Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
  • F42B3/08—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive with cavities in the charge, e.g. hollow-charge blasting cartridges

Definitions

• SHAPED CHARGE FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF AMMUNITION UNDERWATER This invention relates to disposal apparatus for use underwater and more particularly but not exclusively to ballistic disc explosive ordnance disposal apparatus.
• the invention also relates to conversion apparatus for facilitating the operation underwater of an existing ballistic disc ordnance disposal apparatus.
• Explosive-driven ballistic disc devices have been used for the safe disposal of ordnance items in air.
• a metal cylinder containing an explosive charge has a detonator at one end while the other end is closed by a cup-shaped copper disc.
• the cup-shaped profile of the disc protrudes into a matching depression in the explosive charge, i.e. a shaped charge is formed.
• the disc is directed towards the item to be disposed of and the explosive charge detonated. This drives the disc to the item and the item is destroyed.
• disposal apparatus for use underwater, the apparatus comprising an enclosure which is sealed for excluding water therefrom and which contains explosive material and a disrupter member having one side adjacent to the explosive material and the other side facing but spaced from a disruptable wall portion of the enclosure for detonation of the explosive material to propel the disrupter member to and through the said wall portion and then impacting upon an item for disposal near which item the apparatus is positioned when ready for use.
• apparatus for underwater operation of a ballistic disc ordnance disposal device comprising an elongated hollow member, a disruptable cover at one end of the hollow member, and attachment means for connecting the other end of the hollow member to a ballistic disc ordnance disposal device for the ballistic disc of the device to be exposed to the interior of the hollow member and to face but remain spaced from said one end thereof, and for the said interior of the hollow member to be sealed to exclude water therefrom.
• the disposal device comprises a hollow metal cylinder 1 containing a shaped explosive charge 2.
• the end 3 of the cylinder 1 is fitted with an electrical detonator 4.
• the other end 5 of the cylinder 1 is closed by a copper disc 6.
• the disc is cup-shaped to fit into a depression 7 at this end of the shaped charge 2.
• the disposal device When used in air, the disposal device would be positioned with end 5 facing but spaced from the item to be destroyed. The explosive charge is then detonated and the disc is propelled onto the item.
• conversion apparatus including an aluminium extension cylinder 8 into one end of which there is fitted the end 5 of cylinder 1.
• the two cylinders are fixed and sealed together by epoxy adhesive 9.
• a clamp or other attachment device 10 is provided for fixing the device adjacent to an item to be destroyed.
• an item might be a limpet mine on a ship's hull, and the device 10 should then be suitable for fixing the disposal device to that hull.
• the other end of the cylinder 8 is closed by a thin end plate 11 which might be less than 0.5mm thick for preference or could be even made of foil.
• the conversion apparatus also includes a water-tight sealing member 12 fitted to the detonator end of the cylinder 1.
• This member 11 comprises an aluminium plug 13, with plastic 0-ring seals 14 and grub-screw 15 to secure it.
• the disc 6 is driven forward through cylinder 8 and end cover plate 11 to impact the item to be disposed of.
• Cylinder 8 provides an air space in which disc 8 can gain sufficient speed to destroy the item.
• the cylinders 1 and 8 could be made, say of plastics material, as an integral whole.
• the complete disposal apparatus could be incorporated into an underwater item of equipment or weapon for use as a self-destruct system.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Processing Of Solid Wastes (AREA)
• Cleaning In General (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10739608

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1993
  • 1993-07-29 GB GB939315668A patent/GB9315668D0/en active Pending
• 1994
  • 1994-07-29 WO PCT/GB1994/001620 patent/WO1995004252A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-07-29 EP EP94921739A patent/EP0689662A1/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1995
  • 1995-04-04 NO NO951298A patent/NO951298L/no unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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