USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Thomas Higdon

Lonnie Frericks

Michael Danforth Lincoln

Bob Brush

Mitchell Hovenga

Keith Chamberlain

Anthony Kummerer

A modular charge system based on a standard module fitted with a flying plate or a liner and axially coupled to other modules to configure the size and type of charge. The explosive is enclosed in a casing, which has a cylindrical wall with a plurality of external longitudinal rails that run lengthwise. The rails are substantially parallel, and approximately equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the casing. The space between a pair of rails defines a channel. The casing rails function as a cylindrical tamper. The explosive is partitioned into removable portions and permanent portions, where the removable portions are separated from the permanent portions and any retained removable portions, therein enabling the module to be fitted with a variety of flying plates, liners and other hardware. Modules may be coupled utilizing internal slides, positioned in the channels to join modules.

Modular charge system

The assemblable module charge system includes a set of quadrant panels, where an individual quadrant panel is a fractional component of a cylindrical wall having a plurality of external longitudinal parallel rails separated by channels. The fractional cylindrical wall has a sectional length with fastening side edges. The set of panels may be stored as a flat-pack and assembled into a single module. The volume of the flat-pack is less than half the volume of the assembled module. The flat-pack is a group of unassembled quadrant panels nested to minimize space. The system uses elongate slides that may be frictionally positioned in channels shared by the module and a charge system. The charge system is a prepackaged explosive that may be fastened to the assembled module.

Assemblable module charge system

A mechanical firing adapter for an igniter, such as an M81, to enable remotely firing the igniter using a robot, such as a MTRS. MTRS are used in the disposal/disruption of IEDs. Igniters are generally used with a shock tube, a type of fuse that is used with explosive charges, like shape charges. The adapter has a base plate with a first area to secure the igniter, a second area to withdraw the igniter's pull-rod by the attached pull-ring, and a compound assembly that interfaces with a robot. The pull-ring is attached to a sled that moves rearward when a clinching force is applied to opposing paddles, which causes the connected angled articulating struts to spread open. The paddles are moved closer by a remote controlled robotic jaw, and this closing movement causes the sled to move rearward, pulling out the pull-rod, which sets off the explosive.

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La Plata, MD, United States of America

Thomas Higdon