Abstract: A line charge assembly and system are provided for use in a shallow-water obstruction clearing operation. Each assembly has a propulsion unit capable of flight through the air, a line charge array, an air-safed water-armed fuze, and at least one explosive diode. The line charge array is defined by a plurality of line charges successively coupled to one another by a line capable of transferring detonation energy therealong successively to each of the line charges. One end of the line charge array is coupled to the propulsion unit and the other end is coupled to the fuze. The fuze is capable of generating the detonation energy only when in water. The explosive diode is positioned in the line charge array to limit transfer of the detonation energy in a direction of propagation running from the fuze to the propulsion unit. The system utilizes a plurality of the line charge assemblies deployed over an area.

Abstract: A kit for humanitarian demining operations and explosive ordnance disposal comprising a first sealed container holding a pre-measured amount of flammable nitroparaffin, and a second sealed container which can be opened and resealed, and which contains a product for sensitizing nitroparaffin to detonation using an initiation system. The second sealed container has a volume sufficient to contain both the pre-measured amount of flammable nitroparaffin and the product for sensitizing nitroparaffin to detonation. The kit may also contain an initiation system. Also disclosed is a method of using the kit to neutralize land-mines and unexploded ordnance.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for neutralizing mines and obstacles that can quickly and efficiently clear a specified surf zone without human intervention. In a preferred embodiment, the invention utilizes firing tubes including a combustion chamber, a mechanism for supplying an aluminum fuel to the combustion chamber; and an ignitor for igniting the aluminum fuel within said combustion chamber to generate pressure waves. The firing tubes arranged in arrays located on sides of a main body of an autonomous vehicle. Activation of the firing tubes on a rear side of the main body is utilized in a preferred embodiment to propel the vehicle forward. Forward propagating pressure waves generated by firing tubes arranged on forward facing first and second sides of the main body are utilized to destroy mines and other obstructions located within a selected surf area.

Abstract: A line charge for deploying explosive charges across obstacles and mines to clear a safe lane has explosive charges spaced apart on a common detonating cord, and axial passageways in the explosive charges are sized to permit free longitudinal travel of the detonating cord through them. A composite strength member includes an inner fabric sleeve of high strength flexible material covered by an outer sleeve of thermoset/thermoplastic material and contains the explosive charges and detonating cord. Heat-curing the inner fabric sleeve and outer sleeve shrinks and conforms them to the outer contours of the explosive charges and combines the high strength flexible material and thermoset/thermoplastic material. Composite strength member absorbs energy during deployment of the line charge over its entire length and circumference and absorbs more energy prior to structural failure to allow the use of more powerful rocket motors to fly longer line charges from much greater and safer standoff distances.

Abstract: A method and a device for destroying drifting sea mines (5). According to the invention, a capture-and-destroy device (11) is brought into the vicinity of the drifting sea mine (5) with the aid of a buoyant body (12, 22) having a coupled-on drive system (13) or a drive device (24), and the mine is captured in that the sea mine (5) is surrounded by deployment of a capture net (16) normally located in a capture unit (11.1) of the capture-and-destroy device (11). A motorized element (17) disposed in the capture unit (11.1) draws the capture net (16) together automatically until the captured sea mine (5) rests directly against a destroyer unit (11.2) with a destructive charge (15). The destructive charge (15) is then automatically detonated to destroy the mine.

Abstract: A munition is provided for deploying a molten payload within a target. A plurality of holes are formed in the munition's projectile body about the circumference thereof. A seal closes off each hole. A firing mechanism is mounted in the munition's nose cone and is capable of generating energy of initiation upon deformation of the nose cone. A first burnable material is housed in the projectile body and is coupled to the firing mechanism to receive the energy of initiation. The first burnable material extends in a tree-like fashion along a plurality of connected paths in the projectile body with each of the connected paths terminating at one of the seals. A second burnable material fills the voids in the projectile body surrounding the first burnable material. The first burnable material has a lower threshold of combustion than the second burnable material while the second burnable material burns hotter than the first burnable material.

Abstract: Migration of Di-Octyl Adipate (DOA) from PBXN-9 main charge into an adjacent PBXN-5 booster charge is the leading cause for unreliable and inefficient detonations when these two insensitive munition explosives are in close proximity. A hermetic seal of metal foil is interposed between the booster and main charges to block migration of DOA chemicals between the charges. This prevents plasticizing and/or desensitizing the booster charge and possible catastrophic accidental detonations or highly undesirable explosive desensitization which might create unexploded ordnance. The hermetic seal may also have a first portion of metal foil covering the surface of a bore in the booster charge and second portions of metal foil covering the surface of bores in the main charge.

Abstract: A vehicle is towed underwater by an air traveling helicopter through a towing cable to induce powered rotation of impellers on the vehicle during its underwater travel at a preselected seawater depth. An electrical generator driven by such impeller supplies electrical energy conditioned to produce a sternwise extending signature simulating magnetic field which is effective to detonate a sea mine in the underwater vicinity toward which the underwater vehicle is being towed.

Abstract: A line charge has a series of spaced-apart warheads coupled to strength members and a detonating cord freely extends through bores in the warheads. A rocket motor at one end of the strength members pulls the line charge across an obstacle laden area. An anchored tether or drogue chute at the other end arrests flight of the line charge and it drops across the area. The thermoplastic, polymeric, or metallic strength members provide strain management to withstand the severe deployment forces and to preclude damage to the detonating cord. Strain is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the strength members coupled to the warheads. Strain also is reduced through direct dissipation of energy by dynamic frictional losses created between strength members, coupling components, and anchoring devices during deployment when slippage occurs between the strength members and coupling components and anchoring devices.

Abstract: A boat deployed explosive net assembly includes a boat, an elongated tray, a pair of pontoons, an explosive net and one or more drogue devices. The boat is floatable on and movable along a surface of a body of water, such as a surf zone. The tray includes an outer member and a pair of inner members. The outer member is rotatably mounted to the boat such that the tray is movable between a transport position in which it is aligned in generally parallel relation to the direction of movement of the boat and a deployed position in which it is aligned in generally transverse relation to the direction of movement of the boat. Each inner member is mounted to and disposed within an interior cavity of the outer member and telescopingly movable in relation to the outer member between retracted and extended condition. Each pontoon is floatable on and movable along the surf zone and mounted to one of the inner members of the tray.

Abstract: The land mine neutralizing system has a launcher that launches a disk munon, and a means for determining the location of a mine threat. The disk munition is launched in stabilized flight on a predetermined azimuth. A fuze in the disk munition is armed relative to the velocity of the disk munition leaving the launcher, and the disk munition is detonated at a predetermined time that places the disk munition over a mine. A method for neutralizing mines uses the land mine neutralizing system to neutralize a buried mine.

Abstract: A wide-area mine clearance device having a flexible hose that is extended rough a suspected area of mines. An explosive composition slurry is pumped into and through the extended hose. A detonator is attached to the hose, after which the explosive composition in the hose may be detonated.

Abstract: A mine neutralisation vehicle comprises a first portion to which propulsion units are attached by which propulsion units the vehicle is positioned. Pivotally connected to the first section is a second section containing a shaped charge warhead. By means of the pivot connection the shaped charge can be directed at a mine, for example a buried mine, while the main body of the vehicle is maintained in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A device for clearing land mines. In a first embodiment, a buoyant air frame (11)supports a rigid plate (13) therebelow, the plate having a side wall adapted to cover a suspected area. The plate includes a pressure catalyst in the form of a shaped charge (44) or compressed air container which, when activated, causes intense enclosed pressure which destabilizes a buried mine (50) sufficient to detonate it without actuating a tripping device. In a second embodiment, a ground based maneuverable vehicle (111) supports a frame (112) which, in turn, supports a plate (113), the frame (112) including shock absorbing components (142-143).

Abstract: An elongate fabric sleeve functions as the load bearing strength member for rocket deployed line charge of explosive charges. The fabric sleeve is contoured by seams sewn to form pockets that separate and snugly cradle the explosive charges and to form passageways between adjacent charges which permit free, unhindered motion of a detonating cord in it. The fabric sleeve strength member flexes as the line charge is launched and emplaced to withstand the severe forces associated with deployment of the line charge and prevents damage to the detonating cord to assure reliable deployment and detonation of the explosive charges.

Abstract: Disclosed are devices and methods for the destruction of an explosive device, such as mines and other unexploded ordnance, without the detonation of the explosive device. The devices comprise an explosive charge that penetrates and opens the casing of an explosive device and forces reactive material into the explosive device, thus neutralizing it.

Abstract: A warhead has a pair of shells, each having an annular rim at one end and opening at the other end. The rims abut one another and are fastened together to define a chamber filled with explosive having a bore aligned with the openings. The explosive has sensitivity to detonation that requires axial detonation in the bore by a detonating cord to initiate explosion thereby preventing detonation by lesser stimuli. A tube extends through the openings and bore and is sized to receive the detonating cord. Opposite ends of the tube are crimped to hold the shells together. A line charge provided with a plurality of such warheads has significant pressure, shock, fragmentation energy, wire cutting ability and mine neutralization capacity as compared to contemporary devices. These improved capabilities are directly attributed to the explosive type and density of this design.

Abstract: A barge strike system for clearing an obstacle-filled region of water inces a floating barge having at least one hollow region defined therein. The barge is equipped to move under its own power to the obstacle-filled region at various speeds, including speeds in excess of minimum planing speed. Explosive material is contained in the barge's hollow region(s). A plurality of detonators are coupled to a top surface of the explosive material and are initiated to generate a coalesced planar wave downward through the explosive material.

Abstract: Objects are detonated by placing charges adjacent respective ones of the objects and connecting the charges to a time fuse by means of respective explosive cords for detonating all of the charges simultaneously when the time fuse fires. The time fuse can be set by fitting a clock to the time fuse. The clock has separate timer mechanisms which can be wound-up simultaneously and which prevent the clock from being fitted to the time fuse if the timer mechanisms have run down asynchronously. An adapter can be attached to the time fuse for releasing a safety of the time fuse upon receiving a remote signal such as an encoded radio signal.

Abstract: A hand emplaced underwater mine penetration system includes a launching ambly and a munition assembly. The launching assembly includes a firing device which receives a magnetic or acoustic signal from a standoff signal generator, and a launch tube having a forward open end, an opposite rear end connected to the firing device and a bore extending between the ends. The munition assembly is adapted for insertion within and firing from the bore of the launch tube of the launching assembly and includes a cartridge having explosive elements therein and a fuze disposed at a forward end of the cartridge and adapted to detonate and explode the explosive elements in the cartridge upon impact with an underwater mine.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the aerial deployment of generally planar structures. Typically, these structures are explosive arrays. Such explosive arrays are typically used in standoff minefield clearing and breaching on the ground, at river crossings, on beaches, and in shallow water surf zones adjoining beaches. The invention more specifically involves devices and methods for stably deploying such structures. This stable deployment is achieved by positioning the structure in a dihedral configuration as it moves through the air.

Abstract: An integrated spacing and orientation control system is provided for carrying an array of objects and maintaining a predetermined orientation of the objects and a predetermined spacing between objects. In a presently preferred application, the spacing and orientation system carries an array of anti-mine munitions for clearing a path through a minefield. The invention deploys the anti-mine munitions in a downwardly pointed orientation with proper spacing between munitions, even when the array of munitions is deployed using rocket motors.

Abstract: An apparatus for destroying a target underwater object includes a targeting system and a gun system. The targeting system has a laser which produces a laser beam, a laser ranging sensor sensitive to reflections of the laser beam from an underwater object, and electronic circuitry that determines the position of a target underwater object using an output signal of the laser ranging sensor. The gun system includes a gimballed gun that fires a projectile and is pointed at the underwater target by the targeting system. The targeting system may be operated to track the projectile in the water as well as the target to be destroyed and to correct the aim of the gun according to the relative position of the target and the projectile.

Abstract: A minehunting apparatus is carried by an underwater transporting drone to the mooring cable of a mine. The minehunting apparatus includes a housing and clamping levers pivotably mounted on the housing to close around the mooring cable. Inside the housing are explosives which are detonated by a coded sonar signal. To improve the maneuverability of the transporting drone, the weight of the minehunting apparatus is balanced so that the apparatus has an essentially neutral buoyancy during the transporting process in the water. After the clamping mechanism has clamped itself around the mooring cable, a lighterweight is released to cause the remainder of the minehunting apparatus to float upwardly toward the mine.

Abstract: An apparatus for neutralizing mines includes several strands of explosive charge which are adapted to be rolled up into a cable. The cable containing the strands of explosive charge can be launched across a mine field by a rocket. The cable is opened and the strands of explosive are deployed to form a two-dimensional array disposed a certain distance above the ground. The strands of charge are separated by a fixed distance which is less than or equal to the distance of the strands of charge above the ground. Upon detonation of the explosive a substantially uniform blast wave is created exerting uniform pressure and impulse on the mine field below. The detonation should occur substantially simultaneously so that the blast from adjacent charges will interact thereby creating a planar wavefront.

Abstract: A detonation system for explosive rounds, such as a fuel air explosive, is made by providing a sealed launch tube detonator assembly arrangement. The cloud detonator provides for a booster charge which is attached to a pyro delay detonator. The pyro delay detonator permits the booster charge to be hurled a discrete distance into the fuel air cloud to insure proper cloud detonator position while at the same time waiting an appropriate time interval to permit complete cloud formation. The detonator assembly is self-sealing in its launch tube to prevent gases, which hurl the detonator assembly out of the launch tube, from burning the fuel air cloud. The cloud detonator assembly itself contains unique safety features which will prevent premature partial burning of booster charge.

Abstract: A system and method for wide-area mine clearance employs a plurality of f-containing plastic containers disposed a horizontal distance apart which permits an overlap between adjacent aerosol clouds formed therefrom when explosive bursters are simultaneously detonated within each container. At least one detonation charge is exploded within one of the aerosol clouds following a predetermined time delay for detonating the line of overlapping clouds whereby a line of ground surface is exposed to a fuel-air explosion capable of detonating susceptible mines therein. The distance between adjacent containers and the height each container is suspended above the ground is related to the weight of the liquid fuel contained in each container. In the preferred embodiment, each plastic container is suspended from a tripod having a hook or other means for permitting attachment and detachment of a crane hook whereby the tripod may be positioned over uncleared ground from a location well within cleared ground.