K-9 training aids made using additive manufacturing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897419-B1
Application number	US-201715596101-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	May 16, 2017
Priority date	May 16, 2017
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is used to make aids that target the training of K-9s to detect explosives. The process uses mixtures of explosives and matrices commonly used in AM. The explosives are formulated into a mixture with the matrix and printed using AM techniques and equipment. The explosive concentrations are kept less than 10% by wt. of the mixture to conform to requirements of shipping and handling.

First claim

The claims are:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a K-9 training aid having multiple components;
an explosive material component comprising one of said components, wherein said explosive material component comprising one of said components includes a layer made of an oxidizer material and a layer made of a fuel material; and
a separator material component comprising another of said components.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said explosive material component comprising one of said components includes an additive manufactured layer made of an oxidizer material and an additive manufactured layer made of a fuel material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of an oxidizer material is less than ten percent of the apparatus by weight.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of a fuel material is less than ten percent of the apparatus by weight.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of an oxidizer material comprises potassium nitrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of a fuel material comprises sulfur.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said explosive material component comprising one of said components is less than ten percent of the apparatus by weight.

8. A K-9 training aid apparatus, comprising:
an additive manufactured layer made of an oxidizer material,
an additive manufactured layer made of a fuel material, and
an additive manufactured layer made of an inert material that separates said layer made of an oxidizer material and said layer made of a fuel material.

9. The K-9 training aid apparatus of claim 8 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of an oxidizer material is less than 10% by weight.

10. The K-9 training aid apparatus of claim 8 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of a fuel material is less than 10% by weight.

11. The K-9 training aid apparatus of claim 8 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of an oxidizer material comprises potassium nitrate.

12. The K-9 training aid apparatus of claim 8 wherein said additive manufactured layer made of a fuel material comprises sulfur.

13. A method of making a K-9 training aid, comprising the steps of:
printing a K-9 training aid having multiple components,
printing an explosive material component comprising one of said components, and
printing a separator material component comprising another of said components.

14. The method of making a K-9 training aid of claim 13 wherein said step of printing an explosive material component comprising printing an explosive material component that is less than ten percent of said K-9 training aid by weight.

Assignees

• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Reynolds John G
• Durban Matthew M
• Gash Alexander E
• Grapes Michael D
• Kelley Ryan S
• Sullivan Kyle T

Classifications

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• A01K15/02

  Training or exercising equipment, e.g. mazes or labyrinths for animals (A01K15/04 takes precedence) {; Electric shock devices; Toys specially adapted for animals} · CPC title

• C06B45/14

  a layer or zone containing an inorganic explosive or an inorganic explosive or an inorganic thermic component · CPC title

• F41H11/132 Primary

  Biological systems, e.g. with detection by animals or plants · CPC title