ZA200504429B

ZA200504429B - A connector block for detonating network

Info

Publication number: ZA200504429B
Application number: ZA200504429A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Jia Xiaohong
Original assignee: Beijing Auxin Chemical Technol
Priority date: 2005-05-31
Filing date: 2005-05-31
Publication date: 2006-04-26

Description

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A CONNECTOR BLOCK FOR A DETONATING NETWORK

Field of the Invention 5 The invention relates to connector blocks for a detonating network.

Summary of the Invention

A connector block in accordance with the invention may be used to link one or more signal transmission lines with a detonator, thus permitting the detonator to transmit detonating signals.

A connector block has a connector body which includes a retaining end, a locking end, and a longitudinally extending passage in the connector body adjacent both the retaining end and the locking end for positioning and/or orientating a detonator at least partially within the connector body, wherein the retaining end includes a transmission line retaining slot member having a transmission line retaining slot, said slot having an opening for receiving transmission lines, the retaining end including a closure member adapted to, in use, retain one or more transmission lines in the slot.

The closure member may be attached to the connector body.

The closure member may be integrally moulded with the connector body.

The opening may be sized and dimensioned complimentarily to the transmission lines which are to pass therethrough.

The opening may be wedge-shaped.

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The wedge-shaped opening may have a hook at each side thereby to permit the signal transmission lines to enter smoothly and to inhibit them from slipping out.

The slot member may include two symmetrical slots.

The slot member may have resiliently deformable portions.

The resiliently deformable portion may be a lateral portion where the slot member connects to the connector body thereby permitting the wedge-shaped opening to resiliently deform to permit signal transmission lines to pass therethrough into the slot or slots.

The retaining end of the connector body may have two laterally located symmetrical elastic clamps.

The two clamps at the end of the connector body may be symmetrically arc- surfaced.

The two clamps may be spaced from each other by from 0.8 mm to 2mm.

Thus, the opening may be from 0.8mm to 2mm wide.

The longitudinally extending passage may also be termed a detonator chamber. : 25 The retaining slot member may also be termed a cavity member.

One portion of the retaining slot member may be connected with one or more portion of said closure member.

Said closure member may comprise two or more portions.

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In one embodiment, an end portion of the closure member may be connected to a lateral portion of the retaining slot member.

A free end portion of the closure member may be securable to a complimentary portion of the connector body.

In an embodiment, the closure member includes a hook portion at its free end portion, which hook portion, in use, engages a complimentary nose portion on the connector body thereby to secure the closure member to the connector body at the free end portion of the closure member.

When the closure member is in a closed position, a closed slot is formed for retaining one or more signal transmission lines substantially perpendicularly to the detonator which detonator is located at least partially in the longitudinally extending passage.

The slot may be arcuate.

The slot may be substantially U or C shaped.

There may be two triangular holes located on the connector body between the slot member and locking end and positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal passage.

The two holes may be connected to the connector body by two small ribs, thus making the two holes function as an explosion-relief protection when an explosion takes place.

At the retaining end of the passage, the passage may terminate in a convex formation.

The convex formation may have an opening between the passage and the slot.

The opening may be in the form of a notched hole having one or more notches.

Itis believed that, in use, this convex formation directs the effect of the detonator throughout the slot thereby reducing the risk that any transmission lines retained in the slot are not initiated by the detonation.

Thus, the convex formation may distribute any detonation in the passage to both sides of the passage.

The convex in the cavity member is connected with the connector body.

The locking end may include a first locking member and a second locking member which is connected to the connector body and provides an opening to the passage.

The second locking member may be in the form of a locking seat which is connected with the connector body and has two symmetrical locking struts extending laterally of the seat.

The first locking member may be complementary with the second locking member and have two symmetrical locking slots for engaging the locking struts.

The first locking member may fit into the second locking member thereby locking the two members together and the detonator in position in the passage.

When the first locking member is urged towards its locked position, typically inwards, the first locking member engages the second locking member and aligning the opening in the first and second locking members to crimp the

® detonator which passes between the first and second locking members into the passage.

The second locking member may have a resisting strut at the back of the 5S passage opening through which the detonator passes, which will increase the locking force when the first and second locking members engaging into a locking configuration.

The dimensions of the opening through the first and second locking members through which the detonator passes into the passage may be complementary to the crimped size of the outside diameter of a detonator and the length of the passage may correspond with the distance from the crimped end of the detonator to the top end of the detonator, so that the detonator can be properly secured in the second locking member.

The inventor believes that a connector block generally in accordance with the invention, when used for a detonating network, substantially reduces the risk that signal transmission lines retained in position by the connector block would slip out of the retaining end of the connector block and thus that the transmission of detonating signals will be interrupted. The connector is believed to provide quick and simple connection and to be safe and reliable in operation.

Specific Description of Embodiments of the Invention

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings,

Figure 1 shows, in side view, a connector block generally in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows, in end view, the locking end of the connector block of Figure 1 in an unlocked position; and

Figure 3 shows, in end view, the locking end of Figure 2 in a locked position.

In the Figures, reference numeral 10 generally indicates a connector block broadly in accordance with the invention.

The connector block 10 can be used to link one or more signal transmission lines with a detonator, thus permitting the controlled transmission of detonation signals.

The connector block 10 has a connector body 12 which includes a retaining end 14, a locking end 16, and a longitudinally extending passage 18 in the connector body 12 adjacent both the retaining end 14 and the locking end 16 for positioning and/or orientating a detonator (not shown) at least partially within the connector body12.

The retaining end 14 includes a transmission line retaining slot member 17 having a transmission line retaining slot 20, said slot 20 having an opening 22 for receiving transmission lines (not shown), the retaining end 14 including a closure member 24 adapted to, in use, retain one or more transmission lines in the slot 20.

One end of connector body 12 is the retaining end 14 and the other end is a locking end 16 which secures and positions the detonator to prevent it from becoming displaced from its desired position in the passage 18.

The passage 18 is located within the connector body 12 and extends from the locking end 16 and terminates at the retaining end 14. The size of the passage

18 matches the outer dimensions of the detonator so that the detonator is received snugly therein.

At the retaining end 14 of the passage 18, the passage 18 terminates in a convex 5S formation 40.

The convex formation 40 has, at its apex, a notched hole between the passage 18 and the slot 20.

The closure member 24 includes a hook portion 26 at its free end portion 28, which hook portion 26, in use, engages a complimentary nose portion 30 on the connector body 12 thereby to secure the closure member 24 to the connector body 12 at the free end portion of the closure member.

The closure member 24 is in the form of a cover which, when it is open, permits the signal transmission lines to pass through the opening 22 and snugly rest in the slot 20 of the slot member 17. The slot 20 can hold one or more signal transmission lines, which are placed perpendicularly to the longitudinally extending passage 18. When the signal transmission lines pass through the opening 22 and enter the slot 20, closure of the closure member 24 by securing the free end 28 thereof to the connector body 12 forms a complete arcuate slot for holding one or more signal transmission lines which will be initiated by the detonator.

The slot 20 is arcuate which ensures that the signal transmission lines entering the slot are not damaged.

Near the center of the closure member 24, facing the slot 20, is a protrusion 25 of which the size and dimensions match that of the opening 22 in the slot 20. The protrusion 25 tightly fits into the opening 22 when the member 24 is secured in a closed position as described above.

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Two triangular holes 30, 32 are located on the connector body 12 between the slot member 17 and locking end 16. The holes 30, 32 are positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal passage 18. The two holes 30, 32 are connected to the connector body 12 by two small ribs 34, 36 thus making the two holes function as an explosion-relief protection when an explosion takes place.

The locking end 16 includes a first locking member 50 and a second locking member 52 which is connected to the connector body 12 and provides an opening 54 to the passage 18.

The second locking member 52 is in the form of a locking seat 56 which is connected with the connector body 12 and has two symmetrical locking struts 58, 60 extending laterally of the seat 56.

The first locking member 50 is complementary to the second locking member 52 and has two symmetrical locking slots 62, 64 for engaging the locking struts 58, 60.

The first locking member 50 fits into the second locking member 52 thereby locking the two members together and the detonator in position in the passage 18.

When the first locking member 50 is urged towards its locked position, as shown in Figure 3, typically inwards, the first locking member 50 engages the second locking member 52 aligning the opening 54 in the first and second locking members to crimp the detonator which passes between the first and second locking members into the passage 18.

The second locking member 52 has a resisting strut 66 at the back of the passage opening 54 through which the detonator passes, which will increase the locking force when the first and second locking members engage into a locking configuration.

The dimensions of the opening 54 through the first and second locking members 50, 52 through which the detonator passes into the passage 18 is complementary to the crimped size of the outside diameter of a detonator and the length of the passage 18 corresponds with the distance from the crimped end of the detonator to the top end of the detonator, so that the detonator can be properly secured in the second locking member 52.

Claims

1. A connector block has a connector body which includes a retaining end, a locking end, and a longitudinally extending passage in the connector body adjacent both the retaining end and the locking end for positioning and/or orientating a detonator at least partially within the connector body, wherein the retaining end includes a transmission line retaining slot member having a transmission line retaining slot, said slot having an opening for receiving transmission lines, the retaining end including a closure member adapted to, in use, retain one or more transmission lines in the slot.

2. A connector block as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure member is attached to the connector body. 15s 8.

A connector block as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the closure member is integrally moulded with the connector body.

4, A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening is sized and dimensioned complimentarily to the transmission lines which are to pass therethrough.

5. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein one portion of the retaining slot member is connected with one or more portion of said closure member.

6. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said closure member includes two or more portions.

7. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an end portion of the closure member is connected to a lateral portion of the retaining slot member.

8. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a free end portion of the closure member is securable to a complimentary portion of the connector body.

9. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member includes a hook portion at its free end portion, which hook portion, in use, engages a complimentary nose portion on the connector body thereby to secure the closure member to the connector body at the free end portion of the closure member.

10. A connector body as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein when the closure member is in a closed position, a closed slot is formed for retaining one or more signal transmission lines substantially perpendicularly to the detonator which detonator is located at least partially in the longitudinally extending passage.

11. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot is arcuate.

12. A connector block as claimed in claim 11, wherein the slot is substantially U or C shaped.

13. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at the retaining end of the passage, the passage terminates in a convex formation.

14. A connector block as claimed in claim 13, wherein the convex formation has an opening between the passage and the slot.

15. A connector block as claimed in claim 14, wherein the opening is in the form of a notched hole having one or more notches.

16. A connector block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which block includes two triangular holes located on the connector body between the slot member and locking end and positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal passage.

17. A connector block as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two holes are connected to the connector body by two small ribs, thus making the two holes function as an explosion-relief protection when an explosion takes place.

18. A connector block as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described.

19. A new connector block substantially as herein described. DATED THIS 31°" DAY OF MAY, 2005 HAHN & HAHN INC. nts for Applicant