摘要 |
Explosive charges for blasting purposes are actuated by a system of optical fibres supplied with energy from a laser. The laser energy output is substantially in excess of that required for detonation and does not need to be preserved in coherent form, enabling transmission to be via optical fibres and connecting and/or distributing devices of quality or properties unsuitable for data transmission. Simple intermittently driven mechanical arrangements can be used for the sequential firing of a set of charges. Connection to detonators can be by expendable lengths of fibre fed from a main optical channel via simple, economic, plug-and-socket arrangements. The detonators, or components containing flashing composition coating the end of the expendable fibre, may be supplied with an attached fibre ready connected to an expendable optical plug. The connection of the laser with an optical cable, terminating in optical socket arrangements may be by a simple lens arrangement, uneven distribution of energy between the individual fibres being well tolerated.
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