Detonator actuator
AssigneeICI Australia Limited
InventorDavid M. Abouav
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator for use in conjunction with a detonator for blasting comprises electronic circuitry which on receiving input signals generates an output arm signal to arm a detonator, and then after a predetermined delay an output actuate signal to fire the detonator and an associated explosive charge. The delay is capable of being remotely and precisely set. The actuator is preferably used in conjunction with a control device which has a microcomputer whose memory contains arm and actuate codes and which has both arm and actuate keys. This microcomputer is such that the actuate key must be operated within a predetermined period after operation of the arm key, otherwise an actuate signal is not transmitted to the actuator.
Claims7
An actuator for a detonator that explosively actuates using stored charge and is responsive to at least one predetermined digital input signal transmitted from a remotely-located control device comprising:
- a housing adaptable to be placed in close proximity to said detonator;
- means disposed in said housing for inputting said predetermined digital input signal from said control device;
- means disposed in said housing for independently generating, on input of said predetermined digital input signal, an output arm signal that changes the state of said detonator from a disarmed state in which said detonator is incapable of being actuated regardless of stored charge used to cause explosive actuation of said detonator to an armed state;
- and
- means disposed in said housing for independently generating, at a predetermined period after the input of said predetermined digital input signal, an output actuate signal that causes explosive actuation of said detonator.
An actuator according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined period can be programmed into said microcomputer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.