Patent US3772958A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3772958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for ammunition disposal
Assignee: Thermal Reduction Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-16
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A bunker has therein a light charge and a heavy charge chamber with light and heavy charge conveyors, respectively, extending therethrough. Burners within the light charge chamber ignite light charges therein, and resultant ashes fall through the links of the light charge conveyor onto a cinder conveyor. Within the heavy charge chamber is an explosion chamber having separate preheat, main heat and detection sections. In both the light and heavy charge chambers are located charge presence detectors which activate time relays. Subsequently, the charges are scanned by temperature detectors, whereby if the charges have not been ignited, the conveyors will be shut down. In the heavy charge chamber, the temperature detector may be replaced by an acoustic shock detector.
Inventors
- 👤 T Mullarkey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 20:17
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42B; F42B33/00; F42B33/06; F42B33/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
An ammunition disposal system comprising a bunker having therein a light charge chamber and a heavy charge chamber, a light charge conveyor extending through said light charge chamber, a heavy charge conveyor extending through said heavy charge chamber, means to suppply light and heavy charges of unused ammunition to said light and heavy charge conveyors, respectively, means to drive said conveyors to cause said charges on said conveyors to be moved through said chambers, means in each of said chambers for heating said charges above the ignition temperature thereof, means positioned in each of said chambers for automatically determining whether said charges have been ignited and for stopping said drive means if said charges have not been ignited.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
An ammunition disposal system comprising a bunker having therein a light charge chamber and a heavy charge chamber, a light charge conveyor extending through said light charge chamber, a heavy charge conveyor extending through said heavy charge chamber, means to suppply light and heavy charges of unused ammunition to said light and heavy charge conveyors, respectively, means to drive said conveyors to cause said charges on said conveyors to be moved through said chambers, means in each of said chambers for heating said charges above the ignition temperature thereof, means positioned in each of said chambers for automatically determining whether said charges have been ignited and for stopping said drive means if said charges have not been ignited.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bunker comprises a solid supporting frame and sides and a top enclosing said frame and being sufficiently flexible to absorb shocks due to ignition of said charges.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light charge conveyor comprises a link chain belt made of material suitable to withstand temperatures and pressures involved in the ignition of said light charge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a cinder conveyor mounted in said light charge chamber for movement beneath said light charge conveyor for removal of ashes resulting from the ignition of said light charge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heavy charge conveyor comprises a mill cHain conveyor having no openings therethrough.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a heavy pressure and temperature resistant explosion chamber positioned within said heavy charge chamber, said explosion chamber including bottom, top and side plates, the upper length of said heavy charge conveyor being supported by said bottom plate, said top and side plates having openings therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said explosion chamber further comprises separate preheat, main heat, and detection sections, said heating means in said heavy charge chamber comprising burners extending through said explosion chamber into said preheat and main heat sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
129 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining means in said light charge chamber comprises means positioned to detect the presence of a light charge on said light charge conveyor, said presence detection means being operatively connected through a time delay relay to said means to drive said conveyors, whereby detection of said light charge activates said time delay relay, and temperature detection means positioned a predetermined distance downstream of said presence detection means for determining whether the temperature of said light charge has reached a working temperature greater than said ignition temperature, said temperature detection means being operatively associated with said time delay relay such that if said working temperature has not been reached, said time delay relay is not reset and said conveyors are stopped.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said presence detection means comprises a photosensitive device, and said temperature detection means comprises a radiation pyrometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining means in said heavy charge chamber comprises means positioned to detect the presence of a heavy charge on said heavy charge conveyor, said presence detection means being operatively connected through a time delay relay to said means to drive said conveyors, whereby detection of said heavy charge activates said time delay relay, and temperature detection means positioned a predetermined distance downstream of said presence detection means for determining whether the temperature of said heavy charge has reached a working temperature greater than said ignition temperature, said temperature detection means being operatively associated with said time delay relay such that if said working temperature has not been reached, said time delay relay is not reset and said conveyors are stopped.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said presence detection means comprises a photosensitive device, and said temperature detection means comprises a radiation pyrometer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
117 words
A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said determining means in said heavy charge chamber comprises means positioned to detect the presence of a heavy charge on said heavy charge conveyor, said presence detection means being operatively connected through a time delay relay to said means to drive said conveyors, whereby detection of said heavy charge activates said time delay relay, and an acoustic explosion detector positioned downstream of said presence detection means for determining whether said heavy charge has been ignited, said acoustic explosion detector being operatively associated with said time delay relay such that if said heavy charge has not been ignited, said time delay relay is not reset and said conveyors are stopped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |