An apparatus for lining a blast hole comprises a tube of thermoplastic material and a welder for welding the tube, wherein an end of the tube can be welded closed by the welder and the desired length of tube can be dispensed and cut free from the rest of the tube when the closed end is at least part way inside the blast hole. There is also a method of lining a blast hole which comprises welding closed an end of a tube of thermoplastic material; placing the closed end in the blast hole and allowing it to descend into the hole; dispensing a desired length of tube; and cutting free the length of tube from the rest of the tube.

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.

An apparatus (1) for supporting an explosive device (13) including a base member (3), one or more support members (11) and a fluid aperture (19). The base member (3) includes a base member aperture (5) to provide a passage (7) to a base chamber (9) of the base member (3). The one or more support members (11) are telescopically receivable through the base member aperture (5) and into the base chamber (9), wherein the one or more support members (11) support the explosive device (13). The fluid aperture (19) allows pressurised fluid into the base chamber (9) to force the one or more support members (11) towards an extended configuration (23) such that at least part of the one or more support members (11) are telescopically extended out of the base chamber (9).

An apparatus (1) for supporting an explosive device (13) including a base member (3), one or more support members (11) and a fluid aperture (19). The base member (3) includes a base member aperture (5) to provide a passage (7) to a base chamber (9) of the base member (3). The one or more support members (11) are telescopically receivable through the base member aperture (5) and into the base chamber (9), wherein the one or more support members (11) support the explosive device (13). The fluid aperture (19) allows pressurised fluid into the base chamber (9) to force the one or more support members (11) towards an extended configuration (23) such that at least part of the one or more support members (11) are telescopically extended out of the base chamber (9).

The present invention concerns an explosive material charging device (1) and a method of positioning the explosive material charging device (1) in a borehole (3). The explosive material charging device (1) comprises a top anchor unit (5) and a bottom anchor unit (7) each configured to engage the borehole wall (8), an expandable tube member (11) arranged between the top anchor unit (5) and the bottom anchor unit (7) and configured to be charged with explosive material (40), the bottom anchor unit (7) comprises a backflow prevention valve device (13) configured to prevent the explosive material (40) to flow out from the expandable tube member (11), wherein the backflow prevention valve device (13) is openable for permitting a charging hose (15) to enter the expandable tube member (11) for reaching the interior of the top anchor unit (5),

The present invention concerns an explosive material charging device (1) and a method of positioning the explosive material charging device (1) in a borehole (3). The explosive material charging device (1) comprises a top anchor unit (5) and a bottom anchor unit (7) each configured to engage the borehole wall (8), an expandable tube member (11) arranged between the top anchor unit (5) and the bottom anchor unit (7) and configured to be charged with explosive material (40), the bottom anchor unit (7) comprises a backflow prevention valve device (13) configured to prevent the explosive material (40) to flow out from the expandable tube member (11), wherein the backflow prevention valve device (13) is openable for permitting a charging hose (15) to enter the expandable tube member (11) for reaching the interior of the top anchor unit (5),

A blasting system which is established using an autonomously controlled vehicle to traverse a blast site, moving from blast hole to blast hole and at each blast hole using robotic means to prepare each blast hole for detonation.

A blasting system which is established using an autonomously controlled vehicle to traverse a blast site, moving from blast hole to blast hole and at each blast hole using robotic means to prepare each blast hole for detonation.

A method and apparatus for controlled charging of blasting boreholes with a flowable/pourable explosive, in particular in open-cast mining, includes: providing a radar head with at least one radar unit operated in a non-rock penetrating frequency range; arranging the radar head on a pulling element; introducing the radar head into the borehole in that the radar head is lowered into the blasting borehole in an arrangement at the pulling means from an upper aperture opening of the blasting borehole; and detecting at least one measurement value comprising a base distance of the radar head from the blasting borehole base and/or a charge level distance to determine the charge level of the explosive in the blasting borehole; and/or comprising the shape of the jacket section over at least a portion of the depth of the blasting borehole by means of the operation of at least one of the radar units.

A method and apparatus for controlled charging of blasting boreholes with a flowable/pourable explosive, in particular in open-cast mining, includes: providing a radar head with at least one radar unit operated in a non-rock penetrating frequency range; arranging the radar head on a pulling element; introducing the radar head into the borehole in that the radar head is lowered into the blasting borehole in an arrangement at the pulling means from an upper aperture opening of the blasting borehole; and detecting at least one measurement value comprising a base distance of the radar head from the blasting borehole base and/or a charge level distance to determine the charge level of the explosive in the blasting borehole; and/or comprising the shape of the jacket section over at least a portion of the depth of the blasting borehole by means of the operation of at least one of the radar units.