Abstract:
A precision laser aiming system comprises a disrupter tool, a reflector, and a laser fixture. The disrupter tool, the reflector and the laser fixture are configurable for iterative alignment and aiming toward an explosive device threat. The invention enables a disrupter to be quickly and accurately set up, aligned, and aimed in order to render safe or to disrupt a target from a standoff position.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/839,005 filed Aug. 21, 2006 and incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   This invention was developed under Contract DE-AC04-94AL85000 between Sandia Corporation and the U.S. Department of Energy. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention generally relates to the setup and application of disruptors and similar systems that provide the capability to render safe or disrupt explosive device threats from a standoff position, and more specifically, to the quick and accurate alignment and aiming of a disrupter tool (or disruptors) with a target. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A challenge for the effective implementation of disrupting systems is the quick and accurate alignment and aiming of the disrupter tool with a critical, explosive target. This invention was developed to simplify the process of aiming disrupting systems that are currently being used. Compared to previous setup, alignment and aiming systems and processes, this invention enables simple, fast and accurate alignment and aiming of one or more types of disrupter tools with explosive targets. In addition, the components of this invention are designed to be lightweight and compact while also providing the accuracy that is necessary for intended applications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the invention comprising a mounted Viper disrupter tool, a reflector, and a mounted laser fixture. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the invention comprising a mounted Tow disrupter tool, a reflector, and a mounted laser fixture. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate a partially exploded view in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprising an unmounted Viper disrupter tool, a reflector, and an unmounted laser fixture. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate the broadside views of an embodiment of the laser finding plate. 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B,  5 C, and  5 D illustrate isometric views of the laser support structure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5E  illustrates a side view of the laser support structure in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate top views of laser support structure showing insertion of lasers into, and secured lasers within the laser support structure. 
   

   The figures depict various embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   To address certain problems unmet by existing systems and processes, various embodiments of the present invention described herein may comprise the precision laser aiming system invention. In addition, various method embodiments may be implemented to configure and iteratively setup the invention for quick and accurate alignment and aiming of a disrupter tool with an explosive device target. 
   As shown in one embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  (with further illustration details shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B ), the invention  100  comprises a disrupter tool  10 , a mounting apparatus  91  for positioning the disrupter tool  10 , a reflector  20  operatively attached to the disrupter tool  10 , a laser fixture  70  (consisting of a laser support structure  30 , a laser  81 , a laser  85 , and a laser finding plate  50 ), a laser beam  86 , a laser beam  82 , and a mounting apparatus  93  for positioning the laser fixture. Similarly, as shown in another embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 2  (with further illustration details shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B ), the invention  100 ′ comprises a disrupter tool  10 ′, a mounting apparatus  91  for positioning the disrupter tool  10 ′, a reflector  20 ′ operatively attached to the disrupter tool  10 ′, a laser fixture  70  (consisting of a laser support structure  30 , a laser  81 , a laser  85 , and a laser finding plate  50 ), a laser beam  82 , a laser beam  86 , and a mounting apparatus  93  for positioning the laser fixture  70 . Laser beams  82  and  86  are utilized in various embodiments for aligning and aiming the disrupter tool toward an explosive device target  110  in  FIG. 1 , and toward an explosive device target  110 ′ in  FIG. 2 . 
   Various disrupter tools may be utilized with various embodiments of the invention including non-electric explosive ordnance disposal disruptors (e.g., Percussion Actuated Non-electric (PAN) disrupter tool), barrel firing disruptors, and as shown in  FIG. 1  (i.e., a Viper disrupter tool),  FIG. 2  (i.e., a TOW disrupter tool), and  FIGS. 3A-3B , various shaped-charge disruptors. For various embodiments of the invention (as shown in  FIG. 3B ), a disrupter tool  10  comprises a muzzle  11 , a muzzle axis  12  that extends in a collinear orientation along the z-axis center of the muzzle  11 , and a muzzle opening  13  at the exit end of the muzzle  11 . A disrupter tool is “roughly aimed” when its muzzle is positioned and generally aimed by an operator towards a target without assist of add-on or external active equipment such as lasers. For various embodiments of the invention, after aligning and aiming a disrupter tool to a target, the reflector generally remains operatively attached to the disrupter tool (i.e., not removed) during disrupter firing. Note that the term “disrupter” may also be identified as “disrupter” in the art. 
   Reflectors are generally inexpensive to make, yet capable of supporting the accurate alignment and aiming of a disrupter tool. In one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the reflector is a machined piece of a highly-durable, polycarbonate resin thermoplastic (or similar material) possessing a reflective surface (i.e., reflective broadside  21 ) on at least one of its two broadsides. In various embodiments, the reflective broadside  21  may be formed on the reflector  20  by attaching a mirror to, or by depositing a mirrored surface onto, at least one of the broadsides of the reflector. 
   In various embodiments (an example of an embodiment is illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ), the reflector  20  comprises a reflective broadside  21 , and a reflector attaching means  22  that is adapted to operatively attach the reflector  20  over a muzzle opening  13  (e.g., operative attachment of the reflector either to the inside surface of, to the edge of, or to the outside surface of the muzzle opening  13 ), and a reflective axis  23  that extends in a collinear orientation along the z-axis center of the reflector such that the reflective axis  23  is orthogonal to the reflective broadside  21  of the reflector. The reflector attaching means  22  may be comprised of any of a variety of attaching interfaces including threaded, press-fit, adhesives, bands, clamps, or other attaching interfaces capable of operatively attaching the reflector to the disrupter tool. 
   The laser fixture integrates many of the components useful for aligning and aiming the disrupter tool to the target. In various embodiments (as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ), the laser fixture  70  comprises: a laser support structure  30 ; two compact lasers (i.e., a laser  81  and a laser  85 ); and a laser finding plate  50 , and at least one power source for operating the lasers (although the power source(s) is/are most often integrated within the lasers). The laser finding plate  50  comprises at least one laser finding plate attaching means  52  (as shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  4 A) that is capable of securing the laser finding plate  50  to one end of the laser support structure  30  during alignment and aiming, and then releasing the laser finding plate  50  after alignment and aiming. Note that the laser fixture is removed from the laser fixture setup area before the firing of the disrupter tool. 
   The laser support structure (as well as the overall laser fixture) is sufficiently rugged to endure some shock and rough handling during setup for targeting scenarios (e.g., shock and handling may be similar to those encountered in a military environment), and is a generally rigid structure that is formed to house and to securely hold the two compact lasers. In one embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , the laser support structure  30  may be formed by the machining of a single piece of aluminum, and in other embodiments, the laser support structure may be formed by machining suitable rigid metals other than aluminum, or by the similar forming of other suitable rigid materials. 
   In embodiments of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , and  FIGS. 6A-6B , the laser support structure  30  is formed with dual cavities for housing two lasers (laser  81  and laser  85 ), as well as is formed to act as a clamp for securing the two lasers whose beams (laser beam  82  and laser beam  86 , respectively) are aligned to be collinear (as shown by the collinear line indicator  87  in  FIG. 6B ) but directed outward in opposite directions. As shown in  FIGS. 5A-5D , a first end cavity  48  and a second end cavity  48 ′ are formed to enable the insertion and the housing of laser  81  and laser  85 , respectively. 
   In an embodiment of the invention as illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , a slit  38  is evacuated along at least one longitudinal side (formed by  39  and  39 ′) of the laser support structure  30 . As illustrated in the end view of  FIG. 5D , the evacuated slit  38  accommodates the clamp-like arrangement of the laser support structure  30  for securing and aligning the lasers  81  and  85  (see  FIGS. 3A-3B  and  FIGS. 6A-6B ). Four holes are evacuated from the laser support structure:  37 ,  37 ′,  37 ″, and  37 ′″, and are pairwise aligned with threaded holes in the laser support structure:  36 ,  36 ′,  36 ″, and  36 ′″, respectively. The four holes accommodate the insertion of, generally, four adjustment screws:  31 ,  31 ′,  32 , and  32 ′ through the evacuated holes, and accommodate the adjustment screws to be engaged into the threaded holes  36 ,  36 ′,  36 ″, and  36 ′″, respectively. The adjustment screws  31  and  31 ′ comprise a first set of adjustment screws, and the adjustment screws  32  and  32 ′ comprise a second set of adjustment screws. 
   The action of the adjustment screws assist at least two important functions of the invention: they support the clamping of the laser support structure  30  for securing the lasers  81  and  85 ; and they support the relative adjustment of the lasers beams  82  and  86  for alignment in a mutually collinear manner. For example, after laser  81  is inserted into the first end cavity  48  and laser  85  is inserted into the second end cavity  48 ′, and as the adjustment screws  31 ,  31 ′,  32 , and  32 ′ are tightened, the width of the slit  38  decreases in a clamp-like fashion to secure the lasers  81  and  85  within the laser support structure  30 ; and conversely, as the adjustment screws are loosened, the width of the slit  38  increases, and the lasers are unsecured for removal. 
   Note that the adjustment action of a tightening action or a loosening action of the first set of adjustment screws ( 31  and  31 ′) either secures or unsecures the laser  81 . Similarly, note that the adjustment action of a tightening action or loosening action of the second set of adjustment screws ( 32  and  32 ′) either secures or unsecures the laser  85 . In addition, the proper adjustment of the first set of adjustment screws may also accommodate proper collinear alignment of laser beam  86  of laser  85  with laser beam  82  of laser  81  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3B  and  FIGS. 6A-6B ). Similarly, the proper adjustment of the second set of adjustment screws also accommodates proper collinear alignment of laser beam  82  of laser  81  with laser beam  86  of laser  85  (as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A-3B  and  FIGS. 6A-6B ). 
   In one embodiment as illustrated in the bottom view in  FIG. 5C , the laser support structure  30  has at least one threaded hole  33  evacuated generally located in the center of the bottom side  44  of the structure; the threaded hole  33  is capable of attachment to a corresponding mounting screw on a mounting apparatus. Additional threaded holes  33 ′ and  33 ″ may also be evacuated in the laser support structure  30  as needed for mounting attachment. The threads of each threaded hole are adapted to receive a mounting screw from a mounting apparatus, and accommodate mounting of the laser support structure and, therefore, the laser fixture, to a standard camera tripod or similar mount as desirable for a particular application. 
   In an embodiment of a laser support structure  30  illustrated in  FIGS. 5A-5D , when viewed from either of its two end surfaces, the laser support structure  30  has generally flat surfaces for the bottom  44 , the top  43 , as well as for the side surface  45 , and for the side surface formed by the combination of side surface  39  and side surface  39 ′. In one embodiment of a laser support structure  30 , beveled surfaces  41 ,  42 ,  46 , and  47 , may also be formed between the top and the side surfaces, and between the bottom and the side surfaces, to reduce the number of sharp edges on the laser support structure  30 . Other embodiments of the laser support structure may contain only the top  43 , the bottom  44 , the side  45 , and the side formed by  39  and  39 ′, without any of the previously described beveled surfaces. Note that in another embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A- 3 B, and  5 E, a shank-like portion may also be removed from the top  43  surface of the laser support structure  30 . 
   The bottom surface  44  of the laser support structure  30  is positioned orthogonally with respect to the side surface  45 , as well as with respect to the surfaced formed by  39  and  39 ′. The formation of generally flat outer surfaces on the laser support structure, as well as the formation of generally orthogonal surfaces between the bottom surface  44  relative to the side surface  45 , and to the side surface formed by  39  and  39 ′, as well as for the top surface  43  relative to the side  45 , and to the side formed by  39  and  39 ′, accommodates stabilizing and positioning the laser fixture during the laser alignment process. As an example, generally flat outer surfaces and generally orthogonal surfaces between top and sides and between bottom and sides support stabilizing and positioning a laser fixture on a flat surface or against a rail, when not mounted on a mounting apparatus such as a camera tripod. 
   In various embodiments shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B,  4 A and  4 B, the laser finding plate  50  comprises two broadsides (i.e., broadside  54  is directed towards the target as shown in  FIGS. 3B and 4A ; and broadside  55  is directed toward the disrupter tool as shown in  FIG. 4B ); a center hole  51 ; a laser finding plate attaching means  52 ; and an outer edge  53 . In various embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 A- 3 B,  4 A, and  5 A- 5 B, the laser finding plate  50  may be adapted to attach to either of the ends (i.e., end  49  or end  49 ′) of the laser support structure  30  via a laser finding plate attaching means  52 . As such, the laser finding plate attaching means  52  is generally complementary to the structure of at least one of the ends of the laser support structure  30 . The laser finding plate attaching means  52  may be configured as any of a variety of attachment interfaces (e.g., threaded interfaces, press-fit interfaces, clamps, plates, bands, adhesives, or other similar interfaces) capable of accommodating the attaching of the laser finding plate  50  with the laser support structure  30  for aligning and aiming, as well as the releasing of the laser finding plate  50  after aligning and aiming. 
   As illustrated in an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B  and as described previously, the laser finding plate  50  has two broadsides: the broadside  55  aides in locating a reflection of one of the laser fixture&#39;s laser beams from a reflector  20 , and the laser finding plate attaching means  52  is configured on the opposite broadside (i.e., broadside  54 ) for attaching the laser finding plate  50  to the laser support structure  30 . As an example, in an embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the laser beam  86  is transmitted by laser  85  towards the reflector  20  (i.e., the reflector  20  is operatively attached to the disrupter tool  10 ), and the laser beam  86  is reflected off of the reflective broadside  21  of the reflector  20  as reflected laser beam  86 ′ back towards the laser finding plate  50 . In a “fine aligning” process described in a later section, the laser fixture  70  is moved in small increments until the reflected laser beam  86 ′ “hits” the broadside  55  of the laser finding plate  50  at an “aligning hit” point  56  (as shown in  FIG. 4B ). 
   Iterations of “fine aligning” the laser fixture  70  and “fine aiming” (described in a later section) of the disrupter tool  10  may result in a “sufficiently aligned and aimed disrupter tool” when the reflected laser beam  86 ′ hits an “aligning hit” point  56  that, according to the requirements of a targeting application, is sufficiently close to the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50 . Or, iterations of “fine aligning” the laser fixture  70  and “fine aiming” of the disrupter tool  10  may result in a “completely aligned and aimed disrupter tool” when the reflected laser beam  86 ′ is directed until it aligns through the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50 . Additional details on the alignment and aiming of the disrupter tool are provided in the later section “METHOD FOR USE OF THE INVENTION.” 
   As shown in embodiments in  FIGS. 3B ,  4 A and  4 B, the center hole  51  is evacuated in the general center of the laser finding plate  50 , the evacuation extending completely through the center of the laser finding plate  50 . Generally, laser finding plates with outer edge  53  diametric sizes of two inches (for applications with a generally short distance between the disrupter tool and the target) and four inches (for applications with a generally long distance between the disrupter tool and the target) have been used during setup, aligning and aiming of the invention. However, other outer edge  53  diametric sizes may be utilized that are suitable for the requirements of the application of the invention. 
   As described above, in addition to the laser finding plate  50 , the reflector  20  is an essential component of the invention that accommodates alignment and aiming of the disrupter tool by providing a reflective surface (i.e., reflective broadside  21 ) for reflecting an aligning and aiming laser beam. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 A and  3 B, during alignment and aiming, the reflective broadside  21  of the reflector  20  enables reflection of the incident laser beam  86  back towards the laser fixture  70  as the reflected laser beam  86 ′, and the beam  86 ′ may generally strike the laser finding plate  50  at an outer “aligning hit” point  56  (as shown in  FIG. 4B ) on the laser finding plate  50 ; an outer “aligning hit” point is a striking point on the laser finding plate  50  by the reflected laser beam  86 ′ that is located closer to the outer edge  53  than to the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50 . As corrections in disrupter tool positioning, alignment and aiming are made, the “aligning hit” point of the reflected laser beam  86 ′ generally moves from the proximity of the outer edge of the laser finding plate towards the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50  until the disrupter tool is either “sufficiently aligned and aimed” or “completely aligned and aimed”. After alignment and aiming of the disruptor tool  10  to a target  110 , the reflector  20  should remain operatively attached to the disruptor tool  10  (i.e., not removed) and may be destroyed upon firing of the disruptor tool. 
   METHOD FOR USE OF THE INVENTION 
   The various parts of the present invention work in conjunction to create an easy, fast and effective capability for the setup, aligning, and aiming of a disruptor tool with a target. In embodiments illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 3A and 3B , a disruptor tool  10  is stabilized and may be mounted on a mounting apparatus  91 . The disrupter tool  10  comprises a muzzle  11 , a muzzle axis  12  that extends in a collinear orientation along the z-axis center of the muzzle  11 , and a muzzle opening  13  at the exit end of the muzzle  11 . A reflector  20  comprises a reflective broadside  21 , a reflector attaching means  22 , and a reflective axis  23  that extends in a collinear orientation along the z-axis center of the reflector such that the reflective axis  23  is orthogonal to the reflective broadside  21  of the reflector. After the reflective broadside  21  of the reflector  20  is positioned away from the disruptor tool  10  and towards a target  110 , the reflective axis  23  is aligned collinearly with the muzzle axis  12 , and the reflector  20  is operatively attached via a reflector attaching means  22  over the muzzle opening  13  of the disruptor tool  10 . The disruptor tool  10  is then positioned such that its muzzle  11  is generally aimed by an operator at a target  110  without assist of add-on or external active equipment such as lasers; this positioning and general aiming constitutes “rough aiming” of the disruptor tool  10  by the operator. 
   In embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  3 A and  3 B, a laser fixture  70  is stabilized and may be mounted on a mounting apparatus  91  or may be secured to another stable apparatus or structure. The laser fixture  70  is positioned along a visual line between the disrupter tool  10  and the target  110 , and generally midway between the disrupter tool  10  and the target  110 . A first laser beam  82  of laser  81  is directed until it “hits” a desirable location (“target hit”) on the target  110 . 
   To improve the “rough alignment” of the disrupter tool, an operator executes the following process steps for “fine alignment” of the laser fixture. While maintaining the “target hit” position of the first laser beam  82  on the target  110 , the laser fixture  70  is moved in generally small increments (e.g., up, down, and/or either side) and positioned until a second laser beam  86  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) is directed towards and “hits” a first “reflective point” on the reflective broadside  21  of the reflector  20 , and the reflected laser beam  86 ′ is directed back towards the laser fixture  70 . While continuing to maintain the “target hit” position of the first laser beam  82  on the target  110 , the laser fixture  70  may be further moved in generally small increments (e.g., up, down, and/or either side), and the second laser beam  86  “hits” a second “reflective point” on the reflective broadside  21  such that the reflected laser beam  86 ′ is directed back towards the laser finding plate  50 , and as shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the reflected laser beam  86 ′ “hits” the laser finding plate  50  at a first outer “aligning hit” point  56  on the laser finding plate  50 . 
   Further, while continuing to maintain the “target hit” position of the first laser beam  82  on the target  110 , the laser fixture  70  may be moved still further in generally small increments (e.g., up, down, and/or either side), and the second laser beam  86  “hits” a third “reflective point” on the reflective broadside  21  such that the reflected laser beam  86 ′ is directed back towards the laser finding plate  50 , and the reflected laser beam  86 ′ “hits” a next “aligning hit” point  56  on the laser finding plate  50  such that the next “aligning hit” point is closer to the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50  than the first or previous “aligning hit” point(s). Further small incremental moves of the laser fixture  70  may continue until the “aligning hit” point  56  of the reflected laser beam  86 ′ is sufficiently close to the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50  according to the requirements of a targeting application, and determines a “sufficiently aligned and aimed disrupter tool”. Or, the further small incremental moves of the laser fixture  70  may continue until the reflected laser beam  86 ′ aligns through the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50  and determines a “completely aligned and aimed disrupter tool”. 
   If, after “fine aligning” process steps described above, the disrupter tool  10  is neither “sufficiently aligned and aimed” or “completely aligned and aimed”, and an operator intends to further improve the “rough aiming” of the disrupter tool  10  or the “fine aligning” of the laser fixture  70 , the operator may execute the following additional process steps for “fine aiming” of the disrupter tool  10 . According to “fine aiming”, the disrupter tool  10  is moved in generally small increments (e.g., up, down, and/or either side) and positioned until the reflected laser beam  86 ′ contacts the laser finding plate  50  at an “aligning hit” point  56  that is sufficiently close to the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50  according to the requirements of a targeting application, and determines a “sufficiently aligned and aimed disrupter tool”. Or, the disrupter tool  10  is moved in generally small increments (e.g., up, down, and/or either side) and positioned until the reflected laser beam  86 ′ is directed through the center hole  51  of the laser finding plate  50  and the disrupter tool  10  is “completely aligned and aimed”. 
   Additional iterative movements for the “fine aligning” steps of the laser fixture  70  and for “fine aiming” steps of the disrupter tool  10  as described above may continue until the disrupter tool  10  is either “sufficiently aligned and aimed” according to the requirements of the application, or “completely aligned and aimed”. Note that the steps for the “fine alignment” of the laser fixture  70  and the “fine aiming” of the disrupter tool  10  described above may be executed in any order, depending upon the operator&#39;s preference, to either “sufficiently aligned and aimed” or “completely aligned and aimed”. 
   Once the disrupter tool  10  has been either “sufficiently aligned and aimed” or “completely aligned and aimed” with the target  110 , the disrupter tool  10  and reflector  20  are left untouched (i.e., the reflector  20  generally remains operatively attached to the disrupter tool  10 ). The laser fixture  70  is removed from the laser fixture setup area, and the disrupter tool  10  may then be fired at the target  110 . 
   As described above, the reflector is generally not removed from the disrupter tool after “sufficiently aligned and aimed” or “completely aligned and aimed”, and the reflector is destroyed upon firing of the disrupter tool. Since it is removed from the laser fixture setup area before firing the disrupter tool, however, the laser fixture may be reused in numerous subsequent application scenarios. The operator may optionally choose to remove the reflector after it is aligned and aimed and before firing the disrupter tool, however, to do so, risks introducing undesirable movement to and repositioning of the disrupter tool leading to potential misalignment and mis-aiming of the disrupter tool with the target. 
   Maintaining operative attachment of the reflector to the disrupter tool provides advantages over other systems and processes currently used for disrupter tool alignment and aiming. For example, since the reflector is a relatively inexpensive item, the cost of the destruction of the reflector during disrupter tool firing is inconsequential compared to systems and processes utilizing an aiming apparatus (e.g., a laser or other relatively more expensive aiming device) that remains strapped to a disrupter tool during firing; such strapped-on aiming apparatus&#39; may be destroyed during firing. In addition, by maintaining operative attachment of the reflector to the disrupter tool after alignment and aiming, and through firing, no additional system or process disturbances of the disrupter tool are introduced, and the disrupter tool remains aligned and aimed with the target. 
   The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to be exhaustive nor does it limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.