EP1443297A1 - Laserinitiierter Zünder - Google Patents

Laserinitiierter Zünder Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1443297A1
EP1443297A1 EP04397005A EP04397005A EP1443297A1 EP 1443297 A1 EP1443297 A1 EP 1443297A1 EP 04397005 A EP04397005 A EP 04397005A EP 04397005 A EP04397005 A EP 04397005A EP 1443297 A1 EP1443297 A1 EP 1443297A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
detonating
laser
pulse
detonator
frame structure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP04397005A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1443297B1 (de
Inventor
Matti Harkoma
Maija HIHKIÖ
Tellervo Vormisto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
PUOLUSTUSVOIMIEN TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSLAITOS
Original Assignee
PUOLUSTUSVOIMIEN TEKNILLINEN TUTKIMUSLAITOS
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Publication of EP1443297A1 publication Critical patent/EP1443297A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1443297B1 publication Critical patent/EP1443297B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
    • F42B3/10—Initiators therefor
    • F42B3/113—Initiators therefor activated by optical means, e.g. laser, flashlight

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a laser detonator of DDT-type (Deflagration to Detonation Transition) that comprises at least a frame structure and detonating material placed inside the frame structure, as well as an optical input arranged in the frame structure to guide a detonating pulse, i.e. laser pulse to the detonating material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a detonating system comprising at least an above-described DDT-type laser detonator as well as a control unit for producing a laser pulse, i.e. a detonating pulse and an optical fiber for transmitting the detonating pulse.
  • DDT-type Delagration to Detonation Transition
  • One military laser application is the ignition of the explosive material in the detonator directly with a laser pulse.
  • the optical ignition chain i.e. laser beam and optical fiber
  • the control unit to the detonator is insensitive to electromagnetic interference.
  • some laser detonators are safe to handle because they do not contain sensitive initial explosives.
  • the detonation of an insensitive explosive is ignited either with a heat or impulse ignition.
  • a sufficiently powerful laser pulse is introduced on the surface of the explosive material, said laser pulse producing first a deflagration and immediately thereafter a detonation.
  • a detonator is called a DDT detonator (Deflagration to Detonation Transition).
  • a laser pulse produces a shock wave in a thin metal or carbon film (the speed of said shock wave being typically approximately 6000 m/s), which produces a detonation when meeting the explosive material.
  • a detonator is called a slapper detonator.
  • high-power lasers are required to produce a deflagration and/or detonation in a reliable manner in the explosive material of the detonator.
  • High-power laser transmitters are expensive, large in size and difficult to move, and therefore the aim has been to develop more sensitive detonators that would operate with lower power.
  • US patent publication 4,898,095 discloses a detonator discharged with a laser beam, in which a laser beam produced with a laser, such as a YAG laser is guided to the detonating part of the detonator, which according to said invention is manufactured of an explosive material that is well capable of absorbing the energy of the laser beam. It is suggested that such a laser detonator functions at the lower maximum power of the laser pulse of an oscillating laser transmitter. However, such a laser detonator requires a relatively efficient laser transmitter to be able to function, said laser transmitter being large in size and too expensive for wide-ranging use on the field.
  • the main purpose of the present invention is to disclose a laser detonator of DDT-type that can be discharged with low laser pulse energy.
  • the laser detonator according to the invention is primarily characterized in that the detonating material is in an overpressurized state when compared to the normal air pressure to reduce the energy of the detonating pulse required for igniting the detonating material.
  • the detonating system according to the invention is primarily characterized in that the detonating material is in an overpressurized state when compared to the normal air pressure to reduce the energy of the detonating pulse required for igniting the detonating material.
  • the energy level can be reduced sufficiently by pressurizing the detonating unit, and especially the compressed detonating material that is made of a suitable material such as penthrite, hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), trinitrotoluene (TNT) or tetryl.
  • the pressure prevailing in the detonating unit is advantageously 20 to 50 bar, i.e. 2 to 5 MPa, preferably over 30 bar, i.e. 3 MPa.
  • a detonating pulse i.e.
  • a laser pulse is conveyed optically to the detonating unit.
  • the energy of the detonating pulse causes the deflagration of the compressed detonating material, said deflagration rapidly transforming itself into detonation.
  • the reaction proceeds to the actual ignition point via the compressed detonating material and detonating fuses.
  • the detonator implemented in accordance with the invention can be made to function at a lower detonating pulse energy when compared to known solutions.
  • the detonating pulse can be advantageously produced with a low-power laser that can be easily moved, preferably with a semiconductor laser such as a diodelaser.
  • Said laser unit and its equipment and power sources can be easily carried by one person, because of its very small size, and it is possible to use batteries as an energy source therein.
  • said semiconductor lasers are considerably less expensive than solid lasers and gas lasers, and therefore it is possible to use a semiconductor laser widely in so-called mass products.
  • FIG 1 shows, in principle, a laser detonator 3 and a control unit 1 according to the invention.
  • the laser detonator 3 is typically placed in the explosive charge to be detonated, but the laser detonator can also be used for another purpose, still maintaining the basic idea of the present invention.
  • a detonating pulse i.e. a laser pulse is produced by means of a suitable laser that is preferably a semiconductor laser, such as a diodelaser. If the aim is to produce a detonating pulse for several different laser detonators 3 by means of one control unit 1, and/or if the laser detonators are located substantially far away, it is in some cases advantageous to use a more powerful laser than for example an Nd-YAG laser.
  • the detonating pulse is transferred to the laser detonator 3 via an optical fiber structure 2, i.e. an optical fiber.
  • Suitable optical fiber type 2 is selected according to the operating conditions, but typically a single mode fiber is used.
  • the optical fiber 2 is connected both to the control unit 1 and to the laser detonator 3, advantageously by means of a connector.
  • the laser detonator 3 can be formed in several different ways, but Fig. 2 shows in cross-section one advantageous embodiment of the laser detonator.
  • Said laser detonator 3 comprises a frame part 4 and a sleeve 5 attached thereto, the other end of said sleeve 5 being closed.
  • the frame part 4 and the sleeve 5 can be made of many suitable materials, such as metal or composite material, but preferably they are made of steel or aluminium.
  • the sealing between the frame part 4 and the sleeve 5 is by means of a suitable structure, such as an O-ring seal 6 presented in the example, but it is also possible to apply other ways and to maintain the basic idea of the present invention.
  • the possible connection must, however, enable the pressurization of the compressed detonating material 7 in accordance with the invention.
  • a compressed detonating material 7, an intermediate detonating fuse 8 and a detonating fuse 9 made of suitable explosive materials are placed in the cavity inside the frame part 4 and the sleeve 5.
  • the compressed detonating material 7 is made of an explosive material with suitable reaction properties.
  • Advantageous materials include for example penthrit, hexogen (RDX), octogen (HMX), trinitrotoluene (TNT), tetryl, CL-20 (i.e. hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane i.e. HNIW), FOX-7 (i.e. diamino-dinitroethene) as well as various explosives based on the PBX technology (Plastic Bonded Explosives).
  • the intermediate detonating fuse 8 and the detonating fuse 9 are made of such a suitable explosive material by means of which a reaction speed suitable for the purpose can be attained.
  • Advantageous explosive materials include for example the aforementioned penthrit, RDX, HMX, TNT, tetryl, CL-20, FOX-7 and PBX-explosives.
  • the cavity inside the frame part 4 and the sleeve 5 is overpressurized when compared to normal air pressure.
  • an advantageous pressure level is 2 to 5 MPa, preferably over 3 MPa.
  • the overpressurized space contains the compressed detonating material 7, the intermediate detonating fuse 8, and the detonating fuse 9, because said space is undivided.
  • the laser detonator 3 comprises other necessary structures by means of which the sealing of the structure and the stability of the different parts are ensured.
  • the embodiment of the laser detonator 3 shown in Fig. 2 comprises for example a supporting ring 11, a supporting plate 12 and a spring 13, as well as a quartz glass window 10 via which the laser pulse is guided to the compressed detonating material 7.
  • the window structure 10 can also be made of other suitable material than quartz glass, such as for example sapphire.
  • the detonating pulse coming from the laser, preferably diodelaser of the control unit 1 is transmitted on the surface of the compressed detonating material 7 via a suitable optical input arranged in the laser detonator 3.
  • the optical input can be constructed in various ways, and of several suitable materials, and it is advantageous to form the optical input in accordance with the laser that is being used.
  • the optical input is arranged via an optical fiber placed via holes formed in the frame part 4 and in the supporting ring 11 of the laser detonator 3 further via the quartz glass window 10 on the surface of the compressed detonating material 7.
  • deflagration is generated in the compressed detonating material 7, said deflagration transforming rapidly into detonation, which, in turn, proceeds through said compressed detonating material, propagating to the intermediate detonating fuse 8 and to the detonating fuse 9 and therefrom to the actual detonating target.
  • Fig. 3 shows the energy necessary for the ignition of an energetic material in millijoules (mJ) when the pressure varies between 10 and 50 bar (i.e. 1 and 5 MPa).
  • the results according to the example are obtained by using RDX as the energetic material and a diodelaser of 2.6 W as the laser, the length of the pulse being 100 ms and the wavelength 808 nm.
  • the Figure shows that for example by increasing the pressure from 10 bar to 50 bar (i.e. from 1 MPa to 5 MPa), the energy required for the ignition is reduced from 12 mJ to 3.6 mJ.
  • the magnitude of the ignition energy is, of course, different for different materials, but the presented reduction in the required ignition energy while the pressure increases is common to the above-mentioned explosive materials. For this reason different materials have slightly different pressure levels which typically exceed 2 MPa.
  • the more precise type of the laser that is being used is advantageously selected in accordance with the material used as the compressed detonating material 7. It is advantageous to select the laser in such a manner that the power required therefrom is as low as possible, and therefore the length of the pulse as well as the wavelength should be such that the energy of the pulse would be absorbed as well as possible in said energetic material, thus producing deflagration.
  • the invention is not limited solely to the embodiment presented in the example above, but for example the laser detonator 3 can be formed in various different ways, wherein for example its shape as well as the location and number of its parts can deviate from that presented in the example. Furthermore, the explosive material that is being used can deviate from the one presented in the example, and the number, shape and mutual location of separate compressed detonating materials 7 and detonating fuses 8, 9 can vary in accordance with the purpose of use.
  • the laser it is also possible to replace the laser with another radiating radiation source whose radiation can be transmitted via optical structures and whose ignition energy is sufficiently high.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Laser Beam Processing (AREA)
  • Laser Surgery Devices (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Polysaccharides And Polysaccharide Derivatives (AREA)
  • Nitrogen Condensed Heterocyclic Rings (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
EP04397005A 2003-01-31 2004-01-29 Laserinitiierter Zünder Expired - Lifetime EP1443297B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI20030143A FI112702B (fi) 2003-01-31 2003-01-31 DDT-tyypin lasersytytin
FI20030143 2003-01-31

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1443297A1 true EP1443297A1 (de) 2004-08-04
EP1443297B1 EP1443297B1 (de) 2008-10-22

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ID=8565487

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04397005A Expired - Lifetime EP1443297B1 (de) 2003-01-31 2004-01-29 Laserinitiierter Zünder

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1443297B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE412161T1 (de)
DE (1) DE602004017238D1 (de)
FI (1) FI112702B (de)
NO (1) NO20040272L (de)
SE (1) SE0400133D0 (de)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2008113108A1 (en) * 2007-03-16 2008-09-25 Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd Initiation of explosives materials
US7810430B2 (en) 2004-11-02 2010-10-12 Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd Wireless detonator assemblies, corresponding blasting apparatuses, and methods of blasting
CN102435109A (zh) * 2011-10-21 2012-05-02 中国科学技术大学 激光起爆飞片式无起爆药雷管
CN103673795A (zh) * 2014-01-03 2014-03-26 安徽理工大学 一种无起爆药激光雷管
WO2019190717A2 (en) 2018-03-08 2019-10-03 Orica International Pte Ltd Systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods for initiating or detonating tertiary explosive media by way of photonic energy
CN111707152A (zh) * 2020-06-29 2020-09-25 南京邮电大学 一种基于光纤供能的多点爆破系统及工作方法
CN112945032A (zh) * 2021-03-31 2021-06-11 电子科技大学 火炮微波点火装置
US11131530B2 (en) 2018-01-29 2021-09-28 Lawrence Livermore National Security, Llc Opto-thermal laser detonator

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102679887A (zh) * 2012-05-28 2012-09-19 广东宏大爆破股份有限公司 一种基础雷管药柱高度自动检测、剔除装置及方法
RU2493603C1 (ru) * 2012-06-19 2013-09-20 Открытое акционерное общество "Информационные спутниковые системы" имени академика М.Ф. Решетнева" Устройство для контроля и подрыва пиропатронов
CN112229557B (zh) * 2020-09-14 2022-04-05 中国石油天然气股份有限公司 一种带连接管雷管轴向输出压力测试组件

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3812783A (en) * 1972-08-03 1974-05-28 Nasa Optically detonated explosive device
US4898095A (en) * 1986-10-20 1990-02-06 Nippon Oil And Fats Company, Limited And Kajima Corporation Laser beam-detonatable blasting cap
US5099761A (en) * 1991-01-28 1992-03-31 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Laser actuated thru-bulkhead initiator
US6276276B1 (en) * 1999-08-19 2001-08-21 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Thin-film optical initiator

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3812783A (en) * 1972-08-03 1974-05-28 Nasa Optically detonated explosive device
US4898095A (en) * 1986-10-20 1990-02-06 Nippon Oil And Fats Company, Limited And Kajima Corporation Laser beam-detonatable blasting cap
US5099761A (en) * 1991-01-28 1992-03-31 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Laser actuated thru-bulkhead initiator
US6276276B1 (en) * 1999-08-19 2001-08-21 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Thin-film optical initiator

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7810430B2 (en) 2004-11-02 2010-10-12 Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd Wireless detonator assemblies, corresponding blasting apparatuses, and methods of blasting
EA015380B1 (ru) * 2007-03-16 2011-08-30 Орика Иксплоусивз Текнолоджи Пти Лтд. Инициирование взрывчатых веществ
AU2008229625B2 (en) * 2007-03-16 2012-06-14 Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd Initiation of explosives materials
US8272325B2 (en) 2007-03-16 2012-09-25 Orica Explosives Technology Pty., Ltd. Detonator free laser initiated blasting system
CN101663557B (zh) * 2007-03-16 2013-05-29 澳瑞凯炸药技术有限公司 无引爆器的爆炸系统以及在其内引爆散装炸药的方法
WO2008113108A1 (en) * 2007-03-16 2008-09-25 Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd Initiation of explosives materials
CN102435109A (zh) * 2011-10-21 2012-05-02 中国科学技术大学 激光起爆飞片式无起爆药雷管
CN103673795A (zh) * 2014-01-03 2014-03-26 安徽理工大学 一种无起爆药激光雷管
US11131530B2 (en) 2018-01-29 2021-09-28 Lawrence Livermore National Security, Llc Opto-thermal laser detonator
US11629939B2 (en) 2018-01-29 2023-04-18 Lawrence Livermore National Security, Llc Opto-thermal laser detonator
WO2019190717A2 (en) 2018-03-08 2019-10-03 Orica International Pte Ltd Systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods for initiating or detonating tertiary explosive media by way of photonic energy
EP3762266A4 (de) * 2018-03-08 2022-02-23 Orica International Pte Ltd Systeme, vorrichtungen und verfahren zur zündung oder detonation tertiärer explosiver medien mittels photonischer energie
US11585643B2 (en) 2018-03-08 2023-02-21 Orica International Pte Ltd Systems, apparatuses, devices, and methods for initiating or detonating tertiary explosive media by way of photonic energy
CN111707152B (zh) * 2020-06-29 2022-07-01 南京邮电大学 一种基于光纤供能的多点爆破系统及工作方法
CN111707152A (zh) * 2020-06-29 2020-09-25 南京邮电大学 一种基于光纤供能的多点爆破系统及工作方法
CN112945032A (zh) * 2021-03-31 2021-06-11 电子科技大学 火炮微波点火装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE0400133D0 (sv) 2004-01-23
ATE412161T1 (de) 2008-11-15
EP1443297B1 (de) 2008-10-22
DE602004017238D1 (de) 2008-12-04
FI20030143A0 (fi) 2003-01-31
NO20040272L (no) 2004-08-02
FI112702B (fi) 2003-12-31

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