Patent ID: 7328643
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
1. A process for removing the fuse and explosive material from one or more munitions simultaneously in an apparatus comprised of a fuse cut-out stage, an explosive washout stage, and a rinse stage, which munitions contain an explosive material; which process comprises: a) providing one or more fuse containing munitions characterized as having a cylindrical metal outer casing encasing an explosive material and having a tappered first end and flat second end and a fuse that can be located at either said first end or said second end; b) vertically positioning said one or more munitions so that the end containing said fuse will be in the downward position; c) positioning a water jet nozzle pointing upward and opposing said end of said munition containing the fuse; (d) simultaneously cutting the fuse from each of said one or more munitions by directing a jet of high pressure water containing an abrasive material along a predetermined path around the perimeter of each fuse an effective number of times and at an effective pressure to cause cutting of said munition around each fuse wherein the jet of high pressure water is in a fixed position and it directed along its path around the perimeter of each fuse by rotating the one or more munitions at an effective rotational speed until each fuse is freed from it respective munition thereby exposing the explosive material contained within said munition and resulting in a mixture of water and abrasive material; e) passing the mixture of water containing the abrasive material to a separation stage wherein the abrasive material is separated and collected from the water; f) collecting the water for disposal, storage, or recycle; g) removing the explosive material from said one or more defused munitions by use of a jet of high-pressure fluid, thereby resulting in demilitarized munition casings and a liquid slurry containing the explosive material along with any binder and sealant material from the interior of the munition; and h) passing the liquid containing the explosive material to a separation stage wherein said explosive is separated from said liquid slurry.