Abstract: An explosive device has a main charge explosive, and a booster explosive ring with main charge explosive filling the space in the center of the booster ring. When the booster explosive is set off, explosive shock waves converge on the space in the center of the ring, thus initiating the main charge explosive.

Abstract: In an explosive device having a main charge explosive, a booster explosive mbedded in the main charge explosive, and a detonator, a can or plate is embedded in the main charge explosive and provides a high impedance surface which is shaped and oriented so that shock waves from the booster explosion will strike the high impedance surface at normal incidence and be reflected back toward the booster explosion. This increases the pressure in the main charge explosive material between the booster explosive and the can or plate, thus increasing the effectiveness of the booster explosive.

Abstract: Low-vulnerability component of explosive ammunition and process for initiating a charge of low-sensitivity composite explosive. The subject of the present invention is a low-vulnerability component of explosive ammunition consisting of a preferably metallic enclosure 1 containing a charge 2 of low-sensitivity composite explosive E and, as initiating relay, a plane wave generator 3 consisting, on the one hand, of a cylindroconical cap 7 made of composite explosive A, the large base surface having a diameter d greater than the critical diameter of the explosive E, the cavity 8 of this cap 7 being filled with a composite explosive B and, on the other hand, of a reinforcer made of composite explosive C, of thickness e greater than 0.1 d, the detonation pressure of the explosive C being higher than that of the explosive E.

Abstract: An explosive charge provided with a metal facing for the formation of an essentially rod-shaped projectile by detonative conversion of the facing. The facing is provided in its central region with a coating of a material which is denser than the material of the facing.

Abstract: An asynchronous explosive logic safing device which is mappable as a network on a single surface to perform the safe/arming function for an explosive device or warhead. The safing device uses explosive logic AND gates and AND/OR gates in conjunction with a complex logic gate to form an asynchronous network that absorbs the variation in detonator input signals and only propagates the detonation signal to the warhead when a given number of a set of detonators initiate.

Abstract: An explosive logic resolver network for determining which detonator in a rality of detonators is the first to detonate. The resolver network is interposed between a plurality of detonators and the explosive logic clock of a safe/arming network. Each detonator is provided with a resolver network explosive trail which intersects the resolver network explosive trails of the other detonators to form a plurality of explosive logic switches. The intersections are explosively-time-equidistant from the detonators supplying the detonation signals to a given intersection such that the first detonation signal to propagate through the intersection will close the logic switch and prevent the intersection from propagating another detonation signal. When a detonator creates the first detonation signal, the signal propagates down the resolver network explosive trail, closing the switches and extinguishing at the intersections all detonations that are later in time.

Abstract: An explosive network forming an explosive logic clock for opening a time window during which a set of theoretically identical detonators must fire. The explosive logic clock also examines the first detonation to determine whether or not it is premature before propagating the detonations on to the explosive safing and arming network. The clock is constructed with a plurality of detonators, each detonator having a first branch of a branched outlet trail leading to a detonator time delay trail leading further to a logic switch. The logic switches are interconnected such that the detonation signal from the first detonator to detonate is extinguished in that detonator's logic switch while the remaining logic switches are set by the first detonation signal to allow propagation of their own detonation signals on to the safing/arming network.

Abstract: A safe/arm explosive delay path for detonating an explosive device and prnting detonation of the explosive device by extraneous factors present in the internal environment. The delay path comprises a detonator and first explosive trail leading to a delay explosive trail composed of explosive material and reactive material. A second explosive trail is connected to the first explosive trail and parallel to the delay explosive trail. The delay trail and second explosive trail terminate in an explosive junction. The explosive junction or explosive switch is a gated diode with the delay trail leading through the diode in the second explosive trail functioning to gate the diode. The gated diode allows a detonation wave propagating through the delay tail to proceed to the explosive device only when a detonation wave has propagated along the second explosive trail and gated the explosive diode prior to the arrival of the delay detonation wave.

Abstract: An explosive safety junction which can meet the high reliability and safety standards of conventional or nuclear weapon safing devices. The safety junction is an explosive logic device having an inlet trail which diverges into one or more tiers of safety trails and converges to form an outlet trail. The safety trails are crossed by a control trail which propagates a control detonation wave which severs the safety trails and prevents an input detonation wave from proceeding from the inlet trail to the outlet trail to detonate the weapon.

Abstract: Method for reducing the peak overpressure of an explosion by disposing in the path of the explosion a barrier of an aqueous foam containing dispersion particulates predominately smaller than 200 mesh.

Abstract: A method of blasting cap-sensitive, non-nitroglycerine-sensitized explosives and an initiating assembly for use in the method are provided. The method comprises initiating a column of the explosives by directing two radial/forward shock forces from an initiator assembly substantially simultaneously along the column of the explosives towards each end of the column. The initiating assembly of the invention comprises at least two initiators assembled side-by-side so that their explosive ends are opposite. A moulded plastics holder (6) for holding two blasting caps (1, 8) in the required spatial relationship is also described.

Abstract: A belt on drum-type press which provides for utilization of a maximum amount of the drum circumference and provides a wide latitude of choice in the relationship between belt tension and press roll nip forces on the drum. In the preferred embodiments the press has a central drum free of axial bending moments and stresses.

Abstract: A blast focusing technique for producing high pressure on a ground plane, in which a right circular cylinder of explosive material is positioned adjacent the ground plane with the cylinder axis orthogonal to the ground plane. The cylinder is simultaneously detonated at both ends by detonators disposed on the cylinder axis at each end of the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a detonating cord of polygonal cross section having three or more substantially flat sides of substantially equal length and substantially equal included angles between each of the sides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing intermittent explosion of a plurality of explosive charges initially attached to an explosive capsule support belt. The belt is indexed so that a plurality of spaced capsules on the belt can be separated from the belt by generally vertical movement of an explosive capsule holding rod and then detonated within a shock wave generating chamber which has at least part of its interior surface area which in the shape of a pseudo-ellipsoid. The belt comprises two spaced members which are attached to each other by a plurality of reinforcing rods, with a plurality of capsules being positioned between the base members in a first direction and between the reinforcing rods in a second direction; the capsules are held to the base members by attaching rods which extend from opposed base members.

Abstract: An apparatus to compensate for the thermal expansion of a component inserted between two elements, particularly an explosive member placed between a lining, and a cover plate in a shaped charge, comprises two rings that are in contact with one another through conical inner and outer surfaces. The ring with the conical outer surface is made of a material that has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of the ring with the conical inner surface. So that the apparatus expands upon reduction in temperature and contracts upon increase in temperature to compensate for respective contraction and expansion of the component.

Abstract: A linear explosive separation system includes two intersecting surfaces that are formed on a structural plate or other member consisting of isotropic material such as metal and offset from each other at an angle substantially less than 180.degree., and an explosive charge placed in a groove in intimate contact with the surface thereof, which groove is spaced from and parallel to the offset surfaces and so placed as to be nominally centered on the bisector of the angle formed by the offset surfaces.

Abstract: An explosive logic safing device for increasing the safety and reliability f a detonation signal from a fuze to an explosive charge. The safing device is provided with an inlet explosive trail which conveys an inlet detonation signal to an outlet explosive trail and the primary explosive charge. A control explosive trail connects the inlet explosive trail and the outlet explosive trail. A failure explosive trail is connected between the control explosive trail and the outlet explosive trail, and is provided with an explosive logic network for conveying the inlet detonation signal from the inlet explosive trail to the outlet explosive trail when a plurality of detonators are properly initiated. The explosive logic network is also provided with a means for registering the successive initiation failures of individual detonators.

Abstract: Explosive cutting means comprising explosive material, preferably in flat strip form, which can be arranged in contact with a surface of a target on either side of an intended line of cut and means for so detonating the explosive material that shock waves will be produced in the target material simultaneously on either side of the intended line of cut, which shock waves will travel towards and will coincide substantially at the intended line of cut. The invention also discloses a method of explosive cutting using said means.

Abstract: An explosive auto-enhancement device for providing higher detonation pressure than can be achieved with conventional explosives by the use of magnetic precompression for enhancing the detonation wave. A cylindrical armature containing an explosive charge is coaxially spaced within a helical field generator winding with a first end of the armature being electrically coupled to the helical winding. A "seed" magnetic field is provided to the helical winding prior to the initiation of the explosive charge. When the explosive charge is initiated, forming a detonation wave, the other end of the cyclindrical armature expands and is coupled to the helical winding, thus completing the electrical circuit between the winding and the armature. As the detonation wave continues through the explosive charge, more of the coils of the helical winding are short circuited which reduces the inductance and results in increased magnetic flux within the winding.

Abstract: Compression waves are formed by detonating a mixture of fuel and air confined within a chamber that has a constricted output opening. The mixture is ignited instantaneously throughout a peripheral region of the chamber opposite the output opening, and this region is shaped relative to the dimensions of the chamber and the output opening so that the burning of the mixture accelerates toward the output opening and inward from the peripheral region. This dynamically compresses and detonates the mixture to form a high pressure compression wave and direct it out of the output opening. The instantaneous ignition can be by plasma jets or flames injected into the ignition region from an ignition chamber adjacent to the detonation chamber. The device can directly transform the chemical energy of a fuel into a high pressure thrust directed against a relatively movable resistance to serve as a prime mover suitable for many tasks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrical augmentation of steady state detonation waves in solid or fluid explosives. Two electrical conductors are disposed along opposed margins of explosive material and coupled across a source of electrical energy. When the explosive material is detonated and as the detonation wave propagates along the explosive material, electrical energy is furnished across the conductors and into the detonation wave which is more conductive than either the undetonated explosive or detonation product gases. The electrical energy coupled into the detonation wave adds energy over and above that which is normally delivered chemically and thus causes the detonation pressure and velocity to increase and therefore increases the ability of the explosive material to accelerate objects and do work.