Low velocity radial deployment with predetermined pattern

A device for radially deploying a plurality of objects at a low velocity in order to achieve a predetermined pattern of the deployed objects, said device comprising:

• an inner wall member having a central longitudinal axis,
• an annular body of low velocity explosive having a central longitudinal axis, said annular body of low velocity explosive having a detonation velocity of less than 6000 meters per second, said annular body of low velocity explosive being positioned exteriorly of said inner wall member with the central longitudinal axis of said annular body of low velocity explosive extending at least substantially along the central longitudinal axis of said inner wall member,
• a first plurality of objects positioned in a first annular array coaxially with and exteriorly of said annular body of low velocity explosive,
• a second plurality of objects positioned in a second annular array coaxially with and exteriorly of said annular body of low velocity explosive, said first and second annular arrays being positioned at different locations along the central longitudinal axis of said annular body of low velocity explosive, said annular body of low velocity explosive having a first amount of said low velocity explosive in radial alignment with said first annular array and a second amount of said low velocity explosive in radial alignment with said second annular array, said first amount of said low velocity explosive being different from said second amount of said low velocity explosive such that the energy provided by said first amount of said low velocity explosive is different from the energy provided by said second amount of said low velocity explosive,
• wherein each of said first plurality of objects and each of said second plurality of objects have a shape of a right circular cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having a convex spherical segment at each end of the right circular cylinder, each convex spherical segment being defined as a portion of a respective one of a first sphere and a second sphere, each of said first sphere and said second sphere having its center at least substantially on said longitudinal axis of said right circular cylinder, said portion being defined by a respective set of two parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the right circular cylinder, with one of the planes of each set being tangent to the respective sphere and the distance between the two planes in a set being less than or equal to the radius of the respective sphere with the radius of the respective sphere being greater than or equal to the radial dimension of the right circular cylinder.

A device for radially deploying a plurality of objects at a low velocity in order to achieve a predetermined pattern of the deployed objects, said device comprising:

• an inner wall member having a central longitudinal axis,
• an annular body of low velocity explosive having a central longitudinal axis said annular body of low velocity explosive having a detonation velocity of less than 5500 meters per second, said annular body of low velocity explosive being positioned exteriorly of said inner wall member with the central longitudinal axis of said annular body of low velocity explosive extending at least substantially along the central longitudinal axis of said inner wall member,
• a first plurality of objects positioned in a first annular array coaxially with and exteriorly of said annular body of low velocity explosive,
• a second plurality of objects positioned in a second annular array coaxially with and exteriorly of said annular body of low velocity explosive, said first and second annular arrays being positioned at different locations along the central longitudinal axis of said annular body of low velocity explosive, said annular body of low velocity explosive having a first amount of said low velocity explosive in radial alignment with said first annular array and a second amount of said low velocity explosive in radial alignment with said second annular array, said first amount of said low velocity explosive being different from said second amount of said low velocity explosive such that the energy provided by said first amount of said low velocity explosive is different from the energy provided by said second amount of said low velocity explosive,
• wherein:
• each of said first plurality of objects and each of said second plurality of objects have a shape of a right circular cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having a convex spherical segment at each end of the right circular cylinder, each spherical segment being defined as a portion of a respective one of a first sphere and a second sphere, each of said first sphere and said second sphere having its center at least substantially on said longitudinal axis of said right circular cylinder, said portion being defined by a respective set of two parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the right circular cylinder, with one of the planes of each set being tangent to the respective sphere and the distance between the two planes in a set being less than the radius of the respective sphere with the radius of the respective sphere being greater than the radial dimension of the right circular cylinder;
• said inner wall member is an annulus having a generally frustoconical external configuration;
• said annular body of low velocity explosive has a generally frustoconical internal configuration so as to mate with the generally frustoconical external configuration of said inner wall member;
• said annular body of low velocity explosive has a generally cylindrical external configuration;
• each of said first annular array and said second annular array is a circular array;
• and
• a detonator is positioned adjacent said annular body of low velocity explosive for detonating said annular body of low velocity explosive.

A device for radially deploying a plurality of objects, said device comprising:

• a body of explosive having a central longitudinal axis,
• a first plurality of objects positioned in a first annular array coaxially with and exteriorly of said body of explosive,
• a second plurality of objects positioned in a second annular array coaxially with and exteriorly of said body of explosive, said first and second annular arrays being positioned at different locations along the central longitudinal axis of said body of explosive,
• wherein each of said first plurality of objects and each of said second plurality of objects have a shape of a right circular cylinder having a longitudinal axis and having a convex spherical segment at each end of the right circular cylinder, each convex spherical segment being defined as a portion of a respective one of a first sphere and a second sphere, each of said first sphere and said second sphere having its center at least substantially on said longitudinal axis of said right circular cylinder, said portion being defined by a respective set of two parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the right circular cylinder, with one of the planes of each set being tangent to the respective sphere and the distance between the two planes in a set being less than or equal to the radius of the respective sphere with the radius of the respective sphere being greater than or equal to the radial dimension of the right circular cylinder.