Abstract
An enhanced claw in a tactical breaching system for breaching a door system having a door and a door frame, the tactical breaching system having a hydraulic cylinder configured to drive a drive piston, the enhanced claw comprising: a stationary static tooth pair mechanically fixed to the hydraulic cylinder, the static tooth pair having top and bottom static tooth surfaces; a dynamic tooth axially attached to the drive piston, the dynamic tooth having top and bottom dynamic surfaces, the dynamic tooth configured to be driven forward and away from the static tooth pair, the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth initially aligned in a closed configuration, the enhanced claw having a plurality of parameters shared by the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth, including; a sharply-tapered and curved profile; a relative tooth length parameter; a robustness of the claw to resist torsion; and opposing sets of grooved teeth on the top surface of the static tooth pair and on the bottom surface of the dynamic tooth, respectively.
Claims
1. An enhanced claw in a tactical breaching system for breaching a door system, the door system having a door, a door frame, hinges, and a gap between the door and the door frame, the tactical breaching system having a hydraulic cylinder configured to drive a drive piston, the enhanced claw comprising: a stationary static tooth pair mechanically and axially fixed to the hydraulic cylinder, the static tooth pair having a top and a bottom static tooth surface; a dynamic tooth axially attached to the drive piston, the dynamic tooth having a top and a bottom dynamic tooth surface, the dynamic tooth configured to be driven forward and away from the static tooth pair, assuming an open configuration when the drive piston is operated; the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth initially aligned in a closed configuration, the enhanced claw having a plurality of characteristics and parameters shared by the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth, including; a sharply-tapered and curved profile characterized by a slope parameter having a value less than 0.25, and a relative tooth length parameter having a value of at least 1.0; a robustness of the claw to resist torsion, characterized by a relative neck width parameter having a value of at least 0.4; and opposing sets of parallelly-grooved teeth, on the top static tooth surface and on the bottom dynamic tooth surface, respectively, characterized by a grooves/mm parameter having a value of at least 0.75 grooves/mm; wherein the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth each have: the flat base characterized by a length dimension, B; a vertical axis, coaxial to the drive piston and to the static tooth pair and a tooth pair circular socket having an outer diameter dimension C, wherein C is substantially larger than B/2; a tooth length H, measured perpendicularly from the vertical axis to the edge of the curved leading base surface; a first radius center point, measured parallel to B and perpendicularly to the vertical axis, having a horizontal dimension equal to E plus C/2 and having a vertical dimension of G, measured perpendicularly from the flat base of the tooth pair; and a second radius center point, measured parallel to B and perpendicularly to the vertical axis, having a horizontal dimension equal to D plus C/2 and having a vertical dimension of F, measured perpendicularly from the flat base of the tooth pair; wherein the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth extend substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis; and wherein the enhanced claw is configured for an array of breaching configurations of the door system, without the need for additional tools, the tactical breaching system being an enhanced tactical breaching system.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of plurality of characteristics and parameters further comprises two curved shapes, including: a curved leading base surface, which is a curved extension of a flat base of the bottom dynamic tooth surface and of the bottom static tooth surface; and a curved leading lip, which is a curved extension of the surface defined by the grooved-teeth of the top dynamic tooth surface, the two curved shapes characterized by a first radius and a second radius, respectively.
3. The enhanced claw of claim 2, wherein the static tooth pair has two necks, representing thickened ribs of each tooth of the tooth pair, each neck having a characteristic value N.sub.2, measured parallel to B.
4. The enhanced claw of claim 3, wherein the grooved teeth on the top static tooth surface are configured according to the slope parameter, the slope parameter equal to F/B.
5. The enhanced claw of claim 4, wherein the relative neck width is equal to N.sub.2/B, and the relative tooth length equal to B/H.
6. The enhanced claw of claim 1, wherein static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth are formed of hardened alloyed steel.
7. A method of using the enhanced claw of claim 1 to breach the door, the method including the steps of: a. sliding the enhanced claw, in a closed configuration, into the gap, using the initial sharply-tapered and curved profile of the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth; b. using a rocking motion to further penetrate the enhanced claw into the gap; c. opening and widening the gap by alternately opening and closing the enhanced claw by operating the hydraulic cylinder and the drive piston to more substantially penetrate the enhanced claw into and to further open the gap, taking advantage of the opposing sets of grooved teeth of the static tooth pair and dynamic tooth and of the curved profile of the enhanced claw to better insert and lock the enhanced claw between the door and the frame; d. more fully operating the drive piston to further open the enhanced claw and thereby further breach the door, once step c is completed and the enhanced claw is more substantially penetrated into the gap and locked into position; and e. momentarily and partially retracting the piston during breaching to remove and reposition the enhanced claw, as necessary, and returning to step d, as necessary.
8. The method of claim 7, whereby the array of breaching configurations is addressed without the need for a crowbar and additional tools.
9. The method of claim 8, whereby the curved profile of the static tooth pair and the dynamic tooth enable the drive piston to apply force to breach the door in an optimal, linear configuration while doing so according to the radial opening of the door.
10. The method of claim 9, whereby in the end of step c and in step d, the enhanced claw forms a deformation of the door, whereby a rocking motion is used to further penetrate the enhanced claw into the gap and to the inside surface of the door, thereby better seating the enhanced claw against the door and to significantly shorten the time to breach the door and avoid complications during breaching.
Description
LIST OF FIGURES
(1) The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are isometric representations of a prior art door system having a door, a door frame (or simply frame), and typically two or more door hinges (or simply hinges);
(3) FIGS. 3-6 are representations of cross-sectional views of the door system, the door, and the SAN Ltd. prior art tactical breaching system;
(4) FIGS. 7A and 7B are an isometric view and a cross-sectional view of the prior art static tooth pair shown in FIGS. 3-6;
(5) FIGS. 8A-8D are isometric representations of an enhanced tactical breaching system having an enhanced claw, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention;
(6) FIGS. 9A and 9B are an isometric view and a sectional view, respectively, of the enhanced claw shown in FIGS. 8A-8D, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention;
(7) FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the door system, the door, and the enhanced tactical breaching system, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention; and
(8) FIGS. 11 and 12 are cross-sectional detailed views of the outward opening door, the frame, and the enhanced tactical breaching system, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(9) Embodiments of the current invention relate to police, fire, paramilitary, and military, and similar special rescue breaching operations, and specifically to an enhanced claw in a tactical breaching system.
(10) Reference is currently made to FIGS. 8A-8D, which are isometric representations of an enhanced tactical breaching system 110, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention.
(11) Enhanced tactical breaching system 110 includes: an enhanced claw 111, composed of a static tooth pair 112 and a dynamic tooth 114, a hydraulic cylinder 116, and a drive piston 119. (System 110 may further include a system stabilizing handlenot shown in the current figuresimilar to that shown in FIGS. 3-6.) Static tooth pair 112 and dynamic tooth 114 are typically formed of a hard and strong metal, preferably hardened steel of various alloys know in the art. Static tooth pair 112 is mechanically fixed to hydraulic cylinder 116 and the static tooth pair typically does not move; whereas dynamic tooth 114 is attached to the end of drive piston 119 and is driven forward, i.e. away from static tooth pair 112, when the drive piston is operated, as shown in FIG. 8D. In FIGS. 8B and 8C, dynamic tooth 114 is shown substantially aligned with static tooth pair 112 and the enhanced claw is in a closed configuration. FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8D show the enhanced claw from above (i.e. top view), whereas FIG. 8C shows the claw from an inverted or bottom view (i.e. from below).
(12) Enhanced tactical breaching system 110 and enhanced claw 111 are applied to breaching situations such as, but not limited to, those shown in FIGS. 3-6and as further described hereinbelow. It is noted that because static tooth pair 112 and dynamic tooth 114 are initially in a closed configuration to form the enhanced claw, the following discussion and that of FIGS. 9A and 9B hereinbelow regarding the shape of static tooth pair 112 applies to the overall shape and dimensions of the entire claw.
(13) Static tooth pair 112 includes two individual teeth 120, with each individual tooth 120 having a flat base 122 and typically having a group of over 15 parallelly-grooved-teeth 124 configured in a pattern as shown in the figure. (More details about the configuration of group of over 15-grooved-teeth are described further hereinbelow.) Individual tooth 120 further has a slightly-rounded leading lip 128 defining the edge of tooth 120 and adjoining grooved-teeth 124, as shown in the figure. Leading lip 128 has a rounded contour 126 defining two exterior corners of leading lip 128, as shown in the figure and as further described hereinbelow.
(14) Referring to FIG. 8C, showing a view from the bottom/inverted side of enhanced claw 111, dynamic tooth 114 includes: a flat base 122 (similar to flat base 122 of individual tooth 120) having a plurality of parallelly-grooved teeth 124 aligned in a pattern as shown in the figure (similar to grooved teeth 124 of individual tooth 120); and a leading lip 128a (similar to leading lip 128 of individual tooth 120). Flat base 122, plurality of grooved teeth 124a, and leading lip 128a are all configured on the side of dynamic tooth 114 opposing that of similar shape and features of static tooth pair 112. Leading lip 128a has a rounded contour 126a defining two exterior corners of leading lip 128, as shown in the figure and as further described hereinbelow.
(15) As noted hereinabove, static tooth pair 112 and dynamic tooth 114 are initially in a closed configuration. As shown in FIG. 8C, when in the closed configuration, the plurality of parallelly-grooved teeth of dynamic tooth 114 do not extend past flat base 122. However, when drive piston 119 is activated (ref FIG. 8D) and dynamic tooth 114 is separated (i.e. advanced) from the static tooth pair, the plurality of parallelly-grooved teeth of dynamic tooth 114 are presented/extended on the bottom side of the claw, in opposition to the group of parallelly-grooved-teeth of the two individual teeth of static tooth pair 112. Enhanced claw 111, having a closed configuration, presents an initial sharply-tapered and curved profile, with only the top side of the claw (i.e. the static tooth pair) initially presenting grooved teeth. The opposing configuration of dynamic tooth 114 to static tooth pair 112 and the initial sharply-tapered and curved profile of the enhanced claw are advantageous in different breaching situations and are described further hereinbelow.
(16) Reference is currently made to FIGS. 9A and 9B, which are an isometric view and a sectional view, respectively, of the enhanced claw shown in FIGS. 8A-8D, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Apart from differences described below, enhanced claw 112 and individual teeth 120 of FIGS. 8A to 8D (hereinabove) are identical in notation, configuration, and functionality to that shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and elements indicated by the same reference numerals and/or letters are generally identical in configuration, operation, and functionality as described hereinabove.
(17) A neck dimension is indicated by N.sub.2. Additional characteristic dimensions of individual teeth 120 are indicated in FIG. 9B by the letters: A, (height of the enhanced claw), B (length of the flat base, including a fillet shown in the figure), C (outer diameter of a socket of the enhanced claw in which the hydraulic cylinder is fitted), D, E, F, G (with D, E, F, and G representing respective coordinate dimensions for the two radii), and by the two radii indicated as R.sub.1 and R.sub.2. The table which follows indicates approximate exemplary values for the characteristic dimensions and radii, as noted hereinabove.
(18) TABLE-US-00001 Exemplary approximate values of characteristic dimensions Characteristic Exemplary approx. Approx. variations +/ on dimension dimension (mm) dimensions (mm) A 105 +25/65 B 98 +20/28 C 64 +20/30 D 51 +20/26 E 40 +15/25 F 21 +29/15 G 49 +31/34 N.sub.2 43 +27/23 R.sub.1 48.5 +15/31 R.sub.2 18.1 +44/19
(19) It is emphasized that values listed above serve only as examples of dimensions of the enhanced claw and that embodiments of the current invention include similar claws having similar configurations and/or relative dimensions, which may be scaled and/or modified, mutatis mutandis.
(20) Parameter definitions were described previously for the prior art claw shown in FIG. 7B. The parameter definitions are reiterated hereinbelow and expressed in terms of similar dimensions/characteristics of enhanced claw 111, as shown in FIG. 9B: A slope, F/B, of the grooved-teeth 124 is defined by the dimensions F and B indicated in the figure. Typical values for F and B are, approximately 21 mm and 98 mm, respectively. Therefore, the slope is approximately 0.21. A relative neck width, gives an indication of the robustness/strength of the tooth against torsion, is defined in the expression N.sub.2/B. A relative tooth length, which gives an indication of the tooth geometry allowing entry into a tight gap, is defined by the distance from the centerline of hydraulic cylinder 116 to the edge of the tooth, indicated by H in the referenced figure, divided by the length of the tooth, B. A grooves per mm value, yielding a measure of the surface area of the tooth to grasp the door/frame, is defined by the number of grooves per running mm of tooth.
(21) Additionally, radii values R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, including exemplary respective radius center point dimensions DF and EG (referring to FIG. 9B) have been found to yield optimal curved shapes to curved leading base surface 122a, which is a curved extension of flat base 122 and to curved leading lip 128, which is a curved extension of the surface defined by grooved-teeth 124, respectively. The enhanced claw, having both a curved leading base surface 122a and a curved leading lip 128 and having two rounded contours 126 allowing the enhanced claw to more optimally address the problems of claw slippage, manipulation, repositioning, and more optimal linear alignment with hydraulic pistonall enumerated hereinabove with regard to the prior art.
(22) The enhanced claw shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B has a configuration and dimensions significantly different than that of prior art claw 12, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The following table summarizes parameter values of the enhanced claw (using values listed hereinabove) and presents a parametric/characteristic comparison between prior art and enhanced claws.
(23) TABLE-US-00002 Parametric/Characteristic comparison between prior art and enhanced claws Prior art Claw Enhanced (FIG. 7B) Claw (FIG. 9B) Parameter Definition Value Definition Value Slope a/b 0.4 F/B 0.21 rel. Neck Width N.sub.1/b 0.2 N.sub.2/B 0.44 rel. Tooth Length b/c 0.93 B/H 1.2 Grooves/mm 0.22 0.89 Radii none R.sub.1, R.sub.2
(24) Summarizing parametric values above, embodiments of the enhanced claw have: Slope <0.25; Relative neck Width >0.25; and preferably over 0.4 Relative tooth Length >1.0; and Grooves/mm >0.3; and preferably over 0.75.
(25) The enhanced claw has radii values R.sub.1 and R.sub.2and resultant benefits for breachingas described hereinabove.
(26) As noted hereinabove, with regard to solving the need not addressed by the prior art, the enhanced claw, in embodiments of the current invention, can be used to effectively and quickly address an array of breaching possibilities without the need for additional toolsthereby allowing rescuers greater ease of deployment and greater speed by carrying as few tools as possible, inter alia. The discussion which follows serve to further illustrate benefits of using the enhanced claw.
(27) Reference is currently made to FIG. 10, which a cross-sectional view of door system 2, inward opening door 4, and enhanced tactical breaching system 110, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Apart from differences described below, tactical breaching system 110 and enhanced claw 112, inter alia, of FIGS. 8A-8D and of FIGS. 9A and 9B (hereinabove) are identical in notation, configuration, and functionality to that shown in FIG. 10, and elements indicated by the same reference numerals and/or letters are generally identical in configuration, operation, and functionality as described hereinabove. FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 3, where the prior art claw was used to attempt to breach the door.
(28) FIG. 10 serves to illustrate the steps of how enhanced claw 111 is initially used as a crowbar or a similar tool, as known in the art, in breaching inward opening door 4 1. Slide enhanced claw 11, in a closed configuration, into gap 13, taking advantage of the initial sharply-tapered and curved profile described hereinabove; 2. Use a rocking motion to further penetrate the enhanced claw into the gap, the motion similar to that used when working with a crowbar; 3. Open/widen the gap by alternately opening and closing enhanced claw 111 (by operating hydraulic cylinder 116 and drive piston 119) to more substantially penetrate/insert the enhanced claw into and to further open gap 13, taking advantage of the opposing sets of grooved teeth of the static tooth pair and dynamic tooth and of the curved profile of the enhanced claw, previously described, to better insert and lock the grip of the enhanced claw between the door and the frame and thereby direct most of the drive piston energy to breaching the door; and 4. More fully operating the piston to further open the enhanced claw and thereby further breach the door, once step 3 (opening the gap) is completed and the enhanced claw is more substantially penetrated into the gap and locked into position. 5. During breaching, momentarily, partially retracting the piston to remove/reposition the enhanced claw as necessary. Then return to step 4, as necessary.
(29) Reference is currently made to FIG. 11, which is a cross-sectional detailed view of outward opening door 4, frame 6, and enhanced tactical breaching system 110, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Apart from differences described below, tactical breaching system 110 and enhanced claw 111, inter alia, of FIGS. 8A-8D and of FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 10 (hereinabove) are identical in notation, configuration, and functionality to that shown in FIG. 11, and elements indicated by the same reference numerals and/or letters are generally identical in configuration, operation, and functionality as described hereinabove.
(30) The referenced figure, while showing a somewhat different door/frame configuration than shown in FIG. 10, serves to illustrate the end of step 3 and then steps 4 described hereinabove. Specifically, in the referenced figure, the enhanced claw has already been partially opened, as manifested by the separation of static tooth pair 114 and dynamic tooth 112 and by the opposing sets of grooved teeth of the static tooth pair and dynamic tooth that serve to grip and lock the enhanced claw in place. Insertion of the enhanced claw, followed by operation of hydraulic cylinder 116 and drive piston 119, as noted hereinabove, typically yield a deformation 135 of the door as schematically indicated in the figure. The deformation typically serves to better seat the enhanced claw. In some cases, additional rocking motion of enhanced claw 111 (similar to that when using a crowbar, as noted above in step 2) serves to further penetrate the enhanced claw into the gap and to the inside surface of door 2 (thereby better seating the enhanced claw against the door)and to significantly shorten the time to breach the door and/or avoid complications during breaching, all as noted hereinabove with regard to the prior art.
(31) Finally, and most significantly, the curved profiles of both the static tooth pair and dynamic tooth are visible in the referenced figure, the curved profiles enabling the drive piston to apply force to breach the door in a more optimal, linear configuration while doing so according to the radial opening of the door.
(32) Reference is currently made to FIG. 12, which is a cross-sectional detailed view of outward opening door 4, frame 6 and enhanced tactical breaching system 110, in accordance with embodiments of the current invention. Apart from differences described below, tactical breaching system 110 and enhanced claw 112, inter alia, of FIGS. 8A-8D and of FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10, and 11 (hereinabove) are identical in notation, configuration, and functionality to that shown in FIG. 12, and elements indicated by the same reference numerals and/or letters are generally identical in configuration, operation, and functionality as described hereinabove.
(33) The door shown in FIG. 12 has a zero opening configuration, where the frame (in this case having a metal and/or reinforced covering) is flush with the door, as known in the art. FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 5 showing a prior art claw. However, in this configuration, the enhanced claw is inserted in the gap, taking advantage of the enhanced claw's initial sharply-tapered and curved profileas described in step 1 hereinabove. As the hydraulic cylinder is operated to activate the drive piston to open the enhanced claw, the door is subjected to a crushing force, thereby opening the gap. In parallel, the curved edges of the enhanced claw serve to redirect the angle of the enhanced claw in the gap, and in many cases, to obviate the need for repositioning, as indicted in step 4 hereinabove.
(34) It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
