NO791357L

NO791357L - PROCEDURE AND ARRANGEMENTS IN ORDER TO TRY A SERIES OF EXPLOSIONS

Info

Publication number: NO791357L
Application number: NO791357A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Peter Charles Seligmann
Original assignee: Aeci Ltd
Priority date: 1978-04-26
Filing date: 1979-04-24
Publication date: 1979-10-29
Also published as: BR7902486A; ZA782376B; NZ190261A

Description

Fremgangsmåte og anordning for i rekkefølge å utløse en serie . eksplosjoner. Method and device for sequentially triggering a series. explosions.

Foreliggende oppfinnelse vedrører en fremgangsmåte og en anordning for i rekkefølge å utløse en serie eksplosjoner. Den omfatter videre en utløsningsenhet for utløs-ningsanordningen. The present invention relates to a method and a device for successively triggering a series of explosions. It further comprises a release unit for the release device.

I henhold til oppfinnelsen er det tilveiebrakt en utløsningsanordning .for i rekkefølge å utløse en serie eksplosjoner som omfatter: En rekke elektrisk påvirkbare utløsningsenheter, en første koblingsanordning for kobling av enhetene i elektrisk parallell med hverandre til en styreanordning for tilførsel av et antall tidssignaler med konstant strømverdi til enhetene, hvor den første koblingsanordningen omfatter en første forsyningsledning og et antall seriekoblede første impedanser som styrer tidssignalene og hvor enhetene er koblet mellom den første forsyningsledningen og koblings-punktene mellom de første styreimpedansene, idet hver enhet har en telleranordning anordnet for å telle i en første retning det antall tidssignaler som den mottar fra styreanordningen, og hver enhet har én andre styreimpedans for tidssignaler som har en lav impedans for en forutbestemt tidsperiode og deretter en høy impedans når strømmen har en stør-relse lik størrelsen av tidssignalene som passerer gjennom den, slik at under bruk blir et første tidssignal styrt til telleranordningen i en første av enhetene, og et andre tidssignal blir styrt til telleranordningen i den første enheten og en andre enhet, og påfølgende tidssignaler til et påfølgende økende antall telleranordninger, idet hver enhet er anordnet for å påvirke en eksplosjonsutløser for å utløse en eksplosjon når dens telleranordning har et tellerinnhold av en forutbestemt verdi. According to the invention, a release device is provided for sequentially triggering a series of explosions comprising: A number of electrically actuable release devices, a first connection device for connecting the devices in electrical parallel with each other to a control device for supplying a number of time signals with a constant current value to the units, where the first connection device comprises a first supply line and a number of series-connected first impedances that control the time signals and where the units are connected between the first supply line and the connection points between the first control impedances, each unit having a counter device arranged to count in a first direction the number of time signals that it receives from the control device, and each unit has a second control impedance for time signals having a low impedance for a predetermined period of time and then a high impedance when the current has a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the time signals passing through it, so that during use a first time signal is controlled to the counter device in a first of the units, and a second time signal is controlled to the counter device in the first unit and a second unit, and subsequent time signals to a successively increasing number of counter devices, each unit being arranged to actuate an explosion trigger to trigger an explosion when its counter means has a counter content of a predetermined value.

I henhold til oppfinnelsen er det videre tilveiebrakt en fremgangsmåte for i rekkefølge å utløse en serie eksplosjoner som omfatter tilveiebringelse av en rekke utløs-ningsenheter som hver har en andre styreimpedanse for tidssignaler som har en lav impedans for en forutbestemt tidsperiode og deretter en høy impedans når strøm av en forutbestemt størrelse passerer, frembringelse av en rekke tidssignaler til enhetene, idet hvert påfølgende tidssignal forårsaker strøm av en størrelse minst lik den nevnte forutbestemte størrelsen til å passere gjennom påfølgende av de andre styreimpedansene for tidssignalene slik at påfølgende andre styreimpedanser i rekkefølge blir brakt til å forandre tilstand, samt at de enheter hvis andre styreimpedanser for tidssignalene har forandret tilstand, bringes til å.telle i en første retning det antall tidssignaler som tilføres dem. According to the invention, there is further provided a method for sequentially triggering a series of explosions which comprises providing a number of triggering units each having a second control impedance for time signals which have a low impedance for a predetermined time period and then a high impedance when current of a predetermined magnitude passes, producing a series of timing signals to the devices, each successive timing signal causing current of a magnitude at least equal to said predetermined magnitude to pass through successive of the other control impedances for the timing signals such that successive other control impedances are brought into sequence to change state, and that the units whose other control impedances for the time signals have changed state, are brought to count in a first direction the number of time signals supplied to them.

Videre Omfatter oppfinnelsen en utløsningsenhet Furthermore, the invention includes a release unit

iin

for en utløsningsanordning for i rekkefølge å utløse en serie eksplosjoner som omfatt<*>er en koblingsanordning for tilkobling av enheten til en første koblingsanordning for å forbinde enhetene elektrisk i parallell med hverandre til en styreanordning for tilførsel av et antall tidssignaler med konstant strømverdi til enhetene, idet den første koblings-anordningén omfatter en første forsyningsledning og et antall seriekoblede første styreimpedanser for tidssignaler, hvilken koblingsanordning er anordnet for å koble enheten mellom den første forsyningsledningen og koblingspunktet mellom to for a triggering device for sequentially triggering a series of explosions comprising<*>a connecting device for connecting the device to a first connecting device for connecting the devices electrically in parallel with each other to a control device for supplying a number of time signals of constant current value to the devices , the first connecting device comprising a first supply line and a number of series-connected first control impedances for time signals, which connecting device is arranged to connect the unit between the first supply line and the connection point between two

av de første styreimpedansene, en andre styreimpedans for tidssignaler som har en lav impedans for en forutbestemt tidsperiode og deretter en høy impedans når strøm som passerer gjennom den har en størrelse lik størrelsen av tidssignalene, og en telleranordning anordnet for å telle i en første retning det antall tidssignaler som den mottar fra styreanordningen når den andre styreimpedansen har den høye impedansen, og som er anordnet for å aktivere en eksplosjonsutløser til å utløse en eksplosjon når telleranordningen har et innhold av en forutbestemt verdi. of the first control impedances, a second control impedance for timing signals having a low impedance for a predetermined period of time and then a high impedance when current passing through it has a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the timing signals, and a counter device arranged to count in a first direction the the number of timing signals which it receives from the control device when the second control impedance has the high impedance, and which is arranged to activate an explosion trigger to trigger an explosion when the counter device has a content of a predetermined value.

Telleranordningen kan være anordnet for å telle både opp og ned, og styreanordningen kan følgelig være anordnet for å tilveiebringe et passende antall tidssignaler slik at alle telleranordningene teller i det minste en telling i den første retningen og for så å tilveiebringe minst ett tilbaketellingssignal til telleranordningen i hver av enhetene slik at all telling i en andre motsatt retning er i takt. The counter device may be arranged to count both up and down, and the control device may accordingly be arranged to provide an appropriate number of timing signals so that all the counter devices count at least one count in the first direction and to provide at least one countdown signal to the counter device in each of the units so that all counting in a second opposite direction is in step.

Utløsningsanordningen kan innbefatte styreanordningen. Likeledes kan utløsningsenhetene hver omfatte en eksplosjonsutløser eller de kan ha en andre koblingsanordning for tilkobling av disse til eksplosjonsutløserne. The release device may include the control device. Likewise, the release units may each comprise an explosion release or they may have a second connection device for connecting these to the explosion releases.

Mer spesielt kan hver telleranordning ha en første inngangsklemme til hvilken tidssignalene føres, og en andre inngangsklemme til hvilken det ene eller hvert tilbaketellingssignal tilføres. Hver enhet kan være forsynt med en første likeretteranordning for tilførsel av tidssignaler med en forutbestemt polaritet til den første inngangsklemmen på dens telleranordning. For å sikre at det skjelnes mellom tidssignalene og det ene .eller hvert tilbaketellingssignal, kan hver enhet ha en følérinnretning som er følsom for spenningsnivå for å slippe gjennom signaler som har en forutbestemt polaritet og en spenning høyere enn en forutbestemt verdi til den andre inngangsklemmen på dens telleranordning. Styreanordningen kan da være anordnet for å tilføre tidssignaler ved en spenning som er mindre enn den forutbestemte spenningsverdien- og det ene eller hvert tilbaketellingssignal ved en spenning som er større enn den nevnte forutbestemte, idet tidssignalene og tilbaketellingssignalene har samme polaritet. More particularly, each counter device can have a first input terminal to which the time signals are fed, and a second input terminal to which the one or each countdown signal is supplied. Each unit may be provided with a first rectifier device for supplying timing signals of a predetermined polarity to the first input terminal of its counter device. To ensure that the timing signals are distinguished from the one or each countdown signal, each unit may have a voltage level sensitive sensing device to pass signals having a predetermined polarity and a voltage higher than a predetermined value to the second input terminal of its counter device. The control device can then be arranged to supply time signals at a voltage that is less than the predetermined voltage value and one or each countdown signal at a voltage that is greater than the aforementioned predetermined, the time signals and the countdown signals having the same polarity.

I en foretrukket utførelsesform kan telleranordningen være anordnet for å telle automatisk med en forutbestemt hastighet i en reservert retning ved mottakelse av et tilbaketellingssignal. In a preferred embodiment, the counter device may be arranged to count automatically at a predetermined speed in a reserved direction upon receipt of a countdown signal.

For å sikre at alle eksplosjonene blir utløst i tilfelle forsyningsledningen blir kuttet av fallende sten eller lignende, kan hver enhet ha en energilagringsanordning for energisering av dens telleranordning og for tilførsel av energi til eksplosjonsutløseren. To ensure that all the explosions are triggered in the event that the supply line is cut by falling rock or the like, each unit may have an energy storage device for energizing its counter device and for supplying energy to the explosion trigger.

Videre kan den andre styreimpedansen være en smeltemotstand. Furthermore, the second control impedance can be a fuse.

Oppfinnelsen er videre beskrevet ved hjelp av et eksempel under henvisning til tegningen som i form av et blokkskjema illustrerer en del av en utløsningsanordning i henhold til oppfinnelsen. The invention is further described by means of an example with reference to the drawing which, in the form of a block diagram, illustrates part of a release device according to the invention.

Det vises nå til tegningen hvor en utløsnings-anordning i henhold til oppfinnelsen omfatter en første og en andre elektrisk leder, henholvdsiv 12 og 14, et antall motstander 16 som er seriekoblet ved hjelp av den første elek-triske lederen 12, og et antall utløsningsenheter 18a, 18b, 18c .... , idet hver enhet er tilkoblet mellom forbindelsespunktet mellom to ved siden av hverandre liggende motstander 16 og lederen 14. Reference is now made to the drawing where a release device according to the invention comprises a first and a second electrical conductor, reeds 12 and 14, a number of resistors 16 which are connected in series by means of the first electrical conductor 12, and a number of release units 18a, 18b, 18c ...., each unit being connected between the connection point between two adjacent resistors 16 and the conductor 14.

Hver enhet omfatter en diode 20 og en lagringskondensator 22, en zenerdiode 24 og en motstand 26, en diode 28 og et smeltbart ledd 30, samt en opp-ned teller 32. En • detoneringsinnretning (ik'ke vist) er koblet mellom en utgangs-klemme på telleren 32 og lederen 14 ved hjelp av ledninger 34. Each unit comprises a diode 20 and a storage capacitor 22, a zener diode 24 and a resistor 26, a diode 28 and a fusible link 30, as well as an upside-down counter 32. A • detonation device (not shown) is connected between an output - clamp on the counter 32 and the conductor 14 using wires 34.

Under bruk blir ladningsstrøm tilført lagrings-kondensatoren 22 via diodene 20 og lederne 12 og 14 fra en styre-enhet (ikke vist på tegningen), idet leder 12 er positiv i forhold til leder 14. Når alle kondensatorene 22 er blitt oppladet, blir konstantstrømpulser påført den venstre enden av lederen 12, slik at pulsene har et negativt.potensial i forhold til lederen 14. Motstandene 16 og smelteleddene 30 har passende verdier slik at tilstrekkelig strøm føyter gjennom det smeltbare leddet 30 i den første enheten 18a til at det smelter, men slik at det ikke flyter så meget strøm gjennom smelteleddet 30 i de andre modulene at disse' smelter. Smelteleddet 30 i enheten 18a har således en lav impedans i During use, charging current is supplied to the storage capacitor 22 via the diodes 20 and conductors 12 and 14 from a control unit (not shown in the drawing), conductor 12 being positive in relation to conductor 14. When all the capacitors 22 have been charged, constant current pulses are applied to the left end of the conductor 12 so that the pulses are at a negative potential relative to the conductor 14. The resistors 16 and the fusible link 30 have suitable values so that sufficient current flows through the fusible link 30 in the first unit 18a to cause it to melt, but so that so much current does not flow through the fusible link 30 in the other modules that these melt. The fuse link 30 in the unit 18a thus has a low impedance i

en forutbestemt tidsperiode og deretter en høy impedans. Denne tidsperioden kan f.eks. være i området 15 millisekunder. Fagfolk på området vil forstå at den tid det tar for leddet 30 å smelte, vil avhenge av størrelsen på strømmen som flyter gjennom leddet. Man vil videre forstå at mens leddet 30 har en lav impedans, vil spenningsfallet over det ikke være tilstrekkelig til å aktivere telleren 32. Straks leddet 30 har smeltet, vil imidlertid telleren bli åpnet. a predetermined period of time and then a high impedance. This time period can e.g. be in the range of 15 milliseconds. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the time it takes for joint 30 to melt will depend on the amount of current flowing through the joint. It will further be understood that while the joint 30 has a low impedance, the voltage drop across it will not be sufficient to activate the counter 32. As soon as the joint 30 has melted, however, the counter will be opened.

Tidssignalene har en tidsvarighet som er tilstrekkelig lang til å forårsake smelting av i det minste ett ledd. 30 og til å forsyne dettes tilknyttede teller 22 med en aktiveringspuls, men ikke lang nok til å bringe noe annet The time signals have a duration that is sufficiently long to cause melting of at least one link. 30 and to supply its associated counter 22 with an activation pulse, but not long enough to bring anything else

ledd 30 til å smelte. Det første tidssignalet som tilføresjoint 30 to melt. The first time signal supplied

av styreenheten får derfor leddet 30 i den første enheten 18a til å smelte, og får dets teller 32 til å registrere en opptelling. Som antydet ovenfor behøver ikke det første tidssignalet å ha noen virkning på leddene 30 eller tellerne . 32 of the control unit therefore causes link 30 of first unit 18a to melt, causing its counter 32 to register a count. As indicated above, the first time signal need not have any effect on the links 30 or the counters. 32

i de etterfølgende enhetene 18b, 18c, osv.in the subsequent units 18b, 18c, etc.

Etter et forutbestemt tidsintervall tilfører styreenheten et andre tidssignal som får telleren 32 i den første enheten 18a til å registrere ytterligere en opptelling, leddet 30 i den andre enheten 18b til å smelte, og telleren 32 i den andre enheten 32 til å registrere en første opptelling... Tidssignalene kan således,bringe leddene 30 til å smelte i rekkefølge, og hver teller 32 opp til og omfattende telleren 32 tilknyttet det leddet 30 som nettopp har smeltet, til å registrere en opptelling. After a predetermined time interval, the control unit supplies a second time signal which causes the counter 32 in the first unit 18a to register a further count, the link 30 in the second unit 18b to melt, and the counter 32 in the second unit 32 to register a first count ... The time signals can thus cause the links 30 to melt in sequence, and each counter 32 up to and including the counter 32 associated with the link 30 that has just melted, to register a count.

Når alle leddene 30 er blitt smeltet, noe som indikeres ved en stigning i impedansen til utløsningsanordnin-gen, blir en stor negativ puls påtrykt lederen 12. Denne pulsen har tilstrekkelig stor spenning til at den.slipper gjennom alle zenerdiodene 24 og således tilfører et tilbaketellingssignal til alle tellerne 32. Tellerne 32 begynner da automatisk å telle ned i takt ved en forutbestemt hastighet. Når hver teller 32 har tellet ned til null, blir dens lagringskondensator 22 koblet over dens detonator via led-ningene 34 og forårsaker avfyring av detonatoren. Man vil legge merke til at umiddelbart etter tilbaketellingspulsen kan lederen 12 gjøres positiv i forhold til lederen 14 for å bringe ladningsstrøm til kondensatorene 22. When all the joints 30 have been melted, which is indicated by a rise in the impedance of the trip device, a large negative pulse is applied to the conductor 12. This pulse has a sufficiently large voltage that it passes through all the zener diodes 24 and thus supplies a countdown signal to all the counters 32. The counters 32 then automatically start counting down in time at a predetermined speed. When each counter 32 has counted down to zero, its storage capacitor 22 is connected across its detonator via the leads 34 and causes the detonator to fire. It will be noted that immediately after the countdown pulse, the conductor 12 can be made positive with respect to the conductor 14 to bring charging current to the capacitors 22.

Fagfolk på området vil forstå at tellerne 32Those skilled in the art will understand that the counters 32

til å begynne med er innstilt på en telleverdi større enn null. Man vil også forstå at denatorene blir utløst fra høyre mot venstre, dvs. i motsatt rekkefølge av den leddene 30 smeltes i. is initially set to a count value greater than zero. It will also be understood that the denators are triggered from right to left, i.e. in the opposite order to that in which the joints 30 are melted.

Ladningskondensatorene 32 tjener også til å energisere deres tilknyttede tellere 32 og til å tilveiebringe den nødvendige energi for avfyring av de tilknyttede detonatorene. The charge capacitors 32 also serve to energize their associated counters 32 and to provide the necessary energy for firing the associated detonators.

De smeltbare leddene kan i sin enkleste form bestå..' av et passende stykke smeltetråd. The fusible links can in their simplest form consist of a suitable piece of fusible wire.

Enhetene kan naturligvis miniatyriseres og om-sluttes av huset til en detonator. Alternativt kan enhetene innesluttes i passende hus og deretter forbindes, med detonatorene. The units can of course be miniaturized and enclosed by the housing of a detonator. Alternatively, the units can be enclosed in suitable housings and then connected, with the detonators.

Claims

1. Device for successively triggering a series of explosions, characterized by a number of electrically actuable triggering devices, a first connecting device for connecting the devices electrically in parallel with each other to a control device for supplying a number of time signals with a constant current value to the devices, where the the first connection device comprises a first supply line and a number of series-connected first control impedances for the time signals, the units being connected between the first supply line and the connection points between the first control impedances, in that each unit has a counter device. arranged to count in a first direction the number of time signals that it receives from the control device, in that each unit has a second control impedance for the time signals having a low impedance for a predetermined time period and then a high impedance when current having a magnitude equal to that of the timing signals pass through, so that in use a first timing signal is directed to the counter device in the first unit and a second unit and subsequent timing signals to a successively increasing number of counter devices, and in that each unit is arranged to activate an explosion trigger which triggers an explosion when its counter device has a counter content of a predetermined value.

2. Trigger device according to claim ^ characterized in that the counter devices are arranged to count both up and down, and the control device is arranged to provide an appropriate number of time signals so that all the counter devices count at least one count in the first direction, in order to provide a countdown signal to the counter devices in all the units so that they all count in a second opposite direction in time.

3. Release device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises the control device.

4. Release device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each release unit comprises the explosion release.

5. Release device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each unit comprises a second coupling device for connecting this to the explosion release.

6. Trigger device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each counter device has a first input terminal to which the time signals are supplied and a second input terminal to which one or each countdown signal is fed.

7. Trigger device according to claim 6, characterized in that each unit has a first rectifier device for supplying time signals which have a predetermined polarity to the first input terminal of the counter device.

8. Release device according to claim 7, characterized in that each unit has a sensor device which is sensitive to voltage level to pass through signals of a predetermined polarity which have a voltage greater than a predetermined value to the second input terminal of its counter device, control devices being arranged to produce time signals with a voltage less than said predetermined voltage value and the one or each countdown signal with a voltage greater than said predetermined voltage value, which time signals and countdown signals have the same polarity.

9. Trigger device according to claim 2, characterized in that all the counter devices are arranged to automatically count at a predetermined speed in the backward direction upon receipt of a countdown signal.

10. Trigger device according to any of the present claims, characterized in that each unit has an energy storage device for energizing its counter device and for supplying energy to the explosion trigger.

11. Release device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second control impedance n is a melting resistor.

12. Release device as described in the description with reference to the attached drawing.

13. Method for triggering in sequence a series of explosions, characterized in that a number of triggering units are provided each of which has a predetermined time period and then a high impedance when current of a predetermined value passes through them, in that the units are supplied with a series of time signals, by that each successive time signal receives a current of a magnitude at least equal to the aforementioned predetermined value to pass through successively of the other control impedances so that successive other control impedances are caused to change state - are caused to count in a first direction the number of time signals which supplied to them.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that enough signals are supplied to cause all the units to register at least one count, that the units are made to count in a second opposite direction in time, and in that the explosions are triggered in sequence when the units has counted in the other direction to a predetermined size.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the units are brought to count automatically in the other direction by supplying them with a simple countdown signal.

16. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the units are supplied with time signals with a predetermined polarity and a constant current value and a countdown signal with the same polarity and a larger voltage value.

17. Method according to any of claims 13 to 16, characterized by storing energy in each unit for energizing the unit and an explosion trigger.

18. Procedure mainly as described in the description with reference to the attached drawing.

19. Device for triggering in sequence a series of explosions, characterized by a connecting device for connecting the device to a first connection device for connecting the devices electrically in series with each other to a control device for supplying a number of time signals with a constant current value to the devices , which first connection device comprises a first supply line and a number of series-connected first control impedances for time signals, in that. the connecting means is arranged to connect the device between the first supply line and the connection point between two of the first control impedances, at a second control impedance for timing signals having a low impedance for a predetermined period of time and then a high impedance when current of a magnitude equal to that of the timing signals passes through, and by a counter device arranged to count in a first direction the number of time signals which it receives from the control device when the second control impedance has the high impedance, and which is arranged to activate an explosion trigger which triggers an explosion when the counter device has a counter content of a predetermined value.

20. Unit according to claim 19, characterized in that the counter devices are arranged to count both up and down, and upon receipt of at least one countdown signal to count in a second opposite direction in time.

21. Unit according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that it comprises the explosion trigger.

22. Unit according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that it comprises a second coupling device to connect it to the explosion trigger.

23. Unit according to any of claims 19 to 22, characterized in that the counter device has a first input terminal for the time signals and a second input terminal for the one or each countdown signal.

24. Unit according to claim 23, characterized by a first rectifier device for supplying time signals having a predetermined polarity to the first input terminal of its counter device.

25. Device according to claim 25, characterized by a sensing device which is sensitive to voltage level to pass through signals of a predetermined polarity having a voltage higher than a predetermined value to the second input terminal of its counter device.

26. Unit according to claim 20, characterized in that the counter device is arranged to automatically count at a predetermined speed in the reversed direction upon receipt of a countdown signal.

27. Unit according to any one of claims 19 to 26, characterized by an energy storage device for operating the counter device and for supplying energy to the explosion trigger.

28. Unit according to claim 19, characterized in that the second control impedance is a melting resistor.

29. Unit mainly as described in the description with reference to the attached drawing.