Pressure and heat conducted energy device and method

Abstract

A method of delivering charge to a remote target includes pressurizing a reservoir of metallic conductor initially at a temperature below its melting point. The method includes flowing the metallic conductor through an orifice to form a continuous thread with axial velocity, so that a user might direct the axial velocity of the thread to intercept the remote target. The method further includes applying a potential differential along the thread so that electrical current flows between the reservoir and the remote target.

1 . A method of delivering current to a remote target, comprising
 pressurizing a reservoir of metallic conductor initially at a temperature below its melting point;   flowing the metallic conductor through an orifice to form a continuous thread with axial velocity, so that a user might direct the axial velocity of the thread to intercept the remote target; and   applying a potential differential along the thread so that electrical current flows between the reservoir and the remote target.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic conductor comprises indium. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the reservoir comprises forcing a piston into a first end of a barrel containing the metallic conductor and providing sufficient force to the metallic conductor to cause the material to sheer and flow through the orifice at an opposite end of the barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the piston is forced into the first end of the barrel with a threaded engagement. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the piston is forced into the first end of the barrel with a rack and pinion system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the piston is forced into the first end of the barrel with a pressurized gas system. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the reservoir of metallic conductor comprising causing a pyrochemical reaction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current is delivered by a hand-held, side-arm conductive energy weapon. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current is delivered by a long arm conductive energy weapon. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current is delivered by a conductive energy weapon mounted to an aerial drone. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current is delivered by a conductive energy weapon mounted to a structure component of a building. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the current is delivered by a conductive energy weapon mounted to a remote-controlled guided vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising filtering the material prior to flowing from the orifice. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3  and further comprising utilizing the piston as the source of material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  and further comprising replacing the piston once the source of material is consumed. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , and further comprising sensing a speed of the piston and utilizing the sensed speed to control pressure proximate the orifice or a driving force upon the material. 
     
     
         17 . A conductive energy weapon configured to extrude a plurality of conductive threads at an initial temperature below a melting temperature of the conductive material, the weapon comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart extruders, each extruder comprising:
 a barrel having a first end and a second end and configured to retain a supply of conductive metallic material; 
 an extrusion tip having an extrusion orifice ranging from about 3 mils and about 16 mils; 
 a piston configured to sealingly move with the barrel from a first end; 
   a pressurization system engaging each piston and configured to move each piston within a respective barrel;   a power supply configured to activate the pressurization system;   an electric pulse generator configured to supply non-lethal electrical energy through the extruded threads; and   a controller configured to cause the pressurization system to move the pistons and raise a pressure on the conductive metallic material such that the material shears and raises a temperature proximate the extrusion nozzle sufficiently to extrude the threads of at velocity of between about 10 feet per second and about 160 feet per second and to cause electric pulses to travel along the extruded threads.   
     
     
         18 . The conductive energy weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the pressurization system comprises a threaded engagement that rotates a threaded rod and moves a nut attached to the pistons or barrel toward each other. 
     
     
         19 . The conductive energy weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the pressurization system comprises a supply of pressurized gas that engages the pistons and forces the pistons into the barrels. 
     
     
         20 . The conductive energy weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the pressurization system comprises a rack and pinion system on the barrels that forces the barrels about the pistons. 
     
     
         21 - 27 . (canceled)