Booster Support Device Anchoring in Borehole Bottom
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In mining operations, booster explosives in boreholes often get displaced from the bottom due to water displacement and settling explosive columns, leading to inefficient detonation, communication breaks in detonator lines, and reduced fragmentation, as they are not effectively secured or positioned near the bottom, causing top priming and reduced explosive effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A booster explosive support device with a securing arrangement and a length-adjustable spacing element that anchors the booster at the borehole bottom, along with a locating arrangement to ensure central positioning and a weight for sinking in water, preventing displacement and ensuring consistent detonation initiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a booster is lowered into a water-filled borehole by a downline, then the booster can be positioned near the bottom of the borehole, but water displacement and settling explosive columns push the booster upward, removing it from the preferred location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching a weight to the booster before lowering it into the borehole. This weight is already secured to the booster in advance, creating a pre-assembled unit that will automatically sink to the bottom and remain there despite water displacement forces during the blasting operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a weight attached to the booster to counteract the upward forces generated by water displacement and settling explosive columns. This counterweight ensures the booster remains at the bottom of the borehole throughout the operation, preventing it from being pushed upward to the top third of the explosive column.
2Reliability
If known solutions use weights (bricks) or netting bags filled with rocks to keep the booster at the bottom, then booster displacement is prevented, but these solutions are slow to put together and heavy to carry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the weight and the booster into a single integrated unit by pre-attaching the weight to the booster. This combination eliminates the need for separate assembly steps in the field and reduces the number of components that need to be handled individually, thereby increasing operation speed while maintaining reliable positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a simple, lightweight weight that can be quickly attached and discarded after use, replacing complex reusable systems like netting bags. This approach prioritizes speed and simplicity over durability, suitable for single-use applications where rapid deployment is critical.
3Ease of operation
If the booster is lowered along a sidewall of the borehole, then the downline can easily reach the bottom, but the booster is not centrally positioned and part of the explosion energy is lost breaking rock instead of initiating the explosive column
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a central positioning feature on the booster that ensures it is located in the middle of the borehole rather than against the sidewall. This central positioning ensures uniform surrounding of the booster by primary explosive materials, maximizing energy utilization for initiating the explosive column rather than breaking rock.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device securely positions the booster at the borehole bottom, maintaining effective explosive confinement and reducing communication issues, enhancing detonation efficiency and fragmentation by ensuring consistent energy release and minimizing downline tension.
Implementation Method 1
The support device may have a weight which will cause it to sink in water
Implementation Method 2
a spacing element which protrudes from the securing arrangement, the spacing element having a free end which in use abuts against a closed end or bottom of a borehole thereby supporting the securing arrangement and hence an explosive booster at a desired spacing from the bottom of the borehole
Implementation Method 3
They are made of high velocity, high energy explosive material that has the capability to detonate commonly used bulk/primary explosives in the mining industry
Implementation Method 4
the top of the borehole explodes, releasing gasses
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a booster explosive support device 10 for use in boreholes 87. The device 10 includes a securing arrangement 12 which is configured to secure an explosive booster 100 to the device 10, and a spacing element 39 which protrudes from the securing arrangement 12. The spacing element 39 has a free end which in use abuts against a closed end or bottom of a borehole, thereby supporting the securing arrangement 12 and hence an explosive booster 100 at a desired spacing from the bottom of the borehole 87. The spacing element 39 may be elongate. The invention also relates to a method of securing an explosive booster 100 at a pre-determined position in a borehole 87. The method includes spacing the explosive booster 100 away from a closed end of the borehole 87 by supporting the explosive booster 100 from an operatively lower position thereof.