WO2008094060A2

WO2008094060A2 - System for programmed initiation of electrica detonator networks

Info

Publication number: WO2008094060A2
Application number: PCT/RS2008/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lazar Kricak; Petar Krunic; Darko Raubal
Original assignee: Lazar Kricak; Petar Krunic; Darko Raubal
Priority date: 2007-01-30
Filing date: 2008-01-08
Publication date: 2008-08-07
Also published as: WO2008094060A3; RS20070036A; RS49942B

Abstract

System consists of the following: an initiating device (UI) as a machine for initiation of the electrical detonator network with programmable delay times. Delay times are set by hexadecimal switches and the set values of delays can be read out visually of each UI individually. Connection of the 16 UIs with the single control and supply device (UUP) is provided. Each UI is connected by five-wire connection for supplying electrical power from 12 V, 1.3 Ah battery in the UUP. The control and supply device has. a DC-DC converter for supplying electrical power for initiation having voltage Uc = 350 V to the condensers in the UI.

Description

SYSTEM FOR PROGRAMMED INITIATION OF ELECTRICAL DETONATOR NETWORKS

Technical field Initiation of explosives in bores belongs to the technical field F 42 C 15/40 according to the International Patent Classification.

Technical problem

In the sequential initiating systems delay intervals are set by transferring digital data via serial wire connection to an initiating device, where they are stored in a delay microcontroller. A mining manipulator can't have a visual insight in delay intervals on a mining site, thus making his choice of the intervals on the ground of the noticed properties and configuration of rock mass on the mining site insecure. This arises the need for a visible record of delay time.

A distance between the mining manipulator and the mining site has to be safe (i.e. to be as big as possible), which arises the need for a long wire line. Control of initiation by RF transfer of digital data solves a problem of the long wire lines, but simultaneously causes a problem of safe and reliable control, that can be solved by choice of a system having hopping transfer through a number of transfer channels (the hopping method) and using crypto methods for control data. Background Art

In the sequential initiating systems transfer of control digital data from a control and programming device (UUP) to a initiating device (UI) is generally done via wire connection The delay data and state data of the UI are stored (memorized) on the UUP and transferred to a manual terminal (RT) for displaying them. Delay data displayed on the initiating device is not used in order to make such device simple and cheap because it is the closest to the explosion site (damage possibility is bigger).

RF transfer of digital data is used in many control and monitoring systems, but for application within the explosion site it is necessary to make choice of a reliable and safe method of RF transfer. Connection between the RF system for data transfer and the devices for controlling the system (manual terminal and the like) is a technical problem to be solved using both appropriate software and hardware.

Disclosure of Invention On the whole system can be perceived from a block diagram shown in Fig. 1. Connection between the hexadecimal switches and the initiating device (UI) is shown in Fig. 2.

Connection between a digital data collector and a display (TDC-Recon) with the 9Xtend RF module is shown in Fig. 7. This connection constitutes the manual terminal (RT).

The system consists of an initiating device (UI) as a machine for initiating electrical detonator network having programmable delay times. Delay time is set using hexadecimal switches and the set values of delay can be read out of each UI individually. Connection between the 16 UIs and the single control and supply device

(UUP) is provided. Each UI is connected by five-wire connection for supplying electrical power from 12V, 1.3Ah battery in the UUP. The control and supply device has a DC-DC converter for supplying electrical power for initiation having voltage

Uc=350 V to the condensers in the UI. Each UI initiates and memorizes the following states: network: on/off, voltage Uc: charged/semicharged/discharged, delay time: from 0000 to 9999 milliseconds. For each individual UI the memorized state data are collected by the UUP and they are sent to the manual terminal (RT) via its 9Xtend RF module. The manual terminal receives data and displays it on the TDC-Recon display.

On the ground of the displayed data, the mining manipulator gives the following commands: CHARGE, FIRE, or DISCHARGE.

The 9Xtend RF module uses hopping method through the 10 RF channels with possibility of sequences and crypto code for the sake of a safe and reliable transfer of digital data. The RF system continuously displays connection quality on the display of the manual terminal enabling the mining manipulator to execute certainly reliable initialization of the detonator network. Brief Description of Drawings

The invention is described in the detail on an exemplary embodiment that is showed in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of the system for programmed initiation of the electrical and nonelectrical detonator networks using the RF system for transferring control data; Fig. 2 shows an electrical scheme of the initiation device (UI) with the delay data hexadecimal switch; Fig. 3 shows connection between the hexadecimal switch and the microcontroller; Fig. 4 shows a flowchart for the microcontroller in the UI;

Fig. 5 shows an electrical scheme of the control and supply device (UUP) and

9xTend module;

Fig. 6 shows a flowchart for the microcontroller in the UUP; Fig. 7 shows a block diagram of the manual terminal RT with the TDC-Recon and the 9xTend module;

Fig. 8 shows a process flowchart for the manual terminal; and Fig. 8a shows a process flowchart for the manual terminal. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention An initiating device (Fig. 2) is supplied with 12 V voltage from a battery placed in a UUP via five-wire cable. The device is based on the Microchip's microcontroller 18F452 (U2).

In order to provide correct operation it is necessary to decrease 12 V voltage and to stabilize 5 V voltage using an integrated stabilizer Ul LM7805, electrolyte condensers C2 and C4, and 100 nF block condensers Cl and C3 for preventing oscillations of the Ul and decreasing appearance of eventual disturbances. A diode

Dl is used for prevention of eventual incorrect connection of the UI and protection of sensitive parts thereby. The basis of the present device is a microcontroller U2 whose oscillator is constituted by a 20 MHz quartz crystal Xl and condensers C5 and C6. A condenser C7 is used for blocking appearance of eventual disturbances on 5 V supply.

An electrolyte C9 and a resistor R3 are used for resetting the microcontroller during activation of the UI and providing its correct operation.

Address of the UI is selected by the switches Sl in the range from 1 to 5. The addresses can be selected in the range from 0 to 32 (2⁵). During address selection it is necessary to take care not to repeat the addresses and that the address 0 is reserved for the UUP.

The sixth switch of the DIP switch is used for setting termination of a 120 Ω RlO on the end of the RS 485 network. This resistor is switched on only at the last initiating device, and for the remaining ones it has to be switched off, because the other UIs should be included the network.

Communication from the UUP and control of the UUP is executed via serial communication using RS 485. UART of the microcontroller executes serial communication and adaptation to the network via the U3. Resistor R4 is a pull-up resistor on a pin of the U3 used for selection of communication direction of the UI.

Setting UI delay time is done by selection of the values of the HEX switches

JPl, JP2, JP3 and JP4. Each switch section consists of 4 HEX switches, wherein a value of each switch can be selected in the range from 0 to 9 (Fig. 3). For reading out of the set values are used two 8 - bit ports U2 (port B and port D). Rl and R2 is a network of pull-up resistors used in combination with the HEX switches.

A part of the device controlled by the microcontroller that is used for detection of connectivity of the network, measurement of voltage value on the condenser ClO and discharge thereof, and activation of the connected detonator network, is formed by U4, U5, U6 and Ul.

A diode D2 is used for providing charging of the ClO and preventing its discharging. Resistors R8 and R9 are voltage dividers that decrease voltage from 350 V to 3.5 V in order to be measured by an A - D converter of the microcontroller U2. A condenser C8 is used as a filter. In order to make measurement, the microcontroller sets 5 V voltage via Rl 7 on a LED of the optocoupler U4 for providing voltage on the divider R8, R9 thereby. This measurement is made on demand of the UUP.

In order to discharge the condenser ClO (for example, if the initiation is canceled), the microcontroller U2 sets 5 V voltage on a pin of the C3 and controls operation of the optocoupler U5 via the resistor Rl 3 causing a triac of the optocoupler to become conductive, so the ClO starts to discharge via RlO and R12.

The power of the resistor Rl 1 is 5 W and it is used for protection of a triac TrI BTl 38 against the short-circuit occurrence. The microcontroller controls the TrI and also activation of the detonator via the optocoupler U6 thereby. An optocoupler U7 4N35 is used in order to determine if the network is connected to the outlet terminals of the initiating device. The signalization of the presence of the network is a red LED D3 which emits light if the detonators are connected to the terminals of the UI.

After the start of the program, depicted by flowchart shown in Fig. 4, initiation i.e. defining the input and output ports of the microcontroller and defining variables used in the program, is done. After that the logical values on the input terminals connected to the DIP switch are read out and the address of the initiating device is determined. Then the parameters of the serial communication of the RS485 are defined by defining the output, i.e. both the input pins of the microcontroller and the protocol parameters of the communication itself (speed, etc.) After that the delay value of each HEX switch is read out and its value is being defined. Then the program enters a loop where it is checked if the transferred data is intended for it (each UI has its unique address) and starts execution of the prescribed commands, otherwise it returns to the loop. If the address of the message is the same as the address of the device, then the program examines what command is about and executes an action based thereon. The commands can be demands for sending delay bytes, the command for voltage measurement on the condenser ClO and for check if the detonator network is connected to terminals of the UI. Depending on the voltage value on the condenser ClO, in this part the program sets the first three bites in the byte STATUS showing the voltage value on the condenser ClO and defines three different states: DISCHARGED, SEMICHARGED and CHARGED. If the command DISCHARGE is received, then follows discharge of the condenser via two 1 kΩ resistors, but if the command FIRE is received, then follows initiation of the detonators network by discharging ClO to the detonator network via the triac. The control and supply device (Fig. 5) is supplied with 12 V voltage from the battery placed in the UUP box. The device is based on the Microchip's microcontroller 18F452 (U2).

In order to provide correct operation it is necessary to decrease 12 V voltage and to stabilize 5 V voltage using an integrated stabilizer Ul LM7805, electrolytic condensers C2 and C4, and 100 nF block condensers Cl and C3 for preventing oscillations of the Ul and decreasing eventual disturbances that might appear. A diode Dl is used for prevention of eventual incorrect connection of the UUP and protection of sensitive parts thereby.

The basis of the present device is the microcontroller U2, whose oscillator is constituted by a 20 MHz quartz crystal Xl and condensers C8 and C9. A condenser C 12 is used for blocking appearance of eventual disturbances on the 5 V supply. An electrolyte C7 and a resistor R5 are used for resetting the microcontroller during activation of the UUP and providing its correct operation.

A part for providing 350 V voltage consists of: an oscillator with 4 NI circuits U6 and driving transistors Q4 and Q5 that operate as supply switches of the primary of the transformer Tl . The high voltage is induced on the secondary. Voltage is being rectified with diode bridge D3, D4, D5, D6 and charges a condenser CI l via an optocoupler U7. The oscillator frequency is determined by RC constant of R12, Pl and C5, and it is about 18 KHz.

A part of the device with a comparator U5 LM311 is designed for preventing voltage from exceeding necessary 350 V on the CI l and causing damage of the device thereby. The input terminals are supplied both with voltage from the condenser CI l and the dividers R17 and R18, and referent voltage defined by the dividers RlO and R9. If voltage on the condenser CI l exceeds 350 V voltage, then the comparator output changes its state and via the Q3 induces the optocoupler U3 that discontinue charging the oscillator U6 by acting on the base Q2. The transistor Ql serves as a switch used by the microcontroller U2 for activating of the oscillator for generation of 350 V voltage. The oscillator operates until the U2 receives either the command for initiating or the command for discharging.

The communication between the UUP and the UI is done via the two-way serial communication using RS 485. The microcontroller U2 executes the serial communication and adaptation to the network via the U3. The resistor RlO is a pull- up resistor on a pin of the U3 used for selection of the direction of communication with UI. The resistors R29 and R31 are used for decreasing disturbances along the line, and the resistor R30 is a resistor used for termination of the beginning of the line. The communication between the microcontroller and the RF module is done also by means of the serial communication using IC U4 MAX232 via RS232.

A part of the device controlled by the microcontroller that is used for the detection of connectivity of the network, measurement of voltage value on the condenser ClO and discharge thereof, and activation of the connected detonator network, is formed by U8, U9, UlO and U7.

The resistors R17 and Rl 8 are voltage dividers that decrease voltage from 350 V to 3.5 V in order to be measured by an A - D converter of the microcontroller U2. The condenser ClO is used as a filter. In order to make measurement the microcontroller sets 5 V voltage via R19 on a LED of the optocoupler U8 for obtaining voltage on the divider R17, Rl 8. This measurement is made on demand of the RT.

In order to discharge the condenser CI l (e.g. if initiation is cancelled), the microcontroller U2 sets 5 V on a pin of the C3 and controls operation of the optocoupler U9 via the resistor R23 causing a triac of the optocoupler to become conductive, so the Cl 1 starts to discharge via the R20 and the R21.

The power of the resistor R22 is 5 W and it is used for protection of a triac TrI BTl 38 against short-circuit occurrence on the output terminals. The microcontroller controls the TrI and initiation of the detonator via the optocoupler U9 thereby. The optocoupler Ul O is used by the microcontroller for determination if the network is connected to the output terminals of the initiating device. The signalization of the presence of the network is a red LED D8, which emits light if the detonators are connected to the terminals of the UUP. A constitutive part of the control and supply device UUP is also a RF module used for the communication with the manual terminal which is located at the user. In the UUP is used a made-up factory module having a number of kinds of data protection, both from disturbances and deliberate hindering. Operation frequency of the module is 900 MHz, its power is 10 mW and voltage supply is 5 V. Consumption current depends on transmitting power. The communication with the microcontroller is two-way and is done at the speed of 9600 b/s. The manual terminal RT is also connected to the identical RF module.

After the start of the program, depicted by flowchart shown in Fig. 6, initiation i.e. both defining the input and output ports of the microcontroller and defining variables used in the program, is done. After that the parameters of the serial communication from the RS485 to the initiating devices and the parameters of the serial communication RS232 with RF module are defined by defining output, i.e. both the input pins of the microcontroller and the protocol parameters of the communication itself (speed, etc.) Then the program enters a loop where it is checked if the transferred data is intended for it (each UUP has its unique address). In the case that the received message is intended for this specific UUP, then the execution of the provided commands starts, otherwise it returns to the loop. If the address of the message is the same as the address of the device, then the program examines what command is about and executes an action based thereon. The commands can be demands for sending delay bytes, the command for voltage measurement on the condensers in the UI and for check if the detonator network is connected to the terminals of the UI. After reception of delay bytes, voltage values and state of the network on the UUP₅ the UUP sends this data to the manual terminal. If the command received from the RT is CHARGE, then the microcontroller switches on the DC-DC converter via the transistor Ql and starts charging the condensers in the UI. If the received command is DISCHARGE, then the microcontroller sends this command to all connected initiating devices via the serial communication and they discharge their condensers, but it simultaneously discharges its own condenser CI l via the optocoupler U8. If the received command is FIRE, then the command is sent to the UI which initiates synchronous activation of the detonator network and simultaneously initiates the initiating part in the UUP itself without delay.

In order to make easier both use of the system for remote mining, monitoring and control and control of the system, the manual terminal (RT) is used (Fig. 7). The manual terminal is realized by using PALM computer having the operative system Windows Mobile 5.0, TDS-Recon with especially written program and a RF module 9Xtend. The communication between this small computer and the mining system is executed via a RF module MaxStream 9Xtend. The communication is serial and two- way, wherein is used RS232 protocol, and supply of the RF module is provided by a 12 V accumulator battery having capacity of 1.3 Ah.

The aim of the program is to send the commands to the control and supply devices and to collect information of the states of the individual initiating devices via the UUP. The collected information of delay, charge level of the condensers and connectivity of the detonator network, quality of the RF signal and the state of the battery are shown on the display of the TDS-Recon.

After the start of the program RT.exe, depicted by flowchart shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. 8a, both defining of the variables and setting of the parameters of the serial communication with RF module, is done. By selection of the operation of seeking the state of the initiating device, the manual terminal RT sends the address of the control and supply device UUP having connected the UIs thereon. After collecting data from the UIs, the UUP sends them via its RF module to the RT. When the RT receives the data, it determines what UUP is about on the basis of the address, then analyzes and classifies collected data and shows them graphically on the display of the RT. If the button CHARGE is pressed, then the manual terminal sends a common command to all the UUPs in its surroundings that are recognized by all control and supply devices, and the DC-DC converter starts operating in order to generate high voltage on the condensers of the initiating devices. During charge period, the RT and the UUP continuously exchange data both on the state of the network and voltage on the condensers of the connected UIs. The received data are shown on the display of the RT so the manipulator is able to monitor the charging process in each moment. If the state is regular and the mining has to be done, then the manipulator sends to the all UUPs the command by pressing the button FIRE, and the all UUPs sends the command further synchronously with accuracy of +/- 0.1 ms to the UI which initiating network of detonators with delay.

Each UI initiates and memorizes the following states: network: on/off, voltage Uc: charged/semicharged/discharged, delay time: from 0000 to 9999 milliseconds. For each individual UI the memorized state data are collected by the UUP and they are sent to the manual terminal (RT) via its 9Xtend RF module. The manual terminal receives data and displays it on the display of the TDC-Recon. On the ground of the displayed data, the mining manipulator gives the following commands: CHARGE, FIRE, or DISCHARGE.

The 9Xtend RF module uses hopping method through 10 RF channels with possibility of sequences and crypto code for the sake of a safe and reliable transfer of digital data. The RF system continuously displays connection quality on the display of the manual terminal enabling the mining manipulator to execute certainly reliable initialization of the detonator network.

Claims

1. System for programmed initiating of electrical and nonelectrical detonator networks using RF transferring system, characterized in that the system comprises an initiating device (UI) as a machine for initiation of the electrical detonator networks with programmable delay times.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that delay time is set by hexadecimal switches.

3. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the 16 initiating devices (UI) and the single control and charge device (UUP) is provided.

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the supply device has DC/DC converter.

5. System according to claims 1-3, characterized in that it comprises microcontroller (U2) whose oscillator consists of a quartz crystal (Xl) and condensers (C5 and C6).

6. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the setting of delay times is done by HEX switches (JPl, JP2, JP3 and JP4).

7. System according to claim 6, characterized in that each section of switches consists of the 4 HEX switches, wherein a value of each switch can be varied from 0 to 9.

8. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the microcontroller (U2) detects connectivity of the network, measures voltage values on the condenser (ClO) and discharges the condenser (ClO).

9. System according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the RF transfer is done.

10. System according to claim 7, characterized in that each of at the most 16x16 serially connected networks of the electrical and nonelectrical detonators of the same type is connected to its appropriate initiation device.

11. System for programmable initiation according to claim 10, characterized in that each initiating device (UI) is programmed by its hexadecimal switch.

12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that the delay interval is set in the range from 0 to 9999 milliseconds with resolution of 1 millisecond.

13. System according to claim 1 1, characterized in that it comprises at the most 16 control and supply devices and via their networks controls the initiating devices (UI) connected thereto.

14. System according to claim 13, characterized in that the manual terminal with the associated 9xTend RF module constitutes connection between the mining manipulator and the whole system via at the most 16 control and supply devices with its RF module.

15. System according to claim 10, characterized in that programming of delay intervals of each network is done individually and marks them visually with digits on the initiating place without presence of electric power for the initiation.