June 28, 19160

2,942,513

F. R. SEAVEY ErAL
ELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATORS

Filed Feb. 14, 1958

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INVENTORS.
BY

FREDER ICK R. SEAVEY

JOHN D. CLARK

ATTORNEYS

United States Patent

1
2,942,513

CC

2,942,313

Patented June 28, 1960

2

Figure 2 is a sectional'view of an electric explosive

initiator made in accordance with this inventon.
In accordance with this invention, generally stated,
these and other objects are achieved by appling an igniter
head to the bridge wire of a detonator ?ring circuit vand

ELECTRIC BLASTING INITIATORS

Frederick vR. Seavey, Alton, and John D. Clark, Herrin,
Ill., assignors to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation,
East Alton, 111., a corporation of Virginia
Filed Feb. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 715,214

inserting the bridge Wire assembly carrying the solvent

laden head into a charged organic thermoplastic or ther

mosetting shell. Preferably, the bridge plug, is also

4 Claims. (Cl. 861)

formed of an organic thermoplastic or thermosetting ma

terial. The ignition bead is formed by dipping the
bridge wire into a paste-like slurry of the ignition com.
position in an organic solvent containing a'_ dissolvedv
binder. The plastic material forming the'detonator case

This invention relates to electric blasting initiators

having bead igniters and to an improved method for
their manufacture.

'

'

Electric explosive initiators generally consist of a cy

lindrical metal or plastic shell containing explosive or
and/or bridge plug must be capable of being permeated
de?agrating material in association with an electrical ?r 15 by the solvent in order to permit drying of the igniter
ing device. The ?ring device is usually in'the form of a
bead, after assembly of the detonate .
' - 1
plug adapted to close the open mouth of the shell and a
Thus, this invention provides a process by whichthe
pair of lead wires passing through the plug and extending
solvent-wet ignition bead can be inserted into a detonator
somewhat beyond its base and a high resistance bridge
assembly immediately after the ignition bead has been
wire adjoining the lead wires and embedded in a thermal 20 applied to the bridge wire, thereby avoiding the conven
responsive ignition composition. When sufficient cur
tional drying period which has heretofore been deemed
rent is passed through the bridge wire, it becomes heated,
essential. After the detonator has been completely as

thus actuating the ignition composition which, in turn,

initiates the remaining charges in the shell.

sembled, the solvent passes through the plastic detonator

Such initiators are manufactured by charging the ex 25

plosive or de?agrating charge into the cylindrical metal

or plastic shell which is closed at one end, and then seal

ing the open end of the charged shell with the bridge plug
assembly.v When these initiators are provided with a

case and/or bridge plug, and a dry, ?rm, adherent

igniter bead results.

The suspension or slurry of the ignition composition

is prepared by mixing the composition with a lacquer
for-med of one or more organic solvents and a binder.

Any of the. commonly usedignition compositions, such

bead type igniter, the bead is formed by dipping the 30 as the lead salts of nitroresorcinols, 'diazodinitrophenoli,
i mercury fulminate, and the like,'can be used. Any sol;
uble organic binder compatible with the ignition comthis operation, the bridge wire and adjacent portions of
position can be utilized. The binder can be, for exam
the lead wires are completely coated by and embedded in
theigm'tion composiiton. This is often accomplished in 35 ple, nitrocellulose, an organic plastic material identical
to or compatible with the materials used in making the
two or three steps, for example, whereby the sensitive
detonator case or plug, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl ace;
igniter is deposited around the bridge wire, coated with a
tate, polymethyl styrene, ester gum, and the like. The
less sensitive, hotter burning booster layer and all cov
solvents used in carrying out the process of the invenered by a protective and con?ning lacquer by a series of
dips and at least partial drying between applications. 40 tion will vary with the particular binder used as well as
with the material used in formulating the detonator case
After the head of ignition composition has been applied,
and/or plug. Various types of solvents, including ethyl
the, bridge plug assemblies are then dried. In order to
acetate, acetone, tetrahydrofuran, acetonitrile, methyl
assure proper functioning of the initiators having the
bridge wire into a paste-like slurry of the ignition com
position in a solvent containing a dissolved binder. By

ethyl ketone, secondary butyl alcohol, toluene, nitro

bead-type igniter, it is common practice to put them in a
special rack which is placed in a drying room, normally 45 methane, ethyl alcohol, and the like are suitable. In
some cases, solvent mixtures are also applicable. For
at a temperature of approximately 50 C. until the sol
example, when the binder is nitrocellulose, an acetone
vent is removed from the bead. This solvent removal
often requires at least 8 hours, and in several. cases must ' alcohol mixture can be utilized; whereas if'ethyl cellu
lose is used as a binder, a mixture of toluene, xylene,
be extended to about 24 hours. Thus, this involves a
a serious interruption in the manufacturing process and 50 ethanol and butanol can be used. In' any event,'the
solvent or solvent mixture must be substantially free of
also entails additional handlingof highly sensitive explo
water. However, it is not essential that it be anhydrous
sive materials. Therefore, the manufacture of electric
and it is only necessary that it does not contain su?i
initiators having bead-type igniters is normally slower
cient water to have a deleterious effect upon the detona
and more hazardous than the manufacture of explosive
tor components.
'
vinitiators provided with loose igniters.
'
55

In preparing the bead igniter, the suspension or slurry

of the ignition composition has the consistency of a rel
atively thin paste. This consistency can vary widely and
initiators having bead type igniters overcoming the dis
advantages of the prior art. Another object of this in
it is only necessary that it be sufficiently adherent to
ventionis to effect economies and to reduce hazards in 60 form a suitable head after the bridge wire had been
the manufacture of electric blasting initiators having bead
dipped into it one or more times. The proportions be
igniters. A more speci?c object of this invention is to
tween the ingredients of the slurry are also partially de
provide a process for the manufacture of electric explo
pendent upon the particular components used. In most
sive initiators in- which the accumulation of sensitive ex
instances, however, it has been found that the binder
plosive components is eliminated.
_
65 may constitute between about 1% .and 3% of the dry
The manner in which these and other objects are ac
weight of the igniter composition. The binder is used
complished by this invention will be fully understood
in a suitable solvent and can be added as a dry powder
when the following description is read in connection
to the igniter mixture which is then wet down withsol
. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a

novel process for the manufacture of electric blasting

with the drawing, in which:

'

vent, or it can be dissolved or dispersed in a suitable

Figure v1 is a sectional view ofa detonataor bridge

amount of solvent before adding the other ingredients
plug assembly illustrating one aspect of the invention; 70 of the igniter mixture. When the-latter method is em
and
.>
I ployed, it is common practice to adjust the viscosity of

2,942,512.

l4;

detonators to leave ?rm, solvent-free, adherent igniter

beads about the bridge wires. After the solvent had

the mixture by either driving o? solvent to raise the

viscosity or by adding solvent to render the suspension

escaped, the ?ring characteristics of these detonators

more ?uid.

Were completely satisfactory; and no difference was ob

The detonator case or shell, as well as the bridge

served between the functioning of detonators prepared

in accordance with this invention and detonators pre

plug closing the mouth of the shell, can be formed of any

organic plastic materials permeable by the organic sol

vent present in the igniter bead. Suitable thermoplastic
molding compositions include the cellulose esters such

pared by the well-known method in whichthe igniter

as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate butyrate, cel

onator.

lulose ethers such as ethyl cellulose, polymerized vinyl

compounds, polymerized esters of acrylic and substituted

bead is thoroughly dried before assembly into the det

10

acrylic acids, polystyrene, chlorinated rubber, modi?ed

isomerized rubber, and the like. Thermosetting mold
ing compositions based on resins of the phenol-formal

detonator case may be formed of the same material or,

dehyde, casein~formaldehyde, ureayformaldehyde, and

if so desired, three different and distinct materials can be

used. Also, various types of explosive trains can be

phenol-furfural types are also readily adaptable for the

formation of the bridge plug and detonator case. Mold

utilized in place of the cyclonite-azide-styphnate combina

ing compositions containing suitable plasticizers with or

without ?llers and coloring agents may be formulated
from these and similar materials so that under proper
molding conditions a shell and a bridge plug may be

tion set forth in the above example.

20

produced which have the desired physical properties.

The particular type of bridge plug assembly is not
critical to the present invention. Thus, the ignition head
can be formed- on the bridge wire or it can be positioned
about a pair of insulated metallic laminae to form the

conventional match head type igniter.

While the detonator described in the above preferred

embodiment was provided with a case, bridge plug, and
bead ignition binder of ethyl cellulose, it will be under
stood that these components are not necessarily identi
cal. Thus, the binder and bridge plug or binder and

In addition, it

has been found advantageous in some instancesto pro

vide an ignition bead support adjacent the bridge wire

by bending the lead wires in the, neighborhood of the
bridge wire or by providing. the bridge plug with a- basal
extension. Structures of this type are particularly well

squibs, de?agrating or igniting devices, and the like.

Since variations in the speci?c embodiment which has
been described may be within the spirit andscope of this
invention, the'detailed description is not to be considered
as limitative except in the light of the appended claims.
Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
30
l. A process for the manufacture of electric explosive

initiators comprising providing an organic thermoplastic

bridge plug having spaced lead wires extending there
through and a bridge wire spanning the lead wires, charg
ing an explosive train into an organic thermoplastic
detonator case, preparing a suspension of'an ignition com

ber- 13,, 1949, to Frederick R. Seavey.

The manner in whichthe objects of the present in

position in a lacquer formed of a binder and a-s'olvent

for the case, applying a bead of the suspension. to the

vention are accomplished will be more readily under

stood by the following speci?c example of a preferred

bridge wire, and assembling the thermoplastic case with

the thermoplastic bridge plug carrying the bead before

embodiment thereof with .referenceto the accompanying

A substantially non-aqueous slurry of normal lead

styphnate inv a dispersion of ethyl cellulose was prepared
by adding about 1 part by weight of ethyl cellulose to

cluding instantaneous blasting caps, delay blasting caps,

exempli?ed by US. Patent"2,.48'1,696, granted-Septem

drawing;

The above description has been directed primarily to

electric detonators. However, the invention is equally
applicable to all types of electric blasting initiators, in

40 an' appreciable amount of solvent is- lost- from the bead.

99 parts by weight of normal lead styphnate, blending

the two and, wetting the mixture with between 30 and
35wparts by weight of a mixed solvent containing 40

parts by volume toluene, 35. parts xylene, 15 parts eth

anol, and 10 parts butanol; After the ethyl cellulose
was swollen and at least partially dispersed, intimate

2. A process for the manufacture of electric explosive

initiators comprising providing an organic thermoplastic

bridge plug having spaced lead Wires extending there
through and a bridge wire spanning the lead wires, charg
ing an explosive train into an organic thermoplastic deto~
nator case, preparing a suspension of an ignition com
position in a lacquer formed of a binder and a solvent
for the case, applying a bead of thesuspension to the

bridge wire, and immediately sealing the bridge plug

mixing was completed and the solvent content adjusted 50 into the mouth of the plastic case.
by adding the mixed solvent dropwise until a desirable
3. A process for the manufacture of electricexplosive

creamy consistency was attained. As indicated above,

if too ?uid a mixture develops, its viscosity may be in

creased by drying during mixing. Molded ethyl cellu

lose bridge plugs 1 of the type shown in Figure 1- pro
vided with lead wires 2 and 3 and ethyl cellulose in

initiators comprising providing an organic plastic bridge

plug having spaced lead wires extending therethrough
and a bridge Wire spanning the lead wires, charging an
explosive train into an organic plastic detonator case,
preparing a suspension of an ignition composition in a
solution of an organic binder, applying a bead ofthe sus
pension to the bridge Wire and immediately sealing the

sulation 4 on the lead wires extending into plug 1 were

provided. Lead wire 2 was bent substantially at right
angles to provide a lateral projection 5. The lead wires
plastic case with the plastic bridge plug carrying the
21 and 3 were joined by a bridge wirev 6. This assem 60 bead of the ignition composition, the bridge plug, deto
bly was dipped into the suspension of the ignition ma
nator case and binder having substantially the same com
terial so as to form an adherent bead'7 about the bridge

wire and the adjacent end of the lead wires.

Immedi~

ately after forming the ignitionbead on the bridge wire,

position.
4. The process of claim 3 in which the bridge plug,
detonator case and binder'for the ignition composition

the. bridge plugs were inserted into molded ethyl cel 65 are formed of ethyl cellulose.
lulose detonator cases 8 as shown in Figure 2. These
cases were previously charged" with a compressed cy
clonite base charge 9 and a lead azide' initiator 10. The
plugs were sealed to the detonator cases by. the applica
tion of a mixture of 80% toluene and 20% secondary 70
butyl alcohol to the annular space 11 between the top
ofv the plug and the case. This solvent mixture ?owed

References'Cited in the file of this patient

UNITED STATES PATENTS

2,399,034

Huyett et a1 _____ __-______. Apr. 23, 1946

2,415,045
2,848,950

Seavey ______________ .._ Jan. 28, 1947

Donaldson ___________ __ Aug. 26, 1958

528,918

Great Britain ________ __ Nov. 11, 1940

between the plug and case, bonding them together. The

solvent blend migrated through. the shell wall and prob

ably partially through. the bIldgELPlllg;Of?lelassmbl?da

FOREIGN PATENTS