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Hackaday has an interesting article about explosions that save lives rather than take them.
Normally, when something explodes it tends to be a bad day for all involved. But not every explosion is intended to maim or kill. Plenty of explosions are designed to save lives every day, from the highway to the cockpit to the power grid. Let's look at some of these pyrotechnic wonders and how they keep us safe.
Explosive Bolts
The first I can recall hearing the term explosive bolts was in relation to the saturation TV coverage of the Apollo launches in the late 60s and early 70s. Explosive bolts seemed to be everywhere, releasing umbilicals and restraining the Saturn V launch stack on the pad. Young me pictured literal bolts machined from solid blocks of explosive and secretly hoped there was a section for them in the hardware store so I could have a little fun.
"Eject! Eject! Eject!"
Holding back missiles is one thing, but where pyrotechnic fasteners save the most lives might be in the cockpits of fighter jets around the world. When things go wrong in a fighter, pilots need to get out in a hurry. Strapping into a fighter cockpit is literally sitting on top of a rocket and being surrounded by explosives.
Behind the Wheel
There's little doubt that airbags have saved countless lives since they've become standard equipment in cars and trucks. When you get into a modern vehicle, you are literally surrounded by airbags — steering wheel, dashboard, knee bolsters, side curtains, seatbelt bags, and even the rear seat passenger bags. And each one of these devices is a small bomb waiting to explode to save your life.
Grid Down
We've covered a little about utility poles and all the fascinating bits of gear that hang off them. One of the pieces of safety gear that lives in the "supply space" at the top of the poles is the fuse cutout, or explosive disconnector. This too is a place where a small explosion can save lives — not only by protecting line workers but also by preventing a short circuit from causing a fire.
(Score: 2) by VLM on Sunday January 08 2017, @08:02PM
Nobody mentioned the sawstop patent troll-ish thing? When the patents on that run out the world will probably be a safer place. Either that or when the patent system is reformed, LOL.
Another fun one is explosive powered nail guns. Mostly you see them WRT masonry. I wanted one but my wife wouldn't let me get it so I attached storage shelves to my basement wall with hammer-drill. Supposedly works pretty well despite being basically uncontrollable.
You'll get a lot of people complaining about the whole technical definition of detonation vs deflagration and arguments about speeds of sound vs light etc. If you allow anything that goes "bang" then you've got burst disks at chemical plants and stuff like that.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by frojack on Sunday January 08 2017, @11:54PM
And also not mentioned are howitzers, recoil-less rifles, helicopter, and drone delivery of explosives for avalanche control [theinertia.com].
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday January 09 2017, @12:50AM
I was expecting avalanche control near the top of the list...
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday January 09 2017, @12:43AM
All in all, SawStop is not asking for unreasonable royalties - a single minor accident costs far more than the whole SawStop table saw. That they can't reach agreement with industrial tool suppliers is more of a failure of big industry to embrace change; change for the better, according to the thousands of people who lose digits and limbs to saws every year.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by VLM on Monday January 09 2017, @01:00PM
Yeah the problem is the company founder is a patent lawyer (literally) so you can assume bad faith right from the start.
a failure of big industry to embrace change
LOL a week after the patents expire they'll all have a sawstop.
Last I read he was hoping for patent licensing fees over $100 per saw sold, which is insane.
Nothing holds back progress quite like the patent system.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Monday January 09 2017, @06:53PM
Didn't know that part, disconnect from reality is kind of a deal-breaker.
I've heard similar stories from non-troll inventors, like the guy who invented hydraulic power steering assist (as was used from something like WWII up through just recently) - he built one, installed it on his model T, patented it (in that order, I think) and drove to Detroit - all the manufacturers blew him off, then introduced it in the first model year after his patent expired.
Takes money to make money, even with patents.
🌻🌻 [google.com]