Disrupter Driven Highly Efficient Energy Transfer Fluid Jets 

• U.S. Patent # 11,187,487 
• U.S. Patent # 11,796,279  

This invention, through its viscosity, density, and other properties, enables a fluid jet to be propelled toward a target for IED disruption more accurately than pure water. This invention addresses challenges in neutralizing explosive devices, especially IEDs, using disrupters powered by propellants. The disrupters typically use water jets to disable IEDs, but water jets can break up quickly, leading to reduced effectiveness. The invention introduces specially designed fluids and projectiles to improve disrupter performance. These fluids are selected based on rheological properties to ensure desired jet characteristics. The fluids may comprise water, oil, syrup, ionic solutions, alcohol, liquid polymers, and more, either individually or in combination. The invention allows control over fluid properties like effective viscosity, density, surface tension, and the presence of solid particles to achieve specific disruption goals. The projectiles, filled with specially designed fluids, significantly improve disrupter efficiency, achieving greater penetration depth and stand-off distances compared to conventional water jets. By using specially designed fluids, the disrupters can be more effective, providing better control and customization for different situations, ultimately improving safety and efficiency for bomb technicians. 

Fluid Jet Stabilizing Projectile 

• U.S. Patent #11,262,155  

This invention is a plastic spherical ball that creates a stable water jet, thus significantly reducing risk of an unwanted shock-initiated explosive event. The invention is for fluid jet stabilizing projectiles (JSPs) and systems used in hazardous devices access and disablement, particularly in explosive ordnance disposal. In situations like neutralizing IEDs, a propellant-driven disrupter, often called a "water cannon," is commonly employed. The disrupter can fire a solid projectile or a jet of fluid (usually water) to disrupt the IED without detonating it. However, a limitation is that fluid jets, especially water jets, can disperse into droplets, reducing their effectiveness. The invention introduces specially designed JSPs to stabilize fluid jets, improving their performance and reliability. These JSPs, used with disrupters, offer benefits such as increased stand-off distance, improved target penetration, and reduced risk of unintended explosive events. They also provide a platform for breaching various materials, enhancing disrupter effectiveness. The invention aims to address limitations in fluid jet disrupters and provide a reliable solution for disabling IEDs and breaching structures. 
 

Penalty Box

• U.S. Patent #9,470,490 

The Penalty Box simulates the electrical characteristics of an improvised explosive device. This invention can be used to develop render safe procedures that effectively disarm or disrupt an IED by determining the slowest round that will disarm or disable the IED power source.  The Penalty Box offers a means to simulate IED functionality, allowing for testing and training without the use of actual explosives and their associated risks. 

Reverse Velocity Jet Tamper Disrupter

• U.S. Patent # 10,794,660 
• U.S. Patent # 10,451,378 
• U.S. Patent # 10,760,872   

The Reverse Velocity Jet Tamper, or ReVJeT®, is an adapter for propellant-driven disrupters, commonly known as "water cannons," used in hazardous devices access and disablement, particularly for neutralizing IEDs. These adapters, retrofittable or integrated into disrupters, enhance fluid jet stability and control. The adapters improve fluid jet characteristics, such as stand-off distance, penetration depth, and impulse, reducing the risk of unintended explosive events. The adapters counteract a reverse velocity gradient observed in fluid dynamics, preventing rapid jet breakup. Methods utilizing these adapters aim to reduce the reverse velocity gradient, yielding improved fluid jet parameters, enhancing disrupter performance in IED neutralization and breaching operations. The invention provides practical solutions to the challenges posed by conventional disrupters when dealing with diverse materials and environmental conditions. 

Shaped Charges for Focusing a Fluid Mass

• U.S. Patent #10,921,089
• U.S. Patent # 11,933,580

This invention is a mass-focusing high explosive disrupter with an extreme standoff effective range. It has higher penetration, impulse, and cavitation than any other tool of equivalent mass and net explosive weight.   

This invention involves shaped charges designed to disrupt explosive devices, especially IEDs, by propelling a fluid toward the target. Shaped charges utilize explosives to create pressure waves that drive the fluid. The invention addresses challenges with existing designs by introducing specially designed surface shapes, particularly a catenary paraboloid geometry. This geometry includes a plastic shell supporting an explosive, surrounded by a fluid-filled cylindrical body. The detonation of the explosive propels the fluid towards the target. The invention aims to provide shaped charges tailored for different applications, ensuring the fluid jet has suitable characteristics to minimize the risk of unintended shock initiation while effectively disrupting the target. 

Low Impact Threat Rupture Device for Explosive Ordnance Disruptor 

• U.S. Patent #10,066,916  

This invention addresses the challenges associated with rendering safe IEDs containing steel casings. Current render safe procedures involve high-velocity metal projectiles, which, when hitting steel-cased IEDs, can generate tremendous pressures and shock waves. This can compress the explosives within the IED, leading to unintended detonations. The invention introduces a disruptor apparatus designed to safely penetrate thick steel casings without initiating the explosives. It includes a barrel with a blank cartridge, a water column, and a water plug. The muzzle-loaded projectile, with a specific shaft-to-diameter ratio, is positioned in front of the water plug. The projectile has a sub-caliber diameter and may feature bushings for adjustment. A restraint system limits the projectile's travel distance. This controlled approach prevents adiabatic compression of explosives, minimizing the risk of unintended detonations. The invention offers a safer and more effective means of rendering safe IEDs with steel casings. 

Rounded Projectiles for Target Disruption 

• U.S. Patent # 11,421,971  
• U.S. Patent # 11,898,830

The invention focuses on propellant-driven disrupters used for neutralizing IEDs. The conventional use of solid projectiles in disrupters poses risks, including unintended initiation or detonation of explosives within the IED. These risks stem from the unpredictability of solid projectile trajectories and the potential creation of secondary projectiles that can initiate explosives. 

The invention introduces rounded projectiles and related cartridges compatible with propellant-driven disrupters, addressing challenges in disrupting explosive devices while minimizing the risk of initiation or detonation. These rounded projectiles maintain accuracy and precision, penetrate barriers like steel without causing unintended detonation, and follow a predictable trajectory during flight and penetration. Notably, they lack secondary projectiles that could initiate explosives, ensuring controlled disruption.

The rounded projectile travels along a linear trajectory, impacting the barrier portion of the explosive device. The impact results in the formation of a composite projectile through solid-state welding between the barrier portion and the rounded projectile's distal end. The composite projectile traverses a penetration distance through the explosive device, maintaining the linear trajectory. The disruption occurs without detonating the explosive, and the method is adaptable to non-perpendicular on-target geometries without compromising reliability. The invention improves safety and precision in disrupting explosive devices. 

Circuit Test Device and Method  

• U.S. Patent # 11,519,945  

This invention is a diagnostics tool that can determine switch states, electrical continuity, or connectivity even when no power is applied to the IED circuit. It has built in safeties that prevent the operator from improper configuration or operation.  

The invention introduces a digital circuit test device that combines voltage measurement, logic circuitry, and test signal detection for a safer and more efficient continuity check. The device measures voltage between two points in a circuit and, based on the measured voltage, determines electrical continuity or lack thereof. It can transmit a test signal to assess continuity and reports results through optical signals. The invention improves reliability, safety, and ease of use, making it suitable for various operational scenarios in different industries. The device also introduces a bump test functionality using a test block. This test block, when in use, can display different output states, including a measured voltage above the low threshold, a short circuit between terminals, or no connection between terminals. The bump test serves to confirm the proper functioning of the device, assuring users of its reliability. 

Penetrator Projectile for Explosive Device Neutralization  

• U.S. Patent # 11,274,908  

This invention is a penetrator projectile fired using a propellant-driven disrupter. It has a high degree of accuracy and a high degree of penetration depth post-barrier penetration.

The invention introduces penetrator projectiles designed for propellant-driven disrupters, primarily used in hazardous device access and disablement, such as explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). These penetrators aim to overcome limitations in conventional disrupters by providing enhanced flight characteristics, precise target penetration, and controlled disruption of explosive device components. Comprising a tip, neck, shaft, and base, these penetrators are carefully configured to ensure stable free-flight. The pointed tip minimizes deformation upon penetration, employing a biphasic profile for increased impact stress and rapid component fracture. Key considerations include disrupter compatibility, size, and maintaining a stable center of gravity (CG) distally positioned to the center of pressure (CP). The shaft design, featuring ribs or a tapered angle hollow cylinder, allows for adjustments to CP and CG. Additionally, retractable fins deploy upon firing and retract upon passing through the target. The base, with a diameter equal to or greater than 50% of the bore inner diameter, adds stability to the penetrator. Composite construction using different materials optimizes the positions of CG and CP. In practical applications with disrupters, the invention offers advantages such as high accuracy, minimal fragmentation, low shock impulse, and stable free-flight. This innovation addresses the need for safe and effective penetration of various steel case thicknesses without initiating explosives.