Abstract: A trunkline has a multi-core ribbon cable with electronic modules mounted thereon at spaced intervals. The modules have pins which pass through preformed holes in the cable to make contact with the cores. The modules further have housings which seat in apertures in the cable. The modules are each retained in position by two clamping members which clip together with the module and adjacent ribbon sandwiched between them. Load devices, such as detonators are connected to the trunkline at desired positions therealong by connectors having staples that pierce the cable to make contact with the cores. Each staple is electrically connected to a core of a connecting wire by clamping the core against a base portion of the staple utilizing two plastic parts that clip together. One of these parts, in turn, is hinged to a further member which clips with the parts to clamp the cable between the parts and the further member.

Abstract: A trunkline has a multi-core ribbon cable with electronic modules mounted thereon at spaced intervals. The modules have pins which pass through preformed holes in the cable to make contact with the cores. The modules further have housings which seat in apertures in the cable. The modules are each retained in position by two clamping members which clip together with the module and adjacent ribbon sandwiched between them. Load devices, such as detonators are connected to the trunkline at desired positions therealong by connectors having staples that pierce the cable to make contact with the cores. Each staple is electrically connected to a core of a connecting wire by clamping the core against a base portion of the staple utilizing two plastic parts that clip together. One of these parts, in turn, is hinged to a further member which clips with the parts to clamp the cable between the parts and the further member.

Abstract: This invention provides modules and a system for sequentially activating a series of detonators. The modules and the system rely on a transistor in which the base-collector junction is caused to change state by a current pulse of suitable magnitude so that it presents a low resistance. Similarly, the base-emitter junction is also caused to change state to present a low resistance path in both directions. Such transistors are utilized to steer signals through a module in which they are used to activate a detonator associated with that module and then to steer a further signal to a next module in the series.

Abstract: This invention relates to sequential blasting utilizing electronic circuitry to steer detonating pulses to successive detonators. Modules are provided which contain a two-terminal element that has the characteristic that in its first normal state it has a high resistance in at least one direction and it may be changed into a second state in which it has a low resistance in both directions by a suitable pulse. Further, a detonating signal does not flow from one power line to the other through the particular module that is being addressed, but from one side of one module through a connecting link and then through the other module. Thus, each module has an input steering terminal and an output steering terminal, with the output steering terminal of each module connected to the input steering terminal of the next module.

Abstract: An electric delay detonator 10 has a base charge 14, an ignition charge 16 and a fuse element 26 formed from a strip of zirconium. The zirconium strip 26 is forked at both ends having forks 36 which define an ignition portion and forks 34 which define a fuse portion. The forks 34 and 36 have a body portion 38 between them. The fuse portion is adjacent the ignition charge. The fuse element 26 is mounted in a carrier 24 by means of the forked portions 34 and 36. In one embodiment the forked portions 36 are attached to firing wires 28. In another embodiment the detonator has three forks 44.1, 44.2 and 44.3 at its ignition portion, two of the forks being connected to firing wires and the third fork being connected to a control wire. In a further embodiment one firing wire is connected to one end of the fuse element and the other firing wire to the other end.