US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Joe Gain Tom

Philip Garcin Malone

Charles Arthur Weiss, Jr

Steven L Larson

Edward Fransen

Charles A Weiss

William N Brabston

Dennis L Bean

Brent Elliot Huntsman

Brad Leslie Huntsman

Toy S Poole

Grady A Howell

Jeffrey Peiten

A stable fire retardant mixture for use in a backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles. The backstop generally includes a support structure having an inclined surface and the stable fire retardant mixture serving as a projectile trapping medium disposed on the inclined surface. The projectile trapping medium is a resilient granular material intimately mixed with a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel and additives. Preferably, the support structure is made of a shock absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete, such as SACON&#xae;. In embodiments, the support structure also includes an enclosure. The additives control alkalinity, chemically stabilize the mixture, prolong life of the mixture, retard mold formation and bacterial growth and prevent leaching of heavy metals.

Bullet trapping medium, system for employing said medium and method of use of said medium

A backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles includes a support structure having at least one bin shielded from incoming rounds. A trapping medium, such as a resilient granular ballistic medium and a hydrated SAP gel, is disposed contiguously on an upper surface and within the bins. Bins are defined by transverse baffles spanning the width of the backstop. The baffles are preferably constructed of a non-ricochet material. Vibrations will urgetrapped rounds downwards into the bins. In embodiments, the lower surface of one or more bins declines toward either or both sides of the backstop, such that vibration urges spent rounds towards collection points along the sides of the backstop. Access ports may be provided in the backstop sidewalls proximate these collection points to allow for removal of spent rounds. The volume removed may be filtered to reclaim projectile trapping medium for reuse.

Partitioned particulate bullet trap

A method providing a self-dispensing additive for buffering a projectile trapping medium and passivating spent projectiles trapped therein. The additive is a buffering compound formed as blocks of low-density foamed-concrete that self-dispenses the additive when contacted by the fired projectiles. The blocks contain dry components that may include one or more of low-solubility phosphate compounds, low-solubility aluminum compounds, iron compounds, sulfate compounds, and calcium carbonate mixed with a cementing material, water, and an aqueous-based foam in substantially stoichiometric amounts. The aqueous-based foam is added in a quantity sufficient to adjust the density of the block to neutral buoyancy in the projectile-trapping medium. The additive chemically stabilizes the medium while also passivating projectiles, in particular heavy-metal projectiles, trapped in the medium.

Method providing self-dispensing additive from buffer blocks for use with a medium in a bullet trap

A continuous covered area, such as a sidewalk or patio, is formed by vertically interlocking tessellated components. One embodiment, termed PORTAPAVE&#x2122;, achieves this interlocking via an array of uniquely configured two-sectioned pavers. Each paver has a first section of a first shape and a second section of a second shape impressed upon the first section and bonded together. In one embodiment, first sections of pavers in an installed bottom layer form a cavity between them having the same shape as the second section of a paver that is inverted onto the pavers of the bottom layer, thus providing a top layer. Each inverted paver in this top layer is fitted to interlock in that cavity formed between the un-inverted pavers in the bottom layer. Also provided is a method of making the components, e.g., pavers, and a method of installing them.

Paving system using arrays of vertically interlocking paving blocks

A modular bullet trap cover element generally includes a shell filled with a projectile trapping medium, preferably a mixture of a resilient granular ballistic medium and a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel. The shell may be made of any of a number of fabric or polymeric materials. In embodiments, the shell includes at least two bags, an inner bag and at least one outer bag, each of which has an open end and a sealed end, connected to one another such that the outer bags may be inverted over the inner bag to cover at least a portion thereof. The modular cover element is formed by filling the inner bag with the projectile trapping medium and then inverting the outer bags to produce a multi-layer shell. In embodiments, the outer bags and inner bag are rotatably connected, permitting the outer bags to be rotated with respect to the inner bag such that bullet holes in the inner and outer bags no longer line up with each other. Several modular cover elements may be fixedly or releasably interconnected, preferably in a mattress-like arrangement, to form a bullet trap cover.

Modular bullet trap cover

An additive for buffering a projectile trapping medium and spent projectiles trapped therein is a buffering compound formed as a low density foamed concrete block that will self-dispense via fragmentation or pulverization when subjected to incoming fire. The block combines at least one dry component selected from the group consisting of low solubility phosphate compounds, low solubility aluminum compounds, iron compounds, sulfate compounds, and calcium carbonate with a cementing material, water, and an aqueous based foam in substantially stoichiometric amounts. The aqueous based foam is added in a quantity sufficient to adjust the density of the resulting block to be non-buoyant without sinking in the projectile trapping medium. The additive may be employed in a projectile trapping medium to chemically stabilize the medium and environmentally stabilize projectiles trapped therein.

Self-dispensing bullet trap buffer block

Structure incorporating lead is fabricated from specially prepared components such that mobility of the lead is impeded when the structure is exposed to an unprotected environment such as weathering outdoors or saltwater. In a preferred embodiment, a bullet or bullet core is swaged from a number of bunched electroplated fine lead or lead-alloy wires placed in a die. The lead or lead-alloy wires may be fabricated from lead or lead-alloy wool. The lead alloy may comprise zinc and antimony. The electroplating process plates zinc on the fine wires and may plate a zinc alloy such as zinc-aluminum. The plated surface may be coated with a corrosion resistant coating such as molybdenum phosphate. In addition to bullets and bullet cores, fishing weights, lead shielding, counterweights, ballast, and other lead containing structure may be fabricated or treated using methods and materials of the present invention.

Corrosion-resistant structure incorporating zinc or zinc-alloy plated lead or lead-alloy wires and method of making same

A backstop for decelerating and trapping projectiles generally includes a support structure having an inclined surface and a projectile trapping medium disposed on the inclined surface. The projectile trapping medium may be either a resilient granular ballistic medium or a combination of a ballistic medium with a hydrated super absorbent polymer (SAP) gel. Preferably, the support structure is made of a shock absorbing, foamed, fiber-reinforced concrete, such as SACON&#xae;. In embodiments, the support structure also includes an enclosure. Additives may also be mixed into the projectile trapping medium to control alkalinity and prevent leaching of heavy metals.

Bullet trapping medium and system

An initial process for preparing material to use in manufacturing fiber-reinforced structures. One embodiment envisions a method of manufacturing a cement board. The initial process includes providing an open mat of recycled carpet fibers in a container, placing a mortar mixture directly over the fiber mat, distributing the mortar through the fiber mat by moving a comb having bent tines through the mortar-fiber mixture, and vibrating the mortar-fiber mixture substantially simultaneously with the distribution of mortar through the fiber. Also provided is a method for making the final product.

Method of manufacturing fiber-reinforced structures incorporating recycled carpet fibers

Provided are structural material for bullet traps and the like, a method of producing it, and a structure comprising it. The material is suitable for entraining and immobilizing projectiles and fine particles in a sticky gel. It is prepared by mixing cement with a thickener to form a dry mixture. Water is mixed with a fine aggregate in a mixer. The dry mixture is combined with the aqueous mixture in the mixer to form a slurry. Calcium phosphate and an alumina compound are added, mixing each separately until homogeneous. The density of the mixture is measured and an aqueous foam is added to adjust the density to a pre-specified level. Fibers are mixed into the adjusted mixture to form a homogeneous slurry that may be poured into a mold or in place at a construction site. Upon curing, the material may be used as a structural component.

Material, and method of producing it, for immobilizing heavy metals later entrained therein

A bullet comprises a lead sheet and a zinc foil fixed to the lead sheet, the sheet and foil being rolled and pressure formed into a bullet having generally helical layers of the lead sheet and zinc foil. The bullet exhibits an improved environmental impact on soil, relative to all-lead bullets.

Corrosion resistant metal body, bullet blank, and bullet and method for

Shock-absorbing blocks for bullet stops at firing ranges and for traffic trol are made by encasing scrap rubber tires in concrete. To ensure firm attachment of the tires to the concrete, reinforcements such as wire loops are fastened to the tire. To prevent the formation of air pockets during the pouring of the concrete mixture into a mold holding the tire, vent holes are punched into the side walls of the tire. To allow the concrete mixture to flow under the tire in the mold, the tire is propped up with support blocks. Wires may be strung across the top of the tire and attached to the side walls of the mold to prevent movement of the tire while the concrete is being poured into the mold. The concrete mixture may contain an aqueous foam additive, a stabilizer, and fiber reinforcements such as steel or organic polymers.

Shock-absorbing block

An alkali-activated silicate based cement or binder has a cure characteric which is modified by a phosphate additive which retards the set time of the cement or binder. The phosphate allows a longer set time than conventional alkali-activated silicate glass cements.

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Vicksburg, MS, United States of America

Joe Gain Tom