Digital delay detonator
AssigneeThe Ensign-Bickford Company
InventorsRobert G. Pallanck, Kenneth A. Rode
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical delay detonator for blasting initiation systems and the like energized solely by a force input from a non-electric signal communication system, which detonator has a hollow, electrically conductive housing enclosing a booster charge connected to the source of non-electric input force, a transducer positioned in force communicating relationship with the booster charge for converting the output force from the booster charge to an electrical output signal, an electrical circuit connected to the output of the transducer for introducing a time delay in the electrical output from the transducer and an electrically operable igniter element.
Claims16
An electrical delay detonator for blasting initiation systems energized substantially solely by a force input from a non-electric signal communication system comprising:
- a hollow electrically conductive housing enclosing the electrical delay detonator, said housing being closed at one end and open at the other end for end-wise connection to a source of non-electric input force connected to the open end;
- a booster charge positioned in said housing for activation by said non-electric input force;
- a transducer for directly converting the output force from the booster charge to an electrical output signal, said transducer being positioned adjacent to and in force communicating relationship with said booster charge;
- said transducer being substantially insensitive to environmental shock forces and sensitive substantially only to the output force of such booster charge;
- an electrical circuit connected to the output of said transducer for introducing a time delay in the electrical output from said transducer relative to the output signal from said electrical circuit;
- and
- an electrically operable igniter element including means connecting said igniter element to the electrical output of said electrical circuit whereby said igniter is electrically energized after expiry of a time interval between force input to the transducer and electrical output from the electrical circuit.
An electrical delay detonator energized by a shock tube force input comprising:
- a length of shock tube capable of generating an output force,
- a hollow tubular electrically conductive housing closed at one end and open at the other, said length of shock tube being sealed to the open end of said housing thereby to communicate the shock tube output force;
- said housing containing a booster detonator arranged for energization by the output force of the shock tube to produce a booster output force in the range of 72,000 psi to 145,000 psi,
- a multi-layer piezoceramic electric transducer juxtaposed with said booster to receive the booster output shock wave substantially perpendicular to the major plane of the layers of the transducer to produce an electrical output in the range of 80 to 150 amperes for a time pulse in the range of 1 to 2 microseconds,
- electric storage capacitor means;
- the output of said piezoceramic transducer being connected to charge said storage capacitor means;
- the output of said storage capacitor means being connected to a delay circuit, the output of the delay circuit occurring after a preset time period, said delay circuit output being connected to control energization of an igniter element operable to effect energization of the detonator.
An electrical delay detonator for blasting initiation systems energized substantially solely by a force input from a non-electric signal communication system comprising:
- a hollow housing enclosing the electrical delay detonator, said housing being closed at one end and open at the other end for end-wise connection to a source of non-electric input force connected to the open-end;
- a booster charge positioned in said housing for activation by said non-electric input force;
- a transducer for directly converting the output force from the booster charge to an electrical output signal, said transducer being positioned adjacent to and in force communicating relationship with said booster charge;
- said transducer being substantially insensitive to environmental shock forces and sensitive substantially only to the output force of such booster charge;
- an electrical circuit connected to the output of said transducer for introducing a time delay in the electrical output from said transducer relative to the output signal from said electrical circuit;
- and
- an electrically operable igniter element including means connecting said igniter element to the electrical output of said electrical circuit whereby said igniter is electrically energized after expiry of a time interval between force input to the transducer and electrical output from the electrical circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.