US4537133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Non-incendive rock-breaking explosive charge
Assignee: United States Department of the Interior
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Filing: 1983-03-31
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Granted: 1985-08-27
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Expires: 2003-03-31
Abstract
Abstract Non-incendive explosive charge for use in flammable atmospheres includes a layer of damp salt as quenching material surrounding a charge enclosed in an inner housing. An outer housing is strong and pliable, being formed of reinforced rubbery material, to resist rough handling yet to be sufficiently pliable to conform to irregular boulder surfaces. The outer housing is pancake-shaped to provide increased contact area and stability. The relatively flat shape further permits insertion of the charge in crevices between boulders.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Mainiero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 12:26
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B3/00; F42B3/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A non-incendive explosives charge comprising: explosive means sheathed in a layer of flame quenching material surrounding said explosive means; and squat housing means formed of a rubbery material enclosing said explosive means and said flame quenching material, said housing means having a pair of substantially planar surfaces separated by a transverse peripheral surface having a height smaller than the smallest dimension of said planar surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A non-incendive explosives charge comprising: explosive means sheathed in a layer of flame quenching material surrounding said explosive means; and squat housing means formed of a rubbery material enclosing said explosive means and said flame quenching material, said housing means having a pair of substantially planar surfaces separated by a transverse peripheral surface having a height smaller than the smallest dimension of said planar surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 1 wherein said rubbery material comprises reinforced latex rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 2 wherein said latex rubber is reinforced by cheesecloth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A non-incendive explosives charge comprising: explosive means sheathed in a layer of flame quenching material surrounding said explosive means; squat housing means enclosing said explosive means and said flame quenching material, said housing means having a pair of substantially planar surfaces separated by a transverse peripheral surface having a height smaller than the smallest dimension of said planar surfaces; and detonator well means in said housing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
A non-incendive explosives charge comprising: explosive means sheathed in a layer of flame quenching material surrounding said explosive means; squat housing means enclosing said explosive means and said flame quenching material, said housing means having a pair of substantially planar surfaces separated by a transverse peripheral surface having a height smaller than the smallest dimension of said planar surfaces; and detonator well means in said housing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 4 wherein said detonator well means comprises tube means on an inner surface of said housing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 5 wherein said detonator well means comprises first tube means on an inner surface of one of said planar surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 6 wherein said detonator well means further comprises second tube means on an inner surface of said transverse peripheral surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 7 wherein said housing means includes a latex rubber layer external to said first and second tube means for providing a watertight seal for said explosive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 1 wherein said housing means is formed of a flexible material and includes an inner housing surrounding said explosive means, said flame quenching material surrounding said inner housing, said pair of planar surfaces and said peripheral surfaces surrounding said flame quenching material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 9 further comprising detonator well means for housing a detonator and extending from at least one of said pair of planar surfaces and said peripheral surface toward said inner housing, said detonator well means enclosed by a puncturable layer of said flexible material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
Non-incendive explosive charge as recited in claim 9 wherein said inner housing further comprises a spacing flange for spacing said inner housing inwardly from said outer housing thereby to permit a predetermined quantity of said flame quenching material to be inserted therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
Housing means for an explosive comprising: inner housing means enclosing said explosive; outer housing means surrounding said inner housing means and spaced apart therefrom to provide for storage of flame quenching means therebetween, said outer housing being formed of a pliable reinforced latex material and being short substantially flat shaped including a pair of substantially planar surfaces having substantially identical areas and separated by a peripheral transverse surface providing a height dimension to said outer housing means which is substantially smaller than the square root of the area of said planar surfaces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
92 words
Housing means for an explosive comprising: inner housing means enclosing said explosive; outer housing means surrounding said inner housing means and spaced apart therefrom to provide for storage of flame quenching means therebetween, said outer housing being formed of a pliable reinforced latex material and being short substantially flat shaped including a pair of substantially planar surfaces having substantially identical areas and separated by a peripheral transverse surface providing a height dimension to said outer housing means which is substantially smaller than the square root of the area of said planar surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
Housing means as recited in claim 12 wherein said inner housing means is formed of a polystyrene material, and further comprising detonator well means extending from said outer housing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
Housing means for an explosive comprising: inner housing means enclosing said explosive; outer housing means surrounding said inner housing means and spaced apart therefrom to provide for storage of flame quenching means therebetween, said outer housing being formed of a pliable reinforced latex material and being short substantially flat shaped including a pair of substantially planar surfaces having substantially identical areas and separated by a peripheral transverse surface providing a height dimension to said outer housing means which is substantially smaller than the square root of the area of said planar surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
Housing means for an explosive comprising: inner housing means enclosing said explosive; outer housing means surrounding said inner housing means and spaced apart therefrom to provide for storage of flame quenching means therebetween, said outer housing being formed of a pliable reinforced latex material and being short substantially flat shaped including a pair of substantially planar surfaces having substantially identical areas and separated by a peripheral transverse surface providing a height dimension to said outer housing means which is substantially smaller than the square root of the area of said planar surfaces.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for making a reinforced latex housing to surround an explosive charge and a detonator comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first section of said housing, said forming step including the steps of painting a plurality of layers of latex onto an inner surface of a mold; forming a detonator well internally of the housing by placing a tubing section partially in the latex when wet; drying the latex; and peeling the latex from the mold surface; (b) forming a second section of said housing; said second forming step including the steps of painting a plurality of layers of latex onto an inner surface of a mold; drying the latex; and peeling the latex from the mold surface; (c) enclosing said explosive charge within said housing; (d) surrounding said explosive charge with a flame quenching material; and (e) sealing said first and second sections.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for making a reinforced latex housing to surround an explosive charge and a detonator comprising the steps of: (a) forming a first section of said housing, said forming step including the steps of painting a plurality of layers of latex onto an inner surface of a mold; forming a detonator well internally of the housing by placing a tubing section partially in the latex when wet; drying the latex; and peeling the latex from the mold surface; (b) forming a second section of said housing; said second forming step including the steps of painting a plurality of layers of latex onto an inner surface of a mold; drying the latex; and peeling the latex from the mold surface; (c) enclosing said explosive charge within said housing; (d) surrounding said explosive charge with a flame quenching material; and (e) sealing said first and second sections.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the step of waterproofing said housing by spraying plastic film on inner and outer surfaces thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Housing means as recited in claim 14 wherein said inner housing means is formed of a rigid material for provding a short cylindrical shape to the outer housing means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
Housing means as recited in claim 14 wherein said inner housing means comprises first and second sections, said first section formed as a planar disk, said second section formed as a short cylindrical structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
Housing means as recited in claim 18 wherein: said spacer means comprises a flange formed by peripheral areas of said first and second sections of said inner housing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
Housing means as recited in claim 14 wherein said outer housing means comprises first and second separate, substantially identically shaped, sections of a reinforced latex material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
Housing means as recited in claim 20 wherein said first and second sections each includes therein a reinforcing cheesecloth layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
Non-incendive explosive charges recited in claim 8 wherein said layer of latex rubber external to the tube means is sufficiently thin to be penetrable for insertion of a detonator charge in said tube means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 15, at least one of said first and second forming steps including the step of reinforcing said first or second section of said housing by including a reinforcing layer therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method recited in claim 23 wherein said reinforcing step comprises the step of including a layer of cheesecloth intermediate said plurality of layers of latex painted onto the inner surface of the mold.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-08-26 | 1989-02-25 | 1989-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-08-26 | 1993-02-25 | 1993-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-08-26 | 1997-02-25 | 1997-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |