Apparatus for initiating explosions and method therefor
AssigneeImperial Chemical Industries PLC
InventorPeter J. Saunders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Detonating apparatus comprises a plurality of multichannel 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.
Claims17
An apparatus for initiating explosions by providing an electrical firing current in a plurality of detonator circuits connected thereto, said apparatus comprising:
- a control unit locatable remote from the detonator circuits,
- at least one multi-channel exploder (MCE) connected to said control unit and having a plurality of channels, each channel being provided with output means for connection to one of the detonator circuits,
- each MCE comprising energy storage means for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by the control unit, means for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit connected to each channel thereby to detect whether the circuit is complete or broken, and firing means responsive to a firing signal from the control unit for converting at least a portion of the energy storage means into a firing current in each channel at a predetermined time interval after receipt of the firing signal;
- and the control unit comprising an energy source from which to provide the electrical energy requirements of all the MCEs connected thereto, means for interrogating each MCE to determine whether or not all of the MCE's channels have complete detonator circuits, and a firing signal generator to activate the firing means in the MCEs.
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 of at least one multi-channel exploder (MCE), connecting said MCE to a control unit located remote from said detonator circuits,
- said MCE comprising energy storage means for receiving and storing electrical energy provided by said control unit, means for testing the impedance of the detonator circuit connected thereto to detect whether said circuit is complete or broken and firing means responsive to a firing signal from the control unit for converting at least a portion of the stored energy into a firing current in said channel at a predetermined time interval after receipt of a firing signal,
- and said control unit comprising an energy source to provide electrical energy to said MCE, means for interrogating said MCE to determine whether or not said channel is connected to a complete detonator circuit and a firing signal generator to activate said firing means in the MCE,
- providing electrical energy from said energy source to said energy storage means, testing the impedance of said detonator circuit, interrogating said MCE to determine whether or not said channel is connected to a complete detonator circuit and generating a firing signal to actuate said firing means to provide firing current in said detonator circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.