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US 10,946,222 B2Granted
Breaching assist tool
AssigneeKbt, LLC
InventorsDouglas C. Hansen, Paul Joseph Shemeta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kinetic breaching assist tool includes a ram slidably positioned within a ram housing to be extendable forwardly out of the housing for breaching doors and other barriers. The ram housing is connected to an intermediate propulsion section that generates high pressure gas to drive the ram forwardly. The rear end of the propulsion section is connected to a firing mechanism assembly, which is actuated by an elongated trigger positioned within the confines of a manually graspable rear handle assembly. A forward handle assembly is mounted at the forward portion of the propulsion section to enable to tool to be conveniently and securely grasped by both hands.
Claims19
A breaching assist tool, comprising:
- i. a ram disposed within a ram housing, the ram housing having an opening through which the ram is propelled during actuation of the tool;
- ii. a propulsion section connected to the ram housing, the propulsion section comprising an elongated barrel with a cylindrical interior within which is disposed a piston slidable within the interior of the barrel and a connecting rod connecting the piston to the ram, the propulsion section also comprising an explosion chamber opposite the ram housing and in communication with the piston, having a forward side facing the ram housing and a back side opposite to the ram housing;
- iii. a firing mechanism assembly in communication with the explosion chamber to fire an explosive cartridge, with the gases generated by the explosion of the cartridge entering the explosion chamber and in turn propelling the piston, connecting rod, and ram forwardly, to propel the ram out of the ram housing, wherein the piston, the connecting rod, and the ram comprise an assembly that travel as a unit;
- iv. a braking system for braking the forward travel of the piston, connecting rod, and ram assembly, the braking system comprising:
- an elongated snubber disposed within the propulsion section barrel to bear against the piston when the piston has traveled a portion of a length of the barrel forwardly within the barrel toward the ram housing during actuation of the breaching assist tool;
- and
- a return actuator acting against the forward side of the piston to urge the assembly of the piston, the connecting rod, and the ram to a nominal rearward return position within the barrel once the breaching assist tool has been actuated and the ram propelled out of the ram housing, wherein:
- the ram housing has a first interior width closely corresponding to a width of the ram;
- and
- the connecting rod is disposed within the interior of the ram housing and having a width larger than the first interior width of the ram housing, the ram housing having a localized width larger than the first width of the ram housing to accommodate the width of the connecting rod.
7 more elements
A breaching assist tool, comprising:
- i. a ram disposed within a ram housing, the ram housing having an opening through which the ram is propelled during actuation of the tool;
- ii. a propulsion section connected to the ram housing, the propulsion section comprising an elongated barrel with a cylindrical interior within which is disposed a piston slidable within the interior of the barrel and a connecting rod connecting the piston to the ram, the propulsion section also comprising an explosion chamber opposite the ram housing and in communication with the piston, having a forward side facing the ram housing and a back side opposite to the ram housing;
- iii. a firing mechanism assembly in communication with the explosion chamber to fire an explosive cartridge, with the gases generated by the explosion of the cartridge entering the explosion chamber and in turn propelling the piston, connecting rod, and ram forwardly, to propel the ram out of the ram housing, wherein the piston, the connecting rod, and the ram comprise an assembly that travel as a unit;
- iv. a braking system for braking the forward travel of the piston, connecting rod, and ram assembly, the braking system comprising:
- an elongated snubber disposed within the propulsion section barrel to bear against the piston when the piston has traveled a portion of a length of the barrel forwardly within the barrel toward the ram housing during actuation of the breaching assist tool;
- and
- a return actuator acting against the forward side of the piston to urge the assembly of the piston, the connecting rod, and the ram to a nominal rearward return position within the barrel once the breaching assist tool has been actuated and the ram propelled out of the ram housing;
- wherein the piston is of hollow construction, comprising a forward face toward the ram housing and a rearward face having a central, concave section defining a portion of the explosion chamber;
- and
- wherein the explosion chamber comprises a housing portion coupled to the rearward end of the barrel, the explosion chamber defined by an explosion chamber housing configured with a concave portion in longitudinal alignment with the concave section of the rearward face of the piston.
7 more elements
A breaching assist tool, comprising:
- i. a ram disposed within a ram housing, the ram housing having an opening through which the ram is propelled during actuation of the tool;
- ii. a propulsion section connected to the ram housing, the propulsion section comprising an elongated barrel with a cylindrical interior within which is disposed a piston slidable within the interior of the barrel and a connecting rod connecting the piston to the ram, the propulsion section also comprising an explosion chamber opposite the ram housing and in communication with the piston, having a forward side facing the ram housing and a back side opposite to the ram housing;
- iii. a firing mechanism assembly in communication with the explosion chamber to fire an explosive cartridge, with the gases generated by the explosion of the cartridge entering the explosion chamber and in turn propelling the piston, connecting rod, and ram forwardly, to propel the ram out of the ram housing, wherein the piston, the connecting rod, and the ram comprise an assembly that travel as a unit;
- iv. a braking system for braking the forward travel of the piston, connecting rod, and ram assembly, the braking system comprising:
- an elongated snubber disposed within the propulsion section barrel to bear against the piston when the piston has traveled a portion of a length of the barrel forwardly within the barrel toward the ram housing during actuation of the breaching assist tool;
- and
- a return actuator acting against the forward side of the piston to urge the assembly of the piston, the connecting rod, and the ram to a nominal rearward return position within the barrel once the breaching assist tool has been actuated and the ram propelled out of the ram housing;
- and
- a front handle and a rear handle, wherein the front handle is comprised of a shock-absorbing material, and the rear handle is comprised of a flexible section.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.