Electromagnetically shielded, flexible bomb suppression device

Abstract

A multi-layered flexible shield comprising an RF shielding layer and a ballistic control layer. The RF shielding layer is constructed of a conductive fabric, preferably a copper/nickel woven fabric, and a flexible conductive coating formed of an emulsion coating with high attenuating capabilities, and preferably an electrically conductive and electromagnetic radiation absorptive coating composition. The ballistic control layer has upper and lower sub-layers made of a woven ballistic material and a middle sub-layer made of sheets of a non-woven ballistic material, the ballistic materials being Aramid or high molecular weight polyethylene fibers. A detachable cover formed of a woven ballistic material covers the lower surface of the conductive fabric and protects the RF shielding layer from abrasion and environmental conditions. The outer edge of the bomb suppression device has a weighted, flexible rim that aids in securing the unit to the surrounding surface, thereby electronically isolating the explosive device.

1 . An electromagnetically shielded, flexible bomb suppression device comprising: 
 a RF shielding layer and    a ballistic control layer.    
     
     
         2 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the RF shielding layer includes a conductive fabric lower sub-layer and a flexible conductive coating upper sub-layer applied to the conductive fabric; and    the ballistic control layer includes upper and lower sub-layers of woven ballistic material and a middle sub-layer of at least one sheet of non-woven ballistic material between the upper and lower sub-layers.    
     
     
         3 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , wherein the conductive fabric is a copper/nickel coated polyester woven fabric.  
     
     
         4 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible conductive coating is an emulsion coating with high attenuating capabilities.  
     
     
         5 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible conductive coating is formed of an electrically conductive and electromagnetic radiation absorptive coating composition.  
     
     
         6 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , wherein the woven ballistic material is a material of woven Aramid or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers.  
     
     
         7 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , wherein the non-woven ballistic material is a material of non-woven Aramid or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers in a random orientation.  
     
     
         8 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , wherein the number of sheets of non-woven ballistic material is between one and  40 .  
     
     
         9 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , further comprising a thin protective cover of a woven ballistic material covering the flexible conductive coating.  
     
     
         10 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 9 , wherein the cover woven ballistic material is a material of woven Aramid or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers.  
     
     
         11 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 9 , wherein the cover is detachable from the RF shielding layer.  
     
     
         12 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 1 , further comprising a weighted, flexible rim.  
     
     
         13 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 12 , wherein the rim comprises a sand-filled channel.  
     
     
         14 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible conductive coating includes a first emulsion formed of a butadiene-acrylonitrile latex, a second emulsion formed of urethane in water and silver-coated microspheres.  
     
     
         15 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 13 , wherein said butadiene-acrylonitrile latex, said urethane emulsion, and said silver-coated microspheres are present in the following percentages by weight, 5%-20%, 30%-50% and 15%-25%, respectively.  
     
     
         16 . The bomb suppression device of  claim 14 , wherein said butadiene-acrylonitrile latex, said urethane emulsion, and said silver-coated microspheres are present in the following percentages by weight, 10%-15%, 35%-40% and 18%-22%, respectively.  
     
     
         17 . A flexible conductive coating composition for a bomb suppression device, comprising: (1) a butadiene-acrylonitrile latex emulsion; (2) a urethane in water emulsion; (3) silver-coated microspheres; (4) a defoamer; and (5) water.  
     
     
         18 . The flexible conductive coating composition of  claim 17  comprising: (1) about 5%-20% of said butadiene-acrylonitrile latex emulsion; (2) about 30%-50% of said urethane emulsion; (3) about 15%-25% of said silver-coated microspheres; (4) a defoamer; and (5) about 5.0% to about 25.0% water.  
     
     
         19 . The flexible conductive coating composition of  claim 18  comprising: (1) about 10%-15% of said butadiene-acrylonitrile latex emulsion; (2) about 35%-40% of said urethane emulsion; (3) about 18%-22% of said silver-coated microspheres; (4) a defoamer, and (5) about 5.0% to about 25.0% water.  
     
     
         20 . A method of making an electromagnetically-shielded, conductive fabric which comprises applying a continuous coating to the conductive fabric to be shielded, said coating including the composition of  claim 17 .  
     
     
         21 . A method of making an electromagnetically-shielded, conductive fabric which comprises applying a continuous coating to the conductive fabric to be shielded, said coating including the composition of  claim 16 , and wherein said fabric is comprised of a combination of woven copper and nickel fibers.