Patent Publication Number: US-8122830-B2

Title: System and method for tracking identifiable initiators

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/916,246 filed on Nov. 18, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,453; which is the National stage of PCT/AU2006/000766 filed Jun. 2, 2006, which claims priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2005902851 filed on Jun. 2, 2005, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an explosives initiator, in particular an explosives initiator provided with one or more identification means, and a system and method for tracking identifiable initiators. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Explosive materials and the detonators and igniters used to initiate the explosive materials are widely used in the civil and construction industry, military use, the oil and gas industry, mining and quarry use, and demolition. 
     Although millions of detonators and igniters are distributed and used every year for the purpose of initiating explosive materials, inventory management of the movement of these initiators from the source of origin, to the mine site and thence to the site magazine, is predominantly reliant on manual recordal of information at each distribution point. 
     For example, upon manufacture the initiators are typically packaged in bags, and then boxed. Both the bags and the box are provided with a bar code sticker recording, amongst other things, the batch number, the box number, the date of manufacture, the total weight and number of initiators included in the bag and/or box. The boxes of initiators are then transported to a destination and tracked only by a bar code system which is reliant on manual recordal of information at the point of manufacture, distribution and destination. 
     When the boxes of initiators arrive at a particular mine site, the detonators are booked into a site magazine. The total number of initiators is logged into the site magazine upon arrival, as is their withdrawal from the site magazine for blasting operations. 
     The above system not only relies on timely recordal of the number of initiators withdrawn from the site magazine, but also on the accuracy, honesty and integrity of the persons recording said information. If the initiators are misplaced or stolen, the above system provides little assistance in tracking the whereabouts of the missing initiators. Furthermore, if an unaccounted for initiator is retrieved, there is no way of precisely determining its provenance. 
     The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages. 
     It is to be understood that, although prior art use and publications may be referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that any of these form a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided an identifiable initiator for explosives comprising an initiator provided with one or more identification means. The one or more identification means express an identity which is unique to the initiator. 
     The term “initiator” as used herein refers to a device used for initiating explosives, and encompasses detonators which initiate explosives by a shockwave and igniters which initiate explosives with a flame or a flash. In one embodiment of the invention the initiator is a non-electric initiator, an electric initiator, an electronic initiator, an exploding bridge wire initiator, or a slapper detonator. Suitable examples of non-electric initiators include, but are not limited to, flame or spark initiators, friction-initiated devices, stab initiators, chemical initiators, and percussion initiators. 
     The initiator comprises an initiator casing, an explosive composition confined within the initiator casing, and a firing signal receptor for receiving a firing signal and conveying said firing signal to initiate the explosive composition. The explosive composition of the initiator is selected in accordance with the type of initiation process required to ignite or detonate the main explosives charge. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the identification means is disposed internally of the initiator casing. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the identification means is disposed externally of the initiator casing. In a further embodiment of the invention the identification means is in communication with the firing signal receptor. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the identification means is a machine-readable wireless device. Suitable examples of machine-readable wireless devices include, but are not limited, to radio frequency signaling devices such as radio frequency identification tags (commonly referred to as RFIDs), magnetic bar codes, and magnetic induction identification tags. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the identification means is a machine-readable-and-writable wireless device. It is envisaged that additional information corresponding to the identity of the initiator, the location of the initiator at or after point of manufacture, or the receipt of a firing signal to the firing signal receptor and other information concerning the subsequent blasting event may be written to the machine-readable-and writable wireless device at pre-determined times to record the provenance of the initiator from point of manufacture until use. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention a first identification means is disposed internally of the initiator casing and a second identification means disposed externally of the initiator casing. Advantageously, if the second identification means is removed from the initiator casing, the initiator may still be identified by the first identification means. Typically, the first and second identification means are identical and unique to the initiator. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the identification means and/or a portion of the initiator casing to which the identification means is coupled is blast-proof and withstands destruction of the initiator in a blasting event. 
     In another feature of the invention there is provided a method of tracking an identifiable initiator comprising: 
     providing an initiator with one or more identification means having a identity unique to the initiator; 
     prior to dispatch of the initiator, recording and storing the unique identity of the initiator as retrievable data in a database; 
     after dispatch of the initiator, reading the one or more identification means of the initiator to determine the unique identity of the initiator; 
     retrieving data from the database; and, 
     matching the unique identity of the initiator to the retrieved data. 
     In one embodiment, the method further comprises the step of recording and storing information corresponding to the transfer of the initiator from a first dispatch point to a second dispatch point on the one or more identification means and as retrievable data in the database. In this way, the movement of the initiator from the first dispatch point to the second dispatch point can be tracked. 
     In another embodiment, the method further comprises the step of recording and storing additional information corresponding to receipt of a firing signal by the initiator and information concerning a subsequent blasting event on the one or more identification means. 
     In another feature of the invention there is provided a system for tracking an identifiable initiator comprising: 
     an initiator provided with one or more identification means expressing an identity unique to the initiator; 
     a means for recording and storing the unique identity of the initiator as retrievable data in a database; 
     a means for reading the one or more identification means of the initiator to determine the unique identity of the initiator; and 
     a means for retrieving data from the database and matching the unique identity of the initiator to the retrieved data. 
     In the description and the claims of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the words “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” are used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features, but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments, incorporating all aspects of the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic view of an initiator in accordance with the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of a tracking system for the initiators of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Before the preferred embodiment of the present apparatus is described, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular materials described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the particular embodiment only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. It must be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is provided an identifiable initiator  10  for explosives. The terms “explosive” or “explosive material” as used herein refers to a solid, gas, or liquid material which, when initiated, will release a great amount of heat and pressure by way of a very rapid, self-sustaining exothermic decomposition. There are two principal classes of explosives: (1) deflagrating explosives, whose burning processes are rather slow and are characterized by progressive reaction rates and buildup of pressure that create a heaving action; and (2) detonating explosives, which are characterized by very rapid chemical reactions, thus causing tremendously high pressure and brisance (shattering action). 
     The initiator  10  can be a non-electric initiator, an electric initiator, an electronic initiator, an exploding bridge wire initiator, or a slapper detonator. Suitable examples of non-electric initiators include, but are not limited to, flame or spark initiators, friction-initiated devices, stab initiators, chemical initiators, and percussion initiators. 
     The initiator  10  of one embodiment of the present invention includes an initiator casing  12 , an explosive composition  14  confined within the initiator casing  12 , and a firing signal receptor  16  for receiving a firing signal and conveying said firing signal to initiate the explosive composition. 
     In the particular embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the initiator casing  12  is an elongate hollow cylinder with a closed end  11  and an open end  13 , formed from a metal or metal alloy, such as copper, aluminium, gilding metal, or steel, in particular extrudable steel alloys. It is envisaged that the initiator casing  12  can also be formed from other rigid materials such as plastics materials, medium density fibre materials (MDF), cardboard, and wood. 
     The explosive composition  14  of the initiator  10  is confined in the initiator casing  12 , typically proximal the closed end  11  of the initiator casing  12 . The explosive composition  14  is selected in accordance with the type of initiation process required to ignite or detonate the main explosives charge of the blasting event. 
     The firing signal receptor  16  is concentrically disposed in the initiator casing  12  proximal the open end  13  and adjacent the explosive composition  14  so that the received firing signal can be conveyed to initiate the explosive composition  14 . The firing signal receptor  16  is selected in accordance with the type of initiator  10  and will be well known to those skilled in the art. For example, the firing signal receptor  16  for a flame or spark initiator is typically a safety fuse, detonation cord, shock tube, optic fibres, or a length of NONEL™ tubing. The term “NONEL” as used herein refers to non-electric initiating devices, otherwise known as shock tube systems. The term “detonation cord” as used herein refers to a flexible cord containing a centre core of high explosives, which when detonated, will have sufficient strength to detonate other explosives with which it is in contact. The term “safety fuse” as used herein refers to a flexible cord containing a centre core of cordite/black powder and when initiated, will burn with sufficient heat and strength to detonate other explosives with which it is in contact. 
     Depending on the type of firing signal receptor  16  selected and the dimensions of the initiator casing  12 , it is not uncommon for the firing signal receptor  16  to be secured within the initiator casing  12  by inserting the firing signal receptor  16  into a seal  15  configured to receive the firing signal receptor  16 . Typically, a portion of the seal  15   a  and the firing signal receptor  16   a  are disposed internally in the initiator casing  12  and a remaining portion of the seal  15   b  and the firing signal receptor  16   b  are disposed externally of the open end  13 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  the open end  13  of the initiator casing  12  is tightly crimped over the seal  15  to prevent the contents from being removed from the initiator casing  12  and to seal the contents from contamination with moisture, grease, and dust. 
     The initiator  10  is provided with one or more identification means  20 . The one or more identification means express an identity which is unique to the initiator  10 . 
     The identification means  20  can be disposed internally and/or externally of the initiator casing  12 . Preferably, in use, the identification means  20  is in communication with the firing signal receptor. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the initiator  10  is provided with a first identification means  20  disposed internally within the initiator casing  12  embedded in the first portion of the seal  15   a , and a second identification means  20 ′ is embedded in the second portion of the seal  15   b  located externally of the initiator casing  12 . The first and second identification means  20 ,  30  can be mounted on, or embedded in the respective portions of the seal  15   a ,  15   b . Preferably, the first and second identification means  20 ,  30  are positioned to be in communication with the firing signal receptor  16 . The first and second identification means  20 ,  20 ′ are identical and unique to the initiator  10 . 
     Advantageously, if the portion of the seal  15   b  disposed externally of the initiator casing  12  is removed from the initiator casing  12 , or damaged, the initiator  10  may still be identified by the first identification means  20  disposed within the initiator casing  12 . It is envisaged that under some circumstances the initiator casing  12  may first have to be opened in order to access the first identification means  20 , in which case the initiator  10  may not be used further. 
     Alternatively, the identification means  20  can be mounted on, or embedded in the outer or inner surface of the initiator casing  12 . For example, the identification means  20  can be conveniently mounted on the outer or inner surface of the closed end  11  of the initiator casing  12 . In another arrangement, the identification means  20  can be disposed adjacent a delay element or an explosive element within the initiator casing  12 . 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the identification means  20  is a machine-readable wireless device. Suitable examples of machine-readable wireless devices include, but are not limited, to radio frequency signaling devices such as radio frequency identification tags (commonly referred to as RFIDs), magnetic bar codes, and magnetic induction identification tags. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second identification means  20 ,  20 ′ are RFIDs. 
     Suitable examples of such RFIDs are 13.56 MHz 64 bit read only closed coupling transponders. The RFIDs may also be donut-shaped, having a diameter corresponding to an internal diameter of the initiator casing  12  for ease of fit therein. 
     The first and second identification means  20 ,  20 ′ emit a signal corresponding to a plurality of characters, symbols, or other indicia. The signals are identical and unique to a specific initiator  10 . For example, the signal could correspond to  15  characters wherein the first two characters denote a country of origin code, the second two characters denote a manufacturer&#39;s code, the third two characters denote a year of manufacture, and the remaining nine characters denote any one of 999,999,999 numerical combinations, for example: AUHE05123456789 to identify that the specific detonator  10  was manufactured in Australia by the Helidon plant in 2005 and provided with the specific numerical combination of 123456789. 
     Alternatively, the identification means  20  can be a machine-readable-and-writable wireless device. It is envisaged that additional information corresponding to the identity of the initiator  10 , the location of the initiator  10  at or after point of manufacture, or the receipt of a firing signal by the firing signal receptor  16  and other information concerning the subsequent blasting event may be written to the machine-readable-and writable wireless device at pre-determined times to record the provenance of the initiator  10  from point of manufacture until use. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the identification means  20 , the seal  15  and/or a portion of the initiator casing  12  to which the identification means  20  is mounted one or embedded in is blast-proof and withstands destruction of the initiator  10  in a blasting event. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of a system  100  for tracking the identifiable initiator  10  of the present invention. The system  100  includes the initiator  10  provided with one or more identification means  20  expressing an identity unique to the initiator  10  as described above, a means  110  for reading the one or more identification means  20  of the initiator  10  to determine the unique identity of the initiator  10 , and a means  120  for recording and storing the unique identity of the initiator as retrievable data in a database  130 . Preferably the system  100  further comprises a means  140  for retrieving data from the database  130  and matching the unique identity of the initiator  10  to the retrieved data. 
     The means  110  for reading the one or more identification means  20  of the initiator  10  will be chosen to correspond to the type of machine-readable wireless device used as the identification means  20 . For example, when the identification means  20  are RFIDs, the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  will be an RFID reader, or when the identification means  20  are magnetic bar codes, the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  will be a bar code scanner. 
     Depending on the type of identification means  20  used in the initiator  10 , the identification means  20  may need to be physically scanned by the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  of the initiator  10 , or, in embodiments of the invention where the identification means are RFIDs, the signals emitted by the RFIDs may be automatically transmitted to and received by the means  110  within a given distance. 
     The means  110  for reading the identification means  20  of the initiator  10  is in communication with the means  120  for recording and storing the unique identity of the initiator as retrievable data in a database  130 . The means  120  for recording and storing the unique identity of the initiator  10  typically comprises at least one logger, and more preferably a slave logger  122  in communication with a master logger  124 . 
     Typically, the slave logger  122  receives and records data from the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  of the initiator  10 . In addition to the specific identity of the initiator  10 , the slave logger  122  can also record additional information associated with the provenance and movement of the initiator  10 , including but not limited to data relating to entry of the initiator  10  in a magazine such as the data entry date, data entry time, identity of person entering the data, magazine location, type of initiator  10 , date and time of withdrawal of the initiator  10  from the magazine, replenishment of the magazine with a plurality of initiators  10 , etc. The specific identity of the initiator  10  and the additional information may be recorded and stored on an internal hard drive of the slave logger  122  and in a data transfer file format as a the database  130 . It is envisaged that the internal hard drive will be of a type akin to an internal black box which cannot be removed from the slave logger  122  unless it is brought back to the manufacturer. 
     Furthermore, it is envisaged that when the identification means  20  of the initiator  10  are machine readable-and-writable devices, the additional information associated with the provenance and movement of the initiator  10 , as described above, can also be written and stored on the machine readable-and-writable devices. For example, transmittal and receipt of a firing signal at the firing signal receptor  16  of the initiator  10  may also be simultaneously recorded and stored by the slave logger  122  and the identification means  20  of the initiator  10 . 
     The data stored on the slave logger  122  may be transferred to the master logger  124  at regular intervals, typically, daily, weekly or monthly intervals. It is envisaged that a USB ProDrive can also be used to transfer data from the slave logger  122  to the master logger  124  in case of a system and/or network failure. 
     The slave logger  122  may be further provided with a servant logger  126 , to which data is automatically directed from the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  of the initiator  10 , if the slave logger  122  is disabled in any way. 
     It will be understood that the system  100  is also provided with a computer program or operating software which facilitates ready retrieval of data stored in the database  130  and comparison thereof with data obtained by the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  of the initiator  10  in order to provide a positive identification of the initiator  10  of the present invention. 
     One mode of practice of the invention comprises providing the initiator  10  of the present invention with a unique identity at the point of manufacture by embedding or mounting one or more identification means  20 , such as RFIDs, internally and/or externally of the initiator casing  12 . The RFIDs emit an identical coded signal which is unique to the initiator  10 . 
     Prior to dispatch of the initiator  10 , the coded signal of the RFIDs is read by the means  110  for reading the identification means  20  of the initiator  10  and is recorded by the slave logger  122  and stored as retrievable data in a database  130 . 
     At any time after dispatch of the initiator  10 , the identity of the initiator  10  can be determined by reading the signal emitted by the identification means  20  with the means  110  for reading the identification means  20 , and comparing the data so obtained with data retrieved from the database  130 . 
     Information corresponding to the transfer of the initiator  10  from a first dispatch point to a second dispatch point can also be recorded and stored on the one or more identification means  20  and as retrievable data in the database  130 . In this way, the movement of the initiator  10  from the first dispatch point to the second dispatch point can be tracked. 
     Furthermore, additional information corresponding to receipt of a firing signal by the firing signal receptor  16  of the initiator  10 , and optionally information concerning a subsequent blasting event, can also be recorded and stored on the one or more identification means  10 . 
     Numerous variations and modifications will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the relevant art, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.