Fluid vessel with configurable shape

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020399049-A1
Application number	US-201916971561-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Mar 15, 2018
Publication date	Dec 24, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A configurable fluid vessel comprising a flexible bladder (45) having a fluid port (47) through which a fluid such as water can be provided into the bladder (45). The fluid vessel further comprises an internal support frame (43) within the flexible bladder (45) to increase rigidity and preferably an urging means (44) for urging the flexible bladder (45) 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 (40) for tailoring the formation of a fluid jet.

First claim

1 . A configurable fluid vessel comprising a flexible bladder having a fluid port, wherein the fluid vessel further comprises an internal support frame positioned within the flexible bladder.

2 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 1 , wherein the internal support frame is substantially planar.

3 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 1 , further comprising urging means arranged within the flexible bladder for urging the flexible bladder into a predetermined shape.

4 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 3 , wherein the urging means comprises at least one support strut attached to the internal support frame.

5 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 4 wherein each support strut is adjustable from a collapsed position to at least one strut position.

6 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 5 wherein each support strut is lockable at the collapsed positon and at the at least one strut position.

7 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 4 wherein the flexible bladder comprises a plurality of strut interfaces.

8 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 4 wherein the support struts are formed from a plastic material.

9 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 3 , wherein the urging means comprises an internal support band.

10 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 9 , wherein the urging means comprises at least a first toothed tongue fixed to the internal support frame, each toothed tongue being receivable into a respective click-lock aperture provided on the internal support band.

11 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 10 wherein the internal support band and at least a first toothed tongue are formed from a plastic material.

12 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 1 wherein the flexible bladder is formed from a stretchable material.

13 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 12 wherein the stretchable material is silicone.

14 . The configurable fluid vessel of claim 1 wherein the internal support frame is formed from a plastic material.

15 . An explosively driven jet disruptor system comprising the configurable fluid vessel of claim 1 , an explosive charge and a detonator, wherein the explosive charge is positioned internally to the flexible bladder, the detonator being 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 herein 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

• 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

• B65D1/32 Primary

  Containers adapted to be temporarily deformed by external pressure to expel contents · CPC title

• F41B9/0046 Primary

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

• B65D2231/001

  the container being a bag · CPC title