The United States of America As Represented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

The United States of America As Represented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dept. of Justice

Ian B Vabnick

Lee Foltz

Arthur W Ellis

Eric S Morefield

Phillip R Quillen

Daniel E McCarthy

Marc J La Belle

Michael S Shattuck

Michael Malone

Mike Sharp

Thomas A Sharkey

Joseph Santiso

Joe Rothenberger

Chad Smith

Barry Black

Jeffrey T Curtis

Circuit test devices and methods are provided. The method includes measuring a voltage between first and second conductor points (CPs) of a circuit under test (CUT), and determining if the measured voltage is less than a low voltage threshold value (LVTV) indicative of electrical continuity (EC) between the first and second CPs. In response to determining that the measured voltage is less than the LVTV, the method includes: transmitting a test signal (TS) to the first or second CP, and determining if the test signal is received after being transmitted. In response to determining that the TS is received, a presence of EC between the first and second conductor points is reported, and in response to determining that the TS is not received, absence of EC between the first and second CPs, or a lack of electrical contact between the VMC and the first and/or second CP(s), is reported.

Circuit test device and method

Provided herein are shaped charges for focusing a fluid mass and related methods of using the shaped charges for disruption of an explosive target with a spherical projectile. The shaped charge comprises a plastic shell having a special geometric shape configured to support a shape-conforming explosive. A cylindrical plastic body has an interior volume for containing a fluid and the plastic shell. The plastic body closed distal end has a geometric shape that is substantially matched to the shape of the plastic shell. Metal spherical projectiles having an outer layer of metal selected to have an effective density matched to the fluid provide advantageous target disruption capabilities.

Shaped charges for focusing a fluid mass

Provided are methods and related devices for disrupting an explosive device using a propellant driven disrupter (PDD) that propels a rounded projectile (RP) toward an explosive device. The RP travels along a linear trajectory and impacts the target, including a barrier portion of the explosive device. The impacting between the RP and barrier forms a composite projectile via a solid state weld between a portion of the barrier and the RP distal end, thereby minimizing or avoiding spall and fragment generation into the explosive device. The projectile traverses a penetration distance along the linear trajectory, or a defined-angle relative thereto, to disrupt the explosive device without unwanted explosive detonation.

Rounded projectiles for target disruption

Provided herein are projectiles for use in a propellant driven disrupter device, and associated methods, to neutralize an explosive target. The projectile may comprise a friction reducing container at least partially filled with one or more fluids, fluid mixtures, particles, and other components to provide one or more desired fluid properties to achieve a desired one or more jet parameters upon target impact. The fluid(s) in the container are referred to as highly efficient energy transfer (HEET) fluids do to the improved fluid jet action on target compared to conventional water projectiles. The projectiles and disruptor can be more precisely individually tailored to the target, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful disablement and decreasing the likelihood of inadvertent and uncontrolled explosion.

Disrupter driven highly efficient energy transfer fluid jets

Provided herein are penetrator projectiles for use with explosive ordnance disposal disrupters, and related methods of making and using. The penetrator projectile has a tip, neck, shaft and base, wherein the geometry and composition of the different elements are selected to ensure the projectile is ballistically stable after firing to provide improved free-flight characteristics and corresponding explosive ordnance disruption.

Penetrator projectile for explosive device neutralization

A propellant driven disrupter (PDD) for disrupting an explosive target, comprising: a disrupter barrel having a breech and muzzle end; a projectile liquid or gas positioned in the barrel and extending a longitudinal distance in the disrupter barrel. The projectile liquid distal end is located farthest from the disrupter barrel breech end. A jet stabilizing projectile (JSP) is at least partially positioned in the barrel and operably contacts the projectile liquid distal end. The JSP has a JSP proximal end facing toward the disrupter barrel breech end and a distal end opposed to the JSP proximal end, wherein some or all of the JSP is positioned in the barrel. The PDD may contain the JSP, with an air region between the JSP distal end and the muzzle end, or an air region in an adapter that is connected to the muzzle end. Also provided are JSP's having improved flight stability for use with liquid or air-filled disrupters and methods of disrupting a target.

Fluid jet stabilizing projectile for enhanced IED disrupters

Provided herein are shaped charges for focusing a fluid mass and related methods of using the shaped charges for disruption of an explosive target. The shaped charge comprises a plastic shell having a special geometric shape configured to support a shape-conforming explosive. A cylindrical plastic body has an interior volume for containing a fluid and the plastic shell. The plastic body closed distal end has a geometric shape that is substantially matched to the shape of the plastic shell.

Provided herein are fluid jet enhancement adapters for use with a propellant driven disrupter, and more particularly muzzle blast suppressor. The fluid jet enhancement muzzle blast suppressor may comprise a suppressor bore extending between the proximal end and the distal end with an inner suppressor surface that defines the suppressor bore. An outer suppressor surface opposably faces the inner suppressor surface, with a suppressor chamber positioned between the inner and outer suppressor surfaces. A plurality of passages connect the suppressor bore with the suppressor chamber, wherein the plurality of passages are sized to allow gas to move from the suppressor bore to the suppressor chamber and minimize liquid movement from the suppressor bore to the suppressor chamber.

Reverse velocity jet tamper disrupter enhancer with muzzle blast suppression

Provided herein are fluid jet enhancement adapters for use with a propellant driven disrupter. The adapter may comprise: a first end operably connected to a muzzle end of a propellant driven disrupter barrel and a second end, wherein a longitudinal region extends between the first end and the second end. The longitudinal region has: a longitudinal region inner surface that defines a longitudinal region lumen; a longitudinal region outer surface opposably facing the longitudinal region inner surface, with a longitudinal region wall having a wall thickness that separates the longitudinal region inner surface from the longitudinal region outer surface. The longitudinal region lumen has a first end inner diameter that is substantially equivalent to a muzzle inner diameter. The longitudinal region wall forms a continuous surface that radially isolates the longitudinal region lumen from a surrounding environment.

Reverse velocity jet tamper disrupter enhancer

An EOD disruptor system for penetrating steel encased explosive devices has a barrel and a blank cartridge loaded in the EOD disruptor. A water column is disposed in the barrel in front of the blank cartridge. A water plug is disposed in front of the water column. A muzzle-loaded projectile is disposed in front of the water plug. The projectile includes a shaft portion at least partially disposed in the barrel and a front portion disposed outside of the barrel. The shaft portion may have a length from about four inches to about eighteen inches. The projectile may have a weight from about four ounces to about two pounds. The ratio of the length of the shaft portion of the projectile to the inner barrel diameter may be in a range of about two to about 50.

Low impact threat rupture device for explosive ordnance disruptor

The present invention relates to a hot-wire detonator emulator that has the capability of monitoring switching in a simulated, mock, or inert improvised explosive device (IED) powered by direct current. One purpose of the inventive emulator is to function as an energetic witness substitute by replacing the detonator in an actual IED, thus enabling bomb technicians to conduct bench top and field analyses of IEDs, and to assess the effectiveness of render-safe procedures by, for example, illustrating how a detonator would react in a render-safe procedure.

Growing community of inventors

Quantico, VA, United States of America

Ian B Vabnick