Method and apparatus for cutting blocks of solid energetic materials
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJames A. Fregien, Earl J. Shanabrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A remotely controlled apparatus for reducing the size of energetic materials is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a remotely controlled cutter, retainer and a device for positioning the energetic material to be reduced. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the size of energetic materials by positioning a block of energetic material between the cutter and the retainer and causing the cutter to cut through the block of energetic material.
Claims5
An apparatus for remotely cutting blocks of solid energetic material into smaller segments comprising:
- a cutter having one or more cutting blades;
- a retainer having a surface spaced apart from the cutting blades;
- a remotely controlled means for positioning a block of energetic material onto a cutting surface and between said cutting blades and said retainer;
- a remotely controlled means for causing said cutting blades to pass through the block of energetic material thereby cutting the block into smaller segments;
- wherein the means for remotely positioning the block of energetic material between the cutter and the retainer comprises a carousel having a plurality of compartments into which blocks of energetic material are placed, said carousel capable of sequentially positioning each compartment such that at least one compartment is aligned with the cutting surface, and a means for moving said aligned block out of the aligned carousel compartment into position between the cutting blades and the retainer.
A method of cutting block explosives into smaller segments comprising:
- placing a block of energetic material on a cutting surface between a remotely controlled movable retainer and a cutting grid having one or more cutting blades;
- remotely causing the retainer to move toward the cutting grid thereby forcing the block of energetic material against the cutting blades and causing the cutting blades to pass through the block thereby cutting the block into smaller segments.
A method of reducing block propellant comprising:
- placing a propellant block between a cutting means and a retaining means, wherein the retaining means has protrusions on the surface of the retaining means which is facing the cutting means, said protrusions designed to mate with openings in the cutting means, and
- remotely causing the block propellant to contact the cutting means and forcing the cutting means to pass through said block propellant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.