Claims
- 1. A low voltage hot wire detonator device containing all secondary type explosive and comprising:
- a body having a closed end and an internal chamber containing a donor secondary explosive therein, said body having internal threads in the open end opposite said closed end;
- hot wire means including electrical conductors extending outwardly through an aperture in said body, said hot wire means being adjacent said donor explosive and adapted to cause ignition thereof in response to a low voltage current being applied to said conductor;
- an impactor disc positioned within the chamber of said body adjacent said donor explosive so as to generally cover the same;
- barrel means having external threads for engaging the internal threads of said body, said barrel means having an elongated bore defining an air gap and a generally flat annular shoulder for contacting said impactor disc, rotation of said barrel means in a first direction relative to said body causing said barrel means to be moved toward said closed end and bring said impactor disc into contact with said donor explosive so as to tightly confine the same;
- the central portion of said impactor disc inside of said annular shoulder being sheared therefrom in response to deflagration of said donor explosive;
- said impactor disc being of a thickness and material so that the ratio of the thickness of said sheared central portion to the outer diameter of the sheared central portion is within the range of about 1/2 to about 2/3, said sheared central portion being accelerated down said bore as a unitary piece, said ratio thereof substantially preventing tumbling of the sheared central portion during travel, thereby preventing substantial escape of explosive gases between said central portion and the wall of said bore.
- 2. A detonator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said donor secondary explosive is self-sustaining after initial ignition and develops gaseous pressure of about 50,000 psi when deflagrated in said confined first bore.
- 3. A detonator device as defined in claim 2 wherein said donor secondary explosive is RDX explosive, type B, class C, military standard MIL-R-398C.
- 4. A detonator device as defined in claim 3 wherein said RDX explosive has a particle size of about 100 microns and a density within the range of about 1.65 to about 1.67 grams per cubic centimeter.
- 5. A detonator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said acceptor secondary explosive is a PBXN-5 explosive, made in accordance with military standard MIL-E-8111.
- 6. A detonator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrical means comprises an exposed wire bridging the ends of two conductors located within said first bore, said conductors extending to the exterior of said device through one or more apertures located in said closed end, the application of electrical current to said conductors being adapted to heat said exposed wire and ignite said donor secondary explosive in said first bore.
- 7. A low voltage hot wire detonator device containing all secondary type explosive and comprising:
- a body having one closed end and an internal chamber containing a donor secondary explosive therein;
- hot wire means including electrical conductors extending outwardly through an aperture in said body, said hot wire means being adjacent said donor explosive and adapted to cause ignition thereof in response to a low voltage current being applied to said conductors;
- an impactor disc positioned adjacent said donor explosive in said chamber opposite said closed end;
- barrel means in cooperative relation with said chamber in said body and having an elongated bore defining an air gap, said barrel means having a generally flat annular shoulder facing said chamber, said barrel means being adjustable in said chamber to tighten said disc against said donor explosive to tightly confine the same;
- an acceptor secondary explosive positioned on the opposite end of said air gap and adapted to be detonated in response to a high velocity impact shock;
- said central portion being sheared from said impactor disc in response to deflagration of said donor explosive, the central portion striking said secondary explosive at sufficient velocity to detonate said acceptor explosive;
- said impactor disc being of a thickness and material that results in the interior central portion being sheared and accelerated down said bore as a unitary piece, the thickness substantially preventing tumbling of the central portion during travel to prevent substantial escape of explosive gases between said central portion and the wall of said bore.
- 8. A detonator device as defined in claim 7 wherein said barrel means is removably secured to said body by means of cooperating threads located on both said barrel means and said body.
- 9. A detonator device as defined in claim 7 wherein said impactor disc has a thickness that is about 1/2 to about 2/3 the diameter of the central portion and is made from a material that results in said central portion being sheared when subjected to a pressure of about 50,000 psi.
- 10. A detonator device as defined in claim 7 wherein said hot wire means comprises a bare wire having a diameter of about 0.0015 inches and attached to each of said conductors so that application of electrical current thereto causes said bore wire to heat and ignite said donor secondary explosive.
- 11. A detonator device as defined in claim 7 wherein said donor secondary explosive is RDX explosive, type B, class C, military standard MIL-R-398C.
- 12. A detonator device as defined in claim 7 wherein said acceptor secondary explosive is a PBXN-5 explosive made in accordance with military standard MIL-E-8111.
- 13. A detonator device as defined in claim 9 wherein the composition of said disc is an aluminum alloy having a composition of about 0.4 to 0.8% silicon, about 0.7% iron, about 0.15 to about 0.40% copper, about 0.15% manganese, about 0.8 to about 1.2% magnesium, about 0.04 to about 0.35% chromium, about 0.25% zinc, about 0.15% titanium and the remainder aluminum.
- 14. A detonator device as defined in claim 7 wherein an electrical current with the range of about 1 to about 10 amperes is sufficient to ignite said donor explosive.
Government Interests
The invention described herein was made under a contract with the Air Force Armament Laboratory, Air Force Systems Command, U.S. Air Force, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
2883931 |
Houck et al. |
Apr 1959 |
|
3062143 |
Savitt et al. |
Nov 1962 |
|
3158097 |
Brockway et al. |
Nov 1964 |
|