초록 ▼

A detonator system is provided for use with explosives that utilizes two subsystems. A first subsystem functions as a non-explosives based detonator, which does not contain any explosives. The second subsystem is an initiating subsystem, which includes an initiating pellet. To set off an explosive e

A detonator system is provided for use with explosives that utilizes two subsystems. A first subsystem functions as a non-explosives based detonator, which does not contain any explosives. The second subsystem is an initiating subsystem, which includes an initiating pellet. To set off an explosive event, the non-energetics based detonator is coupled to the initiating subsystem and the non-energetics based detonator is commanded to provide a suitable signal to the initiating subsystem that is sufficient to function the initiating pellet. Further, the initiating subsystem can be integrated directly into an associated explosive such as a booster that has been configured to receive the initiator subsystem without changing the hazard class of the booster.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A detonator for initiating a detonation event, comprising: a non-energetics based subsystem that is free of explosive material, having: a first interface having: a first pair of conductive contacts spaced by an insulator, where each of the first pair of conductive contacts is electrically coupled

1. A detonator for initiating a detonation event, comprising: a non-energetics based subsystem that is free of explosive material, having: a first interface having: a first pair of conductive contacts spaced by an insulator, where each of the first pair of conductive contacts is electrically coupled to a first circuit path; andat least one second conductive contact spaced by the insulator from the first pair of conductive contacts, where the at least one second conductive contact is electrically coupled to a second circuit path;an initiating subsystem that is selectively coupled or uncoupled from the non-energetics based subsystem, having: a high voltage switch;an initiator electrically forming a circuit with the high voltage switch; anda second interface having: a first pair of self-shunting interface legs that connect across the circuit formed by the initiator and high voltage switch; andat least one self-shunting second interface leg electrically connected to a control element of the high voltage switch;wherein:when the non-energetics based subsystem is plugged into the initiating subsystem: the insulator of the first interface separates the self-shunting first pair of interface legs and guides each leg to a corresponding one of the first pair of conductive contacts, and hence to the first circuit path; andthe insulator of the first interface separates and guides each second self-shunting leg to a corresponding second conductive contact, and hence to the second circuit path. 2. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein: the non-energetics based subsystem further comprises a primary energy source and a secondary energy source;the first circuit path of the non-energetics based subsystem electrically connects to the primary energy source:the second circuit path of the non-energetics based subsystem electrically connects to the secondary energy source;the initiator comprises a first initiator contact and a second initiator contact;the high voltage switch comprises a first switch contact spaced from and electrically isolated from a second switch contact and a trigger element that passes between and is spaced from the first switch contact and the second switch contact defining the control element of the high voltage switch;the first pair of self-shunting interface legs connect across the circuit formed by the initiator and high voltage switch such that the second initiator contact couples to the first switch contact, one of the first pair of interface legs couples to the first initiator contact and the other one of the first pair of interface legs couples to the second switch contact; andthe at least one self-shunting second interface leg electrically connects to the control element of the high voltage switch such that at least one second interface leg couples to the trigger element. 3. The detonator according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one self-shunting second interface leg comprises a second pair of self-shunting interface legs;the at least one second conductive contact of the first interface comprises a second pair of conductive contacts;the second pair of interface legs are self-shunting and thus short to one another when the initiating subsystem is removed from the non-energetics based subsystem; andthe insulator of the first interface is arranged so as to separate the second pair of self-shunting legs and guide each second interface leg to a corresponding one of the second pair of conductive contacts when the non-energetics based subsystem is suitably assembled with the initiating subsystem by mating the first interface with the second interface. 4. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein the second interface of the initiating subsystem further comprises: a mounting body that serves as an alignment fixture to align the initiator with an initiating pellet, the mounting body having: a first holder that secures the initiating pellet to the mounting body; anda second holder that secures the initiator and high voltage switch;wherein the first holder mates with the second holder. 5. The detonator according to claim 4, wherein: the first holder defines a top disk having a pellet cup to hold the initiating pellet and a barrel feature for aligning the initiator with the initiating pellet; andthe second holder comprises: a chip nest that holds the initiator and high voltage switch, anda feature that couples the electrical connections from the first interface of the non-energetics based subsystem to the initiator seated in the second holder. 6. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein: the initiating subsystem mated with the non-energetics based subsystem takes on the form factor of a conventional detonator. 7. The detonator according to claim 1, wherein: the non-energetics based subsystem is packaged in a puck-shaped housing dimensioned to mate with a cast booster, the puck shaped housing having:an aperture there through that aligns substantially in register with the through aperture of the corresponding cast booster when a cast booster is integrated with the non-energetics based subsystem. 8. The detonator according to claim 7, wherein: the puck-shaped housing further comprises a spring biased takeup provided on an extension that is dimensioned to register with a detonator well of the cast booster when a cast booster is integrated with the non-energetics based subsystem. 9. The detonator according to claim 8, wherein: the spring loaded takeup comprises a spring that urges a distal end of the extension against an initiating pellet when the non-energetics based subsystem is suitably installed with the booster. 10. The detonator according to claim 7, wherein: the puck shaped housing comprises at least one clip to secure the housing to the booster. 11. The detonator according to claim 7, wherein: the initiator comprises an exploding foil initiator having an integrated barrel that defines a bare header for interfacing with an initiating pellet when the non-energetics based subsystem is mated with the booster. 12. The detonator according to claim 7, further comprising: an inductive core comprising at least two through tunnels built into the puck-shaped housing, which are utilized for inductive linking and communication; andan inductor proximate to at least one through tunnel having a through hole generally coaxial with the corresponding through tunnel, which serves as an inductive pickup for communication with associated circuitry. 13. The detonator according to claim 12, wherein: the at least two through tunnels are arranged such that wire passed through forms a loop in cooperation with the inductor so as to allow an electrical pulse to pass through the inductor and return back to an external generation source outside of the inductor to enable two way communications between the detonator and the external generation source. 14. The detonator according to claim 12, further comprising: a radio frequency identification device within the housing in communication with the controller within the detonator, wherein the controller transmits identification information from the radio frequency identification device to an external source via the inductor. 15. The detonator of claim 1, further comprising: a sleeve that sleeves the detonator such that the initiating subsystem is located at one end thus defining a closed end of the sleeve and the non-energetics based subsystem is located towards an open end of the sleeve;an adapter for interfacing with an explosive material located at the closed end of the sleeve in cooperation with the initiating subsystem;a cradle base at the open end of the sleeve having an aperture for wiring to pass from outside the sleeve to the non-energetics based subsystem; anda takeup in cooperation with the cradle base having a spring that urges the non-energetics based subsystem into mating contact with the initiating subsystem. 16. The detonator according to claim 1, further comprising: a booster of explosive material having a detonation well, wherein:the initiating subsystem is fixedly installed generally towards the top of the detonation before the non-energetics based subsystem mates with the initiating subsystem by inserting the non-energetics based subsystem into the detonation well so as to mate each interface leg with its corresponding conductive pad. 17. The detonator according to claim 16, wherein: the detonator well comprises: a seat recessed back into the detonator well for seating the initiating subsystem; andan alignment feature that guides the non-energetics subsystem into the detonator well so as to align and properly mate the inserted non-energetics subsystem with the initiating subsystem installed into the detonator well. 18. The detonator according to claim 16, further comprising: a plug that threads into the detonator well so as to register the initiator with an initiating pellet previously installed in the booster. 19. The detonator according to claim 16, further comprising: a clip-in connector having a takeup mechanism to properly seat the initiator with a pellet. 20. The detonator according to claim 16, wherein: the non-energetics based subsystem is packaged in a puck-shaped housing dimensioned to mate with the booster, implemented as a cast booster, the puck shaped housing having:an aperture there through that aligns substantially in register with a pass through aperture of the corresponding cast booster when a cast booster is integrated with the non-energetics based subsystem. 21. A computer network box for commanding a blasting operation, comprising: a network box having a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, the network box for positioning at a hole of a plurality of holes in an associated blast pattern, wherein:the first side has at least one connector, each first side connector for linking an associated downhole detonator downline to connect a corresponding detonator to the network box, and at least one additional connector for coupling out to another network box positioned in a next row of holes if a next row of holes is in the blast pattern;the second side has a connector for linking in from another network box associated with an adjacent row of holes if an adjacent row of holes is included in the blast pattern;the third side comprises at least one connector for linking in from yet another network box associated with a previous sequential hole in a row of holes if a previous sequential hole is in the blast pattern; andthe fourth side comprises at least one connector for linking out to a next network box associated with a next sequential hole in a row of holes if a next sequential hole is in the blast pattern; andat least one detonator for initiating a detonation event connected to the computer network box, each detonator comprising:a non-energetics based subsystem that is free of explosive material having: a first interface having: a first pair of conductive contacts spaced by an insulator, where each of the first pair of conductive contacts is electrically coupled to a first circuit path; andat least one second conductive contact spaced by the insulator from the first pair of conductive contacts, where the at least one second conductive contact is electrically coupled to a second circuit path;an initiating subsystem that is selectively coupled or uncoupled from the non-energetics based subsystem, having: a high voltage switch;an initiator electrically forming a circuit with the high voltage switch; anda second interface having: a first pair of self-shunting interface legs that connect across the circuit formed by the initiator and high voltage switch; andat least one self-shunting second interface leg electrically connected to a control element of the high voltage switch;wherein:when the non-energetics based subsystem is plugged into the initiating subsystem: the insulator of the first interface separates the self-shunting first pair of interface legs and guides each leg to a corresponding one of the first pair of conductive contacts, and hence to the first circuit path; andthe insulator of the first interface separates and guides each second self-shunting leg to a corresponding second conductive contact, and hence to the second circuit path. 22. A computer network system for commanding a blasting operation, comprising: a plurality of network boxes, each box for positioning at a corresponding hole in a blast operation, each network box comprising a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side, that is positioned at a hole of a plurality of holes in an associated blast pattern, wherein: the first side has at least one connector, each first side connector for linking an associated downhole detonator downline to connect a corresponding detonator to the network box, and at least one additional connector for coupling out to another network box positioned in next row of holes if a next row of holes is in the blast pattern;the second side has a connector for linking in from another network box associated with an adjacent row of holes if an adjacent row of holes is included in the blast pattern;the third side comprises at least one connector for linking in from yet another network box associated with a previous sequential hole in a row of holes if a previous sequential hole is in the blast pattern; andthe fourth side comprises at least one connector for linking out to a next network box associated with a next sequential hole in a row of holes if a next sequential hole is in the blast pattern;a blasting computer for connection to a select one of the network boxes, the blasting computer configured to: execute a software positioning algorithm that identifies a detonator attached to each first side connector of each network box;compute a detonator firing time for each detonator attached to each first side connector of each network box;transmit the fire time to each detonator attached to each first side connector of each network box; andinitiate a detonation event to detonate each detonator according to its preprogrammed fire time; andat least one detonator for initiating a detonation event connected to the computer network box, each detonator comprising:a non-energetics based subsystem that is free of explosive material, having: a first interface having: a first pair of conductive contacts spaced by an insulator, where each of the first pair of conductive contacts is electrically coupled to a first circuit path; andat least one second conductive contact spaced by the insulator from the first pair of conductive contacts, where the at least one second conductive contact is electrically coupled to a second circuit path;an initiating subsystem that is selectively coupled or uncoupled from the non-energetics based subsystem, having: a high voltage switch;an initiator electrically forming a circuit with the high voltage switch; anda second interface having: a first pair of self-shunting interface legs that connect across the circuit formed by the initiator and high voltage switch; andat least one self-shunting second interface leg electrically connected to a control element of the high voltage switch;wherein:when the non-energetics based subsystem is plugged into the initiating subsystem: the insulator of the first interface separates the self-shunting first pair of interface legs and guides each leg to a corresponding one of the first pair of conductive contacts, and hence to the first circuit path; andthe insulator of the first interface separates and guides each second self-shunting leg to a corresponding second conductive contact, and hence to the second circuit path.