Apparatus for compacting matter within a confined area

Claim 2

Apparatus for compacting matter within an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. an axially extending, laterally expandable oUter housing means having first and second axial end means; b. compactable matter contained within said housing means; c. self-contained powering means closely connected with said housing means for moving said end means compact said matter; and d. control means for activating said powering means.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. said compactable matter includes unmixed materials; and b. mixing means are included in said housing means for combining said unmixed materials whereby said matter, when compacted, includes a mixture of said materials.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said powering means includes a resilient tubular sleeve means extending axially between said first and second axial end means.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: a. rigid, axially contractable support means extend axially within said housing between said first and second axial end means; b. said powering means includes resilient tension means connected to said first and second axial end means tending to draw said end means axially toward each other against the restraining force provided by said support means; and c. said control means include release means operable to permit said support means to axially contract whereby said matter is compacted within said area.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein: a. said support means include a cylinder containing a first material connected to said first end means and a piston connected to said second end means, said piston being movable to displace said first material from said cylinder; and b. said control means includes remotely operable release means to open outlet port means in said cylinder to permit said piston to move through said cylinder whereby said first material is displaced from said cylinder into an area within said housing containing a second material whereby said first and second materials may be mixed.

Claim 7

Apparatus for compacting matter within an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. an axially extending, laterally expandable outer housing means having first and second axial end means; b. rigid, axially contractable support means extending axially within said housing means between said first and second end means, said support means including a cylinder means, containng a first material, connected to said first end means and a piston means connected to said second end means, said piston means being movable to displace said first material from said cylinder means; c. compactable matter contained within said housing means; d. powering means contained within said housing means for moving said end means to compact said matter, said powering means including resilient tension means connected to said first and second axial end means tending to draw said end means axially toward each other against the restraining force provided by said support means; and e. control means for activating said powering means, said control means including release means operable to permit said support means to axially contract whereby said matter is compacted within said area and further including remotely operable release means to open outlet port means in said cylinder means to permit said piston means to move through said cylinder means whereby said first material is displaced from said cylinder means into an area within said housing means containing a second material whereby said first and second materials may be mixed.

Claim 8

Apparatus for compacting matter within an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. an axially extending, laterally expandable outer housing means having first and second axial end means; b. rigid, axially contractable support means extending axially within said housing means between said first and second end means, said support means including a cylinder means, containng a first material, connected to said first end means and a piston means connected to said second end means, said piston means being movable to displace said first material from said cylinder means; c. compactable matter contained within said housing means; d. powering means contained within said housing means for moving said end means to compact said matter, said powering means including resilient tension means connected to said first and second axial end means tending to draw said end means axially toward each other against the restraining force provided by said support means; and e. control means for activating said powering means, said control means including release means operable to permit said support means to axially contract whereby said matter is compacted within said area and further including remotely operable release means to open outlet port means in said cylinder means to permit said piston means to move through said cylinder means whereby said first material is displaced from said cylinder means into an area within said housing means containing a second material whereby said first and second materials may be mixed.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein: a. said cylinder includes a first tubular member; b. said piston is connected with a second tubular member adapted to telescope within said first member; c. said control means includes a release piston held in position by pressurized release fluid in a release chamber and operable when moved to open said outlet port means; and d. said release chamber includes rupturable, fluid release means operable from a remote location to relieve the pressure on said pressurizeD releae fluid whereby said release piston may move to open said outlet port means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein: a. said first material comprises a fluid; and b. said second material comprises a dry composition in small particle form and substantially fills the area between said first and second tubular members.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said powering means includes a resilient tubular sleeve means extending axially between said first and second axial end means.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said resilient tensioning means includes a coil spring connected between said first and second end means.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said resilient tensioning means includes a plurality of resilient connecting means extending between said first and second axial end means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said first material includes a fluid comprised primarily of mixed alophatic hydrocarbons and said second material comprises primarily small particles of ammonium nitrate.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said mixing means includes a fluid conveying, perforated line extending between said end means.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 further including a flexible, fluid conveying, perforated line connected with said outlet port means and extending between said end means for distributing the fluid contained in said cylinder through said small particle material.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein: a. said first material comprises a non-explosive fluid, said second material comprises a non-explosive solid, and the mixture of said first and scond materials comprises an explosive combination; and b. said second tubular member houses remotely operable detonator means for exploding said mixture.

Claim 18

Apparatus for compacting matter in an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. first a second compacting means movable relative to each other to move said matter toward said confining boundaries whereby said matter is compacted; b. controlled powering means for moving said first and second compacting means relative to each other; c. two or more different, unmixed materials included in said matter; and d. controlled mixing means connected with said compacting means and activated by said powering means for combining said different materials in said matter whereby said matter when compacted includes a mixture of said materials.

Claim 19

Apparatus for compacting matter in an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. first a second compacting means movable relative to each other to move said matter toward said confining boundaries whereby said matter is compacted; b. controlled powering means for moving said first and second compacting means relative to each other; c. two or more different, unmixed materials included in said matter; and d. controlled mixing means connected with said compacting means and activated by said powering means for combining said different materials in said matter whereby said matter when compacted includes a mixture of said materials.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said different materials are non-explosive until mixed.

Claim 21

Appartus as defined in claim 16 wherein said different materials include diesel fuel oil and ammonium nitrate.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said powering means include releasable, tensioned, resilient means connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said powering means include a resilient sleeve.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said powering means includes a metal spring connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said powering means includes a pluralty of resilient bands connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 19 further including: a. rigid, axially contractable support means extending axially between said first and second compacting means for preventing said resilient means from moving said first and second compacting means relatively toward each other; and b. release means operable to permit said support means to axially contract whereby said compacting means may be moved to compact said matter.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 23 further inclUding a flexible, laterally expansible tubular housing extending about said support means and connected between said compacting means.

Claim 28

Apparatus for compacting matter in an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. first and second compcting means movable relative to each other to move said matter toward said confining boundaries whereby said matter is compacted; b. controlled powering means for moving said first and second compacting means relative to each other, said powering means including a releaable, tensioned, resilient metal spring connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other; c. two or more different, unmixed materials included in said matter; and d. controlled mixing means connected with said compacting means for combining said different materials in said matter whereby said matter when compacted includes a mixture of said materials.

Claim 29

Apparatus for compacting matter in an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. first and second compcting means movable relative to each other to move said matter toward said confining boundaries whereby said matter is compacted; b. controlled powering means for moving said first and second compacting means relative to each other, said powering means including a releaable, tensioned, resilient metal spring connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other; c. two or more different, unmixed materials included in said matter; and d. controlled mixing means connected with said compacting means for combining said different materials in said matter whereby said matter when compacted includes a mixture of said materials.

Claim 30

Apparatus for compacting matter in an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. first and second compacting means movable relative to each other to move said matter toward said confining boundaries whereby said matter is compacted; b. controlled powering means for moving said first and second compacting means relative to each other, said powering means including a plurality of releasable, tensioned, resilient bands connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other; c. two or more different, unmixed materials included in said matter; and d. controlled mixing means connected with said compacting means for combining said different materials in said matter whereby said matter when compacted includes a mixture of said materials.

Claim 31

Apparatus for compacting matter in an area having confining boundaries comprising: a. first and second compacting means movable relative to each other to move said matter toward said confining boundaries whereby said matter is compacted; b. controlled powering means for moving said first and second compacting means relative to each other, said powering means including a plurality of releasable, tensioned, resilient bands connected between said first and second compacting means and operable when released to move said compacting means relative to each other; c. two or more different, unmixed materials included in said matter; and d. controlled mixing means connected with said compacting means for combining said different materials in said matter whereby said matter when compacted includes a mixture of said materials.