WO2005116574A1

WO2005116574A1 - Blast attenuation container

Info

Publication number: WO2005116574A1
Application number: PCT/GB2005/002020
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Christian
Original assignee: Aigis Blast Protection Ltd
Priority date: 2004-05-25
Filing date: 2005-05-24
Publication date: 2005-12-08
Also published as: GB0411724D0

Abstract

A blast attenuation container is provided having at least one compartment defined therein for the containment of one or more items. Movement means are associated with the container for allowing movement of the container across a floor surface in use. The compartment is defined by a plurality of walls (6, 8, 10, 12) and at least one of the walls (6, 8, 10, 12) has access means defined therein or associated therewith to allow one or more potentially explosive items to be located in and/or removed from said compartment. The compartment walls (6, 8, 10, 12) include an inner portion (26), an outer portion (24) and mast attenuation material (28) located therebetween. The arrangement of the compartment walls (6, 8, 10, 12) is such so as to limit the effects of a blast if one or more of the potentially explosive items located therein were to explode.

Description

Blast Attenuation Container

This invention relates to a blast attenuation container, and particularly although not exclusively, to a blast attenuation container for use in an aeroplane.

There is a recognised threat of explosive devices being taken onto passenger carrying aircraft either as a result of malice, such as act of terrorism, or as a result of passengers unknowingly taking such devices onto the plane in hand luggage, such as aerosol canisters, camping stoves and/or the like. If an explosive device is detonated on an aeroplane during flight, it inevitably results in damage to the aircraft and may result in loss of life to passengers and/or crew and can also result in loss of life or injury to members of the public on the ground. This is obviously undesirable and there is a requirement for a means of containing explosive devices found on aircraft in such a manner so as to limit the effect of a blast if the device is subsequently detonated, either accidentally or deliberately.

Currently, when a suspect explosive device is identified on an aeroplane, the cabin crew are required to treat the device as an immediate threat to the aircraft and passengers. The device is moved to a location in the plane designated the "Least Risk Bomb Location" (LRBL), which is usually against an exit door at the rear of the fuselage of the plane. Passenger's seat cushions are located around the device and damped with water. Thus, if the device subsequently explodes the door is likely to blow out but the risk of damage to the surrounding outer skin, the aeroplane control lines and structure of the plane is minimised. However, there is still likely to be widespread panic amongst the passengers and if the aeroplane is at too high an altitude at the time of the blast, there are likely to be problems associated with decompression of the passenger cabin, lack of oxygen and/or the like.

Blast attenuation containers for limiting the effects of a blast are known but their use in aircraft is prohibitive due to the space taken up by the container, particularly as the container is unlikely to be in frequent use, and the weight of the container. In addition, conventional blast attenuation containers are difficult to move and an explosive device simply located therein can still result in blow out of at least the side of the container against which the device is located thereon.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a blast attenuation container which overcomes the abovementioned problems.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a blast attenuation container in the form of an airline trolley.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a blast attenuation container, said container having at least one compartment defined therein for the containment of one or more items and movement means associated with the container for allowing movement of the container across a floor surface in use, said compartment defined by a plurality of walls and at least one of said walls having access means defined therein or associated therewith to allow one or more potentially explosive items to be located in and/or removed from said compartment, said compartment walls including at least an inner portion, an outer portion and blast attenuation material located therebetween, the arrangement of said compartment walls limiting the effects of a blast if one or more of the potentially explosive items located therein were to explode. Preferably the container is in the form of a trolley.

Further preferably the container is in the form of an airline trolley designed for movement along an aisle of a plane in between seating. The airline trolley is typically provided for carrying food and/or drink therein during normal use. In the event of a suspect package being identified in the plane, the food and/ or drink are typically removed from the trolley compartment and the suspect package is then located in said compartment. The dual function provided by the resulting trolley for carrying food and drink and to act as a blast attenuation container has significant advantages. These include the reduction in weight compared to providing a separate blast attenuation container and the ability to easily move the trolley around the aeroplane to a LRBL with minimal disruption to the passengers and cabin crew members.

Preferably the width of the container is substantially less than the length of the container (i.e. to provide a narrow container so as to allow the container to be moved between rows of seat in an aeroplane in one example) .

The access means are typically in the form of closure means, such as a lid, door, drawer front and/or the like.

Preferably cover means are provided for location over at least a part of said container, and further preferably to substantially cover said at least one compartment, to limit fragmentation of the container in the event of a blast.

Further preferably said cover means includes webbing or netting. The cover means can form an integral part of the container, can be fixedly attached thereto or can be detachably engaged therewith.

In one embodiment the cover means is secured to the container via engagement means provided on said container. The engagement means are preferably provided on the base of said container, thereby preventing the engagement means from getting in the way of normal use of the container.

Preferably the at least one compartment having blast attenuation material associated therewith is located at the base of the container. Further preferably the base of the container is the base of said at least one compartment.

Preferably said compartment is provided with one or more tray or drawer support rails therein which in normal use of said container act to support a portion of a tray or drawer thereon. One or more items can be located on the one or more trays or drawers

One or more shelf or drawer units can be provided in said at least one compartment or one or more further compartments in said container.

Preferably one or more locking rails are associated with the support rails to lock or secure a portion of a tray or drawer therewith in use. For example, a portion of a tray supported by the support rail may be in the form of a flange and a locking rail can be provided over the flange to secure the same onto the support rail in use.

Preferably a portion of said tray or drawer is slidably located between said support rail and said locking rail, thereby allowing the tray or drawer to be moved from within the compartment to a position outside of said compartment to allow access to be gained to the tray or drawer.

At least one or the support rails, shelf or drawer units is arranged in the compartment so as to allow one or more items to be located substantially centrally of said compartment. For example, at least a pair of tray support rails can be provided, each rail provided at suitable locations on opposite interior side walls of the compartment such that a tray located thereon is provided substantially centrally of the compartment. The suspect package is located substantially centrally of the tray and compartment. This prevents holes being blown out of a particular wall panel of the compartment following a blast, as is conventionally the case in containers when an explosive device is not located centrally thereof.

The compartment typically includes a base wall, side walls and a top wall. The access means can be formed in or associated with any of said walls.

Preferably the movement means includes any or any combination of one or more wheels, rollers, ball bearings, substantially spherical members, castor members and/or the like.

In one embodiment at least the outer portion of the walls of said compartment are in the form of one or more panels.

Preferably the container includes a frame and the one or more panels are engaged to the frame via engagement means.

In one embodiment the panels are secured in position on the container via one or more channel members. The channel members are typically provided on or integrally formed with the frame of the container and engage one or more peripheral edges of the wall panels . The channel members are formed in a manner so as to prevent the outer wall panel from popping out of the channel following a blast. For example, the flanges of the channel members can be dimensioned such that they have an increased length compared to conventional channel flanges .

Preferably the wall panels are substantially rigid and can be made from any strong but lightweight material, such as aluminium.

The inner and/or outer portions of the wall panels and/or the blast attenuation material located therebetween can be bonded to each other by adhesive, welding and/or the like. Alternatively, the components of the wall panels can be held together by channel members engaging the panels at one or more peripheral edges thereof.

Further preferably further engagement means can be associated with the wall panels and/or channel members to further secure the same together.

Brake means, such as a brake pedal can be associated with the container or movement means to allow the container to be maintained in a certain position in use.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an airline trolley designed for movement along an aisle of an aircraft, said trolley having at least one compartment defined therein for the containment of one or more items and movement means associated with the container for allowing movement of the container across a floor surface of the aircraft in use, said compartment defined by a plurality of walls and at least one of said walls having access means defined therein or associated therewith to allow one or more potentially explosive items to be located in and/or removed from said compartment, said compartment walls including at least an inner portion, an outer portion and blast attenuation material located therebetween, the arrangement of said compartment walls limiting the effects of a blast if one or more of the potentially explosive items located therein were to explode.

Preferably the airline trolley has a dual function as a food and drinks trolley and as a blast attenuation container.

The advantages of the present invention are that the container contains the blast and reduces, if not prevents, fragmentation of the container, thereby minimising damage to the surrounding area and minimising the risk of injury to members of the public. In the embodiment of the airline trolley, the trolley can provide a dual function of storing food and drink therein and acting as a bomb attenuation container, thereby reducing the space and weight taken up by a container having the sole purpose of attenuating a blast. As the trolley is such a familiar sight to the passengers, use of this to locate the suspect package therein is likely to cause minimum disruption to the passengers and many passengers may not even realise that there is a problem, thereby preventing or reducing passenger panic. In addition, food and drinks trolleys are currently a way in which a terrorist could potentially stow an explosive device onto a plane, as the trolleys are regularly taken on and off the plane between journeys. Thus, providing the trolleys with the role of a blast attenuation container will minimise the risk of such a terrorist threat.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures wherein: Figure 1 illustrates an airline trolley according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates an end view of a wall of the trolley in figure 1 ' 5; and

Figure 3 illustrates a tray locking mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring firstly to figures 1 and 2, there is illustrated a blast attenuation container in the form of an airline trolley 2, comprising a frame 3 supporting a base 4, side walls 6, 8, ends 10, 12 and a top 14. The walls and frame of the trolley define a compartment therein. The base 4 is provided with movement means in the form of wheels 16 to allow the trolley to be rolled along a floor surface of the plane. Brake means in the form of a brake pedal 18 is provided to secure the trolley in a particular location and a brake release pedal 20 is provided to allow the brake, once applied, to be released.

The airline trolley 2 is formed in such a manner so as to allow it to be moved along an aisle of an aeroplane and stowed away during take off and landing in an allocated trolley port in the plane's galley. As such, the length and height of the trolley are substantially greater than the width of the trolley.

In accordance with the present invention, the airline trolley has been modified to allow it to perform the dual function of both a drink and/or food trolley and a blast attenuation container. The structure of the airline trolleys is under tight control from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, such as the control of overall dimensions, fixing points, fire, smoke and toxicity requirements . The trolley structure of the present invention is formed in such a manner so as to meet all these criteria, whilst attenuating the force of a blast therein.

The frame 3 of the trolley has channel members 22 which support the base, top, end and side walls. Each wall has an outer reinforced panel 24, an inner panel 26 and blast attenuation material 28 located therebetween. The flanges 30 of the channel members 22 are dimensioned such that they prevent the outer reinforced panel 24 from popping out in the event of a blast from within the compartment. The peripheral edges of the inner and outer panels and the blast attenuation material are located within the U-shaped channel portion.

Conventionally the walls of the trolley are provided with a foam material located between the outer and inner panels but in the present invention the blast attenuation material replaces this intermediate foam layer. The blast attenuation material can include any material capable of attenuating a blast from an explosive device, such as a material called TABRE®.

Conventionally the compartment in the trolley is designed to hold food and drink for serving to passengers on a flight. The food and drink is located in trays 32 and each tray 32 is held in place within the compartment via tray support rails 34, as shown in figure 3.

Tray support rails 34 are provided with a plate 36 for attachment to the inner wall portion 26 and/or frame 3, and an arm member 38 for supporting a flange portion 40 of the tray 32. Typically support rails are provided at corresponding locations on opposite side walls of the trolley for each tray. The flange portion 40 is slidably located on the tray support rail 34, to allow the tray to be moved in and out of the compartment, as shown by arrow 41. A locking rail 42 is provided over the flange portion 40 to prevent the same from being lifted off the support rail 34 following a blast or during normal use.

In the event of a suspect explosive package 44 being found on an aeroplane during a flight, the food and drink items normally located in the trolley 2 are removed and the suspect package 44 is secured to a tray 32 within the trolley compartment using tape 46. In doing this, a tray substantially central of the trolley compartment is slid out from the compartment interior and the package is secured on the tray substantially centrally thereof. The tray is then gently slid back into the compartment and the access means to the trolley in the form of door 48 at end 10 is locked. The trolley is then moved to a suitable location in the plane which is likely to cause the minimum of damage and/or disruption to the plane and passengers in the event of the package exploding. The package is located centrally of the tray and compartment to equalise the force of the blast on the walls of the compartment, thereby preventing one particular part of the compartment having to withstand a greater force of the blast.

Cover means in the form of webbing 50 can be applied over the external surfaces of the trolley 2 to help maintain the wall panels in place and/or to reduce the risk of fragments being flung out from the trolley in the event of a blast. The webbing can be secured to the trolley via engagement means located on the base of the trolley and is typically held under tension. When the webbing is not being used, it can be stowed away under the base of the trolley, in a compartment within the trolley or stowed separately therefrom. The webbing is typically vacuum packed to reduce the space required when the same is not in use. Access means in the form of a door 10 can be provided to allow access to the interior of the compartment. The door 10 can be provided with suitable securing or locking means if required.

Once the plane has landed safely, the trolley containing the suspect package can be wheeled off the plane for defusing the package in a safe and controlled environment. This causes the minimum movement of the package within the trolley, thereby preventing accidental detonation of the package and minimises the disruption to passengers.

Claims

Claims:-

1. A blast attenuation container, said container having at least one compartment defined therein for the containment of one or more items and movement means associated with the container for allowing movement of the container across a floor surface in use, said compartment defined by a plurality of walls and at least one of said walls having access means defined therein or associated therewith to allow one or more potentially explosive items to be located in and/or removed from said compartment, said compartment walls including an inner portion, an outer portion and blast attenuation material located therebetween, the arrangement of said compartment walls limiting the effects of a blast if one or more of the potentially explosive items located therein were to explode.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the container is in the form of a trolley.

3. A container according to claim 2 wherein the trolley is an airline trolley.

4. A container according to claim 1 wherein the width of the container is less than the length of the container.

5. A container according to claim 1 wherein the movement means includes any or any combination of one or more rollers, wheels, castor members, ball bearings or substantially spherical objects.

6. A container according to claim 1 wherein cover means are provided for location over at least part of the container in use.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein the cover means includes netting or webbing.

8. A container according to claim 6 wherein the cover means are integrally formed or fixedly attached to the container.

9. A container according to claim 6 wherein the cover means are detachably attached to the container.

10. A container according to claim 6 wherein the cover means are attached to a base of the container via engagement means.

1 1. A container according to claim 1 wherein the at least one compartment having blast attenuation material associated with said walls is located at the base of the container.

12. A container according to claim 1 wherein at least one compartment in said container has one or more shelf or drawer units provided therein.

13. A container according to claim 1 wherein at least one compartment in said container is provided with one or more tray or drawer support rails therein.

14. A container according to claim 13 wherein one or more locking rails are associated with said support rails to lock or secure a portion of a tray or drawer therewith in use.

15. A container according to claim 14 wherein the portion of said tray or drawer is slidably located between a locking rail and a support rail.

16. A container according to claims 12 or 13 wherein at least one support rail, shelf or drawer unit is arranged in said compartment so as to allow one or more items to be located substantially centrally of said compartment.

17. A container according to claim 1 wherein at least the outer portion of the walls of the compartment include one or more panels.

18. A container according to claim 17 wherein the one or more panels are engaged to a frame of the container via engagement means.

19. A container according to claim 17 wherein one or more peripheral edges of said panels are located in position on the container via engagement in one or more channel members provided on a frame of the container.

20. A container according to claim 19 wherein further engagement means are associated with the one or more channel members and/or panels to further secure the engagement of the panels to the channel members.

21. A container according to claim 17 wherein the one or more panels are formed from substantially rigid material.

22. A container according to claim 1 wherein the inner and/or outer panels are bonded together and/or to the blast attenuation material via adhesive.

3. A container according to claim 1 wherein brake means are associated with the movement means .