Electric Detonator With Static Electricity Suppression

This invention relates to electric detonators generally and more particularly to a static electricty suppression arrangement for use in two-wire electric detonators.

Large explosive charges are detonated by initiating devices or detonators which are of two types--electric or nonelectric. An electric detonator (blasting cap) converts electrical energy into heat energy which, in turn, produces an explosive force capable of detonating a large explosive charge. The electrical energy is supplied to the detonator by two electrical conductors, called leg wires, which typically enter the detonator through a rubber or plastic sealing plug. The ends of the leg wires inside the detonator are joined together by a high resistant "bridge wire" which, when sufficient current flows through it, heats up to ignite a heat sensitive material which surrounds the bridge wire. This, in turn, ignites delay fuse elements to thus ignite or detonate a primary explosive charge which then detonates a base explosive charge. The explosive force developed by the base explosive charge is used to detonate the aforementioned large explosive charge.

The explosive charge's delay fuse elements, heat sensitive material, and sealing plug are encased in a cylindrical shell made of an electrically conductive material such as aluminum, bronze, etc. The plug is positioned in one end of the shell to hold the leg wires in positions spaced from the shell wall, and to guide the leg wires to the heat sensitive material.

Problems with electric detonators include static charge build-up on the leg wires, and static charge sources external to the detonator which, when in close proximity with the leg wires, cause current to flow through the leg wires and detonator to ground. Discharge of such static electricity through the bridge wire or the heat sensitive material can cause accidental/premature detonation and result in serious injury to users. Conventional methods of dealing with static electricity generally involve the provision of a discharge path from each leg wire to the electrically conductive shell. The idea behind this is that if the static electricity can be "routed" around the bridge wire and explosive train via the shell, then dangerous premature detonation, at least that caused by static electricity, may be avoided. A problem and drawback of this approach is that slight differences in voltage breakdown between the two discharge paths can cause electrical current to flow through the bridge wire to prematurely initiate detonation.

It is an object of the invention to provide an electric detonator with improved static electricity suppression capabilities.

The above and other objects are realized in a specific illustrative embodiment of an electric detonator which includes an electrically conductive shell, an explosive initiating device disposed in the shell for producing an explosion in response to electrical current, an electrically non-conductive plug disposed within the shell at one end, and a pair of conductors which extend through the plug into the shell and are coupled to the explosive initiating device for carrying electrical current to the device. The electrical conductors extend initially into the plug disposed apart from one another and from the shell, and then a portion of each conductor is bent to extend to locations near the shell and near one another. From the locations, the conductors extend back away from the shell and from one another to the explosive initiating device.

Static charge build-up on one of the conductors, when it reaches a sufficient level, will discharge from that conductor to the shell. The spark created by the discharge ionizes the air gap and triggers a discharge from the other conductor to the shell so that electrical energy produced by static charge build-up is prevented from reaching the explosive initiating device.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective, partially cut-away view of an electric detonator made in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front, elevational view of the plug and leg wires of the detonator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top, plan view of the plug and leg wires; and

FIG. 4 is a side, elevational, partially cross-sectional view of the plug and leg wires shown disposed in the shell of the detonator.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown one illustrative embodiment of an electric detonator made in accordance with the present invention and including an electrically conductive housing or shell 4 made, for example, of aluminum, bronze, or an alloy thereof. The shell 4 is formed as an elongate hollow cylinder to contain a sealing plug 8 at the upper end thereof. The sealing plug 8 is placed in the shell 4 to receive and guide a pair of leg wires 12 toward the interior of the shell and to prevent entry into the shell of moisture, water or contaminants. The plug 8 is made of a non-conductive material such as rubber or phenolic plastic. Oftentimes, the shell 4 is crimped about the plug 8 to securely hold it in place and complete the water-resistant seal.

The leg wires 12 are provided for conducting electrical current from a current source (not shown) to the interior of the shell 4 to an explosive initiating device 16. The device 16 is of conventional design and includes a bridge wire 20 which joins the two lower ends of the leg wires 12, a heat sensitive material 24 surrounding the bridge wire, a delay fuse element 26, a primary explosive charge 28, and a base explosive charge 34. When sufficient current is supplied to the bridge wire 20, it heats up to ignite the heat sensitive material 24 which, in turn, ignites the delay fuse element 26, the primary explosive charge 28 and then the secondary base explosive charge 34 to ultimately detonate a large working explosive charge. The heat sensitive material, primary explosive charge, delay fuse element, and base explosive charge are all conventional and well known.

The leg wires 12, as they enter the plug 8, are spaced apart from one another and from the shell 4 and positioned somewhat centrally in the plug. After extending a short distance into the plug, the leg wires then bend or curve outwardly toward the shell (see FIGS. 2-4) and towards each other to locations 32 and 36 where the wires are exposed at the exterior surface of the plug. The exterior surface where the locations 32 and 36 expose the leg wires is formed into a groove or recess 40 which circumscribes the plug. After reaching the exterior surface of the groove 40 of the plug 8, the leg wires curve or bend back toward the center of the plug and then downwardly to emerge out from the bottom end of the plug. From there, the leg wires extend into the explosive initiating device 16 where the ends of the leg wires are joined by the bridge wire 20.

The construction of the plug 8 and leg wires 12 shown in the drawings facilitates locating the exposed portions 32 and 36 of the leg wires 12 a precise distance from the shell 4. This distance is carefully selected to ensure discharge of static electricity from the leg wires to the shell. Additionally, the locations 32 and 36 are spaced a predetermined distance from one another for reasons that will be explained momentarily.

The plug 8 advantageously is constructed using a mold in which the leg wires 12 are prepositioned generally with the curved or bent sections extending to near or at the interior surface of the mold. The mold is formed to produce a plug without the groove or recess 40. With the leg wires in place in the mold, material for making the plug is poured into or applied to the mold to surround the leg wires. When the molding process is completed, the plug 8 is removed and then the groove 40 is formed by machining, cutting or the like to the desired depth. In the process of machining the groove 40, the portions 32 and 36 of the leg wires are exposed to the exterior which means that some of the wire material may be removed along with removal of the plug material.

For protecting against static sources having energy levels of about 400 millijoules, it has been found advantageous to provide a separation between the exposed locations 32 and 36, measured from the two adjacent edges of the locations, of from between about 0.005 inch to 0.026 inch. A separation greater than this may be desired for detonators having a higher firing current and/or higher voltage breakdown levels in the ignition system. It has also been found advantageous to provide an area of exposed wire for the locations 32 and 36 of about 0.030 by 0.030 inch, but likewise may be varied for different detonator designs. Finally, it has been found advantageous to provide a groove depth and thus a distance between the exposed locations 32 and 36, and the shell 4 of from between about 0.005 inch and 0.011 inch, but again, for different detonator designs, other groove depths may be preferred. With the specified dimensions, a static charge build-up on one of the leg wires can be discharged from the wire to the conductive shell 4, with the spark thus produced causing ionization of the air surrounding the exposed locations 32 and 36. As a result of the discharge from one wire to the shell, a voltage imbalance or difference between the wires is created. The ionized air, of course, provides improved conductivity between the other leg wire and the shell 4 causing it to also discharge to the shell through the ionized air. By placing the two exposed sections of the leg wires in close proximity, a discharge from one wire will ionize the air surrounding the other wire and vice versa. If the exposed locations 32 and 36 were not in close proximity, then discharge from one wire to the shell 4 would not produce ionization around the other wire. A voltage imbalance would then be produced and one way for the imbalance to be resolved would be for current to flow down a leg wire and across the bridge wire 20 to the other leg wire. Of course, this is precisely what is not wanted since premature and accidental detonation might occur.

In the manner described above, a simple, effective and reliable static electricity suppression system is provided. This system may be used with a variety of electric detonators where prematuare detonation, because of static electricity, is a problem.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modfications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims are intended to cover such modifications and arrangements.