US 7,908,970 B1Granted

Dual initiation strip charge apparatus and methods for making and implementing the same

AssigneeSandia Corporation

InventorsJuan-Carlos Jakaboski, Steven N. Todd, Stephen Polisar, Chance Hughs

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Abstract

A Dual Initiation Strip Charge (DISC) apparatus is initiated by a single initiation source and detonates a strip of explosive charge at two separate contacts. The reflection of explosively induced stresses meet and create a fracture and breach a target along a generally single fracture contour and produce generally fragment-free scattering and no spallation. Methods for making and implementing a DISC apparatus provide numerous advantages over previous methods of creating explosive charges by utilizing steps for rapid prototyping; by implementing efficient steps and designs for metering consistent, repeatable, and controlled amount of high explosive; and by utilizing readily available materials.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for creating a breach in a target, comprising:

a strip of explosive charge coupled to a dual initiation structure wherein the strip of explosive charge comprises a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the strip of explosive charge is substantially not contained within a housing, and wherein the bottom surface is capable of being interfaced with to the target;
a first firing contact of an explosive firing train comprising a first surface area, wherein less than the entire first surface area of the first firing contact abuts the top surface of the strip of explosive charge and wherein a portion of the first surface area overhangs a first edge of the top surface of the strip of explosive charge;
a second firing contact of the explosive firing train comprising a first surface area, wherein less than the entire first surface area of the second firing contact abuts the top surface of the strip of explosive charge and wherein a portion of the second surface area overhangs a second edge of the top surface of the strip of explosive charge;
and
means for initiating the explosive firing train and communicating a detonation from a single initiation source to the first and second firing contacts and detonating the strip of explosive charge, wherein the detonation operatively creates a fracture in the target along a single fracture contour and operatively creates the breach in the target.

2 more elements

A method for making an apparatus for creating a breach in a target, comprising:

preparing a strip of explosive charge, wherein the strip of explosive charge is substantially not contained within a housing and wherein the strip of explosive charge has a contour;
preparing an explosive firing train, wherein the explosive firing train comprises a first firing contact and a second firing contact and means for initiating the explosive firing train and communicating a detonation from a single initiation source to the first and second firing contacts and detonating the strip of explosive charge, wherein the detonation operatively creates a fracture in the target along a single fracture contour and operatively creates the breach in the target, wherein the single fracture contour follows the contour of the strip of explosive charge;
preparing a dual initiation structure;
populating a dual initiation structure;
coupling the explosive firing train with the dual initiation structure;
coupling the dual initiation structure with the strip of explosive charge, wherein a portion of a surface area of each of the first and second firing contacts overhangs an edge of a top surface of the strip of explosive charge;
and
interfacing the strip of explosive charge with the target.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.