Mobile Platform for the Delivery of Bulk Explosive

• US 20070062406A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LDE Corporation (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kevin Waldock
• Inventors: Waldock, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,971,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/313
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2205 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/224 comprising auxiliary devices, e.g. for unloading or level indicating catwalks, ladders or safety railings therefor B60R3/005
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2245 Adaptations for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2265 Arrangements for hoses, tubes, or reels
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/10 Feeding explosives in granular or slurry form; Feeding explosives by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 1/22 Methods for holding or positioning for blasting cartridges or tamping cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6855 Vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8807 Articulated or swinging flow conduit

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosives to a blast hole. One embodiment of the platform provides the ability to obtain weight information relating to the contents of a tank that is associated with the platform and that, in operation, contains either the bulk explosive or a constituent of the explosive. The platform comprises a vehicle with a frame, a tank, a load cell structure for connecting the frame and the tank and providing weight data relating to the contents of the tank, and a suspension system that prevents relative movement of the frame and the tank that could compromise the load cell structure. Another embodiment of the platform provides a tank for holding an explosive composition and a rotary shaft that supports a mixing blade that mixes the explosive composition within the tank. The platform further comprises bearing structure for supporting the rotary shaft that is located to deter any of the explosive composition from entering the bearing. A further embodiment of the platform comprises a conduit structure for discharging a bulk explosive into a blast hole that includes a substantially rigid tube with an outlet port for discharging a bulk explosive into the blast hole. The tube is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis such that the outlet port can be moved towards and away from the vehicle along an arc of less than 180°. In one embodiment, the outlet port can be positioned substantially adjacent to an operator'"'"'s station to allow an operator to readily view the loading of the explosive into the blast hole.

Claims

1. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive comprising:

a vehicle comprising a frame;

a tank for holding a material related to a bulk explosive;

a conduit for conveying a bulk explosive to a blast hole;

a load cell structure for connecting said frame and said tank and providing weight data relating to any contents of said tank; and

a suspension for preventing relative movement of said frame and said tank that could compromise said load cell structure.

2. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said suspension comprises;

a first mount operatively attached to said frame;

a second mount operatively attached to said tank and laterally separated from said first mount;

a substantially rigid element;

a first connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said first mount; and

a second connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said second mount;

wherein, in operation, said first and second connectors constrain a point on said substantially rigid element to travel along a path that extends along a portion of a spherical surface relative to one of said first and second connectors.

3. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said first connector comprises a pivot pin.

4. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said first connector comprises a ball joint.

5. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said first connector comprises a rod bearing.

6. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said suspension system comprises two or more of a suspension system as set forth in claim 2.

7. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said suspension comprises;

a first mount operatively attached to said frame;

a second mount operatively attached to said tank and laterally separated from said first mount;

a third mount operatively attached to one of said frame and said tank, and laterally separated from said first and second mounts;

a substantially rigid element;

a first connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said first mount;

a second connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said second mount;

a third connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said third mount;

wherein, in operation, said first, second, and third connectors constrain a point on said substantially rigid element to travel along a path that extends along a portion of a spherical surface relative to one of said first, second, and third connectors.

9. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said suspension system comprises two or more of a suspension system as set forth in claim 7.

10. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said suspension comprises;

a first mount operatively attached to said frame;

a second mount operatively attached to said tank and laterally separated from said first mount;

a third mount operatively attached to said frame and laterally separated from said first and second mounts;

a fourth mount operatively attached to said tank and laterally separated from said first, second, and third mounts;

a substantially rigid element;

a first connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said first mount;

a second connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said second mount;

a third connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said third mount;

a fourth connector for connecting said substantially rigid element to said fourth mount;

wherein said first and second connectors define a first line that intersects with a second line defined by said third and fourth connectors;

wherein, in operation, said first, second, third, and fourth connectors constrain a point on said substantially rigid element to travel along a path that extends along a portion of a spherical surface relative to one of said first, second, third, and fourth connectors.

11. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said substantially rigid element comprises;

a first substantially rigid element that extends between said first and second connectors; and

a second substantially rigid element that extends between said third and fourth connectors and is separate from said first substantially rigid element.

12. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said suspension system comprises two or more of a suspension system as set forth in claim 10.

13. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said conduit is insulated from said tank to prevent a force that is applied to said conduit from being transmitted to said tank and affecting the weighing operation of said load cell structure.

14. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said tank comprises a discharge port for transferring an explosive composition from said tank to said conduit;

said conduit having a inlet port for receiving an explosive composition that passes through said discharge port and an outlet port for discharging an explosive composition from said conduit into a blast hole;

wherein said discharge port and said inlet port are aligned but not connected to prevent a force applied to said conduit from affecting the weighing operation of said load cell structure.

15. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a rotary shaft for supporting a mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank;

wherein said rotary shaft comprises a first end that passes through a hole in a side wall of said tank and extends outside of said tank;

a bearing for engaging said first end of said rotary shaft;

wherein said bearing is located outside of said tank and spaced from an exterior side wall surface of said side wall such that a portion of said first end of said rotary shaft is located between said exterior side wall surface and said bearing.

16. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said conduit comprises;

a substantially rigid tube that has an inlet port for receiving an explosive composition and an outlet port for discharging an explosive composition from said substantially rigid tube into a blast hole;

a rotary mount that engages said substantially rigid tube and allows said substantially rigid tube to rotate about a vertical axis;

wherein rotation of said tube about said vertical axis causes said outlet port to move towards or away from said vehicle along an arc.

8. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said substantially rigid connector has a V-shape.

17. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive comprising:

a vehicle comprising a frame;

a tank for holding a bulk explosive; and

a conduit for conveying a bulk explosive from said tank to a blast hole;

wherein said tank comprises a wall having an interior wall surface and an exterior wall surface;

a first rotary shaft for supporting a mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank;

wherein said first rotary shaft comprises a first end that passes through a hole in said wall and extends outside of said tank;

a bearing for engaging said first end of said first rotary shaft;

wherein said bearing is located outside of said tank and spaced from said exterior wall surface such that a portion of said first end of said first rotary shaft is located between said exterior wall surface and said bearing.

18. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a sealing structure for preventing an explosive composition from passing through a space between a portion of said wall that defines said hole and said first end of said rotary shaft.

19. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said sealing structure comprises a lip seal.

20. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said sealing structure comprises an O-ring that is located between said lip seal and said first rotary shaft.

21. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a second rotary shaft for supporting a second mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank.

22. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said first rotary shaft and said second rotary shaft are at an angle to one another that is other than 90°

.

23. A mobile explosive mixing plant, as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a second rotary shaft for supporting a mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank;

a third rotary shaft for supporting a mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank.

24. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

a load cell structure for connecting said frame and said tank and providing weight data relating to any contents of said tank; and

a suspension for preventing relative movement of said frame and said tank that could compromise said load cell structure.

25. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said conduit comprises;

a substantially rigid tube that has an inlet port for receiving an explosive composition from said tank and an outlet port for discharging an explosive composition from said substantially rigid tube into a blast hole;

a rotary mount that engages said substantially rigid tube and allows said substantially rigid tube to rotate about a vertical axis;

wherein rotation of said tube about said vertical axis causes said outlet port to move towards or away from said vehicle along an arc.

26. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive comprising:

a vehicle comprising a frame;

a tank for holding a material related to a bulk explosive; and

a conduit structure for conveying a bulk explosive to a blast hole;

wherein said conduit structure comprises;

a substantially rigid tube that has an inlet port for receiving an explosive composition and an outlet port for discharging an explosive composition from said substantially rigid tube into a blast hole;

a rotary mount that engages said substantially rigid tube and allows said substantially rigid tube to rotate about a vertical axis;

wherein rotation of said tube about said vertical axis causes said outlet port to move towards or away from said vehicle along an arc that is limited to less than 180°

.

27. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said vehicle comprises an operator station; and

a portion of said arc is located substantially adjacent to said operator station so that an operator can readily view the loading of an explosive composition into a blast hole when the outlet portion of said substantially rigid tube is positioned along said portion of said arc.

28. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 27, wherein:

said operator station comprises a conduit control panel that is located between where an operator is normally situated within said operator station and said portion of said arc.

29. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:

a load cell structure for connecting said frame and said tank and providing weight data relating to any contents of said tank; and

a suspension for preventing relative movement of said frame and said tank that could compromise said load cell structure.

30. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:

a load cell structure for connecting said frame and said tank and providing weight data relating to any contents of said tank.

31. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a load cell monitoring system for receiving load cell data from said load cell structure, processing load cell data to determine weight information relating to the contents of said tank, and providing weight information to an operator.

32. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a load cell monitoring system for receiving load cell data from said load cell structure, processing load cell data to determine weight information relating to the contents of said tank, and providing weight information to an operator located within an operator station of said vehicle and/or to an operator located outside of said vehicle.

33. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, further comprising:

a rotary shaft for supporting a mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank;

wherein said rotary shaft comprises a first end that passes through a hole in a side wall of said tank and extends outside of said tank;

a bearing for engaging said first end of said rotary shaft;

wherein said bearing is located outside of said tank and spaced from an exterior side wall surface of said side wall such that a portion of said first end of said rotary shaft is located between said exterior side wall surface and said bearing.

34. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said vehicle comprises a trailer; and

said trailer comprises said frame.

35. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said vehicle comprises an engine or a motor.

36. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said vehicle comprises a wheel that is operatively connected to said frame.

37. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 26, wherein:

said vehicle comprises a track that is operatively connect to said frame.