Patent Application
20120192707
The armed forces experience numerous threats while performing their missions on a day to day basis on foreign soil. One of these threats is from hand-thrown grenades. Enemy forces are known to throw handheld shaped charge grenades, such as RKG-3 grenades, at tanks and other vehicles from close distances. These types of grenades strike the vehicle, igniting a shaped charge that is capable of penetrating the armor of many tanks and military vehicles.
One method for guarding against these types of threats is to mount fencing, screens, caging, or similar material on all surfaces of the vehicle, leaving a gap between the fencing and the vehicle armor. The idea behind this type of protective structure is that the grenade will strike the fencing and explode. The space between the protective fencing and the armor plating of the vehicle minimizes the effects of the shaped charge, preventing penetration of the vehicle armor. However, this type of protective fencing is cumbersome. It inhibits the views from the vehicle and slows ingress and egress in and out of the vehicle.
Another existing solution to handheld shaped charge grenades is to increase the armor thickness on the vehicle. Enhancing the vehicle armor, while increasing the survivability of a grenade attack, significantly increases the weight of the vehicle and does not prevent vehicle damage.
It is with respect to these considerations and others that the disclosure made herein is presented.
It should be appreciated that this Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Systems and methods described herein provide for the effective protection of a vehicle or other platform from a handheld grenade or similar threat. Utilizing the concepts described herein, incoming threats can be detected and nets or similarly expanding countermeasures can be launched from one or more applicable launchers to intercept and capture the incoming grenade or threat prior to impact with the vehicle.
According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, a countermeasure system includes an expandable countermeasure, a countermeasure launcher, and a threat detection and launch control system. The expandable countermeasure includes a flexible receiving body and a number of weighted projectiles. The countermeasure launcher may be attached to a vehicle, building, or other platform. The expandable countermeasure is stowed inside the countermeasure launcher until launched. The threat detection and launch control system detects incoming threats and triggers the launch of the countermeasure from the launcher to intercept the threat.
According to another aspect, a countermeasure system includes a number of expandable countermeasures and a number of corresponding countermeasure launchers. Each expandable countermeasure includes a flexible receiving body, around which a number of weighted projectiles are attached. Each countermeasure launcher has a cavity, a number of projectile barrels surrounding the cavity, and a firing mechanism for launching the countermeasures. The cavity holds the expandable countermeasure in a stowed configuration. The projectile barrels receive the weighted projectiles of the expandable countermeasure and, upon launching of the countermeasure, direct the weighted projectiles at an angle away from the cavity so that the flexible receiving body is pulled open or expanded by the weighted projectiles. The firing mechanism is connected to the projectile barrels so that when activated, the firing mechanism propels the weighted projectiles out of the tubes.
According to yet another aspect, a method for neutralizing an incoming threat to a vehicle with a countermeasure is provided. The method includes detecting the incoming threat approaching the vehicle and determining an approach zone from which the threat is approaching. One or more countermeasure launchers are selected from intercepting the incoming threat in that approach zone. An expandable countermeasure is launched from each of the selected countermeasure launchers and expands upon exiting the launcher thereby encompassing the incoming grenade or other threat and protecting the vehicle from a direct hit.
The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present disclosure or may be combined in yet other embodiments, further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
The following detailed description is directed to systems and methods for detecting and neutralizing an incoming threat such as a handheld grenade. As discussed briefly above, typical handheld shaped charge grenades, as well as any other types of grenades and munitions, provide a serious threat to armed forces. While all munitions are problematic for personnel and vehicles, handheld shaped charge grenades, such as the RKG-3, are particularly troublesome to troops in vehicles due to the ability for the shaped charge to penetrate vehicle armor. However, due to the nature of a shaped charge and how it operates, the corresponding grenade must impact the vehicle directly, and at as close to a 90-degree angle as possible, to inflict the greatest damage. Existing solutions either significantly increase the weight of the vehicle by increasing the thickness of the armor, which decreases the risk of complete armor penetration but does not prevent damage to the vehicle, or prevents the grenades from making direct contact using fencing that also significantly decreases visibility and inhibits vehicle ingress and egress.
However, utilizing the concepts and technologies described herein, vehicles may be protected with an active that detects incoming grenades and launches a countermeasure at the grenade to capture, detonate, and/or deflect the grenade before it impacts the vehicle. Using the embodiments disclosed below, the vehicle and its occupants are protected with little or no damage to the vehicle, no substantial increase in vehicle weight, and no impact to visibility and vehicle ingress/egress.
In the following detailed description, references are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and which are shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments, or examples. Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals represent like elements through the several figures, a countermeasure system and method will be described.
Additionally, although the various figures and corresponding disclosure describe the countermeasure system 100 as being installed on a vehicle 106, such as the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (or HMMWV or Humvee) depicted in
Looking at
When the expandable countermeasure 102 intercepts the incoming threat 108, several results may occur. First, the expandable countermeasure 102 may catch the incoming threat 108 and bring it to the ground at a force and/or angle that does not detonate the incoming threat 108. As will be described below, the particular countermeasure launcher(s) 104 selected for firing expandable countermeasure(s) 102 at the incoming threat 108 may be selected according to a desirable intercept angle that would minimize the chance of detonation while maximizing the deflection of the incoming threat trajectory away from the vehicle 106. Another potential outcome of the intercept of the expandable countermeasure 102 with the incoming threat 108 is that the incoming threat 108 detonates from the force of the contact with the expandable countermeasure 102. This detonation is still a favorable result since premature detonation prior to contact with the vehicle 106 would prevent damage to the vehicle 106 and the potential casualties associated with detonation of the incoming threat 108 upon contact with the vehicle 106.
Turning to
The detection system 204 may include any radar system, lidar system, optical or acoustic-based sensors, and/or any technology suitable for detecting the presence of an object approaching the vehicle 106. According to one embodiment, the detection system 204 includes a millimeter wave and/or microwave wide field of view (FOV) radar system. The radar system will be discussed in greater detail below with respect to
There may additionally be a combination of the “automatic” detection system 204 and the “manual” countermeasure launch button. In such an embodiment, the detection system 204 has a manual override mode that allows a user to selectively switch the countermeasure system 100 from an automatic mode that detects incoming threats 108 and launches expandable countermeasures 102 without user input, to a manual mode in which the user initiates expandable countermeasure 102 launching as desired. This feature could be useful in situations where the potential incoming threat 108 changes from a threat of grenades, in which the user would likely want the countermeasure system 100 to detect and react to incoming threats 108 while the user performed other duties, to a hostile crowd situation in which the user might want to selectively determine if and when an expandable countermeasure 102 should be launched at one or more people that approached too closely against warnings to back away.
The threat detection and launch control system 202 communicatively interfaces with a firing mechanism 208A-208N (collectively referred to as 208) associated with each countermeasure launcher 104. When activated, the firing mechanism 208 associated with a countermeasure launcher 104 initiates the launching of the expandable countermeasure 102 from that launcher. Two alternative firing mechanisms 208 will be discussed herein, although it should be understood that any appropriate mechanism for propelling the expandable countermeasures 102 out of the countermeasure launchers 104 may be utilized without departing from the scope of this disclosure. One potential firing mechanism 208 is a pneumatic charge 210, while an alternative firing mechanism 208 is an explosive charge 212. The pneumatic charge 210 and the explosive charge 212 will both be described in greater detail below with respect to
The controller 206 may be any computer hardware and/or software containing computer executed instructions for receiving threat detection data from the detection system 204 and, in response, selecting the appropriate countermeasure launchers 104 for neutralizing the incoming threat 108 and triggering the corresponding firing mechanisms 208. As will be discussed in greater detail below, in the case of a pneumatic charge 210, triggering the charge may include operating a pressure valve that releases compressed air or gas into the countermeasure launcher 104 to propel the expandable countermeasure 102 out of the countermeasure launcher 104 toward the incoming threat 108. In the case of an explosive charge 212, triggering may entail providing current to a blasting cap or other detonation trigger to propel the expandable countermeasure 102 out of the countermeasure launcher 104 toward the incoming threat 108.
This multi-directional threat protection configuration effectively divides the entire area surrounding the vehicle 106 into four approach zones that are monitored by the four radar antennas 302 and protected by sixteen countermeasure launchers 104. Specifically, the front of the vehicle is protected by the radar antenna 302 facing the front approach zone 310. Four countermeasure launchers 104 are mounted to the front of the vehicle roof and positioned and angled to adequately cover the front approach zone 310 such that the deployed expandable countermeasures 102 from each of the launchers would provide a virtual protective barrier extending outwards approximately three to five meters from the vehicle 106. Similarly, radar antennas 302 and corresponding countermeasure launchers 104 provide protection for the rear approach zone 312, the left approach zone 314, and the right approach zone 316.
It should be understood that the multi-directional threat protection configuration of the countermeasure system 100 shown in
According to the embodiment shown in
As stated above, it should be understood that the depiction of the expandable countermeasure 102 is only one possible configuration for the countermeasure, and numerous other suitable configurations are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, the number of weighted projectiles 404 is not limited to eight. Rather, more or fewer weighted projectiles 404 may be used. Additionally, the size and shape of the flexible receiving body 402 may differ. The flexible receiving body 402 shown in
Turning now to
There are eight projectile barrels 504 spaced equidistant from one another around the circumference of the cavity 502. As discussed above with respect to the expandable countermeasure 102, the countermeasure launcher 104 may have any number of projectile barrels 504, spaced at varying intervals from each other, corresponding to the number of weighted projectiles 404 attached to the flexible receiving body 402 of the expandable countermeasure 102, as well as to the location of attachment of the weighted projectiles 404 to the flexible receiving body 402. The projectile barrels 504 each have a diameter substantially similar to a corresponding diameter of a corresponding weighted projectile 404 so that an exterior surface of the weighted projectile 404 abuts an interior surface of the projectile barrel 504. The two components are complimentarily sized to allow the weighted projectile 404 to slide within the projectile barrel 504 with minimal friction, while preventing excessive gas escape from around the weighted projectile 404 when fired.
The projectile barrels 504 are angled at diverging angles to direct each of the weighted projectiles at a launch angle 508 from a vertical central axis through a center of the cavity 502 upon countermeasure launch. According to one embodiment, the launch angle 508 is 15 degrees. Other launch angles 508 are possible depending on the size of the expandable countermeasure 102 force of the firing mechanism 208, and distance from the vehicle 106 in which full deployment, or expansion of the flexible receiving body 402, is desired. The countermeasure launcher 104 includes a launcher wall 506. The launcher wall 506 may be formed as a single piece or comprise multiple sections joined together. The launcher wall 506 includes an external surface 505 and an internal surface 507. The external and internal surfaces 505, 507 define the thickness of the launcher wall 506. In general, the launcher wall 506 is of sufficient thickness to contain the projectile barrels 504 with adequate material thickness between the internal surface 507 of the launcher wall 506 and the projectile barrel 504 and, similarly, between the external surface 505 of the launcher wall 506 and the projectile barrel 504. The material thickness between the internal surface 507 and the projectile barrel 504 and the material thickness between the external surface 505 and the projectile barrel 504 may be uniform or variable along the axial length of the launcher wall 506. Similarly, the diameter of each projectile barrel 504 may also be uniform or variable along its axial length. According to one embodiment, the launcher walls 506 are made of one or more of the following: composites; metals including, but not limited to, steel and aluminum; polymers including, but not limited to, polyethylene or other plastics; ceramics or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, the launcher wall 506 has approximately a 0.25 inch thickness on the interior and exterior sides of each projectile barrel 504.
While the countermeasure launcher 104 may be any shape and size without departing from the scope of this disclosure, according to one embodiment, the outer diameter 510 at the exit end of the countermeasure launcher 104 is 5.5 inches, the wall 506 thickness is one inch, each projectile barrel 504 is 0.5 inch in diameter and the height 512 is 4.5 inches. It should be appreciated that there may be additional mounting plates and hardware, not disclosed herein but known to those skilled in the art, for installing the countermeasure launcher 104 on a vehicle 106 or other platform.
As seen in
The lower cavity 514 is fluidly connected to projectile barrels 504 via openings in the bottoms of the projectile barrels 504 where the barrels meet the lower cavity 514. The lower cavity 514 may be shaped as appropriate to efficiently distribute the pressurized air or gas that is utilized with the firing mechanism 208 to propel the weighted projectiles 404 from the projectile barrels 504. A pressure valve may be threaded into an opening (not shown) at the bottom of the lower cavity 514 to prevent damage to the countermeasure launcher 104 from overpressure during countermeasure launch operations.
Referring to
According to one embodiment, the pressurized gas used to propel the weighted projectiles 404 from the projectile barrels 504 is compressed air. The compressed air may be stored in one or more storage tanks within the vehicle 106, or within one or more compressed air cartridges. The compressed air cartridges may be self-contained cartridges of compressed air or other gas that may be individually loaded into the countermeasure launcher 520. Alternatively, the compressed air cartridges may be an included component of a expandable countermeasure cartridge discussed below with respect to
Similarly, the alternative loaded explosive charge countermeasure launcher 550 works with an explosive charge 212 as the firing mechanism 208 in the same way as previously described. The difference is that the explosive force of the detonation of the explosive charge, provides a pressure wave or compressed gas that travels through the alternative projectile launchers 544 to a projectile cavity inside each of the weighted projectiles 404, forcing the weighted projectiles upward off of the alternative projectile launchers.
To load the expandable countermeasure 102 within the countermeasure launchers 104, the flexible receiving bodies 402 may be manually packed and stowed within the cavities 502 of the launchers. The weighted projectiles 404 are then slid into the projectile barrels 504 or over the alternative projectile launchers 544. Alternatively, as shown in
According to this embodiment, the firing mechanism 208 is included within the self-contained cartridge 600 and may plug into a receptacle in the bottom of the launch container 602 when the cartridge 600 is pushed into place. If the firing mechanism 208 is a pneumatic charge 210, then the compressed air cartridge that is pre-loaded within the lower cavity 514 of the cartridge 600 includes some electrical firing mechanism that is electrically connected to the controller 206 via wiring 606. The electrical firing mechanism may be a valve, explosive charge, or electro-mechanical puncturing device that is operative to release the air from the compressed air cartridge to the lower cavity 514 and to the projectile barrels 504. If the firing mechanism 208 is an explosive charge 212, then the blasting cap or other explosive detonation device is electrically connected to the controller 206 via the wiring 606.
Turning to
From operation 702, the routine 700 continues to operation 704, where an incoming threat 108 is detected. The detection may occur with the detection system 204, such as a radar system, or may be a visual detection from an occupant of the vehicle 106. If it is a visual detection without the use of a detection system 204, then the remaining operations are performed by a user rather than the controller 206. The remaining description of the routine 700 assumes controller-directed operations. At operation 706, the controller 206 determines the applicable approach zone of the incoming threat 108. The appropriate countermeasure launchers 104 are then selected according to the determined approach zone of the incoming threat 108 at operation 708. This operation may include determining appropriate launching angles and positions for the countermeasure launchers 104 if one or more launchers are capable of rotation and angular repositioning as described above. The routine 700 continues from operation 708 to operation 710, where the controller 206 triggers the appropriate firing mechanism 208 of the selected countermeasure launchers 104, launching the weighted projectiles 404 out of the projectile barrels 504, or off of the alternative projectile launchers 544. The weighted projectiles 404 consequently pull the flexible receiving body 402 out of the cavity 502 to intercept the incoming threat 108. The routine 700 ends.
It should be clear from the disclosure above that the technologies described herein provide for an effective system and method for intercepting incoming threats 108 without increasing the weight of a vehicle 106 or complicating vehicle ingress and egress. The countermeasure systems 100 described herein significantly enhance the safety of armed forces while remaining minimally intrusive and having no impact on the capabilities of the vehicles 106 to which the systems are mounted, as well as requiring minimal input from the occupants of the vehicles 106. It should be understood that the systems described above may be scaled up to counter any threats, such as rocket powered grenades or other high-speed and high explosive rockets or munitions.
The subject matter described above is provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting. Various modifications and changes may be made to the subject matter described herein without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
