Ammunition and explosives – Igniting devices and systems – Ignition or detonation circuit
Patent
1995-03-02
1996-05-21
Jordan, Charles T.
Ammunition and explosives
Igniting devices and systems
Ignition or detonation circuit
1022024, 102217, 361248, F23Q 2100, F42B 318
Patent
active
055179207
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a device for the sequential firing of electrical detonators in several firing circuits, the device consisting of a detonating machine, electric leads and switches for activating the firing circuits. The detonating machine (1) is connected by a lead (2) to an electronic firing switch (3) to which are connected the firing circuits (13a . . . 13n) which consist of one or more series-connected electrical detonators (14a . . . 14n) and explosive charges (4a . . . 4n) designed to be detonated by the detonators, the electronic firing switch (3) consisting of a firing-current detection circuit (7), a logic circuit (8), switching relays (10a . . . 10n), a power supply (9) and protective resistors (11a . . . 11n).
DEVICE FOR SEQUENTIALLY FIRING ELECTRICAL DETONATORS
The discovery concerns a device for the sequential firing of electrical detonators in several detonator circuits which are respectively assigned to a detonation circuit, consisting of a detonating machine, of electrical leads and switches for the activation of the detonation circuits.
Such a device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,655. The disadvantage with this arrangement is that for each charge detonation circuit an individual detonator switch is required which is activated pyrotechnically and is suitable only for one-time use. Further disadvantageously is that with the applied multi-wire technology, a high lead expenditure must be employed which further increases the expense of this arrangement. Finally, for the sequential firing of the individual detonators, an additional selective switch is required on a mechanical basis in order to alternatingly employ the two current conducting leads used.
Additional arrangements for the sequential firing of electrical detonators are known from EP 0 251 824 B1, EP 0 147 688 A2, EP 0 136 919 A2 and GB 21 32 041 A. For these devices, the cost of lead material and switching devices is relatively high.
The task underlying the present invention is to further develop the type of device for the sequential firing of electrical detonators such that the cost of lead material and mechanical switching devices is significantly reduced.
With the device according to invention only a two-wire electrical lead between the detonating machine and the electronic detonating switch is necessary, to which the individual charge detonation circuits are connected.
Expensive mechanical switching devices for alternately switching using a three-wire electrical lead are likewise avoided as are the assigning of mechanical switches to each individual detonation circuit.
Through the electronic detonation switch it is ensured that the predetermined detonation sequence is reliably complied with. Besides this, it is guaranteed that no unintentional triggering of a detonator can take place as a detonation pulse can be relayed further only to previously cleared detonation circuits.
Unintentional detonations through power supplied to the electronic detonation switch are ruled out as the lower power supply voltage in connection with the protective resistors result in a maximal current strength which lies far beneath the current strength necessary for the firing of a detonator.
The invention is more closely explained in the following using the FIGURE. The single FIGURE shows a basic sketch of a device according to invention.
In the application example of the FIGURE is depicted a detonating machine 1 which is connected to a firing switch 3 via a two-wire electrical lead 2 . The firing switch 3 is assigned via several firing circuits 13a . . . 13n with one (or several) electrical detonators 14a . . . 14n to which explosive charges 4a . . . 4n are assigned which are detonated in a pre-given order and in selectable time intervals. The structure of the firing switch 3 is as follows: Via an input connection 6, both wires of lead 2 are electrically connected with firing switch 3. The single components of firing switch 3 are a firing current detection circuit 7, a logic circuit 8 connected with firing current detection circuit 7, a bat
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Hinz Clemens
Streich Martin
Bergwerksverband GmbH
Carpenter John W.
Jordan Charles T.
Wesson Theresa M.
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