Apparatus and method for blasting

• US 9,091,518 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Limited (Orica Limited)
• Original Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Limited (Orica Limited)
• Inventors: Lownds, Charles Michael, Stewart, Ronald F., Bampfield, Howard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weber, Jonathan C
• Application Number:
  US11/354,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272536A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,449 Days
• Field of Search: 102/301, 102/200, 102/306, 102/215, 361/248, 361/251
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/045 Arrangements for electric ignition dynamo-electric generators H02K
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/05 Electric circuits for blasting

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the actuation and detonation of at least one detonator for a blasting event at a blast site to achieve improved security in using the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

at least one blasting machine for transmitting command signals to said at least one detonator via direct electrical connection or wireless communication;

at least one location assessment component in the direct vicinity of the blast site for determining a geographical location of said at least one detonator, said at least one detonator being separate from said at least one blasting machine;

at least one location approval component for comparing said geographical location of said at least one detonator with at least one approved geographical location for the blasting event and generating a decision signal for either enabling the blasting event upon determining a match between said geographical location of said at least one detonator and any of said at least one approved geographical location or disabling the blasting event upon determining a lack of a match between said geographical location of said at least one detonator and any of said at least one approved geographical location, said at least one location approval component being separate from said at least one location assessment component;

said at least one detonator being actuatable upon receipt of said enabling decision signal generated by said at least one location approval component,

said at least one detonator being detonated upon receipt from said at least one blasting machine of at least one command signal to FIRE, only if said geographical location of said at least one detonator and said any of said at least one approved geographical location match so that said at least one location approval component has generated said enabling decision signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one approved geographical location comprises a plurality of adjacent approved geographical locations to define an area of said blast site, within which actuation of said at least one detonator may proceed upon receipt by said at least one detonator of said at least one command signal to FIRE from said at least one blasting machine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one location assessment component comprises a global positioning system (GPS) device or local position system (LPS) device in association with said at least one detonator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one location approval component is located remote from the blast site.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said at least one location approval component is in communication with said at least one blasting machine at least in part via wireless communication means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one location approval component includes a memory comprising a database of approved geographical locations.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one location approval component is in association with, and in direct electrical communication with, a corresponding blasting machine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a central command station located remote from the blast site for generating and transmitting at least one command signal to said at least one blasting machine.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of said at least one location approval component, upon determining that said geographical location corresponds with at least one approved geographical location, causes activation of said central command station for transmission of said at least one command signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said location approval component, upon determining that said geographical location does not correspond with any of said at least one approved location, causes shut down of said central command station.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one location approval component is in association with, and direct electrical communication with, said central command station.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a time assessment component and a time approval component for checking that a time for said blasting event corresponds with an approved time for said blasting event, said apparatus being able to cause actuation of said at least one detonator upon receipt by said at least one detonator from said at least one blasting machine of at least one command signal to FIRE only if said geographical location and any of said at least one approved geographical location correspond and if said time for said blasting event corresponds with an approved time for said blasting event.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each detonator has assigned thereto a unique identification code, the apparatus further comprising a logging database for logging detonator actuation, and a recordal component for transmitting to the database an actuation signal corresponding to actuation of each detonator, the logging database storing data regarding the place of actuation of each detonator.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logging database is integral with the location approval means.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the logging database further records a time for actuation of each detonator.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus includes a biometric analyzer for recording at least one biometric feature of a blast operator, the logging database further recording a biometric signature or an identity of the blast operator for each actuated detonator.