U.S. patent number 3,874,601 [Application Number 05/361,497] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-01 for apparatus for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting material.
Invention is credited to Floyd R. Swanson, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,874,601 |
Swanson, Jr. |
April 1, 1975 |
Apparatus for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting
material
Abstract
An apparatus for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering
blasting material to a bore hole comprising a truck having an
ammonium nitrate storage tank and a fuel oil storage tank mounted
thereon. The apparatus is adapted to convey the ammonium nitrate
from the storage tank to a lump breaker which grinds the material
to a sufficient size to permit the efficient handling thereof. The
ground material is passed through an air lock chamber into a stream
of air under pressure. The ground material is directed into a hose
which is in communication with the bore hole. Fuel oil is sprayed
into the air-ammonium nitrate mixture between the air lock chamber
and the hose. A control means is provided to permit the precise
selective metering of the ammonium nitrate and fuel oil.
Inventors: |
Swanson, Jr.; Floyd R. (Cedar
Falls, IA) |
Family
ID: |
23422289 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/361,497 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
241/101.74;
241/101.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B02C
21/02 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B02C
21/00 (20060101); B02C 21/02 (20060101); B02c
021/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;241/15,11M,11B,101.7,101.6 ;175/1,2 ;137/268 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lake; Roy
Assistant Examiner: Desmond; E. F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Zarley, McKee, Thomte &
Voorhees
Claims
I Claim:
1. An apparatus for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering
blasting material to a bore hole, comprising,
a wheeled frame means having a first storage tank mounted thereon
and having a first material conveyor means extending from the lower
portion thereof,
a lump breaker apparatus positioned below the discharge end of said
first material conveyor means and being in communication therewith
and adapted to break the lumps in the material being supplied
thereto by said first material conveyor means.
an air lock apparatus positioned below said lump breaker apparatus
and being in communication therewith for permitting said material
to pass therethrough,
an air conduit in communication with said air lock apparatus and
being in communication with a source of air under pressure so as to
convey the material being supplied thereto,
a source of fuel oil under pressure in communication with said air
conduit for injecting fuel oil into the air material mixture,
means for driving said first material conveyor means, said lump
breaker apparatus and said air lock apparatus,
and control means for controlling the operation of said conveyor
means, said source of air under pressure and the injection of said
fuel oil into said air material mixture.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air conduit comprises a
housing positioned below said air lock apparatus and having inlet
and outlet ends, the inlet end of said housing being in
communication with said source of air under pressure, said outlet
end of said housing being in operative communication with an
elongated flexible hose means.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said hose means in
semi-conductive.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein fuel injection means is in
communication with the interior of said hose means adjacent the
inlet end thereof, said fuel injection means being in communication
with said source of fuel oil under pressure.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said source of fuel oil under
pressure comprises a first hydraulic motor operatively connected to
a fuel pump; a second hydraulic motor operatively connected to said
first material conveyor means for driving the same; said first and
second hydraulic motors being connected in series.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said control means comprises a
variable volume flow divider operatively connected to said first
and second hydraulic motors.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said control means comprises a
solenoid actuated valve means operatively connected to said first
and second hydraulic motors for selectively controlling the
operation of said hydraulic motors.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said second hydraulic motor is
operatively connected to said lump breaker apparatus and said air
lock apparatus for driving the same.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lump breaker apparatus
comprises a pair of parallel rotatable shafts having a plurality of
radially extending fingers extending therefrom which mesh with the
fingers of the other shaft.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said first and second shafts
are rotated in opposite directions.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air lock apparatus
comprises a rotatable shaft having a plurality of radially
extending vanes mounted thereon, a housing extending around said
shaft and vanes, said vanes being disposed on said shaft to permit
the flow of material through said air lock apparatus as said shaft
is rotated while preventing the flow of air upwardly through said
housing as said shaft is rotated.
12. The appaaratus of claim 1 wherein source of air under pressure
comprises a high pressure-high volume air pump.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control means comprises
means for delivering blasting material to the bore between o and
500 pounds per minute.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an apparatus for storing, transporting,
mixing and delivering blasting material to a bore hole and more
particularly to an apparatus for storing, transporting, mixing and
delivering an ammonium nitrate and fuel oil mixture to a bore
hole.
Mining and quarrying ordinarily involve blasting operations. The
blasting is achieved by drilling a plurality of bore holes in the
rock or the like. Dynamite or ANFO is ordinarily placed in the bore
holes to achieve the necessary blasting. ANFO is comprised of
ammonium nitrate mixed with fuel oil and is less expensive than the
dynamite. ANFO is relatively inexpensive explosive material which
is ordinarily detonated with primers and dynamite caps. The
ammonium nitrate is mixed with the fuel oil at the blasting site as
a safety precaution.
One of the problems associated with the mixing of the ammonium
nitrate and fuel oil is the lumps which sometimes are present in
the ammonium nitrate. The lumps reduce the mixing efficiency and
result in a somewhat less efficient detonation. A further problem
associated with the loading of the ANFO into the bore hole is the
presence of water therein. A further consideration in the loading
of the bore holes is the small diameter of the bore holes which
requires that the ammonium nitrate be relatively free of lumps.
A still further problem associated with the mixing of the ammonium
nitrate and the fuel oil is the precise metering of the respective
products.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an
apparatus for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting
material.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which
breaks up ammonium nitrate lumps prior to it being mixed with
fuel.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for
storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting material
wherein means is provided for controlling the precise metering of
the respective products.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for
storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting material
including means for overcoming the water problem ordinarily
associated with bore holes.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for
storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting material
including control means therefor.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering blasting material
which is efficient in operation.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the
art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and
combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects
contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,
specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of the apparatus of this invention:
FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view illustrating the lump breaker,
air lock, and air line:
FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen on lines 3--3 of FIG. 2:
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means for spraying
fuel oil into the air stream:
FIG. 5 is a sectional view seen on lines 5--5 of FIG. 2:
FIG. 6 is a sectional view seen on lines 6--6 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the circuitry of the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The numeral 10 refers generally to a truck having a storage tank
provided thereon for storing ammonium nitrate therein. Truck 10
also is provided with a fuel oil storage tank or reservoir 12. The
truck 10 includes a P.T.O. generally referred to by the reference
numeral 14.
The numeral 16 refers to an axially mounted auger which is in
communication with the ammonium nitrate storage tank so that the
ammonium nitrate particles 18 may be conveyed rearwardly therefrom.
For purposes of description, the numeral 20 will be used to refer
to the housing enclosing the rearward end of the auger 16. A
bearing box 24 is mounted on a support 26 which is secured to the
housing 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A hydraulic motor 28 is
operatively connected to the bearing box 24 adapted to drive the
drive shaft 30 extending from the bearing box 24. A pair of
hydraulic hoses 32 and 34 extend from the hydraulic motor 28 as
will be explained in more detail hereinafter.
As seen in FIG. 2, drive chain 36 interconnects the drive shaft 30
and the shaft 38 of auger 16. Shaft 38 is provided with an external
seal 40 and an external bearing 42 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Drive
chain 44 connects drive shaft 38 and a drive shaft 46 which
rotatably extends through an air lock chamber generally referred to
by the reference numeral 48. Shaft 46 is provided with externally
mounted bearings 50 and 52 adjacent its opposite ends as well as
externally mounted seals 54 and 56. Air lock 48 is defined by a
housing 58 which extends downwardly from and which is in
communication with housing 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. A
plurality of radially extending vanes 60 are mounted on the shaft
46 for rotation therewith as will be described in more detail
hereinafter.
The numeral 61 refers generally to a lump break apparatus which is
positioned in the housing 58 between the air lock chamber 48 and
the housing 20. A pair of shafts 62 and 64 rotatably extend through
the housing 58 as seen in FIG. 5 and are provided with externally
mounted seals and bearings at the opposite ends thereof. A
plurality of radially extending fingers 66 are provided on the
shaft 62 and a plurality of radially extending fingers 68 are
mounted on the shaft 64. As seen in FIG. 5, the fingers 66 and 68
overlap during the rotation thereof. Shaft 64 has a sprocket 70 at
one end thereof having a drive chain 72 extending therearound which
is connected to a sprocket on the drive shaft 46. Gears 74 and 76
are secured to one end of each of the shafts 64 and 62 respectively
and are in mesh with each other as seen in FIG. 5. The numeral 78
refers to a chain guard extending around some of the various
chains, sprockets, and the like. The numeral 80 refers to a guard
extending around the gears 74 and 76 as seen in FIG. 2.
The lower end of the air lock compartment 48 is in communication
with a conduit 82 having one end thereof in communication with a
source of air under high pressure. An adaptor 84 is provided at one
end of the conduit 82 to permit various sizes of air hoses to be
connected thereto. The numeral 86 refers to an air hose quick
connector coupler which is secured to the adaptor 84. The numeral
88 refers to a semi-conductive air hose secured to the quick
connector coupler 86. Preferably, the hose 88 would have a length
of at least fifty feet. A sleeve 90 is mounted in the hose 88 as
seen in FIG. 4 and has a nozzle 92 provided thereon which is in
communication with a fuel oil hose 94 to permit the fuel oil to be
sprayed into the interior of the sleeve 90.
The control circuitry of this apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 7.
As seen in FIG. 7, the P.T.O. 14 is operatively connected to a high
pressure-high volume air pump 93 to a hydraulic pump 95. Hydraulic
pump 95 has a suction line 96 in communication with a hydraulic
reservoir 98. Discharge line 100 extends from the pump 95 to an
electric solenoid valve bank 102. Hydraulic pressure gauge 104 is
provided in the line 100. A hydraulic relief line 106 extends from
the discharge line 100 to the reservoir 98. Hydraulic relief valve
108 is provided in the relief line 106.
Solenoid valve 110 of valve bank 102 has a discharge line 112
extending therefrom which is in communication with a variable
volume flow divider 114. Flow divider 114 is operatively connected
to the hydraulic hose 32 which extends to the hydraulic motor
28.
Hydraulic hose 34 is connected to a hydraulic motor 116 which is
connected by a chain drive 118 to a fuel oil pump 120. A return
line 120 extends from the hydraulic motor 116 to the valve 110.
Return line 122 extends from the valve bank 102 to the hydraulic
reservoir 98. Filter 124 is provided in the return line 122.
Hydraulic cylinder 126 is connected to the valve 128 of valve bank
102 by means of the lines 130 and 132. The two-way hydraulic
cylinder 126 has its piston rod 134 connected to an air diverting
valve 136. Air diverting valve 136 has an inlet conduit 138 which
is in communication with the air pump 93. Air diverting valve 136
has a discharge conduit 140 which is in communication with the air
line or air conduit 142 which is in communication with the conduit
82. Air diverting valve 136 also has a conduit 144 which is in
communication with the atmosphere.
The fuel pump 120 is connected to the fuel reservoir 12 by means of
line 146 which has a manually controlled valve 148 and filter 150
imposed therein. The fuel pump 120 is connected to a manual
selector valve 152 by line 154. Line 156 connects the manual
selector valve 152 and the fuel oil reservoir 12 as seen in FIG. 7.
A by-pass line 158 extends between the lines 154 and 156 and has a
pressure gauge 160 and relief valve 162 imposed therein. Manual
selector valve 152 is connected to recording meter 164 which is
connected to a quick connect hose coupler 166 which is in
communication with the hose 94.
The numeral 168 refers to a battery which is electrically connected
to the ignition switch 170. Ignition switch 170 is connected to
switch arm 172 which is adapted to close upon contact 174 at times.
Contact 174 is electrically connected to the solenoid of the valve
110 by lead 176. Lead 180 connects lead 171 and the switch arm 182.
As seen in FIG. 7, switch arm 182 is adapted to electrically engage
either of the contacts 184 and 196. Contact 184 is electrically
connected to the solenoid 188 of valve bank 102 by lead 190 while
contact 186 is connected to the solenoid of the valve 128 by lead
192. For purposes of description, the numeral 194 will be used to
identify the pendant switch which includes the switch arms 182 and
172 and associated contacts.
The normal method of operation is as follows. The truck P.T.O. is
engaged and the truck engine is run at approximately 2,000 rpm. The
switch 170 is then turned on which provides current for the
solenoid valve. The operator then secures the rubber coated
electric pendant switch 194 to his belt so that his hands are free
to control the various other operations of the apparatus. The
switch 194 would have approximately fifty feet of cord attached
thereto to provide the operator with sufficient mobility. The
operator then places the semi-conductive air hose 88 in the bore
hole and starts the air flow with the three-way switch 196 on the
pendant switch 194. The operator then actuates the hydraulic motor
switch 198 on the pendant switch 194 which actuates the auger, lump
breaker and air lock. Actuation of the hydraulic motor 28 causes
the auger 16 to convey the ammonium nitrate rearwardly from the
ammonium nitrate storage tank so that the particles thereof are fed
to the lump breaker apparatus 61. The fingers on the oppositely
rotating shafts 62 and 64 break any lumps present in the ammonium
nitrate so the ammonium nitrate is reduced to a sufficiently fine
material which will not plug up the small diameter air hose. The
material is dropped downwardly into the air lock compartment 48
with the vanes 60 rotating to cause into the conduit 82 where the
particles are injected into the air stream. The configuration of
the vane members 60 is such that air is prevented from passing
upwardly through the air lock compartment 48.
Since the hydraulic motor 116 which operates the fuel oil pump 120
is in series with the hydraulic motor 28, the motor 116 is operated
in direct proportion to the flow in the motor lines. By using the
proper chain drive ratio, the fuel oil pump 120 sprays oil into the
ammonium nitrate material or prills in the air line 88 to provide 6
percent oil ratio to continuously manufacture ANFO. The prills are
evenly coated as they travel through the approximately fifty foot
semi-conductive air hose. If more or less ANFO is desired, the
variable volume flow divider valve 114 is adjusted to provide the
correct ANFO demand. Since both of the motors 28 and 116 are in
series, varying the speed of the auger 16 automatically adjusts the
fuel oil flow to provide the 6 percent ratio. When the bore hole is
filled with the ANFO, the operator shuts off the prill flow and
then diverts the air flow to the atmosphere. This feature permits
the operator to move to the next bore hole without blowing ANFO,
fuel oil or dust around the shot area.
If the operator wishes to unload the truck without mixing fuel in
the ammonium nitrate, he actuates the manual selector valve 152 and
diverts the fuel oil to the fuel oil reservoir 12. This permits him
to unload into the overhead storage bin or any other storage area.
The high pressure air pump 93 is driven by the truck P. T. O. or by
a hydraulic motor driven by the P. T. O. The high pressure-high
volume air conveys the ANFO into the bore hole with enough force to
pack the ANFO therein which increases the density and provides more
explosive power per hole. If the hole has been dewatered, the
increased density delays intrusion by water sufficiently long
enough to allow ANFO to be used.
Thus it can be seen that an extremely efficient apparatus has been
provided for storing, transporting, mixing and delivering plastic
material to a bore or shot hole. The apparatus of this invention
permits the proper ratio of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil to be
supplied to the bore hole with sufficient volume and pressure so
that an efficient detonation may be achieved. The apparatus of this
invention permits the precise metering of the ammonium nitrate and
fuel oil to the shot hole. The lump breaker permits the use of a
small diameter loading hose which permits loading explosive holes
of a two inch diameter and larger. The hydraulic flow divider in
the hydraulic motor circuit permits the operator infinite ANFO
loading capabilities between zero and 500 pounds per minute. The
hydraulic circuit automatically controls the fuel oil pump in
relation to the auger speed to provide the proper 6 percent fuel
oil ratio. This allows loading of all diameter holes with a simple
dial adjustment.
The fact that the lump breaker is positioned ahead of the oil
introduction area allows the non-sensitive ammonium nitrate to be
broken so that it will pass through a small diameter loading hose.
As previously stated, all of the bearings and the seal are
externally mounted to prevent contact with ammonium nitrate or
sensitized ANFO. The semi-conductive hose 88 is used for ANFO
loading to prevent premature detonation of the primer by static
electricity created by the ANFO traveling in the tube under high
velocity. The semi-conductive hose 88 also prevents accidentally
conducting a current through the hose to the primer from an
external source on the surface. The fuel pump 120 is a positive
displacement rotary pump without any valves. The simple design of
the fuel pump insures proper fuel oil ratio and eliminates fuel
problems and the related improper fuel oil ratios.
Thus it can be seen that the apparatus accomplishes at least all of
its stated objectives.
* * * * *