Field sensitized explosive devices and sensitizing method

Claim 2

A two part explosive package comprising: a first housing having an open end, a closed end and sidewall means, said first housing containing an absorbent body of an intrinsically nonexplosive solid first constituent of an explosive composition, and ignition means including a reactive substance prepackaged in said first housing contiguous said solid first constituent, said reactive substance being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not the solid first constituent by itself, or the two constituents when close together but uncombined; and a second housing having an open end joinable to the open end of said first housing, a closed end and sidewall means, said second housing containing an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of said explosive position, said second housing also including means for initially retaining the liquid constituent in said second housing, said means being readily openable when the two housings are joined to permit the liquid constituent to flow from the second housing through the open end thereof, through the open end of the first housing, and into the first housing, to be absorbed into the solid constituent.

Claim 3

Explosive forming means comprising: a. a casing containing a body of an intrinsically nonexplosive solid constituent of an explosive composition, said casing including an inlet; b. a source of an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition; c. means for maintaining said constituents separate from each other during transportation thereof to the site of intended use; d. means for introducing the liquid constituent through said inlet for admixture with said solid constituent to form said explosive composition within the housing; and e. electrical ignition means including an electrically initiated igniter element preembedded in said solid constituent, and conductor wire means extending through said casing and connecting with said igniter element, said igniter element being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not the solid constituent by itself, and not the solid and liquid constituents when close together but uncombined.

Claim 4

Explosive forming means comprising: a. a casing containing a body of an intrinsically nonexplosive solid constituent of an explosive composition, said casing including an inlet; b. a source of an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition; c. means for maintaining said constituents separate from each other during transportation thereof to the site of intended use; d. means for introducing the liquid constituent through said inlet for admixture with said solid constituent to form said explosive composition within the housing; and e. electrical ignition means including an electrically initiated igniter element preembedded in said solid constituent, and conductor wire means extending through said casing and connecting with said igniter element, said igniter element being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not the solid constituent by itself, and not the solid and liquid constituents when close together but uncombined.

Claim 5

Explosive forming means according to claim 2, wherein said body possesses wick properties enabling it to readily absorb the liquid constituent.

Claim 6

Explosive forming means according to claim 2, wherein said body comprises an absorbent matrix and the solid constituent is in the form of crystalline solids impregnated in said matrix.

Claim 7

A two part detonator usable to detonate an explosive, said detonator comprising a shell part of elongated tubular form housing an intrinsically nonexplosive substantially solid first constituent of an explosive composition, and including means defining an inlet at one end thereof; ignition means extending through a wall portion of the shell part and into a position contiguous said substantially solid constituent; and a container housing an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition, and including means defining an outlet joinable with the inlet of said shell part, so that the second constituent can be directly transferred from the container into said shell part for admixture therein with the first constituent to form the explosive composition, with said ignition means being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not the substantially solid constituent by itself, and not the solid and liquid constituents when close together but uncombined.

Claim 8

A two part detonator usable to detonate an explosive, said detonator comprising a shell part of elongated tubular form housing an intrinsically nonexplosive substantially solid first constituent of an explosive composition, and including means defining an inlet at one end thereof; ignition means extending through a wall portion of the shell part and into a position contiguous said substantially solid constituent; and a container housing an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition, and including means defining an outlet joinable with the inlet of said shell part, so that the second constituent can be directly transferred from the container into said shell part for admixture therein with the first constituent to form the explosive composition, with said ignition means being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not the substantially solid constituent by itself, and not the solid and liquid constituents when close together but uncombined.

Claim 9

A two part detonator according to claim 5, wherein said container is also of elongated tubular form and is sized to be telescopically joinable with said shell part.

Claim 10

A two part detonator according to claim 6, wherein said shell part is provided with a removable closure means for closing its inlet until it is desirable to join the shell part and the container, and said container includes a frangible closure at its outlet end for maintaining the liquid second constituent in said container during separate handling thereof.

Claim 11

A two part detonator according to claim 5, wherein said solid first constituent incorporates means through which the liquid constituent will readily flow so that the liquid second constituent can be relatively quickly absorbed into the solid constituent.

Claim 12

A two part detonator according to claim 5, wherein said liquid constituent is contained within a frangible capsule and the capsule is housed in said container, the shell part and the container are telescopically joinable, and the shell part carries opening means at its inlet end for breaking or cutting the frangible capsule when constituent shell part and the container are telescopically moved together a predetermined amount.

Claim 13

A two part detonator comprising a shell part of elongated tubular form housing an intrinsically nonexplosive first constituent of an explosive composition, and including means defining an inlet at one end thereof; ignition means extending through a wall portion of the shell part into said first constituent; and a container housing an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition, and including means defining an outlet joinable with the inlet of said shell part, so that the second constituent can be directly transferred from the container into said shell part for admixture therein with the first constituent to form the explosive composition, said shell part and said container being telescopically joinable, said container including closure means for maintaining the liquid constituent in the container, said shell part including opener means for opening said closure when the shell part and container are telescopically moved together a predetermined amount, and said shell part and container including releasable locking means for releasably locking them together while telescopically engaged an amount less than said predetermined amount, so that said opener means and said closure are axially spaced apart.

Claim 14

A two part detonator comprising a shell part of elongated tubular form housing an intrinsically nonexplosive first constituent of an explosive composition, and including means defining an inlet at one end thereof; ignition means extending through a wall portion of the shell part into said first constituent; and a container housing an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition, and including means defining an outlet joinable with the inlet of said shell part, so that the second constituent can be directly transferred from the container into said shell part for admixture therein with the first constituent to form the explosive composition, said shell part and said container being telescopically joinable, said container including closure means for maintaining the liquid constituent in the container, said shell part including opener means for opening said closure when the shell part and container are telescopically moved together a predetermined amount, and said shell part and container including releasable locking means for releasably locking them together while telescopically engaged an amount less than said predetermined amount, so that said opener means and said closure are axially spaced apart.

Claim 15

A two part detonator according to claim 10, wherein the releasable locking means comprises radial recess means formed in a sidewall portion of one of said shell part and container and radial detent means formed in a sidewall portion of the other.

Claim 16

A detonator component comprising an elongated tubular shell housing an intrinsically nonexplosive solid constituent of an explosive composition, and including means defining an inlet at one end thereof for reception of a liquid which when combined with said constituent forms the explosive composition, closure means at the opposite end of said shell part, and ignition means including a reactive substance positioned contiguous the solid constituent, said reactive substance when energized being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not capable of detonating the said solid constituent by itself.

Claim 17

A detonator component comprising an elongated tubular shell housing an intrinsically nonexplosive solid constituent of an explosive composition, and including means defining an inlet at one end thereof for reception of a liquid which when combined with said constituent forms the explosive composition, closure means at the opposite end of said shell part, and ignition means including a reactive substance positioned contiguous the solid constituent, said reactive substance when energized being capable of detonating the explosive composition but not capable of detonating the said solid constituent by itself.

Claim 18

A detonator component according to claim 12, wherein said solid constitUent incorporates means providing it with wick characteristics.

Claim 19

A detonator component according to claim 12, wherein said solid constituent incorporates a previous tube in communication at one end thereof with said inlet, to facilitating inflow of the liquid into the solid constituent.

Claim 20

Explosive forming means comprising: a. a housing containing a length of pervious tubing; b. a body of an intrinsically nonexplosive solid constituent of an explosive composition in said housing surrounding said pervious tubing; c. a source of an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition; d. means for maintaining said constituents separate from each other during transportation thereof to the site of intended use; e. means for introducing the liquid constituent endwise into and through said previous tubing, for delivery thereby to said solid constituent, for admixture therewith to form said explosive composition within the housing; and f. initiator means of detonating said explosive composition by an operator sometime following its formation.

Claim 21

Explosive forming means comprising: a. a housing containing a length of pervious tubing; b. a body of an intrinsically nonexplosive solid constituent of an explosive composition in said housing surrounding said pervious tubing; c. a source of an intrinsically nonexplosive liquid second constituent of the explosive composition; d. means for maintaining said constituents separate from each other during transportation thereof to the site of intended use; e. means for introducing the liquid constituent endwise into and through said previous tubing, for delivery thereby to said solid constituent, for admixture therewith to form said explosive composition within the housing; and f. initiator means of detonating said explosive composition by an operator sometime following its formation.

Claim 22

Explosive forming means according to claim 15, wherein said housing is a length of impervious flexible tubing, the pervious tubing is also flexible, a generally annular chamber is formed between the outer wall of the pervious tubing and the inner wall of the impervious tubing, and said body of the solid constituent occupies the generally annular chamber.

Claim 23

Explosive cord forming means comprising a length of impervious flexible tubing, a length of pervious flexible tubing inside said impervious tubing, with a generally annular chamber being formed by and radially between said impervious and pervious lengths of tubing, and a body of an intrinsically nonexplosive substantially solid constituent of a detonable composition, which composition is formed in said chamber when a liquid second constituent of the composition is admixed to said solid constituent, by being introduced endwise through said pervious tubing and then flowing radially outwardly from said pervious tubing into said solid constituent.

Claim 24

Explosive cord forming means comprising a length of impervious flexible tubing, a length of pervious flexible tubing inside said impervious tubing, with a generally annular chamber being formed by and radially between said impervious and pervious lengths of tubing, and a body of an intrinsically nonexplosive substantially solid constituent of a detonable composition, which composition is formed in said chamber when a liquid second constituent of the composition is admixed to said solid constituent, by being introduced endwise through said pervious tubing and then flowing radially outwardly from said pervious tubing into said solid constituent.

Claim 25

Explosive cord forming means according to claim 17, wherein said solid constituent comprises an oxidizer reactant selected from the group consisting of powdered ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, sodium nitrate, sodium chlorate, sodium perchlorate, potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, potassium perchlorate, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 26

Explosive cord forming means according to claim 17, wherein said solid constituent contains a gelling agent which when wetted by an added liquid constituent gels and plugs, and in that manner seals, around the pervious tubing, so as to limit the amount of liquid constituent entering into any particular portion of the solid constituent.

Claim 27

A technique of safely handling and using an explosive detonator, comprising: a. placing in a detonator shell the solid constituent of an explosive composition of a type comprising two separately producible, intrinsically nonexplosive, constituents, one being a solid and the other a liquid, which are explosive only when combined; b. transporting said shell and the liquid constituent to the site of the use, with the two constituents apart from one another; c. combining the two constituents within such shell at the site of use to form the explosive composition and render said detonator sensitive to detonation; d. placing said detonator in an explosive causing position with an explosive at said site of use; and e. detonating said detonator so as to in turn detonate said explosive.

Claim 28

A technique of safely handling and using an explosive detonator, comprising: a. placing in a detonator shell the solid constituent of an explosive composition of a type comprising two separately producible, intrinsically nonexplosive, constituents, one being a solid and the other a liquid, which are explosive only when combined; b. transporting said shell and the liquid constituent to the site of the use, with the two constituents apart from one another; c. combining the two constituents within such shell at the site of use to form the explosive composition and render said detonator sensitive to detonation; d. placing said detonator in an explosive causing position with an explosive at said site of use; and e. detonating said detonator so as to in turn detonate said explosive.

Claim 29

A technique according to claim 20, further comprising prepackaging the liquid constituent in a second detonator shell that is telescopically joinable with the first shell; transporting the two shells to the site of use with the shells apart at least to the extent that the two explosive constituents are apart; and telescopically bringing the two shells together at the site of use, to fOrm a single housing, and to place the two constituents into contact with each other within the shell of the solid constituent, so as to cause their mixing to form the explosive composition.

Claim 30

A technique according to claim 20, further comprising the step of housing the liquid constituent in a frangible vial contained in said second shell, and crimping the two shells together where telescopically joined, to secure them together and also to break the vial.

Claim 31

A technique of safely handling an explosive detonator, comprising: a. placing in a detonator shell the solid constituent of an explosive composition comprising two separately producible, intrinsically nonexplosive, constituents, one being a solid and the other a liquid, which are explosive only when combined; b. prepackaging the liquid constituent in a second detonator shell that is telescopically joinable with the first shell; c. transporting the two shells to the site of use with the shells apart at least to the extent that the two explosive constituents are apart; d. partially joining the two shells, but not enough to cause mixing, then temporarily locking the two shells together as so joined; and e. telescopically bringing the two shells further together at the site of use, to place the two constituents into contact with each other, so as to cause their mixing to form the explosive composition.

Claim 32

A technique of safely handling an explosive detonator, comprising: a. placing in a detonator shell the solid constituent of an explosive composition comprising two separately producible, intrinsically nonexplosive, constituents, one being a solid and the other a liquid, which are explosive only when combined; b. prepackaging the liquid constituent in a second detonator shell that is telescopically joinable with the first shell; c. transporting the two shells to the site of use with the shells apart at least to the extent that the two explosive constituents are apart; d. partially joining the two shells, but not enough to cause mixing, then temporarily locking the two shells together as so joined; and e. telescopically bringing the two shells further together at the site of use, to place the two constituents into contact with each other, so as to cause their mixing to form the explosive composition.