Abstract: A detonator assembly is provide which increases versatility, reliability and safety by initiating any amount of signal transmission lines up to about 8 without emitting excessive noise or shrapnel which can cause cut off or safety hazards. The detonator assembly comprises a low strength detonator with a single charge of preferably lead azide. A high confinement connection block houses the low strength detonator and comprises a retention block in which the low strength detonator is inserted and a confining wall which surrounds the closed end of the low strength detonator. One to about eight signal transmission lines can be inserted through a gap in the confining wall and operatively confined adjacent the closed end of the low strength detonator.

Abstract: A detonator assembly is provided which increases versatility, reliability and safety by initiating any amount of signal transmission lines up to about 8 without emitting excessive noise or shrapnel which can cause cut off or safety hazards. The detonator assembly comprises a low strength detonator with a single charge of preferably lead azide. A high confinement connection block houses the low strength detonator and comprises a retention block in which the low strength detonator is inserted and a confining wall which surrounds the closed end of the low strength detonator. One to about eight signal transmission lines can be inserted through a gap in the confining wall and operatively confined adjacent the closed end of the low strength detonator.

Abstract: Modular components including donor units (20), relay units (30), and detonator units (50) create a variety of blasting systems. A donor unit (20) is formed from a signal transmission tube (22) having donor mini-caps (24) attached to each end thereof. A relay unit (30) is a device having a receptacle (32) at one end to receive a donor mini-cap in operative association and engaging means (34) to operatively engage a point along another donor unit such that the detonator contained within the relay unit (30) will initiate the transmission lines passing through the donor unit. A detonator unit (50) is provided for the initiation of explosives such as boosters and primers and comprises a shell for receiving explosives and a receptacle at one end suitable for receiving a donor mini-cap (24) at the other end. Relay units (30) allow for the simultaneous initiation of several donor units. Each donor unit can be attached to either additional relay units or to detonator units (50).

Abstract: Modular components including donor units (20), relay units (30), and detonator units (50) create a variety of blasting systems. A donor unit (20) is formed from a signal transmission tube (22) having donor mini-caps (24) attached to each end thereof. A relay unit (30) is a device having a receptacle (32) at one end to receive a donor mini-cap in operative association and engaging means (34) to operatively engage a point along another donor unit such that the detonator contained within the relay unit (30) will initiate the transmission lines passing through the donor unit. A detonator unit (50) is provided for the initiation of explosives such as boosters and primers and comprises a shell for receiving explosives and a receptacle at one end suitable for receiving a donor mini-cap (24) at the other end. Relay units (30) allow for the simultaneous initiation of several donor units. Each donor unit can be attached to either additional relay units or to detonator units (50).

Abstract: In the field of blasting, it is often desirable to ignite explosives at various relative times. Such delayed ignition can have advantages in better break up of rock and reduced ground vibration. A principle problem in using the time delay technique is the accuracy rate of a local oscillator which measures the delay time for each of the delay circuits. In the described system, a calibration interval, independent of any delay time, is transmitted from a control unit concurrently to each of the delay circuits wherein each delay circuit counts the output of its local oscillator during the calibration interval. This local oscillator output is then compared to a predetermined reference count, either at the delay circuit or at the control unit, and a correction factor is established. This correction factor is then applied to a delay count for the individual delay circuit.