Rk. Wharton et al., The development and application of a pivoted beam test apparatus for assessing safety in the handling of initiator devices, PROP EXPL P, 26(2), 2001, pp. 84-90
Initiator devices contain small quantities of explosives and are therefore
capable of causing harm to operators in the event of an accidental initiati
on. Little information exists on methods for assessing whether initiator de
vices can be safely subjected to the sorts of forces generated in manual ha
ndling. We have therefore undertaken research to quantify such forces and t
hen to design the apparatus to replicate them. Typical forces are those gen
erated in pulp pinch grips and in single finger presses. This paper present
s information relating to the design and use of a pivoted beam unit and its
use to investigate percussion caps, a conducting composition cap, stab det
onators, flash sensitive detonators, electric detonators and stab igniters.