Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems – Fuse cord
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-06-19
Carone, Michael J. (Department: 3641)
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
Fuse cord
C102S275100, C102S275900
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247410
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation in part of copending U.S. patent applications entitled “Reliable and Effective Line Charge System” by Felipe Garcia et al., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Ser. No. 09/012,932, filed Jan. 24, 1998, “Line Charge Insensitive Munition Warhead” by Felipe Garcia et al., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Ser. No. 08/944,049, filed Sep. 12, 1997, “Line Charge Connector” by Felipe Garcia et al., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Ser. No. 09/030,578, filed Feb. 23, 1998, “Magneto-Inductive On-Command Fuze” by Robert Woodall et al., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Ser. No. 09/228,074 (NC 78,802), filed Jan 5, 1999, and “Line Charge Fabrication Facility and Procedures” by Robert Woodall et al., U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Ser. No. 09/257,142 (NC 78,938), filed Feb. 23, 1999, and incorporates all references and information thereof by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to detonating cords. In particular, this invention relates to rugged and safe detonating cords used for reliable detonation of explosive line charges.
Explosive line charges have been used to breach an obstructed area. Usually an interconnected line of distributed explosive charges is pulled across the area by a rocket motor and detonated to clear the obstacles and mines in a narrow lane. Sometimes, detonation and clearing do not always go as planned due to failure in the detonation trains. They fail because line charges are expected to perform under extremely adverse conditions to accomplish difficult missions during combat, and often are subjected to numerous abuses as they are transported to and emplaced in the field. In addition, they must survive intense self-destructive forces as they are deployed by rockets or other highly accelerating launch systems. After launch, impact with the ground, rocks, concertina wire, etc. also may interrupt or otherwise damage the detonation trains. Consequently, detonations are ineffective or interrupted along some of the line charges, and they do not clear paths through obstacles and mines.
Accordingly, an effective man-portable weapon system has been needed that could clear anti-personnel mines and wire obstacles. Contemporary man-portable systems cannot reliably withstand the severe dynamic loading, survive the extreme environmental and logistics conditions, and survive landing over razor sharp wire obstacles like triple standard concertina. None meet all U.S. DOD Insensitive Munition (IM) requirements of MIL-STD-2105 and Naval Systems Command Instruction (NAVSYSCOMINST) 8010.5. The energetic subsystems which include the detonating cords in all previous major weapon systems failed to meet IM requirements, specifically those requirements regarding bullet and fragment impact tests, and slow cook-off tests. In addition, these weapon systems failed to meet the minimum operational requirements associated with mine and wire obstacle breaching during assault. This was because their explosive subsystems (including the detonating cords) led to either: (a) unreliable detonation after exposure to environmental operational conditions, (b) unexpected detonations when exposed to the impact of arms fire as expected during assault breaching operations, or failure to survive landing over razor sharp wire obstacles like triple standard concertina.
In other words, the detonating cords used in some contemporary line charges do not reliably survive deployment via a rocket motor since extreme loads were imposed upon the detonating cord as the line charge flies out of its container at launch and as it impacts the ground during landing. This denied personnel the welcomed operational benefit of being able to emplace and detonate line charges from standoff positions. Use of other industry standard and best commercially available detonating cords fared no better and resulted in repeated failures of the detonating cords. This is because the fast traveling detonating cords could not survive the whip-like acceleration & deceleration environment, as well as the tremendous shearing forces associated with the impact upon razor sharp wire obstacles. Commercial detonating cords have been modified to help survive launch and landing, but physical contraction and expansion cycles over normal temperature and humidity extremes created gaps in the explosive cores at the ends of the detonating cords. This compromises reliability.
Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for detonating cord that survives the rigors of environment and logistics, severe dynamic loads during deployment, and impact during landing to reliably transfer detonation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing detonating cord having a core of highly brisant PBXN-8 explosive surrounded by an inner braided layer of polyamide yarn, a flexible sealing sleeve of silicone rubber coated with glue, and an outer braided layer of polyamide yarn adhered to the sealing sleeve.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that reliably transfers detonation.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord having an insensitive plastic-bonded granular explosive.
An object of the invention is to provide safe, reliable non-electric detonating cord to transfer detonation to boostered or boosterless warheads having insensitive explosives.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that survives the rigors of extreme environmental and logistics conditions, severe dynamic loads during deployment, and impact during landing on sharp obstacles to reliably detonate explosives.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that does not react, but in the worst case may burn, when exposed to fast cook-off, slow cook-off, drops from up to 40 ft., bullet impact, and fragment impact.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that reduces cutting & abrasion during storage and transportation cycles and during deployment and subsequent impact with razor sharp wire obstacles.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that reduces explosive core gaps within the explosive core and at its ends which are induced by thermal linear contraction and expansion cycles experienced during normal temperature and humidity extremes.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that increases reliability of detonation between detonating cord segments and between fuzes and detonating cord segments by reducing dimensional changes caused by aging and thermosetting of polymeric thermoplastic.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that reduces explosive core contamination from inexorable thermal linear contraction and expansion cycles experienced during normal temperature, humidity, shock, and vibrational cycling extremes to reliably detonate detonating cord assemblies and fuzes with detonating cord assemblies.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that reduces gaps within the explosive core and at its ends that are induced during deployment and subsequent impact and stem from tensile strength and elongation effects to reliably transfer detonation.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that provides a high temperature resistant composite polyamide and silicon rubber shield capable of containing the effects of a burning explosive core, while providing structural resiliency to preclude escalatory transitions from burning to deflagration or detonation.
Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord having structure for high strength to confine precursory detonation shock waves to ensure reliable axial propagation of detonation and to preclude effecting propagation of unwanted mass detonation. Another object of the invention is to provide detonating cord that prevents gaps between the core and boosters when exposed to normal temperature and humidity extremes of logistical cycling to reliably detonate detonating cord as
Baker Aileen J.
Carone Michael J.
Gilbert Harvey A.
Peck Donald G.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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