Abstract: Modular components including donor units (20), relay units (30), and detonator units (50) create a variety of blasting systems. A donor unit (20) is formed from a signal transmission tube (22) having donor mini-caps (24) attached to each end thereof. A relay unit (30) is a device having a receptacle (32) at one end to receive a donor mini-cap in operative association and engaging means (34) to operatively engage a point along another donor unit such that the detonator contained within the relay unit (30) will initiate the transmission lines passing through the donor unit. A detonator unit (50) is provided for the initiation of explosives such as boosters and primers and comprises a shell for receiving explosives and a receptacle at one end suitable for receiving a donor mini-cap (24) at the other end. Relay units (30) allow for the simultaneous initiation of several donor units. Each donor unit can be attached to either additional relay units or to detonator units (50).

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to coating a solid which has acid or base sites on its surface with a surfactant having acid or base characteristics capable of neutralizing the acidic or basic characteristics of the solid surface. Said coating applied in sufficient quantity to result in neutralization of the acid or base sites on the solid. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a water-in-oil or melt-in-fuel blended explosive composition including solid components wherein said solid components have a coating to neutralize the acid or base sites on the solid, and the emulsifier utilized in the emulsion has acid or base properties which are the same as the properties of the coating applied to the solid.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention relates to coating a solid which has acid or base sites on its surface with a surfactant having acid or base characteristics capable of neutralizing the acidic or basic characteristics of the solid surface. Said coating applied in sufficient quantity to result in neutralization of the acid or base sites on the solid. In another aspect, the present invention relates to a water-in-oil or melt-in-fuel blended explosive composition including solid components wherein said solid components have a coating to neutralize the acid or base sites on the solid, and the emulsifier utilized in the emulsion has acid or base properties which are the same as the properties of the coating applied to the solid.

Abstract: A timing circuit includes a variable frequency oscillator which has a control signal that determines the output frequency of the oscillator. The control signal and a reference signal are stored in the circuit. A precision calibration pulse is applied to the timing circuit which counts the output cycles of the variable frequency oscillator during the period of the pulse. This count is stored and compared to the reference count to produce an error count. This error count is combined with the previously stored control signal to produce a new control signal that drives the output of the oscillator to a new frequency. The timing circuit can be utilized as a part of a delay circuit is an electronic blasting system wherein a control unit transmits the calibration pulse concurrently to each of the delay circuits to cause each circuit to calibrate its local oscillator in accordance with the calibration pulse. The control unit transmits a delay count to each of the delay ignition circuits.

Abstract: The process of the present invention provides a method of obtaining a high yield of water or acid soluble nitrate esters without the use of organic solvents in the nitration reaction or the production of unstable products or by-products. The process involves the nitration of an organic hydroxy-containing compound with a suitable nitrating agent such as nitric acid in the absence of organic solvents in the nitration reaction. The reaction mixture is neutralized, causing the nitrate esters to precipitate or separate from the neutralized nitrate solution. The nitrate ester is then recovered, and any dissolved nitrate salts can be removed therefrom by gentle washing with water or a dilute halide solution. As provided by the process of the present invention, no organic solvents are used in the nitration reaction and average yields range from about 80% to about 95%.

Abstract: Modular components including donor units (20), relay units (30), and detonator units (50) create a variety of blasting systems. A donor unit (20) is formed from a signal transmission tube (22) having donor mini-caps (24) attached to each end thereof. A relay unit (30) is a device having a receptacle (32) at one end to receive a donor mini-cap in operative association and engaging means (34) to operatively engage a point along another donor unit such that the detonator contained within the relay unit (30) will initiate the transmission lines passing through the donor unit. A detonator unit (50) is provided for the initiation of explosives such as boosters and primers and comprises a shell for receiving explosives and a receptacle at one end suitable for receiving a donor mini-cap (24) at the other end. Relay units (30) allow for the simultaneous initiation of several donor units. Each donor unit can be attached to either additional relay units or to detonator units (50).

Abstract: Emulsion explosive compositions comprising a discontinuous aqueous oxidizer salt phase and a continuous carbonaceous fuel phase and from about 5% to about 50% nitrostarch are disclosed which exhibit increased resistance to precompression or dead pressing while maintaining high detonation velocities.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a blended explosive composition containing an emulsifier which is a derivative of polyisobutylene succinic anhydride and a prill having an internal additive of a naphthalene sulfonate surfactant and an external coating which makes the prill compatible with the emulsifier.

Abstract: A multicomponent explosive composition and its use as a blasting agent in ditching operations and the like. The explosive comprises a fuel component and an oxidizer compnent, both of which are retained in the liquid state over wide temperature ranges and are stable over long storage intervals. The fuel component comprises a suspension of a particulate metal fuel, specifically aluminum, in a carrier liquid formed of a mixture of a water-miscible polyhydric alcohol and a pyrrolidone solvent. The carrier liquid contains a thickening agent to provide thixotropic rheological properties such that the particulate metal fuel remains in suspension at rest, but with shear forces induced by pumping, the components become more fluid for mixing and pumping easily. The oxidizer component comprises an aqueous solution of an inorganic oxidizer salt. The oxidizer solution contains void-containing materials such as glass or saran microbubbles. The void-containing materials may be suspended in the fuel component also.

Abstract: In the field of blasting, it is often desirable to ignite explosives at various relative times. Such delayed ignition can have advantages in better break up of rock and reduced ground vibration. A principle problem in using the time delay technique is the accuracy rate of a local oscillator which measures the delay time for each of the delay circuits. In the described system, a calibration interval, independent of any delay time, is transmitted from a control unit concurrently to each of the delay circuits wherein each delay circuit counts the output of its local oscillator during the calibration interval. This local oscillator output is then compared to a predetermined reference count, either at the delay circuit or at the control unit, and a correction factor is established. This correction factor is then applied to a delay count for the individual delay circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a water-in-oil emulsion and the emulsion explosives therefrom containing nitrostarch by nitrating starch with an excess of a nitrating agent, treating the reaction mixture thereof with anhydrous ammonia to form a solution of water, dissolved ammonium nitrate, and nitrostarch, and thereafter combining the aqueous solution with a carbonaceous fuel phase and emulsifier to form a water-in-oil emulsion. The explosive is provided, preferably, by the distribution of voids throughout the water-in-oil emulsion to render it detonable. The invention is also applicable to the production of melt-in-fuel explosive compositions and water-gel explosives.

Abstract: The invention provides a connector, a transmitter, a bi-directional device, and a method for increasing the reliability of borehole detonation by using the connectors and transmitters provided by the invention. The invention provides connectors, each connector having a well for receiving a blasting cap, one or more ports or channels for receiving a transmission line and/or downline, and means for joining one connector with another connector in a convenient manner. The connectors are constructed so that detonation of a blasting cap in one connector will cause sympathetic detonation of a blasting cap in an adjoining connector. The detonation of blasting caps in the connectors also causes initiation of transmission lines and/or downlines which are inserted in the ports or channels through the connectors.

Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion explosive composition having a void-providing agent consisting of expanded perlite is provided. The water-in-oil emulsion explosive composition comprising a continuous phase of carbonaceous fuel, an emulsifier, a dispersed phase of an aqueous solution of inorgnaic oxidizer, and expanded perlite having a density of less than 0.60 g/cc and preferably of from about 0.23 g/cc to about 0.45 g/cc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to water-in-oil emulsion explosive compositions comprising a discontinuous aqueous phase, a continuous water-immiscible organic phase, and an emulsifier content being at least 45% by weight of the emulsified fuel phase which decreases precompression or dead pressing.

Abstract: Linear ignition tube suitable for the ignition of long propellant beds. The tube comprises an elongated tubular member having a ratio of interior diameter to wall thickness of at least 4. The ignition tube is provided with a plurality of ignition strands formed of an oxidizable ignition material at a density of at least 2 strands/0.001 in.sup.2 of a cross-sectional area of the tubular member. The ignition strands provide a linear ignition rate for the tube within the range of 3000-6000 ft/sec. The tube can contain from 30-50 ignition strands formed of a self-oxidizing ignition material such as nitrocellulose fibers coated with a mixture of an oxidizing component such as a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and a fuel component such as aluminum. An ignition transmission system comprises a plurality of ignition tubes which extend in a longitudinal conjoint relationship in which one tubular member at least overlaps partially another.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermodynamically stable fluid system for use in combination with a solid oxidizer to provide an explosive composition. The fluid system comprises 1-70% by weight of water, 5-20% by weight of a surfactant, 0-35% by weight of a cosurfactant, and 5-85% by weight of an organic oil. Any droplet formation within the system has diameter or a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.1 microns. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid system is a microemulsion. When the fluid system is combined with a solid oxidizer, an explosive composition is formed, and the resulting explosive composition has a density greater than ANFO under similar conditions. The fluid system acts to increase the density of the oxidizer.

Abstract: Disclosed is an explosive composition formed by a mixture of solid oxidizer salt and emulsion. In one aspect the emulsion contains no dissolved inorganic oxidizer salts in the aqueous phase. In another embodiment the emulsion contains an aqueous solution of less than a 75% saturated solution of oxidizer salt dissolved in the aqueous phase.

Abstract: The invention provides a thermodynamically stable fluid system for use in combination with a solid oxidizer to provide an explosive composition. The fluid system comprises 1-70% by weight of water, 5-20% by weight of a surfactant, 0-35% by weight of a cosurfactant, and 5-85% by weight of an organic oil. Any droplet formation within the system has diameter or a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.1 microns. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid system is a microemulsion. When the fluid system is combined with a solid oxidizer, an explosive composition is formed, and the resulting explosive composition has a density greater than ANFO under similar conditions. The fluid system acts to increase the density of the oxidizer.

Abstract: The invention provides a connector, a transmitter, a bi-directional device, and a method for increasing the reliability of borehole detonation by using the connectors and transmitters provided by the invention. The invention provides connectors, each connector having a well for receiving a blasting cap, one or more ports or channels for receiving a transmission line and/or downline, and means for joining one connector with another connector in a convenient manner. The connectors are constructed so that detonation of a blasting cap in one connector will cause sympathetic detonation of a blasting cap in an adjoining connector. The detonation of blasting caps in the connectors also causes initiation of transmission lines and/or downlines which are inserted in the ports or channels through the connectors.

Abstract: A low brisance energy transmission device comprising an elongated tube containing self-oxidizing material loosely contained therein is provided. The energy transmission device is able to transmit and propagate energy across bends, kinks, knots, crimps or cuts in the tubing.