The present invention is directed towards an apparatus for providing a nonlabor-intensive process for sealing an opening formed in the ground with a chemically-inflatable bag. The chemically-inflatable bag contains two or more chemical reactants, one of which is a liquid reactant that is initially stored in a liquid-containing device. The liquid-containing device has a removable cap, which upon removal or breakage of the cap permits the liquid reacting agent to contact and react with another reacting agent. The chemical reaction produces carbon dioxide, which expands the chemically-inflatable bag from a collapsed condition to an inflated condition. In the inflated condition, the chemically-inflatable bag fills and protects the integrity of the formed cavity.

An above ground stemming device is described which includes a body configured, in use, to cover an open end of a blast hole loaded with explosives to surface or to within 300 mm of surface. The body has a void containing a stem of superabsorbent polymer gel therein and it is positioned in use to allow the stem of superabsorbent polymer gel to be in contact with the explosives in the blast hole. The body may include a base and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base. The void may extend through the body to an opening in the base. Alternatively, the void may be encased by the body. The body may be fabricated from a rigid material or from a flexible material capable of being inflated with a fluid.

An above ground stemming device is described which includes a body configured, in use, to cover an open end of a blast hole loaded with explosives to surface or to within 300 mm of surface. The body has a void containing a stem of superabsorbent polymer gel therein and it is positioned in use to allow the stem of superabsorbent polymer gel to be in contact with the explosives in the blast hole. The body may include a base and an upper portion extending upwardly from the base. The void may extend through the body to an opening in the base. Alternatively, the void may be encased by the body. The body may be fabricated from a rigid material or from a flexible material capable of being inflated with a fluid.

An agricultural enhancement method for removing or overcoming soil fragipan, hardpan, or other natural and/or artificial soil compaction barriers is disclosed. These barriers prevent root and/or water penetration, which inhibits agricultural development. Consequently, removing and overcoming these barriers is beneficial to the soil and to agricultural yields.

An agricultural enhancement method for removing or overcoming soil fragipan, hardpan, or other natural and/or artificial soil compaction barriers is disclosed. These barriers prevent root and/or water penetration, which inhibits agricultural development. Consequently, removing and overcoming these barriers is beneficial to the soil and to agricultural yields.

A breaching pole is provided including an elongated handle, an elongated arm joined with the elongated handle and a charge placement arm joined with the elongated arm. The charge placement arm can include a shaft having multiple barbs sized and spaced relative to one another so as to frictionally engage an insert placed over the charge placement arm to secure that insert to the arm. The breaching pole is operable to place the insert adjacent a structure using the charge placement arm and subsequently detonate a breaching device associated with the insert to breach the structure. The insert can define a bore with a sidewall. The charge placement arm registers within the bore. The insert can be constructed from compliant material so the insert deformably engages the barbs as the shaft is inserted into the bore of the insert. A related method of use is provided.

A breaching pole is provided including an elongated handle, an elongated arm joined with the elongated handle and a charge placement arm joined with the elongated arm. The charge placement arm can include a shaft having multiple barbs sized and spaced relative to one another so as to frictionally engage an insert placed over the charge placement arm to secure that insert to the arm. The breaching pole is operable to place the insert adjacent a structure using the charge placement arm and subsequently detonate a breaching device associated with the insert to breach the structure. The insert can define a bore with a sidewall. The charge placement arm registers within the bore. The insert can be constructed from compliant material so the insert deformably engages the barbs as the shaft is inserted into the bore of the insert. A related method of use is provided.

Provided is a piston-type explosive loading and blasting structure for a hard rock cable pit. The structure includes a first-step cut provided at a center of an excavation section and second-step cuts provided on a periphery of the first-step cut; and piston-type explosive loading structures are used for explosives in the first-step cut and the second-step cuts. According to the piston-type explosive loading structures in the present disclosure, due to plastic plugging of stemming and fixed elastic plugging of two disc steel plates, time of energy such as stress waves and explosive gas generated after the explosives explode acting on surrounding rocks is obviously prolonged, rock mass is fully broken, and loose blasting is formed without throwing.

A loading tube is configured to receive one or more shaped charges to form a perforating gun. The loading tube includes a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis; a cord passage formed into the tubular body; a retention cutoff formed into the tubular body and configured to receive a detonator cord; and a holding element extending into the retention cutoff and being integrally made with a wall of the tubular body, wherein the holding element is configured to hold the detonator cord into the retention cutoff. The cord passage is configured to receive the detonator cord from a bore of the tubular body and to direct the detonator cord outside the bore of the tubular body.

A loading tube is configured to receive one or more shaped charges to form a perforating gun. The loading tube includes a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis; a cord passage formed into the tubular body; a retention cutoff formed into the tubular body and configured to receive a detonator cord; and a holding element extending into the retention cutoff and being integrally made with a wall of the tubular body, wherein the holding element is configured to hold the detonator cord into the retention cutoff. The cord passage is configured to receive the detonator cord from a bore of the tubular body and to direct the detonator cord outside the bore of the tubular body.