Explosive energy-initiatable blasting caps containing a porous ignition and detonation system and method

Claim 2

A non-electrically initiated blasting cap comprising: a closed shell, including a plug closure therefor; an ignition charge in said shell substantially contiguous with said plug closure and initiatable in response to action of explosive energy of an explosive gas mixture, and sufficiently porous and permeable for flow of a gas stream through the interstices thereof; a first conduit means extending from outside said shell through said plug closure and opening into continguous contact with said ignition charge so as to convey an explosive gas mixture as a confined stream into ignition position in said interstices for responsive initiation of said ignition charge; and a second conduit means extending from contiguous contact with said ignition charge to the outside of the said shell, whereby a stream of said explosive gas can be continuously passed from said first conduit means through the interstices of said ignition charge and through said second conduit means to purge and charge said porous ignition charge and thereafter explosive gas in said first conduit means can be ignited for propagation of resulting explosive energy within the interstices of said porous ignition charge for ignition of same.

Claim 3

A blasting cap of claim 1, base, primer and said ignition charges, with or without a delay charge intermediate said primer and ignition charges, contiguously extending in that order toward said plug closure.

Claim 4

In a blasting cap of claim 2, said second conduit means comprising a passageway in a side wall of said shell.

Claim 5

In a blasting cap of claim 2, said second conduit means extending through said plug closure.

Claim 6

The blasting cap of claim 1 wherein said ignition charge as an effective cross-sectional area for gas flow at least substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of said first or second conduit means.

Claim 7

The blasting cap of claim 1 wherein said ignition charge is a pellet of agglomerated ignition powder particles, comprising, by weight, about 68.4% lead, 26.6% selenium, 2.2% potassium perchlorate, 1.1% aluminum and 1.7% snow floss.

Claim 8

The blasting cap of claim 1 wherein said ignition charge is a cohesive agglomerate of individual particles having a multiplicity of interstitial passageways therethrough.

Claim 9

The blasting cap of claim 1, wherein said shell is elongated and said first conduit means comprises a tube extending from outside said shell through said plug closure member in substantial closing contact with said ignition charge.

Claim 10

The blasting cap of claim 1, wherein said second conduit means is in a side wall of said shell adjacent to said ignition charge.

Claim 11

The blasting cap of claim 8, wherein said second conduit means comprises an additional tube extending through said plug closure in substantial closing contact with said ignition charge.

Claim 12

A detonator system for detonation of one or more main charges comprising: a plurality of spaced apart non-electrically initiated blasting caps, each cap having; a closed shell, a base charge in the closed end of said shell, a primer charge in direct communication with said base charge, an ignition charge in substantial contact with said primer charge, a plug closure member closing the other end of said shell having an end thereof substantially filling the cross-section of said shell and abutting against said ignition charge, said plug having a first and a second passageway therethrough to allow gas to be introduced into and to exit from said ignition charge, said ignition charge substantially filling the the cross-section of said shell between said primer charge and said plug closure member, said ignition charge being sufficiently porous and permeable for flow of a gas stream through the interstices thereof and being initiatable in response to action of explosive energy of said explosive gas mixture, wherein said primer charge is detonatable in response to the initiation of said ignition charge; an explosive gas mixture; means for introducing an explosive gas mixture into said plurality of blasting caps; means for igniting said explosive gas mixture; wherein said first passageway of the first of said plurality of blasting caps is connected to means for introducing and means for igniting said explosive gas mixture, said second passageway of the first of said plurality is connected to said first passageway of the second of said plurality and each of said first passageways of the remaining plurality of blasting caps being connected to said second passageway of the preceding blasting cap to first allow said explosive gas mixture to flow through each of said interconnected blasting caps in said plurality to purge and charge with said explosive gas mixture said blasting caps and to allow an explosive reaction wave front in response to ignition of said explosive gas mixture to propagate sequentially through each of said blasting caps in said plurality.

Claim 13

A detonator system for detonation of one or more main charges comprising: a plurality of spaced apart non-electrically initiated blasting caps, each cap having; a closed shell, a base charge in the closed end of said shell, a primer charge in direct communication with said base charge, an ignition charge in substantial contact with said primer charge, a plug closure member closing the other end of said shell having an end thereof substantially filling the cross-section of said shell and abutting against said ignition charge, said plug having a first and a second passageway therethrough to allow gas to be introduced into and to exit from said ignition charge, said ignition charge substantially filling the the cross-section of said shell between said primer charge and said plug closure member, said ignition charge being sufficiently porous and permeable for flow of a gas stream through the interstices thereof and being initiatable in response to action of explosive energy of said explosive gas mixture, wherein said primer charge is detonatable in response to the initiation of said ignition charge; an explosive gas mixture; means for introducing an explosive gas mixture into said plurality of blasting caps; means for igniting said explosive gas mixture; wherein said first passageway of the first of said plurality of blasting caps is connected to means for introducing and means for igniting said explosive gas mixture, said second passageway of the first of said plurality is connected to said first passageway of the second of said plurality and each of said first passageways of the remaining plurality of blasting caps being connected to said second passageway of the preceding blasting cap to first allow said explosive gas mixture to flow through each of said interconnected blasting caps in said plurality to purge and charge with said explosive gas mixture said blasting caps and to allow an explosive reaction wave front in response to ignition of said explosive gas mixture to propagate sequentially through each of said blasting caps in said plurality.

Claim 14

A detonator system for detonation of one or more main charges comprising: a plurality of spaced apart non-electrically initiated blasting caps, each cap having, a cup-shaped shell, a base charge in the closed end of said shell, a primer charge in direct communication with said base charge, a delay charge in direct communication with said primer charge, an ignition charge in substantial contact with said delay charge, a plug closure member closing the other end of said shell having an end thereof substantially filling the cross-section of said shell and abutting against said ignition charge, said plug having a first and a second passageway therethrough, to allow gas to be introduced into and to exit from said ignition charge, said ignition charge substantially filling the cross-section of said shell between said delay charge and said plug closure member, said ignition charge being sufficiently porous and permeable for flow of a gas stream through the interstices thereof and being initiatable in response to action of explosive energy of an explosive gas mixture, wherein said delay charge is detonatable in response to the initiation of said ignition charge; an explosive gas mixture; means for introducing said explosive gas mixture into said plurality of blasting caps; means for igniting said explosive gas mixture; wherein said first passageway of the first of said plurality of blasting caps is connected to means for introducing and meand for igniting said explosive gas mixture, said second passageway of the first of said plurality is connected to said first passageway of the second of said plurality and each of said first passageways of the remaining plurality of blasting caps being connected to said second passageway of the preceding blasting cap to first allow said explosive gas mixture to flow through each of said interconnected blasting caps in said plurality to purge and charge with said explosive gas mixture said blasting caps and to allow an explosive reaction wave front in response to ignition of said explosive gas mixture to propagate sequentially through each of said blasting caps in said plurality.

Claim 15

A detonator system for detonation of one or more main charges comprising: a plurality of spaced apart non-electrically initiated blasting caps, each cap having, a cup-shaped shell, a base charge in the closed end of said shell, a primer charge in direct communication with said base charge, a delay charge in direct communication with said primer charge, an ignition charge in substantial contact with said delay charge, a plug closure member closing the other end of said shell having an end thereof substantially filling the cross-section of said shell and abutting against said ignition charge, said plug having a first and a second passageway therethrough, to allow gas to be introduced into and to exit from said ignition charge, said ignition charge substantially filling the cross-section of said shell between said delay charge and said plug closure member, said ignition charge being sufficiently porous and permeable for flow of a gas stream through the interstices thereof and being initiatable in response to action of explosive energy of an explosive gas mixture, wherein said delay charge is detonatable in response to the initiation of said ignition charge; an explosive gas mixture; means for introducing said explosive gas mixture into said plurality of blasting caps; means for igniting said explosive gas mixture; wherein said first passageway of the first of said plurality of blasting caps is connected to means for introducing and meand for igniting said explosive gas mixture, said second passageway of the first of said plurality is connected to said first passageway of the second of said plurality and each of said first passageways of the remaining plurality of blasting caps being connected to said second passageway of the preceding blasting cap to first allow said explosive gas mixture to flow through each of said interconnected blasting caps in said plurality to purge and charge with said explosive gas mixture said blasting caps and to allow an explosive reaction wave front in response to ignition of said explosive gas mixture to propagate sequentially through each of said blasting caps in said plurality.

Claim 16

In a detonator system of claim 11, each said blasting cap having an elongated shell and said first passageway comprising a tube extending from outside said shell through said plug closure member in substantial closing contact with said ignition charge.

Claim 17

In a detonator system of claim 12, each said blasting cap having an elongated shell and said first passageway comprising a tube extending from outside said shell through said plug closure member in substantial closing contact with said ignition charge.

Claim 18

In a detonator system of claim 13, each said blasting cap having as a second passageway a second tube extending through said plug closure member.

Claim 19

In a detonator system of claim 14, each said blasting cap having as said second passageway a second tube extending through said plug closure member.

Claim 20

A detonator system of claim 15 in detonating relationship with at least one main explosive charge.

Claim 21

A detonator system of claim 16 in detonating relationship with at least one main explosive charge.