EP0096482A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for initiating explosions and method therefor
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1983-05-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-05-16
Abstract
Abstract Detonating apparatus comprises a plurality of multi- channel exploders (MCEs) connected to a control unit which provides an operator/apparatus interface remote from the MCE's detonator circuits. MCEs measure integrity, resonant frequency and impedance at resonance of the detonator circuits connected to each channel, and are thereby programmed to give optimum firing current at the resonant frequency. The control unit provides electrical power, interrogates the MCEs on the status of their detonator circuits, and gives firing signals to be obeyed by MCEs after predetermined delays.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter John Saunders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:33
CPC Classifications
F; F42; F42D; F42D1/00; F42D1/04; F42D1/045; F42D1/05; F42D1/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for initiating explosions by providing an electrical firing current in a plurality of detonator circuits (1-2) connected thereto, said apparatus comprising a control unit (1-1) having a firing signal generator, said control unit being locatable remote from the detonator circuits, and at least one multi-channel exploder (MCE) (1-2) connected to said control unit and having a plurality of channels (1-3), each channel being provided with output means for connection to one of the detonator circuits,and each MCE having firing means (15-14) responsive to a firing signal from the control unit (1-1) for discharging a firing current into each detonator circuit at a predetermined time interval after receipt of the firing signal, characterised in that each MCE comprises energy storage means (25-7) for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by the control unit (1-1) and means for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit (25-6) connected to each channel, (1-3) and the control unit (1-1) comprises an energy source (4-5) from which to provide the electrical energy requirements of all the MCE's connected thereto and . means (4-1) for interrogating each MCE to determine whether or not all of the MCE's channels (1-3) have complete detonator circuits.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
An apparatus for initiating explosions by providing an electrical firing current in a plurality of detonator circuits (1-2) connected thereto, said apparatus comprising a control unit (1-1) having a firing signal generator, said control unit being locatable remote from the detonator circuits, and at least one multi-channel exploder (MCE) (1-2) connected to said control unit and having a plurality of channels (1-3), each channel being provided with output means for connection to one of the detonator circuits,and each MCE having firing means (15-14) responsive to a firing signal from the control unit (1-1) for discharging a firing current into each detonator circuit at a predetermined time interval after receipt of the firing signal, characterised in that each MCE comprises energy storage means (25-7) for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by the control unit (1-1) and means for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit (25-6) connected to each channel, (1-3) and the control unit (1-1) comprises an energy source (4-5) from which to provide the electrical energy requirements of all the MCE's connected thereto and . means (4-1) for interrogating each MCE to determine whether or not all of the MCE's channels (1-3) have complete detonator circuits.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the control unit (1-1) has a firing signal generator (4-3) adapted to transmit at least one characteristic frequency and the interrogating means is adapted to determine whether or not all of the MCE's (1-2) are detecting the presence of the said characteristic frequency and each MCE (1-2) contains a means (15-4) for detecting the presence of the said characteristic frequency and a means (15-3) for communicating the presence of the said characteristic frequency to the control unit (1-1).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that each MCE (1-2) comprises a processor (15-1) and a plurality of channels (15-2) connected to and controlled by said processor, said processor (15-1) also providing an interface between the channels (1-3) and the communication link (15-6) to the control unit (1-1), the channels (1-3) each having their own energy storage means (25-7) and firing means (25-2).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 characterised in that each channel has its own built-in impedance testing means (25-6).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 characterised in that each channel has its own built-in time delay means (25-2).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
77 words
An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 inclusive characterised in that each impedance testing means (25-6) is adapted to provide a quantitative measure of the impedance of the circuit tested, and each channel (1-3) comprises means (25-1) responsive to its measured impedance for regulating the voltage of the energy stored, or the proportion thereof converted to a firing current, to that voltage which produces a predetermined optimum current in its detonator circuit.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in any, one of Claims 1 to 6 inclusive characterised in that the detonator circuits are transformer-coupled to detonators of the kind fired by alternating currents.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 characterised in that the detonator circuits are coupled to electric detonators through ferrite rings (2-5).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
An apparataus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 characterised in that the means for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit comprises a variable frequency generator (25-3) for applying an alternating test signal to the detonator circuit at a current which is less than that required to fire its detonators and at a frequency which at least includes the resonant frequency of the detonator circuit, and impedance detecting means (25-6) adapted to monitor changes in the detonator circuit impedance with changes in the test signal frequency and thereby to detect any frequency at which the impedance passes through a minimum, means to measure this minimum impedance and the frequency at which it occurs, this latter frequency being the resonant frequency, and means (25-5) for producing a firing current substantially at the resonant frequency of the detonator circuit.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as claimed any one of Claims 1 to 9 inclusive characterised in that each MCE channel (1-3) is provided with means (25-7) for detecting when it fails to supply a firing current in response to a firing signal and the control unit has means (6-2) for indicating when any channel as so failed.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
246 words
A method for initiating explosions by providing an electrical firing current in a plurality of detonator circuits comprising connecting each detonator circuit to a channel (1-3) of at least one multi-channel exploder (MCE) (1-2), connecting said MCE to a control unit (1-1) located remote from said detonator circuits and having firing means (15-4) responsive to a firing signal from the control unit (1-1) for discharging a firing current into each detonator circuit at a predeterined time interval after receipt of the firing signal, characterised in that each MCE comprises a capacitive storage means (25-7) for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by the control unit (1-1), means (25-6) for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit connected to each channel and means (15-3) for communicating the detonator circuit impedance to the control unit (1-1), and further characterised in that the control unit comprises an energy source (4-5) from which to provide the electrical energy requirements of all the MCE's connected thereto, means (4-1) for interrogating each MCE (1-2) to determine whether or not all of the MCE's channels (1-3) have complete detonator circuits; and means (4-4) for communicating to the operator any channels with faulty detonator circuits and electrical energy is provided from said energy source to said energy storage means (25-7), the impedance of said detonator circuit (2-2) is tested, each MCE 81-2) is interrogated and a firing signal is generated to actuate said firing means (15-14) to provide firing current in said detonator circuit.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
246 words
A method for initiating explosions by providing an electrical firing current in a plurality of detonator circuits comprising connecting each detonator circuit to a channel (1-3) of at least one multi-channel exploder (MCE) (1-2), connecting said MCE to a control unit (1-1) located remote from said detonator circuits and having firing means (15-4) responsive to a firing signal from the control unit (1-1) for discharging a firing current into each detonator circuit at a predeterined time interval after receipt of the firing signal, characterised in that each MCE comprises a capacitive storage means (25-7) for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by the control unit (1-1), means (25-6) for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit connected to each channel and means (15-3) for communicating the detonator circuit impedance to the control unit (1-1), and further characterised in that the control unit comprises an energy source (4-5) from which to provide the electrical energy requirements of all the MCE's connected thereto, means (4-1) for interrogating each MCE (1-2) to determine whether or not all of the MCE's channels (1-3) have complete detonator circuits; and means (4-4) for communicating to the operator any channels with faulty detonator circuits and electrical energy is provided from said energy source to said energy storage means (25-7), the impedance of said detonator circuit (2-2) is tested, each MCE 81-2) is interrogated and a firing signal is generated to actuate said firing means (15-14) to provide firing current in said detonator circuit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method as claimed in Claim 15 characterised in that the detonator circuits (2-2) are transformer coupled to electric detonators, the impedance of each detonator circuit being tested by applying an alternating test signal to the detonator circuit at a frequency which at least includes the resonant frequency of the detonator circuit and detecting the impedance at the resonant frequency, and a firing current is produced from the firing means (15-14) substantially at the resonant frequency of the detonator circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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