Patents by Inventor Michiel Jacobus Kruger

Michiel Jacobus Kruger 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).

  • Detonator installation including a controller
    Patent number: 11953305
    Abstract: A detonator installation (10) in which a detonator fire capacitor (36) which is connected in series with an inductor (18) is charged from a low voltage source (16) by repeatedly opening and closing a switch (20) thereby to cause a collapsing magnetic field in the inductor (18) which results in a charging current flow to the capacitor (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventor: Michiel Jacobus Kruger
  • Method of validating a shock tube event
    Patent number: 11879716
    Abstract: A detonator which is responsive to a shock tube event which is validated if a link is fused at a predetermined time interval after a light signal produced by the event is detected and if, at the end of a subsequent time interval, the link is still fused and the light signal is absent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • Light sensitive arrangement for a detonator
    Patent number: 11852455
    Abstract: A detonator which is used with a shock tube or a fibre optic cable and wherein an incident light signal is passed through a first impedance for communication purposes and a light signal associated with initiation of the detonator is passed through a second impedance which is less in value than the first impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • Method of assembling a detonator
    Patent number: 11852450
    Abstract: A detonator assembly method wherein a base charge is placed into a tube to abut a closed end of the tube, an electronic module is positioned inside the tube, a displacement member with a stop formation is used to move the module, against a frictional restraining force, to a location at which the stop formation abuts a rim of the tube and wherein the module is held in position by deforming the tube into engagement with the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Richard Joseph Michna, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • Detonator sensing arrangement
    Patent number: 11725920
    Abstract: A detonator which includes a housing which has a passage with an inlet and an outlet and which is of reducing cross sectional area from the inlet to the outlet and wherein the inlet is configured to be exposed to an end of a shock tube, and a fusible link is located at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • Control circuit for a detonator
    Patent number: 11686565
    Abstract: A control circuit for a detonator which includes a charger pump with an inductor which is connected to earth via a fusible link and wherein the charge pump is placed in an operative mode to produce a charging voltage for a firing capacitor if the link is fused in response to a shock tube event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • Shock tube event validation
    Patent number: 11604054
    Abstract: A detonator which is initiated by a shock tube event which is validated if a processor determines that a fusible link was not fused by a shock tube event at a predetermined time interval before light generated by the shock tube event is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne
  • Detonator construction
    Patent number: 11604055
    Abstract: A detonator which includes a tube with an open end, a shock tube, secured to a plug which is fixed to an open end of the tube, an electronic module inside the tube, the module including a substrate which carries electronic components, and sensing structure mounted to the substrate spaced from an opposing end of the shock tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Richard Joseph Michna, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Mark Ivan Jurras, III
  • Apparatus for use in a blasting system
    Patent number: 11453569
    Abstract: A spool for use in a blasting system which carries a coiled signal-transmitting conductor which is connected at one end to a detonator and at an opposed end to a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Elmar Lennox Muller, Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Pierre De Vos Mynhardt
  • SHOCK TUBE EVENT VALIDATION
    Publication number: 20220099422
    Abstract: A detonator which is initiated by a shock tube event which is validated if a processor determines that a fusible link was not fused by a shock tube event at a predetermined time interval before light generated by the shock tube event is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne
  • BOOST PUMP
    Publication number: 20220099421
    Abstract: A detonator installation (10) in which a detonator fire capacitor (36) which is connected in series with an inductor (18) is charged from a low voltage source (16) by repeatedly opening and closing a switch (20) thereby to cause a collapsing magnetic field in the inductor (18) which results in a charging current flow to the capacitor (36).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventor: Michiel Jacobus Kruger
  • METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A DETONATOR
    Publication number: 20220099416
    Abstract: A detonator assembly method wherein a base charge is placed into a tube to abut a closed end of the tube, an electronic module is positioned inside the tube, a displacement member with a stop formation is used to move the module, against a frictional restraining force, to a location at which the stop formation abuts a rim of the tube and wherein the module is held in position by deforming the tube into engagement with the module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Richard Joseph Michna, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • LIGHT SENSITIVE ARRANGEMENT FOR A DETONATOR
    Publication number: 20220090900
    Abstract: A detonator which is used with a shock tube or a fibre optic cable and wherein an incident light signal is passed through a first impedance for communication purposes and a light signal associated with initiation of the detonator is passed through a second impedance which is less in value than the first impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • DETONATOR SENSING ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20220090898
    Abstract: A detonator which includes a housing which has a passage with an inlet and an outlet and which is of reducing cross sectional area from the inlet to the outlet and wherein the inlet is configured to be exposed to an end of a shock tube, and a fusible link is located at the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • DETONATOR CONSTRUCTION
    Publication number: 20220090899
    Abstract: A detonator which includes a tube with an open end, a shock tube, secured to a plug which is fixed to an open end of the tube, an electronic module inside the tube, the module including a substrate which carries electronic components, and sensing structure mounted to the substrate spaced from an opposing end of the shock tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Richard Joseph Michna, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Mark Ivan Jurras, III
  • METHOD OF VALIDATING A SHOCK TUBE EVENT
    Publication number: 20220082362
    Abstract: A detonator which is responsive to a shock tube event which is validated if a link is fused at a predetermined time interval after a light signal produced by the event is detected and if, at the end of a subsequent time interval, the link is still fused and the light signal is absent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR A DETONATOR
    Publication number: 20220082363
    Abstract: A control circuit for a detonator which includes a charger pump with an inductor which is connected to earth via a fusible link and wherein the charge pump is placed in an operative mode to produce a charging voltage for a firing capacitor if the link is fused in response to a shock tube event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Daniel Auguste Maurissens, Albertus Abraham Labuschagne, Andre Louis Koekemoer
  • Detonator module
    Patent number: D907739
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens
  • Detonator structure
    Patent number: D913402
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens
  • Clip for a detonator
    Patent number: D923133
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD.
    Inventors: Michiel Jacobus Kruger, Christopher Malcolm Birkin, Andre Louis Koekemoer, Richard Joseph Michna, Daniel Auguste Maurissens