Biodegradable Barrier Explosive Cartridge for Safe Deactivation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing explosive cartridges pose safety and security risks when they fail to detonate as intended, especially in underground applications where recovery is difficult, and existing self-disarming mechanisms rely on specific force conditions for water contact, which may not activate in all misfire scenarios.

Innovation Solution

An explosive cartridge design featuring a deactivating agent and a barrier element that prevents initial contact between the agent and the explosive composition, with mechanisms for instantaneous or delayed release upon use, allowing environmental factors like water or microorganisms to render the explosive composition insensitive to detonation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a watertight seal is used to prevent water contact with explosive composition, then the explosive remains stable during storage and transport, but the seal may not break under normal misfire conditions, preventing automatic deactivation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexplosive stabilityVSAvoidautomatic deactivation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning a biodegradable barrier element that will automatically degrade over time to allow deactivating agent contact. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining explosive stability during storage (barrier intact) while ensuring automatic deactivation occurs without requiring specific misfire forces (barrier degrades naturally over time).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by selecting a biodegradable barrier material whose degradation rate can be controlled to match the intended explosive usage timeline. This resolves the contradiction by changing the barrier's permeability parameter from impermeable (during storage) to permeable (after degradation), enabling automatic deactivation without requiring mechanical failure under misfire conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the explosive cartridge is designed for immediate deactivation upon water contact, then safety is improved, but the explosive may be deactivated before intended use, especially in environments where water is present

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidfunctional reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning a biodegradable barrier element that will automatically degrade over time to allow deactivating agent contact. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining explosive stability during storage (barrier intact) while ensuring automatic deactivation occurs without requiring specific misfire forces (barrier degrades naturally over time).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a biodegradable barrier element that is designed to have a limited lifespan matching the intended explosive usage period. This resolves the contradiction by using a temporary protective barrier that naturally expires, allowing deactivation only after the explosive has been used or the intended time period has elapsed, preventing premature deactivation while ensuring eventual safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If a barrier element is used to prevent contact between deactivating agent and explosive composition, then functionality is maintained, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexplosive functionalityVSAvoidcartridge structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a thin biodegradable barrier film or element to separate the deactivating agent from the explosive composition. This resolves the contradiction by providing effective separation (maintaining functionality) while using a simple, thin structure that minimizes added complexity compared to rigid multi-component barrier systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies self-service by using a biodegradable barrier that automatically degrades over time without requiring external intervention, mechanical activation, or complex control systems. This resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for complex activation mechanisms while maintaining the barrier's protective function throughout the intended storage and usage period.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Speed

If the deactivating agent is released immediately, then deactivation speed is improved, but the explosive composition may not have time to complete its intended function

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeactivation speedVSAvoidexplosive functionality period

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning a biodegradable barrier element that will automatically degrade over time to allow deactivating agent contact. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining explosive stability during storage (barrier intact) while ensuring automatic deactivation occurs without requiring specific misfire forces (barrier degrades naturally over time).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses periodic action through the time-dependent degradation of the biodegradable barrier, which naturally transitions from intact to degraded state over a predetermined period. This resolves the contradiction by providing a controlled time delay that matches the explosive's intended functional period, after which rapid deactivation occurs as the barrier degrades and allows deactivating agent contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Ensures safe deactivation of undetonated explosive charges by rendering them insensitive to initiation, maintaining functionality until detonation should occur, and providing a controlled desensitization process that can extend over several weeks to months, addressing the challenges of recovery and safety in seismic and mining applications.

Implementation Method 1

a deactivating agent that is capable of desensitising the explosive composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

water to flow into the conduit and contact with explosive composition contained. In turn, water can dissolve the (nitrocarbonate) explosive possibly also causing it to flow out of the body of the cartridge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

a barrier element that prevents contact between the explosive composition and the deactivating agent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentUS8850984B2Device for improved method of blasting

Publication Date: 2014.10.07 ORICA EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD

AI summary

An explosive cartridge comprising:an explosive composition;a deactivating agent that is capable of desensitising the explosive composition; anda barrier element that prevents contact between the explosive composition and the deactivating agent and that is adapted to be at least partially removed on use of the explosive cartridge.