Method and arrangement for providing explosive charging into a bore hole

Abstract

An arrangement for providing explosive charging and a plug into a bore hole, wherein a hose comprising at least one first conduit is introduced into said bore hole. Also explosive material is introduced to an outlet of said first conduit and thereby into said bore hole. In addition a plug is introduced into said bore hole by the help of said hose. The plug has a diameter, the size of which is configured to be manipulated after or during introducing into said bore hole at a certain depth so that after said introducing the diameter of the plug is larger than before said introducing and so that the surface of the plug after manipulating the size of diameter essentially make a physical contact with the bore hole surface. The plug is introduced by said hose in a releasable manner so that after or during the manipulation of the plug diameter size the plug is configured to be released from the hose and to stay in said bore hole essentially at said certain depth.

Claims

1. An arrangement for providing explosive charging and a plug into a bore hole comprising a surrounding bore hole surface, wherein the arrangement comprises: a hose comprising at least one first conduit to be introduced into said bore hole and for introducing at least one component of an explosive material to an outlet of said at least one first conduit and further to an outlet of the hose, and thereby into said bore hole, and at least one plug configured to be introduced into said bore hole by said hose, wherein said at least one plug has a surface and a diameter, the diameter being configured to be changeable when the at least one plug is introduced into said bore hole at a certain depth so that at the certain depth the diameter of the at least one plug is larger than before said introducing and so that the surface of the at least one plug after changing the size of the diameter essentially makes a physical contact with the bore hole surface, said at least one plug is configured to be introduced by said hose in a releasable manner so that the at least one plug is configured to be released from the hose and to stay in said bore hole at said certain depth when the diameter size of the at least one plug is changed, and wherein said at least one plug is configured to be introduced into said bore hole by one in-out movement cycle of the hose, which movement cycle is also used for introducing said at least one component of an explosive material, and wherein said one movement cycle comprises pushing the hose into said bore hole and pulling the hose out from said bore hole.

2. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises a second conduit for introducing additive material to an outlet of said second conduit and further to the outlet of the hose, and wherein the at least one first conduit is a charging conduit, wherein said charging conduit and said second conduit are arranged into the hose being a common hose configured to be introduced in said bore hole so that the at least one component of an explosive material and said additive material are provided via said conduits separately from each other, and wherein said at least one component of an explosive material and the additive material are configured to be mixed with each other after outlets of said conduits in order to provide said explosive charging into the bore hole.

3. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one plug comprises a volume, which is configured to be changeable so that upon increase of the volume said diameter size of the at least one plug increases and surface of the at least one plug makes a physical contact with the bore hole surface.

4. An arrangement of claim 2, wherein said at least one plug comprises an inner and an outer volume, and said diameter or outer volume of the at least one plug is configured to be changeable by feeding a filling agent into the inner volume of the at least one plug, wherein said filling agent is advantageously provided into the at least one plug via said first or second conduit of the hose.

5. An arrangement of claim 2, wherein the arrangement comprises a controllable valve coupled with said first or second conduit of the hose and with said at least one plug, and the arrangement is configured to provide filing agent into the at least one plug to change its volume or outer diameter by controlling the flow of said first or second conduit into said at least one plug.

6. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one plug is coupled with said hose by a breakaway type quick release coupling, which is configured to release the at least one plug from the hose, when a physical contact is made between the surface of the at least one plug and the bore hole surface, or when the hose is pulled away from the bore hole.

7. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein said at least one plug is configured to be compressed by applying an external force so that an outer volume and thereby the size of the diameter of the at least one plug is smaller than before applying an external force and before introduction into the bore hole, and whereupon the external force is configured to be removed after introducing the at least one plug into said bore hole at the certain depth.

8. An arrangement of claim 7, wherein the external force is applied by introducing said at least one plug into the bore hole inside a tube, said tube compressing said at least one plug during introduction, and where said at least one plug is configured to be released from the tube by pushing it by a medium fed via said first or second conduit and thereby allowing the expansion of the diameter size of the at least one plug after releasing from the tube.

9. An arrangement of claim 7, wherein the at least one plug has a shape of a shuttlecock.

10. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured to provide said at least one plug by providing at least one, chemical component so that the at least one chemical component will expand after or during releasing from the hose and thereby making the at least one plug to stay in said bore hole essentially at said certain depth.

11. An arrangement of claim 2, wherein the outlets of the first and second conduits are arranged in the hose so that the at least one component of an explosive material and the additive material are mixed before releasing from the hose.

12. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement further comprises a feeding device for feeding said at least one component of an explosive material and a dosing device configured for measuring a dose of said additive material in a certain relation with the at least one component explosive material fed.

13. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises a mixer arranged to the outlet of the hose, where said mixer is configured to mix said at least one component of an explosive material and the additive material.

14. An arrangement of claim 13, wherein the mixer comprises an ejector and a nozzle, which are configured to make said mixing and outputting the mixing from the hose to the bore hole.

15. An arrangement of claim 2, wherein the arrangement comprises a reel for carrying said hose, where an inlet of the at least one first conduit is configured to be introduced into a tank of explosive base material and an inlet of the second conduit is configured to be introduced into a tank of the additive material.

16. An arrangement of claim 4, wherein said at least one component of an explosive material is a charging emulsion matrix, and wherein said additive material is chosen from the group consisting of water, and fuel oil, and wherein said filling agent is chosen from the group consisting of air and water.

17. An arrangement of claim 1, wherein the arrangement is configured to introduce the hose with the at least one plug into the bore hole, release the at least one plug at a first predetermined depth and provide the explosive material starting at a second predetermined depth.

18. Arrangement of claim 2, wherein the arrangement is configured to change concentration of mixed explosive material provided into the bore hole so that in a first portion of the hole the provided mixed explosive material has a first concentration and in a second portion of the hole the provided mixed explosive material has a second concentration differing from the first one.

19. A charging hose for providing explosive charging and a plug into a bore hole comprising a surrounding bore hole surface, wherein: the charging hose comprises at least one first conduit to be introduced into said bore hole and for introducing at least one component of an explosive material to an outlet of said at least one first conduit and thereby into said bore hole, the charging hose is configured to introduce at least one plug into said bore hole, wherein said at least one plug has a surface and a diameter, the the diameter being configured to be changeable when the at least one plug is introduced into said bore hole at a certain depth so that after said introducing the diameter of the at least one plug is larger than before said introducing and so that the surface of the at least one plug after changing the size of diameter makes a physical contact with the bore hole surface, said at least one plug is configured to be introduced by said hose in a releasable manner so that the at least one plug is configured to be released from the hose and to stay in said bore hole essentially at said certain depth when the diameter size of the at least one plug is changed, and wherein said plug is configured to be introduced into said bore hole by one in-out movement cycle of the hose which movement cycle is also used for introducing said at least said one component of an explosive material, and wherein said one movement cycle comprises pushing the hose into said hole and pulling the hose out form said bore hole.

20. A method for providing explosive charging and a plug into a bore hole comprising a surrounding bore hole surface, wherein the method comprises steps of: introducing a hose comprising at least one first conduit into said bore hole and introducing at least one component of an explosive material to an outlet of said at least one first conduit and thereby into said bore hole, introducing at least one plug having a diameter and a surface into said bore hole by said hose, changing said size of the diameter of the at least one plug when the at least one plug is introduced into said bore hole at a certain depth so that the diameter of the at least one plug is larger than before said introducing and so that the surface of the at least one plug after changing the size of diameter makes a physical contact with the bore hole surface, introducing said at least one plug by said hose in a releasable manner so that after or during the manipulation of the size of the diameter of the at least one plug the at least one plug is released from the hose to stay in said bore hole essentially at said certain depth, and introducing said at least one plug into said bore hole by one in-out movement cycle of the hose, which movement cycle is also used for introducing said at least said one component of an explosive material, and wherein said one movement cycle comprises pushing the hose into said hole and pulling the hole out from said hole.

21. An arrangement of claim 6, wherein said breakaway type quick release coupling is a bayonet coupling.

22. An arrangement of claim 2, wherein the arrangement comprises a nozzle, and wherein the nozzle comprises a mixer, which is configured to mix said at least one component of the explosive material and additive material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Next the invention will be described in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a principle of an exemplary arrangement for providing explosive charging into a bore hole according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate examples of a charging hose for providing explosive charging into a bore hole according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and

(4) FIGS. 3A-3B illustrates a principle of an exemplary bore hole plug and arrangement for providing a bore hole plug into a bore hole according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates a principle of an exemplary arrangement 100 and FIGS. 2A-2B and FIGS. 3A-3B examples of a charging hose 101 for providing explosive charging and a plug 114 into a bore hole 102 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The arrangement 100 and charging hose 101 comprises at least one first conduit 103 advantageously arranged into the hose 101, as well as at least one plug 114, which is be introduced into the bore hole 102 by the help of said hose.

(6) As can be seen especially in FIG. 3B the plug 114 has a diameter, the size of which is configured to be manipulated after or during introducing the plug into the bore hole 102 at a certain depth so that after said introducing the diameter of the plug is larger than before said introducing and so that the surface of the plug after manipulation essentially make a physical contact with the bore hole surface. Moreover the plug is advantageously introduced into the hole in a releasable manner, which can be implemented e.g. by coupling the plug, such as a ball, with the hose 101 by a breakaway type quick release coupling 115, such as a bayonet coupling.

(7) The arrangement 100 and charging hose 101 comprises also according to an embodiment a charging conduit 103 and an additional conduit 104 both comprising inlets and outlets, respectively. The charging conduit 103 is configured for introducing explosive base material to the outlet of said charging conduit. The additional conduit 104 is configured for introducing additive material.

(8) As can be seen in particularly in FIGS. 2A and 2B the charging conduit 103 and additional conduit 104 are advantageously arranged into a common hose 101 (charging hose). The charging hose 101 can then be introduced into the bore hole 102 so that the explosive base material and additive material are provided via said own conduits 103, 104 separately from each other and without any contact with each other. The explosive base material and additive material are mixed by a mixer device 106 with each other after said outlets of said conduits 103, 104 in order to provide said explosive charging 107 into the bore hole.

(9) As is illustrated in FIG. 2B the charging hose 101 may also comprise additionally a third conduit 105 for further additional media, such as for pressurized air, for example. The third 105 and additional conduits 104 are advantageously arranged symmetrically into the opposite sides of the common hose 101. The third 105 and additional conduits 104 are arranged at the rim portion of the common hose 101 and the centre portion of the common hose is used as a charging conduit 104.

(10) The outlets at least of the charging 103 and additional conduits 104 are advantageously arranged before the outlet 101a of the common hose 101. Also the outlet of the third conduit 105 can be arranged before the outlet 101a of the common hose, but according to an embodiment it can also be arranged at the outlet area 101a of the common hose 101. According to an embodiment, when the outlet portions of the conduits are arranged before the outlet 101a of the common hose 101a, the end portion (portion after the outlets of the conduits 103, 104 and possibly 105) of the common hose 101 forms only one hose structure, where the explosive base material and additive material transferred in the mixed form.

(11) According to an embodiment the arrangement comprises a mixer 106 arranged in connection with the hose. The mixer 106 is advantageously 103, 104, especially when the mixer 106 is used to mix the explosive base material and additive material, like ANFO and water, fuel oil or special chemicals. According to another embodiment the mixer 106 mat located at the end (outlet 101a) of the common hose, especially where the mixer (or a suitable ejector and nozzle) is used for gassing emulsion.

(12) According to an embodiment the arrangement may also comprise a feeding means (or feeder or pump) 108 for feeding said explosive base material and a dosing means (or dispenser) 109 configured for dosing said additive material in a certain relation with the fed explosive base material. It is to be noted that these means 108, 109 may also locate elsewhere in the arrangement than described in Figures, as for example in a tank 112. The arrangement may also comprise a hose pusher 110 for pushing the hose with the plug into the mining hole 102 in a controllable manner, so for example into a desired depth before releasing the plug. The hose pusher 110, as well as valves and feeding means or pumps are advantageously coupled with a control unit 116, which is configured to control the feeding of the charging material(s), feeding of the hose as well as manipulation and releasing of the plug.

(13) In addition the arrangement may also comprise a reel 111 for carrying the hose, where the inlet of the charging conduit is configured to be introduced into a tank 112 of explosive base material and the inlet of the additional conduit is configured to be introduced into a tank 113 of additive material. The inlet of the optional third conduit 105 is configured to be introduced into an air compressor, for example (not shown).

(14) FIG. 3 illustrates a principle of an exemplary arrangement 100 for providing a bore hole plug 114 into the bore hole 102 according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. According to an embodiment the common hose 101 (or charging hose) is configured to introduce the bore hole plugging 114 into the bore hole so that the integrated additional 104 or third conduits 105 of the common hose 101 (or charging hose) are configured to be used as a channel for introducing filling agent or other manipulating agent to dedicated bore hole plug devices 114. The bore hole plug may be e.g. a blast air ball 114, which is configured to expand for example and thereby to plug the bore hole 102. Also other kinds of plugs components and otherwise suitable for using as the plug in the meaning described here are possible.

(15) The hose 101 is advantageously configured to bring also the bore hole plug 114 with itself to the mining hole 102. The outer volume of the bore hole plug is advantageously configured to be manipulated by feeding filling agent, like air or water or the like into the bore hole plug. The arrangement advantageously comprises a remote controllable valve 117 coupled between the additional or third conduit 104, 105 (or the hose may comprise a second additional conduit for filling agent of filling said plug) and the bore hole plug 114 located advantageously at the end portion of the hose 101.

(16) In the rest state the outer volume of the bore hole plug 114 is small, as can be seen ion FIG. 3A, whereupon it can be fed into the bore hole 102. When the bore hole plug is inserted into the hole 102 at the suitable level, the bore hole plug 114 may be manipulated so to change its outer volume e.g. by controlling the flow of said additional or third conduit 104, 105 for said bore hole plug via the remote controllable valve 117, as can be seen in FIG. 3B. The change of the outer volume of said bore hole plug 114 may be configured to be happened e.g. by feeding filling agent into said bore hole plug.

(17) The invention has been explained above with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, and several advantages of the invention have been demonstrated. It is clear that the invention is not only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possible embodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and the following patent claims. For example even if the anfo or charging emulsion matrix are mentioned as the explosive base material, it is to be noted that also other suitable explosive material can also be used. The same applies also to additives and possible filling agent, they can also be selected other ways suitable for the application in question. In addition it is to be noted that also more than one plug can be introduced into the hole by same movement of the hose. For example the first plug may be coupled with the first conduit, and the second plug with the second conduit and advantageously so that they can be manipulated and released independently of each other.