U.S. patent application number 15/530239 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-26 for rpg defeat system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Foster-Miller, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Foster-Miller, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Ian Andrewartha, Steven Anthony Caito, John D. Larouco, Christian Joseph MacLeod, Joseph Vincent Malone, Scott Paul Quigley, Mark Radiwon, John Michael Reed, Frederick Carl Rickert, II, Christopher Michael Rose, Michael Vincent Salvucci.
Application Number | 20180112955 15/530239 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58717647 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180112955 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malone; Joseph Vincent ; et
al. |
April 26, 2018 |
RPG Defeat system and method
Abstract
An RPG defeat system and method wherein a foam body is placed at
a proximate a target. The foam body has a sufficiently low density
to be pierceable by an RPG sensor without the RPG sensor being
strained sufficiently to create a voltage. The foam body has a
compressive strength sufficient to deform the RPG short circuiting
a voltage pathway from the sensor to the RPG detonator. The foam
body has a sufficient thickness and/or is spaced from the target to
deform the RPG short circuiting the voltage pathway from the sensor
to the RPG detonator before the sensor strikes the target and is
strained creating a voltage.
Inventors: |
Malone; Joseph Vincent;
(Franklin, MA) ; Andrewartha; Michael Ian;
(Bellingham, MA) ; Quigley; Scott Paul; (Franklin,
MA) ; MacLeod; Christian Joseph; (Watertown, MA)
; Salvucci; Michael Vincent; (Bolton, MA) ;
Larouco; John D.; (Milford, MA) ; Caito; Steven
Anthony; (Northville, MI) ; Radiwon; Mark;
(West Bloomfield, MI) ; Reed; John Michael; (Novi,
MI) ; Rickert, II; Frederick Carl; (Royal Oak,
MI) ; Rose; Christopher Michael; (Warren,
MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Foster-Miller, Inc. |
Waltham |
MA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Foster-Miller, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
58717647 |
Appl. No.: |
15/530239 |
Filed: |
November 18, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62256896 |
Nov 18, 2015 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 5/013 20130101;
F41H 5/12 20130101; F41H 5/02 20130101; F41H 5/023 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41H 5/12 20060101
F41H005/12; F41H 5/013 20060101 F41H005/013 |
Goverment Interests
GOVERNMENT RIGHTS
[0002] This invention was made with Government support from The
U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development And Engineering
Center and CRADA #13-12. The Government of the United States has
the right to practice or have practiced on behalf of the United
States this subject invention throughout the world.
Claims
1. An RPG defeat method comprising: placing a porous body on or in
proximity to a vehicle or structure; displacing a plug of the
porous body allowing an RPG sensor to enter a channel in the porous
body without the RPG sensor signaling the RPG detonator; and the
porous body short circuiting an electrical connection between the
RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle
or structure.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is made of
foam.
3. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is chosen to have
a density and strength sufficiently low to allow the RPG sensor to
enter the porous body without the sensor signaling the RPG
detonator.
4. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is chosen to have
a density and strength range sufficient for the porous body to
short circuit the electrical connection between the RPG sensor and
detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle or
structure.
5. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is on the vehicle
or structure and the method further includes choosing a
sufficiently thick body for the porous body to short circuit the
electrical connection between the RPG sensor and detonator before
the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle or structure.
6. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is spaced from
the vehicle or structure and the method further includes choosing a
sufficient spacing of the porous body for short circuiting the
electrical connection between the RPG sensor and detonator before
the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle or structure.
7. The method of claim 1 further including encapsulating the porous
body.
8. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is mounted in a
framework secured to the vehicle or structure.
9. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body is unitary in
construction.
10. The method of claim 1 in which the porous body has regions of
different density.
11. The method of claim 10 in which a forward region of the porous
body has a lower density then a rearward region of the porous
body.
12. The method of claim 1 further including adding an armor layer
between the porous body and the target.
13. An RPG defeat method comprising: placing a porous body on or in
proximity to a vehicle or structure; a plug of the porous body
displaced forming a channel allowing an RPG sensor to enter the
channel in the body without the sensor signaling the RPG detonator;
and a porous body region proximate the channel deforming the RPG
nose cone and short circuiting an electrical connection between the
RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle
or structure.
14. An RPG defeat system comprising: a porous body for placement on
or in proximity to a vehicle or structure; the porous body
configured for displacement of a plug of the porous body creating a
channel in the porous body allowing an RPG sensor to enter the
channel in the porous body without the sensor signaling the RPG
detonator; and the porous body material proximate the channel
configured to short circuit the electrical connection between the
RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle
or structure.
15. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body is made of
foam.
16. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body is chosen to
have a density and strength sufficiently low to allow the RPG
sensor to enter the porous body without the sensor signaling the
RPG detonator.
17. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body is chosen to
have a density and strength range sufficient for the porous body to
short circuit the electrical connection between the RPG sensor and
detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle or
structure.
18. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body is for
placement on the vehicle or structure and is sufficiently thick for
the porous body to short circuit the electrical connection between
the RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the
vehicle or structure.
19. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body is to be spaced
from the vehicle or structure and a sufficient spacing of the
porous body short circuits the electrical connection between the
RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle
or structure.
20. The system of claim 14 further including a protective
encapsulant about the porous body.
21. The system of claim 14 further including a framework for the
porous body secured to the vehicle or structure.
22. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body is unitary in
construction.
23. The system of claim 14 in which the porous body has regions of
different density.
24. The system of claim 23 in which a forward region of the porous
body has a lower density then a rearward region of the porous
body.
25. The system of claim 1 further including an armor layer between
the porous body and the target.
26. An RPG defeat system comprising: a foam body to be located at
or proximate a target and having a sufficiently low density to be
pierceable by an RPG sensor without the RPG sensor being strained
sufficiently to create a voltage; the foam body having a
compressive strength sufficient to deform the RPG short circuiting
a voltage pathway from the sensor to the RPG detonator; and the
foam body having a sufficient thickness and/or spacing from the
target to deform the RPG short circuiting the voltage pathway from
the sensor to the RPG detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the
target and is strained creating a voltage.
27. An RPG defeat method comprising: placing a foam body at a
proximate a target, the foam body having a sufficiently low density
to be pierceable by an RPG sensor without the RPG sensor being
strained sufficiently to create a voltage; selecting the foam body
to have a compressive strength sufficient to deform the RPG short
circuiting a voltage pathway from the sensor to the RPG detonator;
and selecting the foam body to have a sufficient thickness and/or
spacing from the target to deform the RPG short circuiting the
voltage pathway from the sensor to the RPG detonator before the
sensor strikes the target and is strained creating a voltage.
28. An RPG defeat system comprising: a panel to be located at or
proximate a target and pierceable by an RPG sensor without the RPG
sensor being strained sufficiently to create a voltage; the panel
having a compressive strength sufficient to deform the RPG short
circuiting a voltage pathway from the sensor to the RPG detonator;
the panel having a sufficient thickness and/or spacing from the
target to deform the RPG short circuiting the voltage pathway from
the sensor to the RPG detonator before the sensor strikes the
target and is strained creating a voltage; and the panel consisting
essentially of foam.
29. The system of claim 28 in which the panel further includes a
protective liner.
30. They system of claim 28 further including an armor layer
between the panel and the target.
31. The system of claim 28 in which the panel includes regions of
different density.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/256,896 filed Nov. 18, 2015
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn..sctn. 119, 120, 363, 365, and 37 C.F.R.
.sctn. 1.55 and .sctn. 1.78 and which is incorporated herein by
this reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] RPG defeat mechanisms include slat armor, strangulation
nets, and hard point nets. See, for example, German Patent DE
691,067, U.S. Pat. No. 1,385,897; WO2006/135432; WO2006/134407; and
U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,443,708; 8,042,449; 8,857,309; 7,975,594;
8,011,285; 8,464,627; 8,893,606 and published U.S. Patent
Application No. 2014/0041517 all incorporated herein by this
reference. The main idea is to disable the RPG before it strikes
its target by short circuiting the electrical connection between
the RPG piezoelectric sensor and the detonator by deforming the RPG
nose cone (ogive) or cover.
[0004] The best solutions minimize the chance that the RPG
piezoelectric sensor will strike any portion of the defeat
mechanism which would cause a detonation of the RPG while
optimizing the likelihood that the defeat mechanism will disable
the RPG before the RPG piezoelectric sensor strikes a target (e.g.,
a vehicle or structure) taking into account different RPG
trajectories. Some prior solutions may not be optimized in this
regard.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Featured is an RPG defeat method comprising placing a foam
body on or in proximity to a vehicle or structure. The method
includes displacing a plug of the foam body allowing an RPG sensor
to enter the foam body without the sensor signaling the RPG
detonator. The foam body short circuits the electrical connection
between the RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes
the vehicle or structure.
[0006] Preferably, the foam body is chosen to have density
sufficiently low to allow the RPG sensor to enter the foam body
without the sensor signaling the RPG detonator. The foam body is
chosen to have a density/strength sufficiently high for the foam
body to short circuit the electrical connection between the RPG
sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle or
structure. If the foam body is on the vehicle or structure, the
method may further include choosing a sufficiently thick foam body
for the foam body to short circuit the electrical connection
between the RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes
the vehicle or structure. If the foam body is spaced from the
vehicle or structure the method may further include choosing a
sufficient spacing for short circuiting the electrical connection
between the RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG sensor strikes
the vehicle or structure.
[0007] The method may further include encapsulating the foam body.
Also, the foam body is mounted in a framework secured to the
vehicle or structure.
[0008] Also featured is an RPG defeat method comprising placing a
foam body on or in proximity to a vehicle or structure. A plug of
the foam body is displaced allowing an RPG sensor to enter a
resulting channel in the foam body without the sensor signaling the
RPG detonator. The foam body short circuits the electrical
connection between the RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG
sensor strikes the vehicle or structure by deforming the RPG nose
cone as it enters the foam body.
[0009] Further featured is an RPG defeat system comprising a foam
body on or in proximity to a vehicle or structure. The foam body is
configured for displacement of a plug of the foam body allowing an
RPG and sensor to enter the foam body without the sensor signaling
the RPG detonator. The foam body is further configured to short
circuit the electrical connection between the RPG sensor and
detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the vehicle or
structure.
[0010] The subject invention, however, in other embodiments, need
not achieve all these objectives and the claims hereof should not
be limited to structures or methods capable of achieving these
objectives.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those
skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred
embodiment and the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1A is a schematic cross sectional side view showing an
example of an RPG defeating panel in place on a vehicle or
structure;
[0013] FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing an
example of an RPG defeating panel in a spaced relationship with
respect to a vehicle or structure;
[0014] FIGS. 2A-2D are schematic cross-sectional side views showing
an example of an RPG defeat method in accordance with an example of
the invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic three dimensional partially cut away
view of an example of an RPG defeating encapsulated body for use in
connection with a vehicle or structure;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic three dimensional view of an example
of an encapsulated RPG defeating body more particularly adapted to
use in protecting structures;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting the primary steps
associated with an RPG defeat method in accordance with embodiments
of the invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional side view showing an
example of an RPG defeating panel including subpanels or regions of
different density;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the RPG defeating panel
of FIG. 6 with a plug readwardly displaced creating a channel for
accepting the nose trigger of an RPG; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an example of an RPG defeating
panel including another kind of armor disposed between the target
and the porous RPG defeating panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Aside from the preferred embodiment or embodiments disclosed
below, this invention is capable of other embodiments and of being
practiced or being carried out in various ways. Thus, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to
the details of construction and the arrangements of components set
forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.
If only one embodiment is described herein, the claims hereof are
not to be limited to that embodiment. Moreover, the claims hereof
are not to be read restrictively unless there is clear and
convincing evidence manifesting a certain exclusion, restriction,
or disclaimer.
[0022] As shown in the example of FIG. 1A, porous (e.g., foam) body
10 may be secured on an external portion of a potential target such
as vehicle or structure 12 (such as a vehicle door) or the foam
body 10, FIG. 1B may be spaced from vehicle or structure 12 using,
for example, a framework structure including fasteners 14 extending
through foam body 10 and secured to vehicle or a structure 12.
[0023] Foam body 10, FIG. 2A is designed to allow RPG piezoelectric
sensor fuse (trigger) 20 in or at the nose of the RPG to enter a
channel 11 in the foam body 10 formed by displacing a plug 28, FIG.
2B of the foam body 10 material without the piezoelectric sensor 20
being strained and thus signaling the RPG detonator via a voltage.
Thus, foam body 10 has a density sufficiently low such that the RPG
piezoelectric sensor is not triggered as plug 28 is pushed out of
foam body 10 and the nose of the RPG and the sensor enters channel
11, FIG. 2C. The shock wave 13 formed ahead of sensor 20 is
believed to dislodge foam plug 28 and form channel 11 so RPG sensor
20 is not strained by any foam material as shown in FIG. 2C. The
nose of the RPG may also dislodge foam plug 28.
[0024] Still, the foam body 10, FIG. 2D is designed to have a
sufficient compressive strength to short circuit the electrical
connection between the RPG sensor and detonator before the RPG
sensor strikes the vehicle or structure the foam body is
protecting. As shown in FIG. 2D, foam body 10 in the region around
the channel 11 is sufficiently strong to deform one or more
portions of nose cone 18 as shown at 30a and 30b as the nose cone
enters the foam body via channel 11. The result is fuse disruption
and defeating (duding) the RPG. When the RPG nose sensor now
strikes the target (vehicle or structure) and generates a voltage,
said voltage will not reach the detonator of the RPG because of the
deformed ogive. Thus, the RPG shape charge will not detonate.
[0025] The foam body is also thick enough and/or spaced far enough
away from the intended target so that the RPG fusing is disrupted
before the RPG trigger strikes the target. If the foam body is
located on the vehicle or structure it may need to be thicker
(e.g., 5-6'' (127-152 mm) thick) than if the foam body is spaced
from the vehicle or structure to allow for nose cone deformation
and disabling of the RPG before the RPG piezoelectric sensor
strikes the vehicle or structure. If, for example, the foam body is
spaced from the vehicle or structure by 1-3'' (25-76 mm), the foam
body may be 4'' thick. The thickness of the porous body may range
from about 1'' thick to about 16'' (125 to 400 mm) thick.
[0026] In some examples, a foam body panel 10, FIG. 3 for use on a
vehicle may include an environmental cover material such as
encapsulant 40 for protection against the elements. One suitable
encapsulant is a polymer or polyurea material typically used in the
lining of pickup truck beds and industrial equipment. In FIG. 4,
foam brick 10 for use in front of structures such as buildings also
includes encapsulant 40.
[0027] One preferred foam body material is a styrene acrlonitrile
(SAN) co-polymer foam. See U.S. Pat. No. 8,324,287 incorporated
herein by this reference. A closed cell or open cell foam may be
used. Other porous materials may be used (e.g., aluminum
foams).
[0028] In testing, a SAN foam body 1-16 (25-400 mm) thick was
spaced 0-6'' (0-152 mm) from a metal plate representing an RPG
target. The foam body had a density range of 1 lbs/ft.sup.3 to 30
lbs/ft.sup.3, a compressive strength of 100-500 psi (0.7-3.4 Mpa),
a compressive modulus (ASTM D1621-1973) of 10-25 ksi (69-172 Mpa),
a shear strength of 150-250 psi (1.0-1.7 Mpa), a shear modulus of
4-9 ksi (27.8-62.1 Mpa), a tensile strength of 200-400 psi (1.4-2.8
Mpa), a tensile modulus of 12-29 ksi (82.7-200 Mpa) and a thermal
conductivity of 0.01-0.1 W/mK and HDT of 85.degree.-150.degree.
C.
[0029] RPG test shots were fired at the test structure and in each
case the RPG was disabled by the foam body and did not detonate.
The foam body caused fuse disruption and a defeat of each RPG.
[0030] Advantages over other RPG defeat mechanisms include the
simplicity of the RPG defeating foam, its light weight, buoyancy,
and ease of implementation. For example, the SAN foam disclosed
above can be formed into different shapes.
[0031] Other porous bodies may also be used provided the armor does
not cause the RPG piezoelectric sensor to trigger the RPG detonator
and still the armor deforms the RPG nose cone sufficiently to short
circuit the electrical connection between the RPG sensor and the
detonator before the sensor strikes its intended target.
Preferably, the foam material used has properties which allow the
RPG to dislodge a plug of the foam material creating a channel just
large enough in diameter for the RPG nose and sensor to enter.
Preferably, in one example, the foam body alone defeats the
RPG.
[0032] In one embodiment, after the RPG is fired at a target, step
50, FIG. 5, the RPG nose trigger enters a channel in the porous
panel, step 52. The panel may be a foam block placed on or
proximate the target. The channel in the panel is formed by a plug
fully or partially displaced from the panel. Due to the
characteristics of the panel, the nose trigger is not strained
sufficiently to generate a voltage, step 54. The RPG continues to
penetrate the panel, step 56 and due to the characteristics of the
panel the RPG ogive is deformed by the material of the panel short
circuiting the voltage pathway between the RPG nose trigger and the
RPG detonator (typically located at the rear of the RPG), step 58.
Eventually, the RPG nose trigger does strike the target, step 60
and is strained sufficiently to generate a voltage. But, since the
RPG ogive is deformed, the voltage does not reach the RPG detonator
and the RPG shape charge is not detonated.
[0033] Thus, the RPG defeating panel has a sufficiently low density
to be pierceable by an RPG sensor without the RPG sensor being
strained. Still, the foam body has a compressive strength
sufficient to deform the RPG ogive short circuiting the voltage
pathway from the sensor to the RPG detonator. Furthermore, the
panel has a sufficient thickness and/or spacing from the target to
deform the RPG short circuiting the voltage pathway from the sensor
to the RPG detonator before the RPG sensor strikes the target and
is strained creating a voltage.
[0034] In some examples, the porous body is uniform in structure.
In FIG. 6, a porous RPG defeating shield 10' includes subpanels or
regions 70a, 70b of varying density. In one preferred example,
subpanel or region 70a is softer (e.g., a density less than 10
lbs/ft.sup.3 (160 Kg/m.sup.3)) and the subpanel or region 70b is
more rigid (e.g., a density greater than 20 lbs/ft.sup.3 (320
Kg/m.sup.3)).
[0035] The softer subpanel or region 70a allows the RPG nose
trigger to move a plug 28, FIG. 7 of the foam material rearward and
allows the RPG trigger to enter the shield via the resulting
channel 11 without straining the trigger. Softer subpanel or region
70a also begins deforming the RPG ogive and subpanel or region 70b
then further deforms the RPG ogive short circuiting the voltage
pathway from the RPG trigger to the RPG detonator. The rear region
or subpanel 70b, however, may have a lower density than the front
region or subpanel.
[0036] In other embodiments, integrated rear armor 80, FIG. 8 may
be used between the target 12 and the porous body 10''. Ceramic
tiles, for example, may be used to protect against projectiles
other than RPGs.
[0037] In still other examples, the target may be one or more
panels of an amphibious vehicle. Here, the porous body provides
buoyancy as well as protection against RPG threats (and,
optionally, protection against other projectiles).
[0038] Although specific features of the invention are shown in
some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as
each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features
in accordance with the invention. The words "including",
"comprising", "having", and "with" as used herein are to be
interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any
physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in
the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible
embodiments. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the
art and are within the following claims.
[0039] In addition, any amendment presented during the prosecution
of the patent application for this patent is not a disclaimer of
any claim element presented in the application as filed: those
skilled in the art cannot reasonably be expected to draft a claim
that would literally encompass all possible equivalents, many
equivalents will be unforeseeable at the time of the amendment and
are beyond a fair interpretation of what is to be surrendered (if
anything), the rationale underlying the amendment may bear no more
than a tangential relation to many equivalents, and/or there are
many other reasons the applicant can not be expected to describe
certain insubstantial substitutes for any claim element
amended.
* * * * *