Method of blasting

Abstract

An initiation device for initiation of an explosives charge, which comprises: a transceiver for receipt of wireless command signals; a control circuit for processing of wireless command signals received by the transceiver; and a light source that is suitable for initiation of the explosives charge and that is activated by the control circuit.

1 . An initiation device for initiation of an explosives charge, which comprises:
 a transceiver for receipt of wireless command signals;   a control circuit for processing of wireless command signals received by the transceiver; and   a light source that is suitable for initiation of the explosives charge and that is activated by the control circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The initiation device of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver has the capability for two-way communication 
     
     
         3 . The initiation device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit has additional functional capability and is responsive to a variety of wireless command signals received by the transceiver. 
     
     
         4 . The initiation device of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit comprises a timing mechanism to allow precise control of activation of the light source when a fire command is received by the transceiver. 
     
     
         5 . The initiation device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source discharges directly into/onto the explosives charge or light from the source is delivered to the explosives charge by a suitable wave guide. 
     
     
         6 . The initiation device of  claim 1 , comprising a single transceiver and a plurality of associated control circuits and light sources. 
     
     
         7 . A detonator free blasting system which comprises:
 a working explosive charge;   a confined explosives charge; and   an initiation device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the initiation device is provided to deliver light to the confined explosives charge and the confined explosives charge is adapted to be initiated by that light and wherein initiation of the confined explosives charge causes initiation of the working explosive.   
     
     
         8 . A blasting system comprising an initiation device as claimed in  claim 1  and blast control equipment that is adapted to transmit wireless command signals to the device. 
     
     
         9 . A method of blasting using an initiation device as claimed in  claim 1 , which method comprises transmission of a wireless command FIRE signal to the device, receipt of the command signal by the transceiver and processing of the command signal by the control circuit, and activation of the light source by the control circuit thereby causing initiation of the explosives charge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a single wireless command FIRE signal is sent to an array of initiation devices with the devices then implementing firing independently in accordance with the time delay programmed into the control circuit of respective devices. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a single transceiver receives the wireless command signal and a plurality of associated control circuits process the command signal and activate a plurality of associated light sources. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transceiver is physically positioned so that wireless command signals can be received directly using standard radio frequency transmission systems and protocols. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the transceiver is positioned below ground level with wireless command signals being transmitted through the ground via low frequency signals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein an aerial system extends from the transceiver to a point at which the wireless command signals can be received. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a low powered network is formed in which one or more initiation devices act to relay a wireless command signal to a particular initiation device even if that device is out of range or otherwise unable to receive the wireless command signal directly.