Mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive

• US 8,950,330 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2011
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LDE Corporation (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LDE Corporation (Hanwha Corporation)
• Inventors: Waldock, Kevin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US13/153,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20110260439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,347 Days
• Field of Search: 102/324, 102/313, 102/293, 102/331, 137/316, 137/899, 137/615, 206/3, 86/201.5, 141/387, 141/388, 149/109.6
• 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;

said suspension comprises a first suspension structure;

wherein said first suspension structure 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 first substantially rigid element;

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

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

wherein each of the first and second connectors includes a ball structure and socket structure that cooperates with the ball structure to form a ball-and-socket joint that allows rotational but no substantial translational relative movement between the ball structure and the socket structure;

wherein the ball and socket structures of the first connector are each restrained from translational movement relative to the first mount;

wherein the ball and socket structures of the second connector are each restrained from translational movement relative to the second mount.

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

each of said first connector and said second connector comprises one of a rod bearing and a ball-and-socket joint.

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

said suspension comprises a second suspension structure comprising;

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 second substantially rigid element;

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

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

wherein each of the third and fourth connectors includes a ball structure and socket structure that cooperates with the ball structure to form a ball-and-socket joint that allows rotational but no substantial translational relative movement between the ball structure and the socket structure;

wherein the ball and socket structures of the third connector are each restrained from translational movement relative to the third mount;

wherein the ball and socket structures of the third connector are each restrained from translational movement relative to the fourth mount;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth mounts are located such that, when there is a relative vertical displacement between the first and third mounts and the second and fourth mounts, the first and second substantially rigid elements rotate in the same direction when viewed from the same perspective.

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

the first and second connectors define a first line;

the third and fourth connectors define a second line that intersects the first line at an intersection point;

wherein the third and fourth connectors are both located to one side of the intersection point.

5. 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.

6. 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 to facilitate the transfer of an explosive composition from the said tank to said conduit but isolated from one another to prevent a force applied to said conduit from affecting the position of the tank and thereby potentially affecting the weighing operation of said load cell structure.

7. 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.

8. 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.

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

the socket structure of at least one of said first and second connectors comprises a cupped ring.

10. 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;

said suspension comprises a first suspension structure;

wherein said first suspension structure 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 each of the first and second connectors includes a ball structure and socket structure that cooperates with the ball structure to form a ball-and-socket joint that allows rotational but no substantial translational relative movement between the ball structure and the socket structure;

wherein said first connector comprises a pivot pin that cooperates with the ball structure to form a rod bearing.

11. 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;

said suspension comprises a first suspension structure;

wherein said first suspension structure 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 each of the first and second connectors includes a ball structure and socket structure that cooperates with the ball structure to form a ball-and-socket joint that allows rotational but no substantial translational relative movement between the ball structure and the socket structure;

wherein said first suspension structure comprises;

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

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

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

said substantially rigid element has a V-shape.

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

said suspension comprises a second suspension structure that is substantially identical to the first suspension structure as set forth in claim 11.

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

said suspension comprises a second suspension structure that is substantially identical to the first suspension structure as set forth in claim 11;

wherein the first and second mounts of the second suspension structure are each laterally separated from the first and second mounts of the first suspension structure.

19. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said suspension comprises a second suspension structure that is substantially identical to the first suspension structure as set forth in claim 11;

wherein the first, second, and third mounts of the second suspension structure are each laterally separated from the first, second, third, and fourth mounts of the first suspension structure.

15. 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;

said suspension comprises a first suspension structure;

wherein said first suspension structure 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 each of the first and second connectors includes a ball structure and socket structure that cooperates with the ball structure to form a ball-and-socket joint that allows rotational but no substantial translational relative movement between the ball structure and the socket structure;

wherein said first suspension structure comprises;

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 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.

16. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 15, 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.

17. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said suspension comprises a second suspension structure that is substantially identical to the first suspension structure as set forth in claim 15;

wherein the first and second mounts of the second suspension structure are each laterally separated from the first and second mounts of the first suspension structure.

18. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said suspension comprises a second suspension structure that is substantially identical to the first suspension structure as set forth in claim 15;

wherein the first and second mounts of the second suspension structure are each laterally separated from the first and second mounts of the first suspension structure.