Remote detonation of explosive charges
First Claim
1. A device for remotely detonating explosive charges in environments having high levels of extraneous electricity including stray ground currents, electromagnetic fields and radio frequency energy, comprising:
- a command unit adapted to repetitively transmit a sequence of coded commands by radio;
a plurality of explosive charges, each of said charges having an electrically activated detonator;
a plurality of control units, one for each of said charges, each of said control units physically connected to one of said charges by signal transmitting means, said transmitting means having length sufficient to allow each said control unit to survive the detonation of its associated explosive charge, each control unit having decoding, logic and transmission means adapted to receive and decode distinctive radio commands from said command unit, to communicate back to said command unit distinctive coded signals confirming receipt of commands from said command unit, and to send a signal through said transmitting means in response to a particular one such command, said signal causing detonation of said charge; and
current flow limiting means adapted to prevent said stray ground currents, electromagnetic fields, radio frequency energy and other extraneous electricity from inducing a current through said electrically activated detonator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Explosive charges are detonated by remote control in environments having high levels of extraneous electric and electromagnetic energy by providing a separate control unit for each explosive charge. The control unit accepts coded commands radio transmitted from a command unit and, if those commands meet with pre-set criteria, the control unit detonates the charge. Each control unit is connected to its respective explosive charge by electrical or optical conductors providing sufficient separation as to allow the control unit to survive detonation of the charge without damage.
158 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for remotely detonating explosive charges in environments having high levels of extraneous electricity including stray ground currents, electromagnetic fields and radio frequency energy, comprising:
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a command unit adapted to repetitively transmit a sequence of coded commands by radio; a plurality of explosive charges, each of said charges having an electrically activated detonator; a plurality of control units, one for each of said charges, each of said control units physically connected to one of said charges by signal transmitting means, said transmitting means having length sufficient to allow each said control unit to survive the detonation of its associated explosive charge, each control unit having decoding, logic and transmission means adapted to receive and decode distinctive radio commands from said command unit, to communicate back to said command unit distinctive coded signals confirming receipt of commands from said command unit, and to send a signal through said transmitting means in response to a particular one such command, said signal causing detonation of said charge; and current flow limiting means adapted to prevent said stray ground currents, electromagnetic fields, radio frequency energy and other extraneous electricity from inducing a current through said electrically activated detonator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for remotely detonating explosive charges in environments having such high levels of extraneous electricity that safety considerations ordinarily require that electric blasting not be attempted comprising:
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providing a plurality of explosive charges, each of said charges having an electrically activated detonator; preventing electrical currents induced by stray ground currents, electromagnetic fields, radio frequency energy and other sources of said extraneous electricity from flowing through said detonator; coupling the detonator of each said charge to a control unit for said charge, said control unit adapted to receive distinctive coded commands from a command unit, to decode said commands, to communicate back to said command unit a distinctive confirmation that said commands have been received, and to respond to said commands; and causing a surge of current to flow from each said control unit to its coupled detonator upon receipt and confirmation of a coded fire command transmitted to said control unit from said command unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification