MXPA01008003A - Method and apparatus for the destruction of suspected terrorist weapons by detonation in a contained environment - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method for the destruction of terrorist weapons, including explosives chemical and biological agents, by detonation in an enclosed double-walled steel explosion chamber having its walls (1, 3), access door (6) and floor filled with granular shock damping material (4). The chamber is vented through orifices (8) into vent pipes (9) which converge in a manifold (10) which exhausts into an expansion tank or scrubber for cooling, testing, and environmental treatment of the explosion products. A weapon (13) to be destroyed is placed into the chamber with a donor explosive charge (16) and held in place by a disintegratable string hammock (14), along with one or more plastic polymer film bags (18) containing water. For use in destroying known or suspected chemical or biological weapons the donor charge is augmented with an oxidizing material such as potassium nitrate, and the resulting fireball is enhanced by powdered metal such as aluminum, to achieve an instantaneous pressure of 100 kilobars and instantaneous temperature of 3,000 degrees Celsius.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF WEAPONS SUSPICIOUS TERRORISTS THROUGH THE DETONATION IN A ENVIRONMENT CONTENT RELATED REQUESTS I, John L. Donovan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF SUSPICIOUS TERRORIST ARMS BY DETONATION IN AN ENVIRONMENT CONTENT of which the following is a specification. This application is a continuation in part of my pending application series No. 09/191, 045 filed on November 12, 1998. Application No. 09 / 191,045 is also a continuation in part of application 08 / 823,223 filed on October 24, 1998. March 1997, which was issued as US Patent No. 5, 884, 569 on March 23, 1999. Serial Application No. 08 / 823,223 is also a continuation in part of the series request No.08 / 578 , 200 filed on December 29, 1995, which was issued as the US patent No.5, 613,453 on March 25, 1997.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a method and apparatus for containing, controlling and suppressing the detonation of explosives, particularly i, t., ..., j J_A_A_j_a_J_ for the destruction and disposal on the site of terrorist weapons such as bombs in packages, including weapons known or suspected to contain chemical or biological agents • of war.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for containing, controlling and suppress the effects of explosive detonations, particularly those detonations that result from the destruction of suspicious package bombs and similar terrorist devices. The purpose of the invention is to provide a containment device, which can contain and suppress the explosion and its explosion products, so that there is no danger to the plant and surrounding equipment, or to the environment. An additional object is to provide a compact and easily portable device to allow military or military authorities • Appropriate law enforcement destroy with safety not only devices suspected of containing explosives, but also devices suspected of containing a combination of explosives and toxic chemical and / or biological warfare agents ("CBW"). -t-á-á -t ** - * »- - -.» - 11 «¿__ _ ,,. _ »I__«. AJ - J COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION The improved explosion chamber of the invention comprises • a double-walled steel explosion chamber with hollow walls, ceiling and floor. These activities are filled with a granulated shock absorbing material such as silica sand. The floor of the chamber is covered with a bed of granulated shock absorbing material, such as gravel. On the external part of the chamber there are steel manifolds, from which a linear pipe arrangement of • ventilation penetrates the double walls of the chamber, each pipe having at its entrance end a protected hardened steel hole, through which the products of combustion of explosion pass before being ventilated through the pipes 15 towards the manifolds. During use, a known or suspected explosive or CBW weapon is placed in the chamber with an initiation explosive or "donor charge" and the weapon and donor charge are suspended approximately the midpoint of the camera in harness or net made 20 of a material that will substantially disintegrate the next explosion. The donor charge is equipped with detonation means such as an electric detonator connected to an external source of initiation energy through thin wires or other suitable means. Also placed inside the camera, 25 around and near the explosives, are bags of plastic film filled with water, which have the effect of mitigating and moderating the effects of detonation. After the detonation, the explosion products are • ventilated through the holes and ventilation pipes towards the manifolds, from which they are directed towards a treatment device such as a scrubber before being released into the atmosphere. The method of operation of the invention comprises the steps of suspending a known explosive or CBW device or suspect at approximately the midpoint of the camera in a • harness or net of material that can disintegrate, place plastic bags containing a quantity of water approaching the weight of the explosive near the explosive, attach a detonation initiation device to the donor load, close the access door for seal the chamber against ventilation directly into the atmosphere, detonate the explosives and control the release of the explosion products through the ventilation pipes to the manifolds, and then maintain, test and treat the products of • Explosion until they are released safely into the environment. Another important feature of the invention is that to use the destruction of known or suspected CBW agents the donor charge consists of a specially formulated plastic explosive containing oxygen-rich ingredients and fireball-improving ingredients for destruction. complete of all CBW agents with a minimum amount of Explosive material BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS • In the drawings: Figure 1 is a cut away perspective view of the improved explosion containment chamber of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the explosion chamber of the preceding Figures; 10 Figure 3 is a sectional plan view in the chamber of • Explosion of the preceding Figures; Figure 4 is a partially sectional plan view of the self-tensioning door hinged inwards of the explosion chamber of the preceding Figures; Figure 5 is a perspective view in partial section of the explosion chamber of the preceding Figures used as part in a unit mounted on a mobile trailer for the controlled destruction of explosive devices and CBW • suspects. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

Returning to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view in section of the improved explosion chamber of the present invention. The chamber comprises an inner cover 1 having a roof, floor, side walls and ends, being made of sheet steel using conventional welding techniques. Surrounding the inner cover 1 is a plurality of • Temporarily separate flanges or ribs 2 on which an outer cover 3 of welded steel plate is constructed, so that the ribs 2 cause the outer cover 3 to be separated from the inner cover 1 and leave a gap which is then filled with a granulated shock absorbing material. In the preferred embodiment, which is particularly adapted for the destruction of explosive devices or CBW • small, known or suspected, the inner and outer metal covers are constructed of steel plate with a thickness of 1.27 cm separated by circumferential steel beam I ribs 2 separated into centers of 30.48 cm. All seams are soldered continuously. Inside the chamber, all open inner corners are equipped with 4-chamfer plates welded to break the 90 ° square corner at two 45 ° angles, which has the effect of circling the corner and eliminating corners or • high voltage cavities, in which, otherwise, impose undesirable destructive forces on the corner welds. The square corners are to avoid, due to the possession of explosive detonations from unusually exerting high tensions at such points. According to the invention, the space between the cover internal and external 3 is filled with a shock absorber material, i. ?.ai? A lí,, af af it it, _ _ gran gran gran gran gran gran preferiblemente preferiblemente preferiblemente preferiblemente preferiblemente preferiblemente También También También También También También También También También También También_ 的 También_. Also, the floor of the chamber is covered to a similar depth as a layer 5 (Figure 1) of granulated shock absorber material, such as gravel . In the preferred embodiment shown, the dimensions of the explosion chambers are: INTERNAL DIMENSIONS EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS Width: 54.61 cm Width; 94.61 cm Length: 121.92 cm Length: 155.37 cm • Height: 182.92 Height; 168..91 cm.

The opening of the door in the illustrated mode is a square of 40.64 X 40.64 cm, with a square door of 45.72 X 45,72 cm overlapping the edges of the opening by 2.54 cm on all sides. The door of the illustrated mode is solid, being made of solid steel plate with a thickness of 1,905 cm, although Ah can also be hollow and filled with granulated shock absorbing material as taught in the patent application of E.U.A. 5,613,453. The chamfer plates or the illustrated mode are 1.27 cm steel with a width of 7.62 cm. The access door 6 is supported to swing open inwardly by the internal hinges 7 A closing seal is desired, which can be obtained in any suitable manner, such as by applying a strip of heat-resistant joint material, dtSaAj such as vulcanization silicone rubber (RTV) at room temperature (not shown), or simply by fixing the door to the door frame using extremely close tolerances. In any case, when the door is closed against its frame, the pressure of an explosion within the chamber tends to compress the door more firmly against the frame, sealing it more hermetically. When an explosive is detonated in the chamber, the explosion products are released in a controlled manner through a plurality of openings created by holes 8, each of the F which is connected through a ventilation pipe 9, to manifolds 10, which run to the sides of the upper and rear part and of the chamber, and remain together in an exhaust vent 11 located at the opposite end of the door. In the modality illustrated, each hole has a diameter of 2.54 cm, and has a U-shaped safety plate 12 welded thereon for protection from being shredded or broken, during use, although it is followed F allowing the explosion products to be ventilated in a controllable manner towards the manifolds 10 and outside the ventilation of Exhaust 11. As best seen in Figure 1, a weapon 13 to be destroyed is introduced into the chamber through door 5 and suspended approximately at the midpoint of the chamber, above the gravel layer 5 that covers the floor, in the middle of support preferably consisting of a net, or sling 14 According to the invention, the net or sling 14 is made of a material that substantially does not disintegrate the detonation, leaving very little or no waste or residue. In the preferred mode, a network • Cotton strip has proven to be satisfactory, although nets or 5 containers made of other disintegrable materials will also serve, such as multimeter polymer or fine metallic wire. Alternatively, the weapon 13 can be supported in a paper or cloth bag suspended from the ceiling of the chamber through a strip or cable (not shown). After the weapon 13 is placed inside the chamber, it is equipped with means for destroying by detonation, comprising an explosive donor charge 16, ignition means, such as an electrically operated detonator, 17, with cables leading through a pressure-sealed opening in the wall of the chamber, and an energy absorbing module 18 which preferably consists of a plastic bag filled with a measured amount of water. It has been discovered that commercially available "ZipLock" brand sandwich bags with a • dimension of 15.24 X 20.32 cm and a thickness of 0.00508 cm are satisfactory for this purpose. Although water is preferred, any suitable energy absorbing vaporizable material can also be used. By using plastic bags filled with water as a means of absorbing energy, it has been found that the pressure The theoretical instant of the explosion is reduced by more than Half, and the introduction of moisture into the chamber at the time of detonation and then has the beneficial effect of suppressing dust and cooling the products of explosion instantly. In practice, both water and plastic bags are completely vaporized, serving to absorb and suppress the unwanted impact of the explosion, although virtually no waste or residue is left. In current tests, it has been proven that the camera of the illustrated preferable embodiment will resist detonation of up to 2.7 kilograms of the C-2 plastic explosive on a repetitive basis without damaging the camera or its accessories, and without any significant development of waste or residue. . If the weapon 13 is known or suspected to contain explosives, a proportionally smaller mass of donor charge 16 is used, so that the maximum explosive load is maintained within a safe range. The mass of water that will be used in energy absorption modules has been found to depend on the type of explosive to be detonated and its mass. Since the energy released per unit of explosive varies according to the type of explosive involved, for an optimum explosion suppression, the mass ratio of water to explosive must also be varied. It has been determined that the following ratios are substantially optimal for use with the types of explosives indicated.

Explosive Kcal / Kg Water Ratio / explosive mass HXM 1890 2.50 • RDX 1650 2.20 PETN 1500 2.00 C-2 944.44 1.25 C-4 714.44 1.68 TNT 925 1.22 In another important aspect of the invention, the agents • Chemical and / or biological warfare (CBW) known or suspected can be successfully destroyed using this camera. For this purpose, the means for detonation are modified to ensure that the explosion will create, within the chamber, a condition which has an instantaneous pressure of 155 kilobars and a high temperature of 4,000 degrees centigrade. A pressure of at least 100 klobarias and a temperature of at least 3,000 degrees centigrade is desired. • In accordance with the invention, these conditions are created to through the use of a specially formulated explosive, which is rich in oxygen and contains powdered metal to intensify and prolong the brief fireball resulting from the explosive. An adequate plastic PETN explosive, such as C-4, is modified by the inclusion or addition of up to ten percent (10%) by weight of an oxidation material such as potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate or ammonium nitrate. A metallic powder finely divided, preferably aluminum, magnesium or iron, is both added to the same donor load placed in a package (not shown) near the donor charge, so that their contents are consumed in the explosion and are added to their temperature, pressure and duration. Through this technique, the detonation of the donor charge creates an absolutely instantaneous condition within the chamber which can not withstand any known neurological biological agent. In tests, the utility and effectiveness of the present invention in destroying CBW nerve agents have been verified. The organophosphorus pesticide, Melathion (TM), readily available and easily handled, can be used as a substitute for chemically very similar narcotic but Sarin and VX gas agents. In a real field test of the chamber described above, using 95% agricultural grade Melathion (S: G: = 1.21) as a substitute, the following results were obtained (all quantities are in grams): TEST RESULTS FEBRUARY 25, 1999 For each test, a measured quantity of 113.4 grams of Melathion is placed in the chamber as the weapon 13, together with a predetermined charge of the C-4 plastic explosive, a fireball improver component consisting of aluminum oxide, and a measured quantity of water contained in a plastic balls. The door to the chamber was then closed and sealed, and the explosive charge was electrically detonated. Each time, a short puff of explosion products, mainly water vapor, was emitted, being emitted from the exhaust vent 11. When door 6 was opened, little remaining vestige of steam was observed, but observers virtually did not see the presence of the characteristic of Melathion with a highly distinctive smell, even in small quantities. Two independent environmental testing companies were coupled to observe the tests and to measure the residual concentration of Melathion remaining in the chamber after each explosion. The technicians cleaned or rubbed 100 cm2 areas of the chamber on the internal walls, the fact of gravel and the inside of the exhaust ventilation. Of the four tests, the highest concentration of Melathion observed was in test 3, after the development of twelve preceding explosions where a cleaning of the inside of the chamber described a residual concentration of Melathion only of 0.092 micrograms per cm2. Other readings of the same series of tests were of the order of magnitude smaller than those and still below the detection limits íéJkáßáa &? l.

Reliable A particular advantage of the explosion chamber of the present invention is that it is compact enough to be easily transported in a truck or trailer to sites in the field for disposal of all manner of explosive devices including suspicious terrorist weapons. With a width of only 0.9144 m, the camera can be mounted on polishing wheels and rolled directly into buildings through an exit door opening, such as a revolving door with its door panels removed. A suspicious bomb or other terrorist device can be placed in the camera by a remote controlled robot arm, or by an officer wearing protective gear. When the suspect device is placed in the camera near the donor charge, detonator and water bag, the door simply closes and secures, and the donor charge is detonated from a safe distance. If the device I suspect contains CBW agents, explosives, or both, the and the agents are quickly and safely discarded with little danger to people or property. The camera can then be simply turned back out of the building and returned to a safe place for cleaning and preparation for the next use. Figure 5 shows a further modification of the invention intended for the treatment of devices containing known CBW agents on a larger scale. In this embodiment, the camera 21 is mounted on an enclosed trailer 22 adapted to be Í; _ * i-t.-. < i s ------- »-t-_ Éh-a» _-? M towed by a tractor unit (not shown). The trailer is equipped with a water spray scrubber or other treatment means 23 of conventional construction coupled as a • particulate separator 24 and an exhaust fan 25 to extract all explosion products out of the chamber after each detonation, so that no gaseous explosion product escapes into the untreated atmosphere. For extra security, a secondary containment device comprising a hinged leak suppression hub 26, is placed on the access door of the chamber • to collect any leakage explosion product, which escapes through the opening of the door. A conduit is provided for transporting any leaking explosive product to the scrubber or other means of treatment. fifteen • ? yj.i.-í? .iJf. i.Y..y, JÍ) ^ tyyy.y ^ y,

Claims (25)

1. CLAIMS 1. A device for the destruction of weapons by means of an explosion, comprising: a pressure-resistant container having an internal cover and an outer cover surrounding and separated from the inner cover, the inner cover defining a chamber enclosed having walls, an floor and a roof, at least with a door opening penetrating the roofs and being closed by a door 10 access that can be sealed; an external multiple, a plurality of • holes that penetrate the inner cover of the enclosed chamber, each orifice being connected to the external manifold through a ventilation pipe; separating means for connecting the inner and outer covers to define a plurality of cavities 15 substantially surrounding the enclosed chamber, each cavity being substantially filled with a granulated shock absorbing material; the floor of the enclosed chamber being substantially covered with a layer of granulated shock absorbing material, as a cover; means to detonate the weapon 20 comprising an explosive donor charge sufficient to destroy the weapon, means of ignition to detonate the donor charge; at least one energy absorption module filled with liquid near the donor charge and the weapon; and support means that can disintegrate within the enclosed chamber to suspend the 25 donor load, the weapon, and at least one absorption module energy filled with liquid above the floor of the chamber approximately at the midpoint of the chamber. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing modules comprise vaporizable containers filled with water. The device according to claim 2, wherein the mass of water in the vaporizable containers is selected to modulate the instantaneous peak pressure of a detonation of the donor charge and weapon to a level which said pressure resistance container is capable of resist repeatedly. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the granulated core absorbing material that fills the cavities is silica sand. The device according to claim 1, wherein the granulated energy absorbing material covering the floor is gravel. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support means that can disintegrate consist of a material that will be substantially consumed by the detonation of the donor charge and the weapon. The device according to claim 6, wherein the support means that can be disintegrated are a mesh made of a material selected from the group consisting of natural organic fiber, polymer monofilament and fine metallic wire. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the external manifold is connected to test means for detecting and measuring toxic residues in the explosion products, and treatment means for removing toxic residues before the release of said explosion products into the environment. 9. The device according to claim 8, further including a removable external leakage suppression mallet positioned over the door opening for collecting leaking explosion products, which escape from the chamber around the door through the opening of the door, and driving means for transporting the leaked explosion products to the test means and means of treatment. 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the donor charge consists of an increased high-energy explosive which, when denoted, will create within the chamber a 15 pressure of at least 100 kilobars and a temperature of 3,000 degrees centigrade. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for detonating said weapon further include: an oxygen-rich ingredient selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and ammonium nitrate; and a fireball improver ingredient selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium and iron, said ingredient being in the form of a finely divided powder. 12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the donor load comprises an enriched plastic explosive. containing: a primary energetic ingredient selected from the group consisting of PETN, RDX, HMX, C-2, C-4, and TNT; an oxygen-rich ingredient selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and ammonium nitrate; and a fireball improver ingredient selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium and iron, the ingredient being in the form of a finely divided powder. 13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing modules comprise vaporizable containers filled with water, and the mass of water in the vaporizable containers is selected to coincide with the energy mass of the donor charge. The device according to claim 13, wherein the mass of water in the energy absorption modules is selected from the following table according to the main explosive component of the donor charge: Explosive Kcal / Kg. Water Ratio / explosive mass HXM 1890 2.50 RDX 1650 2.20 PETN 1500 2.00 C-2 944.44 1.25 C-4 714.44 1.68 TNT 925 1.22 15. The method for the destruction of weapons through explosion, comprising: providing a pressure-resistant container having an inner cover and an outer covering surrounding and separated from the inner cover, the inner cover defines a chamber enclosed having walls, a floor and a roof, with at least one door opening penetrating said covers and being closed by a sealing door; an external multiple; a plurality of holes that penetrate the inner cover of the enclosed chamber, the orifice being connected to the external manifold through a ventilation pipe; separating means for connecting the inner and outer covers to define a plurality of cavities substantially surrounding the enclosed chamber, each cavity being substantially filled with a granulated shock absorbing material; the floor of the enclosed chamber being substantially covered with a layer of granulated shock absorber material, as a cover; placing a weapon within the chamber together with means for detonating said weapon comprising a sufficient explosive donor charge to destroy the weapon, ignition means for detonating the donor charge, and at least one absorption module of energy filled with liquid near the donor charge and the weapon; suspend the donor charge, weapon and at least one energy-absorbing module filled with liquid with a support means • which can disintegrate above the floor of chamber 5 approximately at the midpoint of the chamber; close and seal the chamber door and detonate the donor charge. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the energy absorption modules comprise containers 10 vaporizable filled with water. 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the mass of water in the vaporizable containers is selected to modulate the instantaneous peak pressure of a detonation of the donor charge and weapon to a level that said container resistant to 15 pressure is able to resist repeatedly. 18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the granulated energy absorbing material that fills the cavities is silica sand. 19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the granulated energy absorbing material covering the floor is gravel. The method according to claim 15, wherein the support means that can be disintegrated consist of a material that will be substantially consumed with the detonation of 25 the donor and weapon charge. ¡¿¿It. ^ Il? I-t, - ... ?? if-tttaV! ? lÍI-fÉMl? lJ - •••• '• -'? k me? ¡? ? Skl &? &? &TmiM ^ e # y ^ --s & j-faafea-atf- »> 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the support means that can be disintegrated is a mesh made of a material selected from the group consisting of natural organic fiber., monofilament of polymer and fine metallic wire. 22. The method according to claim 5, which includes the additional steps of measuring toxic waste in the explosion products coming out of the external manifold, and treating said toxic waste to make it harmless before it is released into the environment. 23. The method according to claim 15, wherein the donor charge consists of an increased high-energy explosive which, when detonated, will create within the chamber a pressure of at least 100 kilobars and a temperature of at least 3000 degrees centigrade. The method according to claim 15, wherein the means for detonating the weapon further include: an oxygen-rich ingredient selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and ammonium nitrate; and a fireball improver ingredient selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium and iron, the ingredient is in the form of a finely divided powder. 25. The method according to claim 15, wherein the donor charge comprises an enriched plastic explosive containing: a primary energy ingredient selected from the group consisting of PETN, RDX, HMX, C-2, C-4, and TNT; an oxygen-rich ingredient selected from the group consisting of potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate and ammonium nitrate; and a fireball improver ingredient selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium and iron, the ingredient is in the form of a finely divided powder. 26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the energy absorbing modules comprise vaporizable containers filled with water, and the mass of water in the vaporizable containers is selected to equal the energy mass of the donor charge. The method according to claim 26, wherein the mass of water in the energy absorption modules is selected from the following table according to the main explosive component of the donor charge: Explosive Kcal / Kg. Water Ratio / explosive mass HXM 1890 2.50 RDX 1650 2.20 PETN 1500 2.00 C-2 944.44 1.25 C-4 714.44 1.68 TNT 925 1.22