The invention relates in general to directed energy weapons and in particular to electromagnetic pulse weapons.
Directed energy weapons, such as electromagnetic pulse weapons, can be used to disrupt or destroy electronic devices. The targeted electronic devices may be, for example, communications equipment; vehicle engine control units installed in land, sea or air vehicles; weapon fire control systems; or other electronic devices. The principal problem with known directed energy weapons is their large size. The large size stems from either a large power source or a large radiating element, or both. The structure of the radiating element or antenna is related to the frequency of the directed energy. Known directed energy weapons are so large that often a vehicle is required to tow them to the area of use. Towing the directed energy weapon with a vehicle is not always desirable because it requires manpower, fuel and time to transport, setup and operate the weapon system.
A need exists for an inexpensive, one man portable directed energy weapon.
One aspect of the invention is an electromagnetic pulse gun that includes a rifle with a muzzle. The rifle is capable of firing a blank cartridge containing propellant. A blank firing adapter is fixed to the muzzle of the rifle. The blank firing adapter includes an axial gas exit orifice. A ferroelectric generator is aligned with the gas exit orifice. An antenna is electrically connected to the ferroelectric generator. An electromagnetic shield is disposed between the antenna and the ferroelectric generator.
The gun includes a housing for the ferroelectric generator and the housing is fixed to the blank firing adapter.
A voltage amplifier circuit may be electrically connected to the ferroelectric generator and the antenna.
A passive circuit may be electrically connected to the voltage amplifier circuit and the antenna.
The antenna may be a quasi-TEM horn antenna.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of radiating a pulse of electromagnetic energy. The method includes providing a novel electromagnetic pulse gun and firing a blank firing cartridge in a rifle that is part of the novel gun. An electric pulse is generated from a ferroelectric generator using propellant gas generated by firing the blank firing cartridge. The electric pulse is sent to an antenna and electromagnetic energy is radiated by the antenna.
The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals.
A novel electromagnetic pulse (EMP) gun uses the explosive pulse power from a blank firearm cartridge to supply mechanical force to a ferroelectric element. The blank firearm cartridge may be fired from, for example, a rifle. The rifle may be an unmodified standard issue U.S. Army M4 5.56 mm caliber rifle. Other calibers of rifles may also be used. A blank firing adapter (BFA) is attached to the muzzle of the rifle. The ferroelectric element transforms the mechanical energy created by firing the blank cartridge to an electrical pulse of energy. The electrical pulse of energy is radiated by an antenna. The electromagnetic radiation is transient and includes a band of frequencies simultaneously. The electromagnetic pulse is an ultra-wide band (UWB) pulse directed in a coherent direction with high power.
Downstream of the BFA 16 is a ferroelectric generator 20. Generator 20 is mounted in a ferroelectric housing 24. Housing 24 may be directly fixed to BFA 16 by, for example, welding. Housing 24 includes an opening 22 in fluid communication with orifice 18 of BFA 16. In one embodiment, generator 20 includes multiple ferroelectric elements. Multiple ferroelectric elements may be electrically connected in series in housing 24. Each ferroelectric element may be a multi-stacked generator. By way of example only, a ferroelectric element having a 6 mm diameter and a 2.8 mm thickness can produce 12.53 mJ of energy at a maximum pressure of 15,000 psi.
The electrical output of the ferroelectric generator 20 may be amplified by a known voltage amplifier circuit 26. A passive circuit 28 may be used to modify the electrical pulse length. The passive circuit 28 sharpens the rise time of the electrical pulse created by ferroelectric generator 20. The pulse waveform is a sharp rise pulse with an exponential decay. Known passive circuits may be used to create the pulse waveform, for example, a step recovery diode may be used to sharpen the pulse, and a capacitor and an inductor (both in parallel with the step recovery diode) may be used to control the decay rate of the pulse.
The electrical output from the generator 20 via optional circuits 26, 28 is fed to an antenna 30. A back plate or shield 32 is provided behind antenna 30. The thickness of shield 32 depends on the band of frequencies used. Shield 32 is electrically disconnected so that it will not radiate. Antenna 30 is, for example, a quasi-TEM horn antenna or a UWB high directional antenna. Antenna 30 may include two metal plates 34, 36 that each has an exponential curve, such as a parabolic curve. Plates 34, 36 are initially parallel before curving into a horn shape.
EMP gun 10 is one man portable. Preferably, EMP gun 10 weighs no more than 31 pounds.
While this invention may be employed as an electromagnetic pulse gun, it should more generally be seen as a system that converts an existing barrel of a gun into an electromagnetic pulse weapon. The barrel of the existing gun can be of any caliber from M4 rifle (which may have been shown in the Figures), to .50 caliber rifles, and possibly even tank gun barrels. It provides an explosive pulse power generator. A system here is being shown of electrically connecting an explosive pulse power generator, a pulse forming network circuit, and a radiating antenna together to physically connect to a barrel plug/gas transport component. The barrel plug/gas transport device as was mentioned, plugs the rife at the muzzle. Such barrel plug/gas transport could be implemented by a blank firing adaptor (BFA) with a through-hole, as were shown in
While the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.
This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 14/487,205 filed Sep. 16, 2014 by the same inventor and commonly assigned, which complete parent application file wrapper contents are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth.
The inventions described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the United States Government.
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Max Teodorescu, US Army devises electricity cannon attachment for the M4 rifleāfries enemy electronics , Apr. 24, 2015, Electronic Products, https://www.electronicproducts.com/Military/Weapons/US_Army_devises_electricity_cannon_attachment_for_the_M4_rifle_fries_enemy_electronics.aspx, pp. 1-2. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 14487205 | Sep 2014 | US |
Child | 15205211 | US |