Penetrator
The present invention provides a method wherein a penetrator is deployed and penetrates to a prescribed depth. A secondary mass may be simultaneously deployed.
The present invention relates to the field of deployment, and in particular to penetrators including ground deployment and the air deployment of a penetrator and the control of the amount of penetration made by the penetrator.
SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTIONUnless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the specification and relevant art, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity. For the present invention, the term “ground” is taken to mean any surface, visible expression of a solid material, matrix of solid materials, any thing that is visible, and gasses and liquids that can be said to be differentiated from the local environment and therefore penetrable. Commonly known penetrable items include the earth, animals, persons, metals, plastics, wood, plants, vegetable material, water, liquids and all solid or semisolid surfaces. For the present invention, the term “penetrator” refers to a device that penetrates ground as define herein. The penetrator may further contain, comprise or enclose devices, chemicals or such items as are containable, comprisable or are enclosable for penetration.
The present invention provides for a method of deployment of an object and placing that object in the ground, and determining how far in the ground the object penetrates including the ability to have the object resting on the surface without penetration but anchored securely in place, and the ability to have the object partially penetrated into the ground with some part of the object above the ground surface.
The object that is air deployed can constitute itself and provide appropriate structural integrity for the mission or it can be enclosed in a carrier vehicle as necessary. An additional mass is attached to the object to facilitate the driving of the object into the ground. The mass may be ejected after the object is positioned in the ground. The mass may be a dead weight such as iron or earth, or it may be an independent device or object that is simultaneously deployed on the surface near the impact site.
The present invention provides for a penetrator that is driven into the earth and is stopped at a prescribed depth by an expanded stop plate. The stop plate impedes further penetration by loading an area of the earth and reducing the force per unit area of loaded earth below that necessary to displace and penetrate the earth thereby impeding further penetration. In this manner, the penetrator is placed at a prescribed penetration depth.
When ground deployed the penetrator is simply pressed into the earth by hand or by mechanical means until further penetration is impeded by the stop plate. When air deployed the mass of the penetrator carries the penetrator into the earth until further penetration is impeded by the stop plate. An additional mass is added to the penetrator to add energy necessary for earth penetration when needed. This mass may be an integral part of the penetrator or it may be added to the rear of the penetrator the other side of the stop plate away from the penetrator head. This mass may remain attached after penetration or may be ejected away from the penetrator, or may break down around the penetrator as desired. This mass may be a secondary object with a dependent or independent mission and operation.
While the method of this invention has been shown and described with reference to the specific embodiments noted herein it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many deviations, derivations and variations in form and specific details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is limited only by the claims annexed hereto.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ARTMany air deployment systems have been devised for the planting of bulbs, trees or seeds in the earth. One such system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,782,656 describes a planting module for planting a seed or a bulb in the earth includes the seed or bulb disposed in a dissoluble capsule so that after the module has been placed in the earth and water is supplied, the capsule disintegrates and the seed or bulb sprouts.
Modern militaries deploy supplies, devices, weapons and instruments via air for speed and rapid response. Emergency management agencies air deploy supplies, sensors and instruments to determine local conditions. Scientists deploy devices, objects and instruments to make measurements on the Earth and other planets and celestial bodies.
The present invention provides a method for the precision deployment of an object and the placement of that object exactly on the surface of the ground, buried in the ground to a specific depth, or partially buried to a specific depth with a determined section of the object exposed. Further, with the method of the present invention an object can be place in the ground and the top of the object be exposed at the surface of the ground in a precise manner. Further, the present invention facilitates the deployment not only of the primary object, but a secondary object that is left on the surface.
The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Claims
1. A method of a penetrator comprising:
- a) a body having length and width,
- b) a head appended to the body at one end,
- c) a stop plate appended to the body at one end opposite to the head,
- d) the penetrator driven by a driving force,
- e) the stop plate having a width greater than the body width, spreading the force driving the penetrator and impeding the further penetration of the penetrator.
2. The method of claim 1 where the head is an integral formed part of the body.
3. The method of claim 1 where the stop plate is an integral formed part of the body.
4. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by external mechanical means.
5. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by energy stored in the mass of the penetrator.
6. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by a mass attached to and further comprising the penetrator.
7. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by a mass attached to and further comprising the penetrator and the mass is ejected from the penetrator after penetration.
8. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by a mass attached to and further comprising the penetrator and the mass remains appended to the penetrator after penetration.
9. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by a mass attached to and further comprising the penetrator and the mass disintegrates in place after penetration.
10. The method of claim 1 where, with the penetrator positioned with the head down and the stop plate up, the horizontal plane area of the lower penetrator body is less in area than the horizontal plane area of the upper penetrator body.
11. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is further comprised with an aerodynamic means positioning the head as the leading and the stop plate as the lagging position as the penetrator moves through air.
12. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is further comprised with a fluid dynamic means positioning the penetrator head as the leading and the penetrator stop plate as the lagging position as the penetrator moves through water.
13. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is deployed by gas means.
14. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is deployed by an aircraft.
15. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is deployed by a drone aircraft.
16. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is deployed by a gun.
17. The method of claim 1 where the penetrator is deployed by a water born vehicle.
18. The method of claim 1 where the body is a container for other devices.
19. The method of claim 1 where the driving force is provided by a mass attached to and further comprising the penetrator and the mass is an independent device.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 31, 2012
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2012
Inventors: Robert Van Burdine (Ardmore, TN), Dorothy Devine Burdine (Ardmore, TN)
Application Number: 13/385,054
International Classification: E02D 5/80 (20060101);