Abstract: A solid state detonator is made using a silicon chip with appropriate surnding sections to provide the resistance path necessary to detonate a primary explosive. The chip is set on a metal-to-glass-to-metal header to provide uniformity of current and insulation capabilities. A gold mesh is used as a conductor connected to a chromium-silicon resistor film. This provides a uniform annular heating ring for detonation purposes. The silicon chip may be doped for high conductivity and low resistance. This arrangement provides fast function with moderate power pulses while the thermal design permits high no-fire current levels.

Abstract: An improved booster construction having a metallic covering with a plural of apertures therein encases a booster charge which, in turn, is encased in a nonmetallic cup having a low temperature melting characteristic permitting the booster charge to expand during thermal cook-off to prevent reaching critical temperature pressure relationships.

Abstract: A programmable fuze for initiating weapon warhead detonation. The deacceltion of the weapon warhead is measured by an accelerometer. The output of the accelerometer is integrated to obtain velocity and subsequently digitized and stored in a microcomputer or microprocessor. A zero-slope detector indicates to the microcomputer or microprocessor if the forward velocity component is constant for a given time. This indicates whether the weapon warhead has entered a cavity in the target. The microcomputer or microprocessor has an algorithm programmed into it so that it determines whether certain dynamic variables have exceeded threshold values thus initiating a detonating signal to a firing circuit. The dynamic variables are the distance of travel of the weapon warhead into the target, the deceleration level of the weapon warhead in the target, the transverse velocity component of the weapon warhead in the target, and the number of cavities entered.

Abstract: A conductor plated on a frangible substrate. The unit is potted in a silicon base compound, placed in a header, and attached to a printed circuit board. This assembly is then encased in a housing using epoxy resin potting compound. The circuit is protected from breakage due to mechanical shock by the epoxy resin but is immediately broken by an explosive shock wave which fractures the substrate and the conductor and opens the circuit.

Abstract: An explosive cartridge for use in an explosive column train by end to end coupling of a plurality of cartridges. Each cartridge comprises a cylindrical containing shell having an open rear end in which is a closure plug. In the pre-mix condition, the cartridge contains a first solid component of a two part explosive. In field use the closure plug is removed and a liquid second explosive component is poured into the cartridge and the plug reinserted to form a sliding watertight seal with the cartridge. When several of the cartridges are joined in end to end relationship to form the explosive train, the nose end of one cartridge moves the plug of the adjacent forward cartridge inwardly to take up the slump in the explosive composition and maintain the closure plug seal.