Fluid vessel with configurable shape

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11338987-B2
Application number	US-201916971561-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Mar 15, 2018
Publication date	May 24, 2022
Grant date	May 24, 2022

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Secr Defence

Inventors

• Newell David Timothy

Classifications

• B65D83/771 Primary

  for dispensing fluent contents by means of a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm · CPC title

• F42B33/062

  by high-pressure water jet means · CPC title

• B65D57/00

  Internal frames or supports for flexible articles, e.g. stiffeners; Separators for articles packaged in stacks or groups, e.g. for preventing adhesion of sticky articles {(B65D71/70 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F41B9/0046 Primary

  Disruptors, i.e. for neutralising explosive devices · CPC title

• F41B9/0078

  characterised by the gun housing, e.g. its shape or concealment · CPC title