Mine-Blast impact shield and methods for use thereof
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorLarry A. Mavencamp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for reducing injury or damage from an explosive device are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and at least one inflator coupled to the housing. The apparatus also includes a shield coupled to the housing. The shield has a plurality of channels coupled to the at least one inflator. The shield also has a compact position and an expanded position. The plurality of channels are configured to receive a fluid from the at least one inflator and thereby at least partially advance the shield from the compact position to the expanded position.
Claims20
An apparatus to block or redirect explosive external force comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one inflator coupled to the housing;
- and
- a shield coupled to the housing, the shield having a plurality of channels coupled to the at least one inflator, the shield having a compact position and an expanded position, the plurality of channels configured to receive a fluid from the at least one inflator and thereby at least partially advance the shield from the compact position to the expanded position, wherein the housing is arranged in a center of the shield and the plurality of channels are coupled to the shield and extend radially from the housing toward a perimeter of the shield in the expanded position;
- and wherein at least a portion of the shield is rolled or folded within the housing in the compact position and the shield extends radially from the housing and is planar in the expanded position.
A method for blocking or redirecting an explosive external force comprising:
- detecting, via a sensor coupled to a housing, at least one of an explosive device and the explosive external force;
- activating a first inflator that is disposed within the housing and thereby deploying a fluid from the first inflator into a plurality of channels of a shield;
- and
- at least partially advancing the shield from a compact position toward an expanded position such that the shield radially extends from the housing, wherein the housing is arranged in a center of the shield and the plurality of channels are coupled to the shield and extend radially from the housing toward a perimeter of the shield in the expanded position;
- and wherein at least a portion of the shield is rolled or folded within the housing in the compact position and the shield extends radially from the housing and is planar in the expanded position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.