US3899977A

US3899977A - Demolition charges

Info

Publication number: US3899977A
Application number: US424742A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alois Schiessl
Original assignee: Buck KG
Current assignee: Buck KG
Priority date: 1972-12-14
Filing date: 1973-12-14
Publication date: 1975-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-19
Also published as: DE2261223B1; FR2210758A1; DE2261223C2; IT1002022B; DE2261223A1; GB1446078A; SE388268B; FR2210758B1

Abstract

A demolition charge suitable for the destruction of telecommunication equipment includes a housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture. The housing has a plurality of ignition transmission openings and slidingly engageable coupling means for attaching other demolition devices such as a fuse or additional charges. The charge has foil coverings across the openings and may include internal interconnectors extending between selected openings. A charge may be coupled to a fuse or to other charges such that ignition is transmitted to and from adjacent charges via the ignition transmission openings.

Description

United States Patent Schiessl Aug. 19, 1975 15 DEMOLITION CHARGES 3.311054 3/1967 Foster et a1. 102/6 3,338,452 8/1967 Oakley e11 a1 .1 220/234 [75] lnvemo sch'essh Bud Relchenhau 3,611,931 10 1971 Bessey 102/72 Germany 1 [731 Assignee: Firma Buck K. G., Bad Uberkinger, Primary Examiner5amuel Feinberg Germany Assistant Iitaminer-Harold Tudor Filed: Dec. 14, 1973 Artur/ 1e1 Agent, or F1rn1-Burns, Doane, Swecker'&

Mathis 1211 Appl. No.: 424,742

57 ABSTRACT [301 Foreign Application Priority Data A demolition charge suitable for the destruction of Dec. 14. 1972 Germany 22 122 telecommunication equipment includes a housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture. The housing has a [521 US. Cl. 102/90; 102/6; 102/66 plurality of ignition transmission openings and slid- [51] Int. Cl. F42b 11/24; F421) 13/14 ingly engageable coupling means for attaching other 1 1 Field Of Search 102/90, 8 demolition devices such as a fuse or additional charges. The charge has foil coverings across the openings and may include internal interconnectors ex- [56] References Cited tending between selected openings. A charge may be UNITED STATES PATENTS coupled to a fuse or to other charges such that ignition 224L486 2/1880 Spruce 220/234 istransmittedto and from adjacent charges via the ig- 1.771.455 7/1930 Wiley H 102/6 transmlsslon p 3,194 426 7/1965 Brown, Jr. ZED/23.4 1291,0511 12/1966 Ahlert et a1 102 90 6 3 F'gures PATENTED AUG] 91975 3, 899,977

sum 1 UP 2 III'I PATENTEU M181 9 3, 899 977 FIGS DEMOLITION CHARGES BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a demolition charge and demolition charge assembly in order to destroy machines and equipment, especially telecommunication equipment.

The known demolition charges generally consist of an aluminothermic mixture which is housed in a cubeshaped housing. The destructive effect of these charges rests on the development of a very hot, molten reaction product, which flows over equipment and apparatus that is to be destroyed and in doing so, destroys them. The priming of these known demolition charges is accomplished by a fuse or primer connected firmly with the housing for the charge.

The known demolition charges have certain disadvantages. Thus it can happen that the fuse, connected firmly with the housing, can be reached only with difficulty after insertion of the charge in the apparatus that is to be destroyed (for example, in a level or deck of shelf-like telecommunication equipment). Furthermore, for the destruction of fairly large objects it will be necessary in most cases to place several demolition charges side by side or one above the other, whereby difficulties will then develop understandably during the necessary individual priming of the several demolition charges.

It is a general object of the invention to eliminate or minimize such disadvantages.

It is the primary object of the invention, therefore, to improve the known demolition charges so that the primer, in the case of the installed demolition charge, will be easily accessible at all times.

It is another object of the invention, when several demolition charges must be attached side by side or on top of one another, to facilitate the ignition of all demolition charges by a single fuse igniter.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED FORMS OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, at least some of these objects are accomplished by perforating at least two lateral surfaces of the housing wall of each demolition charge with an ignition transmission window or opening. Connecting extensions are preferably provided on the lateral surfaces having the ignition transmission windows. for the purpose of receiving a cover for the ignition transmission window. The connecting extensions also couple the ignition transmission window of one charge in alignment with the associated ignition transmission window of a fuse igniter or the window of a corresponding connecting extension of an additional demolition charge. Effectively, one should proceed in this case in such a way, that the housing is of a generally flat construction and has a square base surface, that ignition transmission windows he provided (preferably centrally) on all four narrow sides, and that the connecting extensions are male and female extensions. preferably having mutually connective groove and tongue. dovetail connections.

In case of the demolition charges according to the invention, therefore. the fuse is not necessarily rigidly connected with the housing, but may be attached after installation of the demolition charge into the installation that is to be destroyed. This attachment may be made at the side of the housing most favorable for its handling, by means of a connection extension or a slide and fastening connection, whereby it then will be capable of igniting the alumino-thermic mixture in the hous-,

ing by way of the associated ignition transmission window. Furthermore, several demolition charges according to the invention can be connected together, whereby the ignition transmission windows are in alignment with one another, so that it will be sufficient to attach a fuse igniter only to a single demolition charge, while the other demolition charges are ignited by ignition transmission through the aligned ignition transmission windows. At those sides of the housing on which neither a fuse igniter nor another demolition charge has been connected a covering is attached, which provides a protective covering for the ignition transmission window.

DRAWING The drawing shows embodiments of the invention by way of example.

FIG. 1 shows a partial section through adjacent housing walls of two demolition charges,

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. I of a modified form of the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a view, partially broken away, of a fuse connected to a demolition charge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED FORMS On the part of FIG. I, the number 10 designates a lateral wall of the housing of a first demolition charge and II a lateral wall of the housing of a second demolition charge. The two demolition charges, which have only partly been drawn, each have a flat cube shaped housing with a square base surface, in each of which housing an alumino thermic mixture is housed. The housing wall 10 has a dovetailed tongue 12, which engages with a dovetailed groove 13 of the housing wall 11. In the dovetail tongue 12 there is a perforation 14, defining an ignition transmission opening or window. In the dovetailed groove 13 there is a perforation 15 likewise defining an ignition transmission window. The ignition transmission window 14 is covered up by a thin foil 16, and the ignition transmission window 15, by a thin foil 17. A small recess 18 in the lateral wall I0 cooperates with a small bulge 19 in the lateral wall 11, forming a stay or restraining connection.

From the drawing it becomes clear that by telescoping the dovetailed sliding and fastening connection l2, l3 and by engaging the restraining means 18, 19 the two

lateral walls

10 and 11, and thus the two demolition charges, can be connected in a simple manner with one another in such a way that the two

ignition transmission windows

14 and 15 are in alignment. If now for example the first demolition charge, housed by the wall 10, is ignited, then the hot melt developed in the first ignition charge will melt the foils l6 and 17 and penetrate the housing of the second charge through the wall II. In such fashion the melt will ignite this second demolition charge. Thus a fuse merely needs to be attached to the first demolition charge, with the second demolition being ignited by ignition transmission from the first charge.

As mentioned, the demolition chrages preferably consist of a flat. cube shaped housing with a square base surface, whereby all four narrow sides are developed like the sides or II of FIG. I. In other words, two narrow sides each, preferably opposite ones, are provided with a dovetailed tongue, the other two narrow sides with a dovetailed groove 13. All demolition charges can thus have a completely identical housing and are assembled each time so that a narrow side with a dovetailed tongue meets a narrow side with a dovetailed groove.

If, on the other hand, the four narrow sides of a demolition charge should desirably be the same, then one should make a design according to the modification of FIG. 2, whereby both lateral walls and 21 of adjacent demolition charges are provided with a

dovetailed groove

22 or 23 respectively. In order to produce a connection, an ignition transmission element is put into the hollow space formed by the two

grooves

22 and 23, which element, in section, has the shape of a dovetailed double tongue. The element 30 then serves both as connector and as an ignition transmitter. The element 30 may be formed of any suitable material capable of coupling the charges together and transmitting ignition from one charge to the other.

A fuse igniter 31 can be attached to the narrow side 10 of one of the demolition charges, such as a side 10' which is opposite the side 10 of the first demolition charge (FIG. 3). The fuse 31 can be an electric fuse or a manual friction igniter, and can have an extension 32 corresponding to the connecting extension 12' of the narrow side of the charge housing. Thus, a window 34 of the fuse communicates with the interior of the first charge through the window 14' (FIG. 3) and the first charge communicates with the second charge by means of the

windows

14, 15.

Covers are attached to the free, narrow sides of the charge devices, therefore to such narrow sides which neither carry a fuse nor are connected with the narrow side of another demolition charge. Such covers serve to protect the ignition transmission windows and may, for example, have the shape of contact strips.

Naturally the invention can be modified in numerous ways. Thus for example, ignition transmission windows can also be provided on the floor of the housing and on the ceiling of the housing, in order thus to make possible a stacking up of several demolition charges.

Furthermore it is possible as well as advantageous, to attach one or more interconnectors (FIG. 3) within the housing of a charge behind the ignition transmission windows, which internal interconnectors extend effectively from one to the opposite ignition transmission window and bring about or facilitate the ignition of the alumino thermic mixture.

Also it is not absolutely necessary for the ignition transmission windows to be arranged each time centrally with respect to the lateral walls of the housing. Rather, they can indeed also be displaced, but it is essential that the arrangement is such that. upon assembly of demolition charges, the corresponding ignition transmission windows are in alignment.

SUMMARY OF MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION A demolition charge according to the invention is highly versatile. In the event that a charge assembly, comprising a plurality of adjacently disposed charges, is required for the destruction ofa given piece of equipment, the charges may be conveniently coupled together with their ignition transmission openings aligned. In this fashion, the ignition of a single charge may be transmitted to all of the other charges through the aligned openings. This reduces the required number of fuses as well as the chances of malfunctions of certain fuses.

The arrangement of the slidably engageable dove tailed grooves and tongues facilitates assemblage and enables the charges to be constructed identically. The modification of FIG. 2, moreover, enables all sides of the charge to be constructed identically.

The use of an easily detachable sliding connection for the fuse (FIG. 3) provides access to the fuse even when it is located remotely within the equipment. Also, due to the plurality of ignition transmission openings in the charge, the fuse or other, associated charges may be connected in more conveniently accessible positions.

The use of covers for the openings provides protection for the openings when not being used.

The transmission of ignition through the charge is facilitated by the use of interconnectors extending from one opening to another.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment thereof. it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions and deletions not specifically described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such as machines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment, said charge assembly comprising:

a plurality of interconnected charges, each charge comprising a cube-shaped housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture which, when activated, is operable to produce a molten reaction product for destroying said equipment, at least four of the sides of said housing each including:

one of a dovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion coupled to a mating one of a dovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion of an adjoining side of an adjacently disposed charge to establish a dovetail connection therebetween, and

an ignition-transmission opening extending through the dovetail connection portion of each associated housing side such that the ignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacently connectedly charges are mutually aligned;

a dovetail connection portion of a selected charge of said charge assembly being arranged to receive a mating dovetail connection portion of a fuse such that an ignition-transmission opening of the fuse is mutually aligned with an ignitiontransmission opening of said selected charge so that ignition of said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and to adjacent charges through said mutually aligned ignition-transmission openings;

each charge being arranged to connectably receive a plurality of charges to form charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroy equipment of diverse sizes and shapes.

2. Apparatus according to claim I wherein each charge has dovetail grooves on two of said four sides and dovetail tongues on the two other sides.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 including covering foils disposed across said ignition transmission openings.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including interconnector means passing through the alumino-thermic mixture of each charge and interconnecting at least two of the ignition transmission openings.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fuse comprises one of an electric fuse and a manual friction fuse.

6. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such as machines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment, said charge assembly comprising:

a dovetail groove portion aligned with a mating one of a dovetail groove portion of an adjoining side of an adjacently disposed charge to define a recess therebetween,

an ignition-transmitting dovetail double tongue disan ignition-transmission posed in said recess to define a dovetail connection between said charges to define a dovetail connection therebetween, and

opening extending through each dovetail groove of each associated housing side such that the ignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacently connectedly charges are mutually aligned;

dovetail groove of a selected charge of said charge assembly being arranged to be aligned with a mating dovetail groove of a fuse and receive a dovetail double tongue within a recess defined thereby such that an ignition-transmission opening of the fuse is mutually aligned with an ignition-transmission opening of said selected charge so that ignition of said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and to adjacent charges through said mutually aligned ignitiontransmission openings;

each charge being arranged to be connected to a plurality of charges to form charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroy equipment of diverse sizes and shapes.

Claims

1. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such as machines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment, said charge assembly comprising: a plurality of interconnected charges, each charge comprising a cube-shaped housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture which, when activated, is operable to produce a molten reaction product for destroying said equipment, at least four of the sides of said housing each including: one of a dovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion coupled to a mating one of a dovetail tongue portion and dovetail groove portion of an adjoining side of an adjacently disposed charge to establish a dovetail connection therebetween, and an ignition-transmission opening extending through the dovetail connection portion of each associated housing side such that the ignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacently connectedly charges are mutually aligned; a dovetail connection portion of a selected charge of said charge assembly being arranged to receive a mating dovetail connection portion of a fuse such that an ignitiontransmission opening of the fuse is mutually aligned with an ignition-transmission opening of said selected charge so that ignition of said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and to adjacent charges through said mutually aligned ignition-transmission openings; each charge being arranged to connectably receive a plurality of charges to form charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroy equipment of diverse sizes and shapes.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each charge has dovetail grooves on two of said four sides and dovetail tongues on the two other sides.

6. A demolition charge assembly for being mounted on equipment such as machines and telecommunication mechanism and destroying such equipment, said charge assembly comprising: a plurality of interconnected charges, each charge comprising a cube-shaped housing containing an alumino-thermic mixture which, when activated, is operable to produce a molten reaction product for destroying said equipment, at least four of the sides of said housing each including: a dovetail groove portion aligned with a mating one of a dovetail groove portion of an adjoining side of an adjacently disposed charge to define a recess therebetween, an ignition-transmitting dovetail double tongue disposed in said recess to define a dovetail connection between said charges to define a dovetail connection therebetween, and an ignition-transmission opening extending through each dovetail groove of each associated housing side such that the ignition-transmission openings of adjoining sides of adjacently connectedly charges are mutually aligned; a dovetail groove of a selected charge of said charge assembly being arranged to be aligned with a mating dovetail groove of a fuse and receive a dovetail double tongue within a recess defined thereby such that an ignition-transmission opening of the fuse is mutually aligned with an iGnition-transmission opening of said selected charge so that ignition of said fuse is transmitted to said selected charge and to adjacent charges through said mutually aligned ignition-transmission openings; each charge being arranged to be connected to a plurality of charges to form charge assemblies of diverse sizes and shapes to destroy equipment of diverse sizes and shapes.