Remote firing system

Abstract

A remote firing system for remotely detonating explosive charges includes features that provide safety and efficiency improvements. These features include safety communication among multiple remote devices and multiple controller devices, a polling functionality permitting rapid deployment of system devices, electronic key systems, and programmable remote devices for easy replacement of failing remote devices.

1 . A remote firing system comprising: 
 a set of remote devices, each remote device being capable of communicating a safety data structure that includes a system identifier for identifying the remote firing system from other remote firing systems and a device identifier for identifying a remote device from other remote devices; and    a controller device for causing the set of remote devices to trigger detonators, the controller device being capable of selecting a subset of the set of remote devices for triggering detonators and further being capable of communicating the safety data structure that includes a system identifier for identifying the remote firing system from other remote firing systems and device identifiers for identifying the subset of remote devices to control.    
     
     
         2 . The remote firing system of  claim 1 , wherein each remote device includes a shock tube detonator initiation system and an electric detonator initiating system for detonating explosives.  
     
     
         3 . The remote firing system of  claim 1 , wherein each remote device operates when a compatible remote electronic key is coupled to the remote device and wherein the controller device operates normally when a compatible controller electronic key is coupled to the controller device.  
     
     
         4 . The remote firing system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller device is capable of causing periodic verification of safety communication among the controller device and the subset of the set of remote devices.  
     
     
         5 . The remote firing system of  claim 1 , wherein each remote device is capable of being semi-permanently programmed to take on a temporary identity which is removed upon the removal of an electronic key.  
     
     
         6 . A controller device, comprising: 
 a set of selection and information panels that correspond with a set of remote devices, a subset of selection and information panels being selectable to cause a corresponding subset of remote devices to be selected for detonating explosives; and    a communication module for transmitting and receiving safety communication, the communication module being capable of communicating with the subset of remote devices to indicate their selection for detonating explosives by the controller device.    
     
     
         7 . The controller device of  claim 6 , further comprising dual fire panels that include dual fire switches, the dual fire switches being selectable together to cause the communication module to transmit a fire command to the subset of remote devices.  
     
     
         8 . The controller device of  claim 6 , wherein each selection and information panel of the set of selection and information panels includes a ready indicator to indicate that a corresponding remote device is ready for operation, an armed indicator to indicate that the corresponding remote device is armed for detonating explosives, a battery indicator to indicate the condition of the battery of the corresponding remote device, and a selected indicator to indicate whether the corresponding remote device is selected.  
     
     
         9 . The controller device of  claim 6 , further comprising a status panel being selectable to query the subset of remote devices for their status, the status of the subset of remote devices being presentable on the subset of the selection and information panels.  
     
     
         10 . The controller device of  claim 6 , further comprising an electronic key port that is adapted to receive an electronic key to cause the controller device to operate.  
     
     
         11 . A remote device comprising: 
 a communication module for transmitting and receiving a safety data structure that contains a system identifier for identifying a remote firing system that comprises the remote device and a device identifier for identifying the remote device; and    a switch for selecting either shock-tube detonator initiation or electric detonator initiation.    
     
     
         12 . The remote device of  claim 11 , further comprising an indicator panel for indicating whether shock tube initiation is ready or armed.  
     
     
         13 . The remote device of  claim 12 , further comprising an indicator panel for indicating whether electric detonator initiation is ready or armed.  
     
     
         14 . The remote device of  claim 11 , further comprising an electronic key port that is adapted to receive an electronic key to cause the remote device to operate.  
     
     
         15 . The remote device of  claim 11 , further comprising a programming port to program the remote device.  
     
     
         16 . A method for remotely detonating explosives, comprising: 
 selecting a subset of a set of selection and information panels on a controller device to cause a corresponding subset of remote devices to be selected for detonating explosives;    issuing an arming command by the controller device to the subset of remote devices to cause the subset of remote devices to prepare for detonation; and    issuing a firing command by the controller device to the subset of remote devices by simultaneously selecting dual fire switches together on the controller device to cause the subset of remote devices to detonate explosives.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising inserting electronic keys to the controller device and the set of remote devices prior to the act of selecting the subset of the set of selection and information panels so as to cause the controller device and the set of remote devices to operate.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising activating a polling mode to verify safety communication among the set of remote devices and the controller device, the polling mode causing the controller device to issue status query command to the set of the remote devices and the subset of remote devices responding to the status query command.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after the act of issuing the arming command the controller device automatically issues a status query command to verify the arming of the subset of the remote devices, each member of the subset of the set of selection and information panels indicating whether a corresponding member of the subset of the remote devices is armed.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein after the act of issuing the firing command the controller device automatically issues a status query command to verify the firing of the subset of the remote devices, each member of the subset of the set of selection and information panels indicating whether a corresponding member of the subset of the remote devices has fired.