AU2020100966A4 - Inflatable Down Hole Bag with Reflective Properties - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable down hole bag, comprising an inflatable body for inflation when filled with an inflation fluid; the inflatable body comprising an external surface, and a light reflecting portion of the external surface, whereby in use the inflatable body is inflatable from within a blast hole to plug the hole, and part or all of the light reflecting portion is positioned to reflect light towards the entrance to the blast hole so that when inflated it is readily visible from within the blast hole. 12 LlN 2,-D

Description

An inflatable down hole bag, comprising an inflatable body for inflation when filled with an inflation fluid; the inflatable body comprising an external surface, and a light reflecting portion of the external surface, whereby in use the inflatable body is inflatable from within a blast hole to plug the hole, and part or all of the light reflecting portion is positioned to reflect light towards the entrance to the blast hole so that when inflated it is readily visible from within the blast hole.

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ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

INNOVATION SPECIFICATION

Title of Invention: Inflatable Down Hole Bag with Reflective Properties

The invention is described in the following statement:

Inflatable Down Hole Bag with Reflective Properties

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to inflatable bags with light reflecting properties for use as blast hole plugs to increase their visibility during drilling operations.

Background

[0002] Inflatable down hole bags for use as blast, bore, and/or drilling hole plugs have a number of applications providing various benefits in surface, quarry, and underground mining drill and blast operations. An inflatable down hole bag may be inserted in an uninflated form into a hole and expanded to engage the sidewalls of the hole and maintain the bag at a desired depth. The bag may be expanded using a slow release propellant or another pressurised agent from within a pressurised can contained within the bag.

[0003] In a first application, once secured within the hole, the top of an inflated down hole bag may be used to create a platform onto which explosives may be positioned within the blast hole. In another application, an inflatable down hole bag may be used in an application referred to as 'air decking' in surface blasting in which the inflated bag assists to guide more of the generated blast energy into the target rock, significantly improving blast performance and reducing volume or explosives required. In a further application, an inflatable down hole bag may be used to create a barrier at the foot of a blast hole against water ingress to avoid desensitization of explosives. An inflatable down hole bag may also be used to cap/block off openings and voids within blast holes, thereby levelling blast hole depth in the drill pattern.

[0004] Improvements to inflatable down hole bags are desirable to enhance their usefulness and benefits within known or new applications.

[0005] Any document, reference, patent application or patent that might be cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application, or patent cited in this text is not repeated herein is merely for reasons of conciseness.

[0006] In this specification, where a literary work, act or item of knowledge (or combinations thereof), is discussed, such reference is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the information referred to formed part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. Such information is included only for the purposes of providing context for facilitating an understanding of the inventive concept/principles and the various forms or embodiments in which those inventive

Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an inflatable down hole bag, comprising:

an inflatable body for inflation when filled with an inflation fluid;

the inflatable body comprising an external surface, and a light reflecting portion of the external surface;

whereby in use the inflatable body is inflatable from within a blast hole to plug the hole, and part or all of the light reflecting portion is positioned to reflect light towards the entrance to the blast hole so that when inflated it is readily visible from within the blast hole.

[0008] In an embodiment the light reflecting portion will be visible from the entry to the blast hole and capable of reflecting light directed at it from a light source.

[0009] The light reflecting portion may comprise a layer of a material comprising reflective properties attached to the external surface, or the reflecting portion of the external surface may comprise reflective properties. In one embodiment, material woven into and exposed on the surface of the external surface comprises reflective properties and forms the reflecting portion. In another embodiment, the reflecting portion may comprise a reflective coating that has been sprayed or applied in another manner, onto the external surface to which it remains adhered. Preferably, the reflective coating comprises a reflective paint dried and adhered to the external surface. The reflective paint is preferably a silver colour. Preferably the light reflective portion is a metallic colour. The light reflecting portion is to be understood as reflecting light to a substantially greater extent than a mere coloured surface will inherently reflect light so that it is visible. It is to be understood as being highly reflecting so that it is highly visible from a distance when light is shone on it. Such a postion is commonly known as being of high-visibility or high-vis.

[0010] In a further embodiment, the reflecting portion comprises a foil layer attached or adhered to and covering at least a portion of the external surface, the foil layer comprising reflective properties. The foil layer may comprise a very thin sheet of a metal or metal alloy. In some non-limiting examples, the metal or metal alloy comprises one or more of: aluminium, copper, tin, or even gold. The foil layer preferably comprises aluminium or aluminium alloy.

[0011] Reflective properties comprise being capable of reflecting at least a portion (and preferably at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% or 95%) of light directed from a source at the reflecting surface. The light may emanate from a variety of sources, comprising, but not limited to, the sun, the moon, or artificial sources, such as a torch, laser, floodlights or another stationary source of light on a drilling site, or lights on a vehicle including headlights and driving lights.

[0012] Preferably the light reflective potion produces relatively low scatter of the reflected light. In an embodiment the light reflective portion comprises a retroreflector.

[0013] The light reflected from the reflecting surface may be seen by a person in the vicinity of the inflatable down hole bag, or from a live video camera feed or stream or recording, to identify its location. Alternatively, a light detecting device may be used to identify the position of one or more inflatable down hole bags according to the invention by detecting light reflecting from the reflecting surface from the one or more inflatable down hole bags.

[0014] For the purpose of describing the invention, a 'blast hole' may also comprise a drill hole, bore hole, or another type of hole.

[0015] The inflatable down hole bag may comprise an internal mechanism and/or apparatus for inflating the inflatable down hole bag with inflation fluid. In one non-limiting example of an internal mechanisms and/or apparatus includes an internal aerosol cannister located within the inflatable body or a cover surrounding the inflatable body, which can be activated to release compressed gas from within the aerosol cannister to inflate the inflatable down hole bag.

[0016] In another example, chemical reactants stored separately within the inflatable body are forced to mix when a user activates the inflation process, causing the formation of inflation fluids in the form of a gas as a product of chemical reactions between reactants, the gas filling and inflating the inflatable body. The reactants may be stored separately in chambers or containers within the inflatable body, for example, within dissolvable reactant bags, in tablet, granule, or liquid form, amongst others.

[0017] Alternatively, an external source of inflation fluid may be used to inflate the inflatable down hole bag. In one non-limiting example, this external source provides a pressurized fluid through an external entry valve on the inflatable down hole bag through which compressed fluid may be forced into the inflatable body therein inflating the down hole bag. Other external sources of compressed air or other gases may also be pumped into the inflatable down hole bag for it to inflate for use. The external source of inflation fluid may also comprise an aerosol cannister located within the packaging of the inflatable down hole bag.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using an inflatable down hole bag as described herein, the method comprising the steps:

positioning an inflatable down hole bag within the entry to a blast hole;

inflating the inflatable down hole bag to plug the entry to the blast hole;

wherein part or all of a reflecting portion of an external surface of the inflated down hole bag is visible at the entry to the blast hole, and

light from a light source directed at the reflecting portion reflects off the external portion of the inflatable down hole bag so as to visibly indicate the inflated down hole bag.

[0019] Any document, reference, patent application or patent that might be cited in this text is expressly incorporated herein in their entirety by reference, which means that it should be read and considered by the reader as part of this text. That the document, reference, patent application, or patent cited in this text is not repeated herein is merely for reasons of conciseness.

[0020] In this specification, where a literary work, act or item of knowledge (or combinations thereof), is discussed, such reference is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the information referred to formed part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. Such information is included only for the purposes of providing context for facilitating an understanding of the inventive concept/principles and the various forms or embodiments in which those inventive

[0021] Various aspects described herein can be practiced alone or combination with one or more of the other aspects, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art. The various aspects can optionally be provided in combination with one or more of the optional features described in relation to the other principal aspects. Furthermore, optional features described in relation to one example (or embodiment) can optionally be combined alone or together with other features in different examples or embodiments.

[0022] For the purposes of summarising the aspects, certain advantages and novel features have been described herein above. It is to be understood, however, that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimises one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

Summary of Drawings

[0023] Further features of the invention are described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the inventive principles. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description as set out above. The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic see-through elevation of an inflatable down hole bag according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic of an inflatable down hole bag, according to an embodiment of the invention, plugging the entry to a blast hole.

[0024] In the figures, like elements are referred to by like numerals throughout the views provided. The skilled reader will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to facilitate an understanding of the various embodiments exemplifying the principles described herein. Also, common but well understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to provide a less obstructed view of these various embodiments. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein adopt the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

[0025] It should be noted that the figures are schematic only and the location and disposition of the components can vary according to the particular arrangements of the embodiment(s) as well as of the particular applications of such embodiment(s).

[0026] Specifically, reference to positional descriptions, such as 'lower' and 'upper', and associated forms such as 'uppermost' and 'lowermost', are to be taken in context of the embodiments shown in the figures, and are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the principles described herein to the literal interpretation of the term, but rather as would be understood by the skilled reader.

[0027] Embodiments described herein may include one or more range of values (eg. size, displacement and field strength etc). A range of values will be understood to include all values within the range, including the values defining the range, and values adjacent to the range which lead to the same or substantially the same outcome as the values immediately adjacent to that value which defines the boundary to the range.

[0028] Other definitions for selected terms used herein may be found within the detailed description and apply throughout. Unless otherwise defined, all other scientific and technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiment(s) relate.

Description of Example Embodiments

[0029] The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is to be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of any aspect of the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of any aspect of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as falling within the ambit of the inventive concept.

[0030] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0031] Furthermore, throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0032] Referring to Figure 1, there is shown an example of an inflatable down hole bag 10 comprising an inflatable body for holding an inflation fluid. The inflatable body comprises an outer bag 12 and may further include an inner bag 14. The inner bag 14 is inside of the interior 16 of the outer bag 12. The inner bag 14 is smaller in size than the outer bag 12, but large enough so that when inflated it is of a suitable size to fill a circumference of and a portion of the length of a blast hole. Inside 18 of the inner bag 14 is a container 30 for holding one or more reagent substances. The inside of the bag 14 may also comprises one or more reagent substances.

[0033] The released reagent substances 32 and 34 mix at 36 and (chemically) react causing release of an inflation fluid 38, such as carbon dioxide (C02) gas, thereby inflating inner bag 14, and in turn the outer bag 12, and thus the inflatable body.

[0034] The inside 18 of the inner bag 14 houses the reaction. It will be appreciated that reagent substances other than a carbonate/bicarbonate salt and an acid may be used and indeed more than two reagent substances may be used. For example, the acid may be in a dry solid for that is activated when wet, such as by the release of water from one or the chambers of the container 30. Further the container 30 may only have one of the reagent substances when another is already in the inner reaction bag 14. Further the bag may be inflated by release from a cannister of a compressed fluid inside of the bag 12, or by inflation from an external source, such as by compressed air pumped into the bag 12 by a hose (not shown).

[0035] Referring to Figure 2, there is shown an embodiment of the inflatable down hole bag of the invention that has already been lowered into a blast hole 40, the inflatable down hole bag 10 in the orientation shown in Figure 1. The inflation fluid 38 has been released inflating the inflatable body to fill the circumference of and a portion of the length of the blast hole 40 at the entry 42 to the blast hole 40, with an upper portion 11 of the inflatable down hole bag 10 extending and exposed above the entry 42 to the blast hole 40.

[0036] The outer bag 12 of the inflatable down hole bag 10 comprises, for example, a plastic weave comprising polypropylene and/or polyethylene, or for example, a biaxial orientated polypropylene laminated weave material. A reflecting portion 24 comprises an outer layer of foil or retroreflective material covering the outer bag 12 at least partially or wholly in the upper portion 11 of the inflatable down hole bag 10. The reflecting portion 24 comprises properties which reflect light 50. When a light source 52 is directed towards the upper portion 11 of the inflatable down hole bag 10, the light is reflected off the reflecting portion 24 such that the light path 54 is directed back towards a person 56 or towards a device, digital or analogue or other, that can detect light.

[0037] The reflecting portion 24 comprises a layer or coating of the outer bag 12 with reflective properties that reflect light and comprise high visibility characteristics, particularly when a light source is directed at the reflecting portion 24. The reflecting portion 24 comprises foil and/or another material, such as retroreflective material with reflective properties, preferably with low scatter.

[0038] The scatter of light is in reference to the quality of the surface which the light is reflected back from a reflective surface. On one end of a spectrum there is a perfectly smooth reflective surface where the angle of reflected light is equal to the angle of incidence with the surface, also known as specular reflection. On the opposite end of the spectrum is a rough surface such that there is diffuse reflection, wherein the reflection of light is scattered at many different angles. Accordingly, relatively low scatter in this context refers to being closer to perfect specular reflection of light than to diffuse reflection of light.

[0039] A retroreflector reflects light at or substantially at the angle of incidence. This is, for example created by light internally reflecting inside of a transparent particle (eg a glass particle), or for example, off at least two differently angles surface portions of the reflective surface, so that it exists the particle at substantially the same angle of incidence.

[0040] The exposed outer reflecting portion of the inflatable down hole bag of the invention can increase the ease and therefore efficiency of locating down hole bags inflated and extending from the entry to a blast hole, or even when placed beside a blast hole for future placement. This is of particular benefit in low light or at night where a light source, torch, vehicle headlights, or other, can be used to easily identify the position of inflatable down hole bags. Present down hole bags are not easily seen in low light or night time conditions. In this regard, the light from the light source reflects off the reflecting portion of the inflatable down hole bag making its position obvious by sight or using a light detection device. The location of the inflatable down hole bag of the invention is therefore more difficult to miss. There is thus, less potential for damage to inflatable down hole bags, and blast holes in which they have been placed, by vehicles, machinery or even persons running over or colliding with them as they move about a blast site during the day or at night.

[0041] The skilled reader would readily appreciate the nature of the materials appropriate for making the components of the embodiments of the arrangements described herein. Modifications and variations as would be apparent to the skilled addressee are intended to be covered by the accompanying claims.

[0042] Future patent applications maybe filed in Australia or overseas on the basis of, or claiming priority from, the present application. It is to be understood that the following claims are provided by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of what may be claimed in any such future application. Features may be added to or omitted from the provisional claims at a later date so as to further define or re-define the invention or inventions.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. An inflatable down hole bag, comprising:

an inflatable body for inflation when filled with an inflation fluid;

the inflatable body comprising an external surface and a light reflecting portion of the external surface;

whereby in use the inflatable body is inflatable from within a blast hole to plug the hole, and part or all of the light reflecting portion is positioned to reflect light towards the entrance to the blast hole so that when inflated it is readily visible from within the blast hole.

2. An inflatable down hole bag according to claim 1, wherein the light reflecting portion will be visible from the entry to the blast hole and capable of reflecting light directed at it from a light source.

3. An inflatable down hole bag according to claim 1 or 2, where in the light reflecting portion comprises a high visibility reflector.

4. An inflatable down hole bag according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the light reflective potion produces relatively low scatter of the reflected light.

5. An inflatable down hole bag according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reflecting portion comprises a foil layer attached or adhered to and covering at least a portion of the external surface, the foil layer comprising reflective properties.

6. An inflatable down hole bag according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light reflective portion comprises a retroreflector.

7. A method of using an inflatable down hole bag according to claim 1, comprising the steps:

positioning an inflatable down hole bag within the entry to a blast hole;

inflating the inflatable down hole bag to plug the entry to the blast hole;

wherein part or all of a reflecting portion of an external surface of the inflated down hole bag is visible at the entry to the blast hole, and light from a light source directed at the reflecting portion reflects off the external portion of the inflatable down hole bag so as to visibly indicate the inflated down hole bag.