PRESSURE DECONTAMINATION SYSTEM PROVIDING FAST CLEANING AGAINST CBRN THREATS SUITABLE FOR USE IN MILITARY VEHICLES AND INFRASTRUCTURES

Abstract

A system which can be manually/automatically activated to ensure instant cleaning of decontamination liquid and gas placed into cylindrical pressure tubes against CBRN threats, wherein the system includes: a decontamination liquid/gas used for cleaning chemical, biologic, radiological and nuclear threats and minimizing effects thereof, a decontamination tube used for discharging decontamination liquid/gas placed therein, a decontamination pyrotechnic igniter-based on pyrotechnic used for ignition of the decontamination tube, a control unit providing manual or automatic operation of the system, and at the same time communication thereof with the hardware units in the system, and a control card located on the control unit, having printed circuit boards with embedded software developed for enabling the control.

Claims

1. A system which is manually/automatically activated to ensure instant cleaning of decontamination liquid and gas placed into cylindrical pressure tubes against CBRN threats, the system comprising: decontamination liquid/gas used for cleaning chemical, biologic, radiological and nuclear threats and minimizing effects thereof; a decontamination tube used for discharging decontamination liquid/gas placed therein; a decontamination pyrotechnic igniter based on pyrotechnic used for ignition of the decontamination tube; a control unit providing manual or automatic operation of the system, and at the same time communication thereof with the hardware units in the system; and a control card located on the control unit and comprising of printed circuit boards comprising embedded software developed for enabling the control.

2. The system according to claim 1, comprising a redundant decontamination tube (Double shot system) providing secondary cleaning in order to reliably provide decontamination operation.

3. The system according to claim 1, comprising a decontamination tube pressure indicator used for pressure tracking of the decontamination tube.

4. The system according to claim 1, comprising a decontamination tube pressure membrane which opens with the decontamination pyrotechnic igniter for the retention at high pressure in the tube and fast discharge of the liquid/gas placed into the decontamination tube.

5. The system according to claim 1, comprising an automatic mode indicator and a manual mode indicator indicating the operating mode which is located on the control unit.

6. The system according to claim 1, comprising pressure status indicator providing tracking the pressure status from the control unit.

7. The system according to claim 1, comprising a redundant tube indicator providing indication of whether the redundant contamination tube is used or not.

8. The system according to claim 1, comprising a power indicator/button indicating the operation status of the system and/or starting and ending its operation.

9. A method providing manual/automatic activation to ensure instant cleaning of decontamination liquid and gas placed into cylindrical pressure tubes against CBRN threats, characterized by comprising the operation steps as follows: producing a decontamination tube; deploying and positioning a decontamination pyrotechnic igniter system on an outlet of the decontamination tube; selection of the decontamination liquid with regard according to the risk of danger; filling the decontamination liquid/gas into the pressure decontamination tube; pressurizing the decontamination liquid with the suitable pressure for the discharge of 500 milliseconds in total; positioning the mechanical devices that provides stable placement of the automatic decontamination fluid in the vehicle/area; designing and producing a control unit and control card so as to enable automatic or manual operation; and integration of the redundant decontamination tubes for the decontamination operation.

Description

FIGURES FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE INVENTION

[0021] FIG. 1, a representative view of the decontamination tube according to the invention.

[0022] FIG. 2, a representative view of the control unit.

[0023] FIG. 3, a view of the exemplary layout plan of the decontamination tubes according to the invention.

[0024] The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and details which are not necessary for the understanding of the present invention may be omitted. In addition, elements that are substantially identical or have substantially identical functions are denoted by the same reference signs.

LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0025] 1. Decontamination tube [0026] 2. Decontamination pyrotechnic igniter [0027] 3. Decontamination liquid/gas [0028] 4. Control unit [0029] 4.1 Control card [0030] 4.2 Automatic mode indicator [0031] 4.3 Manuel mode indicator [0032] 4.4 Pressure state indicator [0033] 4.5 Redundant tube indicator [0034] 4.6 Power indicator/button [0035] 5. Decontamination tube manometer [0036] 6. Decontamination tube pressure membrane [0037] 7. Decontamination redundant tube

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the invention are merely described for a better understanding of the subject matter and without any limiting effect.

[0039] The invention relates to improving a cleaning (decontamination) system which comprises redundant cleaning tube (double-shot system) for providing system security and which can be manually/automatically activated to ensure instant cleaning of decontamination liquid and gas placed into the cylindrical pressure tubes against CBRN (chemical, biologic, radiological and nuclear) threats, and use thereof in military vehicles and indoor area.

[0040] The decontamination tube (1) is a military type of tube that provides discharging of the decontamination liquid within 500 milliseconds in total and that can operate between −40+85 degrees due to its material strength. Since each of the decontamination tubes (1) is placed with respect to their impact area, a blind spot on the vehicle/area is prevented. As can be seen from FIG. 1, it can be in different sizes whether in large and small volumes.

[0041] Decontamination pyrotechnic igniter (2) is a pyrotechnic based igniter blaster enabling the decontamination tube (1) to be ignited. When the electrical signal received from the control unit (4) is delivered to the pressure membrane on the tube by the pyrotechnic method; decontamination pyrotechnic igniter (2) acts as a structure which is chemically activated, and which ejects the metal particle thereon in order to perforate the membrane. Therefore, membrane is perforated, and decontamination liquid/gas placed into the tube is discharged.

[0042] The discharge unit is a unit which comprises decontamination pyrotechnic igniter (2) and other mechanical equipment that discharges the agent within the tube. These are units which receive electrical signals.

[0043] The decontamination liquid/gas (3) is a special mixture of liquids/gases used for cleaning Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threats and minimizing impact thereof.

[0044] The decontamination tube pressure indicator (5) is an indicator used for pressure tracking of the decontamination tube (1).

[0045] The decontamination tube pressure membrane (6) is a metal based membrane material to be opened with a decontamination pyrotechnic igniter (2) for the retention at high pressure in the tube and fast discharge of the liquid/gas (3) placed into the decontamination tube (1).

[0046] The control unit (4) is a unit which provides manual and automatic operation of the system and at the same time communication thereof with the other hardware units. The control card (4.1) located on the control unit is a system which consists of printed circuit boards comprising embedded software developed for enabling the control.

[0047] The control unit (4) is able to operate in integration with CBRN agent detection system which is located on the vehicle and used as redundant and with the electronic components and processors thereon, and when necessary, in the case where the automatic mode is open, it is able to operate automatically with the signal from the CBRN sensors and detection systems. Also, by means of a switch on the control unit (4), a selection is made possible whether manually or automatically and the user may activate the system manually as desired.

[0048] There are the automatic mode indicator (4.2) and the manual mode indicator (4.3) indicating the operating mode, the pressure status indicator (4.4) enabling tracking the pressure status, the redundant tube indicator (4.5) enabling indication of whether the redundant contamination tube (7) is used or not and a power indicator/button (4.6) indicating the operation status of the system and/or starting and ending its operation on the control unit (4).

[0049] The redundant decontamination tube (Double shot system) (7) are tubes providing secondary cleaning in order to ensure reliable decontamination process.

[0050] The decontamination system according to the invention have an operation principle as follows:

[0051] The system, which is under CBRN threats, discharges its pressure solution to the related person or area when necessary and cleans the contamination, manually or automatically.

[0052] In this context, it is aimed that delivering decontamination liquid/gas (3) placed into the decontamination tube (1) to the area to be cleaned and instantly cleaning the contamination through opening the decontamination tube pressure membrane (6) located on the tube by means of the pyrotechnic igniter system (2) with the signal from the control unit (4) sent manually or automatically. When the pressure of the decontamination tube (1) is lower or higher than the targeted value, it is ensured that information is gathered before a critical situation by transferring the related pressure value on the pressure sensor on the tube to the control unit (4) by means of the decontamination tube pressure indicator (5) tracking the instantaneous error status of the system.

[0053] If the information gathered from redundant tube configuration located on the system and the other hardware systems placed on the vehicle shows high level CBRN contamination, it is provided minimizing the possibility of secondary harm by exploding the redundant decontamination tube (7).

[0054] The system according to the invention, the operation steps realized as follows; [0055] The production of the decontamination tube (1) (It is important to produce the decontamination tube (1) with compatible material for the use in the targeted military conditions). [0056] Deploying and positioning the decontamination pyrotechnic igniter (2) system on the outlet of the decontamination tube (1) suitably, (With regard to the most efficient discharge of extinguishing liquid/gas and performance of the cleaning process it is important to deploy decontamination pyrotechnic igniter suitably). [0057] Selection of the decontamination liquid with regard according to the risk of danger, (Cleaning performance should be maximized by selecting the right decontamination liquid/gas (3)). [0058] Filling the decontamination liquid/gas (3) into the pressure decontamination tube (1), (It holds a critical importance to ensure that filling the decontamination liquid/gas (3) into the tube with the correct pressure for wrong activations and reaching the sufficient speed). [0059] Pressurizing the decontamination liquid with the suitable pressure for the discharge of 500 milliseconds in total, (It holds a critical importance to ensure that filling the decontamination liquid/gas (3) into the tube with the correct pressure for wrong activations and reaching the sufficient speed). [0060] Positioning the mechanical devices that provides stable placement of the of the decontamination fluid in the vehicle/area (It is important to ensure the mechanically stable placement of the system in order not to experience problems during the cleaning process). [0061] Designing and producing the control unit (4) and control card (4.1) so as to enable automatic or manual operation, (It holds a critical importance that the control unit and card (4, 4.1) is produced in a sufficient configuration.) [0062] Integration of the redundant decontamination tubes (7) for the decontamination operation (It holds a critical importance that positioning of the redundant tubes correctly for the requirement of secondary cleaning).