Sep 16, 2025

US12416478 - Remote explosive separation tool

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and methods for remotely and explosively cutting the casing of a UXO and separating the fuzing components from the main charge in the UXO. A remote explosive separation tool creates a Linear Explosively Formed Projectile (LEFP) charge to separate fuzing components from live explosive threats in UXO, for example only, a 155 mm artillery round. The tool functions by explosively deforming a copper liner into a linear projectile or penetrator which then impacts the UXO casing. The speed of impact enables the fuzing elements of the UXO to be removed from the main charge of the UXO either by directly cutting the fuze elements off or by imparting the fuze elements with enough momentum such that they break off. The process of dismembering the fuze elements occurs without detonating the main charge of the UXO. The tool may be remotely placed by an unmanned vehicle.

Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Inventors: Michael Shattuck, Daniel Mccarthy, Lee Foltz, Adam Pegouske
Filing date: 2024-10-31

The patent describes a remote explosive separation tool designed to safely disarm unexploded ordnance (UXO) by creating a Linear Explosively Formed Projectile (LEFP) that can cut fuzing components from the main charge without detonation. This tool can be deployed by unmanned vehicles and features a housing that contains C-4 explosive and a copper liner to facilitate the explosive separation process.

Claim 1

A remote explosive separation tool for forming a Linear Explosively Formed Projectile (LEFP), comprising: a housing in the shape of a rectangular prism, the housing includes an open front, two opposing side walls, a rear wall, and top and bottom walls; a detonator well being located on the housing; a quantity of C-4 explosive being packed in the housing and extending from the top wall to the bottom wall; a linear concave copper liner being disposed adjacent to the quantity of C-4 explosive and extending from the top wall to the bottom wall, the linear concave copper liner faces the open front of the housing and includes an elliptical cross-section; a pair of parallel stand-off wands extending from respective opposing side walls midway between the top and bottom walls, the pair of parallel stand-off wands extends perpendicular to a plane of the open front and includes, at distal ends, visual indicators for identifying a point of impact of the LEFP; a base interface being attached to the bottom wall of the housing for attaching the housing to a base, the base being configured to contact a ground surface and stably support the tool so that the tool does not tip over prior to detonation of the quantity of C-4 explosive; and an unmanned vehicle interface being attached to the top wall of the housing for attaching the tool to an unmanned vehicle grip. a housing in the shape of a rectangular prism, the housing includes an open front, two opposing side walls, a rear wall, and top and bottom walls; a detonator well being located on the housing; a quantity of C-4 explosive being packed in the housing and extending from the top wall to the bottom wall; a linear concave copper liner being disposed adjacent to the quantity of C-4 explosive and extending from the top wall to the bottom wall, the linear concave copper liner faces the open front of the housing and includes an elliptical cross-section; a pair of parallel stand-off wands extending from respective opposing side walls midway between the top and bottom walls, the pair of parallel stand-off wands extends perpendicular to a plane of the open front and includes, at distal ends, visual indicators for identifying a point of impact of the LEFP; a base interface being attached to the bottom wall of the housing for attaching the housing to a base, the base being configured to contact a ground surface and stably support the tool so that the tool does not tip over prior to detonation of the quantity of C-4 explosive; and an unmanned vehicle interface being attached to the top wall of the housing for attaching the tool to an unmanned vehicle grip.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12416478

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12416478