Blasting machine having a manually operable permanent magnet generator and anti-demagnetization circuit

Claim 2

A blasting machine for detonating blasting caps or the like which comprises: means for storing electrical energy; means for discharging said energy storage means through said blasting caps when said energy storage means reaches a predetermined energy level; manually operable generating means having a rotor and a stator which upon rotation of the rotor generates an alternating current, said stator having first and second output terminals; and means for rectifying the current leaving the output terminals of the stator and supplying energy to said means for storing electrical energy, said rectifying means including at least two capacitors arranged in electrical circuit relationship with at least two diode means and said energy storage means so that said two capacitors are charged in parallel on the first halfcycle of said alternating current generator and charged in series on the second half-cycle of said alternating current generator whereby the impedance of said rectifying circuit alternately varies.

Claim 3

A blasting machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said current rectifying means includes: a first series connected capacitor and diode connected across the output terminals of said stator so that the cathode of said first diode is connected to the first output terminal of said stator, and a second series connected capacitor and diode connected across the output terminals of the stator so that the anode of said second diode is connected to the second output terminal of said stator; a first output lead having one end connected to the junction of the first diode and the first capacitor; and a second output lead having one end connected to the junction of said second capacitor and second diode, said first and second output leads connected in electrical circuit relationship with said energy storage means for supplying energy thereto.

Claim 4

A blasting machine as recited in claim 2 wherein said second output lead includes a third diode means to permit current to flow in only one direction through said second lead and said energy storage means is a third capacitor having one terminal connected in series with said third diode and the other terminal connected in series to said first output lead whereby said first, second and third capacitors are charged in series during only said second half-cycle.

Claim 5

A blasting machine for detonating blasting caps or the like which comprises: means for generating an alternating voltage, said generating means having a rotor that includes a permanent magnet and a stator winding; means for rectifying said alternating voltage, said rectifying means including three capacitors and three diodes in circuit relationship with the stator winding of said generating means, said capacitors and diodes arranged in circuit relationship so that two of said capacitors are charged in parallel when the current leaving the stator winding of the generating means is in one direction and said three capacitors are charged in series when the current leaving the stator is in the other direction; means for indicating when the energy in at least one of said capacitors reaches a predetermined energy level; and means for discharging the energy in at least one of said capacitors through said blasting caps when said predetermined energy level is reached.

Claim 6

A blasting machine for detonating blasting caps or the like which comprises: means for generating an alternating voltage, said generating means having a rotor that includes a permanent magnet and a stator winding; means for rectifying said alternating voltage, said rectifying means including three capacitors and three diodes in circuit relationship with the stator winding of said generating means, said capacitors and diodes arranged in circuit relationship so that two of said capacitors are charged in parallel when the current leaving the stator winding of the generating means is in one direction and said three capacitors are charged in series when the current leaving the stator is in the other direction; means for indicating when the energy in at least one of said capacitors reaches a predetermined energy level; and means for discharging the energy in at least one of said capacitors through said blasting caps when said predetermined energy level is reached.

Claim 7

The blasting machine as recited in claim 4 wherein said two capacitors charged in parallel have a capacitance less than 1/100 of said remaining capacitor.

Claim 8

A blasting machine for detonating blasting caps or the like which comprises: means for storing electrical energy; a manually operable alternating current generating means for supplying electrical energy to said storage means, said generating means having a rotor that includes at least one permanent magnet and a stator winding; current rectifying means in electrical circuit relationship with said stator winding of said current generating means and said energy storage means to permit the passage of current from said generator to said storage means in only one direction, said rectifying means including at least two capacitors and at least two diodes in electrical circuit relationship with said stator so that said capacitors are charged in parallel when the current from the stator is in one direction and charged in series when the current from said stator is in the other direction; means for producing a plurality of electrical trigger pulses when said energy storage means has reached a predetermined energy level; and means for receiving said electrical pulses and discharging said energy storage means through said blasting caps only during the presence of said pulses, whereby said energy storage means cannot be discharged below said predetErmined energy level.

Claim 9

A blasting machine for detonating blasting caps or the like which comprises: means for storing electrical energy; a manually operable alternating current generating means for supplying electrical energy to said storage means, said generating means having a rotor that includes at least one permanent magnet and a stator winding; current rectifying means in electrical circuit relationship with said stator winding of said current generating means and said energy storage means to permit the passage of current from said generator to said storage means in only one direction, said rectifying means including at least two capacitors and at least two diodes in electrical circuit relationship with said stator so that said capacitors are charged in parallel when the current from the stator is in one direction and charged in series when the current from said stator is in the other direction; means for producing a plurality of electrical trigger pulses when said energy storage means has reached a predetermined energy level; and means for receiving said electrical pulses and discharging said energy storage means through said blasting caps only during the presence of said pulses, whereby said energy storage means cannot be discharged below said predetErmined energy level.

Claim 10

The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for storing electrical energy includes a series connected diode and a third capacitor connected in electrical circuit relationship with said rectifying means so that said third capacitor is charged in series with at least two capacitors of said rectifying means in only one of said current directions.

Claim 11

The combination as recited in claim 7 including means for giving an indication that said trigger pulses are being generated.

Claim 12

The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for discharging said energy storage means includes a first normally nonconductive gaseous conductor in circuit relationship with said pulse means, said first gaseous conductor being rendered conductive upon receiving said pulses whereby when pulses from said pulse means are transmitted to said first gaseous conductor, said first gaseous conductor is rendered conductive to permit said storage means to discharge.

Claim 13

The combination as recited in claim 9 including a switch connected between said first gaseous conductor and said pulse means, said switch operable in the ON position to permit the passage of said pulses to said first gaseous conductor whereby said energy storage means is discharged only when said switch is in the ON position and said pulse means is producing pulses.

Claim 14

The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said means for producing electrical trigger pulses comprises: a second normally nonconductive gaseous conductor which rendered conductive when a predetermined voltage is applied thereto, and a resistor-capacitor circuit in series with said second gaseous conductor so that when said second gaseous conductor is rendered conductive, said capacitor lowers the voltage applied to said second gaseous conductor below said predetermined value and said second gaseous conductor is rendered nonconductive.

Claim 15

The combination as recited in claim 9 wherein said means for producing electrical pulses comprises: a second normally nonconductive gaseous conductor which is rendered conductive when a predetermined voltage is applied thereto, and a resistor-capacitor circuit in series with said second gaseous conductor so that when said second gaseous conductor is rendered conductive, said capacitor lowers the voltage applied to said second gaseous conductor below said predetermined value and said second gaseous conductor is rendered nonconductive.

Claim 16

The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for producing electrical pulses comprises: a second normally nonconductive gaseous conductor which is rendered conductive when a predetermined voltage is applied thereto, and a resistor-capacitor circuit in series with said second gaseous conductor so that when said second gaseous conductor is rendered conductive, said capacitor lowers the voltage applied to said second gaseous conductor below said predetermined value and said second gaseous conductor is rendered nonconductive.

Claim 17

The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said first gaseous conductor is a 3-electrode spark gap and said pulse generating means includes means for indicating the presence of pulses whereby operation of said switching means permits the discharge of the energy in said energy storage means through said blasting caps.

Claim 18

The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said first gaseous conductor is a 3-electrode spark gap and said pulse generating means includes means for indicating the presence of pulses whereby operation of said switching means permits the discharge of the energy in said energy storage means through said blasting caps.

Claim 19

The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said first gaseous conductor is a 3-electrode spark gap and said pulse generating means includes means for indicating the presence of pulses whereby operation of said switching means permits the discharge of the energy in said energy storage means through said blasting caps.

Claim 20

The combination recited in claim 13 wherein saId first gaseous conductor is a 3-electrode spark gap and said pulse generating means includes means for indicating the presence of pulses whereby operation of said switching means permits the discharge of the energy in said energy storage means through said blasting caps.

Claim 21

The combination recited in claim 11 wherein said second gaseous conductor is a 2-electrode spark gap.

Claim 22

The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said second gaseous conductor is a 2-electrode spark gap.

Claim 23

The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said second gaseous conductor is a 2-electrode spark gap.

Claim 24

The combination recited in claim 14 wherein said second gaseous conductor is a 2-electrode spark gap.