Conical plug for sealing blastholes in open cut mining

Details Conical plug for sealing blastholes in open cut mining Conical plug for sealing blastholes in open cut mining

1999-03-31

2001-12-04

Nelson, Peter A. (Department: 3641)

Ammunition and explosives

Blasting

Plug

C102S313000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06324980

ABSTRACT:

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C Section 119 to previously filed Venezuelan patent application No. 982, filed May 8, 1998.
TECHINAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a plug for sealing the blasting wells in open cut mining. The device is a conical plug (
100
) to seal the well or blast hole (
14
) by a strong adherence of the base of the cone or disc (
1
) when it strikes the walls of the blast holes (
14
), based on elastic recovery of the circular sector shape of the cone when it is elastically
10
forced to form the cone (
1
). A trigger (
7
) maintains the form of the cone (
1
). When it is released the cone (
1
) suddenly tends to recover the planar form. The conical plug includes:
A cone (
1
)
Stabilizer (
9
)
Trigger (
7
)
Release weight (
11
)
The conical plug of the present invention is characterized by the non-flotability that makes it useful in dry wells or under water, and ease of recovery of the conical plug after improper positioning before blasting occurs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At present, in the market there are some devices for sealing and forming an air deck in a blasting well. These devices are basically plastic bags inflated by chemical foams or compressed gas. When the known devices are activated, the inflated bags seal the well. These devices are not recoverable in the event that the device is positioned improperly.
Other devices used to seal blast holes are typically pockets or containers supported from the surface of the well by rods or ropes and require strong pre-loaded springs for opening within the blast hole and for supporting the weight of the debris. The prior known devices are expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The conical plug of the present invention is characterized by the following, which is more fully explained by the flier details that follow below:
It is completely mechanical.
Costs are reduced.
It can be manufactured using non-polluting chemicals or sprays (e.g. chemical foams or compressed gas).
It's components are not perishable, and it may be stored indefinitely without causing it to lose its characteristics.
It may work under any environmental condition, for example: extreme humidity or underground waters which may flood the well or blast hole.
Should the device be positioned improperly, it may be easily pulled back even after the trigger has been released, but prior to the filling of the well; therefore it may be re-used.
The adherence/grip force/wedging of the base of the cone to the walls of the blast hole or well increases with the weight of the debris.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2047774 (1936-07-01), Greene
patent: 2646845 (1953-07-01), Schillinger
patent: 3173368 (1965-03-01), Griffith et al.
patent: 3608491 (1971-09-01), Bates
patent: 4464994 (1984-08-01), Porter
patent: 4754705 (1988-07-01), Worsey
patent: 5247886 (1993-09-01), Worsey
patent: 899715 (1972-05-01), None
patent: 744063 (1944-01-01), None
patent: 118852 (1997-05-01), None
patent: 1464032 (1989-03-01), None
Open Cut Blasting Situations—Mintech Cost Effective Blasting.

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