Abstract:
An ejection and recovery system for a disrupter barrel has a parachute. A housing having a channel formed there through is provided wherein the disrupter barrel is positioned in the channel. A tube is coupled to the housing for storing the parachute. A lanyard is coupled to the parachute and to the disrupter barrel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This invention claims priority, under 35 U.S.C. §120, to the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/396,526 to F. Richard Langner filed on 1 Jun. 2010, which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to percussion actuated non-electric (PAN) disrupters or dearmers, and more specifically, to a disrupter ejection and recovery system for use with light weight disrupter barrels which are used for disabling and destroying IEDs. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Percussion actuated non-electric (PAN) disrupters or dearmers are often used by military personnel, bomb squads, and other emergency service personnel in the destruction and disablement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and other bombs and/or ordnance. A typical PAN disrupter comprises a heavy duty 12-gauge shotgun barrel which can be operated remotely through the use of a robot, for example, in order to facilitate firing of the device from a safe distance. The PAN disrupter is often engaged electrically or by a shock tube. Such a PAN disrupter uses specially designed 12-gauge shotgun ammunition in conjunction with various sighting methods which predominantly use a laser sight. 
     Typically, compact disrupter barrels, used for destroying IEDs, are unable to absorb the recoil created by the high energy cartridges used for this purpose. The energy generated causes the disrupter, if not restrained, to travel in the opposite direction at a high velocity and for a long distance. In one test, a disrupter traveled approximately 70 yards. Obviously, this reaction is undesirable for safety reasons, collateral damage or surrounding objects and for the loss of the disrupter. In addition, the recoil may not allow the disrupter to be mounted to a light weight robot since the force generated by the recoil may cause significant damage to the robot when fired. 
     Therefore, a need exists to provide a device and method to overcome the above problems of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, an ejection and recovery system for a disrupter barrel is disclosed. The ejection and recovery system has a parachute. A housing having a channel formed there through is provided wherein the disrupter barrel is positioned in the channel. A tube is coupled to the housing for storing the parachute. A lanyard is coupled to the parachute and to the disrupter barrel 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an ejection and recovery system for a disrupter barrel is disclosed. The ejection and recovery system has a parachute. A lanyard is coupled to the parachute and to the disrupter barrel. 
     The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the disrupter ejection and recovery system consistent with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a front view of the disrupter barrel mount housing used in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the disrupter barrel mount housing used in the system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the disrupter ejection and recovery system mounted on a robot. 
     
    
    
     Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and detailed description to indicate like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1-2 , disrupter ejection and recovery system  10  (hereinafter system  10 ) is shown. The system  10  may have a disrupter barrel  12 . The disrupter barrel  12  may be comprised of a barrel section  14  having a muzzle end  16 , a bore  18 , and a chamber  20 . In accordance with one embodiment, the barrel section  14  may be a heavy-duty 12-gauge shotgun barrel. The barrel section  14  may be formed of a carbon fiber wrapped titanium barrel. The above are given as examples and should not be seen in a limiting manner. 
     A barrel mounting device  22  may be secured to the barrel section  14 . The barrel mounting device  22  may be used to secure the disrupter barrel  12  to a tripod  23  as shown in  FIG. 1  or to a robot device  44  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The barrel mounting device  22  may have a housing  24 . A channel  26  may be formed through the housing  24 . The channel  26  may generally be a horizontal channel formed through the housing  24 . The barrel section  14  may be inserted through the channel  26 . The barrel section  14  may be inserted through the channel  26 . The channel  26  may have a coating layer  28  applied to an interior surface of the channel  26 . The coating layer  28  may be a non-stick coating such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) more commonly known as Teflon®. 
     One or more securing devices  30  may be used to help hold the barrel section  14  within the housing  24  when desired. The securing devices  30  may be plunger mechanisms or the like. In general, the securing devices  30  may be adjustable tension devices. The securing devices  30  would typically be required when the system  10  is mounted on a robot  44  to ensure that the barrel section  14  does not loosen during travel to the target. The slight tension, used to retain the barrel section  14 , does not affect the ejection of the barrel section  14 . 
     A coupling mechanism  32  may be formed in the housing  24 . The coupling mechanism  32  may be used to secure the system  10  to the tripod  23  as shown if  FIG. 1  or to the robot device  44  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In general, the coupling mechanism  32  may be some type of threaded channel or the like. 
     A tube  34  may be coupled to the housing  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a mounting rail  36  may be used to attach the tube  34  to the housing  24 . The mounting rail  36  may be a standardized mounting platform such as the Picatinny Rail Accessory Mount or the like. 
     The tube  34  may be used to house a parachute  38 . The parachute  38  may be coupled to the barrel section  14  in order to create a drag to limit the travel of the barrel section  14 . A connection device  40  may be used to secure the parachute  38  to the barrel section  14 . In general, the connection device  40  may be coupled to the parachute  38  and to a rear section of the barrel section  14  such as the breech area of the barrel section  14 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a groove  42  may be formed in the barrel section  14 . The groove  42  may be formed in a rear section of the barrel section  14 . The connection device  40  may be a lanyard  40 A or the like. One end of the lanyard  40 A may be secured within the groove  42 . A second end of the lanyard  40 A may be secured to the parachute  38 . The groove  42  may be formed in the rear section of the barrel section  14  to insure that the lanyard  40 A clears the barrel mounting device  22  as well as the tripod  24  or robot device  44  to which the disrupter barrel  12  is coupled. 
     In operation, the disrupter barrel  12  may be operated according to standard protocol, which may generally include being operated electrically or by a shock tube in order to permit firing of the device from a safe distance. The parachute  38  may be pulled out of the tube  34  when the disrupter barrel  12  is fired and ejected from the housing  24 . The parachute  38  will begin to open as soon as it has been pulled clear of the housing  24  and will contain the travel of the disrupter barrel  12  within approximately 10 yards. 
     While embodiments of the disclosure have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims.