Weapon That Shoots Wires to Deliver Electric Shocks

This 1974 patent describes a weapon that fires projectiles carrying wires to deliver incapacitating electric shocks to a target from a distance.

What it covers

This patent details a weapon system designed to subdue targets using electricity. It involves a launcher that fires projectiles, like pellets or nets, connected by thin, conductive wires to a power source. When the projectile hits a target, the wires establish an electrical path. The weapon then delivers a high-voltage, low-capacitance electrical discharge in brief pulses. This shock is intended to immobilize the target. The patent specifies delivering over 0.001 joules at voltages greater than 20 KV, with a specific capacitance-voltage product (CV) limit to ensure energy transfer. Some embodiments include a net assembly to entangle the target and ensure good contact.

What it doesn't cover

• —Weapons that deliver continuous electrical current instead of discrete impulses.
• —Electrical discharges with a capacitance-voltage product (CV) higher than 10^2 volt-farads.
• —Electrical impulses delivered at voltages below 20 KV.
• —Weapons that require direct physical contact for electrical delivery, without projectiles.
• —Systems that deliver less than 0.001 joules of energy.

The clever bit

The innovation lies in using lightweight projectiles to deploy conductive wires to a remote target, creating an electrical path for a high-voltage, low-capacitance discharge that can bridge insulative gaps and deliver incapacitating energy.

Why it matters

This patent is an early example of less-lethal weapon technology, specifically the electro-muscular disruption (EMD) device. It laid groundwork for devices that would later become widely used by law enforcement for crowd control and apprehension, aiming to incapacitate without causing fatal injury.

Real-world examples

• 1.TASER conducted energy weapons
• 2.Stun guns (though often require direct contact)
• 3.Early prototypes of less-lethal projectile devices