GPS-Based Blast Hole Identification for Explosive Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for loading explosives into blast holes are prone to errors and time-consuming, as they rely on manual matching of holes with identification numbers or labels, which can lead to incorrect loading and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A system incorporating a mobile explosives supply unit with a GPS unit and a blast hole identification processor that uses GPS coordinates to accurately identify and load the correct amount and composition of explosives into each blast hole, ensuring precise and efficient loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual matching of blast holes with identification numbers or labels is used, then the system complexity is low, but the reliability of correct loading is poor and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical matching system (operators physically matching holes with identification numbers or labels) with an automated electronic system using GPS receivers, processors, and communication devices to automatically identify and control explosive loading into blast holes based on their geographic coordinates
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the GPS-based identification system automatically matches blast holes with their coordinates and triggers the loading process without requiring manual intervention or matching by operators, thereby improving reliability while reducing labor intensity
2Productivity
If manual matching of blast holes with identification numbers or labels is used, then the device complexity is low, but the time required for loading operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-consuming manual matching process with an automated electronic system that uses GPS coordinates to rapidly identify blast holes and trigger loading operations, significantly reducing the time required for loading while introducing sophisticated technological components
3Reliability
If GPS-based automatic identification is used, then the reliability and speed of blast hole identification improve, but the device complexity and initial costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual identification methods with a sophisticated electronic system incorporating GPS receivers, communication devices, and processing units to automatically and accurately identify blast holes based on their geographic coordinates, thereby improving reliability and accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system integrates multiple functions into a unified GPS-based platform, where the same GPS receiver and processor used for blast hole identification also control the explosive loading process, ensuring consistent and reliable operation across all loading operations
Data Source
AI summary
A system (10) for loading a flowable explosive into blast holes includes a mobile explosives supply unit (12) having at least one explosives feed line for feeding a flowable explosive from the supply unit (12) into a blast hole, a global positioning system (GPS) unit (14) operable to determine the position of a blast hole, and a blast hole identification processor (16) in communication with the GPS unit (14) operable to receive from the GPS unit (14) a blast hole co-ordinate position. The processor (16) is configured or programmed uniquely to identify the blast hole based on the co-ordinate position of the blast hole.