Sealer elements, detonators containing the same, and methods of making
First Claim
1. In a sealer element for a device comprising an energy source and a pyrotechnic delay train, the sealer element having an input end and an output end and comprising a reactive material;
- the improvement comprising that the sealer element comprises a strip of reactive material defining at least one reaction path extending in a straight line for the entire distance from the input end to the output end, the reactive material being accessible for signal transfer communication at both the input end and the output end, the sealer element being configured to be disposed between such energy source and such pyrotechnic delay train, with the output end of the sealer element being in signal transfer communication with such pyrotechnic delay train, the reactive material comprises a solid material comprised of at least two different materials which, upon being energized, react with each other in an exothermic and self-sustaining reaction to generate a reaction product, and the reaction product is impermeable to gas flow therethrough including combustion gases generated by ignition and burning of the pyrotechnic delay train.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A gas-impermeable sealer element (24, 124) for a detonator or other explosive initiation device includes a non-reactive sleeve (26, 126) having a channel (28, 128) formed therein. A reactive material strip (30, 130) is sealed within the channel for transmission of an explosive'"'"'s initiation signal through the sealer element (24, 124), either alone or in cooperation with transfer charges located at the input and/or output end of the non-reactive sleeve (26, 126). The reactive material strip (30, 130) comprises a reactive metal wire or other substrate (34) having on one or both sides thereof a layer of reactive material (30, 130, 36), either reactive metal foils which react exothermically when ignited, or a deposited fuel-oxidizer reactive material. The reactive materials, upon being energized, react exothermically in the absence of atmospheric oxygen or other extraneous oxidizer and so may be encapsulated, sealed or otherwise isolated from the atmosphere in use.
84 Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a sealer element for a device comprising an energy source and a pyrotechnic delay train, the sealer element having an input end and an output end and comprising a reactive material;
the improvement comprising that the sealer element comprises a strip of reactive material defining at least one reaction path extending in a straight line for the entire distance from the input end to the output end, the reactive material being accessible for signal transfer communication at both the input end and the output end, the sealer element being configured to be disposed between such energy source and such pyrotechnic delay train, with the output end of the sealer element being in signal transfer communication with such pyrotechnic delay train, the reactive material comprises a solid material comprised of at least two different materials which, upon being energized, react with each other in an exothermic and self-sustaining reaction to generate a reaction product, and the reaction product is impermeable to gas flow therethrough including combustion gases generated by ignition and burning of the pyrotechnic delay train. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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2. In a sealer element for a device comprising an energy source and a pyrotechnic delay train, the sealer element having an input end and an output end and comprising a reactive material, the sealer element further being configured to be disposed within such device;
the improvement comprising that the sealer element comprises a strip of reactive material defining at least one reaction path extending in a straight line for the entire distance from the input end of the sealer device to the output end of the sealer device, whereby upon the reactive material being energized by the energy source the reactive material reacts along the reaction path to leave a residual reaction product along the reaction path, the sealer element being configured to be disposed between such energy source and such pyrotechnic delay train with the output end of the sealer element being in signal transfer communication with such pyrotechnic delay train, the reactive material comprises a solid material comprised of at least two different materials which, upon being energized, react with each other in an exothermic and self-sustaining reaction, the reaction product is impermeable to combustion gases generated by ignition and burning of such pyrotechnic delay train, and the sealer element is otherwise configured to provide a gas-impermeable seal which prevents passage of such combustion gases back past the sealer element.
Specification