Explosive device disruptor system with self contained launcher cartridges

A disruptor system includes a plurality of launcher cartridges each including a casing having a closed rearward end and an open forward end defining a cavity. A propellant and payload are carried within the cavity proximate the rearward end. A mounting base is included, having a breach portion defining a back surface and a plurality of barrel portions terminating at a forward end. Each barrel portion defines a bore, the bore open at the forward end. Each bore receives one of the plurality of launcher cartridges. A firing mechanism is coupled to each of the plurality of cartridges.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to explosive ordnance disposal.

More particularly, the present invention relates to devices for disrupting explosive ordnance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disruptor devices are well known and have been used, in various forms, in many and varied situations where an explosive device needs to be cleared. Technology for disrupting explosive ordnance such as military explosive devices or improvised explosive devices has evolved from the use of rifle fire to cause detonation, to disruptor cannon designed to blast the mechanism of the explosive device apart, causing deflagration or detonation. Currently, disruptor cannon devices are single shot projectors used for disrupting suspect packages or other ordnance. These disruptor cannon are typically designed with a heavy steel construction required by the pressures and velocities generated by the ammunition used and to help absorb recoil forces.

While useful in clearing an explosive device, current disruptor cannon are limited by their single shot construction. When multiple shots are required, a single disruptor cannon must be reloaded and repositioned. Often, disruptor cannon are mounted on remotely controlled robotic devices. The robot is run into position and the disruptor is fired. If additional shots are required, the robot must be returned for reloading and then repositioned for a second shot. This takes time, which time may be available in civilian scenarios but may not be available in a military environment. In a combat situation, where operators may be under fire in a complex ambush using rockets, machine guns and IEDs, time is typically short. Additionally, a disruptor is often used as a breaching tool to gain access to a space or area. If an explosive device is positioned within this area, once access is obtained, reloading the device is required to then disrupt the explosive device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a disruptor system with multiple shot capabilities.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a disruptor system for remote firing of cartridges.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a disruptor system capable of being employed for a variety of missions using a variety of cartridge types.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, to achieve the desired objects and advantages of the instant invention, provided is a disruptor system. The disruptor system includes a mounting base defining a plurality of bores, a launcher cartridge removable received in each of the plurality of bores, and a firing mechanism coupled to each of the plurality of cartridges.

In a specific aspect, the mounting base of the disruptor system includes a breach portion defining a rearward surface, and a plurality of barrel portions extending from the breach portion and terminating in a forward end of the mounting base. Each bore of the plurality of bores is defined by the plurality of barrel portions and is open at the forward end of the mounting base.

In yet more specific aspects, the bores defined by the plurality of barrel portions can have axis that are parallel, divergent from one another or the plurality of barrel portions are independently adjustable so that each bore defined thereby has an axis that can be independently altered relative adjacent bores.

In another aspect, the launcher cartridges of the disruptor system include a casing defining a chamber and having a butt end, side walls extending from the butt end and terminating at a muzzle end. A propellant, ignited by the firing mechanism, is packed within the chamber at the butt end. A wad is positioned within the chamber, packed against the propellant, and a payload is carried within the chamber and separated from the propellant by the wad.

The firing mechanism includes one of fuses and electrical leads, for igniting the propellant, extending from the casing of the cartridge and coupled to a remote initiator. The firing mechanism can also include electrical contacts carried by the cartridge casing conductively engaging complemental contacts carried by the mounting base within each bore. The complemental contacts are carried by the mounting base conductively coupled to a remote initiator.

In yet another aspect, the casing includes an integral barrel section which extends from adjacent the payload to the muzzle end. The integral barrel section extends beyond the forward end of the barrel portions.

In yet a further aspect, a groove is formed circumferentially around the casing of the cartridge proximate to and spaced from the butt end as part of a locking mechanism which holds the cartridges in a locked and unlocked configuration. The locking mechanism includes at least one aperture extending through the mounting base perpendicularly to and tangentially across each of the bores. The at least one aperture for each bore is positioned such that the grooves of the cartridges carried by the bores falls on the tangent and is in communicate with the apertures in the unlocked configuration. A locking pin is inserted concurrently through each aperture and the grooves in the locked configuration, preventing longitudinal movement of the cartridges within the bores.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed toFIGS. 1 and 2which illustrate a disruptor system generally designated10. Disruptor system10includes a mounting base12, launcher cartridges14having a rearward end15and a forward end16, carried by mounting base12, and a firing mechanism18coupled to a firing control system19. Mounting base12receives cartridges14and supports and positions them for remote firing to disrupt explosive charges, breach obstacles, and numerous other missions which will be described presently.

With Additional reference toFIGS. 3 and 4, mounting base12includes a breach portion20defining a rearward surface22of mounting base12, and a plurality of barrel portions23extending from breach portion20and terminating in a forward end24of mounting base12. Breach portion20and barrel portions22define a plurality of bores25, each bore25open at forward end24for receiving rearward end15of a cartridge14. In the preferred embodiment, breach portion20includes ignition apertures27extending therethrough, an ignition aperture27aligned with and in communication with each of bores25. Mounting base12further includes a bottom surface26and a top surface28. In the present embodiment, while each of bores25is dispersed at an angle of approximately 12 degrees from adjacent bores25, the angle can be increased or decreased as desired. Thus, multiple parallel bores can be provided, or the bores can be presented at a variety of angles to provide a desired spread.

Mounting base12further includes attachment points wherein fasteners are employed to attach mounting base12to fixed installations, vehicle hulls, remote firing platforms, weapons pintles, yokes or firing mounts, robots and the like. In the preferred embodiment, apertures30extend through mounting base12from top surface28to bottom surface26. With additional reference toFIG. 5, fasteners32extend through apertures30and engage a supporting surface34. Still referring toFIG. 5, it can be seen that multiple mounting bases12can be stacked to provide additional bores25for cartridges14, allowing more shots before reloading is required. It will be understood that multiple or different attachment points can be used to permit attachment to many and varied structures as enumerated previously.

Turning now toFIGS. 6 and 7, a launcher cartridge14is illustrated. Cartridge14is a self-contained disruptor which can be single shot disposable or reloadable. Cartridge14includes an aluminum casing40defining a chamber42and having a butt end43, side walls44extending from butt end43and terminating at a muzzle end45. In this embodiment, butt end43includes a central aperture46from which firing mechanism components extend. However, as will be described subsequently, a central aperture may be omitted when electrical contacts are employed. A groove48is formed circumferentially around casing40proximate to but spaced from butt end43. In an electrically initiated cartridge, cartridge14further includes a primer50positioned in central aperture46with electrical leads51extending back through aperture (FIG. 1). and extending into chamber42at butt end43to ignite a propellant52. Propellant52is packed within chamber42at butt end43adjacent to and in communication with primer50. It should be understood that any ignition mechanism can be employed, such as percussion primers, fuses, wires, spark or arc igniters, heat or chemical reactions, and the like. A wad53is positioned within chamber42, packed against propellant52and separating a payload55therefrom. Payload55is packed against wad53and can be one of a number of different payloads types depending upon the mission to be accomplished. Payload55can include armor piercing bullets, compressed clay or copper projectiles, hole cutting hollow point projectiles or hydraulic charges when the mission is explosive ordnance disposal. Payloads for other missions such as breaching uses, riot control and non-lethal force uses, and for lethal force uses include blanks, full-bore or sub-caliber sabot fired projectiles, slugs, multiple pellets of various sizes, ceramic or metallic frangible slugs or shot, hardened frangible slugs or shot, armor piercing, hollow point metallic, clay frangible, incendiary, explosive or shaped charge, beans bags such as pellet or powder filled, sponge or rubber projectiles or pellets, foam tipped, cargo rounds, muzzle blast rounds containing powdered riot and/or liquid riot and/or dye marking agents, irritants, smoke, muzzle blast or projected bursting distraction projectiles, flechettes, flares or signaling devices, and the like. Cartridges14can also be designed to fire subsonic antipersonnel anti-material or armor piercing projectiles designed to be used with sound or firing signature suppressors. As can be seen, casing40includes an integral barrel section56which extends from payload55to muzzle end45. Integral barrel portion extends beyond forward end24of barrel portions23. Integral barrel section56can be smooth bore or rifled, again depending upon the payload and mission to be accomplished. Since cartridges14are self contained, each cartridge can be replaced with a cartridge for a different mission easily and quickly. Additionally, since mounting base12holds multiple cartridges14, a load of cartridges14can be designed to cover different contingencies in a particular mission.

Mounting base12can hold cartridges14in a locked or unlocked configuration. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, breach portion20is closed behind cartridges14except for ignition aperture27and it is therefore possible that the cartridge can remain unlocked. However, it is preferred that a locking mechanism be employed. Referring back toFIGS. 1,3, and4, with additional reference toFIGS. 8a,8band8c, mounting base12can include a locking mechanism60including apertures62extending from top surface28to bottom surface26, and passing through a tangent of bores25. Each bore25has at least one aperture forming a tangent thereof. A locking pin64removable extends through each aperture62. WhileFIGS. 8a,8b, and8cillustrate a mounting base12having an open breach configuration, thereby requiring a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism is the same for open breach or closed breach embodiments. Additionally, stacked mounting bases12are illustrated to show alignment of apertures62to allow use of one locking pin64per aperture62even when multiple mounting bases12are employed.

With specific reference toFIGS. 8aand8b, mounting bases12are stacked to provide additional cartridge holding capability. Mounting bases12are stacked to align apertures62. As can be seen, apertures62extend perpendicularly to and tangentially across bores25such that when cartridges14are positioned within bores25, grooves48fall on the tangent and communicate with apertures62in the unlocked configuration (FIG. 8a). Upon inserting locking pins64into apertures62, locking pins64pass concurrently through apertures62and grooves48(FIG. 8b), placing mounting base12in the locked configuration, preventing longitudinal movement of cartridges14within bores25. Locking pins64can be of uniform diameter and completely removed or inserted to place mounting base12in the unlocked and locked configurations, respectively, or locking pins64can have spaced notches as shown inFIG. 8c. In this instance, pins64are joined by a locking bar66coupled to one end, and notches68are formed along the length of pin64. Locking pins64are fully inserted and partially retracted by movement of locking bar66. When fully inserted, locking pins64occupy grooves48of cartridges14, locking them in place. When partially withdrawn, notches68align with grooves48, allowing longitudinal movement of cartridges14.

Referring now toFIGS. 1 and 2, various accessories can be used in conjunction with mounting base12. Accessories can be attached to mounting base12using a rail70coupled to top surface28in axial alignment with each of bores25and cartridges14. A plurality of threaded apertures is formed in top surface28of barrel portion23above each bore25. A rail system, such as a Picatinny type rail70is coupled to upper surface28using fasteners extending through rail70and threading into threaded apertures62. Rails70can receive numerous accessories like aiming devices such as cameras, lights, weapons sights, laser projectors, rangefinders and the like. In this manner the projectiles carried by cartridges14can be aimed remotely, manually or the like.

Referring now toFIGS. 9a,9band9c, another type of firing mechanism18is illustrated. In this embodiment, breach portion20is closed and cartridge14is positioned with end43in abutting contact. Breach portion20includes an inner center contact80and an outer ring contact82within bores25. Butt end43of cartridge14includes an electrically fired primer50coupled to a central contact85and a peripheral contact86. When cartridge14is positioned within bore25, central contact85conductively engages center contact80and peripheral contact86conductively contacts outer ring contact82. Since outer ring contact82is a ring encircling center contact80, rotational orientation of cartridge14within bore25is irrelevant to contact being made. Leads88and89extend from contacts80and82, and coupled to fire control system19. It should be understood that firing mechanisms can include cannon fuse which ignite the propellant, wires or contacts which lead to electrically fired initiators, pin fired devices for initiating primer caps and the like. Disruptor system10may or may not include a computer firing control system19, safe/armed sub-system and the like.

Turning now toFIG. 10, a disruptor system generally designated110is illustrated. Disruptor system110includes a mounting base112, launcher cartridges114having a rearward end115and a forward end116, carried by mounting base112, and a firing mechanism118. Mounting base112receives cartridges114and supports and positions them for remote firing to disrupt explosive charges, breach obstacles, and numerous other missions which will be described presently. Mounting base112includes a breach portion120defining a rearward surface122of mounting base112, and a plurality of barrel portions123extending from breach portion120and terminating in a forward end124of mounting base112. Breach portion120and barrel portions124define a plurality of bores125, each bore125open at forward end124for receiving rearward end115of a cartridge114. In this preferred embodiment, breach portion120is closed but includes socket cavities127in which are received barrel portions123. Barrel portions123have a generally round rearward end received in socket cavities127. In this manner, barrel portions123can be adjusted independently to orient cartridges112in a desired direction independent of the adjacent barrel portions. In this embodiment, firing mechanism118includes ring contacts130and132carried within bores125corresponding to ring contacts134and136carried encircling cartridge114proximate rearward end115.

The disclosed disruptor system10can be used in missions other than explosive ordnance disposal, such as breaching missions. In this specific example, mounting base12, carrying three cartridges14angled outwardly to provide a desired spread, is carried by the manipulator arm of a robotic vehicle. Cartridges14are loaded with overpressure distraction rounds wired through apertures27and triggered by the single firing circuit generally carried by robotic vehicles. The robotic vehicle is positioned adjacent a heavily reinforced door, possibly having multiple locks, that needs to be breached. A single trigger initiates discharge of all three cartridges aimed at separate areas on the door frame, quickly breaching the door without repeated reloading and positioning of the robotic vehicle. Another scenario includes a law enforcement vehicle, such as an armored car, carrying a disruptor system10including multiple mounting bases12. Cartridges carried by mounting bases12would include riot control and non-lethal payloads.