Method of charging a container with an energetic material
OwnerRichard Johnsoninventor
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method of charging at least one container, such as a tube, with an energetic material. The method comprises the step of reducing a pressure of a fluid in an interior portion of the or each container. The method also comprises the step of positioning the energetic material at a position that is exterior to the or each container and at which a pressure is higher than in the interior portion of the or each container in a manner such that a suction results which sucks the energetic material into the interior portion of the or each container and thereby charges the or each container with the energetic material.
Claims29
A method of charging at least one container with an energetic material, the method comprising:
- reducing a pressure of a fluid in an interior portion of the or each container,
- positioning the energetic material at a position that is exterior to the or each container and at which a pressure is higher than in the interior portion of the or each container in a manner such that a suction results which sucks the energetic material into the interior portion of the or each container and thereby charges the or each container with the energetic material.
The method as claimed in claim 1 or 3 wherein the fluid is air.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each container is filled with the energetic material.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the step of reducing the pressure in the interior portion of the or each container comprises evacuating the interior portion of the or each container.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein charging of the or each container is supported by gravity.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein charging of the or each container is supported by vibrating the or each container.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each container is a tube.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the step of reducing the pressure in the interior portion of the or each container comprises removing at least a portion of the fluid from an interior portion of a receptacle in which the or each container is positioned.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising the step of guiding the energetic material into an opening of the or each container using a guiding portion positioned adjacent the opening of the or each container.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the energetic material is a powder.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the energetic material is provided in form of granules.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the energetic material is an emulsion.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the energetic material is a water gel.
The method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the step of positioning the energetic material is followed by increasing a pressure in a volume in which the energetic material is positioned.
A method of fabricating at least one container charged with an energetic material, the method comprising charging the or each container using the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
An apparatus for charging at least one container with an energetic material, the apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle having at least one opening and being arranged to receive the or each container,
- a closure for closing the or each opening of the receptacle, and
- a vacuum pump for evacuating an interior portion of the receptacle,
- wherein the apparatus is arranged so that, the receptacle is opened after the receptacle has been evacuated, a resultant suction charges the or each container with the energetic material.
A method of charging at least one container with an energetic material, the method comprising:
- providing a supply of a flowable energetic material subjected to a first pressure,
- reducing a pressure of a fluid in an interior of the or each container below the first pressure thereby creating a pressure differential between the supply and the interior,
- opening a fluid communication path between the supply and the interior of the or ach container
- whereby the energetic material flows from the supply to the or each container by virtue of the pressure differential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.