Low-voltage primary-free detonator

Abstract

A detonator includes a detonator shell having an open end, a closed end, and a hollow interior between the open and closed ends. A pyrotechnical material is disposed within the hollow interior, and a main explosive load is disposed within the hollow interior between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end. At least one of the pyrotechnical material or the main explosive load may be multilayered.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A detonator, comprising:
 a detonator shell having an open end, and a closed end;   a multilayered pyrotechnical material disposed within the detonator shell; and   a main explosive load disposed within the detonator shell between the multilayered pyrotechnical material and the closed end of the detonator shell, wherein the multilayered pyrotechnical material includes:
 a first pyrotechnical layer having a first pyrotechnical pressed density; and 
 a second pyrotechnical layer having a second pyrotechnical pressed density, different from the first pyrotechnical pressed density. 
   
     
     
         2 . The detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the second pyrotechnical layer is positioned adjacent the main explosive load, and the first pyrotechnical layer is positioned between the second pyrotechnical layer and the open end, the first pyrotechnical pressed density being less than the second pyrotechnical pressed density. 
     
     
         3 . The detonator of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement area defining a longitudinally-extending channel therethrough, wherein the multilayered pyrotechnical material is disposed within the channel of the reinforcement area. 
     
     
         4 . The detonator of  claim 3 , wherein the main explosive is disposed outside of the channel of the reinforcement area. 
     
     
         5 . The detonator of  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement area is positioned within the detonator shell and extends between the open end and the closed end. 
     
     
         6 . The detonator of  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcement area has a first end and a second end, the channel extending between the first end of the reinforcement area and the second end of the reinforcement area. 
     
     
         7 . The detonator of  claim 3 , wherein each of the reinforcement area and the detonator shell is fabricated from a metal, the reinforcement area having a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the detonator shell. 
     
     
         8 . The detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the detonator shell is configured to confine a burning gas within a cavity of the detonator shell to linearly increase a deflagration or burn speed until the deflagration or burn speed reaches a detonation velocity of at least about 6000 m/sec. 
     
     
         9 . The detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the detonator shell has an outer diameter of about 8 mm to about 20 mm, and a length of up to about 70 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the first pyrotechnical layer has a first grain size, and the second pyrotechnical layer has a second grain size different from the first grain size. 
     
     
         11 . The detonator of  claim 1 , wherein the first pyrotechnical pressed density of the first pyrotechnical layer is about 1.0 g/cm3 to about 1.3 g/cm3, and the second pyrotechnical pressed density of the second pyrotechnical layer is about 1.4 g/cm3 to about 1.8 g/cm3. 
     
     
         12 . The detonator of  claim 1 , further comprising a plug configured to close the open end of the detonator shell, wherein the plug has an electrical contact. 
     
     
         13 . A detonator, comprising:
 a detonator shell having an open end and a closed end;   a channel extending within the detonator shell between the open end and the closed end;   a pyrotechnical material disposed within the channel; and   a main explosive layer disposed within the detonator shell between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end of the detonator shell, wherein the channel includes:
 a first portion defining a first inner diameter; and 
 a second portion positioned between the first portion and the closed end, the second portion of the channel defining a second inner diameter that is smaller than the first inner diameter of the first portion of the channel. 
   
     
     
         14 . The detonator of  claim 13 , wherein the channel tapers in a direction from the open end of the detonator shell to the closed end of the detonator shell. 
     
     
         15 . The detonator of  claim 13 , wherein the channel is venturi-shaped. 
     
     
         16 . The detonator of  claim 13 , further comprising a reinforcement area positioned within the detonator shell, wherein the reinforcement area defines the channel therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . A detonator, comprising:
 a detonator shell having an open end and a closed end;   a pyrotechnical material disposed within the detonator shell; and   a multilayered main explosive load disposed within the detonator shell between the pyrotechnical material and the closed end, wherein the multilayered explosive load includes:
 a first explosive load layer having a first pressed density; and 
 a second explosive load layer having a second pressed density, different from the first pressed density. 
   
     
     
         18 . The detonator of  claim 17 , wherein the first explosive load layer is positioned adjacent the pyrotechnical layer, and the second explosive load layer is positioned between the first explosive load layer and the closed end. 
     
     
         19 . The detonator of  claim 18 , wherein the second pressed density is greater than the first pressed density. 
     
     
         20 . The detonator of  claim 17 , wherein each layer of the multilayered main explosive load is pressed into a shape having at least one of a substantially V shape, a convex shaped contour, or a concave shaped contour.