US3783735A - Apparatus for preparing and packaging stick slurry explosives - Google Patents
Apparatus for preparing and packaging stick slurry explosives Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3783735A US3783735A US00231162A US3783735DA US3783735A US 3783735 A US3783735 A US 3783735A US 00231162 A US00231162 A US 00231162A US 3783735D A US3783735D A US 3783735DA US 3783735 A US3783735 A US 3783735A
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- slurry
- tube
- wrapper
- packaging
- extrusion
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- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 95
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 title claims description 25
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 36
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims description 27
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- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 abstract description 16
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 abstract description 13
- 239000005022 packaging material Substances 0.000 abstract description 10
- VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium nitrate Chemical compound [Na+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 10
- PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(3-bromo-2-fluorophenyl)acetic acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC1=CC=CC(Br)=C1F PAWQVTBBRAZDMG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 abstract description 7
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 abstract description 6
- 235000010344 sodium nitrate Nutrition 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000004317 sodium nitrate Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000004449 solid propellant Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 17
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 13
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 13
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 10
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 8
- -1 gilsonite Chemical compound 0.000 description 7
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000002562 thickening agent Substances 0.000 description 6
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
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- ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N calcium nitrate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 4
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- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 3
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- ZHNUHDYFZUAESO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Formamide Chemical compound NC=O ZHNUHDYFZUAESO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052784 alkaline earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003575 carbonaceous material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000002823 nitrates Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000003756 stirring Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 description 2
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-O Ammonium Chemical compound [NH4+] QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-O 0.000 description 1
- 244000144725 Amygdalus communis Species 0.000 description 1
- 206010002368 Anger Diseases 0.000 description 1
- XTEGARKTQYYJKE-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chlorate Chemical class [O-]Cl(=O)=O XTEGARKTQYYJKE-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 108010010803 Gelatin Proteins 0.000 description 1
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- 239000003513 alkali Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000740 bleeding effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- UHZZMRAGKVHANO-UHFFFAOYSA-M chlormequat chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].C[N+](C)(C)CCCl UHZZMRAGKVHANO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000004927 clay Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000003337 fertilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000665 guar gum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960002154 guar gum Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000010417 guar gum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N hydroxyacetaldehyde Natural products OCC=O WGCNASOHLSPBMP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
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- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000008719 thickening Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C06—EXPLOSIVES; MATCHES
- C06B—EXPLOSIVES OR THERMIC COMPOSITIONS; MANUFACTURE THEREOF; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS EXPLOSIVES
- C06B21/00—Apparatus or methods for working-up explosives, e.g. forming, cutting, drying
Definitions
- slurry explosives i.e., those made by suspending fuel particles, such as aluminum, coal, gilsonite, sulfur, and/or granules or grains of self-explosive materials, such as TNT, smokeless powder and the like, in solutions of ammonium nitrate in water, etc., are extremely insensitive. They are therefore difficult and often impossible to detonate in small diameters.
- Some of the new compositions have several advantages over dynamite. They are less expensive; in many cases, they can be compounded of fertilizer grade nitrates and various sensitizing materials which are cally available in various parts of the world. Some of them can be tailor-made to meet specific requirements. Most of them can be manufactured in bulk readily by use of simple equipment. Moveover, they often can be prepared in the field at or near the point of use.
- slurry explosives often have additional advantages in that they can be made of ingredients which individually are quite safe to handle. This simplifies problems of supply and handling. Until the particulate fuels, such as finely divided aluminum, carbonaceous materials, etc., for example, are actually incorporated into oxidizer solutions, e.g., of ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, etc., both the particulate and the liquid components can be shippedin bulk and handled without particular care.
- oxidizer solutions e.g., of ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, etc.
- Packaging machinery e.g., for conventional plastic dynamites of the prior art, has been somewhat complex. It generally is not suited for slurry handling and does not lend itself to use in the field. The precautions necessary with the more sensitive conventional explosives, such as dynamites and blasting gelatins, also have inhibited manufacture or packaging of such materials in the field.
- a particular object of the present invention is to make possible the manufacture and packaging of explosive slurries in bulk, followed by immediate packaging in small, slender packages or sticks, using relatively simple equipment which can be operated away from complex facilities, if desired.
- a further object is to design combination mixing and packaging equipment that is readily portable so that it can be shifted from place to place in the field, if desired.
- Another object is to convert separate supplies of liquid and particulate solids into sticks of finished explosives, without requiring use of extensive machinery or other equipment.
- Still another object is to so design the equipment that it can be operated by relatively unskilled personnel.
- a relatively simple apparatus which is self-inoperable in the field if desired, is supplied with solution from a tank and with particulate fuels and other solids from bulk packages such as barrels. Simple metering and stirring devices are used to blend these ingredients and form a homogeneous slurry.
- ingredients include a thickener which will cause a liquid phase to gel or become quite viscous after a short but predictable time interval.
- the slurry, with a thickening agent included but not yet fully effective, for example, is pumped by an air driven or hydraulically driven diaphram pump through an extrusion tube whereby it may be subsequently packaged, and in meantime, thickened further to the stiff consistency desired in the finished product.
- the diaphragm pump followed by a surge chamber, provides a somewhat constant pressure which allows the slurry explosive to be extruded in a continuous manner, and thus by using a packaging means also operating in a continuous manner, the slurries may be mixed, pumped and extruded in a continuous and automatic fashion.
- the wrapper material such as polyethylene or equivalent sheet or film of plastic material, is impregnated or coated. It may be supplied in the form of plastic ribbon in large rolls which may be unrolled and shaped around the extruding slurry by means of a round hollow mandrel. Plastic preformed tubing may be used which can be cut or split lengthwise to form a ribbon-like strip and then reformed around the extruded slurry.
- the material After being formed around the slurry, the material may then be sealed in a conventional manner such as by using tape. Alternatively, a self-locking Zippertube method may be used to close the longitudinal seam. Both of these procedures are common in the packaging art.
- the Zippertubing method consists of using a zipper or specially designed self-locking tube in appropriate apparatus to seal the longitudinal edges of the sheet material and thus form a circular packaging tube.
- Plastic tubing may also be prebunched or gathered over the end of the extrusion tubes in a sleeve-like or telescopic manner. The bunched tubing can then be filled by the continuously extruded rod-like slurry and pulled off the extrusion tube as filling is completed.
- an automatic tying and cutting device squeezes or collapses the tube shut and applies two ties or clips around the tubing to separate any two adjoining sticks.
- a cutter also severs the tubular wrap material between these two ties; thus, separate sticks of predetermined length are formed, tied and cut off, until the roll or gathered bunch of packaging material is exhausted, or nearly so.
- the process may be kept continous for a long period of time.
- the process may be considered to be continuous, which is often quite essential especially where time is a factor in the thickening and setting up of the stick slurries after mixing and precedent to the extrusion and packaging.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective and somewhat exploded view of apparatus of the present invention showing mixing and packaging equipment combined.
- FIG. 2 shows a group of detachable hollow mandrels suitable for filling tubular wrapping material with slurry.
- FIG. 3 is a diagramatic view showing the separating of individual sticks following the filling operation.
- FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modified system for mixing and packaging slurries.
- FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative modification of packaging means.
- FIG. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
- FIG. 7 shows a detail view of pump and valve mechanism for supplying liquid oxidizer solution to the slurry mixer.
- the apparatus shown comprises a liquid supply tank 11 which may be filled with an aqueous solution of any suitable inorganic oxygensupplying salt.
- the preferred solution comprises an aqueous solution, i.e., where water alone or a mixture of water and a compatible organic liquid such as formamide or ethylene glycol is more or less saturated with ammonium nitrate, which may be combined with sodium nitrate and/or calcium nitrate.
- any of these ingredients may be eliminated and other choices or combinations of well known oxidizer salts may be used, such as ammonium and/or alkali or alkaline earth metal perchlorates, chlorates and nitrates, as is well known in the art.
- the solution supplied to tank 11 will normally be saturated or substantially so, and may be at a somewhat elevated temperature above the ambient so as to contain relatively high concentrations of the oxidizer salt.
- Salts in dry form such as ammonium nitrate prills, may be supplied to the tank 11 through a line 13 from a conventional bin or other source, not shown.
- a valve 15 is provided for controlling flow of solids from pipe 13 into tank 11.
- Another conduit or pipe 16, provided with a valve 17, can supply the same or other oxidizer salts in dry form to a dispenser vessel 19.
- the feeding action shown here is by gravity, but suitable angers or other known conveying means can be used if desired.
- Another vessel or barrel 21 is provided for supplying fuels, e.g., finely divided carbonaceous solids such as coal or gilsonite, or powdered aluminum, etc., in the form of particulate solids.
- Additional containers 31 may be added besides the vessels 19, 21, all of them being supported on a hopper or trough 23.
- Means are, provided for controlling the rate of flow of particulate solids from each vessel, 19, 21, etc.
- a valve 25 for controlling liquid flow rate is installed in line 27, which leads from the lower part of vessel 11 to a mixing compartment or station 30.
- An auger 34 in the lower part of vessel or trough 23 may be driven by appropriate mechanism to move the solids from outlets of vessels l9 and 21 at appropriate rate into the mixing operation.
- the liquid and particulate solids ingredients are mixed together to form a homogenous slurry.
- the mere act of flowing the liquid and solids together through the trough is often sufficient for mixing them, especially when they go through a delivery pump immediately thereafter, but if required, an impeller type mixer or other stirring device, not shown, may be incorporated in the lower part of mixer 30.
- Such mixing equipment is of well known type and need not be described in detail.
- the mixing apparatus connects to an outlet tube 38 connected to a delivery line 42.
- a pump 44 shown dia gramatically only, preferably as an air operated diaphragm pump, is provided to impel to impel the freshly mixed slurry from vessel 23, 30, through extrusion tubes and into the plastic receptacle or tubing to be packaged as shown in FIG. 1 and described more fully below.
- the preferred type of delivery line is shown at 102 in FIG. 4. It consists of a soft elastic expandable rubber hose 103 encased in a metal tube 104 prior to entering the extrusion tubes 105 and 106. This rubber hose has an outside diameter of less than the inside diameter of the metal casing so as to allow the hose to expand if necessary and thus it acts as a surge chamber.
- the diaphragm pump 44 produces relatively little pressure pulsation or surging of the slurry and this may be adequately handled by the resultant surging or expanding of the rubber hose 103.
- valves 108 and 109 are provided further to control the flow rate of the slurry into each tube. These valves may be manually operated, but preferably are operated by solenoids or by hhydraulic fluid or by compressed air.
- any packaging material that is suitable for wrapping sticks of the plastic slurry explosive composition and keeping the latter material and its flexible, plastic or semi-plastic condition may be used to receive slurry from the extrusion tubes 105 and 106.
- the wrapper material is a polyethylene packaging material in tubular form or which can be shaped into a tubular form. Polyethylene is preferred since it has significant fuel value which can be calculated into the oxygen balance of the slurry and thus act as an ingredient in itself. This will allow for the packaging to be consumed during the explosion and also to contribute energy to the explosion itself.
- Packaging material in flat, web or ribbon-like state must be formed or shaped around the extrusion nozzle to receive the slurry and then be sealed. Any simple method may be employed to form and seal the packaged material around the extruded rod-like slurry.
- One method is to use a flattened tubular material, which is opened up and guided around the extrusion tube, being slit open and later rescaled.
- a flat web is shaped around a round mandrel which guides and shapes the plastic ribbon-like material around the extrusion nozzle slurry as wrapper material passes outside and the slurry passes simultaneously through the mandrel.
- the material After the material is shaped tube-like around the slurry, in either of these cases, it may be sealed with a longitudinal sea] by taping the longitudinal wrapper edges with tape which is unrolled and applied continuously as the extruded slurry and surrounding packaging material pass respectively through and around the mandrel.
- preformed plastic tubing is used to begin with, an apparatus as shown in FIG. 5, may be employed.
- the slit tubing is then guided past the slurry entry which is shown as a tube 120 and is shaped around the round hollow mandrel 116 where it is thereby reformed around the exit end of the extrusion tube 122.
- the latter is a continuation of the forming mandrel 116, ahead of the extruded slurry, and the cut slit is taped together, forming a tubular enclosure which receives the slurry further down the line.
- the tape 125 is supplied continuously from a roll 126 and is applied by two contoured pressure rollers 128 and 129, FIG. 6, which guide the wrapper in preparation to receive the extruded slurry and which also seal down the tape just ahead of the emerging slurry.
- Zippertubing is a known commercial method of packaging which consists of using a specially formed zipper edge tube, and closing the longitudinal seam by mechanism designed to zip together the longitudinal edges of the previously flat web or ribbon-like material to thus form a hollow enclosed tube of packaging material.
- the rod-like slurry is extruded from tubes 105 or 106, FIG. 4, or tube 122, FIG. 5, and is packaged and sealed in a continuous fashion.
- the actual method selected for packaging the extruded slurry is not extremely important. Any suitable means for continuously forming and sealing the packaged material around the rod-like extruded slurry can be used.
- Lengths of plastic preformed tubing of thin wall type may also be pre-bunched in a sleeve-like or telescopic manner over the end of the extrusion tube.
- FIGS. 1 and 3 show such a system. After placing and gathering the tubing W on a replaceable hollow mandrel 72, the outer end of the tubing may be tied off to close it. A small metal clip C may be used as the tie. Then, with valves 107 and 108 open, FIG. 4, the slurry flows under pressure through the extrusion tube 72 or mandel into the end of the sealed tubing. This flow starts to pull the telescoped wrapper off the filler tube 7 2, filling the tubing much like a sausage is filled, as flow of explosive slurry continues.
- the tubes 72 are connected, as shown in FIG. 1, to the valve mechanism which receives slurry from the pump 44 through supply lines 101 and 71.
- a conventional tying and cutting-off device is shown diagramatically at 80. It isarranged at the end of the extrusion tube 122 and associated packaging mechanism so that the tubular wrapper W, which initially extends slightly beyond the tip of the extruded slurry, may first be tied off to close it.
- the metal clip C FIG. 3, is used as the tie. Thereafter, the slurry flows under pressure from the air operated diaphragm pump 44 through the mandrel or filler tube and into the end of the wrapping material. This flow starts to pull off the wrapper from its gathered supply, thus filling the wrapper as the flow of explosive material continues.
- the tying apparatus is actuated again to press the tube or wrapper filled with fluid explosive such that the wrapper is pinched together forcing the fluid explosive to either side of the pinch and to apply two clips or seals C spaced far enough apart so that the wrapper can be cut between them at S, FIG. 3, and thus separate the tubing into individual filled sticks.
- the seals C may be metal bands or adhesive clips or tapes, or seals may be tied of cord or other suitable material. These are indicated generally at the ends of sticks 81 and 82, FIG. 3.
- a cutting knife 83 operated in conventional fashion by any suitable means, not shown, severs the first stick 81 from the portion of tubing 84 which follows. The operation is repeated for each new stick length.
- the newly tied off wrapper portion is pushed by the extruding explosive along and outside the tube-shaping mandrel and under the longitudinal sealing device. This causes the wrapper to unroll from its supply reel in a continuous fashion and to then be shaped around the extruded slurry to form the filled tubes of slurry.
- a new tying operation takes place as each new tube length has been filled, as indicated in FIG. 3.
- the second stick or package 81 is shown as being formed and severed by the knife 83.
- This operation is continued step by step until the wrapping material is exhausted.
- a new supply of tubing, on a spare mandrel 72, FIG. 2 can be quickly placed in operation by detaching the one whose wrapper has been consumed, attaching a new one, and beginning the process over again.
- the outer end of the mandrel 72 is adapted to rest on or just above the table 95.
- the freshly severed stick S may be pushed off by the next succeeding stick, or so disposed that it falls on to a traveling conveyor belt 97.
- the latter which is carried and driven by a roller 98 conveys the sticks to a suitable receptacle, such as a box, for final packaging.
- FIG. 3 shows some of these parts on a larger scale.
- an analogous arrangement includes a final delivery belt 133 on rollers 134 and 135.
- the solid particulate fuel material is contained in a vessel such as 21.
- a premix often consisting of a blend of fuel and thickener particles in solid form. It may consist of finely divided aluminum mixed with coal, gilsonite, or sulfur, or any two or more of these. It may include additional ingredients for imparting energy to the explosive. Ordinarily, it will include a small amount of a hydratable gum, thickener, or gelling agent, such as guar gum or equivalent, for converting the liquid phase to a viscous gel. This is well known in the art. Additional oxidizer salt in dry form may be supplied from a vessel such as 19. This may be the same salt as or different from that contained in the solution in tank 1 1.
- the reason for supplying additional oxidizer in dry form may be to thicken up the 'mix, to add energy, or to achieve better oxygen balance, or for all these purposes.
- This dry oxidizer and the other particulate ingredients are safe to handle individually and can be shipped directly from suppliers to the site.
- the solution in tank 11 can be prepared either off site or on and blended at site with the particulate solids at or near the mine, for example, where the explosives are going to be used.
- the operator calibrates the flow of each ingredient from its hopper tank so that the desired blend of materials is received into the mixer 30.
- the formulation can be changed in the field at any time.
- the mixed materials are then blended together and pumped by the air operated diaphram pump 44 through the extrusion tubes to be subsequently packaged into tied and cut sticks of slurry, as described above.
- the ingredients are first prepared and placed in the apropriate vessels 11, I9, 21 and others not shown, if needed.
- the operator calibrates the flow of each ingredient and starts the mixing operation.
- the air operated diaphram pump forces the slurry through the extrusion tube, the wrapping material is shaped around the extruded rodlike slurry and is unrolled from its roll step by step as it fills, being tied and cut to length as each stick is completed. This tying and cutting is done under control of the packaging operator. Separate rolls of packaging material may be kept at a convenient place for fast replacement when one roll is extinguished.
- the extrusion tubes 72 comprise preferably thin-walled stainless steel tubing of appropriate diameter.
- the material selected should be resistant to corrosion or chemical attack by the ingredients of the explosive, which of course, includes salts, which will attack many metals, such as ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, calcium nitrate, and the like.
- the thin-walled polyethylene tubing which is used as wrapper may be of any of the layflat" type, seamless type or any other type having longitudinal seams.
- a ball check valve 140 may be incorporated in the connector 71, FIG. 1, to prevent kickback of slurry due to pressure in the mandrel or the tube that has not yet been tied off and cut.
- the tying machine which has been referred to above, is desirably of a type well known in the art which feeds and crimps small aluminum clips or bands around the wrapper W. These are placed about one-half or threequarters of an inch apart on the tube for packages of one to one and a half inches in diameter. As the clips are closed, the cutter simultaneously cuts the wrapper between them, thus separating each packaged charge in turn from the unfilled tubing.
- the cyclic rate of operation may vary widely, e.g., from 25 to 100 cycles or more per minute, usually in the range of about 40 to 70.
- the belt conveyor 97 is not always absolutely necessary, but is a convenience. It can be used to package the sticks in boxes, not shown, with very little manual control or adjustment. Supplementary equipment of conventional type may include means for sealing the boxes. In addition, other mixing, blending and/or holding facilities may be desirable, for example, a means for combining water, glycol, AN, SN, CaN, and the like, for producing additional quantities of the solution for tank 11; blending means may be used also for preparing the pre-mix" for tank 21, etc. In order to facilitate solution blending in the open, particularly in cooler weather, it may be necessary to have a heating facility such as a hot water heater or boiler so that the liquid ingredients, especially water or other solvents for oxidizer salts, may be heated.
- a heating facility such as a hot water heater or boiler so that the liquid ingredients, especially water or other solvents for oxidizer salts, may be heated.
- the temperature in tank 11 can be maintained at a desired elevated level, to make certain that salts will not crystallize out of the solution prematurely.
- the raw materials used in the finished composition including particulate fuels, such as finely divided aluminum, gilsonite, other carbonaceous materials, gums, starches and/or other thickening agents, or gel-formers, crosslinking materials, and the like, will be stored separately to avoid hazards of explosion. The system thus can be made entirely safe since nothing explosive is produced in most cases until the materials which make up the final blasting agents are actually blended together.
- FIG. 4 shows an embodiment having several desirable control features.
- Slurry from a suitable mixer is fed through an outlet nozzle 141 into a funnel 143. From here it flows into a peristaltic slurry pump 145, driven hydraulically by a pressure line 147 powered by master pump 151. The latter is replenished with hydraulic fluid from a sump 153. Hydraulic return line brings the hydraulic drive fluid back I from slurry pump 145.
- air may be supplied from a suitable pressure source, not shown, through a line 160, FIG. 4.
- the air passes through a filterlubricator unit 162 and through a pressure regulator 164 into line 165 which feeds it into the pump outlet line 168.
- a cut-off valve 166 is provided in line 165.
- a bleed line 169 with cut-off valve 170 is provided for bleeding air out of the slurry for starting up.
- the slurry flows through a line 172 into the surge chamber 102 comprised of the elastic hose 103.
- the latter may be banded at intervals, as shown at 175, to control the surge capacity, the outer limit of expansion of the elastic hose being determined by the walls of the confining cylinder 104, which is not expandable at the pressures involved.
- FIG. 7 shows a convenient valve arrangement for pumping and controlling the oxidizer solution, as in tank 11, FIG. 1.
- the solution is drawn out near the bottom through valve 25 and part or all of it may be recycled to the top through line 180. This prevents crystallization of the salt on standing which might otherwise occur.
- Solution pump 182 forces the solution from tank 11 or equivalent to the mixer through line 184, but a variable valve 186, controlled by hydraulic means 188, can be set as desired to recycle from zero to 100 percent of the solution stream to tank 1 1 through line 180.
- a means may be provided also, as shown at 191, FIG. 1, for spraying and washing the sticks as they leave the packaging apparatus, e.g., to remove slurry which may be contaminating the exterior of the package.
- a printing device 193 is provided to date or otherwise label each stick that is packaged.
- Control of slurry consistency for pumpability and extrusion in final desired consistency in the package can be obtained by proper control or choice of thickener, cross-linking agents, and delaying agents, amounts of .liquid, addition of u-ndissolved salts, etc., as is now well known in the art.
- Apparatus for preparing and packaging stick slurry explosives in a continuous fashion comprising, in combination, means for supplying a liquid solution of inorganic oxidizer to a mixing zone at a controlled rate, means for supply particulate solids suspendible in said liquid solution to said mixing vessel also at controlled rates, means for mixing the liquid solution and salt particles together at said zone to form a pumpable slurry, means for continuously pumping the resulting slurry from said zone into and through an extrusion tube while continuously feeding a wrapper material along and around said tube, thereby extruding the slurry from said tube into the wrapping material which is formed to completely encircle the extruded slurry in a tube-like stick, means for allowing the packaged slurry to continually proceed forwardly in the direction of extrusion, means for tying off the outer end of a length of wrapper material placed around the extrusion tube, means for collapsing the tubular wrapper between adjacent filled portions, means for applying a pair of sealing clips to the collapsed portion
- Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes means for injecting gas into the packaged slurry.
- Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a surge chamber in the form of an elastic expandable tube and a rigid wall member surrounding said tube to limit its expansion.
- Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes means for opening up a flattened tubular wrapper, means for slitting said tubular wrapper longitudinally to enable it to by-pass a slurry supply connection, and means for applying a sealing tape longitudinally of the wrapper to reseal the slitted parts.
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US23116272A | 1972-03-02 | 1972-03-02 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3783735A true US3783735A (en) | 1974-01-08 |
Family
ID=22867990
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US00231162A Expired - Lifetime US3783735A (en) | 1972-03-02 | 1972-03-02 | Apparatus for preparing and packaging stick slurry explosives |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3783735A (enrdf_load_html_response) |
CA (1) | CA987519A (enrdf_load_html_response) |
DE (1) | DE2309339A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) |
ES (2) | ES412151A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) |
IN (1) | IN138627B (enrdf_load_html_response) |
ZM (1) | ZM5173A1 (enrdf_load_html_response) |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1986002347A1 (en) * | 1984-10-10 | 1986-04-24 | Kurtz Earl F | Explosive composition and method |
US4813331A (en) * | 1987-04-06 | 1989-03-21 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Apparatus and method for filling individual munitions items with explosive |
US4964929A (en) * | 1986-11-27 | 1990-10-23 | Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. | Preparation of explosives containing degradation products of ascorbic or isoascorbic acid |
US4997496A (en) * | 1989-06-13 | 1991-03-05 | Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. | Explosive and propellant composition and method |
US5445059A (en) * | 1994-03-30 | 1995-08-29 | Dyno Nobel Inc. | Method for forming paper-wrapped emulsion explosive cartridges |
US5501132A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1996-03-26 | Global Environmental Solutions, Inc. | Dry preparation of particulate solid energetic material |
US20040168911A1 (en) * | 2000-06-20 | 2004-09-02 | Craig Andrews | Limited use components for an electrochemical device |
US20070184219A1 (en) * | 2004-04-08 | 2007-08-09 | Johnson Richard J | Method of charging a container with an energetic material |
US20120219721A1 (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-08-30 | Kenichi Yasuda | Method for producing films having particle-containing layer |
US20120318122A1 (en) * | 2011-06-16 | 2012-12-20 | Poly-Clip System Gmbh & Co., Kg | Explosives containing detonating devices |
CN106494703A (zh) * | 2016-11-01 | 2017-03-15 | 攀枝花恒威化工有限责任公司 | 工业炸药自动包装线 |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
NO160770C (no) * | 1986-10-03 | 1989-05-31 | Dyno Industrier As | Fremgangsmaate og anordning for patronering av klebrige sprengstoffer. |
US4790890A (en) * | 1987-12-03 | 1988-12-13 | Ireco Incorporated | Packaged emulsion explosives and methods of manufacture thereof |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3064572A (en) * | 1958-01-13 | 1962-11-20 | Union Carbide Corp | Method of and means for providing a charge of water sensitive explosive in a blast hole |
US3216307A (en) * | 1962-03-05 | 1965-11-09 | Trojan Powder Co | Method for packaging explosives |
US3288658A (en) * | 1965-07-20 | 1966-11-29 | Hercules Inc | Aerated explosive compositions |
US3327582A (en) * | 1965-10-23 | 1967-06-27 | Trojan Powder Co | Process and apparatus for preparing detonating and deflagrating fuse |
US3380333A (en) * | 1963-10-14 | 1968-04-30 | Intermountain Res And Engineer | System for mixing and pumping slurry explosives |
US3462324A (en) * | 1968-04-24 | 1969-08-19 | Dow Chemical Co | Explosive composition comprising a salt component contiguous to an over-fueled salt component |
US3552259A (en) * | 1968-07-19 | 1971-01-05 | Commerican Solvents Corp | Process and apparatus for preparing detonating and deflagrating fuse and product |
US3597516A (en) * | 1967-09-27 | 1971-08-03 | Regis Machinery Sussex Ltd | Method of producing filled moulded containers |
-
1972
- 1972-03-02 US US00231162A patent/US3783735A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1973
- 1973-02-21 CA CA164,241A patent/CA987519A/en not_active Expired
- 1973-02-24 DE DE19732309339 patent/DE2309339A1/de active Pending
- 1973-02-28 ES ES412151A patent/ES412151A1/es not_active Expired
- 1973-03-13 ZM ZM51/73*UA patent/ZM5173A1/xx unknown
- 1973-09-06 IN IN2046/CAL/73A patent/IN138627B/en unknown
-
1975
- 1975-07-15 ES ES439445A patent/ES439445A1/es not_active Expired
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3064572A (en) * | 1958-01-13 | 1962-11-20 | Union Carbide Corp | Method of and means for providing a charge of water sensitive explosive in a blast hole |
US3216307A (en) * | 1962-03-05 | 1965-11-09 | Trojan Powder Co | Method for packaging explosives |
US3380333A (en) * | 1963-10-14 | 1968-04-30 | Intermountain Res And Engineer | System for mixing and pumping slurry explosives |
US3288658A (en) * | 1965-07-20 | 1966-11-29 | Hercules Inc | Aerated explosive compositions |
US3327582A (en) * | 1965-10-23 | 1967-06-27 | Trojan Powder Co | Process and apparatus for preparing detonating and deflagrating fuse |
US3597516A (en) * | 1967-09-27 | 1971-08-03 | Regis Machinery Sussex Ltd | Method of producing filled moulded containers |
US3462324A (en) * | 1968-04-24 | 1969-08-19 | Dow Chemical Co | Explosive composition comprising a salt component contiguous to an over-fueled salt component |
US3552259A (en) * | 1968-07-19 | 1971-01-05 | Commerican Solvents Corp | Process and apparatus for preparing detonating and deflagrating fuse and product |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1986002347A1 (en) * | 1984-10-10 | 1986-04-24 | Kurtz Earl F | Explosive composition and method |
US4964929A (en) * | 1986-11-27 | 1990-10-23 | Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. | Preparation of explosives containing degradation products of ascorbic or isoascorbic acid |
US4813331A (en) * | 1987-04-06 | 1989-03-21 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Apparatus and method for filling individual munitions items with explosive |
US4997496A (en) * | 1989-06-13 | 1991-03-05 | Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. | Explosive and propellant composition and method |
US5445059A (en) * | 1994-03-30 | 1995-08-29 | Dyno Nobel Inc. | Method for forming paper-wrapped emulsion explosive cartridges |
US5501132A (en) * | 1994-08-31 | 1996-03-26 | Global Environmental Solutions, Inc. | Dry preparation of particulate solid energetic material |
US20040168911A1 (en) * | 2000-06-20 | 2004-09-02 | Craig Andrews | Limited use components for an electrochemical device |
US20070184219A1 (en) * | 2004-04-08 | 2007-08-09 | Johnson Richard J | Method of charging a container with an energetic material |
US7565857B2 (en) * | 2004-04-08 | 2009-07-28 | Richard John Johnson | Method of charging a container with an energetic material |
US20120219721A1 (en) * | 2011-02-28 | 2012-08-30 | Kenichi Yasuda | Method for producing films having particle-containing layer |
US20120318122A1 (en) * | 2011-06-16 | 2012-12-20 | Poly-Clip System Gmbh & Co., Kg | Explosives containing detonating devices |
CN106494703A (zh) * | 2016-11-01 | 2017-03-15 | 攀枝花恒威化工有限责任公司 | 工业炸药自动包装线 |
CN106494703B (zh) * | 2016-11-01 | 2018-12-11 | 攀枝花恒威化工有限责任公司 | 工业炸药自动包装线 |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ES412151A1 (es) | 1976-05-01 |
DE2309339A1 (de) | 1973-10-11 |
ES439445A1 (es) | 1977-06-01 |
ZM5173A1 (en) | 1974-05-21 |
IN138627B (enrdf_load_html_response) | 1976-03-06 |
CA987519A (en) | 1976-04-20 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: IRECO INCORPORATED A CORP OF DE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:IRECO CHEMICALS;REEL/FRAME:004350/0050 Effective date: 19840525 |