Systems and Methods for Stabilizing a Deployment Unit of a Conducted Electrical Weapon
A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) impedes locomotion of a human or animal target by providing a stimulus signal through one or more electrodes and through the target. The CEW includes a handle and one or more removable deployment units coupled to the handle. A deployment unit may include guide for positioning a filament.
1 . A deployment unit for cooperating with a provided handle of a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) to provide a current through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target, the deployment unit comprising:
a bore having a central axis;
an electrode having a cavity therein, prior to launch, the electrode positioned in the bore;
a filament having an end portion, the filament positioned in the cavity;
a propulsion system, the propulsion system for launching the electrode from the bore;
a guide, the guide positioned in the bore; wherein:
the end portion of the filament extends from the cavity and couples to the deployment unit;
the electrode provides the current through the target via the filament; and
the guide positions the filament proximate to the central axis.
2 . The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein upon launch of the electrode by the propulsion system:
the electrode exits the bore along the central axis;
the filament deploys from the cavity; and
the guide positions the filament proximate to the central axis thereby reducing a force applied by the filament on the electrode that pulls the electrode away from the central axis.
3 . The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the guide is positioned at a rear portion of the bore proximate to an opening in the rear portion of the bore;
the opening in fluid communication with the propulsion system, the propulsion system provides a rapidly expanding gas via the opening for launching the electrode from the bore; and
the guide does not impede a flow of the rapidly expanding gas.
4 . The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the guide includes a notch;
the end portion of the filament is positioned in the notch; and
the filament passes through the guide and past the notch to couple to the deployment unit.
5 . The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein the guide contacts the filament to position the filament proximate to the central axis.
6 . The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the guide is formed as a ring; and
an inner surface of the ring contacts the filament to position the filament proximate to the central axis.
7 . The deployment unit of claim 1 wherein:
the guide includes an opening; and
a rapidly expanding gas from the propulsion system passes through the opening to launch the electrode from the bore.
8 . A deployment unit for cooperating with a provided handle of a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) to provide a current through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target, the deployment unit comprising:
a bore having a central axis;
an electrode, the electrode includes a body and a filament, the body includes a cavity, the filament having an end portion, the filament positioned in the cavity, the electrode positioned in the bore prior to launch;
a propulsion system, the propulsion system for launching the electrode from the bore;
a guide; wherein:
the end portion of the filament extends from the cavity and couples to the deployment unit;
the electrode provides the current through the target via the filament; and
the guide positions the filament proximate to the central axis.
9 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein:
the filament is wound in a winding; and
upon launch of the electrode, the filament unravels from the winding to deploy from the cavity.
10 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein:
the body further includes a rear wall;
the rear wall includes an opening; and
the filament extends from the cavity via the opening in the rear wall.
11 . The deployment unit of claim 10 wherein upon launch of the electrode, the filament deploys from the cavity via the opening.
12 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein the guide is positioned in a rear portion of the bore.
13 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein upon launch of the electrode by the propulsion system:
the electrode exits the bore along the central axis;
the filament deploys from the cavity; and
the guide positions the filament proximate to the central axis thereby reducing a force applied by the filament on the electrode that pulls the electrode away from the central axis.
14 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein:
the guide is positioned at a rear portion of the bore proximate to an opening in the rear portion of the bore;
the opening in fluid communication with the propulsion system, the propulsion system provides a rapidly expanding gas via the opening for launching the electrode from the bore; and
the guide does not impede a flow of the rapidly expanding gas.
15 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein:
the guide includes a notch;
the filament is positioned in the notch; and
the notch positions the filament proximate to the central axis.
16 . The deployment unit of claim 8 wherein:
the guide includes an opening; and
a rapidly expanding gas from the propulsion system passes through the opening to launch the electrode from the bore.
17 . A deployment unit for cooperating with a provided handle of a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) to provide a current through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target, the deployment unit comprising:
a bore having a central axis;
an electrode, the electrode includes a body and a filament, the body includes a cavity, the filament having an end portion, the filament positioned in the cavity, the electrode positioned in the bore prior to launch;
a propulsion system, the propulsion system for launching the electrode from the bore;
a guide, the guide includes an opening; wherein:
the end portion of the filament extends from the cavity and couples to the deployment unit;
the electrode provides the current through the target via the filament;
a rapidly expanding gas from the propulsion system passes through the opening to launch the electrode from the bore; and
the guide positions the filament proximate to the central axis.
18 . The deployment unit of claim 17 wherein:
the guide further includes a notch; and
the filament is positioned in the notch.
19 . The deployment unit of claim 17 wherein the guide is positioned in a rear portion of the bore.
20 . The deployment unit of claim 17 wherein the guide contacts the filament to position the filament proximate to the central axis.