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US 2009/0260534 A1Published application
Underwater grenade
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsGABRIEL SOTO, Calvin Clayson, Michael Haddon, Jerry Shultz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An underwater grenade and a method for using an underwater grenade. A depth activated, hand emplaced ordnance utilizing safe and arm technology to address underwater threats (such as enemy swimmers) while providing a safe interface with personnel. The grenade is armed after a sequence of events have occurred including reaching a desired depth and a desired passage of time. Failure of any of the events to occur will cause the grenade to be rendered safe.
Claims23
A grenade for underwater application comprising:
- a plurality of operatively coupled sections enclosed within a casing;
- an interface section having means for tamper prevention, means for manually selecting a detonation depth from a plurality of selectable depths within a predetermined range, and means to initiate the operation of said grenade;
- a power supply section;
- a safe and arm logic device section, having means for sensing initial environmental conditions, means for sensing subsequent environmental conditions, and means for determining whether a plurality of conditions are met for arming said grenade;
- an initiating section;
- said safe and arm logic device having a selectable depth pressure threshold setting manually operable to select the detonation depth of said grenade at any depth from about 10 feet to about 100 feet prior to arming said grenade;
- an explosive section containing an explosive charge;
- said initiating section operative to arm said explosive section when predetermined conditions for arming said grenade are satisfied;
- and
- said initiating section operative to detonate said explosive charge when said manually set detonation depth is reached.
7 more elements
A method for defending against underwater swimmer threat comprising:
- providing submersible grenade for underwater application having a plurality of sections enclosed within a casing, each operatively coupled with the other of said plurality of sections;
- providing an interface section having means for tamper prevention, having means for manually selecting a detonation depth, and having a pull pin switch to effect activation and operation of said grenade;
- providing a power supply section;
- providing a safe and arm logic section having means for sensing underwater depth pressure for sensing whether a manually selected depth pressure corresponding to a depth from about 10 feet to about 100 feet for arming said grenade has been reached;
- providing at least one initiating section;
- providing at least one explosive section containing an explosive charge;
- activating said grenade;
- deploying said grenade underwater;
- energizing said initiating section to detonate said explosive charge when the manually selected depth for detonation has been reached.
6 more elements
(canceled)
A submersible grenade comprising:
- a hollow casing;
- a pressure transducer adapted to provide an output representative of external underwater depth pressure disposed within said casing;
- said pressure transducer operably coupled with a safe and arm logic device disposed within said casing;
- said safe and arm logic device having a manually selectable depth pressure threshold setting operable at the time the grenade is used to select the detonation depth of said grenade at a depth from about 10 feet to about 100 feet;
- said safe and arm logic device operably coupled with an initiating section including a self-triggering fireset disposed within said casing;
- said fireset operably coupled with an explosive charge disposed within said casing;
- said pressure transducer, said safe and arm logic device, and said initiating section each operably coupled with an electrical power supply disposed within said casing;
- said safe and arm logic device adapted to cause operation of said initiating section in response to pressure transducer output corresponding to the manually selected depth pressure threshold setting;
- said fireset operable to cause explosive charge detonation upon operation of said initiating section.
6 more elements
(canceled)
(canceled)
A submersible grenade for underwater application comprising:
- a casing;
- an electrical power supply disposed in said casing;
- an interface section disposed in said casing;
- said interface section having a removable tamper protection seal;
- a safe and arm logic device disposed in said casing;
- an initiating section having a fireset disposed in said casing;
- said interface section having a manually selectable depth pressure threshold setting adapted to set the detonation depth of said grenade at any depth from about 10 feet to about 100 feet;
- said manually selectable depth pressure threshold setting operable upon removal of said tamper protection seal;
- said interface section having a pull pin switch adapted to close upon removal of a pull pin;
- said pull pin removable upon manual selection of the depth pressure threshold setting;
- said safe and arm logic device operatively coupled with said electrical power supply upon removal of said pull pin;
- said safe and arm logic device operatively coupled with said depth pressure threshold setting and with a pressure transducer adapted to provide an output representative of external underwater depth pressure;
- said safe and arm logic device adapted to operatively couple said electrical power supply with said initiating section to energize said initiating section when the pressure transducer output representative of external underwater depth pressure corresponds to said depth pressure threshold setting;
- said initiating section adapted when energized to operate said fireset to detonate an explosive charge.
11 more elements
A method for defending against underwater swimmer threat comprising:
- providing a hollow casing;
- providing a pressure transducer adapted to provide an output representative of external underwater depth pressure disposed within said casing;
- operably coupling said pressure transducer with a safe and arm logic device having an integrated electronic safe and arm logic circuit and having a selectable depth pressure threshold setting manually operable to select the detonation depth of said grenade at any depth from about 10 feet to about 100 feet disposed within said casing;
- operably coupling said safe and arm logic device with an initiating section including a self-triggering fireset disposed within said casing;
- operably coupling said fireset with an explosive charge disposed within said casing;
- operably coupling each of said pressure transducer, said safe and arm logic device, and said initiating section with an electrical power supply disposed within said casing;
- adapting said electronic safe and arm logic circuit to cause operation of said initiating section in response to pressure transducer output corresponding to said manually selected depth pressure threshold setting;
- powering on said grenade;
- deploying said grenade underwater;
- activating said initiating section to detonate said explosive compound when the manually selected depth pressure for detonation has been reached.
- operating said initiating section, including said fireset, to cause explosive charge detonation.
8 more elements
A method for defending against underwater swimmer threat comprising:
- providing a grenade for underwater application having an electrical power supply, an interface section having a removable tamper protection seal and a manually selectable depth pressure threshold setting adapted to set the detonation depth of said grenade at any depth from about 10 feet to about 100 feet operable upon removal of said tamper protection seal, a pull pin removable upon manual selection of the depth pressure threshold setting to operatively couple said electrical power supply with a safe and arm logic device operatively coupled with said depth pressure threshold setting and with a pressure transducer adapted to provide an output representative of external underwater depth pressure, an initiating section energized when the pressure transducer output representative of external underwater depth pressure corresponds to said depth pressure threshold setting, a fireset operative to detonate an explosive charge when said initiating section is energized;
- removing said tamper protection seal;
- manually selecting a depth pressure threshold setting;
- removing said pull pin to power on said safe and arm logic device;
- allowing said grenade to sink underwater until the depth pressure corresponds to said depth pressure threshold setting;
- operating said fireset to detonate said explosive charge.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.