Explosives Container with External Booster Compartment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for placing explosive compositions in boreholes are labor-intensive and unreliable, especially in the presence of water, as the booster device often becomes dislodged or the explosive charge is washed away, leading to misfires and increased costs due to the need for repeated drilling and dewatering.

Innovation Solution

A flexible explosives container with a booster compartment on its external surface and a water-resistant inner bag, allowing for precise placement and maintenance of the booster adjacent to the explosive charge, along with a locating device for controlled depth placement, eliminating the need for filler materials and enhancing reliability in wet conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the booster is introduced into the borehole and dragged through the explosives to lodge in place, then the explosive charge can be initiated, but the booster may become dislodged or separated from the charge, especially in water-filled boreholes, leading to misfires

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of booster placementVSAvoidease of booster placement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The booster compartment is integrated as a nested structure within the explosives container, with the booster housed in a dedicated compartment that maintains its position relative to the explosive charge. This nested configuration ensures the booster remains in the correct location without requiring separate placement operations or filler materials to maintain positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The booster is pre-positioned in its compartment within the container before the explosive charge is placed. This preliminary positioning ensures the booster is already in the correct location and orientation, eliminating the need for post-charge placement operations that could result in dislodgement or separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If filler material such as gravel or drill cuttings is introduced to space decks from one another, then the borehole can be filled to desired heights, but the process becomes time-consuming and labour-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of explosive placement depthVSAvoidproductivity of borehole filling

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The explosives container uses a flexible bag structure that can be easily lowered into the borehole to the desired depth using a locating device. The flexibility of the bag allows it to conform to the borehole shape while maintaining its position, eliminating the need for filler materials and manual placement operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The container is designed to be self-contained with the booster already in its compartment, requiring no additional filler materials or separate placement operations. The entire assembly is lowered as a single unit to the desired depth, making the process self-sufficient and highly efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the borehole is filled with water, then the explosive charge may be washed away or the booster dislodged, but dewatering the borehole increases operational time and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of explosive charge placementVSAvoidtime for dewatering operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The booster is pre-positioned in its compartment within the container before the explosive charge is placed, ensuring it cannot be dislodged by water. This preliminary positioning eliminates the risk of misfire due to booster displacement, allowing operations to proceed even in water-filled boreholes without dewatering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The nested configuration of the booster within its compartment provides mechanical protection and positioning that prevents water from dislodging it. The compartment structure acts as a barrier that maintains the booster's position relative to the explosive charge, ensuring reliable initiation even in wet conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8826821B2Explosives container and method

Publication Date: 2014.09.09 CRINUM IP

AI summary

An explosives container comprising a flexible inner bag within a flexible outer bag, the outer bag comprising a first end and a second end and a booster compartment located on an external surface of the outer bag, adjacent the second end. An explosive composition can be located within the inner bag and, in use, the booster compartment contains an explosive booster and serves to maintain the explosive booster in close contact with the explosives composition. The explosives container further comprises an elongate sheath extending substantially between the first end and the second end of the outer bag and serving to house and protect a detonator cord from damage or dislodgement.