Method of welding metal pipe sections with explosives

A method of welding together a pair of metal tube sections comprising:

• (a) Positioning the ends of two metal tube sections together in male/female telescoping relationship, the female tube end being flared outward at an acute angle to the wall of the tube and the male tube end being in contact with an inside circumference of the said female flared tube end,
• (b) placing a first continuous substantially band-like charge of a welding explosive against and around the exterior surface of the said female flared tube end,
• (c) placing a second continuous substantially band-like charge of welding explosive against and around the interior surface of the male tube end so that the two explosive bands are in a position substantially concentric and adjacent on opposite sides of the telescoped region,
• (d) providing initiating means for each of said welding explosive charges, said initiating means comprising a continuous elongated, cord-like charge of high explosives having a velocity of detonation at least 50% greater than the velocity of detonation of said welding explosive charges, the said elongated initiating charges resting in initiating contact with the edge of each charge at a point closest to the narrow diameter of said female flared pipe section, and
• (e) detonating the said welding charges simultaneously by the initiation of each of said cord-like initiation charges at a single initiation point on each cord-like charge, the initiation points being superimposed and opposite one another, the resultant detonation shock front from each of said welding charges moving around the pipe while maintaining a large angle to the tube axis to drive together said female flared section and said male tube end to form a welded connection.