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US 10,053,984 B2Granted
Drill and blast method and apparatus for the same
AssigneeCentre for Excellence In Mining Innovation
InventorDouglas Morrison
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a drill and blast method for advancing the tunnel face in a mine, which makes use of a mobile canopy. The mobile canopy having vertical supports connected to a frame that supports a shield. The mobile canopy allows for face production activities and ground support activities to occur simultaneously or near simultaneously. This allows for more rapid advancement of the tunnel face compared to traditional batch drill and blast techniques.
Claims12
A method for advancing a tunnel face in an underground mine, said method comprising the steps of:
- blasting the tunnel face with a plurality of explosives;
- removing debris formed by the blasting step from a heading of the tunnel near the tunnel face;
- positioning a mobile canopy at or near the heading, said mobile canopy comprising at least a first covered structure and a second covered structure, wherein the first and second covered structures each comprise a plurality of vertical supports connected to an inverted U-shaped frame that supports a detachable shield comprising mesh coverage;
- drilling holes in the tunnel face and packing the same with explosives;
- and
- securing the heading from inside or outside the mobile canopy by attaching the mesh coverage to walls and a roof of the tunnel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.