Firing mechanism

Abstract

A portable explosives disrupter for de-arming improvised explosive devices includes a barrel for housing a projectile, a mechanism for firing the projectile from the barrel, a breech which may be adapted to house a variety of firing mechanisms, a semi-rigid, flexible support system for orienting the device in relation to a target and minimizing the effects of recoil on the accuracy of the device, and a means for accurately aiming the explosives disrupter at a target. Three different firing mechanisms are provided, the first employing a firing pin and shock tubing, the second employing a metal sphere and shock tubing, and the third employing a firing piston and a source of compressed air.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A projectile-firing device, comprising: 
 (a) a barrel for housing said projectile; and    (b) a semi-rigid, flexible support system attached to said barrel for providing recoilless firing of said device.    
     
     
         2 . The projectile-firing device of  claim 1 , wherein said semi-rigid, flexible support system further comprises individual segments which may be assembled to a desired length.  
     
     
         3 . The projectile-firing device of  claim 1 , wherein said projectile is a bullet.  
     
     
         4 . The projectile-firing device of  claim 1 , further comprising a clamp for attaching said semi rigid, flexible support system to said barrel.  
     
     
         5 . The projectile-firing device of  claim 2 , wherein said individual segments are joined together in a ball and socket-type union.  
     
     
         6 . An explosives disrupter for de-arming explosive devices, comprising: 
 (a) a barrel;    (b) a breech connected to one end of said barrel;    (c) a firing mechanism residing within said breech; and    (d) a semi-rigid, flexible support system for supporting said explosives disrupter.    
     
     
         7 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising a propellant conduit connected to said breech for delivering energy to said firing mechanism.  
     
     
         8 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising a charge source connected to said propellant conduit for providing energy to said propellant conduit.  
     
     
         9 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising a clamp for attaching said projectile-firing device to said flexible support system.  
     
     
         10 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising a projectile, wherein said projectile is a bullet or shotgun shell.  
     
     
         11 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising means for extending the reach of said disrupter at a target, said means comprising at least one extension tube attached to the muzzle end of said barrel.  
     
     
         12 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one standoff spoke attached to the muzzle end of said barrel for providing standoff distance between said explosives disrupter and a target.  
     
     
         13 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one stake for anchoring said explosives disrupter to a substrate.  
     
     
         14 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , further comprising a clamp attached to said flexible support system opposite the barrel.  
     
     
         15 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein the interior surface of said barrel comprises a smooth bore.  
     
     
         16 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein the interior surface of said barrel comprises a rifled bore.  
     
     
         17 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said breech and said barrel maintain a constant diameter for eliminating radial forces on the threads of said breech.  
     
     
         18 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said firing mechanism further comprises: 
 (a) a firing pin;    (b) a plug interposed between said propellant conduit and said firing pin; and    (c) a resistance coil encircling said firing pin for retaining said firing pin in a retracted position until said explosives disrupter is fired.    
     
     
         19 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said firing mechanism further comprises: 
 (a) a metal sphere in contact with said propellant conduit;    (b) a retainer for eliminated radial movement of said metal sphere; and    (c) an O-ring in front of said metal sphere for securing said metal sphere in a retracted position until said explosives disrupter is fired.    
     
     
         20 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said firing mechanism further comprises a firing piston, said firing piston further comprising a spring chamber; a slider residing within said spring chamber; a ball bearing interposed between said slider and said breech; and a resistance coil residing in said spring chamber for retaining said firing piston in a retracted position until said explosives disrupter is fired.  
     
     
         21 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said propellant conduit is explosive shock tubing.  
     
     
         22 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said propellant conduit is tubing selected from the group consisting of plastic, polymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, and rubber.  
     
     
         23 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said charge source is electrical.  
     
     
         24 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said charge source is a manually-operated air pump.  
     
     
         25 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said charge source is an electrically operated air compressor.  
     
     
         26 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 6 , wherein said charge source is a carbon dioxide canister.  
     
     
         27 . A remotely operated explosives disrupter for de-arming explosive devices, comprising: 
 (a) a barrel;    (b) a projectile residing within said barrel;    (c) a breech threadably connected to said barrel, said breech further comprising a cylindrical bore therein extending longitudinally along the length of said breech;    (d) a firing mechanism residing in said cylindrical bore for discharging said projectile from said barrel;    (e) a propellant conduit secured within said breech for transferring energy to said firing mechanism;    (f) a charge source connected to said propellant conduit for providing energy to said propellant conduit; and    (g) an orienting apparatus for positioning said explosives disrupter relative to a target, said orienting apparatus further comprising flexible, semi-rigid support material; and clamp means for securing said orienting apparatus to said barrel.    
     
     
         28 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 26 , further comprising at least one standoff spoke attached to the muzzle end of said barrel for providing distance between said barrel and a target.  
     
     
         29 . The explosives disrupter of  claim 26 , further comprising a least one extension tube attached to the muzzle end of said barrel for extending the reach of said explosives disrupter.  
     
     
         30 . A kit for de-arming explosive devices, comprising: 
 (a) a explosives disrupter, said explosives disrupter further comprising a barrel for housing a projectile; a breech connected to said barrel; a firing mechanism housed within said breech; a propellant conduit for transferring energy to said firing mechanism; and a charge source for supplying energy to said propellant conduit;    (b) an orienting apparatus, said orienting apparatus further comprising segmented support material;    (c) a tool for rapidly assembly of said explosives disrupter;    (d) a container for securely storing in a dissembled state said explosives disrupter, said orienting apparatus, said stabilizing stakes, and said assembly tool, wherein said container is fabricated to be worn directly on the person of the user of said kit.    
     
     
         30 . The kit of  claim 29 , further comprising a supply of projectiles, wherein said projectiles are bullets.  
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one stake for anchoring said explosives disrupter to a substrate.  
     
     
         33 . A method for de-arming an explosive device placed in a challenging position, comprising: 
 (a) assembling a portable apparatus for de-arming explosive devices, wherein said portable apparatus further comprises a barrel; a projectile residing in said barrel; a firing mechanism for discharging the projectile from said barrel; a power source for activating said firing mechanism; and a segmented, flexible support for orienting said barrel relative to a target;    (b) securing said portable apparatus to a substrate;    (c) orienting said portable apparatus relative to the target; and    (d) initiating a propellant to transfer energy from said power source to the firing mechanism of said apparatus thereby activating said firing mechanism and discharging said projectile from said barrel into the firing train of the explosive device.