U.S. patent application number 10/593163 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for blast mitigation structures.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cintec International Limited. Invention is credited to Peter James.
Application Number | 20080257137 10/593163 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32117764 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080257137 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
James; Peter |
October 23, 2008 |
Blast Mitigation Structures
Abstract
According to the invention, there is provided a blast mitigation
device (1) comprising one or more inflatable, rigidisable,
free-standing arched frames comprised of one or more compartments
(4, 4a), the or each compartment being fillable, in use, with a
gaseous medium under pressure, and one or more water-fillable
containers (3, 3a) supported or supportable by the or each free
standing frame, which water-fillable container(s) form a blast
mitigation structure in use.
Inventors: |
James; Peter; (Gwent,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KING & SCHICKLI, PLLC
247 NORTH BROADWAY
LEXINGTON
KY
40507
US
|
Assignee: |
Cintec International
Limited
Newport, Gwent
GB
|
Family ID: |
32117764 |
Appl. No.: |
10/593163 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
March 15, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2005/001128 |
371 Date: |
July 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
86/50 ; 102/303;
86/1.1; 89/36.02 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42D 5/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
86/50 ; 102/303;
89/36.02; 86/1.1 |
International
Class: |
F42D 5/045 20060101
F42D005/045 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2004 |
GB |
0405859.0 |
Claims
1. A blast mitigation device comprising one or more inflatable,
rigidisable, free-standing arched frames comprised of one or more
compartments, the or each compartment being fillable, in use, with
a gaseous medium under pressure, and one or more water-fillable
containers supported or supportable by the or each free-standing
frame, which water-fillable container(s) form a blast mitigation
structure in use.
2. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that the or each container making up the
inflatable generally rigid free-standing arched inflatable frame is
made up of individual compartments of drop stitch material by which
respectively opposite outer walls are prevented or inhibited from
bulging outwards under pressure.
3. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that the compartments are made up of pressurisable
material which bulges outwardly under pressure to assume a part
cylindrical shape which, in combination are sufficiently rigid to
support the weight of water from water-fillable containers.
4. A blast mitigation device according to claim 2 further
characterised in that the water-fillable containers are made of
drop stitch material so as to increase the total rigidity of the
entire structure in use.
5. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that one or more of the inflatable containers
making up the one or more free-standing frames are removable along
with corresponding containers for water to allow for the placement
of such a charge, whereafter they may be replaced prior to
detonation of the charge.
6. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 any preceding
claim 1 further characterised in that the or each rigidisable
arched frame is made of independently inflatable semi-arched halves
connectable at the apex of the arch through the use of webbing,
strapping, Velcro.RTM. fasteners or other such non rigid fastener
means.
7. A blast mitigation device according to claim 6 further
characterised in that each semi-arched half is formed by "pinching"
one side of an otherwise parallel-walled layer of drop stitch
material to form, when inflated, a semi-arch, the pinching
occurring at regular intervals radially from a sidewall portion of
the structure to the apex of the arch.
8. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that in order to prevent the "legs" of the arched
frame from splaying outwardly with the weight of water contained in
the water filled containers webs, strapping or other such means may
be connected or connectable between such opposing legs.
9. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that a chicane is built into the or each
free-standing device whereby access to the inside of the structure
is possible but is indirect.
10. A blast mitigation device according to claim 9 further
characterised in that access to the inside of the structure is
provided in the form of a stepped wall.
11. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that the device also incorporates means by which
it may be inflated remotely.
12. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 claim further
characterised in including integrally formed air and water filling
pipes which may be unreeled from the deflated components of the
device such that the filling takes place at a distance from the
suspect device/vehicle.
13. A blast mitigation device according to Claim 1 further
characterised in including sensing apparatus may also be integrally
incorporated to `sniff` the interior of the device when it is
erected for the presence of explosives material.
14. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that a camera is provided integrally with the
device to visually monitor the inside thereof once it has been
erected.
15. A blast mitigation device according to claim 1 further
characterised in that electric wires are included for these devices
which may be unreeled and attached to monitoring apparatus remote
from the structure to thereby minimise the danger to personnel.
16. A blast mitigation structure comprising a plurality of blast
mitigation devices according to claim 1 connected or connectable to
each other by means flange valves whereby they may be
pneumatically/hydraulically interconnected, at least one of said
devices including at least one fluid inlet pipe and at least one
pressure relief valve.
17. (canceled)
Description
[0001] This invention relates to blast mitigation structures which
use liquid-filled containers such as water-filled flexible bags,
arranged so as to mitigate the effects of a blast or explosion by
dissipitating and/or converting to heat the resulting blast
energy.
[0002] Blast mitigation structures using water-based technology are
well known and for instance U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,079, the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference, teaches various
embodiments of bomb blast inhibitors which can be inflated with
air, placed around e.g. a bomb, and then filled with water, the
water then acting to suppress or otherwise mitigate against the
effects of any ensuing explosion. This concept has been taken at
least a further step by the use of, effectively, twin-walled
containers as taught in GB2374625A, the disclosure of which is also
incorporated herein by reference, which include internal connectors
between opposing walls and surfaces, such as through the use of
drop stitch material, by which the container is prevented from
bulging outwardly, the main benefit being that a protective wall
can then be erected which is taller than the width of the base
without the container collapsing or toppling over under the weight
of water.
[0003] A problem with such prior art devices is that although they
are very efficient in safely dealing with the effects of
explosions, given that the containers themselves are not made of
rigid material and hence when fragmented by an explosion such
fragments do not constitute flying debris equivalent to shrapnel,
it will be apparent that the inflation of such containers by air
followed by substitution of air under pressure for water under
pressure by e.g. the use of a suitable pressure relief valve
arrangement, still necessarily takes some time to complete a
structure comprising multiple containers. In the event of e.g. a
car bomb having to be dealt with it will be understood that this
may jeopardise the safety of personnel erecting such blast
mitigation structures around the car. In addition, where the car
bomb is of the "dirty" type, such as one involving the explosive
spread of e.g. radioactive materials or poisonous chemicals, a
primary consideration is not just to protect personnel in the
immediate vicinity of the bomb but also to minimise the spread of
the pollutant such that it is wholly or substantially kept within
the immediate vicinity of the explosion, thereby requiring a
presence of a blast mitigation barrier which completely covers the
vehicle including the top of the vehicle.
[0004] The present invention is derived from the realisation that,
especially when dealing with potential car bombs i.e. suspect
vehicles, speed is of the essence in quickly and safely erecting a
blast protection structure around the vehicle using rupturable
liquid-filled containers such as water-filled bags, but in
conjunction with means for rapidly deploying the containers
therearound.
[0005] According to the invention, there is provided a blast
mitigation device comprising one or more inflatable, rigidisable,
free-standing arched frames comprised of one or more compartments,
the or each compartment being fillable, in use, with a gaseous
medium under pressure, and one or more water-fillable containers
supported or supportable by the or each free-standing frame, which
water-fillable container(s) form a blast mitigation structure in
use.
[0006] Conveniently, the or each container(s) making up the
inflatable generally rigid free-standing arched inflatable frame is
made up of individual compartments of drop stitch material by which
respectively opposite outer walls are prevented or inhibited from
bulging outwards under pressure, although in an alternative
construction the compartments are simply made up of pressurisable
material which bulges outwardly under pressure to assume e.g. a
part cylindrical shape which nevertheless, in combination, are
sufficiently rigid to support the weight of water from the
water-fillable containers.
[0007] Preferably, the water-fillable containers are also made of
drop stitch material so as to increase the total rigidity of the
entire structure in use, although it will be apparent that provided
the water-fillable containers are sufficiently densely packed
around and over the or each arched frame or frames so as to ensure
that a blast mitigation structure is present substantially entirely
around e.g. an explosive device, the use of the relatively
expensive drop stitch material may be dispensed with and simple
containers may be used in substitution for containing the
water.
[0008] The invention therefore provides a blast mitigation device
having few or no hard components, which could otherwise become
shrapnel in the event of e.g. a car bomb exploding. A further
advantage is that such a blast mitigation device may take the form
of a tunnel with an arched roof which may be quickly erected around
e.g. a suspect vehicle by the simple expedient of inflating the
containers making up the generally rigid free-standing frame or
frames until a generally rigid structure is formed and then filling
the water-fillable containers with water, all of which may be done
remotely or semi-remotely, whereafter e.g. a suspect vehicle may be
simply left in place with a suitable warning to keep away from it,
or overt action may be taken by the use of a disrupter charge
placed by a remotely controlled vehicle. The invention also
envisages in one embodiment that one or more of the inflatable
containers making up the one or more free-standing frames may be
removable along with corresponding containers for water to allow
for the placement of such a charge, whereafter they may be replaced
prior to detonation of the charge.
[0009] Conveniently, two or more devices are used, each being in
the form of a walled tunnel having an arched roof, there being one
closed end, made up, in combination of air inflatable generally
rigid or rigidisable containers and containers filled or fillable
with water, the walled tunnel also having an open end which may
e.g. be used to allow the structure to be moved over e.g. one half
of a vehicle to substantially enclose that half, the other of such
structures being used to substantially enclose the other half of
the vehicle.
[0010] Preferably, each rigidisable arched frame is made of
independently inflatable semi-arched halves connectable at the apex
of the arch through the use of e.g. webbing, strapping, Velcro.RTM.
fasteners or other such non rigid fastener means. These semi-arched
halves may themselves be formed by "pinching" one side of an
otherwise parallel-walled layer of drop stitch material to form,
when inflated, a semi-arch, the pinching occurring at regular
intervals radially from a sidewall portion of the structure to the
apex of the arch.
[0011] In order to prevent the "legs" of the arched frame from
splaying outwardly with the weight of water contained in the water
filled containers webs, strapping or other such means may be
connected or connectable between such opposing legs.
[0012] Preferably, where two devices making up a rigidisable frame
are used each has an independent air inlet for forming the inner
wall and an independent air/water inlet for filling the outer
containers, which each conveniently including a respective air
relief valve adjacent the apex of the arch so that after the water
fillable containers are first filled with air in order to assume
their desired shape, they can thereafter be filled with water and
air may thereafter be allowed to escape without altering the
overall shape of the blast mitigation device.
[0013] Conveniently, a chicane may be built into the or each
free-standing device whereby access to the inside of the structure
is possible but is indirect, such that a subsequent blast from an
explosive device always encounters the water-fillable containers.
This may simply be in the form of a stepped wall, or if two blast
mitigation structures are to be used in tandem they may each be of
size sufficient to enclose one entire end of the vehicle plus an
amount by which access may be gained through such a chicane, such
that an opposing pair of such structures meet each other in a
stepped configuration.
[0014] Conveniently, the or each blast mitigation device also
incorporates means by which it may be inflated remotely, such as by
including integrally formed air and water filling pipes which may
simply be unreeled from the deflated components of the device such
that the filling takes place at a distance from the suspect
device/vehicle. Sensing apparatus may also be integrally
incorporated to e.g. `sniff` the interior of the device when it is
erected for the presence of explosives material. A camera may also
be provided integrally with the device to visually monitor the
inside thereof once it has been erected. Electric wires may be
included for these and other such devices which again may be
unreeled and attached to e.g. monitoring apparatus remote from the
structure to thereby minimise the danger to personnel.
[0015] The invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an inflated blast mitigation
structure according to a first embodiment of the invention,
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in FIG.
1,
[0018] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the
invention having chicane access means, and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a part-exposed end view of a third embodiment of
the invention in which the rigidisable arched frame is made up of
independently inflatable semi-arched halves,
[0020] FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of the plane `A`-`A` of FIG.
4,
[0021] FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4,
[0022] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing how two of the containers
shown in FIG. 6 are joined together by a series of flange valves
and
[0023] FIG. 8 is an end view of one of the containers of FIG. 7
showing the flange valves.
[0024] Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a front
elevation of a fully inflated and assembled blast mitigation device
1 in which for clarity its individual component segments are shown
made of transparent material such that the inside may be viewed.
The inflated device 1 takes the form of an arched tunnel which may
be erected around a suspect vehicle 2 such that in the event it
explodes the device 1 is able to mitigate against the effect of the
subsequent blast. This is primarily achieved by the presence of a
wall of water around the vehicle 2 disposed in water fillable
interconnected bags or containers 3, some of which are arcuate, to
form an arched shell of water around the vehicle 2. This shell is
supported by an arched inner tunnel of inflatable bags or
containers 4 which are also pneumatically interconnected such that
when filled under pressure by e.g. air from a high pressure hose it
becomes a free standing frame which provides sufficient support to
counter the weight of the water in the containers 3.
[0025] In order to increase their rigidity the gas fillable
containers 4 are made of drop stitch material such that their outer
walls are prevented or inhibiting from bulging outwards under the
internal pressure of gas from within and where the device is
intended to form a large structure preferably the outer containers
or bags 3 are also made of drop stitch material as opposed to
being, as shown in FIG. 1, simple bags which can be filled with
water and by virtue of the volume of water be expanded to their
limit.
[0026] A rear wall 5 may also be provided although not necessarily
integrally and may be of solid material or may itself be formed of
e.g. water fillable bags or containers made of drop stitch material
which may be self-supporting or partly supported by the arched
tunnel of gas-filled bags or containers 4.
[0027] In FIG. 2a pair of such blast mitigation devices 1 are shown
disposed open end on end to each other for totally enclosing the
vehicle 2 and in order to gain access to the vehicle for e.g.
inspection to investigate for the presence or otherwise of
explosives material one or more of the bags or containers 3, 4 may
be removable for such purpose, or access may be gained via a
suitable removable panel in the end wall 5 of each device 1.
Alternatively, an arrangement like that shown in FIG. 3 may be
adopted where internal walls are shown in dotted outline. In this
arrangement a doorway 6 is shown cut into the end wall 5 to allow
access into the interior and this may be simply rectangular rather
than being arched. In order to mitigate against the effects of any
subsequent explosive blast exiting the device 1 through the doorway
6 a water-filled wall 7 of generally "L" shape is provided,
preferably made of drop stitch material and pneumatically connected
to the bags 3 if made of drop stitch material so that a single
water inlet valve may be used to erect the entire wall of water
around the suspect vehicle 2 after the gas-fillable bags 4 have
been fully erected.
[0028] As will be apparent, access to the inside of the device 1
via the doorway 6 may enable e.g. a remotely-controlled robotic
vehicle to subsequently enter the free-standing frame of
pressurised bags 4 to carry out an inspection of the vehicle and/or
place a disruptor charge before retreating, or even physically
destroy the suspect device by e.g. discharge of a shotgun.
[0029] Referring now to the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.
4-6, the blast mitigation devices 1 are made up of semi-arched
halves 1a, 1b which are connected at their apex 8 by any suitable
fastener means such as opposing strips of Velcro.RTM. or some other
such non rigid fastener means. Each of the semi-arched halves 1a,
1b, are formed from originally planar drop stitch material which
are then pinched together on one side at regular intervals 9, 10,
11 in respect of the subsequently semi-arched half 1a and 12, 13,
14 in respect of semi-arched half 1b. However, in this embodiment,
unlike the structure described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, each
blast mitigation device 1 has just two outer containers 3a for
containing water, one for each semi-arched half 1a, 1b, and a pair
of respective inner containers 4a, for containing air under
pressure. In this embodiment, the containers 3a, 4a are made of
drop stitch material such that the desired generally arched shape
is retained even when the containers 4a are inflated with air or
some other suitable gas such as nitrogen under pressure and the
containers 3a are filled with water intended to mitigate against
the effects of an explosion occurring within the arched tunnel
formed by the devices 1.
[0030] Each half 1a, 1b may selectively be provided with a large
inlet pipe 15 suitable for initially supplying air under pressure
to both containers 3a, 4a to form the structure as shown in FIG. 4,
whereafter through the use of a non-return valve 16 in the inlet
pipe 15 and pressure relief valve 17 adjacent the apex 8 the outer
containers 3a can then be exhausted of air and filled instead with
water to complete the required structure.
[0031] In order to prevent outward splaying of the lower parts of
the halves 1a, 1b near to the ground under the weight of water,
strapping 18 is used to connect the lower portions of the
semi-arched halves 1a, 1b in a manner best illustrated with
reference to FIG. 5 where four such straps are used to prevent
outward splaying of the semi-arched halves 1a, 1b at regular
intervals between connected blast mitigation devices 1, such
connections being illustrated with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG.
7 shows a pair of devices 1 joined together by two-piece flange
valves 19 comprised of a male flange half 20 fixed to and through
an end wall 21 (shown in FIG. 8) of one of the blast mitigation
devices 1 and a female flange half 22 fixed to and extending
through the opposite wall 23 of an adjacent blast mitigation device
1 such that any number of devices 1 may be linked together to form
a single blast mitigation structure requiring just a single pair of
inlet pipes 16, one for each half, 1a, 1b. Hence, by the use of the
flange valves 19 a large blast suppression structure comprised of
interconnected individual devices 1 may therefore be constructed
and filled with air and water as required.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to complete the structure end
containers 24 may be provided and be fillable via their own water
inlet pipes 25 and attendant valves (not shown), the containers 24
being releasably secured to devices 1 at respective ends of the
blast mitigation structure, such as by the use of Velcro.RTM.
strips or other such fastening means, to thereafter completely
enclose e.g. a suspect vehicle.
[0033] Whilst, as aforesaid, drop stitch material has been used to
form blast mitigation structures in which, generally, initially air
under pressure is replaced with water, it will be understood that
the weight of water imposes an upper practical limit upon the size
and shape of such structures without them requiring separate
support. The present invention therefore provides an elegant
solution to this problem to the extent that it has been found that
essentially air-filled containers made of drop stitch material can
be used to provide sufficient support, either separately or in
conjunction with support required by the presence of water in the
containers fillable therewith, depending upon whether or not the
water fillable containers are also made of drop stitch material,
such that they also enjoy integral support as a consequence.
* * * * *