Disposal of munitions
OwnerJohn Nicholas Reidinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method is described for safely opening the shell of a munition (10) having an inner chamber containing an explosive material. The method comprises the steps of machining a groove (20) into the shell along a parting line that encircles the outer surface of the munition and divides the shell into two parts. The groove (20) is of sufficient depth to weaken the shell but not to penetrate into the inner chamber of the munition. After machining the groove (20), the shell is cracked open by prising the two parts of the shell apart by inserting a suitable implement into the groove.
Claims13
A method of opening a shell of a munition having an inner chamber containing an explosive material, the method comprising the steps of:
- machining a groove into the shell along a parting line that encircles an outer surface of the munition and divides the shell into two parts, the groove being of sufficient depth to weaker the shell but not to penetrate into the inner chamber of the munition;
- cracking open the shell by prising the two parts of the shell apart at the groove;
- and
- measuring the thickness of the shell on a parting line utilizing one of ultrasound and X-rays prior to machining to avoid the machined groove penetrating into the inner chamber of the munition.
A method of opening a shell of a munition having an inner chamber containing an explosive material, the shell having a cylindrical wall with a tapered cone at one end and a flat base at the other, the wall, cone and base enclosing the inner chamber, the method comprising the steps of:
- machining a groove into the shell along a parting line that encircles an outer surface of the munition, the groove being of sufficient depth to weaken the shell but not to penetrate into the inner chamber of the munition;
- cracking open the shell by prising the two parts of the shell apart at the groove;
- wherein the parting line is positioned to coincide with the junction between the base and the cylindrical wall of the shell, the method further comprising the step of measuring the thickness of the shell at a plurality of points on the parting line, in order to determine a safe depth to which the groove may be machined without penetrating the inner chamber of the munition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.