Apparatus, system and method for initiation of buried explosives
An initiator apparatus (IA) for blasting, the apparatus including: a magnetic receiver for receiving a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field; a controller, in electrical communication with the magnetic receiver, for processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for blasting; and a light source in electrical communication with the controller for generating a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) in accordance with the command.
1. An initiator apparatus (IA) for blasting, the apparatus including:
a magnetic receiver including a magnetometer that receives a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field;
a controller, in electrical communication with the magnetic receiver, for processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for blasting;
a light source in electrical communication with the controller for generating a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) having a reaction time of less than 1 millisecond in accordance with the command; and
a data store with a group identifier (GID) code electronically stored, the GID code establishing a group of IAs to which this IA belongs.
2. The IA of claim 1 , including a housing around the magnetic receiver, the controller and the light source to provide mechanical protection and for burying the IA.
3. The IA of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a metal sleeve around the magnetic receiver, the controller and the light source.
4. The IA of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes potting material around the magnetic receiver, the controller and the light source.
5. The IA of claim 4 , wherein the potting material includes plastic potting material and/or elastomeric potting material.
6. The IA of claim 1 , including a coupling for connecting the IA to an explosive apparatus.
7. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the coupling includes:
a window for transmitting the light beam from the light source to the explosive apparatus;
a connector for mechanically connecting the IA to the explosive apparatus; and
a seal for sealing a light path from the light source to the explosive apparatus for the light beam.
8. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the explosive apparatus includes the LSE.
9. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the explosive apparatus includes an explosive capsule with the LSE.
10. The IA of claim 6 , wherein the explosive apparatus is configured for mounting in a booster explosive for detonating a main charge of bulk explosive around the booster explosive.
11. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the command is a FIRE command.
12. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the command includes a command code and the controller includes instructions that control the controller to: (i) compare the command code with a stored code stored in the IA; and (ii) control the light source to generate the light beam if the command code matches the stored code.
13. The IA of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the stored code from an encoder unit before the IA is buried.
14. The IA of claim 12 , wherein the command code includes a group identifier (GID) code for a group of selected IAs.
15. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic receiver includes a magneto-inductive sensor.
16. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a light-emitting diode.
17. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the light source includes a diode laser.
18. A method of blasting, the method including the steps of:
storing a group identifier (GID) code in an initiator apparatus (IA), wherein the GID establishes a group of IAs to which this IA belongs;
receiving a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field by a magnetometer;
processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for the IA for blasting; and
generating a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) having a reaction time of less than 1 millisecond in accordance with the command.
19. An initiator apparatus (IA) for blasting, the apparatus including:
a magnetic receiver including a magnetometer that receives a magnetic communication signal through the ground by detection of a magnetic field;
a controller, in electrical communication with the magnetic receiver, for processing the magnetic communication signal to determine a command for blasting;
an electro-mechanical interface to control a light source, based on electrical communication from the controller, to generate a light beam to initiate a light-sensitive explosive (LSE) having a reaction time of less than 1 millisecond in accordance with the command; and
a data store with a group identifier (GID) code stored, the GID code establishing a group of IAs to which this IA belongs.
20. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the LSE contains 2% carbon black.
21. The IA of claim 1 , wherein the reaction time of the LSE is less than 100 microseconds.
22. A system including the IA of claim 1 , and a magnetic transmitting system to send signals to the IA through the ground, wherein the magnetic transmitting system includes a coil that is configured to be disposable.
23. The system of claim 22 , wherein a coil diameter of the coil is at least hundreds of meters.
24. The system of claim 22 , wherein a current amplitude in the coil is tens of amps.
25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the current amplitude is 50 amps.
26. The IA of claim 1 , including a connector for connecting the IA to a capsule with the LSE.
27. The IA of claim 26 , wherein the connector is a screw-threaded connector or a bayonet connector.
28. An explosive apparatus including the IA of claim 1 and a capsule with the LSE.
29. The explosive apparatus of claim 28 , including two co-operative optical windows, one in the IA and the other in the capsule.
30. The system of claim 22 , wherein the coil is designed for a single use.