Detonator Construction With Embedded Electronics And Shock Tube Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detonators face challenges in ensuring reliability and safety under arduous conditions, particularly in demanding installation situations, where physical construction and electronic validation must work consistently to deliver a reliable firing signal.
Innovation Solution
A detonator design featuring a tubular casing with a base charge, an electronic module embedded in a plastics body, a sensing structure, and a shock tube, where the electronic components are protected from mechanical stress and the shock tube event is directed to a sensing structure to validate the signal before initiating the base charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electronic components are exposed to mechanical stress during installation and handling, then the detonator can be simpler in construction, but the reliability and safety of the detonator deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a plastics body as an intermediary protective element that encases the electronic components. This plastics body acts as a mediator between the external mechanical stress and the electronic components, absorbing and distributing the stress to prevent damage to the electronics while maintaining a relatively simple overall detonator construction.
2Reliability
If the detonator is designed for robust operation under arduous conditions, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional protective structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the plastics body: it serves as both the protective housing for electronic components and the structural element that positions them within the detonator. The sensing structure is also integrated into this same body, combining protection, positioning, and sensing functions in a single integrated component, thereby reducing overall construction complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Device complexity
If the shock tube event is directly directed at electronic components, then the validation mechanism is simpler, but the electronic components may be damaged by the shock tube event
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the sensing function from the electronic components and places it in a separate sensing structure positioned in the path of the shock tube event. This separation allows the shock tube event to directly interact with the sensing structure for validation while the electronic components remain protected within the plastics body, simplifying the validation mechanism while preventing damage to electronics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances reliability and safety by ensuring the detonator functions correctly under demanding conditions, with the shock tube event validation mechanism protecting the electronic components and maintaining their integrity during operation.
Implementation Method 1
a shock tube with an end which is secured to the plug and which opposes the sensing structure thereby to direct a shock tube event emitted at the end of the shock tube upon ignition of the shock tube, onto the sensing structure
Implementation Method 2
If the sensing component is a light sensor then at least a portion of the plastics material which overlies the light sensor is light transparent
Data Source
AI summary
A detonator which includes a tube with an open end, a shock tube, secured to a plug which is fixed to an open end of the tube, an electronic module inside the tube, the module including a substrate which carries electronic components, and sensing structure mounted to the substrate spaced from an opposing end of the shock tube.