Apparatus, system and method for initiation of buried explosives

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113843-B2
Application number	US-201515129368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2015
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

An initiator apparatus (IA) for blasting, the apparatus including: a magnetic receiver for receiving a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field; a controller, in electrical communication with the magnetic receiver, for processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for blasting; and a light source in electrical communication with the controller for generating a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) in accordance with the command.

First claim

The claim defining the invention are as follows:

1. An initiator apparatus (IA) for blasting, the apparatus including:
a magnetic receiver including a magnetometer that receives a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field;
a controller, in electrical communication with the magnetic receiver, for processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for blasting;
a light source in electrical communication with the controller for generating a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) having a reaction time of less than 1 millisecond in accordance with the command; and
a data store with a group identifier (GID) code electronically stored, the GID code establishing a group of IAs to which this IA belongs.

2. The IA of claim 1 , including a housing around the magnetic receiver, the controller and the light source to provide mechanical protection and for burying the IA.

3. The IA of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a metal sleeve around the magnetic receiver, the controller and the light source.

4. The IA of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes potting material around the magnetic receiver, the controller and the light source.

5. The IA of claim 4 , wherein the potting material includes plastic potting material and/or elastomeric potting material.

6. The IA of claim 1 , including a coupling for connecting the IA to an explosive apparatus.

7. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the coupling includes:
a window for transmitting the light beam from the light source to the explosive apparatus;
a connector for mechanically connecting the IA to the explosive apparatus; and
a seal for sealing a light path from the light source to the explosive apparatus for the light beam.

8. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the explosive apparatus includes the LSE.

9. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the explosive apparatus includes an explosive capsule with the LSE.

10. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the explosive apparatus is configured for mounting in a booster explosive for detonating a main charge of bulk explosive around the booster explosive.

11. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the command is a FIRE command.

12. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the command includes a command code and the controller includes instructions that control the controller to: (i) compare the command code with a stored code stored in the IA; and (ii) control the light source to generate the light beam if the command code matches the stored code.

13. The IA of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the stored code from an encoder unit before the IA is buried.

14. The IA of claim 12 , wherein the command code includes a group identifier (GID) code for a group of selected IAs.

15. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic receiver includes a magneto-inductive sensor.

16. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a light-emitting diode.

17. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a diode laser.

18. A method of blasting, the method including the steps of:
storing a group identifier (GID) code in an initiator apparatus (IA), wherein the GID establishes a group of IAs to which this IA belongs;
receiving a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field by a magnetometer;
processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for the IA for blasting; and
generating a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) having a reaction time of less than 1 millisecond in accordance with the command.

19. An initiator apparatus (IA) for blasting, the apparatus including:
a magnetic receiver including a magnetometer that receives a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field;
a controller, in electrical communication with the magnetic receiver, for processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for blasting;
an electro-mechanical interface to control a light source, based on electrical communication from the controller, to generate a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) having a reaction time of less than 1 millisecond in accordance with the command; and
a data store with a group identifier (GID) code stored, the GID code establishing a group of IAs to which this IA belongs.

20. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the LSE contains 2% carbon black.

21. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the reaction time of the LSE is less than 100 microseconds.

22. A system including the IA of claim 1 , and a magnetic transmitting system to send signals to the IA through the ground, wherein the magnetic transmitting system includes a coil that is configured to be disposable.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein a coil diameter of the coil is at least hundreds of meters.

24. The system of claim 22 , wherein a current amplitude in the coil is tens of amps.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the current amplitude is 50 amps.

26. The IA of claim 1 , including a connector for connecting the IA to a capsule with the LSE.

27. The IA of claim 26 , wherein the connector is a screw-threaded connector or a bayonet connector.

28. An explosive apparatus including the IA of claim 1 and a capsule with the LSE.

29. The explosive apparatus of claim 28 , including two co-operative optical windows, one in the IA and the other in the capsule.

30. The system of claim 22 , wherein the coil is designed for a single use.

Assignees

• Orica Int Pte Ltd

Inventors

• Appleby Rodney
• Johnson David
• Goodridge Richard
• Wicks Byron

Classifications

• F42B3/113 Primary

  activated by optical means, e.g. laser, flashlight · CPC title

• F42C13/02

  operated by intensity of light or similar radiation · CPC title

• F42D1/05

  Electric circuits for blasting · CPC title

• F42D1/04

  Arrangements for ignition {(ignition systems for shaped charge perforators E21B43/1185; ignition devices for seismic energy generators G01V1/06)} · CPC title

• F42B3/11 Primary

  characterised by the material used, e.g. for initiator case or electric leads (F42B3/107 takes precedence) · CPC title