Blasting system and method

Abstract

The invention provides a blasting system which includes a plurality of electronic detonators which are configured in a blast array which has at least one row and a plurality of detonators in the row, each detonator including a memory in which is stored at least a respective identity code which is dependent, at least, on the row on which the detonator is, and on the detonator's position in the row, a harness which interconnects the detonators, and at least one control unit, connected to the harness, which generates a signal to fire the detonators.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to a blasting method which makes use of electronic detonator.[0002]In one respect electronic blasting systems can be divided into systems which are implemented using two wires which interconnect the detonators, and systems which make use of more than two wires.[0003]In a system of the former kind blast times for the various detonators are usually assigned while a blaster is working at a blasting bench.[0004]In a multi-wire system (of the latter kind) the additional wires allow the connection order of the detonators to be established and the wiring order can be used to determine blast timing factors. This type of system can be easier to use as the blaster can readily configure the blast pattern in terms of inter-detonator and inter-row timing increments.[0005]Some blasting systems make use of a location system such as a global positioning system (GPS) to collate the identity of a particular detonator with a geographical location...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0032]The control unit may include communication means for receiving data or signals from, and for transferring data or signals to, by wireless links (radio frequencies, infrared etc.) or via physical links (wire, fibre optic cable etc.), the portable device referred to or one or more of the detonators.

[0033]The control unit may include a housing, a control memory in which are stored firing time information for each of a plurality of detonators in the array and a respective identity code for each of the detonators, each identity code being dependent at least on the location of the respective detonator in the array, and a two-connection interface for transferring the firing time information to the respective detonators.

Problems solved by technology

A further factor is that GPS location data may not be sufficiently accurate or readily available, due for example to a rock wall or rock body which blocks reception of a GPS signal.

Images