Patent ID: 6739265
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
An explosive device of the type capable of producing exterior thereto a shock wave front sufficiently powerful to produce useful work suitable to the customary needs of at least one of mining, construction, and seismic activities, said explosive device being exploded by a detonation impulse generated by a selectively operable control device and communicated to said explosive device from the output end of a transmission line coupled between the control device and said explosive device, said explosive device comprising:(a) an explosive first charge segment comprised of an explosive material, said first charge segment being of a size sufficient to contribute when detonated to producing exterior thereto a shock wave front suitable to the customary needs of at least one of mining, construction, and seismic activities, said first charge segment comprising: (i) a first abutment surface formed on a portion of the exterior of said first charge segment; (ii) a first external surface formed on the remainder of the exterior of said first charge segment; and (iii) a transmission line receiving cavity recessed in said first abutment surface, said transmission line receiving cavity being configured to receive the output end of a transmission line; (b) an explosive second charge segment comprised of said explosive material, said second charge segment being of a size sufficient to contribute when detonated to producing exterior thereto a shock wave front suitable to the customary needs of at least one of mining, construction, and seismic activities, said second charge segment comprising: (i) a second abutment surface formed on a portion of the exterior of said second charge segment, said second abutment surface being disposed against said first abutment surface in an assembled relationship of said first and second charge segments; and (ii) a second external surface formed on the remainder of the exterior of said second charge segment; (c) assembly means for securing said first charge segment and said second charge segment in said assembled relationship thereof, in said assembled relationship and with the output end of the transmission line disposed in said receiving cavity, said first charge segment and said second charge segment being detonated together by a detonation impulse communicated to the output end of the transition line, thereby to function as a single explosive device and produce a shock wave front capable of effecting useful work suitable to the needs of at least one of mining, construction, and seismic activities; and (d) detonation advancement means located between said first and second charge segments in said assembled relationship thereof, said detonation advancement means functioning: (i) for permitting a plasma zone to propagate internal of said explosive device ahead of a detonation wave front traveling through said explosive material of said charge segments to explode said explosive device; and (ii) for initiating a secondary detonation wave front at a location in said explosive material of said charge segments ahead of said detonation wave front traveling through said explosive material.