Blasting machine and detonator apparatus

A combination, comprising:

• a signal selective detonator for receiving a detonation signal;
• a blasting machine operable to send an electrical multi-pulse detonation signal to the signal selective detonator, the blasting machine having
• a charge storage system including a capacitor for storing and discharging an electric charge;
• an output port from which the multi-pulse detonation signal can be sent to the signal selective detonator;
• a switching system including a semi-conductor switch connected between the capacitor and the output port, said semi-conductor switch being operable to control current flow between said capacitor and said output port;
• a discharge control system including a multi-pulse wave generator connected to said semi-conductor switch, said wave generator being operable to cause said semi-conductor switch to conduct and to interrupt discharge current of said capacitor through said output port repeatedly to produce the multi-pulse detonation signal;
• the signal selective detonator having
• a transformer having first and second multi-turn coils linked by a magnetically permeable core;
• at least one of the first and second multi-turn coils being a pre-formed coil mounted on the core, said first coil being connectable to receive the multi-pulse signal from the blasting machine;
• an explosive igniting element connected to said second multi-turn coil to form a neutral closed loop circuit;
• explosive material in contact with the explosive igniting element;
• and
• when said blasting machine and said detonator are electrically connected in a circuit, said
• transformer being operable to pass an electric current through said explosive igniting element to ignite said explosive material when said multi-pulse time varying detonation signal is received from said blasting machine.

A blasting machine for producing an electrical multi-pulse detonation signal for setting off a signal selective detonator, comprising:

• a charge storage system including a capacitor;
• an output port from which the multi-pulse detonation signal can be sent to the signal selective detonator;
• a switching system including a semi-conductor switch connected between said capacitor and said output port to control discharge from said capacitor through said output port;
• said semi-conductor switch having a first state and a second state, in said first state said semi-conductor switch permitting discharge of said electric charge from said capacitor through said output port, and in said second state said semi-conductor switch impeding discharge of said electric charge from said capacitor through said output port;
• and
• a discharge control system including a wave generator operable to cause said semi-conductor switch to alternate between said first and said second states to produce the multi-pulse detonation signal at said output port.

A blasting machine for producing an electrical multi-pulse detonation signal for setting off a signal selective detonator, comprising:

• a charge storage system including a capacitor for storing and discharging an electric charge;
• an output port from which the multi-pulse detonation signal can be sent to the signal selective detonator;
• a switching system including a semi-conductor switch connected between said capacitor and said output port, said semi-conductor switch being operable to vary discharge from said capacitor;
• and
• a discharge control system including a wave generator connected to said semi-conductor switch, said wave generator being operable to cause said semi-conductor switch to vary discharge of said electric charge from said capacitor through said output port to produce the multi-pulse detonation signal.

A process for producing an electrical multi-pulse detonation signal sent from a blasting machine for setting off a signal selective detonator, said blasting machine having

• a charge storage system including a capacitor for storing an electric charge,
• an output port from which the multi-pulse detonation signal can be sent to the signal selective detonator,
• a switching system including a semi-conductor switch connected between said capacitor and said output port to control discharge from said capacitor through said output port,
• said semi-conductor switch having a first state and a second state, in said first state said semi-conductor switch permitting discharge of said electric charge from said capacitor through said output port, and in said second state said semi-conductor switch impeding discharge of said electric charge from said capacitor through said output port, and
• a discharge control system including a wave generator operable to cause said semi-conductor switch to alternate between said first and said second states to produce the multi-pulse detonation signal at said output port, and
• a charging system selectively connectable to the charge storage system when the discharge control system is inoperative;
• the process including the steps of:
• (a) storing the electric charge in the capacitor;
• and
• (b) operating said wave generator to cause said semi-conductor switch to alternate between said first and said second states repeatedly to produce the electrical multi-pulse signal.