US3209692A

US3209692A - Explosion transfer device

Info

Publication number: US3209692A
Application number: US401416A
Authority: US
Inventors: Webb George
Original assignee: Avco Corp
Current assignee: Avco Corp
Priority date: 1964-10-05
Filing date: 1964-10-05
Publication date: 1965-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-05

Description

Oct. 5, 1965 G. WEBB EXPLOSION TRANSFER DEVICE Filed Oct. 5, 1964 INVENTOR.

GEORGE WEBB BY 44 flQ M ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,209,692 EXPLOSION TRANSFER DEVICE George Webb, Richmond, Ind., assignor to Avco Corporation, Richmond, Ind, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,416 5 Claims. (Cl. 102--70) The present invention relates to explosion transfer devices, and particularly to those of the type which remain sealed during and after transmittal of an explosion. The present invention provides a reliable means for the propagation of a detonation wave across a physical barrier without rupture of the explosion chamber. The invention is of utility in such applications as gas generators, rocket motors, and fuzing systems.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a safe and reliable means of explosion transfer which maintains the isolation of the original charge.

Another object of the invention is to provide means, of the character described, which is adapted to use in multiple explosive relay systems which involve parallel relays, series relays, or combinations thereof.

In accordance with the invention, the input and output charges and the sealed barrier therebetween are shaped in such manner that the input charge, operating mechanically across a rigid seal, ignites the output charge, while the seal maintains its integrity and continues to function as a seal.

For a better understanding of the invention, together with other and further objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following description of the appended drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are axial sectional views of a preferred embodiment and an alternate embodiment, respectively, of explosion transfer device in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a preferred form of explosion transfer device in accordance with the invention. It comprises a generally cylindrical metallic housing formed to provide a first, or input, fitting, and a second, or output, fitting. The input fitting is interiorly threaded, as indicated at 11, and the output fitting is similarly threaded, as indicated at 12, the fittings being aligned and the metallic housing 10 being formed as to provide a central wall 13 between them. The output face of wall 13 is formed to define a recess or concavity 14, which is in communication with the input face via a channel 15. An explosive input charge 16 is disposed in this recess. A seal between input and output charges is formed by a metallic barrier member 17, which is a disk-like seal provided with a hollow central protuberance projecting into the input charge 16 and the recess 14. Disposed within this protuberance is an output charge 18. The input charge is detonated by a series arrangement of means comprising a first, or input, fuse 19 and an input relay 20, the latter being disposed adjacent port 15. The FIG. 1 combination further comprises means detonated by the output charge, and this means comprises a second relay 21 and a second fuse 22, the relay 21 being disposed between the output charge 18 and fuse 22.

A first plug 23 is formed concentrically to carry the

elements

19 and 20, and is threaded into threads 11. A second plug 24 is formed concentrically to carry the

elements

21 and 22, and it projects into the second fitting, being threaded onto the threads 12. O-

rings

25 and 26 are suitably positioned in frontal annular shoulders formed on the faces of the

plugs

23 and 24, respectively, to gas-tightly seal the peripheries of the plugs.

The mild detonation fuse 19 initiates relay 20, so that the high explosive input charge 16 is detonated, slightly compressing the barrier 17. The output charge 18, contained within the protuberance of the barrier member, is pinched under the increased pressure generated by the detonation of the input charge. Accordingly, the output charge is detonated. Output charge 18 initiates relay 21, and mild detonation of fuse 22 continues propagation through the system. Gas generated forward of the output face is barred from rearward flow by barrier member 17, and O-ring 26 is located at a point where distortion of the barrier member is at a minimum.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated an alternate embodiment of the invention having a cone-shaped protuberance on the barrier. In FIG. 2 reference numerals identical with those of FIG. 1 are utilized to refer to identical elements, and reference numerals primed refer to similar elements.

In FIG. 2 the output charge is placed in a generally conically shaped projecting portion of the barrier 17'. The angle is such that the charge 18' is placed in compression by detonation of the input charge 16, which is located in a complementary and generally conically shaped recess 14 in housing 10.

The inventive combination is in essence a form of relay, a form which is readily miniaturized and which readily lends itself to use in multiple sequence.

It will be understood that, in accordance with the invention, there has been provided the combination of a divider having input and output faces, the output face being formed to define a recess which is in communication with the input face; an input charge disposed in said recess; a metallic barrier member formed as a disk-like seal having a hollow walled protuberance projecting into said input charge and said recess; and an output charge within said protuberance.

While there have been shown and described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1 claim: 1. An explosion transfer device which remains sealed during and after high energy transfer, comprising:

a generally cylindrical metallic housing formed to provide first and second aligned screw-threaded fittings having a central wall therebetween, said central Wall having input and output faces, the output face of said central wall being formed to define a recess which is in communication with the input face;

an input charge disposed in said recess;

a metallic barrier member formed as a disk-like seal having a hollow central protuberance projecting into said input charge and said recess;

an output charge within said protuberance;

means for detonating said input charge, comprising a first fuse and a first relay disposed between the input face and said fuse;

means detonated by said output charge, comprising a second fuse and a second relay disposed between said output charge and said second fuse;

a first plug formed concentrically to carry said first fuse and relay and threaded into the first of said fittings;

a second plug formed concentrically to carry said second fuse and relay and projecting into the second of said fittings to press said barrier member against said output face;

and O-ring means for gas-tightly sealing the peripheries of said plugs.

2. An explosion transfer device which remains sealed during and after high energy transfer, comprising:

a generally cylindrical metallic housing formed to provide first and second aligned fittings having a central wall therebetween, said central wall having input 1% and output faces, the output face of said central wall being formed to define a concavity which is in communication with the input face, said concavity and said housing having a common central longitudinal axis;

an input charge disposed in said concavity;

a single metallic barrier member formed as a disk-like seal having a hollow central continuous projection extending axially into said input charge and said concavity;

an output charge within said projection;

means for detonating said input charge;

means detonated by said output charge;

a first plug formed to carry said detonating means and secured into the first of said fittings;

and a second plug formed to carry said detonated means and secured into the second of said fittings to press said barrier member against said output face.

3. In an explosion transfer device which remains sealed during and after high energy transfer, the combination of:

a divider having input and output faces, the output face being formed to define a recess which is in communication with the input face, said recess and said divider having a common central longitudinal axis;

an input charge disposed in said recess;

a single metallic barrier member formed as a disk-like seal having a hollow walled central continuous protuberance projecting axially into said input charge and said recess;

and an output charge within said protuberance.

4. In an explosion transfer device which remains sealed during and after high energy transfer, the combination of:

an input charge disposed in said recess;

a single metallic barrier member formed as a seal having a hollow walled central continuous protuberance projecting axially into said input charge and said recess;

an output charge within said protuberance;

means for detonating said input charge;

and means detonated by said output charge.

5. An explosion transfer device which remains sealed during and after high energy transfer, comprising:

a generally cylindrical metallic housing formed to provide first and second aligned fittings having a central wall therebetween, said central wall having input and output faces, the output face of said central wall being formed to define a recess which is in communication with the input face, said recess and said housing having a common central longitudinal axis;

an input charge disposed in said recess;

a single metallic barrier member formed as a disk-like seal having a hollow central continuous protuberance projecting axially into said input charge and said recess;

an output charge within said protuberance;

said output charge being under initial pressure and responsive to pinching of said protuberance to be set off;

a first plug means formed to carry said first fuse and relay and projecting into the first of said fittings; and a second plug means formed to carry said second fuse and relay and projecting into the second of said fittings to press said barrier member against said output face.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,245 6/52 Bowersett 1027O 2,707,438 5/55 Mann et a1 l0227 2,736,263 2/56 Lewis et a1. l0227 SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Examiner.

Claims

3. IN AN EXPLOSION TRANSFER DEVICE WHIC REMAINS SEALED DURING AND AFTER HIGH ENERGY TRANSFER, THE COMBINATION OF: A DIVIDER HAVING INPUT AND OUTPUT FACES, THE OUTPUT FACE BEING FORMED TO DEFINE A RECESS WHICH IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INPUT FACE, SAID RECESS AND SAID DIVIDER HAVING A COMMON CENTRAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS; AN INPUT CHARGE DISPOSED IN SAID RECESS; A SINGLE METALLIC BARRIER MEMBER FORMED AS A DISK-LIKE SEAL HAVING A HOLLOW WALLED CENTRAL CONTINUOUS PROTUBERANCE PROJECTING AXIALLY INTO SAID INPUT CHARGE AND SAID RECESS; AND AN OUTPUT CHARGE WITHIN SAID PROTUBERANCE.