Abstract
A configurable fluid vessel including a flexible bladder having a fluid port through which a fluid such as water can be provided into the bladder. The fluid vessel includes an internal support frame within the flexible bladder to increase rigidity and can be manipulated into a predetermined shape. The fluid vessel is collapsible for storage whilst retaining rigidity when in use. The fluid vessel is particularly suited for use in explosive jet disruptors for tailoring the formation of a fluid jet.
Claims
1. An explosively driven jet disruptor system comprising an explosive charge, a detonator and a configurable fluid vessel, wherein the configurable fluid vessel comprises a flexible bladder having a fluid port, and the explosive charge is positioned internally to the flexible bladder; and wherein the disrupter system further comprises an internal support frame positioned within the flexible bladder.
2. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 1, wherein the internal support frame is planar.
3. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 1, further comprising an urging means arranged within the flexible bladder for urging the flexible bladder into a predetermined shape.
4. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 3, wherein the urging means comprises at least one support strut attached to the internal support frame.
5. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 4, wherein the at least one support strut is adjustable from a collapsed position to at least one strut position.
6. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 5, wherein the at least one support strut is lockable at the collapsed position and at the at least one strut position.
7. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 4, wherein the flexible bladder comprises a plurality of strut interfaces.
8. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 4, wherein the at least one support strut is formed from a plastic material.
9. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 3, wherein the urging means comprises an internal support band.
10. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 9, wherein the urging means comprises at least a first toothed tongue fixed to the internal support frame, and wherein each toothed tongue is receivable into a respective click-lock aperture provided on the internal support band.
11. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 10, wherein the internal support band and at least a first toothed tongue are formed from a plastic material.
12. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 1, wherein the flexible bladder is formed from a stretchable material.
13. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 12, wherein the stretchable material is silicone.
14. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 1, wherein the internal support frame is formed from a plastic material.
15. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 1, wherein the detonator is positioned externally to the flexible bladder.
16. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 15, wherein the explosive charge and detonator are held by the internal support frame.
17. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 15, wherein the explosive charge is at least a first sheathed detonating cord.
18. The explosively driven jet disruptor system of claim 17, wherein the at least a first sheathed detonating cord is metal sheathed detonating cord.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1a shows an illustration of a prior art configurable fluid vessel prior to filling;
(3) FIG. 1b shows an illustration of a prior art configurable fluid vessel after filling;
(4) FIG. 2 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the configurable fluid vessel of the invention;
(5) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a prior art explosively driven jet disruptor system;
(6) FIG. 4a shows a top view illustration of an embodiment of the explosively driven jet disruptor system of the invention comprising support bands and respective toothed tongues;
(7) FIG. 4b shows a perspective view illustration of an embodiment of the explosively driven jet disruptor system comprising support bands and respective toothed tongues;
(8) FIG. 5a shows an illustration of a support band and toothed tongue configuration in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and
(9) FIG. 5b shows an illustration of the toothed tongues of FIG. 5a being used to change the shape of the support band.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(10) FIG. 1a shows an illustration of a prior art configurable fluid vessel 10 prior to filling. The vessel comprises a flexible bladder 11 having a fluid port 12. The fluid vessel 10 is shown collapsed because there is no support structure or fluid to support the bladder 10. FIG. 1b shows the same prior art fluid vessel 10 filled with a fluid, for instance water.
(11) FIG. 2 shows an illustration of an embodiment of the configurable fluid vessel of the invention 20 comprising a flexible bladder 21, fluid port 22, support frame 23, and support struts 24. The support frame 23 is positioned inside the flexible bladder 21 and provides a substantially planar rigid base. Support struts 24 extend from the support frame 23 in a perpendicular orientation to provide support to the sides and top of flexible bladder 21. In the configuration shown in the illustration the fluid vessel 20 does not contain any fluid, but does not collapse owing to the action of the support frame 23 and struts 24 urging the ‘roof’ of the flexible bladder 21 into the shape illustrated. The struts 24 may be rotated to lie parallel to support frame 23 when the fluid vessel 20 is not in use/for transport purposes.
(12) FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a prior art explosively driven water jet disruptor 30. The disruptor 30 comprises a firm bladder or container 31 containing thin walls 34, defining water filled regions 35 and a conical cavity 36. Detonator 32 initiates explosive 33 within bladder 31, thereby generating an explosive shock that compresses and accelerates the water in water filled regions 35, resulting in thin walls 34 collapsing and the water forming a plume/jet propagating axially to the bladder 31. The disruptor 30 is disposable i.e can be used once in a single configuration defined by the fixed shape of firm bladder 31 and thin walls 34. Furthermore the fixed shape of firm bladder 31 is shown as contributing significantly to the overall size and shape of disruptor 30, making the disruptor awkward and bulky to transport.
(13) FIG. 4a shows a top view illustration of an embodiment of the explosively driven jet disruptor system of the invention 40 comprising support bands 44 and respective toothed tongues (hidden in the figure). The disruptor system 40 comprises a flexible bladder 45 and an internal support frame 43 within the bladder 45. The internal support frame 43 extends through bladder 45 to provide an interface 42 for a detonator 41. Also shown is fluid port 47. The explosive charge 46 comprises two metal sheathed detonating cords held in position by the support frame 43. The explosive charge 46 is surrounded by fluid, in this case water, contained within the flexible bladder 45. FIG. 4b shows the same disruptor system 40 of FIG. 4b, but in a perspective view. Shown in the figure are toothed tongues 47 attached to the support frame 43 at positions 48, and received into respective click lock apertures 49 in the support bands 44.
(14) FIG. 5a shows an illustration of the support band and toothed tongue mechanism 50 used in some embodiments of the configurable fluid vessel, such as that shown in FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b. Toothed tongues 52 are attached to internal support frame 51 at positions 53. Toothed tongues 52 are received into click lock apertures 55 in support band 54. As support band 54 is forced along toothed tongues 52, the distance between positions 53 and click lock apertures 55 decreases, forcing distance ‘Y’ to increase as shown in FIG. 5b. The overall shape of the support band 54 in FIG. 5b has been changed, and therefore the shape of a flexible bladder (not shown) against which support band 54 abuts, would also change. Further toothed tongues 52 and respective click lock apertures 55 may be included in other embodiments of the invention, to provide further configurability over the shape of the support band 54 (and therefore any flexible bladder). For instance a toothed tongue and respective click lock aperture perpendicular to those shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b could be used.
