ZA201100925B

ZA201100925B - Shock tube tensioning device

Info

Publication number: ZA201100925B
Application number: ZA2011/00925A
Authority: ZA
Inventors: Mark Rodney Davis
Original assignee: Master Blaster Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2008-06-23
Filing date: 2011-02-04
Publication date: 2011-10-26
Also published as: ZA200906564B

Description

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SHOCK TUBE HOUSING DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates 10 a shock tube housing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shock tubes are well known and have been used for many years in the mining industry to ignite explosives during routine rock blasting procedures. The use of shock tubes in explosive procedure presents a major risk for miner and/users in mining and other blasting procedures.

A typical shock tube used in the mining industry is a hollow, narrow cylindrical tube impregnated along its inner surface with a combustible explosive, readily ignitable by a percussion primer or electric match.

Typically, during routine rock face blasting procedures, a number of boreholes are drilled in a rock face in accordance with a predetermined pattern required to achieve a certain results. An explosive material is then typically used to fill said boreholes. A detonator is then attached to a shock tube, which detonator is then placed into each borehole filed the explosive material. Shock tubes are then interconnected in signal transmission to each other by means of a connector block of another detonator, or other detonation initiation means.

Each shock tube is manufactured in a predetermined length. It is not recommended to cut the shock tube to a suitable length as this may result in unwanted shock tube ignition. This is presents a practical hazard wherein long lengths of shock tubes may hang loosely around a detonation site, this is especially the case in detonation sites with high density populations of boreholes.

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It is the object of the invention to provide a shock tube housing device for housing a desired shock tube length at a specific detonation site thereby allowing fora more efficient, safer and cost effective rock face blasting procedure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a shock tube housing device which includes: a housing shaped and configured to house a shock tube a housing shaped and configured to house a coiled length of shock tube either inside or on the outside thereof; and a paying out means arranged relative to the housing, which paying out means in an operative position allows for the paying out of a desired length of the shock tube to thereby allow only a desired length of shock tube to be payed out and preventing untidy and unsafe nests of shock tube at the rock face

The housing may be in the form of a hollow barrel shaped and configured to house the shock tube. The housing may be in the form of a bobbin.

It shall be appreciated that the housing may either house the shock tube internally and/or externally depending on the particular embodiment used in a desired application.

The housing may include closure members shaped and configured to be attachable to the free ends of the barrel, in use.

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The housing may include mounting means for mounting the housing relative to a detonation site(s).

The closure members may have an aperture defined there through which aperture is shaped and configured to allow a portion of the shock tube there through.

The tensioning means may be in the form of an elastomeric member arranged relative to the shock tube, which elastomeric member, in use biases the shock tube towards a central region.

It shall be further appreciated that the tensioning member in embodiments wherein the shock tube is housed on an external surface of the housing and/or partially internally and/or externally on said housing, that the tensioning member may be shaped and configured to provide tension to the shock tube. Accordingly, such a tensioning member may, for example include retaining formations for retaining a portion of the shock tubes thereon.

The tensioning means may include retaining formations for retaining a portion of the shock tube thereon. The retaining formations may be in the form of grooves shaped and configured to retain a portion of the shock tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

Figure 1 is a three dimensional view of the in accordance with the first embodiment of invention; and

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Figure 2 is a second embodiment of invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the accompanying drawings, in a first example as shown in figure 1, a shock tube housing device, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The housing device 10 includes a generally cylindrically hollow shaped housing 12 and a paying-out means in the form of an elastomeric shock tube 14 housed within the housing 12.

The housing 12 has two closure members in the form of caps 16 and 18 arranged at the free ends 20 and 22. The caps 16 and 18 are shaped and configured to coaxially engage with the free ends 20 and 22 of the housing 12.

Each cap 16 and 18 has an aperture 24 and 26 defined at its dead centre; the aperture 24 and 26 typically allows a portion of the shock tube 14 to pass three through.

In use, an operator would remove a desired length of shock tube 14 from each device 10 via the apertures 24 and 26 for connection thereto a detonator (not shown) located placed in a borehole filed explosive material. Shock tubes 14 are then interconnected in signal transmission to each other by means of a connector block (not shown) of another detonator (not shown), or other detonation initiation means (not shown). The desired length of the tube 14 is held constant by the of tube 14 acting in tension with the ends 20 and 22 of the housing 12.

* In a second embodiment as illustrated in figure 2, the shock tube housing device 50 includes housing in the form of a generally C-shaped bracket 52 and a paying-out means in the form of inner circumferentially extending grooves 54.

The device 50 further includes mounting means in the form of longitudinally extending slots 56 and 58. The shock tube 60 is housed on the bracket 52 between an outer circumference 62 and the inner circumferentially extending grooves 54.

In use, the operator unwinds a desired length of shock tube 60 between an outer circumference 62 and the inner circumferentiaily extending grooves 54. for connection thereto a detonator (not shown) located placed in a borehole filed explosive material. Shock tubes 60 are then interconnected in signal transmission to each other by means of a connector block (not shown) of another detonator (not shown), or other detonation initiation means (not shown). The desired length of the tube 60 is held constant by the tension exerted by the tube 60 on outer circumference 62 and the inner circumferentially extending grooves 54.

Although only certain embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be understood by any person skilled in the art that other modifications, variations, and possibilities of the invention are possible. Such modifications, variations and possibilities are therefore to be considered as falling within the spirit and scope of the invention and hence forming part of the invention as herein described and/or exemplified.

It shall further be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and is not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.

Claims

® ty CLAIMS

1. A shock tube housing device which includes, a housing shaped and configured to house a coiled length of shock tube either inside or on the outside thereof; and a paying out means arranged relative to the housing, which paying in an operative position allows for the paying out of a desired length of the shock tube to thereby allow only payed out and preventing untidy and unsafe nest of shock tube at the rock face.

2. A shock tube housing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is in the form of a hollow barrel shaped and configured to house the shock tube.

3. A shock tube housing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the housing is in the form of a bobbin.

4. A shock tube housing device as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1-3, wherein the housing includes closure members shaped and configured to be attachable to the free ends of the barrel, in use.

5. A shock tube housing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the housing includes a mounting means for mounting the housing relative to a detonation site(s).

6. A shock tube housing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the closure members have an aperture defined there-through, which aperture is shaped and configured to allow a portion of the shock tube there-through.

7. A shock tube housing device as claimed in any one of preceding claims 1 — 6, wherein the device includes a tensioning means in the form of an

- let ) elastomeric member arranged relative to the shock tube, which elastomeric member, in use biases the shock tube towards a central region.

8. A shock tube housing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tensioning means includes retaining formations for retaining a portion of the shock tube thereon.

9. A shock tube housing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retaining formations are in the form of grooves shaped and configured to retain a portion of the shock tube.

10. A shock tube housing device as claimed above, substantially as herein described and illustrated. DATED THIS 4™ DAY OF FEBRUARY 2011. HAHN & HAHN INC. Agent for Applicant