A wireless detonation system (1) includes a blasting operation device (40), a detonator (10), and a relay device (30). The blasting operation device (40) is disposed at a distance from a blasting face (71) and wirelessly transmits a first downstream signal at a first frequency. The detonator (10) is loaded in a blast hole (72) in the blasting face (71), and has a receiving coil (12) for wirelessly receiving a second downstream signal at a second frequency lower than the first frequency. A relay device (30) includes a first transmitting-receiving antenna (35) that wirelessly receives the first downstream signal, a relay processor (32) that wirelessly receives the first downstream signal and processes it into the second downstream signal to be wirelessly transmitted at the second frequency, and a second transmitting-receiving antenna (37) that transmits the second downstream signal. The second transmitter-receiver antenna (37) is loaded into an insertion hole (74) in the blasting face (71) aligned with the blast hole (72).

The present disclosure relates to a half-cast mark identification and damaged flatness evaluation and classification method for blastholes in tunnel blasting, including the following steps: S1-2: photographing first and second contrast images as well as a half-cast mark image after blasting; S3-6: performing denoising, gray-scale processing and binary processing on the above images, and identifying a boundary of a half-cast mark in each of the images; S7-9: determining a flatness damage variable, a quantitative relation among an area of a half-cast mark region, the damage variable and a fractal dimension, and a damage value of the half-cast mark image; S10-11: forming five-dimensional (5D) eigenvectors to obtain multi-dimensional digital information features of the images; and S12-13: selecting eigenvectors of 60 images as training data to input to a naive Bayes classifier (NBC), and taking eigenvectors of remaining 30 images as classification data to input the above well-trained NBC for classification.

An assembly (7) for triggering an explosive in a hole (9) to produce an explosive blast in the hole includes (a) an explosion trigger (15, 19) for triggering the explosive in the hole, (b) a detonation unit body (21) that is configured to be located at or proximate an open end of the hole in an initial position of the assembly in the hole and (c) a trigger cord (31) that is connected to the detonation unit body and to the explosion trigger.

A method for defining a working area of a rock drilling rig including the steps of determining at least one current input parameter, determining a working area that defines a reach of the drilling unit in a control unit on the basis of the at least one current input parameter and at least one fixed reach parameter, displaying a graphical representation of the working area on a display, and re-determining the working area and updating the graphical representation of the working area dynamically in response to a change in the input parameters. The current input parameter may be, for example, an orientation of the rock drilling rig or a hole parameter.

An apparatus and method for designing a blasting sequence for a drilling pattern of a round. The apparatus (11) is configured to assist selecting one or more drill holes (3) for each time delay of the blast. The apparatus calculates burst volume (V.sub.B) for the selected drill hole set (34) and ensures that previously blasted free volume (V.sub.F) can receive it when being fired. The apparatus may also take into account burst angles burst distances and ground vibrations when suggesting the drill hole sets.

Apparatus and methods for preparing a blast hole in a rock face during a mining operation are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises: deploying a first tool toward the blast hole in the rock face via a common tool outlet of a feed unit using a first tool station of the feed unit; retracting the first tool from the common tool outlet using the first tool station of the feed unit and retaining the first tool in the first tool station; and while the first tool is retained in the first tool station, deploying a second tool toward the blast hole in the rock face through the common tool outlet of the feed unit using a second tool station of the feed unit.

Systems for forming or extending a tunnel or shaft within a working surface may include a ram accelerator assembly for accelerating a projectile into geologic material to weaken a region of the geologic material. A cutting tool may then be used to remove the weakened material more rapidly, with lower energy use and less wear on the cutting tool than use of the cutting tool independently. A collection assembly may be used to move debris away from the working surface while the projectile and cutting operations are performed to enable generally continuous use of the system. The number of projectiles that are accelerated and the rate at which projectiles are used may be controlled based on characteristics of the geologic material and the rate at which created debris may be removed, allowing an operation to be optimized for speed, cost, stability, or other factors.

A system for drilling one or more boreholes in a face of a mine passage including markers attached to the mine passage. A drilling machine includes one or more drills for drilling the one or more boreholes, and a first sensor for sensing a position of the markers. Based on the sensed position of the at least two markers, a computer determines: (i) a survey vector generally parallel to the line; and (ii) a face plane generally orthogonal to the survey vector and coincident with a location where the survey vector intersects the face. A controller may be provided for automatically controlling the feeding of the drill(s) based on the location of the face plane and the back plane to form the boreholes in the face. A back plane may also be determined to ensure that all boreholes are drilled to a corresponding depth. Related methods are also disclosed.

Methods of delivering inhibited emulsions are provided. The methods can include mixing an emulsion with a separate inhibitor solution to form the inhibited emulsion. Inhibitor solutions including water, an inhibitor, and a crystallization point modified are provided. Systems for delivering inhibited emulsions are also provided.

Methods of delivering inhibited emulsions are provided. The methods can include mixing an emulsion with a separate inhibitor solution to form the inhibited emulsion. Inhibitor solutions including water, an inhibitor, and a crystallization point modified are provided. Systems for delivering inhibited emulsions are also provided.