The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 1997
Filed:
Jun. 04, 1996
Ian John Kirby, Ayr, GB;
Graeme Allan Leiper, Prestwick, GB;
Abstract
The invention provides an improved process for the production of a pyrotechnic or explosive device containing encased hazardous solid material wherein the material is dispersed in an inert liquid, the dispersion is formed into droplets and the droplets are solidified in a cooling medium. The solidified droplets are loaded into a casing and freeze-dried in situ in the casing to produce dry particles of the hazardous material, which may optionally be pressed within the casing, advantageously under vacuum, Only the operations (if any) subsequent to the freeze-drying need special precautions to be taken to prevent damage to personnel or equipment. The invention is advantageous for the preparation of detonators, igniters and other devices containing hazardous materials for example lead azide, lead styphnate, pentaerythritol tetranitrate and boron/potassium nitrate mixtures.