They Invented What? (No. 40)

U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,928: Nuclear-sized explosions without radiation.

JW Note:  Many thanks to Dr. Bill Ziehler for bringing this one to our attention!

 

What is claimed is:

1. A method for producing a violent and destructive explosion having high shock energies comprising:

partially filling an expendible structure with an initial mixture of combustible gas and an oxidizer gas in concentrations rich in said combustible gas so that said initial mixture is incapabale of burning or exploding;

mixing additional oxidizer gas into said initial mixture after said initial mixture is in place and contained within said structure to thereby create an explosive mixture within said structure; and

detonating said explosive mixture to produce said explosion and thereby destroying said expendible structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said combustible gas is comprised of methane.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said combustible gas is comprised of a mixture of methane and hydrogen.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said oxidizer gas is comprised of oxygen.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said additional oxidizer gas is mixed with said initial mixture by flowing oxygen gas into said structure after said initial mixture is in place within said structure.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said step of mixing additional oxidizer gas into said initial mixture comprises:

positioning a container of liquid oxygen within said initial mixture within said structure;

positioning an explosive means within said container; and

detonating said explosive means to vaporize and disperse said liquid oxygen into said initial mixture.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said explosive mixture is detonated by exploding conventional explosives positioned within said structure.

8. The method of claim 1 including:

dispersing dust-like particles into such explosive mixture within said structure; and

igniting said dust-like particles to detonate said explosive mixture.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said dust-like particles are comprised of aluminum.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said explosive mixture is detonated by exploding bridge wires positioned within said structure.

11. The method of claim 1 including:

positioning a mesh of metallic, wire-like filaments throughout said structure; and

igniting said mesh to detonate said explosive mixture.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said mesh is comprised of zirconium.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said structure is comprised of an inflatable envelope.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said envelope is spherical inconfiguration when fully inflated.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy yield of said explosive is equivalent to one kiloton or greater of T.N.T.