System for the initiation of rounds of individually delayed detonators
AssigneeSenex Explosives, Inc.
InventorsChristopher L. Eddy, Rajeev N. Singhal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is an electronic detonator delay assembly, having an associated detonator, that can be pre-programmed on site with a time delay and installed in a borehole to carryout a blast operation. The assembly is first coupled to a programming unit to program the desired time delay, and then to a blasting unit, by means of a magnetic coupling device in the electronic delay assembly and to a single pass of a conductive wire through the magnetic coupling device. The programmed time delay in the electronic delay assembly can be double checked through a wireless communication link between the electronic delay assembly and the programming unit.
Claims22
An electronic delay assembly which can be connected to an explosive detonator having a fuse head therein and effect the firing of the detonator in a controlled manner, said electronic delay assembly comprising:
- a) a magnetic coupling device having an opening therein configured to receive a conductive wire extending therethrough, with said magnetic coupling device generating output signals based on currents passing in the wire;
- b) a system power reservoir connected to the magnetic coupling device and storing electrical energy therein based on power signals passing in the wire extending therethrough and generated by the magnetic coupling device;
- c) a microprocessor which has internal, nonvolatile memory therein and which receives its operating power from the system power reservoir;
- d) a decoder which is connected to the magnetic coupling device, decodes communications signals passing in the wire extending therethrough and generated by the magnetic coupling device, and supplies those decoded communications signals to the microprocessor;
- and
- e) a trigger circuit connected between the system power reservoir and the fuse head in the detonator for supplying, under the control of the microprocessor, electrical energy from the system power reservoir sufficient to fire a detonator connected thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.