Instrumented spherical blast impulse recording device (ISBIRD)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11378476-B2
Application number	US-202016815376-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Apr 22, 2019
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

An Instrumented Spherical Blast Impulse Recording Device (ISBIRD) provides for survivable test measurement of an explosive blast impulse. The ISBIRD includes a spherical housing formed of a metal having a thickness sufficient to survive the explosive blast wave from a test weapon. A test data module of the ISBIRD includes: (i) a three-axis acceleration sensor; (ii) a memory; and (iii) a controller communicatively coupled to the three-axis acceleration sensor and the memory. The controller executes a data acquisition utility to record acceleration data in three-dimensions from the three-axis acceleration sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave. An internal support structure of the ISBIRD is attached inside of the spherical housing and attached to the test data module. The internal support structure centrally locates the test data module within the spherical housing during exposure to the explosive blast wave.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An Instrumented Spherical Blast Impulse Recording Device (ISBIRD) comprising:
a spherical housing formed of a metal having a thickness sufficient to survive an explosive blast wave from a test weapon;
a test data module comprising:
a three-axis acceleration sensor;
a memory; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the three-axis acceleration sensor and the memory and that executes a data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, acceleration data in three-dimensions from the three-axis acceleration sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave; and

an internal support structure attached inside of the spherical housing and attached to the test data module to centrally locate the test data module within the spherical housing during exposure to the explosive blast wave, wherein:
the spherical housing comprises first and second hemispherical shells having respective first and second annular engaging surfaces that engage when positioned together to form a sphere; and
the internal support structure comprising a cylinder support assembly attached between the first and second hemispherical shells.

2. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein the internal support structure comprises:
a first cap received in a first receptacle of the first hemispherical shell;
a second cap received in a second receptacle of the second hemispherical shell;
an open-ended cylinder received between the first and second caps;
one or more fasteners attach through the first hemispherical and the first cap to a first end of the open-ended cylinder; and
one or more fasteners attach through the second hemispherical and the second cap to a second end of the open-ended cylinder.

3. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a pressure sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the pressure sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, pressure data from the pressure sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

4. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a temperature sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the temperature sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, temperature data from the temperature sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

5. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a geographic location sensor; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the geographic location sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, geographic location data from the geographic location sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

6. The ISBIRD of claim 1 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a beacon; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the beacon and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to activate the beacon in response to exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

7. An explosive testing system comprising:
at least one an Instrumented Spherical Blast Impulse Recording Device (ISBIRD) comprising:
a spherical housing formed of a metal having a thickness sufficient to survive an explosive blast wave from a test weapon;
a test data module comprising:
a three-axis acceleration sensor;
a memory; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the three-axis acceleration sensor and the memory and that executes a data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, acceleration data in three-dimensions from the three-axis acceleration sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave; and an internal support structure attached inside of the spherical housing and attached to the test data module to centrally locate the test data module within the spherical housing during exposure to the explosive blast wave;

at least one pedestal at a respective predefined location from an explosive device and that supports one of the at least one ISBIRD;
a test controller that triggers the explosive device to produce a blast impulse that propels each of the at least one ISBIRD from their respective at least one pedestal through the air; and
a computer that analyzes the acceleration data caused by the blast impulse and retrieved from the at least one ISBIRD.

8. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a beacon; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the beacon and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to activate the beacon in response to exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

9. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the spherical housing comprises first and second hemispherical shells having respective first and second annular engaging surfaces that engage when positioned together to form a sphere; and
the internal support structure comprising a cylinder support assembly attached between the first and second hemispherical shells.

10. The explosive testing system of claim 9 , wherein the internal support structure comprises:
a first cap received in a first receptacle of the first hemispherical shell;
a second cap received in a second receptacle of the second hemispherical shell;
an open-ended cylinder received between the first and second caps;
one or more fasteners attach through the first hemispherical and the first cap to a first end of the open-ended cylinder; and
one or more fasteners attach through the second hemispherical and the second cap to a second end of the open-ended cylinder.

11. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a pressure sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the pressure sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, pressure data from the pressure sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

12. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a temperature sensor that communicates to an exterior of the spherical housing; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the temperature sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, temperature data from the temperature sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

13. The explosive testing system of claim 7 , wherein:
the test data module comprises a geographic location sensor; and
the controller communicatively is coupled to the geographic location sensor and the memory and that executes the data acquisition utility to record, in the memory, geographic location data from the geographic location sensor during exposure of the spherical housing to the explosive blast wave.

14. The explosive testing system of claim 1 , wherein the test controller wirelessly receives test data from the at least one ISBIRD.

Assignees

• US Govt as represented by Secretary of Air Force
• Us Air Force

Inventors

• Jenkins Charles M
• Beliveau Alain L

Classifications

• G01K13/00

  Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title

• G01P15/18 Primary

  in two or more dimensions · CPC title

• G01L5/14 Primary

  for measuring the force of explosions; for measuring the energy of projectiles · CPC title

• G01S19/18

  Military applications · CPC title

• G01S19/14

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title