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.
Claims22
An apparatus 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.
A method comprising:
- detecting, via a sensor coupled to a housing, at least one of an explosive device and an 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.