METHOD OF COMMUNICATION AT A BLAST STIE, AND CORRESPONDING BLASTING APPARATUS
First Claim
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1. A blasting apparatus comprising:
- (1) at least one blasting machine for transmitting at least one command signal to at least two associated detonator assemblies, at least including an all-acknowledge command signal for receipt by said at least two detonator assemblies;
(2) at least two detonator assemblies, each detonator assembly comprising;
(i) a detonator including a base charge;
(ii) a memory for storing an anti-collision response time;
(iii) a clock for counting down the anti-collision response time upon receipt from said at least one blasting machine of said all-acknowledge command signal; and
(iv) a transmitter for transmitting an acknowledge signal in response to said all-acknowledge command signal, upon expiry of said anti-collision response time;
and(3) at least one receiver, optionally integrated into said at least one blasting machine, for receiving said acknowledge signals from said detonator assemblies, and differentiating each acknowledge signal from at least one other acknowledge signal in accordance with its time of receipt, thereby to verify communication with each detonator assembly of said blasting apparatus.
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Abstract
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.
9 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A blasting apparatus comprising:
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(1) at least one blasting machine for transmitting at least one command signal to at least two associated detonator assemblies, at least including an all-acknowledge command signal for receipt by said at least two detonator assemblies; (2) at least two detonator assemblies, each detonator assembly comprising; (i) a detonator including a base charge; (ii) a memory for storing an anti-collision response time; (iii) a clock for counting down the anti-collision response time upon receipt from said at least one blasting machine of said all-acknowledge command signal; and (iv) a transmitter for transmitting an acknowledge signal in response to said all-acknowledge command signal, upon expiry of said anti-collision response time; and (3) at least one receiver, optionally integrated into said at least one blasting machine, for receiving said acknowledge signals from said detonator assemblies, and differentiating each acknowledge signal from at least one other acknowledge signal in accordance with its time of receipt, thereby to verify communication with each detonator assembly of said blasting apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 28)
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15. A method for checking that at least two detonator assemblies form operative components of a blasting apparatus at a blast site, the method comprising the steps of:
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(1) programming each detonator assembly with an anti-collision response time; (2) transmitting from at least one blasting machine an all-acknowledge command signal for receipt by the detonator assemblies, to cause each detonator assembly to count-down its programmed anti-collision response time; (3) transmitting from each detonator assembly, upon completion of count-down of its programmed anti-collision response time, an acknowledge signal to at least one receiver optionally forming part of said at least one blasting machine, a time of receipt by said at least one receiver of each acknowledge signal occurring at a time different to a time of receipt of at least one other acknowledge signal, thereby permitting differentiation of said acknowledge signals by said receiver, and providing confirmation that each detonator assembly forms a operative component of the blasting apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification