Shock initiation of non-electric shock tube
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a shock initiation system for initiating shock in a shock tube for demolition. In some embodiments, the shock initiation system comprises a reusable discharge unit and a replaceable shock initiation platform. The reusable discharge unit may comprise a power source, a timer, a switch, and user inputs and may function to store a time, countdown the timer, and generate and transmit an electrical energy to the replaceable shock initiation platform. The shock initiation platform may receive the electrical energy from the discharge unit overpowering a resistor disposed on the shock initiation platform. The resistor may then detonate providing an initiation shock to a proximally disposed shock tube, thereby initiating shock in the shock tube.
1 . A shock initiation system for initiating shock in a shock tube, the shock initiation system comprising:
a discharge unit, comprising:
a power source configured to provide electrical energy;
a switch; and
discharge unit leads;
a disposable shock initiation platform configured to support electrical components and further configured to selectively couple directly to the discharge unit;
a resistor electrically coupled to the discharge unit leads of the discharge unit and disposed on the disposable shock initiation platform,
wherein the resistor is configured to detonate when the electrical energy is provided by the power source to the resistor via the discharge unit leads when the switch is closed; and
a housing configured to entirely house the discharge unit and the disposable shock initiation platform, the housing comprising a shock tube hole in proximity to the resistor,
wherein the shock tube hole is configured to receive the shock tube and position a proximal end of the shock tube adjacent the resistor with the resistor positioned outside of the shock tube,
wherein detonation of the resistor provides energy to the proximal end of the shock tube, thereby activating the shock tube.
2 . The shock initiation system of claim 1 , wherein the disposable shock initiation platform is secured to a top or to a side of the discharge unit.
3 . The shock initiation system of claim 2 , further comprising platform leads configured to contact the discharge unit leads when the disposable shock initiation platform is secured to the top or to the side of the discharge unit.
4 . The shock initiation system of claim 3 , further comprising platform fasteners configured to secure the disposable shock initiation platform to the discharge unit inside the housing.
5 . The shock initiation system of claim 4 , wherein the platform fasteners are snaps configured to snap the disposable shock initiation platform to the discharge unit.
6 . The shock initiation system of claim 1 , further comprising a timer configured to activate the switch after a predetermined time.
7 . The shock initiation system of claim 6 , wherein the timer is a digital timer.
8 . The shock initiation system of claim 6 , wherein the timer is a mechanical timer comprising an activation lever positioned through a lever hole in the housing.
9 . A shock initiation system for initiating shock in a shock tube, the shock initiation system comprising:
a discharge unit, comprising:
a power source configured to provide electrical energy;
a switch;
discharge unit leads; and
a disposable shock initiation platform configured to support electrical components and mechanically secured directly to the discharge unit at a top of the discharge unit or a side of the discharge unit;
a resistor electrically coupled to the discharge unit leads of the discharge unit and disposed on the disposable shock initiation platform,
wherein the resistor is configured to detonate when the electrical energy is provided by the power source to the resistor via the discharge unit leads by actuation of the switch; and
a housing configured to entirely house the discharge unit and the disposable shock initiation platform, the housing comprising a shock tube hole,
wherein the shock tube hole is configured to receive the shock tube and position a proximal end of the shock tube adjacent the resistor with the resistor positioned outside of the shock tube,
wherein detonation of the resistor provides energy to the proximal end of the shock tube, thereby activating the shock tube.
10 . The shock initiation system of claim 9 ,
wherein the discharge unit further comprises a communication device,
wherein the switch is activated based on an activation signal received by the communication device.
11 . The shock initiation system of claim 9 ,
wherein the housing comprises a base and a lid,
wherein the discharge unit is configured to be disposed in the base and the lid comprises the shock tube hole for receiving the shock tube therethrough.
12 . The shock initiation system of claim 11 ,
further comprising platform leads coupled to the resistor;
wherein the platform leads are configured to contact the discharge unit leads when the disposable shock initiation platform is secured to the top of the discharge unit or to the side of the discharge unit.
13 . The shock initiation system of claim 11 , wherein the resistor is a metal film resistor with a resistance in a range of 1 to 15 ohms.
14 . The shock initiation system of claim 11 , further comprising a timer configured to cause the actuation of the switch.
15 . A method of initiating shock in a shock tube by a shock initiation system, the method comprising:
electrically coupling a disposable shock initiation platform to a discharge unit,
wherein the disposable shock initiation platform is physically coupled to the discharge unit at a top or a side of the discharge unit and the discharge unit and the disposable shock initiation platform are entirely disposed inside a housing;
providing a proximal end of the shock tube in proximity to a resistor disposed on the disposable shock initiation platform outside of the shock tube; and
actuating a switch on the discharge unit,
wherein actuation of the switch provides electrical energy from a power source disposed on the discharge unit to the resistor on the disposable shock initiation platform,
wherein the electrical energy detonates the resistor,
wherein detonation of the resistor provides energy to the proximal end of the shock tube, thereby activating the shock tube.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
providing the discharge unit in a base of the housing;
securing a lid of the housing to the base enclosing the discharge unit and the disposable shock initiation platform within the housing,
wherein the lid comprises a hole for receiving the shock tube therethrough; and
inserting the shock tube through the hole to position the proximal end of the shock tube with respect to the resistor.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising transmitting an activation signal to a communication device of the discharge unit to actuate the switch.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the activation signal is sent by radio frequency communication or short-range communication.
19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising activating the switch by a timer disposed on the discharge unit.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the resistor is a metal film resistor with a resistance in a range of 1 to 15 ohms.