Low energy fuse

• US 5,101,729 A
• Filed: 03/15/1991
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orica Trading Pty., Limited (Orica Limited)
• Original Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES)
• Inventors: Sutton, David P., Noble, Alan H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US07/669,434
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 149/92, 149/93, 149/105, 149/88, 149/3, 149/4, 149/62, 149/69, 149/78, 149/80, 149/35, 102/275.8, 102/275.1
• US Class Current: 102/275.8
• CPC Class Codes: C06C 5/04 Detonating fuses

Abstract

In a low energy fuse, the reactive composition on the inner wall of the tubing is substantially free of a metal fuel or quasi metal fuel and comprises a particulate secondary high explosive and a gas generating non-explosive particulate solid selected from barium peroxide, barium nitrate, potassium permanganate, potassium chloride or sodium azide. The gas generating solid renders the fuse safer for use in an inflammable or incendive atmosphere such as a coal mine.

Claims

1. A low energy fuse comprising tubing having a coating of a reactive composition on the inner wall thereof for propagating a shock wave along the tubing, the reactive coating being substantially free of a metal or quasi metal fuel and including a particulate secondary high explosive and a gas generating non-explosive particulate solid in intimate admixture therewith, the gas generating solid being a material that decomposes thermally at a temperature below 1000°

C. and 1 atmosphere pressure.

2. A low energy fuse as claimed in claim 1 wherein the gas generating solid is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen-generating solid, and a nitrogen-generating solid.

3. A low energy fuse as claimed in claim 2 wherein the oxygen-generating solid is selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, metal nitrate, metal peroxide, metal permagnanate, and a metal perchlorate;

and the nitrogen-generating solid is a metal azide.

4. A low energy fuse as claimed in claim 3 wherein the metal of the gas generating solid is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and an alkaline earth metal.

5. A low energy fuse as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gas generating solid is selected from the group consisting of barium peroxide, barium nitrate, potassium permanganate, potassium perchlorate, and sodium azide.

6. A low energy fuse as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the secondary high explosive to gas generating solid is 9:

2 to 1;

3.

7. A method of lowering the incendivity of a low energy fuse having a tubing, the method comprising forming on the inner wall of the tubing a reactive coating being substantially free of a metal or quasi metal fuel and including a particulate secondary high explosive and, in intimate admixture therewith, a gas generating solid being a material that decomposes thermally at a temperature below 1000°

C. and 1 atmosphere pressure.