Mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive

摘要

The present invention is directed to a mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosives to a blast hole. One embodiment of the platform provides the ability to obtain weight information relating to the contents of a tank that is associated with the platform and that, in operation, contains either the bulk explosive or a constituent of the explosive. The platform comprises a vehicle with a frame, a tank, a load cell structure for connecting the frame and the tank and providing weight data relating to the contents of the tank, and a suspension system that prevents relative movement of the frame and the tank that could compromise the load cell structure. Another embodiment of the platform provides a tank for holding an explosive composition and a rotary shaft that supports a mixing blade that mixes the explosive composition within the tank. The platform further comprises bearing structure for supporting the rotary shaft that is located to deter any of the explosive composition from entering the bearing. A further embodiment of the platform comprises a conduit structure for discharging a bulk explosive into a blast hole that includes a substantially rigid tube with an outlet port for discharging a bulk explosive into the blast hole. The tube is adapted to rotate about a vertical axis such that the outlet port can be moved towards and away from the vehicle along an arc of less than 180°. In one embodiment, the outlet port can be positioned substantially adjacent to an operator's station to allow an operator to readily view the loading of the explosive into the blast hole.

主权项

1. A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive comprising:
a vehicle comprising a frame; a tank for holding a material related to a bulk explosive; a conduit for conveying a bulk explosive to a blast hole; a load cell structure for connecting said frame and said tank and providing weight data relating to any contents of said tank; and a suspension for preventing relative movement of said frame and said tank that could compromise said load cell structure; said suspension comprises a first suspension structure; wherein said first suspension structure comprises:
a first mount operatively attached to said frame;a second mount operatively attached to said tank and laterally separated from said first mount;a first substantially rigid element;a first connector for connecting said first substantially rigid element to said first mount; anda second connector for connecting said first substantially rigid element to said second mount;wherein each of the first and second connectors includes a ball structure and socket structure that cooperates with the ball structure to form a ball-and-socket joint that allows rotational but no substantial translational relative movement between the ball structure and the socket structure;wherein the ball and socket structures of the first connector are each restrained from translational movement relative to the first mount;wherein the ball and socket structures of the second connector are each restrained from translational movement relative to the second mount.