A low-cost, reliable and easy to use kit for neutralizing surface exposed landmine and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian demining is based on a liquid fuel and a solid/soluble fuel. Both fuels are premeasured in separate, sealed containers. The addition of a small quantity of solid/soluble fuel into the liquid creates an explosive. The resulting mixture is capable of detonating with a standard No. 8 blasting cap. The solid/soluble fuel can be in the form of a powder, tablet, or its saturated solution in water. The solid/soluble fuel is hexamethylenetetramine. The liquid fuel, nitromethane, is provided in premeasured quantities. User is provided instructions for choosing the appropriate quantity of liquid fuel, the corresponding solid/soluble fuel required, the method of mixing, placement and detonation of the kits. Also disclosed is a simple wooden stand to hold the bottle of explosive in place. A special fuel, liquid 2-ethylhexylnitrate, is provided to desensitize the mixed and sensitized explosive.

A low-cost, reliable and easy to use kit for neutralizing surface exposed landmine and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian demining is based on a liquid fuel and a solid/soluble fuel. Both fuels are premeasured in separate, sealed containers. The addition of a small quantity of solid/soluble fuel into the liquid creates an explosive. The resulting mixture is capable of detonating with a standard No. 8 blasting cap. The solid/soluble fuel can be in the form of a powder, tablet, or its saturated solution in water. The solid/soluble fuel is hexamethylenetetramine. The liquid fuel, nitromethane, is provided in premeasured quantities. User is provided instructions for choosing the appropriate quantity of liquid fuel, the corresponding solid/soluble fuel required, the method of mixing, placement and detonation of the kits. Also disclosed is a simple wooden stand to hold the bottle of explosive in place. A special fuel, liquid 2-ethylhexylnitrate, is provided to desensitize the mixed and sensitized explosive.

An explosive booster shaped to fit into a blasthole adjacent a main explosive charge is provided. The booster comprises a body containing a charge of an explosive substance with a passage extending inwardly of the body to receive a detonator therein. The booster is configured to alter the shape of a detonation wave generated upon initiation of the detonator. In an embodiment, the booster includes a first and a second explosive substance, with the first explosive substance being shaped and selected to cause an outer portion of the detonation wave to accelerate relative to the remainder of the wave thereby altering the shape of the wave from a generally spherical wave to a generally planar wave. In an embodiment, the booster includes an internal member capable of altering the shape of the detonation wave.

An explosive booster shaped to fit into a blasthole adjacent a main explosive charge is provided. The booster comprises a body containing a charge of an explosive substance with a passage extending inwardly of the body to receive a detonator therein. The booster is configured to alter the shape of a detonation wave generated upon initiation of the detonator. In an embodiment, the booster includes a first and a second explosive substance, with the first explosive substance being shaped and selected to cause an outer portion of the detonation wave to accelerate relative to the remainder of the wave thereby altering the shape of the wave from a generally spherical wave to a generally planar wave. In an embodiment, the booster includes an internal member capable of altering the shape of the detonation wave.

Provided is a modular directional charge system that can be assembled in different configurations depending on the target. The system includes a removable energetic material, a molded plastic shell comprising a main body and a front cover, a removable fragmentation insert, a removable breaching insert, an initiator well insert, and initiator adapter nuts. The main body comprises an internal energetic material receiving compartment, a first and second tripod mount, a threaded adapter, and a pair of pin receivers, while the front cover comprises an internal removable insert compartment. The main body and front cover are held together with a multi-position adjustable toothed locking interface that adjustably permits the cover to intimately contact the energetic material when the internal removable insert compartment contains a fragmentation insert, a breaching insert, or no insert at all. A method of use is also provided.

A pyrotechnic igniter includes at least one pyrotechnic material designed to be ignited by a heating element, a case enclosing the at least one pyrotechnic material, and a plastic overmoulding of the case, forming a fixation interface of the igniter and designed to be inserted into a fixation orifice of a support up to an inserted position. The fixation interface of the plastic overmoulding includes at least one deformable part designed to elastically deform during passage into the fixation orifice and assume during an elastic return a blocking position against the support when the igniter is in the inserted position in order to prevent any withdrawal of the igniter.

A pyrotechnic igniter includes at least one pyrotechnic material designed to be ignited by a heating element, a case enclosing the at least one pyrotechnic material, and a plastic overmoulding of the case, forming a fixation interface of the igniter and designed to be inserted into a fixation orifice of a support up to an inserted position. The fixation interface of the plastic overmoulding includes at least one deformable part designed to elastically deform during passage into the fixation orifice and assume during an elastic return a blocking position against the support when the igniter is in the inserted position in order to prevent any withdrawal of the igniter.

A pyrotechnic actuator includes a body, and a propelling system including a pyrotechnic igniter mounted inside the body. The pyrotechnic igniter is mounted inside the body such that a peripheral gap is formed between the body and the pyrotechnic igniter and the propelling system further includes a sealing gasket arranged inside the gap in such a manner that the pyrotechnic igniter is maintained in position with respect to the body.

An apparatus for selectively firing a perforating gun having a plurality of gun assemblies may include an end plate, a portion of a signal communication circuit, an initiator assembly, and an initiating element. The end plate has a cavity formed by at least a first passage intersecting a second passage. The first passage extends from a planar end face of the end plate and the second passage extends from a circumferential surface of the end plate. The portion of a signal communication circuit is disposed in the end plate and conveys signals between the first gun and the second gun. The initiator assembly is at least partially disposed in the first passage. The initiating element is sized to pass through the second passage. The initiating element is also configured to electrically couple to the portion of the signal communication circuit and to thermally couple to the initiator assembly when at least partially seated in the first passage.

A booster explosive (10) comprises a canister body 12 within which is a cap well (20) having disposed therein a detonator (24). A protective sleeve (28) encloses the cap well (20) except for that portion of the cap well, the active portion (20d), which encloses the explosive end section (24a) of detonator (24). The protective sleeve serves to attenuate the force of shock waves from nearby prior explosions acting on the detonator (24). An annular air space (32) may be provided between protective sleeve (28) and cap well (20) to further attenuate the force of such shock waves. Attenuation of the shock waves reduces the likelihood of damage to detonators (24) by prior nearby explosions.