대표
청구항
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1. A connector for causing electrical contact between blasting components, particularly between a length of insulated line connected to a detonator and another length of insulated line connected to another blasting component, the connector comprising; (i) hinge means;(ii) two components at least one of which comprises terminal means with insulation displacement means, said two components being connected together via the hinge means such that the two components are movable relative to one another between an open position to receive the lengths of insulate...
1. A connector for causing electrical contact between blasting components, particularly between a length of insulated line connected to a detonator and another length of insulated line connected to another blasting component, the connector comprising; (i) hinge means;(ii) two components at least one of which comprises terminal means with insulation displacement means, said two components being connected together via the hinge means such that the two components are movable relative to one another between an open position to receive the lengths of insulated line and a closed position in which the two components engage one another with one component overlying the other component to retain the lengths of insulated line in electrical contact with the terminal means, said terminal means providing an electrically conductive bridge such that the lengths of insulated line are in electrical contact with one another, at least one of the components including line retention slots, wherein the line retention slots comprise:(a) a first line retention slot extending unidirectionally from said terminal means to accommodate a first of said lengths of insulated line extending to and terminating at the terminal means;(b) a second line retention slot extending bidirectionally from said terminal means and perpendicularly to said first line retention slot, to accommodate a second of said lengths of insulated line extending through said connector in electrical contact with the terminal means; and(iii) a releasable catch for reversibly securing the two components to one another in said closed position;wherein the first and second line retention slots all have essentially the same width sufficient to accommodate duplex insulated line, such that they can each receive and retain insulated duplex line of the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions, whereby a user of the connector can place each of the first and second lengths of insulated duplex line having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions into any of the first and second line retention slots. 2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector further comprises a third line retention slot extending bidirectionally from said terminal means, to accommodate a third line extending through said connector with electrical contact with said terminal means. 3. The connector of claim 2, wherein the second and third line retention slots extend through said connector substantially parallel with one another. 4. The connector of claim 2, wherein the third line retention slot has essentially the same width as the first and second line retention slots, such that the first, second and third line retention slots can each receive and retain insulated duplex line of the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions, whereby a user of the connector can place each of the first and second lengths of insulated duplex line, and optionally a third length of insulated duplex line, all having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions, into any of the first, second and third line retention slots. 5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the terminal means includes spikes of electrically conductive material positioned to protrude into each line retention slot to pierce through or otherwise displace insulation material of each line when positioned in each slot, such that each spike makes electrical contact with electrically conductive material of each line running beneath said insulation material. 6. Use of a connector of claim 1, to connect in electrical contact two insulated duplex lines of the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions thereby to provide electrical contact between a. detonator and another component of a blasting apparatus at a blast site. 7. The use of claim 6, wherein the other component is another detonator. 8. A method for electrically connecting two electrical components at a blast site by means of respective lengths of insulated line, said electrical components comprising at least one electric or electronic detonator, the method comprising the steps of; (a) providing a connector comprising: i. hinge means;ii. two components at least one of which comprises terminal means with insulation displacement means, said two components being connected together via the hinge means such that the two components are movable relative to one another between an open position to receive the lengths of insulated line, and a closed position in which the two components engage one another with one component overlying the other component to retain the lengths of insulated line in electrical contact with the terminal means such that the lines are in electrical contact with one another, at least one of the components including line retention slots, wherein the line retention slots comprise: a first line retention slot extending unidirectionally from said terminal means for accommodating one of said lengths of insulated line extending to and terminating at the terminal means; anda second line retention slot extending bidirectionally from said terminal means and perpendicularly to said first line retention slot for accommodating another of said lengths of insulated line extending bidirectionally through said connector in electrical contact with the terminal means; andiii. a releasable catch for reversibly securing the two components to one another in said closed position;(b) placing one of the lengths of insulated line into one of the line retention slots of the connector in electrical contact with the terminal means;(c) placing the other of the lengths of insulated line into the other line retention slot of the connector in electrical contact with the terminal means;(d) moving the two components about the hinge means from said open to said closed position, thereby to retain said two lengths of insulated line in electrical contact with one another; wherein the lengths of insulated line are lengths of insulated duplex line of the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions which can each be received in any of the first and second line retention slots. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the length of insulated duplex line accommodated in the first line retention slot terminates at one end at the terminal means of the connector and is electrically connected to a detonator at its opposite end. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the length of insulated duplex line accommodated bidirectionally in the second line retention slot is electrically connected to a detonator at one end. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the length of insulated duplex line accommodated bidirectionally in the second line retention slot is a trunk line. 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the connector further comprises a third line retention slot extending bidirectionally from said terminal means, and said method further comprises accommodating in the third line retention slot insulated duplex line to extend bidirectional through said connector in electrical contact with said terminal means, said insulated duplex line accommodated in the third line retention slot having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions as the one and other lengths of insulated duplex line. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the insulated duplex line that extends through the third line retention slot is said one of the lengths of insulated duplex line that extends from the terminal means through the first line retention slot, thereby to back-up the electrical connection between said length of insulated duplex line and the terminal means. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the insulated duplex line that extends through the third line retention slot is said other of the lengths of insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the second line retention slot, thereby to back-up the electrical connection between said length of insulated duplex line and the terminal means. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the third line retention slot is a third length of insulated duplex line having a detonator connected thereto at one end. 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the length of insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the connector in the second line retention slot is a first trunk line, and the insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the connector in the third line retention slot is a second trunk line. 17. The method of claim 12, wherein the second and third line retention slots extend through the connector substantially parallel with one another. 18. The method of claim 8, for establishing electrical connection between detonators located in a single borehole, wherein the connector is a first such connector disposed above the ground, and (a) the length of insulated duplex line accommodated in the first line retention slot terminates at one end at the terminal means of the first connector and is electrically connected at its opposite end to a first detonator located in the borehole;(b) the length of insulated duplex line accommodated bidirectionally in the second line retention slot is electrically connected at one end to a further detonator located in the borehole, said length of insulated duplex line comprising a main branch line extending to above the ground;and wherein the method further comprises providing a second such connector and connecting it to the main branch line with a third length of insulated duplex line extending unidirectionally through the first line retention slot of the second connector and connected at one end to the terminal means of the second connector, said third length of insulated duplex line having a still further detonator located in the borehole connected to its opposite end and having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions as the one and other lengths of insulated duplex line, said connection of the second connector to the main branch line being such that the connection is above ground and the main branch line extends bidirecfionally through the second line retention slot of the second connector in electrical contact with the terminal means of the second connector. 19. The method of claim 18, which further comprises attaching the main branch line to a trunk line extending above the ground. 20. The method of claim 18, which further comprises providing a third such connector and connecting it to the main branch line with a fourth length of insulated duplex line extending unidirectionally through the first line retention slot of the third connector and connected at one end to the terminal means of the third connector, said fourth length of insulated duplex line having a still further detonator located in the borehole connected to its opposite end and having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions as the one and other lengths of insulated duplex line, said connection of the third connector to the main branch line being such that the connection is above ground and the main branch line extends bidirectionally through the second line retention slot of the third connector in electrical contact with the terminal means of the third connector, and wherein the order of the first, second and third connectors attached to the main branch line corresponds to the order of the respective detonators located in the borehole. 21. A blasting assembly of electrically connected components, the assembly comprising: (a) an electric or electronic detonator;(b) a length of insulated line in electrical contact with, and extending from, the detonator;(c) another length of insulated line in electrical contact with another component of the blasting assembly; and(d) a connector providing electrical contact between the lengths of insulated line, the connector comprising; (i) hinge means;(ii) two components at least one of which comprises terminal means with insulation displacement means, said two components being connected together via the hinge means such that the two components are movable relative to one another between an open position to receive the lengths of insulated line and a closed position in which the two components engage one another with one component overlying the other component to retain the lengths of insulated line in electrical contact with the terminal means, said terminal means providing an electrically conductive bridge such that the lengths of insulated line are in electrical contact with one another, at least one of the components including line retention slots, wherein the line retention slots comprise: a first line retention slot extending unidirectionally from said terminal means and accommodating a first of said lengths of insulated line extending to and terminating at the terminal means; anda second line retention slot extending bidirectionally from said terminal means and perpendicularly to said first line retention slot and accommodating a second of said lengths of insulated line extending through said connector in electrical contact with the terminal means; and(iii) a releasable catch for reversibly securing the two components to one another in said closed position;wherein the lengths of insulated line are lengths of insulated duplex line of the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions which can each be received in any of the first and second line retention slots. 22. The blasting assembly of claim 21, wherein the length of insulated duplex line accommodated in the first line retention slot terminates at one end at the terminal means of the connector and is electrically connected to a detonator at its opposite end. 23. The blasting assembly of claim 21, wherein the length of insulated duplex line accommodated bidirectionally in the second line retention slot is electrically connected to a detonator at one end. 24. The blasting assembly of claim 21, wherein the length of insulated duplex line accommodated bidirectionally in the second line retention slot is a trunk line. 25. The blasting assembly of claim 21, wherein the connector further comprises a third line retention slot extending bidirectionally from said terminal means in which is accommodated insulated duplex line extending bidirectionally through the connector in electrical contact with the terminal means, said insulated duplex line accommodated in the third line retention slot having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions as the one and other lengths of insulated duplex line. 26. The blasting assembly of claim 25, wherein the insulated duplex line that extends through the third line retention slot is said first of the lengths of insulated duplex line that extends from the terminal means through the first line retention slot, thereby to back-up the electrical connection between said length of insulated duplex line and the terminal means. 27. The blasting assembly of claim 25, wherein the insulated duplex line that extends through the third line retention slot is said second of the lengths of insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the second line retention slot, thereby to back-up the electrical connection between said length of insulated duplex line and the terminal means. 28. The blasting assembly of claim 25, wherein the insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the third line retention slot is a third length of insulated duplex line having a detonator connected thereto at one end. 29. The blasting assembly of claim 25, wherein the length of insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the connector in the second line retention slot is a first trunk line, and the insulated duplex line that extends bidirectionally through the connector in the third line retention slot is a second mink line. 30. The blasting assembly of claim 25, wherein the second and third line retention slots extend through the connector substantially parallel with one another. 31. The blasting assembly of claim 25, for establishing electrical connection between detonators located in a single borehole, wherein the connector is a first such connector disposed above the ground, and: (a) the length of insulated duplex line accommodated in the first line retention slot terminates at one end at the terminal means of the first connector and is electrically connected at its opposite end to a first detonator located in the borehole;(b) the length of insulated duplex line accommodated bidirectionally in the second line retention slot is electrically connected at one end to a further detonator located in the borehole, said length of insulated duplex line comprising a main branch line extending to above the ground; and wherein a second such connector is connected to the main branch line with a third length of insulated duplex line extending unidirectionally through the first line retention slot of the second connector and connected at one end to the terminal means of the second connector, said third length of insulated duplex line having a still further detonator located in the borehole connected to its opposite end and having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions as the one and other lengths of insulated duplex line, said connection of the second connector to the main branch line being such that the connection is above ground and the main branch line extends bidirectionally through the second line retention slot of the second connector in electrical contact with the terminal means of the second connector. 32. The blasting assembly of claim 31, wherein the main branch line is attached to a trunk line extending above the ground. 33. The blasting assembly of claim 31, further comprising a third such connector connected to the main branch line with a fourth length of insulated duplex line extending unidirectionally through the first line retention slot of the third connector and connected at one end to the terminal means of the third connector, said fourth length of insulated duplex line having a still further detonator located in the borehole connected to its opposite end and having the same cross-sectional configuration and dimensions as the one and other lengths of insulated duplex line, said connection of the third connector to the main branch line being such that the connection is above ground with the main branch line extending bidirectionally through the second line retention slot of the third connector in electrical contact with the terminal means of the third connector, wherein the order of the first, second and third connectors attached to the main branch line corresponds to the order of the respective detonators located in the borehole.
