ZA201004567B

ZA201004567B - Pumping assembly for pumpable explosives

Info

Publication number: ZA201004567B
Application number: ZA2010/04567A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Theuns Botha; Rudolf Buhrmann; Rudolf Teodor Buhrmann
Original assignee: Iptree Trust (Trust Number 503/2009)
Priority date: 2009-03-31
Filing date: 2010-06-29
Publication date: 2011-03-30

Description

PUMPING ASSEMBLY FOR PUMPABLE EXPLOSIVES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to pumpable explosives and to a pumping unit for dispensing pumpable explosives.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of traditional ‘ready-to-use’ explosives p oses problems of theft, the danger of accidental detonation, safe storage, safe transport, secure packaging, stock control and accountability, control and disposal of waste and the added costs associated with the systems for overcoming these problems. Single part ready-to-use explosives therefore require costly systems for the control of transport and distribution to end users. The development of liquid or gel explosives that consist of two components, ea ch in itself non-explosive, but which are activated when mixed in the correct ratio, offers very significant reductions in risk and costs. Preferably, the components are mixed during the process in which the explosive is dispensed into blast holes drilled for that purpose. The mixing of the two components results in a chemical reaction that renders the mixture explosive. In this way the dangers and costs mentioned above are largely alleviated. However, the present practice of transporting,

storing, dispensing and transferring the chemicals to the pumping and mixing unit poses handling risks and avoidable costs.

At present the major phase of the explosives, i.e. the bulk of the mix, which comprises about 97% of the total by volume, is packaged in disposable plastic bags, which are placed in cardboard boxes, which are, in turn, loaded on pallets for storage and transport on vehicles to the point of use. When required, the boxes are opened, the bags are taken to the workface and are then opened and the contents poured into the holding tanks of the mixer pump. In the arduous environment of a typical confined mine, this process is prone to lead to the ingress of dirt, which may interfere with the working of the pump or starvation of the pump. The viscous nature of the liquid explosives components requires squeezing of the bag to ensure that the contents of the bag are expelled and this process is not always done effectively. The subsequent disposal of the spent contaminated bags and boxes poses an environmental pollution problem as well as a fire hazard. In larger excavations such as tunnels, the major phase is transported in bulk containers, which may or may not incorporate the pump and mixer.

There is, therefore, a requirement for a pump assembly adapted for use with suitable collapsible containers that will avoid the containers having to be emptied into holding tanks in the pump unit and that will provide support for the containers in such a manner that they are protected from damage or dislodgement when moving the pump in rough environments. There is also a need for a pump assembly adapted for use with collapsible containers that will facilitate the drainage of the explosive gel components from their containers during pumping so that wastage and contamination of the product is kept to a minimum, thereby optimizing the benefits of using pumpable explosives in both underground and open cast mining.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an effective pump assembly that will achieve, at least in part, the objectives and overcome the problems mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a pumping assembly for dispensing a two-component pumpable explosive, the pumping assembly being adapted for use with at least one collapsible container for an explosives gel component, the container having a connector at its outlet and the assembly including a pump for dispensing the pumpable explosive and having at least one inlet for receiving an explosives gel component of the explosive, the at least one inlet having a connector releasably engageable with the connector of a respective one of the at least one collapsible container to permit the contents of the container to be transferred into the pump via the inlet; and support means for supporting the at least one collapsible container, the support means being adapted to inhibit movement of the at least one container relative to the pumping assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pumping is adapted for use with two collapsible containers, the pump having two inlets each having a connector releasably engageable with the connector of a respective collapsible container.

The support means may comprise an operatively upper portion of a housing of the pump.

The support means may comprise a cradle for securely cradling the, or each, collapsible container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two cradles for securing two collapsible containers and the cradles are formed integrally with the upper portion of the housing of the explosives pump. Additional securing devices, such as releasable straps, may be provided to further secure the collapsible bags in place.

In and second aspect of the invention there is provided for a combination of a pumping assembly as described herein and at least one collapsible container for an explosives gel component of a two-component pumpable explosive, the at least one container having a connector at its outlet, the connector being releasably engageable with a respective connector of the pump to permit the contents of the container to be transferred into the pump via the inlet thereof.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible container for an explosive gel component of a two-part pumpable explosive, the container adapted for use with a pumping assembly as described herein and having a connector at its outlet, the connector being releasably engageable with a connector at the inlet of the pump to permit the contents of the container to be transferred into the pump via the inlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an end view of a pumping assembly in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a sectional side view of the pumping assembly of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of a second embodiment of the pumping assembly of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the Figures 1 and 2, reference numeral 10 generally refers to a pumping assembly in accordance with an aspect of the invention. The pumping assembly includes an explosives pump and mixer 12 for dispensing a two-part pumpable explosive of the gel type (not shown).

The explosives pump 12 is housed within a housing 14. The housing 14 has an upper wall 16 that acts as a support 18 for two collapsible bags 20, in accordance with a further aspect of the invention. The collapsible bags 20 contain components of the two-part explosive in a fluid or gel form. The bags 20 have outlets 22 at which are arranged fluid couplings 24. The explosives pump 12 has inlet ducts 26 at which are arranged complementary couplings 28 that are releasably engageable with those of the collapsible bags 20.

The upper wall 16 is formed to provide a pair of integral cradles 30 that are shaped and dimensioned each to cradie one of the collapsible bags 20. Thus, the housing 14 of the pump 12 supports the bags 20 and facilitates the discharge of the bag’s contents. In addition, the cradles 30 protect the bags 20 from damage that could result from handling of the equipment in adverse mining environments and facilitate movement of the pump 12 from one stope to another without necessarily having to remove the bags 20. Additional securing devices, such as releasable straps, may be provided to further secure the collapsible bags in place.

When the couplings 28 of the inlet ducts 26 are engaged with the matching couplings 24 of the flexible bags 20, the gel contents of the bags 20 may be drawn into the inlet ducts 26 by the action of the pump 12. The outlets 22 of the bags 20 are located at ends 32 thereof and positioned so that when the bags 20 are coupled to the pump 12, the outlets 22 of the bags 20 are generally at a low point on their respective bags 20, the facilitate draining of the bags 20. In Figure 1, one of the bags 20.1 is shown in a partly depleted state.

In Figure 2, the pump 12 of the pumping assembly 10 has its suction port 34 located towards the end of the pump 12, while in Figure 3, a similar pump 12.1 has its suction port 34 located towards the centre of the pump 12.1. The position of the suction port is not material to the working of the pump.

The mounting position of the bag 20 may be varied in response to the particular application. However, the housing 14 of the pump 12 provides a support 18 for the bags 20 and facilitates drainage of the bag contents without manual assistance. In addition, the support 18 and cradles 30 to protect the bags 20 from being dislodged or damaged when the pumping assembly 10 is being moved in adverse environments, such as narrow reef mining. it is within the knowledge of persons skilled in the art to produce variations of the details of construction not described herein, which will, nevertheless, fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Dim CLAIMS

1. A pumping assembly for dispensing a two-component pumpable explosive, the pumping assembly being adapted for use with at least one collapsible container for an explosives gel component, the container having a connector at its outlet and the assembly including a pump for dispensing the pumpable explosive and having at least one inlet for receiving an explosives gel component of the explosive, the at least one inlet having a connector releasably engageable with the connector of a respective one of the at least one collapsible container to permit the contents of the container to be transferred into the pump via the inlet; and support means for supporting the at least one collapsible container, the support means being adapted to inhibit movement of the at least one container relative to the pumping assembly.

2. The pumping assembly as claimed in claim 1, which is adapted for use with two collapsible containers, the pump having two inlets each having a connector releasably engageable with the connector of a respective collapsible container.

3. The pumping assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support means comprises an operatively upper portion of a housing of the pump.

4. The pumping assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the support means comprises a cradle for securely cradling the, or each, collapsible container.

5. The pumping assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims which includes securing means for securing the at least one collapsible container in position on the support means.

6. In combination, a pumping assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and at least one collapsible container for an explosives gel component of a two-component pumpable explosive, the at least one container having a connector at its outlet, the connector being releasably engageable with a respective connector of the pump to permit the contents of the container to be transferred into the pump via the inlet thereof.

7. A collapsible container for an explosive gel component of a two-part pumpable explosive, the container adapted for use with a pumping assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to § and having a connector at its outlet, the connector being having a connector releasably engageable with a connector at the inlet of the pump to permit the contents of the container to be transferred into the pump via the inlet.

8. A pumping assembly substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

9. A combination pumping assembly and at least one container, the combination substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

10. A container adapted for use with a pumping assembly substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

DATED THIS 29TH DAY OF JUNE 2010. : EB, B.

JOFFE BOWMAN GILFILLAN INC.

FOR THE APPLICANT