Inventors:
Kenneth L. Tschritter - Livermore CA, US
Brent L. Haroldsen - Manteca CA, US
Timothy J. Shepodd - Livermore CA, US
Jerome H. Stofleth - Albuquerque NM, US
Raymond A. DiBerardo - Baltimore MD, US
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army - Washington DC
International Classification:
B32B023/02
Abstract:
An explosive destruction system and method for safely destroying explosively configured chemical munitions. The system comprises a sealable, gas-tight explosive containment vessel, a fragment suppression system positioned in said vessel, and shaped charge means for accessing the interior of the munition when the munition is placed within the vessel and fragment suppression system. Also provided is a means for treatment and neutralization of the munition's chemical fills, and means for heating and agitating the contents of the vessel. The system is portable, rapidly deployable and provides the capability of explosively destroying and detoxifying chemical munitions within a gas-tight enclosure so that there is no venting of toxic or hazardous chemicals during detonation.