Reconfigurable Explosives Delivery Bin With Remote Cover Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile manufacturing units (MMUs) for delivering explosives materials are labor-intensive to reconfigure for different types of explosives, requiring manual cleaning and adjustments, which hampers productivity and operational flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A supply system with a bin and operation tool that allows for the installation and removal of removable covers for different explosives material delivery mechanisms without personnel entering the bin, using an elongate structure or robotic manipulators to manage the covers and facilitate quick configuration between ammonium nitrate prill and emulsion explosive delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual cleaning and adjustments are used to reconfigure MMU for different explosives materials, then the system can be adapted to different explosives types, but the process becomes labor-intensive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The bin interior is divided into multiple removable compartments or sections that can be independently configured. Each compartment can be removed and replaced based on the type of explosives material being delivered, allowing rapid reconfiguration without manual cleaning of the entire bin. The delivery mechanism is also segmented into interchangeable components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically reconfigurable components including removable liners, adjustable baffles, and interchangeable delivery mechanism components that can be quickly swapped between different explosives material configurations. This dynamic design enables the MMU to adapt to different materials (ammonium nitrate prill, emulsion explosive, etc.) without permanent modification.
2Ease of operation
If personnel enter the bin to install and remove covers manually, then precise control over delivery mechanism configuration is achieved, but safety risks and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary robotic system or automated manipulation device is introduced to handle the installation and removal of covers and delivery mechanism components. This intermediary performs the precise positioning and securing of components through the access port, eliminating the need for personnel to enter the bin while maintaining configuration precision through controlled robotic movements and automated fastening mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple storage tanks and chambers are added to deliver different explosives materials, then flexibility is enhanced, but the system complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bin and delivery mechanism are designed as universal, multi-functional units that can handle different explosives materials through reconfiguration rather than through multiple dedicated tanks. A single bin with removable liners and adjustable internal components can serve multiple functions for different materials (prill, emulsion, etc.), reducing the overall number of storage vessels needed while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A supply system supplies an explosives material and comprises an explosives material delivery mechanism, a bin, a first outlet, a first removable cover, a port and an operation tool. The bin has an upper end, a lower end, and an interior volume that provides a first compartment for storing the explosives material. The first compartment has a corresponding lower end. The first outlet at the lower end of the first compartment feeds the explosives material from the first compartment to the explosive material delivery mechanism. The first removable cover is placed on a second outlet at the lower end of the compartment. The port is at the upper end of the bin by which the explosives material is loadable into the first compartment. The operation tool allows installation and removal of the first removable cover by way of the port without requiring any personnel to enter into the bin.