Orica International Pte Ltd

Orica Explosives Technology Pty Limited

Thomas Boos

Dirk Hummel

Yu Wen

Byron Wicks

Shaun Crossman

A wireless initiation device comprises a power source, a processing module, a first housing and an initiation unit. The processing module processes wireless electromagnetic communications signals received by an electromagnetic receiver system associated with the processing module. The wireless electromagnetic communications signals includes a wireless electromagnetic communications signal representative of a FIRE command. The processing module is configured to generate an initiation signal upon receipt of the FIRE command. At least one of the power source and the processing module is disposed in the first housing, and the first housing has a first connector. The initiation unit has a second housing within which is disposed an initiation module that is configured to discharge initiation energy sufficient to initiate an explosive charge associated with the device. The initiation module is connected to, or connectable with, the processing module such that initiation module can receive an initiation signal from the processing module. The initiation unit also has a second connector that is configured to mate with the first connector, thereby connecting the first and second housings. The initiation module is configured to execute a sequence upon receipt of the initiation signal, the sequence resulting in discharge of initiation energy from the initiation unit.

Wireless initiation device

A shell for use in blasting, the shell comprising an elongated body, the elongated body having a distal end arranged for housing an explosive material, a proximal end arranged to permit introduction of at least one detonator into an interior of the shell, and a cavity for holding the at least one detonator in a location in which operation of the detonator results in explosion of the explosive material, wherein a slot is provided in a sidewall of the shell to allow an activation lead connected to the detonator to pass through the slot to an exterior of the shell, and wherein the slot includes at least one retaining protrusion to retain the activation lead against withdrawal of the activation lead from the slot.

Shell for housing an explosive material for use in mining

Shell

Fire, arm, and disarm signals are typically transmitted to electronic detonators via signal transmission lines. Traditionally, such signal transmission lines include wires wherein one end of each wire is soldered directly to printed circuit boards and/or other signal processing components retained within the shell of a detonator. Other 'modular' blasting apparatuses of the prior art provide means to connect signal transmission lines to detonators in the field. Signal transmission line/detonator contacts are susceptible to disruption, particularly when the signal transmission lines are subject to inadvertent tugging or tensile forces at the blast site. The present application discloses an electrical connector that enables secure connection between a signal transmission line and any detonator adapted to receive and optionally process electrical signals from the signal transmission line. Specifically, the electrical connector can be affixed to the signal input end of a detonator, and includes at least one bridge element to provide electrical contact between a signal transmission line, and internal electrical component(s) of the detonator.

Growing community of inventors

Niederkassel, Germany

Thomas Boos