Dec 2, 2025

US12487063 - Non-explosive programmable electronic initiation system for rock blasting

A programmable non-explosive initiator may include a capsule, a filament, a shrink sleeve, a capacitor, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The capsule includes a container tube or sleeve containing a first rapidly expanding metallic mixture. The filament is coated by a second rapidly expanding metallic mixture and is contained by the shrink sleeve. The filament is caused to glow by a controlled discharge of the capacitor. The controlled discharge of the capacitor is controlled by the PCB. In some examples, the programmable non-explosive initiator may include electronic initiator units connected in parallel.

Assignee: COMERCIALIZADORA EXOBLAST CHILE S.P.A.
Inventors: Eduardo Alfredo Abarca Vargas

The patent describes a programmable non-explosive electronic initiator designed for rock blasting, featuring a capsule containing a rapidly expanding metallic mixture, a filament, and a printed circuit board (PCB) that controls the discharge of a capacitor to activate the filament. This system allows for bidirectional communication with external command equipment, enabling precise timing and control of the initiation process.

Claim 1

1 . A programmable non-explosive electronic initiator, the electronic initiator comprising: a capsule, the capsule comprising a container tube or sleeve closed by a sealing plug and containing a first rapidly expanding metallic mixture; wherein the capsule is configured to receive a communication having a voltage-modulated, bidirectional communication protocol from an external command equipment via a communication and power line using a bidirectional serial algorithm; a filament supported on a solid base wherein the filament is coated by a second rapidly expanding metallic mixture; a shrink sleeve contained in the container tube or sleeve, wherein the shrink sleeve is configured to hold the filament and the solid base; a first capacitor having a voltage requirement under 35V, wherein a controlled discharge of the first capacitor is configured to cause the filament to glow; and a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a printed circuit, wherein the printed circuit is configured to control the controlled discharge of the first capacitor, wherein control of the controlled discharge comprises a delay of 1 ms to 64,000 ms. a capsule, the capsule comprising a container tube or sleeve closed by a sealing plug and containing a first rapidly expanding metallic mixture; wherein the capsule is configured to receive a communication having a voltage-modulated, bidirectional communication protocol from an external command equipment via a communication and power line using a bidirectional serial algorithm; a filament supported on a solid base wherein the filament is coated by a second rapidly expanding metallic mixture; a shrink sleeve contained in the container tube or sleeve, wherein the shrink sleeve is configured to hold the filament and the solid base; a first capacitor having a voltage requirement under 35V, wherein a controlled discharge of the first capacitor is configured to cause the filament to glow; and a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a printed circuit, wherein the printed circuit is configured to control the controlled discharge of the first capacitor, wherein control of the controlled discharge comprises a delay of 1 ms to 64,000 ms.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12487063

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12487063