(1) Explosive; explosive compositions for the purpose of this class are those containing both a fuel and sufficient oxygen or an oxidizer so that, upon initiation, they are capable of undergoing a chemical change at a relatively high rate of speed, or a speed approaching instantaneous, resulting in the production of usable force through chemical change in the composition to produce gaseous products and usually heat, and are used for blasting, firearms, jet propulsion of rockets, vehicles, etc., rapidly filling automotive passenger-restraining gas-bags, etc. See Glossary, below.
(2) "Thermite"; "Thermite-type" compositions for the purpose of this class include; (a) a consumable fuel component which is any of metal (alloy and intermetallic compounds), metal-metalloid compounds, metalloids, and hydrides of metals or metalloids; (b) and in combination therewith an oxidant component which is either a metal oxide, inorganic oxygen salts and organic metal salts capable of yielding a metal oxide on decomposition, which components, depending upon the manner reacted, produce quantities of heat and chemical by-products, either solid or fluid which by-products may be recoverable. These compositions, by way of examples, are employed to produce usable heat and light, chemical products and especially metals, in pyrotechnics and incendiary, match compositions and smokes and for explosive priming or as
additives for explosive compositions.
Included within this definition are unreacted mixtures of metals with metalloids because, though they contain no oxidant, they nevertheless react similarly to "Thermites" to yield usable heat. Also included are thermite compositions which contain an additive designed to prolong heating effects, reduce the production of gas or other by-products or otherwise moderate the exothermic activity of the composition.
(3) Fuel specialized for jet-rocket engine and intended for reaction with an oxidant therein, excluding air, in order to provide thrust for motive power purposes.
(4) For use in neutralizing the poisonous gases of explosives.
(B) Methods of preparing or treating such compositions not otherwise provided for. The classification of processes is based upon particular components of the explosive or thermic composition. LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
Compositions are in this class when defined as charges or forms which, in addition to the composition, set out nominal structure or shape of the charge or component thereof, unless the structure and/or size is such that there is imparted to the charge or component the capacity to function, as an individual unit to produce or alter a particular explosive or thermic effect, for which structure or form see Class 102. However, plural components associated as layered charges are in Class 149 if no particular structure and/or size of any of the layers is set forth.
Jet and rocket engine fuels are classified in this class when (a) the fuel component includes an oxidant component in sufficient quantity to provide the major portion of oxygen necessary for its combustion, or (b) when the fuels are specialized for jet and rocket use only and are contemplated to be combined with an oxidant other than air, except that included herein are those fuels which are known to be, or are disclosed as being, hypergolic even with air as the oxidant.
Conventional fuels, including those disclosed as being capable of use in turbo, ram or pulse jet power plants and which include such additives as anti-corrosion substances or ignition promotors, are in Class 44.
Compositions claimed as fuels and disclosed as being capable of functioning either with air or with other oxidants are classified in Class 44; see below with respect to the "Search" references involving Classes 44 and 75.
The rules for determining Class placement of the Original Reference (OR) for claimed chemical compositions are set
forth in the Class Definition of Class 252 in the section LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES AND WITHIN THIS CLASS, subsection COMPOSITION CLASS SUPERIORITY, which includes a hierarchical ORDER OF SUPERIORITY FOR COMPOSITION CLASSES.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
34, Drying and Gas or Vapor Contact With Solids, appropriate subclasses.
44, Fuel and Related Compositions, for fuels, composition for producing heat without flames or glowing, and certain products, e.g, matches, etc., which use the compositions of this class.
60, Power Plants, for rocket motors, especially 205+, for propulsion methods utilizing compositions of this class (149).
71, Chemistry: Fertilizers, appropriate subclasses for components of this class (149) used in fertilizer compositions.
75, Specialized Metallurgical Processes, Compositions for Use Therein, Consolidated Metal Powder Compositions, and Loose Metal Particulate Mixtures,
27, for processes of producing metals utilizing thermite compositions.
102, Ammunition and Explosives, for ammunition and related devices utilizing the compositions of this class.
106, Compositions: Coating or Plastic, appropriate subclasses for coating compositions, per se, and particularly
139.1+, 162.7+, and 169.01+ and indented subclasses for pyroxylin containing compositions for additions to nitrocellulose other than for explosive purposes.
126, Stoves and Furnaces,
263.01+, for heaters utilizing compositions of this class for heat source.
131, Tobacco,
185, for tobacco products utilizing composition of this class for igniting purposes.
228, Metal Fusion Bonding, 56.3, for a single or plural layer metal article useful as
filler material in a metal fusion bonding operation combined with a thermite segment; and, subclasses 227 and 234.3+ for a process of welding using chemical heating compositions.
241, Solid Material Comminution or Disintegration, appropriate subclasses, especially
31, for processes and apparatus for comminuting explosive materials.
252, Compositions,
70, for a composition which may release heat, due to a readily reversible chemical reaction, subclasses 186.1+ for compositions which contain substances for, or peculiar to, use in bleaching by oxidation, or in other oxidation of extraneous substances, or in generating oxygen, subclasses 188.1+ for compositions which contain substances for use in bleaching by chemical reduction, in deoxygention, or in other chemical reductions of extraneous substances or in generating hydrogen, but having no disclosed Class 149 Utility.
260, Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, for organic explosive compounds and processes of producing or treating them.
264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes, appropriate subclasses for processes within the class definition, for shaping and molding plastic compositions, in particular
3.1, pertaining to shaping of explosives or propellants.
280, Land Vehicles,
728.1+, for airbag type passenger safety guard attachments.
327, Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems, 525, for a self-destructive composition in combination with a circuit board.
366, Agitating, for treating methods limited to agitation, and appropriate apparatus.
420, Alloys or Metallic Compositions, appropriate subclasses for alloys or metallic compositions, per se, which may be useful as a fuel in a composition of this class (149).
423, Chemistry of Inorganic Compounds, for inorganic compounds, per se, and processes for their production by a chemical reaction.
425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus, appropriate subclasses for apparatus to shape or reshape plastic compositions.
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles, appropriate subclasses, for a stock material product in the form of a single or plural layer web or sheet which may be structurally defined, and not specifically provided for elsewhere.
431, Combustion,
357+, for an illuminating flash device burning a charge of thermic or explosive material.
516, Colloid Systems and Wetting Agents; Subcombinations Thereof; Processes of Making, Stabilizing, Breaking, or Inhibiting,
1+, for continuous gas or vapor phase colloid system (e.g., smoke, fog, aerosol, cloud, mist) or agents for such systems or making or stabilizing such systems or agents, when generically claimed or when there is no hierarchically superior provision in the USPC for the specifically claimed art, and when produced by reactions other than by combustion or "Thermite-type".
520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, appropriate subclasses, particularly Class 523, 180, for a composition containing a synthetic resin or natural rubber having utility as a binder in a solid propellant composition or to processes of preparing said composition.
588, Hazardous or Toxic Waste Destruction or Containment,
202, for the destruction of explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics.
GLOSSARY:
CHARGE
As used herein refers to a mixture of ingredients producing a composition of this class or a definite quantity of shapeless or structureless material forming a composition of this class; or at least two compounds or compositions or any mixtures of these associated together or composited but in an unmixed condition, e.g., a primary explosive associated but not intermixed with a secondary explosive, or those compositions including only nominal structure or form.
EXPLOSIVE OR THERMIC COMPONENT
As used in this class covers (1) explosive or thermic compositions, per se, (2) the oxidant portion, (3) the fuel portion of such compositions. See also (4) Note class definition.
EXPLOSIVE COMPOSITIONS
Are classified (a) as HIGH EXPLOSIVE, which, for the purpose of this class, is one whose rate of reaction is substantially instantaneous or detonating in character, and is either (1) an extremely sensitive or highly reactive or detonating chemical compound which is known as a PRIMARY EXPLOSIVE and is used to initiate the secondary or other explosive component of the charge; or (2) is a composition of a combination of two or more primary explosives and as such is known as a SECONDARY or other DERIVED EXPLOSIVE. Such an explosive reacts with detonating force or brisance which is sufficient to shatter the surrounding medium; (b) as LOW EXPLOSIVE, which for the purpose of this class, is controlled to some time interval, less than instantaneous, and as compared to that of high explosive, is slow or deflagrating (burning) in character. It has the property or power to displace the surrounding medium. Although it may be used for certain blasting purposes it is used principally as PROPELLANT to set in motion bullets, missiles or similar devices regardless of size.
FUEL COMPONENT: For the purpose of this class is a material intended for reacting, or to be used in combination, with an oxidant component and includes such finely divided materials as metals (including alloys and intermetallic compounds), metalloids, metal-metalloid compounds, hydrides of metals or metalloids, carbon, sulfur, vegetable material, carbohydrates, hydrocarbons and nitrogen containing organic compounds generally. (Certain substances as gels, paraffins, sulfur, etc., need not be finely divided.)
GRAIN OR POWDER
In the armament arts refers to a charge exhibiting certain definite structural characteristics, but as used in this class the mere reference to "grain" or "powder" without recitation of definite structure, or with reference merely to nominal shape, will be construed as being virtually synonymous with the term "granule" and with finely divided "particulate" or "powdered" material.
MATRIX
As used in this class refers to a shapeless mass resulting by solidifying at least one component from either its liquid or molten state in more or less a continuous phase and wherein there is dispersed throughout at least a second component in particulate form and in substantially a discontinuous phase.
NITRATE V. NITRO
The term "nitrate" is generally used as a suffix in the name of an organic compound, e.g., an ester containing the -ONO2 radical, e.g., guanidine nitrate, while "nitro" is generally used as a prefix to designate an organic compound having the -NO2[end
subscrpt] radical, e.g. nitro-guanidine. The art, however has not maintained this distinction in all cases and thus compounds having the -ONO2 radical which should be known, more properly, as "nitrates", instead, have been known through the years as "nitro" compounds. No attempt is made in this class to correct this situation and the terms as applied to these compounds in this class are the same as are currently accepted and used in this and related arts. For example, the nitrates of such compounds as cellulose, glycerine and starch, among others, are commonly known as "nitro-cellulose", "nitroglycerine" and "nitro-starch" respectively, and when they so appear in this class, the reference, in spite of the inconsistency, is to a compound of the -NO3 radical or -ONO2.
NITRATED
As used in this class, unless otherwise specified, is intended as a generic expression for compounds or substances both organic and inorganic which contain at least one of the empirical radical (s)-(ONOx)y or -(NOx)y, wherein "x" and "y" are whole numbers. Predominately, in this class "x" is 2 and "y", where the compound permits, is 3 or more.
OXIDANT COMPONENT:
As used in this class relates to that portion of a composition which carries sufficient available oxygen to oxidize at least a substantial portion, if not all, of the fuel component of the composition, and includes metal oxides, and organic compounds capable of yielding metal oxide, nitrogen-oxygen or oxygen-halogen salts which are either organic or inorganic, including the oxides and acids of nitrogen-oxygen, liquefied gaseous material, and in the case of "Thermites" only, any inorganic oxygen salt. THERMIC COMPONENT:
(See explosive component) is similar to an explosive component as defined above except that the component may not react quite with the speed or power of an explosive and includes such compositions or components thereof as "Thermite", pyrotechnic, incendiary, fuse, match, smoke, or those compositions or components thereof which react or are capable of reacting to yield usable quantities of heat with or without desired chemical products.