Patents by Inventor Andre Koekemoer

Andre Koekemoer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10359265
    Abstract: A blasting system including a plurality of detonators located in respective boreholes, which is implemented through the use of a remotely controlled vehicle used for survey purposes and for locating geographical positions of the boreholes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Riaan Van Wyk, Francois Venter, Trevor Watt, Chris Birkin, Andre Koekemoer, Elmar Lennox Muller
  • Publication number: 20180299240
    Abstract: A blasting system including a plurality of detonators located in respective boreholes, which is implemented through the use of a remotely controlled vehicle used for survey purposes and for locating geographical positions of the boreholes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Riaan Van Wyk, Francois Venter, Trevor Watt, Chris Birkin, Andre Koekemoer, Elmar Lennox Muller
  • Patent number: 10006750
    Abstract: A method of implementing a blasting system wherein positional information relating to a blast site is generated by a device which inputs the information to a processor which generates information pertaining to the location of each potential borehole at the site and that information is used by the device to indicate the location of each borehole to an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD (ZA)
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Riaan Van Wyk, Andre Koekemoer, Trevor Watt
  • Publication number: 20160313107
    Abstract: A method of implementing a blasting system wherein positional information relating to a blast site is generated by a device which inputs the information to a processor which generates information pertaining to the location of each potential borehole at the site and that information is used by the device to indicate the location of each borehole to an operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Riaan Van Wyk, Andre Koekemoer, Trevor Watt
  • Patent number: 9127921
    Abstract: A method of communicating with a detonator device using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to read data from the device, and to transmit information and commands to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Craig Charles Schlenter, Daniel August Julien Louis Maurissens
  • Patent number: 8991315
    Abstract: A detonator assembly (10) which includes a housing (16), an explosive (20) in the housing (16), an initiating element (32) exposed to the explosive (20), a circuit for controlling operation of the initiating element (32), and a communication arrangement which can establish communication between the circuit and an external controller (60) at least at one optical frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Detnet South Africa (Pty) Ltd
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Craig Charles Schlenter, Albertus A. Labuschagne, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Herman Van Der Walt
  • Publication number: 20140311370
    Abstract: A method of communicating with a detonator device using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to read data from the device, and to transmit information and commands to the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Craig Charles Schlenter, Daniel August Julien Louis Maurissens
  • Publication number: 20140261039
    Abstract: A detonator assembly (10) which includes a housing (16), an explosive (20) in the housing (16), an initiating element (32) exposed to the explosive (20), a circuit for controlling operation of the initiating element (32), and a communication arrangement which can establish communication between the circuit and an external controller (60) at least at one optical frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Craig Charles Schlenter, Albertus A. Labuschagne, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Herman Van Der Walt
  • Patent number: 7946227
    Abstract: A detonator system which includes an array of a plurality of discrete time delay relays (16) connected in series to one another, and a plurality of detonators (28) which are respectively connected to the array at spaced intervals (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: DetNet South Africa (Pty) Limited
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Schagen Diederik Van Soelen, Riaan Lingerfelder Van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20100132576
    Abstract: A detonator system which includes an array of a plurality of discrete time delay relays (16) connected in series to one another, and a plurality of detonators (28) which are respectively connected to the array at spaced intervals (22).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Schagen Diederik Van Soelen, Riaan Lingerfelder Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 7594471
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a blasting operation using blast control equipment to initiate a plurality of detonators at a blast site. According to the method, the full use of the blast control equipment is inhibited, a validation process on information is conducted, and, if the information is validated, at least partial use of the blast control equipment is enabled. The blasting system includes at least one installation of blast control equipment and a plurality of detonators that are configured to be initiated by the blast control equipment, a control facility, and a transmitter for transmitting an enabling signal to at least one selected installation which allows the blast control equipment at the selected installation to initiate the plurality of detonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: DetNet South Africa (PTY) Ltd.
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Craig Charles Schlenter
  • Publication number: 20070240598
    Abstract: A blasting system which includes a control unit, a communications bus which is connected to the control unit, a plurality of detonators which are connected in sequence to the communications bus along its length, and a daisy chain connection between the control unit and the detonators, and wherein, within the sequence of detonators, a first detonator makes use of the daisy chain connection to enable a second following detonator so that data can be exchanged between the control unit and the second detonator using the communications bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Albertus Labuschagne
  • Publication number: 20060207461
    Abstract: A detonator which, once armed, is automatically disarmed after a predetermined time period in the absence of at least one defined signal during such time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: September 21, 2006
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Albertus Labuschagne
  • Publication number: 20060027121
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a blasting operation using blast control equipment to initiate a plurality of detonators at a blast site. According to the method, the full use of the blast control equipment is inhibited, a validation process on information is conducted, and, if the information is validated, at least partial use of the blast control equipment is enabled. The blasting system includes at least one installation of blast control equipment and a plurality of detonators that are configured to be initiated by the blast control equipment, a control facility, and a transmitter for transmitting an enabling signal to at least one selected installation which allows the blast control equipment at the selected installation to initiate the plurality of detonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Andre Koekemoer, Craig Schlenter