Stope Ring Blast Section Planning for Free-Space Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Designing charging and blasting of drill holes in stope excavation is a demanding and time-consuming task, often resulting in unwanted variations and potential stope blocking due to inadequate planning.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method utilizing a data processing device to assist in dividing stope rings into blast sections, estimating rock material volumes, and comparing them to available free space, ensuring proper fit and preventing stope blocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual charging and blasting planning is used for stope excavation, then design flexibility is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and prone to errors causing stope blocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblasting design efficiencyVSAvoidblasting plan accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical planning processes with an automated computer-based system that calculates blast sections, rock volumes, and free space requirements algorithmically, eliminating human error and time-consuming manual computations while maintaining design flexibility through software-configurable parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a computer-based calculation system as an intermediary between the geologist's stope model and the blast designer's charging plan, automatically computing blast section divisions and volume assessments to ensure accuracy and prevent stope blocking without direct manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If blast section volumes are not properly assessed against free space, then blasting can proceed quickly, but stope blocking occurs requiring dangerous corrective measures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblasting operation speedVSAvoidstope blocking risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary calculations of blast section volumes and free space requirements before actual blasting operations, dividing the stope ring into appropriately sized blast sections that will expand into the available free space without causing blocking, thereby preventing harmful effects before they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent provides feedback to the blast designer by comparing calculated blast section volumes against assessed free space volumes, indicating whether selected blast sections are appropriate in size and will fit into the available free space, allowing corrections before blasting begins

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If detailed volume calculations and comparisons are performed for each blast section, then stope blocking is prevented, but the design process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblasting plan safetyVSAvoiddesign process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual volume calculation and comparison processes with automated computer-based algorithms that perform assessments instantly, maintaining high reliability through precise calculations while reducing perceived complexity by handling computations automatically without requiring manual intervention for each calculation step

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4600463A1Apparatus and method designing charging and blasting for stope excavation

Publication Date: 2025.08.13 SANDVIK MINING & CONSTR OY

Figure 1~3
Figure 4a~5c
Figure 6~7c

AI summary

An apparatus and method for assisting design of charging and blasting of stopes in an underground stope excavation. The apparatus (9) comprises a data processing device (24) and is provided with data on realized drill holes (27) drilled for the stope. The apparatus is also provided with data on an initial free space (28) located below the stope. The apparatus assists in dividing an initial first stope ring (14a) into several blast sections (13a, 13b, 18) which are blasted in several partial blasts towards an available free space. The apparatus estimates volumes of rock materials, compares the estimated volumes to available free volumes (15a, 15) and thereby examines whether the selected blast section fits in blasted expanded state into the available free space.