GB878196A - Improvements in or relating to explosive devices for generating linear detonation waves - Google Patents

Abstract

878,196. Explosive devices. DU PONT DE NEMOURS & CO., E. I. March 17, 1959 [March 18, 1958], No. 9216/59. Class 9(1). An explosive device for generating linear detonation wave-fronts comprises a sheet of high velocity detonating explosive cut to a shape providing an apex opposed to a line boundary and perforated by regularly disposed apertures of such dimensions relative to the intervening webs of explosive that a detonation wave initiated at the apex travels along a plurality of paths between but not across the apertures to the opposed boundary, each of the paths traversed being of the same length. The sheet may be cut to form an isosceles triangle, Fig. 2A, with slots parallel to one of the equal sides running from a line parallel with the other equal side to a line parallel with the base. The webs between the slots are of sufficient width to support detonation throughout their length, so that a wave initiated at P travels along paths R to arrive simultaneously at points P 1 .... P 8 on the base. The sheet may have the shape of an equilateral triangle or an ogive with staggered rows of circular apertures. The apertures may be chevron shaped, or slots and circles may be combined in one device. The sheet may be so shaped that the wave arrives simultaneously on a circular boundary or on the edges of a square, Fig. 2G. The sheet material is preferably a cap-sensitive crystalline explosive, e.g. PETN in an elastomer resin binder as described in Specification 876,951. In an example a triangular sheet, Fig. 2B of explosive 4À3 mm. thick and containing 4 grams per sq. inch of explosive has apertures 6 mm. in diameter arranged hexagonally. The sheet is provided with an electric blasting cap at the apex P 0 . Specification 564,211 and U.S.A. Specifications 2,605,704 and 2,774,306 also are referred to.