GB2583523A

GB2583523A - Demolition charge

Info

Publication number: GB2583523A
Application number: GB1906224.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alford Roland
Original assignee: Alford IP Ltd
Current assignee: Alford IP Ltd
Priority date: 2019-05-03
Filing date: 2019-05-03
Publication date: 2020-11-04
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-03
Also published as: GB201906224D0; GB2583523B; GB2583548A8; GB201914018D0; GB2583548A

Abstract

An explosive charge comprises a liquid fillable container 10. The container 10 includes two mutually spaced, exterior recesses 45, 50 for receiving explosive material.

Description

DEMOLITION CHARGE

The present invention relates to explosive charges and particularly, although not exclusively, to charges for demolition.

Drilling and blasting is a technique used, for example, in the demolition of concrete structures. Holes are drilled and then packed with explosive material before detonation.

A problem with existing demolition techniques is that the explosive material is placed within the structure so that upon detonation fragments and debris is thrown in all directions. The structure to be demolished may be wrapped with chain link and/or geotextile. However, the wrapping can prevent concrete from being removed and it simply breaks up. If the concrete is broken but left in place, steel and other reinforcements cannot move and the structure can be almost as strong as it was to start with.

The present invention seeks to provided improvements in or relating to charges for demolition.

An aspect of the present invention provides an explosive charge comprising a liquid fillable container, the container including two mutually spaced, exterior recesses for receiving explosive material.

In some aspects and embodiments the present invention provides a method for breaking concrete without drilling and blasting.

In some aspects and embodiments a charge is provided that combines tamping with shockwave collision. This is more efficient than a normal tamped charge.

The container may be elongate, for example generally cuboidal.

The recesses may comprise a pair of generally parallel elongate channels. The channels may be generally U-section or otherwise shaped to receive explosive material (for example sticks of dynamite).

In some embodiments the explosive material can (or must be) be simultaneously detonated.

Situations in which the charge may find utility include: concrete columns; cooling towers; load bearing walls; plinths; and piers.

A further aspect provides a demolition charge comprising a generally cuboidal plastics bottle have in one face a pair of exterior grooves for receiving explosive material.

A further aspect provides a water tamped concrete smashing charge comprising a water fillable container having depressions for receiving explosive material in a mutually spaced configuration such that substantially simultaneous detonation of the spaced material causes shockwave collision therebetween.

A further aspect provides a tamped concrete smashing charge comprising a liquid fillable container having two or more portions of explosive material located in a mutually spaced configuration such that substantially simultaneous detonation of the spaced explosive material causes shockwave collision therebetween.

A further aspect provides a tamped concrete smashing charge comprising a liquid fillable container having cavities for receiving explosive material in a mutually spaced configuration such that substantially simultaneous detonation of the spaced explosive material causes shockwave collision therebetween.

A further aspect provides a cooling tower demolition charge comprising a charge as described herein.

The present invention also provides a charge as described herein in combination with explosive material and/or being filled with liquid.

The present invention also provides a demolition system comprising one or more charges as described herein.

The system may comprise two or more charges placed so as to be spaced apart whereby to generate a shockwave collision therebetween upon detonation.

The present invention also provides a demolition system comprising two or more water tamped explosive charges placed in spaced apart relation so as to cause a shockwave collision therebetween upon substantially simultaneous detonation.

The present invention also provides a cooling tower demolition system comprising a system as described herein.

In some embodiments geotextile may be placed around the charge/s to prevent flying debris upon detonation.

The present invention also provides a method of breaking concrete without drilling and blasting, comprising explosive means that combines tamping and shockwave collision. The explosive means may comprise a charge as described herein. Combining tamping with shockwave collision produces a highly efficient and powerful detonation.

The explosive means may be located or locatable on an exterior face of a structure or structural element to be demolished.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Each aspect can be carried out independently of the other aspects or in combination with one or more of the other aspects.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

Referring first to Figures I and 2 there is shown a container generally indicated 10. The container is a generally cuboidal elongate bottle having opposed top and bottom walls 15, 20, opposed side walls 25, 30 and opposed end walls 35, 40.

The end wall 40 is provided with a screw threaded neck 41 through which liquid (such as water) can be filled into the interior of the container. A cooperating cap (not shown) may be provided for closing the neck.

In this embodiment shallow lateral grooves 17 are provided in the top wall and extend over into the side walls. In addition longitudinal ribs 19 extend along the top wall.

The grooves and ribs add strength to the container.

A pair of rectilinear U-shape channels 45, 50 is provided. The channels are elongate, extending the entire length of the container, being formed as depressions in the bottom wall 20 and extending into the end walls 35, 40.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the channels can receive explosive cartridges 55, 60 or the like, such as sticks of dynamite.

Figure 6 shows the container 10 fitted with the cartridges 55, 60 and filled with water. The readied charge 70 is placed on a concrete column 65.

Simultaneous detonation of the cartridges (for example using initiation by detcord) causes shockwaves to emanate. Because the explosive cartridges are spaced from each other their respective shockwaves will collide, as illustrated in Figure 7. This results in a far more powerful explosion with a focus towards the target.

Figure 8 illustrates an example of a demolition system formed in accordance with the present invention. A concrete cooling tower 175 is shown. In this embodiment charges 170 of the type described above are secured on the tower, for example using a nail gun. The charges are spaced apart. This means that upon detonation there will be both internal shocicwave collision effects (i.e. between the explosive material in each charge) and external effect (i.e. between the charges), resulting in an extremely powerful detonation that could remove a large section of the tower and cause collapse. This means, for example, that when deciding how to demolition the entire structure it may not be necessary to place charges over the entire structure. In this embodiment, for example, it may be sufficient to place charges with a view to destroying a strip or section of the structure, following which it may then collapse.

In other embodiments the charges used are more simple (i.e. no twin explosive cartridge), and the principle is the use of charges in a spaced apart relation on the cooling tower.

Because the charges are placed on the outside of the structure (i.e. not buried in the structure) the direction of detonation, and hence fragmentation, can be controlled. This may remove the need to wrap the structure to prevent flying debris. The charge deployment system/method illustrated does not require drilling and is fast to apply.

Securing of the charges could, for example, be achieved with a nail gun or the like.

Destruction of destroying cooling towers is but one, specific application of the present invention. It is a way of breaking concrete without the need for drilling and blasting that uses shockwave collision to enhance the effect of the explosive and to give directionality and control to the direction in which fragments are thrown. Hence its potential uses are multitudinous.

Figure 9 shows a similar system with four charges 270 placed in an array on the tower 275. Detonation causes multiple colliding shockwaves -represented in Figure 10.

Once again, the charges could be of the type described above, or could be more simple, for example each with a single explosive cartridge or the like in a water tamped arrangement such as that shown in Figure 11 with a single channel 380 and a single explosive member 385.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMSI. An explosive charge comprising a liquid fillable container, the container including two mutually spaced, exterior recesses for receiving explosive material.
A charge as claimed in claim I, in which the container is elongate.
A charge as claimed in claim I or claim 2, in which the recesses comprise a pair of generally parallel elongate channels.
A charge as claimed in claim 3, in which the channels are generally U-section.
A charge as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the explosive material can be simultaneously detonated.
A demolition charge comprising a generally cuboidal plastics bottle have in one face a pair of exterior furrows for receiving explosive material.
A tamped concrete smashing charge comprising a liquid fillable container having two or more portions of explosive material located in a mutually spaced configuration such that substantially simultaneous detonation of the spaced explosive material causes shockwave collision therebetween. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
8. A tamped concrete smashing charge comprising a liquid Tillable container having cavities for receiving explosive material in a mutually spaced configuration such that substantially simultaneous detonation of the spaced explosive material causes shockwave collision therebetween.
9. A charge as claimed in claim 8, in which the cavities comprise exterior depressions.
10. A charge for concrete breaking comprising a tamped charge and including means for generating a shockwave collision upon detonation.
11. A charge as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a liquid finable container, the container including two mutually spaced portions of explosive material for generating a shockwave collision upon detonation.
12. A charge as claimed in any preceding, in which the container includes two mutually spaced recesses for receiving explosive material.
13. A charge as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the container includes two mutually spaced, exterior recesses for receiving explosive material.
14. A combined tamped and shockwave collision providing charge
15. A cooling tower demolition charge comprising a charge as claimed in any preceding claims.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.A charge as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with explosive material.A charge as claimed in any preceding claim and filled with liquid.A charge as claimed in claim 17, in which the liquid is or is substantially water or water-based.A demolition system comprising one or more charges as claimed in any preceding claim.A system as claimed in claim 19, comprising two or more charges placed so as to be spaced apart and generate a shockwave collision therebetween.A demolition system comprising two or more water tamped explosive charges placed in spaced apart relation so as to cause a shockwave collision therebetween upon substantially simultaneous detonation.
22. A cooling tower demolition system comprising a system as claimed in any of clams 19 to 21.
23. A system as claimed in claim 22, in which geotextile is placed around the charge/s to prevent debris upon detonation.
24. A method of breaking concrete without drilling and blasting, comprising explosive means that combines tamping and shockwave collision.
25. A method as claimed in claim 25, in which the explosive means is located on an exterior face of a structure or structural element to be demolished.