Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems – Fuse cord
Patent
1993-04-30
1995-01-24
Brown, David
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
Fuse cord
102701, F42B 3093, C06C 504
Patent
active
053834054
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to explosive lines sometimes known as detonation cord.
A standard form of explosive line is a small diameter water impervious pliable plastic casing or tube containing an explosive charge. Such explosive lines are commonly and extensively used in demolition work, for example, and are also utilised in some forms of minefield breaching systems in which they are adapted to be carried by means of a projectile across a minefield, whereafter they are detonated to breach a pathway through the minefield.
Commonly, such explosive lines are packed ready for use within a container of circular plan view, the line being carefully wound within the container so that it can, after removal of the lid of the container, be easily and smoothly withdrawn therefrom to any required length.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved explosive line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention there is provided an explosive line comprising a pliable impervious outer casing and a filling of explosive material, the casing being such that the outer surface thereof has a plurality of generally flat faces. The generally flat faces may be spaced about the explosive line so as to provide an outer surface of generally polygonal section such as triangular, rectangular or square, for example.
The casing is preferably of an appropriate plastics material, or a woven or knitted natural or artificial fibre for example.
To ensure that the explosive line encloses maximum mass and volume of explosive, the inner surface preferably generally follows the outer surface in its configuration.
Previously available explosive line has been of a generally circular form in cross-section, which has meant that when coiled and layered within a container therefor ready for use, of necessity a multiplicity of unused spaces are present between and around the coiled explosive line. By means of the invention, it is possible to ensure, by arranging to abut appropriate generally flat faces of the outer surface of the explosive line against one another, that the line can fit more closely within the container, with few, if any, spaces between successive coils and layers. The result of this is either that within a given size container, a greater volume of line can be accommodated, or (and perhaps more usefully) the same volume of explosive line can be fitted within a container of smaller dimensions and therefore lesser weight. This reduction in weight is clearly advantageous in general terms, but is particularly so in relation to the use of an explosive line in minefield breaching systems, since it reduces the substantial weight which an infantry soldier carrying such a minefield breaching system has to carry.
It is to be understood that the expression "generally flat faces" in relation to the explosive line and in the context of a pliable casing includes faces of some limited curvature, subject to satisfying the intent that reduction of packing space is provided by abutting generally flat faces against one another.
As has been specified hereinabove the configuration of the explosive line in accordance with the invention can be a three or four sided figure, but it is to be noted that the configuration can be such as to have even a greater number of generally flat sides, such as from five to ten flat sides. By providing such a configuration, in addition to the possibility of accommodation space reduction hereinbefore mentioned, study of the literature shows that with appropriate design a maintained or even increased explosive effect can be produced at the same time as the geometric size and/or weight of the explosive line has been reduced. The practical effect of this is that not only can the line be used for minefield breaching for example as hereinabove described, but also can be used for the breaching of obstacles, such as barbed wire, because of the possibility of increased explosive effect.
The plurality of generally flat sides may include at least some which are re-entrant so as
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