Explosion containment device

US4055247A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration · US

Inventors

• William B. Benedick · Albuquerque, US
• Charles J. Daniel · Albuquerque, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 22, 1976
• Grant date: Oct 25, 1977
• Expiry date: Oct 22, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B39/14
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an explosives storage container for absorbing and containing the blast, fragments and detonation products from a possible detonation of a contained explosive. The container comprises a layer of distended material having sufficient thickness to convert a portion of the kinetic energy of the explosion into thermal energy therein. A continuous wall of steel sufficiently thick to absorb most of the remaining kinetic energy by stretching and expanding, thereby reducing the momentum of detonation products and high velocity fragments, surrounds the layer of distended material. A crushable layer surrounds the continuous steel wall and accommodates the stretching and expanding thereof, transmitting a moderate load to the outer enclosure. These layers reduce the forces of the explosion and the momentum of the products thereof to zero. The outer enclosure comprises a continuous pressure wall enclosing all of the layers. In one embodiment, detonation of the contained explosive causes the outer enclosure to expand which indicates to a visual observer that a detonation has occurred.