Patent ID: 7929270

Claim:
A blasting apparatus for fragmentation of rock by timed actuation of a plurality of explosive charges each set in a borehole in the rock, the blasting apparatus comprising: at least one blasting machine for transmitting at least one wireless command signal; and a plurality of wireless detonator assemblies, at least some of which are within range to receive said at least one wireless signal from said at least one blasting machine, each wireless detonator assembly associated with a corresponding explosive charge for causing actuation thereof upon transmission of a FIRE signal by an associated blasting machine, each wireless detonator assembly comprising: (a) a base charge; (b) wireless signal receiving means, for receiving at least one wireless signal, each wireless signal transmitted from either a blasting machine or another nearby wireless detonator assembly; (c) wireless signal processing means for determining an action required by said wireless detonator assembly in response to each wireless signal received by (b), and whether to relay said wireless signal to another wireless detonator assembly and/or to a blasting machine; and (d) wireless signal transmitting means for transmitting said at least one wireless signal as required by (c); whereby the wireless detonator assemblies form a cross-communicating network of wireless detonator assemblies, each either in direct communication with said at least one blasting machine, or in indirect communication with said at least one blasting machine via relay of wireless signals to or from said at least one blasting machine via one or more nodes in the network, each node comprising a wireless detonator assembly.