Method and apparatus for containing and suppressing explosive detonations

Abstract

.[.A method and apparatus for enclosing, controlling and suppressing the detonation of explosives in an explosion chamber is disclosed. The device comprises an elongate double-walled steel explosion chamber anchored to a concrete foundation, and having a double-walled access door for charging new workpieces, and a double-walled vent door for discharging the products of the explosion. The double walls of the chamber, access door and vent door are filled with granular shock damping material such as silica sand, and the floor of the chamber is covered with granular shock-damping bed such as pea gravel. Along the outside of the chamber are steel manifolds from which a linear array of vent pipes penetrates the double walls of the chamber, with each pipe terminating in a hardened steel orifice through which the explosion combustion products pass. Within the chamber, plastic polymer film bags containing water are suspended from steel wires over the explosive material, and at each end of the chamber..]. .Iadd.A method and apparatus for containing and suppressing the detonation of explosives utilizing a sealable double-walled chamber having a floor, an access door and a vent door. The chamber walls are filled, and the floor is covered, with granular shock-damping material. Orificed vent pipes penetrate the chamber walls to vent explosion products into one or more exhaust manifolds. Water-filled bags are positioned around the explosive to absorb energy from the detonation. .Iaddend.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for containing and suppressing .[.explosions.]. .Iadd.a detonation of an explosive, said apparatus .Iaddend.having a chamber, at least one sealable door, and ignition means for detonating .[.an.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.explosive .[.charge.]. within the chamber, and characterized by a plurality of plastic film containers filled with water and suspended in a spaced array within the chamber above the explosive to be detonated. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus for containing and suppressing .[.the explosions.]. .Iadd.a detonation of an explosive .Iaddend.comprising: a closed elongated metal inner casing having a ceiling, a floor, side walls and ends, and a closed elongated metal outer casing spaced from the inner casing, surrounding the inner casing to form an elongated axially symmetrical double-wall chamber having a central axis.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   spacer means for connecting the outer casing to the inner casing in rigid spaced relationship, with the space between the inner and outer casings being filled with granular shock-damping material.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   an openable access door at one end and an openable vent door at the other end, said access and vent doors each being of double-walled metal construction and having sealing means for causing said doors to seal tighter with increasing differential pressure within the chamber.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   additional granular shock-damping material covering the floor of said chamber to an even depth forming a support surface for .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive to be detonated, and ignition means for detonating said explosive.[., and.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   shock suppression means including a plurality of vent pipes connecting the .[.inside wall of the chamber.]. .Iadd.inner casing side walls .Iaddend.with an elongated metal manifold .[.means.]. for receiving and directing explosion products from the vent pipes, said manifold .[.means.]. terminating at an external discharge point.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   a plurality of liquid-filled energy absorption modules suspended in a spaced array substantially along the central axis of the chamber above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive to be detonated.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the energy absorption modules comprise plastic film containers filled with water, with the mass of water being substantially equal to the explosive to be detonated. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which the containers are individual bags made of polyethylene sheet material, and the chamber ceiling has a plurality of depending wire supports from which the bags are hung. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 3 in which an additional water-filled bag is disposed along the central axis of the chamber near each end. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the wire supports are made of 9 gauge steel cable. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the bags are commercially available self-locking sandwich bags of about 8.0 ounce liquid capacity. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the ignition means includes electrical igniter wires entering the chamber through a steel hood having .[.an.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.downward-facing access opening positioned below the .[.surface of the granular bed.]. .Iadd.support surface of the granular shock-absorbing material.Iaddend., through which the leads of an electric blasting cap may be attached. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the access door and vent door have sensor means for electrically locking out the ignition means when either door is not in a closed and sealed condition. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 2 including exhaust fan means for evacuating gaseous explosion combustion products of the detonation through the vent door, and drawing fresh air from the access door to fill the chamber after an explosion. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 including .[.conduit.]. means for receiving gaseous explosion .Iadd.combustion .Iaddend.products discharging from the manifold discharge point and vent door after an explosion, and directing them to a .[.scrubber.]. .Iadd.scrubbing .Iaddend.means for stripping said gaseous explosion combustion products of particulate matter and noxious vapors. 
     
     
       12. .[.The.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.method for suppressing and containing explosions within a chamber having at least one sealable door and ignition means for detonating an explosive .[.charge.]. within the chamber, comprising the steps of.Iadd.: .Iaddend.charging the chamber with .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive .[.workpiece.]. .Iadd.to be detonated.Iaddend., attaching ignition means to .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive, suspending a plurality of plastic film containers filled with water in a spaced array within the chamber above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive, closing and sealing the chamber doors, detonating .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive, opening the chamber doors, and exhausting the gaseous explosive combustion products through the door before re-loading the chamber with a new explosive .[.workpiece.].. 
     
     
       13. A method for containing and suppressing .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.detonation of an explosive comprising the steps of: first, placing .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive .[.charge.]. in an enclosed chamber, said chamber comprising: a closed elongated metal inner casing having a ceiling, a floor, side walls .Iadd.defining a central axis .Iaddend.and .Iadd.two .Iaddend.ends.[., and.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   a closed elongated metal outer casing spaced from the inner casing.[.,.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.surrounding the inner casing .[.to form an elongated axially symmetrical double-wall chamber having a central axis,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   .[.spacer.]. .Iadd.spacing .Iaddend.means for connecting the outer casing to the inner casing in rigid spaced relationship, .[.with.]. .Iadd.said outer and inner casing defining a space therebetween, .Iaddend.the space between the inner and outer casings being filled with granular shock-damping material.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.     an openable access door at one end .Iadd.of the inner casing .Iaddend.and an openable vent door at the other end, said access and vent doors each being of double-walled metal construction and having sealing means for causing said doors to seal tighter with increasing differential pressure within the chamber.[.;.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend. additional granular shock-damping material covering the floor of said .[.chamber.]. .Iadd.inner casing .Iaddend.to an even depth forming a support surface for .[.an.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive to be detonated.[., and.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   ignition means for detonating said explosive.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   shock suppression means including a plurality of vent pipes connecting the .[.inside wall of the chamber.]. .Iadd.inner casing side walls .Iaddend.with an elongated metal manifold .[.means.]. for receiving and directing explosion products from the vent pipes, said manifold .[.means.]. terminating at an external discharge point.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.     second, placing a plurality of liquid-filled energy absorption modules suspended in a spaced array substantially along the central axis .[.of the chamber.]. above .[.the.]. .Iadd.said .Iaddend.explosive to be detonated.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.   third, closing and sealing the access and vent doors.[.,.]..Iadd.; .Iaddend.and   fourth, detonating said explosive.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 including the further steps of opening said vent door and access door and evacuating .[.the.]. gaseous explosion combustion products of the detonation through the vent door, while allowing fresh air to fill the chamber from the access door. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13 including the further steps of directing .[.the.]. gaseous explosion combustion products from the manifold .[.means.]. and from the access door into a .[.scrubber.]. .Iadd.scrubbing .Iaddend.means for stripping said gaseous explosion combustion products of particulate matter and noxious vapors. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13 in which the energy absorption modules comprise plastic film containers filled with water, with the mass of water being substantially equal to the explosive to be detonated. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 16 in which the containers are individual bags made of polyethylene sheet material, and the .[.chamber.]. .Iadd.inner casing .Iaddend.ceiling has a plurality of depending wire supports from which the bags are hung. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 in which the wire supports are made of 9 gauge steel cable. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim 17 in which the bags are commercially available self-locking sandwich bags of about 8.0 ounce liquid capacity. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 17 in which an additional water-filled bag is disposed along the central axis .[.of the chamber.]. near each end of the .[.container.]. .Iadd.inner casing.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 13 in which the ignition means includes electrical igniter wires entering the chamber through a steel hood having an downward-facing access opening positioned below the .[.surface of the granular bed.]. .Iadd.support surface of the granular shock-damping material.Iaddend., through which .[.the.]. leads of an electric blasting cap may be attached. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 13 including the step of sensing the position of the access door and vent door, and electrically locking out the ignition means when either door is not in a closed and sealed condition. .Iadd. 
     
     
       23.  An apparatus for containing and suppressing a detonation of an explosive, said apparatus having a chamber, at least one sealable door, and ignition means for detonating an explosive within the chamber, and characterized by a plurality of modules containing an energy absorbing substance, said modules positioned a spaced array, within the chamber, around the explosive to be detonated. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. A method for suppressing and containing a detonation of an explosive within a chamber having at least one sealable door and ignition means for detonating an explosive within the chamber, comprising the steps of charging the chamber with the explosive to be detonated, attaching ignition means to the explosive, positioning a plurality of modules containing an energy absorbing substance said modules positioned in a spaced array, within the chamber, around said explosive, closing and sealing said at least one door, detonation, said explosive, opening said at least one door, and exhausting the gaseous explosive combustion products through said at least one door before re-loading the chamber with a new explosive. .Iaddend.