Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to a blast-resistant container, and particularly to such a container configured to receive an explosive, an explosive-suspect item or a thereto related article for preventing or minimizing damage in the event an explosion occurs. Advantages with the invention includes for example an improved safety situation surrounding the process of handling potentially explosive devices, as the blast-resistant container may be made readily available for use in any situation where potentially dangerous objects may be presented.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a blast-resistant container, and particularly to such a container configured to receive a possibly suspected explosive item or a thereto related article for preventing or minimizing damage in the event an explosion occurs. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Various blast-resistant containers have been developed and used for carrying a general explosive device, such as an improvised explosive device (IED) or homemade bomb, to a place where it can be safely detonated, or to permit its safe detonation within the container itself. The known blast-resistant containers presently in use are generally of very thick, heavy and bulky construction in order to be able to withstand the blast should the article placed within it explode. There exist basically three type of design, the first being a cylindrical container open at both ends which vents the explosive gases from a detonation through the ends and provides protection from fragmentation only on the side, the second being a cylinder similar to the first type, however being open only on the top end and providing added protection from fragments at the bottom end. The third type is an essentially spherical container which totally contains the fragments and the blast. The spherical container offers the best protection, but requires an opening with a very complex and expensive door. 
         [0003]    In general, the above discussed types of blast-resistant containers are typically, by their very nature, large and heavy, and construction thereof is costly and labor intensive. Accordingly, they are too expensive for dedicated installation at a particular site. In addition, many organizations are unwilling to make the necessary investments in view of the relative infrequency of any bomb threats. Moreover, size and weight characteristics impede conveyance of the prior art types of blast-resistant containers from a remote location to the vicinity of a package bomb. Many buildings entrances, decks and freight elevators cannot accommodate or support such large and heavy equipment. Thus, the prior art types of blast-resistant containers tend to significantly increase exposure and handling of a suspect explosive device before safe isolation thereof can be established. Evacuation of an entire facility, pending arrival of a transportable bomb containment container, is often the only viable option. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a need exists for a novel type of blast-resistant container, which may be designed and manufactured at a lower cost as compared to the prior art types of containers, thus making it more suitable for general installation for minimizing the risk of personnel coming in contact with suspect explosive devices 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the above mentioned need, a general object of the present invention is to provide an improved blast-resistant which at least to some extent provides further improvements in relation to prior art. 
         [0006]    According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a blast-resistant container, comprising a chamber having an opening, the chamber configured to receive an explosive device and being constructed from a material configured to safely contain fragments and a blast pressure in case of explosion of the explosive device, and an external door configured to cover the opening in a closed position and to allow access to the inside of the body in an open position, the door comprising a door leaf having an upper first door side and a second lower door side provided at a circumference of the door leaf, the second door side being essentially opposite to the first door side, wherein the opening is provided with an angled locking flange arranged at an upper first opening side and a lower second opening side provided at a circumference of the opening, the second opening side being essentially opposite to the first opening side, and the first and the second door sides are provided with locking elements angled in an opposite direction to the locking flanges and configured to allow corresponding engagement with the locking flanges at the first and the second opening sides, respectively, allowing the door to slide from the open position to the closed position. 
         [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an explosion resistant container suitable for containing the effects of a bomb explosion within the container. The container includes a chamber and an externally arranged door that can slide from an open to a closed position. The container is manufactured from an explosion resistant material, typically a metal material, having an opening configured to receive the possible bomb, and as mentioned, configured to be covered by the door. 
         [0008]    The chamber is constructed in such a way that at least an upper side and a lower side of the opening is provided with an angled locking flange configured to engage with corresponding and in an opposite direction angled locking elements provided at the door. The inventor has identified this implementation to be specifically suitable from a safety as well as from a manufacturing perspective, possibly lowering the bar for acquiring such a blast-resistant container for use in everyday situations such as for example in relation to a sorting facility, post office, etc. due to the possibility of manufacturing the blast-resistant container to be less heavy and more flexible in terms of as compared to prior-art containers. 
         [0009]    Thus, advantages with the invention includes for example an improved safety situation surrounding the process of handling potentially explosive devices, as the blast-resistant container may be made readily available for use in any situation where potentially dangerous objects may be presented. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the blast-resistant container further comprises a door support configured to receive the door leaf in the open position. Specifically, the door support may be arranged in such a manner as compared to the chamber such that the door leaf may be slid over to the door support once in the open position. Thus, it is desirable to arrange the elements of the door support as an extension of the locking flange provided at the opening. The door support may in a preferred embodiment be hinged to the chamber, thus making it possible to store away the door support once the door is in the closed position. Similarly, also once the door leaf is fully arranged at the door support in the open position, both the door leaf and the door support may be securely stored away. This is specifically advantageous in case of an in comparison large blast-resistant container, e.g. having a door leaf having a weight that normally may be considered to exceeding what is suitable to manually lift (such as above 20 kg). However, it may of course be possible to construct the container in such a way that the door leaf has an in comparison lower weight, thus making the door support optional. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment, the locking elements provided at the first and the second door sides are formed from separate elongated structural material fixed parallel to the first and the second door sides. Preferably, an angled elongated metal beam may be affixed to the door leaf for providing this functionality. The elongated beam may for example be welded to the door leaf, or alternatively connected to the door leaf using bolting. Other possibilities exits and are within the scope of the invention. 
         [0012]    It is advantageous to provide the door leaf with a plurality of teeth shaped protrusions at the first and the second door sides at the circumference of the door leaf. These teeth shaped protrusions are then configured to be “inserted” into corresponding openings of the respective elongated metal beams, preferably through the openings where they are affixed, for example using welding. In an embodiment, 2-5 teeth are formed per 100 cm of side of the door leaf. It may of course be possible to include further or less teeth per 100 cm. 
         [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the door leaf and the plurality of teeth shaped protrusions are formed from a single sheet metal element. In such an embodiment, the door leaf may be laser cut or otherwise shaped for forming the teeth. 
         [0014]    The door leaf typically provided with a third and a fourth vertical side, the third and the fourth sides are provided with a further plurality of teeth shaped protrusions formed at the circumference of the door leaf, and a further elongated locking element is fixed at the third door side, the further elongated locking element having correspondingly arranged openings for receiving the plurality of teeth shaped protrusions of the third side of the door leaf. Thus, also the third side will be provided with an elongated locking element that typically may be engaged with a corresponding locking flange at the opening of the opening, i.e. two angled elements engaging with each other at each of the three sides. Thus, the door will be locked to the chamber at three sides once the door is in the closed position. 
         [0015]    The angled locking flange arranged at the opening is preferably formed from separate structural elements and being fixed to the chamber. Thus, the interface between the chamber and the door may be manufactured separately and affixed to the chamber. The locking flange is preferably welded to the opening of the chamber. 
         [0016]    As such, the blast-resistant container may typically be arranged in a general cube shape, having six rectangular sides not necessarily being of the exact same size, where the door leaf forms one of said six rectangular sides. The chamber is preferably also formed from a sheet metal element, advantageously having a thickness of at least 20 mm. 
         [0017]    For providing an even further secure locking the door to the chamber, e.g. for increasing the connection between the door and the chamber once the door is in its closed position and/or to refrain from unauthorized or unintentional opening of the door and for, the blast-resistant container may further be provided with a locking arrangement fixed to a vertical side of the door opening corresponding to the fourth vertical side of the door leaf. Preferably, the locking arrangement is configured to engage and lock with the plurality of teeth shaped protrusions formed at the fourth vertical side of the door leaf when the door is arranged in the closed position. Such teeth shaped protrusions may also be provided at the fourth side of the locking flange, thus also engaging with the locking arrangement once the door is arranged at its closed position. 
         [0018]    For improving the handling of the container, it may be possible to equip the blast-resistant container with a sliding rail fixed at the second opening side and configured to reduce an amount of friction when sliding the door between the opened and the closed position. Such a sliding rail may also be correspondingly provided at the first upper opening side. 
         [0019]    It is preferred to arrange the container according to the invention to be mobile. Accordingly, the container may be affixed to a carriage, possibly allowing the carriage to be readily connected to a vehicle of any sort for quickly moving the container away from any personnel in case of a possible explosive device being arranged in the container. 
         [0020]    Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  conceptually illustrates a perspective view of a blast-resistant container according to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2 a -3 e    shows detailed view of the door and locking mechanism provided in relation to the inventive container; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed illustration of an exemplary joint between a door leaf and a locking beam provided in relation to a currently preferred embodiment of the inventive container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, where  FIGS. 1-3  in conjunction depict a conceptual illustration of a blast-resistant container  100  according to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         [0027]    The blast-resistant container  100  comprises a chamber  102 , typically being an essentially rectangular prism of a welded construction. The chamber  102  comprises a main body  104  enclosing four of the sides of the chamber  102  and a back portion  106  for example being welded to the main body  104 . The main body  104  as well as the back portion  106  may be constructed from a sheet metal plate, where the main body  104  for example may be made formed from a single piece of material resulting in only a single joining weld. Alternatively, the main body  104  may be formed by a plurality of pieces of metal being joined together. 
         [0028]    At a front end of the blast-resistant container  100  there is provided an opening  105 , provided with an external door  108  to be transitioned from an open to a closed position (or held in either of these positions). The opening  105  and the external door  108  typically have a corresponding rectangular form. The opening  105  is provided with a locking flange  110  extending perpendicular to and around the circumference of the opening  105 . It would be possible, and within the scope of the invention, to provide a plurality of “segmented” locking flanges arranged at the circumference of the opening  105 , however not necessarily provided at all four sides of the opening  105 . 
         [0029]    The external door  108  comprises a door leaf  112  and locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  (typically provided by beams having a U-shaped cross section) arranged at the circumference of the door leaf  112 , at the upper, lower and at one of the sides of the circumference of the door leaf  112 , respectively. The locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  are securely engaging with its respective sides of the door leaf  112  in a “two step manner”. Firstly, the bottom (typically denoted as the “web”) of the U-shaped locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  are provided with “opening”, into which corresponding protrusions  120  extending at the circumference of the door leaf  112  are allowed to be inserted.  FIG. 3  provides a detailed illustration where the protrusions  120  are configured to extend into the openings and through the material forming the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 , typically of a metal material. Secondly, at least an outer portion of the protrusions  120  are welded at and around the respective openings of the locking beams  114 ,  116  and  118 . 
         [0030]    As an example and in regards to the locking beam  114  arranged at the upper side of the circumference of the door leaf  112 , this will be implemented by arranging the locking beam  114  “upside down” in regards to its U-shape, where the protrusions  120  at the corresponding side of the door leaf  112  will be extending through the web material of the locking beam  114  and be welded at the outside of the locking beam  114  (again, see the detailed illustration provided in 
         [0031]      FIG. 3 ). The further locking beams  116 ,  118  may be arranged in a similar manner (locking beam  116  being arranged at the bottom of the door leaf  112  and the locking beam  118  arranged at the side of the locking beam  112 ). The locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  may (alternatively or) also be connected to the door leaf  112  by means of additional welds and/or further joints, such as for example using a bolting joint. 
         [0032]    The U-shaped locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  are further formed to have a width between the beam flanges (typically denoted as a beam height) allowing also a portion of the locking flange  110  to together with the door leaf  112  be arranged between the flanges of the respective locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 . As understood, this will typically be applicable once the door  118  is arranged in its closed position, where the locking flange  110  will be arranged essentially in parallel with the door leaf  112 . In an embodiment of the invention, the locking flange  110  has a thickness of between 20-60 mm and the door leaf  112  has a thickness of between 10-50 mm. The protrusions  120  typically have a length of between 20-60 mm. 
         [0033]    The locking flange  110  will typically engage with all of locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  once the door leaf  112  is in its fully closed position. Thus, the locking flange  110  on three sides of the door  108  will typically be “inserted” between the beam flanges of the respective locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 . 
         [0034]    As is illustrated in Fig,  2   d  and  2   e,  on the fourth side of the door  108  the door leaf  112  is provided with corresponding protrusions  122 ; typically have a length of between 40-100 mm. A fourth locking beam  124  is affixed/joined to the corresponding side of the locking flange  110 , i.e. rather than joining the protrusions  122  of the door leaf  112  to the locking beam  124 , the locking beam  124  is joined (for example welded) to the locking flange  110 . Corresponding openings are provided at the locking beam  124  for allowing the protrusions  122  to be inserted there through. 
         [0035]    Thus, once the door leaf  112  is in its fully closed position, all sides of the door leaf  112  will have protrusions  120 ,  122  engaged through corresponding openings within the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124 , where the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124  in turn clasps (extends over) the locking flange  110 . 
         [0036]    In case an explosive device  126  placed inside of the blast-resistant container  100  would explode, the locking flange  110  is subjected to only a small stress since the main load which occurs in the interior of the chamber  102  in the event of the explosion is taken up by the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124 . In addition, since the protrusions  120 ,  122  are extending through the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124 , and joined at their respective outsides (see e.g. the detailed illustration of  FIG. 3 ), the door leaf  112  will at its connection to the locking flange  110  mainly be exposed to a tensile load. 
         [0037]    This can be compared to a case where no protrusions  120 ,  122  are provided and the door leaf  112  would be directly joined to the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118 ,  124 , resulting in a main exposure to a shear load. Selecting an implementation resulting in a main exposure to a tensile load has shown to be superior in regards to a blast-resistant container  100  of the disclosed type. 
         [0038]    In addition, the disclosed implementation with protrusions  120  extending through the locking beams  114 ,  116 ,  118  requires less effort in regards to manufacturing of the blast-resistant container  100 . 
         [0039]    Further to the above discussion, the blast-resistant container  100  is provided with a door support  128  configured to receive the door  108  in the open position. The door support is typically hinged  130  to the main body  104  of the chamber  102 . Thus, once the door  108  is to be opened, the door support  128  is placed perpendicular to the side of the main body  104  such that the door  108  may slide over to the door support  128 . The door support  128  may then be turned such that the door  108  is placed lateral to the main body  108 , thus allowing a simplified storage of the door  108  in the opened position. 
         [0040]    The door support  128  as well as the locking flange  110  may be provided with sliding rails  132 ,  134  reducing the friction when sliding the door between the open and the closed position. Brackets  136  configured to engage with the sliding rails are typically affixed to the locking beam  114 . 
         [0041]    As is shown in Fig,  2   c,  for providing a further secure locking between the door  108  and the chamber  102 , a locking mechanism  138  may be provided. The locking mechanism  138  may for example be arranged together with the fourth locking beam  124 , and comprising a mechanism configured to selectively engage with the protrusions  122 . Accordingly, the locking mechanism  138  may be selectively transitioned from an unlocked to a locked position. 
         [0042]    Furthermore, for providing the blast-resistant container  100  with mobility, the chamber  102  may be joined to a carriage  140 . The carriage  140  may be of any type or form, typically provided with a towbar connection  142  for connecting the now mobile blast-resistant container  100  to a vehicle for swift transportation away from any personnel in potential danger due to the possible explosive device  126  securely stowed away inside of the closed blast-resistant container  100 . 
         [0043]    In summary, the present invention relates to a blast-resistant container, comprising a chamber having an opening, the chamber configured to receive an explosive device and being constructed from a material configured to safely contain fragments and a blast pressure in case of explosion of the explosive device, and an external door configured to cover the opening in a closed position and to allow access to the inside of the body in an open position, the door comprising a door leaf having an upper first door side and a second lower door side provided at a circumference of the door leaf, the second door side being essentially opposite to the first door side, wherein the opening is provided with an angled locking flange arranged at an upper first opening side and a lower second opening side provided at a circumference of the opening, the second opening side being essentially opposite to the first opening side, and the first and the second door sides are provided with locking elements angled in an opposite direction to the locking flanges and configured to allow corresponding engagement with the locking flanges at the first and the second opening sides, respectively, allowing the door to slide from the open position to the closed position. 
         [0044]    In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an explosion resistant container suitable for containing the effects of a bomb explosion within the container. The container includes a chamber and an externally arranged door that can slide from an open to a closed position. The container is manufactured from an explosion resistant material, typically a metal material, having an opening configured to receive the possible bomb, and as mentioned, configured to be covered by the door. 
         [0045]    Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. 
         [0046]    Furthermore, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5