Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the metered delivery of microbubbles, used for example, in the production of explosive compositions. Disclosed is a holding vessel with sufficient residence time to deaerate the microbubbbles with a level indicating device for sensing the quantity of microbubbles deposited therein, the outlet of the holding vessel communicating with a dual screw feed apparatus for delivering a constant volumetric flow of deaerated microbubbles from the holding vessel and a weigh-belt, upon which the microbubbles ae deposited as they exit the screw feeder, for providing a constant flow of microbubbles by weight for delivery to processing apparatus.

Abstract: A compartmented container made of pliable film material includes a first compartment formed by looping the film material and attaching one edge of the film material to itself to form a first seam intermediate of the edges of said film material and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said package. A second compartment is formed with said film material by attaching the second edge of the film material to the first compartment to form a second seam adjacent to the first seam and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said package. Reactive components are loaded within the first and second compartments and the compartments are closed at opposite ends to form a unitary container.

Abstract: Water-in-oil emulsion blasting agent compositions are provided which are non-cap sensitive yet detonable under high heads of water and which contain as the sole oxidizing salt ammonium nitrate, an ammonium nitrate to hydrocarbon fuel weight ratio in the range of about 95:5 to about 93:7, a preferred wax to oil weight ratio in the range of from about 1:1 to about 1:4, void containing material to yield a final density at the time of manufacture of from about 1.20 to about 1.25 grams per cubic centimeter and optionally up to about 12 parts by weight of auxiliary fuel per 88 parts of the above composition. The blasting agents are capable of cartridge-to-cartridge propagation even when detonated under high heads of water when packaged in cardboard containers.

Abstract: A package for water-in-oil explosive emulsion products is provided which includes a laminate film capable of being employed with conventional types of packaging apparatus and which provides excellent resistance to degradation as a result of contact with the external oil phase of the explosive as well as excellent structural properties both during storage and under field use conditions. The laminate film material comprises an inner sealing film means, an outer structural film means and an oil barrier means intermediate of the inner and outer films.

Abstract: A delay actuated explosive device for use in boreholes filled with high explosives is provided which comprises an explosive container having a detonator cord receiving conduit attached to the periphery thereof and a detonator receiving well which is offset from the detonator cord receiving conduit so as to avoid premature detonation. A detonator delay unit having an initiating means communicating with a delay detonator means is provided for use with the explosive container, the detonator delay unit being adapted such that the initiating means can be positioned proximate to the detonator cord conduit when the delay detonator means is positioned within the detonator receiving well of the explosive container.

Abstract: A method for separating an aqueous solution which contains minor amounts of nitrated esters which are only slightly soluble in water is provided. Separation of the nitrated esters, which include ethylene glycol dinitrate and nitroglycerin, is effected by contacting the aqueous solution with an organic phase of ethylene glycol dinitrate for a period of time sufficient to allow extraction of the nitroglycerin in solution into the ethylene glycol dinitrate phase. The organic ethylene glycol dinitrate phase is then separated from the aqueous solution, and the latter is distilled at a temperature of from about 50 degrees F. to about 200 degrees F. at a lower than atmospheric pressure. Upon completion of the separation process water, which is substantially free of nitrated esters, is suitable for discharge and return to a natural environment.

Abstract: A nonelectric delay detonator for use with an explosive packaged booster or explosive cartridge wherein the detonator includes a detonation sensor which senses the detonation of a detonating cord, and a signal carrier consisting of an empty plastic or rubber tube having a diameter of 1.0-4.0 millimeters which transmits the detonation signal from the sensor to a non-electric delay blasting cap. One end of the tube signal carrier is inserted into the sensor while the opposite end of the tube is inserted into the cap whereby the tube is in open and direct communication with the sensor and cap.

Abstract: Water-in-oil explosive compositions having no sensitizer other than occluded air are provided which are detonable by a standard No. 8 blasting cap and which contain from about 14 to about 17 weight percent water and from about 3 to about 7 weight percent fuel, with the remaining portion comprising inorganic nitrates. The fuel material further comprises from about 0.5% to about 1.5% of a water-in-oil emulsifier, from 0 to about 1% oil, and at least about 2% wax, based upon the weight of the emulsion.

Abstract: A system for loading a predetermined quantity of a compressible fluid into tubular cartridges or the like is provided which includes filling apparatus having filler tubes with ball valve means adjacent the outlet thereof, the outlets comprising flow constricting means for receiving the ball valve means and further including automatic means for opening and closing the ball valve means after a predetermined quantity of compressible fluid has been delivered to the tubular cartridges through the filler tube.

Abstract: Water-in-oil explosive compositions containing perchlorates and occluded air are provided which are detonable by a standard No. 8 blasting cap and which contain from about 14 to about 20 weight percent water, from about 3 to about 7 weight percent fuel, from about 56 to about 63 weight percent ammonium nitrate, from about 2 to about 12 weight percent of another inorganic nitrate, and from about 3 to about 12 weight percent of an inorganic perchlorate. The fuel material further comprises from about 0.5 to about 1.5% of a water-in-oil emulsifier, from 0 to about 1% oil, and at least 2% wax, based upon the weight of the emulsion.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing dual compartmented tubular containers which includes a system for pumping a high viscosity fluid at a constant flow rate and includes an air driven pump for pumping the fluid from a storage location to an output point. The pump is of the type which produces a substantially constant output per pump cycle. The pump is driven by an air supply communicating with the pump. A timer is attached to the output pump shaft and measures the cycle speed of the pump. The air pressure driving the pump is varied in response to the cycle speed of the pump to maintain the speed of the pump constant. Whenever the material being driven by the pump increases in viscosity, a slow down in the pump speed is prevented by increasing the air pressure used to drive the pump. Where the viscosity decreases and the pump speed begins to increase, the air pressure used to drive the pump is decreased to maintain a constant pump speed.

Abstract: A sensitizing agent for explosive compositions is provided which comprises particulate aluminum coated with a finely divided hydrophobic fumed silica. Upon incorporation of the hydrophobic material coated aluminum into an aqueous gel explosive composition, relatively large air bubbles, as compared to the size of the individual particles of aluminum, form adjacent the surface of the aluminum. The resulting sensitizing complex includes a relatively large air bubble in close proximity to particulate aluminum, thereby providing a combination which imparts greater sensitivity to the explosive composition.

Abstract: Water-in-oil explosive compositions are provided which are No. 6 cap sensitive in cartridges having diameters of 1.25 inches and less and which contain from about 3.5 to about 8% by weight of a hydrocarbon fuel including an emulsifier, from about 10 to about 22% by weight of water, from about 0.25 to about 15% by weight of closed cell void containing materials, from about 65 to about 85% by weight of inorganic oxidizer salt, optionally, up to about 15% by weight of an auxiliary fuel and no explosive ingredients nor detonation catalysts.

Abstract: Gelled explosive compositions, sensitized with water-in-oil explosive emulsions, are provided which do not require high explosive sensitizing agents and which contain oxidizing salts, water, gelling agents, and, optionally, bulking agents and fuels, as well as from about 1 to about 80 percent by weight of a water-in-oil explosive emulsion sensitizer which can be of the cap sensitive or cap insensitive variety.

Abstract: The apparatus for making a dual compartmented container includes a forming anvil having a resin supply tube therethrough. A mandrel including a catalyst supply tube and a trailing fin attached thereto is supported adjacent to the anvil. The anvil has generally a circular cross-section with a portion removed corresponding to the catalyst supply tube and the attached trailing fin. A continuous film of material, with a two-ply margin formed on one end, is guided around the anvil and mandrel with the mandrel positioned between the layers of the two-ply margin such that the margin completely encircles the mandrel. The edge of the film opposite the margin is encircled around the anvil and overlaps the outer layer of the two-ply margin. The edges of the material are joined to the underlying material to form two compartments by directing a stream of hot gases through the apertures of a sealing unit against the film. The sealing unit includes a nozzle through which the apertures are formed.

Abstract: An improved process for producing explosive gel compositions is provided wherein a polymeric thickening agent is dispersed in an aqueous medium and a nitroparaffin is added thereafter to form dispersed globules of nitroparaffin gel within the aqueous medium. Gelling agents for the aqueous medium, fuels and non-explosive sensitizing material can then be added to form an explosive gel with excellent storage and detonation capabilities.

Abstract: A water gel explosive composition and process for preparing the same is provided which comprises an oxidizer, water, a gelling agent, and a crosslinker, and wherein the improvement comprises including therein from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of at least one amine nitrate sensitizer selected from the group comprising lower alkyl and alkanol amine nitrates and from about 1 to about 10 weight percent of an aluminum sensitizer having a surface area per unit weight of from about 3 to about 9 square meters per gram, said weight percentages based upon the total weight of the explosive composition.

Abstract: A method for separating an aqueous solution which contains minor amounts of nitrated esters which are only slightly soluble in water is provided. Separation of the nitrated esters from the aqueous solution is effected by distilling the aqueous solution at a temperature of from about 50.degree. to about 200.degree. F and a lower than atmospheric pressure. Upon completion of the separation process, water which is substantially free of nitrated esters is suitable for discharge and return to a natural environment.

Abstract: A nonelectrically initiated delay booster assembly includes a booster shell containing an explosive material, a cap well extending through one end of the booster shell into the explosive material, a nonelectric delay cap in the well and a detonating cord tunnel surrounded by a shock absorbing material affixed to the side of the booster shell or enclosed inside the booster shell. A signal carrier extends from a point within the cap to a point adjacent a detonating cord extending through the detonating cord tunnel, and a sensor member is affixed to that end of the signal carrier that is external to the booster shell in such a manner that it is in initiating relationship with the detonating cord extending through the detonating cord tunnel. A plurality of these boosters can be affixed to a single detonating cord downline when conducting multi-deck blasting operations.

Abstract: In a nonelectrically initiated delay booster assembly which includes a booster shell containing an explosive material, a cap well extending through one end of the booster shell into the explosive material, a detonating cord tunnel surrounded by a shock absorbing material affixed to the side of the booster shell or enclosed inside the booster shell and a detonating cord laced through the tunnel, there is provided a delay insert which consists of a sensor, signal carrier and nonelectric cap assembly for transmitting detonation from the detonating cord to the explosive material in the cap which cap is inserted in the cap well of the booster. The signal carrier extends from a point within the cap to a point externally of the booster shell and adjacent the detonating cord extending through the cord tunnel, and the sensor initiating member is affixed to that end of the signal line lying externally of the booster shell in such a manner that it lies in initiating relationship with the detonating cord.