Orica Explosives Technology Pty Limited

Orica International Pte Ltd

Charles Michael Lownds

Dirk Hummel

Ronald F Stewart

Howard A Bampfield

Erich Nicol Meyer

Michael John McCann

James Blair Hamblen

Walter Hardy Piel

Eric Nichol Meyer

Michael John Mccann

Eric Nicol Meyer

Howard Bampfield

Wireless detonator systems present opportunities for controlled blasting of rock without the encumbrances of physical wired connections at the blast site. Disclosed herein are wireless detonator assemblies, which sense the state of environmental condition(s) of their immediate vicinity, and which are active to receive and/or process a command signal to FIRE only if the environmental condition(s) are deemed suitable or appropriate according to predetermined parameters. Also disclosed are improved methods of blasting involving such wireless detonator assemblies, as well as corresponding wireless electronic primers.

Wireless detonators with state sensing, and their use

Disclosed herein are significant improvements in security and safety of blasting apparatuses intended for use in mining operations. These include the development of an apparatus and method for blasting that involves activation or deactivation of the blasting apparatus in accordance with pre-determined parameters. For example, these parameters may include one or more of: a location of the blast site, a time for the blasting event, a number of previous blasts, a number of previous blasts within a given time period, and identification of detonator identification codes. The activation or deactivation may involve cross-communication between components of the blasting apparatus and/or associated detonators. Such cross-communication may involve electronic or wireless communication means, including for example the use of cell phone technology, or the internet. In this way, preferred apparatuses and methods disclosed herein permit rapid analysis and verification of a geographical location and time for a blasting event, as well as control and logging of the blasting event, all from a remote location.

Apparatus and method for blasting

Disclosed herein are connectors for connecting a variety of wires at a blast site, for versatile set-up of lines extending for example between a blasting machine and detonators, or between different detonators. Also disclosed are methods for providing electrical connection between various components of a blasting apparatus at a blast site.

Connector, and methods of use

An electronic blasting system () comprising a control unit (), a surface harness and electronic detonators () connected to the surface harness by a 2-wire lead, the detonators () being adapted to provide information to the control unit () in response to command signals transmitted by the control unit () along the surface harness; wherein the surface harness comprises a primary line () with trunk lines () connect to it, wherein each trunk line () has connected to it individual detonators () making up the same row, wherein each trunk line () is connected to the primary line () by an actuator (), and wherein each trunk line () includes an actuator () between adjacent detonators ().

Electronic blasting system

Blasting operations for mining frequently involve a large number of detonators for a single blasting event. An important step in the execution of a blast is to perform a roll-call to check that all detonator assemblies placed at the blast site are in communication with a blasting machine, and forming operative components of the blasting apparatus. Disclosed herein are blasting apparatuses and methods of blasting that streamline this roll-call step, thereby reducing time consumed in the blasting process.

Method of communication at a blast site, and corresponding blasting apparatus

An electronic blasting system () comprising a plurality of hardware components (to.n), wherein at least two of components of the plurality of hardware components () are adapted to communicate with each other over short range radio link ()

Data communication in electronic blasting systems

A method of monitoring a feature of a blast such as velocity of detonation (VOD) comprises the steps of providing a detonatorat a blast site. Prior to the blast, a blast control signal pathis utilized to communicate blast control signals to the detonator. During a period following start of the blast, a blast feature signal communication pathcomprising at least part of the blast control signal path is utilized to communicate a blast feature signal relating to the feature to a remote blast feature monitoring station. The blast feature signal is generated by generating a monitoring signal in a conductor arrangementconnected to die detonator, utilizing a sensor outside of the housing of the detonator to sense changes in a blast feature monitoring parameter of the monitoring signal, and transmitting data relating to the changes to the station

System and method for monitoring features of a blast

A blasting system includes a wireless link between a blast controller and a plurality of electronic detonators. Each detonator includes a respective electronic initiator and an explosive charge. Charge storage devices of the initiators are chargeable by a carrier of a first signal having a first frequency (f) in the order of 400 MHz-500 MHz and which is broadcasted by the blast controller. Each initiator further includes logic circuitry driven by a clock signal which is derived from the first signal and having a clock frequency of about 4 kHz, which is substantially less than the first frequency.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Charles Michael Lownds