Process and apparatus for preparing detonating and deflagrating fuse and product

Claim 2

A process for forming explosive fuse, which comprises forming from a softened and pliable wrapping material a seamless continuous tube of flexible wrapping material, filling the tube with an explosive composition in a continuous solid column while at least one of the explosive and the tube is soft and pliable, and supporting and constraining the tube throughout substantially its entire exterior while both the explosive and the tube are soft and pliable to maintain the shape and diameter of the fuse until both the explosive and the tube are sufficiently hard so as to form a self-supporting composite which retains its shape and diameter and cracking the solid column of explosives within the tube to reduce it to a plurality of particles closely confined within the tube, and having an enhanced sensitivity due to their discontinuity.

Claim 3

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the explosive composition is filled into the tube in a semisolid condition, and is brought to a hardened solid condition prior to cracking.

Claim 4

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the explosive is filled into the tube in a molten condition and is brought to a hardened solid condition prior to cracking.

Claim 5

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the explosive is reduced during the cracking to particles of which at least 50 percent are less than one thirty-second inch in diameter.

Claim 6

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the tube is also reduced in diameter when the explosive is cracked.

Claim 7

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the explosive is a detonating explosive.

Claim 8

A process in accordance with claim 1 in which the explosive is a deflagraTing low explosive.

Claim 9

A process for forming explosive fuse in accordance with claim 1 which comprises extruding a softened plastic flexible wrapper material in the form of a seamless continuous tube; extruding an explosive composition in the shape of a continuous column, and filling the column into the tube; pushing the continuous explosive column forward under the pressure of explosive material, and pushing the tube forward under the pressure of plastic wrapper material, thereby pushing the tube and explosive columns forward together, an and substantially filling all of the voids in the tube with explosive during the forward movement of the continuous explosive column: and supporting and constraining the tube throughout substantially its entire exterior while both the explosive and the tube are soft and pliable in the desired configuration until both the explosive and the tube are sufficiently hard so as to form a self-supporting composite which retains its shape and diameter.

Claim 10

A process in accordance with claim 8 which includes swaging the filled tube.

Claim 11

A process in accordance with claim 8 in which the explosive composition is fed in a semisolid condition, and is brought to a hardened solid condition prior to crushing.

Claim 12

A process in accordance with claim 8 in which the explosive is fed in a molten condition, and is brought to a hardened solid condition prior to crushing.

Claim 13

A process for forming an explosive fuse in accordance with claim 1 which includes simultaneously cooling the composite of the tube and explosive while supporting and constraining them so as to harden the composite into a self-supporting position.

Claim 14

A process in accordance with claim 12 in which the composite of the tube and explosive is cooled by applying a pressurized cooling fluid to the exterior of the tube.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the continuous formation of explosive fuse, which comprises, in combination, means for forming a softened and pliable plastic wrapping material into a seamless continuous tube; means for forming an explosive composition into a continuous elongated column; means for feeding the column into the tube and filling the tube therewith; means for imparting to the extruded explosive column and to the tube a sufficient driving force to push both forward together, and means for supporting and constraining the tube throughout its entire exterior while both the tube and the explosive are soft and pliable in the desired configuration until both the explosive and the tube are sufficiently hard so as to form a self-supporting composite which retains its shape and diameter, and means for cracking the solid column of explosive in situ within the tube to introduce discontinuity into the column and increase sensitivity.

Claim 16

Apparatus for the continuous formation of explosive fuse, which comprises, in combination, means for forming a softened and pliable plastic wrapping material into a seamless continuous tube; means for forming an explosive composition into a continuous elongated column; means for feeding the column into the tube and filling the tube therewith; means for imparting to the extruded explosive column and to the tube a sufficient driving force to push both forward together, and means for supporting and constraining the tube throughout its entire exterior while both the tube and the explosive are soft and pliable in the desired configuration until both the explosive and the tube are sufficiently hard so as to form a self-supporting composite which retains its shape and diameter, and means for cracking the solid column of explosive in situ within the tube to introduce discontinuity into the column and increase sensitivity.

Claim 17

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 in which the cracking means comprises means for swaging the explosive filled tube.

Claim 18

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 in which the means for applying constraint is a sizing die.

Claim 19

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 in which the means for applying constraint is a plurality of sizing rollers.

Claim 20

Apparatus for the continuous formation of explosive fuse in accordance with claim 14 which comprises, in combination, means for extruding a softened plastic wrapping material into a seamless continuous tube; means for extruding an explosive composition into a continuous elongated flowable column; means for substantially completely filling the tube with the column while it is flowable; means for bringing the explosive column to a hardened solid condition; and means for cracking the explosive column in situ within the tube after it is hardened to introduce discontinuity into the column and increase sensitivity.

Claim 21

Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 including means for cooling the composite of the tube and the explosive while the composite is constrained and support it so as to harden it until it is self-supporting.

Claim 22

Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 in which said means for coolinG the composite comprises a porous tube through the pores of which a cooling liquid is passed.

Claim 23

Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 in which the cooling means comprises a cooling jacket positioned about the composite and through which a cooling fluid is circulated.