A capsule for a rapidly expandable metallic mixture is described. The capsule (10) comprises an insulating outer casing (14); a rapidly expandable mixture (12) contained in the outer casing; a pair of main trigger electrodes (24) for inducing arc discharge embedded in the metallic mixture; and a pair of power supply rods (22,23) electrically connected to the main trigger electrodes so as to apply high voltage from an external high voltage generator to the main trigger electrodes. The capsule is capable of providing a triggering temperature required for initiation of oxidation of the metallic mixture at temperatures of 700 °C or more. Particularly when two or more pairs of trigger electrodes are arranged in series between the two power supply rods, it is possible to induce effective arc discharge as well as to generate sparks at several points even with the use of low voltage.

A wall breaching warhead 10 for forming a hole through a brick wall includes a shaped charge 12 of explosive material having a central axis 14. The front surface of shaped charge 12 includes a central portion 16, adjacent to central axis 14, having a generally convexly-curved shape, and an annular portion 18, circumscribing central portion 16, having a generally concavely-curved shape. A metallic liner 20, adjacent to at least annular portion 18 of the front surface of charge 12.

A method and compact portable system for excavating a two-soldier fighting position is disclosed in which the method includes using a material-retention type auger to bore a plurality of spaced hollow recesses to a desired depth, placing prepared explosive charges in each bored recess, detonating the explosive charges using a remotely operable detonation device to loosen the soil in the defined pattern, removing the loosened soil, and finalizing the interior walls of the structure. The system is compact and lightweight designed to be stored within a confined carrying pack volume and features a bucket-type, hollow auger system including handle extensions capable of being quickly assembled to bore clean holes in the earth, a plurality of explosive charges, the explosive charges being stored in canisters of a size to fit into the hollow auger bit and holes bored by the auger, means for connecting to and remotely detonating the binary charges in each of the canisters.

The application describes a portable self-­contained unit (1) for transporting and mixing ingredients to form an explosive. The unit comprises an outer container (2) for holding one or more ingredients, an inner (3) container disposed within or contiguous to the outer container (2) for holding one or more ingredients which when mixed with the ingredient(s) in the outer container form an explosive, and a mixing element (8) for mixing together the ingredients in the outer and inner containers to form an explosive. The inner container (3) may be rupturable by the mixing element (8) upon its engagement, and the mixing element (8) may comprise a manually operable reciprocating plunger.

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Industriekartusche mit einer Treibladung aus wenigstens zwei mit unterschiedlicher Geschwindigkeit verbrennenden, aufeinanderfolgend angeordneten Treibladungspulvern, welche durch eine quer zur Hülsenachse verlaufende, gasdurchlässige Abdeckung voneinander getrennt sind. Die Hülse der Kartusche enthält an ihrem dem Bodenstück entgegengesetzten Ende einen kompressiblen Verschluß. In der Hülse ist axial ein Anzündleitrohr angeordnet, welches in Höhe des vom Bodenstück aus gesehen zweiten bzw. letzten Treibladungspulvers eine Abdeckung aufweist, die dünner als die Wandung des Anzündleitrohrs ist.

The invention provides a container for explosive material comprising a rigid tube (10 Figs. 1-4, 18 Figs. 5-8) a closure (13, 14; 19, 20) at each end of the tube, said tube having a recess (12; 21) in its wall between its ends to receive a detonating cartridge.