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.

1 . A method of operating a blasting system which includes an array of electronic detonators, the method including the step of assigning an identity code to each detonator which is determined at least partly by the detonator's location in the array. 
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the array is formed by a plurality of boreholes arranged in at least one row, each row is assigned a respective row identifier, each borehole in each row is assigned a respective borehole identifier, and each borehole contains at least one detonator, and wherein the identity code for a detonator is dependent at least on the respective row identifier and on the respective borehole identifier. 
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein at least one borehole contains at least first and second detonators at different positions in the borehole and wherein the identity code for the first detonator is distinguishable from the identity code for the second detonator. 
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the first and second detonators are at different positions in the borehole. 
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the identity code for a detonator is dependent on the position of the detonator within the respective borehole. 
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the identity code for a detonator is dependent on the length of a harness which extends from a collar of the borehole, which contains the detonator, to the detonator. 
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the identity code for a detonator is dependent on the position of the detonator within the respective borehole, in a first direction or in a second direction, from a reference point, in the respective row. 
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the reference point is associated with a detonator, in the row, which is to be fired first. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  which includes the steps of storing the identity code of each detonator in a portable device. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1  which includes the step of storing the identity code of a detonator in a memory in the detonator. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 2  which includes the steps of storing the identity code of each detonator in a portable device and storing the identity code of a detonator in a memory of the detonator. 
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 9  which includes the steps of transferring the identity codes of the detonators, stored in the portable device, to a control unit and, in the control unit, associating respective firing time information with each identity code. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 10  which includes the steps of using a control unit to associate respective firing time information with each identity code. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 10  which includes the step of using a control unit to search for at least one identity code and once the identity code is located associating firing time information with the identity code. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 12 ,  13  or  14  wherein the firing time information for a detonator is dependent on the detonator's location in the array. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 12 ,  13  or  14  wherein the firing time information for a detonator is dependent on the detonator's identity code. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 12 ,  13  or  14  which includes the step of using the control unit to transfer the respective firing time information to each respective detonator. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  which includes the step of using the control unit to fire the detonators. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 1  which includes the step of using the identity code of each detonator to generate a representation of the array of detonators. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 12 ,  13  or  14  which includes the step of using the control unit to generate a representation of the array of detonators which is based on the identity codes of the detonators. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20  which includes the step of displaying the representation in textual or graphical form. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 1  which includes the steps of interrogating the detonators and comparing the amplitude of a response from the detonators to an expected response amplitude to detect if at least two detonators have the same identity code. 
   
   
       23 . A method of operating a blasting system which includes the steps of arranging a plurality of electronic detonators which are spatially distributed from one another in an array, storing in each detonator a respective identity code which is dependent on the detonator's location in the array, transferring the identity codes for the detonators to a control location, storing in each detonator respective firing time information which is transferred from the control location, and transmitting a firing signal to the detonators. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the firing time information is stored in a detonator by overwriting at least part of the identity code which is stored in the detonator. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the array is configured in at least one row with a plurality of detonators at spaced positions in the row, and the identity code for each detonator is dependent on the row in which the detonator is, and on the detonator's position in the row. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein a portable device, in which the identity codes are stored, is used to transfer the identity codes to the control location. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the firing time information is generated at the control location. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 27  wherein the firing time information for each detonator is dependent on the identity code of the detonator. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 24  wherein the firing signal is transmitted from the control location simultaneously to all the detonators. 
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 24  which includes the step of connecting the detonators in parallel to one another using two elongate conductors. 
   
   
       31 . 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 respective firing time information and a respective identity code which is dependent, at least, on the row in which the detonator is, and on the detonator's position in the row, a harness which interconnects the detonators, and a control unit, connected to the harness, which generates a signal to fire the detonators. 
   
   
       32 . A blasting system according to  claim 31  wherein the detonators are positioned in a plurality of boreholes with at least one detonator in each borehole. 
   
   
       33 . A blasting system according to  claim 32  wherein at least one borehole includes a first detonator and a second detonator and the identity code for the first detonator is distinguishable from the identity code of the second detonator. 
   
   
       34 . A blasting system according to  claim 31  which includes a portable device with a mechanism for generating the respective identity code for each detonator, means for transferring the identity code to the respective detonator and a first memory in which the identity code is stored, 
   
   
       35 . A blasting system according to  claim 34  wherein the control unit includes a control memory and the portable device includes an interface for transferring the identity codes from the first memory to the second memory. 
   
   
       36 . A blasting system according to  claim 31  wherein the control unit includes a control memory in which is stored firing time information for each detonator. 
   
   
       37 . A blasting system according to  claim 36  wherein the control unit includes an interface for transmitting respective firing time information to each detonator. 
   
   
       38 . A blasting system according to  claim 37  wherein the firing time information is transmitted via the harness. 
   
   
       39 . A blasting system according to  claim 37  wherein the firing time information is transmitted via a wireless link. 
   
   
       40 . A blasting system according to any one of  claims 31  to  39  wherein the harness comprises two elongate conductors which connect the detonators in parallel to one another. 
   
   
       41 . A blasting system which includes a plurality of electronic detonators which are spatially distributed from one another in an array, each detonator including a memory in which is stored at least respective firing time information, a harness which connects the detonators in parallel to one another, a portable device in which are stored respective identity codes for the detonators, each identity code being dependent, at least, on the detonator's location in the array and a control unit in which are stored the identity code and firing time information for each detonator and which transmits a firing signal to the detonators. 
   
   
       42 . A blasting system according to  claim 41  wherein the firing signal is transmitted on the harness to the detonators. 
   
   
       43 . A blasting system according to  claim 41  or  42  wherein the harness comprises two elongate conductors and a plurality of connectors, at least one connector for each detonator, connected at intervals to the conductors. 
   
   
       44 . A portable device for use in a blasting system which includes a housing, a data input mechanism for inputting data relating to a detonator's location in an array of detonators, a processor which, in response to the input data, is operable under the control of an algorithm to generate an identity code for the detonator which is dependent at least on the detonator's location in the array, a first memory in which the identity code is stored, and a two-connection interface for transferring the identity code to the respective detonator. 
   
   
       45 . A control unit for use in a blasting system which includes a housing, a control memory in which are stored firing time information for each of a plurality of detonators in an array of detonators and a respective identity code for each of the plurality of 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. 
   
   
       46 . A control unit according to  claim 45  which includes a generator for generating a firing signal which is transmitted via the two-wire interface to the detonators.