Patent Publication Number: US-2018030755-A1

Title: Modular protection system for critical assets and infrastructure

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/835,049, filed Aug. 25, 2015, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to critical asset protection and, in particular, to a modular ballistic deflection barrier assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Terrorist targets include any facility which, if damaged of compromised, would wreak chaos in some form. In addition to large buildings, bridges and dams, the list includes electrical transmission stations, transmission substations and their associated primary control centers. If rendered inoperable or damaged as a result of a physical attack, such an assault could result in widespread instability, uncontrolled separation, or cascading within an interconnection.” As such, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) has instituted CIP-014-1, a program to identify and provide physical security for the physical protection of the bulk power systems. The proposed standard requires transmission owners to perform a risk assessment that identifies their critical transmission stations and substations, and their associated primary control centers. Once the critical facilities are identified, the proposed standard requires the owners to evaluate the physical threats and to develop and implement a security plan for these critical facilities. 
     The idea behind the requisite security system is to “deter, detect and delay.” There are many options for external detection including visible-light and thermal cameras, vibration detection, and radar. Proposed measures to deter include the construction of hardened perimeters around entire sites to erecting walls around specific equipment. Some mitigation strategies involve constructing partial screens to mask the location of critical equipment. Protection against larger ballistic projectiles presents particular challenges. Large solid structures are inflexible, expensive and likely not conducive to aesthetic decoration. Lighter weight structures, on the other hand, may not be effective. 
     Ballistic resistant wall panel enclosures have been designed to prevent damage from projectiles. Such enclosures utilize fiberglass reinforced panels in conjunction with perimeter fencing. The Ballisti-Wall and Ballisti-Cover from Sensei Solutions LLC of Holly Ridge, NC are lightweight, corrosion proof, non-conductive, and electromagnetically transparent products that can be customized and implemented to protect critical substation assets. Constructed from multiple layers of woven fiberglass encapsulated with a proprietary resin system that produces a rigid panel with exceptional ballistic resistance, the unique composite matrix of the panels allow for the retention of the projectile to avoid potentially hazardous ricochet. 
     The Intelli-Firewall manufactured by Composite Support &amp; Solutions Inc. of San Pedro, Calif. has been installed by large utilities to protect transformers in major substations in California. The product features a ceramic composite material that is manufactured using a ‘green’ process technology. The modular design uses light weight [320 lb] panels that facilitate handling and installation. The system is designed to minimize load bearing impact at the base of the wall using steel columns, casings and other components that allow for rapid removal and reassembly to optimize flexibility. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention resides in a modular system for protecting a critical asset on a ground surface. The system comprises a plurality of vertical members extending vertically upwardly from a ground surface, and inner and outer stacks of spaced-apart horizontal members connected between adjacent pairs of the vertical members defining a vertical wall. 
     The spaced-apart horizontal members have cross sections and spacings such that no line can be drawn through the wall without intersecting with one or both of the inner and outer stacks. The cross sections of the horizontal members in both stacks include elongated angled surfaces such that projectile on a trajectory toward the critical asset is deflected upwardly or downwardly and away from the critical asset. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the horizontal members are angle irons. In a more preferred embodiment the horizontal members are ½″ 90-degree steel angle irons oriented sideways, such that the elongated plates making up the angle irons are 45 degrees off horizontal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a modular ballistic deflection barrier assembly configured in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view showing I-beam vertical members and filed plate that connect to the horizontal deflection members; 
         FIG. 3  shows the way in which V-shaped horizontal members connect to vertical I-beams; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a section at the vertical supports; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a section at elevation with a non-limiting set of dimensions; 
         FIG. 6  depicts and alternative arrangement of horizontal members and connections associated therewith; 
         FIG. 7A  illustrates alternative construction technique wherein separate ballistic panels are slid into place; 
         FIG. 7B  is a drawing in partial cross section depicting details of the alternative construction technique of  FIG. 7A ; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a preferred sliding gate structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified schematic diagram illustrating a modular ballistic deflection barrier assembly  100  configured in accordance with the invention. The system broadly comprises a plurality of upright vertical members  104  an generally vertical walls  102  supported between adjacent pairs of the members  104 . The critical asset, which may be an electrical transmission station, transmission substation, control center, building or any other form of infrastructural unit, is shown entirely surrounded by the inventive barrier  100 ; however, being modular in nature, the barrier  100  may be configured to partially surround an asset or any other appropriate arrangement. 
     In the preferred embodiment, as described in detail herein, the vertical upright members are steel I-beams and the walls  102  are constructed from inner and outer stacks of spaced-apart horizontal members. Thus, the walls are not “solid” as inferred by  FIG. 1 , but instead resemble “louvers” which allow air to pass therethrough while deflecting and blocking ballistic penetration. As schematically illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the corner and support posts are preferably buried several feet at  106  below a ground surface  108 . In the preferred embodiment the vertical members are on the order of  10  feet apart, though the invention is not limited in this respect. The walls may be of any height depending upon the asset to be protected. 
       FIG. 2  is a top view showing the I-beam vertical members  202 .  204 ,  206  and field plates  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214  that connect to the horizontal deflection members.  FIG. 3  shows the way in which V-shaped horizontal members  302 ,  304  connect to vertical I-beams  200  through the field plates. As can be seen, the preferred assembly includes inner and outer stacks of spaced-apart horizontal members connected between adjacent pairs of the vertical members to define each vertical wall. The drawing on the left shows how the horizontal members attach to an inner surface  220  of a vertical I-beam, and the drawing on the right shows how the horizontal members attach to an outer surface  222  of the vertical I-beam. The spaced-apart horizontal members have cross sections and spacings such that no line can be drawn through the wall without intersecting with one or both of the inner and outer stacks. 
     The cross sections of the horizontal members in both stacks include elongated angled surfaces such that projectile on a trajectory toward the critical asset is deflected upwardly or downwardly and away from the critical asset. In the preferred embodiment, the horizontal members are ½″ steel angle irons, though other stock with different thicknesses may alternatively be used. Such angle irons comprise two strips of metal intersecting at an angle defining a V-shaped cross section and an elongated common edge. In the preferred embodiment, the common edges of the horizontal members in both of the stacks are oriented outwardly away from the wall. In the preferred embodiment, 90-degree angle irons are used sideways, such that the angles of the plates making up the I-beams are substantially 45 degrees from horizontal. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a section at the vertical supports, and  FIG. 5  illustrates a section at elevation with a non-limiting set of dimensions.  FIG. 6  depicts and alternative arrangement of horizontal members and connections associated therewith. 
       FIGS. 7A, 7B  illustrate alternative construction techniques. In particular, as depicted in  FIG. 7A , separate ballistic panels  602 ,  604 ,  606 ,  608  may be constructed separately from the vertical members  610 ,  612  and slid into place. In the preferred embodiment, the vertical members are I-beams with channels having a width “W,” and the panels each have a width “w” less than ½ W enabling two of the panels to be loaded into the channels as shown in the partial cross section of  FIG. 7B . This construction allows the horizontal V-shaped members  614 ,  616  to be welded or otherwise connected to side members such as  602 ′,  604 ′,  606 ′ and  608 ′. In addition, though not necessary, multiple panels (such as  606  and  608 ) may be stacked on top of one another in each channel to ease construction and/or reduce panel weight. 
       FIG. 7B  is a drawing in partial cross section that shows panels  602 ,  604 ,  606 ,  608  received within the channel  702  of I-beam  612 . This drawing also illustrates side panels  602 ′,  604 ′,  606 ′ and  608 ′ to which the horizontal members  614 ,  616  are joined. The side panels may alternatively be joined as by bolts  710 ,  712 , etc., to the I beams or left “floating.” Note that one or more stop(s)  720  may be used such that when the panels are slid into place, the horizontal members  614 ,  616  are properly aligned as shown.  FIG. 7B  also shows how a bottom plate  730  may be used with bolts  732  into a concrete footing  740  for anchoring purposes. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a preferred gate construction. I this embodiment, a horizontal member  802  such as an I-beam or other angle iron is supported above wall sections  812 ,  814  by vertical members  804 ,  806 ,  808 ,  810 . Doors  816 ,  818  are suspended from the member  802  via rollers  830 ,  832 , enabling the doors to open and close. Doors  816 ,  818  are constructed similarly to wall sections with horizontal ballistic-protection members being fastened to end members  817 ,  819  and  820 ,  822 , respectively. In the preferred construction, inner and outer sets of horizontal members are welded between the side members  817 ,  819  and  820 ,  822 , respectively, to provide the cross sectional appearance shown in  FIG. 7B , for example. The doors may slide in lower tracks (not shown), and when closed, vertical members  819 ,  820  abut one another and may be locked with any suitable high-security locking mechanism.