Explosive Bolts

Explosive Bolts are used to firmly attach mating items and then allow remote separation on command. CAD Explosive Bolts come in two general types: fragmenting and non-fragmenting. The former, while more compact and economical, can produce a small amount of fragmentation and do liberate the products of combustion of the pyro/explosive material used. Non-fragmenting bolts separate cleanly without fragmentation and contain all products of combustion. CAD’s undersea-capable bolts are typical of the non-fragmenting type. Our Explosive Bolts are manufactured using a wide range of materials, which can be selected to maximize strength and corrosion resistance and/or minimize weight or electrical conductivity. As with our other pyrotechnically powered devices, a small amount of electrical energy can liberate a large amount of chemical energy and translate this into a large amount of mechanical work.

Applications:

  • On-Command separation of stages/sections on aerospace vehicles.
  • Release of payload and/or stores on air vehicles.
  • Release of payload, malfunctioning manipulator arms, ballast plates, etc. on undersea vehicles (Manned or Remotely Operated).

Performance:

  • Tensile strengths from 300 to 85,000 lbs-Force.
  • Materials cut: Fiber Optics; Stainless Steel Wire Rope; Armored Composite Tether; Steel, Stainless Steel, Titanium, etc. Structural Members.
  • Operating Temperatures of -65° F. to 420° F. (-54° C. to 215° C.)
  • Undersea Applications rated to 15,000 PSI.
  • Materials: Stainless Steel, Inconel, Plated Carbon Steel, and Plastic.