Method for reducing violence of accidental explosions in solid fuel rocket motors and other energetic devices

a rocket motor and explosion-related technology, applied in the field of explosives and various energetic devices, can solve the problems of increasing the violence, or rather the intensity of an explosion, and 1.1 explosives constitute a mass explosion hazard, so as to facilitate the reduction of the violence of an accidental explosion reaction and reduce the violen

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-02-16
UNIV OF UTAH RES FOUND
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] The present invention further features a method for facilitating a reduction in violence of an accidental explosive reaction of an energetic material, the method comprising: (a) providing an inert, substantially incompressible material configured and intended for insertion into a void of an energetic material, the inert, incompressible material being configured to mechanically stabilize the energetic material to prevent the void from collapsing and the surface area of the energetic material from increasing in the event of an insult tending to damage the energetic material; and (b) facilitating the application of the inert, incompressible material to the energetic material.
[0022] The present invention still further features an energetic material configured for use within an energetic device, the energetic material comprising: (a) a substantially solid body configuration having at least one void formed therein; and (b) an inert, substantially incompressible material removably disposed within at least a portion of the void, the inert, incompressible material b

Problems solved by technology

However, these structures or voids tend to make the energetic material susceptible to collapse upon localized internal pressurization, thus potentially creating additional burning surfaces that can increase the violence, or rather the intensity, of an explosion.
Division 1.1 explosives comprise a mass explosion hazard.
Division 1.4 explosives present a minor explosion hazard.
Therefore, from a manufacturer's standpoint, the lower the division in which an explosive device may be categorized, the higher the costs and more restrictive the imposed requirements will be for handling and storing that particular explosive device.
In addition, the lower the division, the greater danger there is to equipment and personnel in the event of an accidental explosion.
During even carefully deliberative handling and storage of energetic or explosive devices, there still remains a risk of accident that may result in hazardous ignition of the explosive material contained within the energetic device.
Indeed, the energetic device may be inadvertently subjected to one or more types of insults, such as mechanical or thermal insults.
Both mechanical and thermal insults typically function to mechanically or structurally damage the energetic material, which effectively increases the surface area of the energetic material, thus potentially increasing the reaction violence or reaction intensity in the event of an accidental or inadvertent ignition, resulting in an explosion involving the energetic m

Method used

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  • Method for reducing violence of accidental explosions in solid fuel rocket motors and other energetic devices
  • Method for reducing violence of accidental explosions in solid fuel rocket motors and other energetic devices

Examples

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example one

[0050] Various tests or experiments were conducted to observe the behavior and response of several energetic devices as they were subjected to a thermal insult. The purpose of the tests was to determine the time-to-explosion and the degree of violence or intensity of the explosive response of the energetic devices in response to different levels of external heat flux. The tests also showed the results of utilizing an inert, incompressible material as taught and suggested herein. The experiments were carried out using a four-inch diameter cylindrical steel support structure filled with PBX-9501 propellant as the energetic material. The PBX-9501 propellant was heated electrically with electrical heating mantels. Voltages between 110 and 220 volts were supplied to the energetic device for a duration of time between 1 and 30 minutes. For the various tests, a molded high energy PBX-9501 propellant was used and configured as follows:

[0051] 1) Test One—the core of a PBX-9501 material was ...

example two

[0058] A high-temperature inert, incompressible sealant was injected into the central bore hole of a steel container filled with a PBX 9501 propellant and fitted with a 110 volt electric heating band to fill the core. The sealant was allowed to set up overnight. Test was conducted in a similar manner as set forth above in Example One. The time-to-explosion was 23 minutes and the steel container did not fragment or burst open, but rather bulged. A large piece of unreacted material was recovered. This piece comprised a portion of the core with the sealant material still contained within the core. As such, the core had not collapsed. This test indicates that the inert, incompressible sealant inserted into the central bore hole or core stabilized the core such that it did not collapse, thus largely preserving the structural integrity of the steel container. In addition, much of the PBX-9501 material was not consumed, but left intact. By preventing the core from collapsing, the resulting...

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Abstract

A method and system for reducing the violence of an accidental explosive reaction of an energetic material, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a solid energetic material configured for use within an energetic device, the energetic material comprising at least one void formed therein; and (b) filling at least a portion of the at least one void with an inert, incompressible material configured to mechanically stabilize the energetic material to prevent the void from collapsing and the surface area of the energetic material from increasing in the event of an insult tending to damage the energetic the material. In one exemplary embodiment, the inert, incompressible material is configured to temporarily modify the energetic device, meaning that the inert, incompressible material is configured to be removably inserted or otherwise applied to the energetic device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 579,938, filed Jun. 14, 2004 and entitled, “Method of Reducing Vulnerability and Violence of Explosive Response to Solid Rocket Motors,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to explosives and various energetic devices, such as solid fuel rocket motors, comprising an energetic material or explosive medium. More particularly, the present invention relates to various methods and systems for reducing the violence or intensity of accidental explosion of all or a portion of the energetic material or explosive medium within such energetic devices, which accidental explosion is triggered by an insult of one or more types, such as a thermal or mechanical insult, that occurs while handling, storing, or transporting the energetic device, or during other activities involving the energetic device. BACKGROUND OF T...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): D03D23/00
CPCC06B21/0091C06B23/005F42B39/14F02K9/38F42B1/00C06B45/00Y02E30/10
Inventor WIGHT, CHARLES A.EDDINGS, ERIC G.CIRO, WILLIAM
Owner UNIV OF UTAH RES FOUND
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