US 11,378,476 B2 · Instrumented spherical blast impulse recording device (ISBIRD)

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.

Claims14

Dependent claims

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.

8 more elements

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.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Instrumented spherical blast impulse recording device (ISBIRD)

Life of this patent

Instrumented spherical blast impulse recording device (ISBIRD)

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14