Robotic Explosive Priming with Segregated Feed and Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for priming explosives in mining, particularly in subway mining, involve high-risk manual tasks that expose personnel to serious injuries and decrease productivity due to ventilation periods and unstable areas, with existing robotic systems posing safety risks through combined storage and assembly of detonators and initiators.
Innovation Solution
A robotic priming device with separate dispensers for initiators and detonator assemblies, protected transport paths, and a controlled meeting and priming zone to form explosive primers, minimizing accidental detonation risks and personnel exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual priming is performed by personnel in blasting areas, then the priming process can be completed with simple equipment, but personnel are exposed to high risks including rock falls, explosions, and serious injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic priming system performs all priming operations autonomously without human intervention in the blasting area. The robot automatically transports initiators and detonators, assembles explosive primers, and inserts them into drill holes, allowing the system to serve itself and eliminating personnel exposure to hazards while maintaining operational simplicity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated robotic system equipped with specialized end effectors. The robot uses mechanical arms, grippers, and automated assembly mechanisms to perform tasks previously done by hand, substituting human mechanical action with controlled robotic mechanisms that eliminate personnel risk while maintaining operational efficiency
2Device complexity
If initiators and detonators are stored together in the same magazine to simplify storage, then storage space is optimized, but the probability of accidental detonation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system divides the storage and handling of explosive components into separate segments. Initiators are stored and transported in one magazine, while detonators are stored and transported in another magazine. The robot separately retrieves and handles each type of component, preventing accidental contact and detonation while maintaining organized storage through spatial segmentation of hazardous materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the disturbing element (potential for accidental detonation) by physically separating initiators and detonators into different magazines and transport paths. This extraction eliminates the hazard of accidental interaction between the two components while the robot selectively retrieves only the required component for each priming operation, maintaining operational efficiency without compromising safety
3Device complexity
If multiple explosive primers are assembled and stored together with unprimed initiators in the same magazine, then storage efficiency is improved, but the risk of chain reaction explosion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the storage of assembled explosive primers from unprimed initiators by providing separate storage locations. Assembled primers are stored in one designated area while unprimed initiators remain in the initiator magazine. This spatial segmentation prevents chain reactions by ensuring that even if an assembled primer detonates, the unprimed initiators remain isolated and cannot contribute to a chain reaction
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic system acts as an intermediary that controls the flow and storage of explosive components. The robot selectively transports and stores assembled primers in designated areas away from unprimed initiators, mediating the separation between hazardous components. This intermediary control ensures proper spatial arrangement and prevents dangerous interactions while maintaining efficient storage and retrieval operations
4Reliability
If ventilation periods of 1-5 hours are observed after blasting to ensure safety, then personnel safety is protected, but productivity decreases due to non-activity periods
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system enables self-service operations in the blasting area by performing priming tasks autonomously without requiring human personnel. This allows the robot to work during ventilation periods when the area is unsafe for humans, eliminating the need to halt operations for safety waiting periods and thereby maintaining continuous productivity while ensuring personnel safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter from human-based priming to robotic-based priming. This parameter change allows operations to continue during ventilation periods because the robot is not subject to the same safety restrictions as human workers. The system can operate in environments with residual gases and potential hazards that would prevent human access, thus eliminating productivity loss from mandatory ventilation wait times
5Productivity
If personnel access unstable areas with landslide potential to mine valuable resources, then resource extraction is maximized, but personnel safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic system performs priming operations autonomously in unstable and hazardous areas without requiring human personnel to access these dangerous zones. The robot can operate in areas with landslide potential, unstable rock faces, and other hazards that would prevent human access, thereby enabling resource extraction from previously unreachable areas while maintaining personnel safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces human mechanical operations with robotic mechanisms in unstable areas. The robotic system with its specialized end effectors and automated control can operate in environments that are too hazardous for human workers, substituting human presence with remote-controlled or autonomous robotic systems that can withstand and operate in extreme conditions while extracting valuable resources
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a robotic priming device for an explosive priming process. One aspect includes at least one initiator dispenser, each comprising a plurality of initiator racks containing a plurality of initiators. Each initiator dispenser includes one or more initiator discharge wheels that discharge the initiators onto an initiator cart. The device includes at least one detonating assembly dispenser, each comprising a plurality of detonating assembly racks containing a plurality of detonating assemblies. Each detonating assembly dispenser comprises one or more detonating assembly unloading wheels that unload the detonating assemblies onto a detonating assembly cart. The device includes a meeting and priming line with a meeting and priming zone. The detonating assembly cart locates the detonating assemblies in the meeting and priming zone. The initiator cart moves the initiators to the meeting and priming zone, and inserts the initiators into the detonating assembly to form an explosive primer.