Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of continuously extruding plastically bonded propulsion powder from crystalline explosives in an extruder of the type having screws rotating in a housing and wherein the housing has at least two openings provided in axially spaced relationship therein, one of the openings being provided to admit the plastic binder and the crystalline explosive material and another opening downstream thereof, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the plastic binder through said one opening to achieve a floating condition for the rotating screws wherein friction between the housing and the screws is minimized, (b) after the screws have achieved this floating condition introducing the propulsive crystal and explosive material so as to reduce the ratio of plastic binder to crystalline and explosive material and increase the content of crystalline and explosive material in the product, (c) continuing to mix some plastic binder with the crystalline and explosive material in order to continuously provide this increased crystalline content of the product in a continuously operated extruder.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of continuously extruding plastically bonded propulsion powder from crystalline explosives in an extruder of the type having screws rotating in a housing and wherein the housing has at least two openings provided in axially spaced relationship therein, one of the openings being provided to admit the plastic binder and the crystalline explosive material and another opening downstream thereof, said method comprising the steps of: (a) introducing the plastic binder through said one opening to achieve a floating condition for the rotating screws wherein friction between the housing and the screws is minimized, (b) after the screws have achieved this floating condition introducing the propulsive crystal and explosive material so as to reduce the ratio of plastic binder to crystalline and explosive material and increase the content of crystalline and explosive material in the product, (c) continuing to mix some plastic binder with the crystalline and explosive material in order to continuously provide this increased crystalline content of the product in a continuously operated extruder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method method of claim 1 wherein said floating condition for said screws achieved by said step of initially introducing the plastic binder is further improved by heating the plastic binder in the extruder to a temperature of approximately 130 C., and then allowing the plastic binder to cool in the extruder to approximately 100 C. prior to introducing the crystalline explosive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method method of claim 1 wherein the further step is provided for in the continuously operating extruder of introducing a solvent through said another opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method method of claim 1 wherein the plastic binder is softened by an additional step, that of introducing a solvent to the mix of plastic binder and explosive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method method of claim 4 wherein the mix of plastic binder and explosive material before introducing solvent is approximately 4-6% binder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method method of claim 4 wherein the additional step is provided of suctioning excess solvent through an opening in the extruder downstream of the location where the solvent is introduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method method of claim 1 wherein the percentage of plastic binder relative crystalline explosive material content of the product resulting in step (c) is 6% or less.