Safety is the biggest motivation behind Rothenbuhler Engineering’s Remote Firing Device (RFD) designs, allowing engineers to initiate a blast for up to 3 to 5 miles, clear of fly rock and debris. Costs are significantly reduced by eliminating excess lead-in lines between the explosives and the initiator, according to the company. Devices are applicable for surface blasting and underground mining applications via a leaky feeder system. Available features include sequential firing, motion detection, and GPS to increase safety and production.
The 1670 RFD is an intelligent and discrete two-way radio-controlled remote blast initiation system. The radio system’s signal is digitally encoded. The latest microprocessor and message encoding/validation technology has been combined to provide a safe, reliable and accurate RFD.
Rothenbuhler engineered this system using more than 15 years of military and commercial RFD experience. The 1670 has the capability to initiate non-electric shock tube, as well as standard electric blasting caps. The system can be used repeatedly throughout an operation and will give an “answer back” or confirmed status of all or any one of the remotes.
The remotes can be held in the standby (not armed) mode for up to 12 hours and still maintain the energy to initiate the shot. The 1670 RFD includes redundant internal safety circuitry and a timed automatic disarming feature.
If the remotes do not receive a properly addressed firing signal within two minutes of being armed, the system will automatically return to the disarmed state.
- Rugged – All system cases are watertight and have a vent for pressure equalization. The electronics have been specially mounted to help prevent damage from shock and vibration from blasting, transportation and mishandling.
- System Versatility – The 1670 RFD has a versatility and reliability not before seen in initiation systems. The unique design of the Rothenbuhler RFD offers the versatility of commanding one to eight remotes with a single controller. The remotes can be individually selected, armed, fired and interrogated for status via the keypad on the controller.
- Non-Electric – This remote offers greater power for better range using shock tube.
Rothenbuhler Engineering, www.rothenbuhlereng.com