Patents Examined by James Bergin
  • Patent number: 9255774
    Abstract: A series of small explosive charges are used to preferentially crack the casing of a warhead to provide for a controlled fragmentation of the warhead. During detonation of the warhead's explosive fill, the casing will break early in the process along pre-determined lines resulting in very large fragments that are projected towards the ground and away from innocent civilians. A fragmentation control collar which contacts these charges can be fitted on the outside of existing warheads. An annular liner within the warhead aids in the controlled fragmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Thomas E. Burky, John R. Leach
  • Patent number: 9016205
    Abstract: An irritation body (100, 100?) is proposed, which is formed by at least two modules (101, 102). The upper module (101) serves for acceptance of an ignition head (1) with tilt lever (3) and comprises upper blow-out apertures (8, 9). The lower module (102) is intended for acceptance of an effect-charge (11) with the effect-charge (11) being integrated in a central chamber (10) of a module (102). The chamber (10) itself is functionally connected with the upper blow-out apertures (8, 9) and also with the lower blow-out apertures (12, 18, 19, 20) in the lower module (102). The chamber (10) in the lower module (102) can, depending upon module (102), be selected in different sizes, which produces, under concomitant volume variability, output variability with defined increase in output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Lübbers, Kai Lübbers, Frank Habel
  • Patent number: 9003975
    Abstract: Provided is a gas generator which is reduced in weight and size while maintaining a sufficient strength as a pressure vessel. A gas generator (1) includes a housing (4) in a tubular shape having an opening (10) on at least one end thereof and a plug (12) inserted in the opening (10), so that an end portion (11) on the opening side is reduced in diameter and caulked in a caulking groove (13) of the plug (12), to thereby seal the opening (10), in which: the caulking groove (13) is a streak groove that extends along the periphery of the plug (12) and is rectangular in section; and the caulking groove (13) has at least one of side walls (14) forming the calking groove (13), the one side wall (14a) being closer to the center of the housing, which is orthogonal or sloped to the opening side, with respect to the axis (X) of the housing (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Nipponkayaku Kabushikikaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Aoyagi, Koichi Enami
  • Patent number: 8919257
    Abstract: A round for simulating an 155 mm Excalibur ammunition for testing purposes. The round can effectively simulate the flight patterns of a real Excalibur round for testing purposes though made of far less expensive reusable parts. The round is generally fired into a water trough in a long soft catch recovery device so the tested round can later be studied, or generally fired ballistically, to test obturator devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Ryan Hooke, Tyler Myers, Christopher Stout, Michael Caulfield, Alan Totten
  • Patent number: 8904939
    Abstract: Said device comprises a tube (1), one closed end of which is mounted onto a holder (5), for example a concrete mass (6), that is itself attached to a mountainside (7). The other open end (2) of said tube is rotated toward the snow cover (3). The device also comprises a means (8) for filling the tube (1) with an explosive gas mixture and moreover comprises a priming means that induces the explosion of said mixture. Said device is characterized in that it comprises at least two beams (9) that, each being attached by one of the ends thereof to the holder (5), extends along the tube (1) parallel thereto so as to ensure the holding thereof while forming a means for absorbing the movement of the tube (1) following the gas mixture explosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Technologie Alpine de Securite—TAS
    Inventors: Stephane Constant, Philippe Berthet-Rambaud, Pascal Roux
  • Patent number: 8904938
    Abstract: A blasting cartridge includes a generally cylindrical blasting container, a blasting substance filled in the blasting container, a pair of leadwires contained in the blasting container, and a single thin metal wire connected to tip portions of the pair of leadwires. The leadwires and the thin metal wire are positioned within the blasting substance within the blasting container. The blasting substance is nitromethane, and the thin metal wire is formed of tungsten. With an electric discharge impact blasting apparatus, since the thin metal wire has a higher heating value than a copper wire because of its higher resistance and vaporizes at higher temperatures, it is possible to obtain a greater blasting force at lower voltages than with a blasting apparatus using a copper wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuya Sasaki, Hideaki Kitajima, Ryo Sakamoto, Takaaki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 8899154
    Abstract: An auxiliary cartridge for use in rock breaking is disclosed which comprises an elongate body, an end closure at each end of the body and a charge of combustible material in the space defined by the body and the end closures. One of the end closures includes a frangible membrane which closes off a charge of combustible chemicals. On being subjected to the pressure of an external ignition of fast burning combustible material, the membrane fails and permits flame to flash through it from externally of the auxiliary cartridge to internally thereof thereby to ignite said charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Green Break Technology Limited
    Inventor: Andre V. Dyk
  • Patent number: 8899155
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of nitroguanidine-based consumable ammunition assemblies and methods of producing and using these assemblies. In one embodiment, for example, a nitroguanidine-based consumable ammunition assembly can include a projectile, a Combustible Cartridge Cased body using nitroguanidine as the primary energetic material, and a composite case base interfacing with the CCC body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Armtec Defense Products Co.
    Inventor: Enrico R. Mutascio
  • Patent number: 8887640
    Abstract: A safety fuze includes a magneto striker generator (MSG) as its a power generation source. The MSG provides energy to energize an electronic unit and a safety and arming device. The safety fuze allows safety and arming of military hand grenades, with a fully out-of-line explosive initiator and an integrated power generation means, for improving safety and performance. The MSG includes a striker and a receiving bobbin that houses a conductive coil. The striker comprises a permanent magnet that is mounted on a pivot mechanism for allowing a rotational displacement of the permanent magnet, into the bobbin, in order to generate an electrical current. As the permanent magnet is being inserted inside the bobbin, the magnetic flux change induces an electric current in the coil, creating the necessary energy for the fuze operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Ryan R. Knight, Oliver M. Barham, Thinh Q. Hoang, Robert H. Wood
  • Patent number: 8875632
    Abstract: A method for providing permanently colored steel shot for shot shells through anodizing and shells manufactured utilizing the shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Tony Jaehnichen
  • Patent number: 8869701
    Abstract: The present invention describes an improved cartridged projectile (100). The cartridged projectile (100) comprises a projectile (110) seating at a mouth of a cartridge case (130). The cartridge case (130) has a base (134) that houses a high pressure chamber (150). A side of the high pressure chamber (150) is capped by a pressure disc (170), which is secured onto the base of the cartridge case by a nozzle ring (160). The nozzle ring (160) has a tapered or conical surface that allows the pressure disc (170) to flex, and a surface (171) of the pressure disc (170) exterior of the high pressure chamber has intersecting V-shaped grooves (172). When propellant in the high pressure chamber (150) is burned efficiently, high pressure gases developing inside the high pressure chamber cause the pressure disc (170) to rupture at a predetermined pressure along the grooves (172) so that the gases propel the projectile (110) out of a barrel at a higher speed of about 100 m/s or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Material Engineering Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Cheng Hok Aw, Chee Keong Yak, Soo Chew Sie, Renjie Xie
  • Patent number: 8863665
    Abstract: Connection cables for separable firing unit assemblies comprise a first mating connector at a first end and a second mating connector at a second, opposing end. A stripline cable electrically connects the first mating connector to the second mating connector. Separable firing unit assemblies comprise an initiation device. An electronics assembly is configured to transmit a firing pulse to the initiation device. One of a first mating connector and a second mating connector is coupled to the initiation device and the other of the first mating connector and the second mating connector is coupled to the electronics assembly. A second housing of the second mating connector is configured to receive a portion of a first housing of the first mating connector therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Derek R. DeVries, Brent D. Madsen, Eldon C. Peterson, Donald L. Jackson, William W. Thorup
  • Patent number: 8857339
    Abstract: An explosives detonator system for detonating an explosive charge with which it is, in use, arranged in a detonating relationship is provided. On acceptance of a detonation initiating signal having a detonation initiating property, the system initiates and thus detonates the explosive charge. The system includes an initiating device which accepts the detonation initiating signal and initiates and thus detonates the explosive charge. The initiating device is initially in a non-detonation initiating condition, in which it is not capable of accepting the detonation initiating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: AEL Mining Services Limited
    Inventors: Elmar Muller, Pieter Stephanus Jacobus Halliday, Clifford Gordon Morgan, Paul Dastoor, Warwick Belcher, Xiaojing Zhou, Glenn Bryant
  • Patent number: 8857342
    Abstract: The current invention relates to the fields of ballistic and kinetic energy (KE) weapons. Specifically a novel apparatus and use of nanomaterials has been developed to make significant improvements over existing weapons. By incorporating nano-scale particles as a filler material for kinetic energy weapons several advancements are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: NCC Nano, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Eugene Wilson, Kurt A. Schroder, Darrin Lee Willauer, Stephan Bless, Rodney Thompson Russell
  • Patent number: 8850984
    Abstract: An explosive cartridge comprising: an explosive composition; a deactivating agent that is capable of desensitising the explosive composition; and a barrier element that prevents contact between the explosive composition and the deactivating agent and that is adapted to be at least partially removed on use of the explosive cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignees: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd., Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Thomas Smylie, Richard John Goodridge, Deane Tunaley, Steven Kotsonis, Les Armstrong, Brad Beikoff, Alexander Bilyk, Zang Xiaoqing, Long Yu, Dong Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 8833227
    Abstract: A sealing ring obturates a propellant charge cartridge of an automatic firearm for caseless ammunition, in particular against an end face of a firearm element, in particular for a breech or a projectile cartridge. The sealing ring contains a sealing surface that can be brought into contact with the end face. The sealing surface contains a first region around an annular opening of the sealing ring and a second region around the first region. The second region is set back relative to a tangential surface to the first region. In addition, a propellant charge cartridge for an automatic firearm for caseless ammunition, has at least one of the sealing rings. The propellant charge cartridge preferably contains one or multiple, in particular two, propellant charge chambers, which are provided with a sealing ring on each of the breech side and the projectile cartridge side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Axel Pfersmann, Fritz Schlenk, Manfred Hechtl, Alfred Eckel
  • Patent number: 8833262
    Abstract: A frangible projectile with a specific gravity similar to a lead projectile. The projectile comprises 34-94%, by weight, binder. The binder comprises poly ether block amide resin. The projectile further comprises 6-66%, by weight, ballast. The ballast comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of tungsten, tungsten carbide, molybdenum, tantalum, ferro-tungsten, copper, bismuth, iron, steel, brass, aluminum bronze, beryllium copper, tin, aluminum, titanium, zinc, nickel silver alloy, cupronickel and nickel. The projectile can be prepared with a particularly preferred specific gravity of 5-14 and more preferably 11-11.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Genesis GRP LLC
    Inventor: John D. LeaSure
  • Patent number: 8826823
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of with a projectile (1) comprising a reactive charge (4), combating an explosive-charged weapon unit (7), preferably an enemy shell, so that undesirable harmful effects on the environment are reduced, wherein the projectile (1) is configured to penetrate the surface (8) of the weapon unit (7) upon impact so that a passage (9) is opened into the explosive (10) of the weapon unit (7), through which passage (9) the reactive charge (4), under the influence of the kinetic energy of the projectile (1), is transferred to the explosive (10) of the weapon unit (7). The method can be deemed to be characterized in that the reactive charge (4), upon contact with the explosive (10) of the weapon unit (7), reacts and starts a hypergolic reaction with the explosive (10). The invention also relates to a projectile (1) for the said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BAE Systems Bofors AB
    Inventors: Christer Thuman, Kjell Wållberg, Carin Vörde
  • Patent number: 8826821
    Abstract: An explosives container comprising a flexible inner bag within a flexible outer bag, the outer bag comprising a first end and a second end and a booster compartment located on an external surface of the outer bag, adjacent the second end. An explosive composition can be located within the inner bag and, in use, the booster compartment contains an explosive booster and serves to maintain the explosive booster in close contact with the explosives composition. The explosives container further comprises an elongate sheath extending substantially between the first end and the second end of the outer bag and serving to house and protect a detonator cord from damage or dislodgement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Crinum IP Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Michael John Martin
  • Patent number: 8820241
    Abstract: A safety device for a fuze of a projectile that includes a detonating device for detonating the fuze. The safety device has a safety unit with a processor for safeguarding a detonation process of the detonating device. The safety unit contains a sensor unit configured to output a disengagement signal at a predetermined acceleration state. The processor is set up to output a control signal to release the safety unit in accordance with the presence of the disengagement signal. A low-acceleration state of the flight of the projectile can thus be detected and used as release parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Junghans Microtec GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Kautzsch, Siegfried Lauble, Robert Hüttner, Andreas Schellhorn