclosure and which surrounds the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge, and a mitigating agent which is disposed in the enclosure and which covers the decontaminating agent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/FR2020/052089, filed on Nov. 16, 2020, which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 1913144, filed on Nov. 25, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the general field of neutralizing a weapon and, more particularly, a chemical or biological weapon.

PRIOR ART

Currently, the solutions for neutralizing chemical or biological weapons are heavy industrial tools that cannot be moved.

Thus, the existing neutralization solutions cannot be used in places that are difficult to access or in conflict zones.

Moreover, moving the chemical or biological weapons to the industrial tools in order to neutralize them can encounter difficulties.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention therefore aims to provide a mobile solution making it possible to neutralize a chemical or biological weapon.

The present invention also relates to providing a solution that is simple to use.

According to a first aspect, the invention concerns a device for neutralizing a chemical or biological weapon, characterized in that it comprises:a sealed enclosure which delimits an internal volume and is movable between a retracted position and an extended positiona pyrotechnic neutralizing charge which is disposed inside the enclosure;a decontaminating agent which is disposed inside the enclosure and surrounds the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge;a mitigating agent which is disposed in the enclosure and covers the decontaminating agent.

According to a possible characteristic, the device comprises a filter which is connected to the internal volume of the enclosure by a channel.

According to a possible characteristic, the device comprises a control system for firing of the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge, the firing control system being connected by a wire to the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge, the wire passing through the channel.

According to a possible characteristic, the device comprises an internal envelope located inside the enclosure and which holds the mitigating agent.

According to a possible characteristic, the mitigating agent is an aqueous foam.

According to a possible characteristic, the enclosure is formed by a flexible envelope.

According to a possible characteristic, the decontaminating agent comprises a powdered solid mineral substance.

According to a possible characteristic, a sarcophagus which comprises a fragile zone surrounds the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge.

According to a possible characteristic, the sarcophagus comprises a chamber closed by a cover, the fragile zone corresponding to the junction between the chamber and the cover.

According to another aspect, the invention concerns a method for using the device according to any one of the preceding characteristics comprising the following steps:digging a hole in the ground;positioning the enclosure over the previously dug hole;pouring a first layer of decontaminating agent into the bottom of the hole;positioning a chemical or biological weapon in which the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge is installed inside the enclosure on top of the first layer of decontaminating agent;pouring a second layer of decontaminating agent on top of the chemical or biological weapon;positioning the mitigating agent inside the enclosure on top of the second layer of decontaminating agent;closing the enclosure and putting it in the retracted position;firing the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge.

According to a possible characteristic, the second layer of decontaminating agent comprises a first sublayer formed by a mixture of decontaminating agent with a portion of the soil extracted when digging the hole and a second sublayer deposited on the first sublayer and which is formed by the decontaminating agent.

According to a possible characteristic, the chemical or biological weapon and the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge are installed in a sarcophagus which comprises a fragile zone.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As is illustrated inFIG.1, a device1for neutralizing a chemical or biological weapon2comprises an enclosure3which is sealed and which delimits an internal volume31in which the weapon2is placed in order to be neutralized.

When the weapon2is a chemical weapon, the weapon2can be a chemical munition or even a chemically-charged improvised explosive device. When the weapon2is a biological weapon, the weapon2can be a biologically-charged munition or even a biologically-charged improvised explosive device.

The enclosure3is movable between a retracted position (FIG.2) and an extended position (FIG.3), the internal volume31delimited by the enclosure3being larger in the extended position relative to the retracted position.

The enclosure3is in retracted position before the explosion and neutralization of the weapon2and the enclosure3is in the extended position after the explosion and neuralization of the weapon2. Going from its retracted position to its extended position enables the enclosure3to resist the explosion of the weapon2. Since the weapon2is a chemical or biological weapon, the explosive charge is reduced relative to a conventional weapon.

The enclosure3is sealed, i.e., it retains gases and liquids, in order to prevent the gases, liquids and dusts that could escape from being released when the weapon2is neutralized.

In the example of embodiment illustrated in the figures, the enclosure3is formed by a flexible wall, the enclosure3going from its retracted position to its extended position under the effect of the explosion of weapon2.

The enclosure3can be of liquid and gas-tight fabric such as CORETECH Shelterguard®, or even Tychem 10000®.

According to another possible variant illustrated inFIGS.4and5, the enclosure3is formed by rigid walls, for example metal walls, which slide among themselves to ensure extension of the enclosure3during the explosion.

According to another possible variant, the enclosure3is formed by a flexible wall, for example fabric reinforced by rigid reinforcements, for example metal rods.

The device1also comprises a pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4which is configured to be installed against the weapon2and inside the enclosure3. The pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4functions to initiate the explosion of the weapon2in order for said weapon2to release the active chemical or biological substance. The pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4is adapted according to the chemical or biological weapon2to be neutralized.

Device1also comprises a decontaminating agent5which is disposed inside the enclosure3and which surrounds the weapon2and the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4. The decontaminating agent5functions by reacting with the chemical or biological active substance which is released from the weapon2when said weapon1is exploded. Decontaminating agent5is adapted according to the active substance present in the weapon2. According to a possible variant making it possible to limit liquid effluents and obtain a good tolerance to explosion, the decontaminating agent5is a solid mineral decontaminant in the powder form. The decontaminating agent5can comprise, for example, calcium hypochlorite, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide or a mixture of these components.

Device1also comprises a mitigating agent6which is disposed inside the enclosure3and which covers the decontaminating agent5. Mitigating agent6has for a function to absorb a part of the energy released by the explosion of the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4and the weapon2. The mitigating agent especially makes it possible to greatly reduce the overpressure wave generated by the explosion. The mitigating agent6also makes it possible to limit the spread of dust and liquids which especially arise from the toxic loads of the weapon2.

The mitigating agent6can be, for example, an aqueous foam. When mitigating agent6is an aqueous foam, or even another fluid material, the device1can comprise an inner envelope61which is located inside the enclosure3and which allows mitigating agent6to be retained. The inner envelope61can be a flexible wall, which is fabric, for example.

The device1for neutralizing the chemical or biological weapon2has the advantage of being mobile and therefore can be used at the location where the weapon2has been found.

The neutralizing device1can be used according to a method that comprises the following steps:digging a hole in the ground;positioning the enclosure3over the previously dug hole;pouring a first layer of decontaminating agent5into the bottom of the hole;positioning the weapon2in which the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4is installed inside the enclosure3on top of the first layer of the decontaminating agent5;pouring a second layer of the decontaminating agent5on top of the weapon2and the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4, so that the decontaminating agent surrounds the weapon2and the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4;positioning the mitigating agent6inside the enclosure3on top of the second layer of decontaminating agent5;closing the enclosure3and putting it in the retracted position;firing the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4, thus triggering the explosion of the weapon2, the explosion causing enclosure3to inflate and go into its extended position.

The collection of gas, dust and liquids resulting from the explosion of the weapon2are contained in the enclosure3. The toxic agent contained in the weapon2is neutralized by the decontaminating agent5. The device1can then be moved to a final disposal channel, such as an incineration centre, for example.

The decontaminating agent5which is disposed around the weapon2and the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4can be mixed with a portion of the soil which was removed when digging the hole in the ground. Thus, according to a possible variant, the second layer of decontaminating agent5which is poured on top of the weapon2comprises a first sublayer formed by a mixture of decontaminating agent5with a portion of the soil extracted when digging the hole and, on the other hand, a second sublayer deposited on the first sublayer and which is formed by the decontaminating agent5.

According to a possible variant making it possible to purge the gas trapped in enclosure3after the explosion while preventing the release of harmful species, the device1comprises a filter7which is connected to the internal volume31of the enclosure3by a channel71. The filter7can comprise an activated charcoal filter, for example. The filter7makes it possible to deflate enclosure3in a safe way after firing the neutralization, thus facilitating the transport of the device1to the channel for complete disposal.

The device1can comprise a firing control system41for the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4which is connected to said pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4by a wire. According to a possible variant of embodiment, the wire connecting the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4to the firing control system41passes through the channel71.

According to a variant of embodiment allowing the device1to increase its resistance to the projection of fragments, the weapon2and the pyrotechnic neutralizing charge4can be placed inside a sarcophagus8whose function is to contain the fragments thrown by the explosion of the weapon2. The sarcophagus8can be made of aramid fibres, for example. In order to prevent too great a pressure increase of the sarcophagus8, the sarcophagus8comprises a fragile zone, so that the sarcophagus8breaks through its fragile zone during the neutralizing firing of the weapon2.

The sarcophagus8can comprise a chamber closed by a cover, the fragile zone corresponding to the junction between the chamber and the cover. The chamber can be formed, for example, of a tube which is open at one end, the open end of the tube being closed by a cover. According to another possible embodiment, the tube is open at both ends, the ends each being closed by a cover.

The invention is not limited to the examples presented in the figures; other variants can be used.