# US 10,866,076 B2 · Apparatus for plasma blasting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,866,076 B2 - Document ID: US10866076B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/279,903 - Filed: 2019-02-19 - Published: 2019-06-20 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-20 - Assignees: Petram Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Petram Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Igor S. Alexandrov; Frank A. Magnotti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10866076B2 ## CPC - F42D 3/04: for rock blasting - F42D 1/00: Blasting methods or apparatus, e.g. loading or tamping - F42D 1/08: Tamping methods; Methods for loading boreholes with explosives; Apparatus therefor - F42D 3/00: Particular applications of blasting techniques {(explosive welding B23K20/08; explosive bolts or actuators F42B3/006; explosive valves F16K13/06; cutting devices actuated by explosion B23D15/145; pyrotechnical actuators F15B15/19; switching devices actuated by explosion H01H39/00)} - F42D: BLASTING (fuses, e.g. fuse cords, C06C5/00; {for obtaining fluid from wells E21B43/00; for mining or quarrying E21C37/00; for making tunnels or galleries E21D9/006}; cartridges F42B3/00) ## Abstract A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a solid object having a borehole, a blast probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by a dielectric separator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the dielectric separator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises water. The adjustable tip permits fine-tuning of the blast. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A blasting system comprising: a solid object having a borehole; a blast probe having a plurality of electrodes, said electrodes connected to at least one capacitor, wherein the blast probe is positioned within the borehole, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrodes are separated by a dielectric separator, and wherein the dielectric separator and at least one of the at least two of the plurality of electrodes constitute an adjustable probe tip with a maximum gap between the electrodes less than the gap between any of the electrode and a symmetrical cage enclosing the electrodes, said electrodes on an axis with tips opposing each other; a blast media comprising an incompressible fluid wherein the plurality of electrodes are submerged in the blast media; and a reactive material added around a spark gap to additionally increase energy of a plasma blast. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The blasting system of claim 1 wherein the cage is plastic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The blasting system of claim 1 wherein the cage encloses a balloon type structure that is placed inside of the cage. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The blasting system of claim 3 wherein the balloon type structure contains the incompressible fluid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The blasting system of claim 1 wherein the cage is a cylinder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The blasting system of claim 5 wherein the cage has a plurality of rectangular openings on the walls of the cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The blasting system of claim 6 wherein the rectangular openings have rounded corners. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The blasting system of claim 1 wherein the adjustable probe tip has preset stops to limit adjustment to a set range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The blasting system of claim 1 wherein the incompressible fluid is water. ### Claim 10 A blast probe apparatus comprising: a symmetrical cage; a plurality of electrodes, said electrodes connected to at least one capacitor, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrodes are separated by a dielectric separator, and wherein the dielectric separator and at least one of the at least two of the plurality of electrodes constitute an adjustable probe tip with a maximum gap between the electrodes less than the gap between any of the electrodes and the cage enclosing the electrodes, said electrodes on an axis with tips opposing each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The blast probe apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cage is plastic. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The blast probe apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cage encloses a balloon type structure that is placed inside of the cage. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The blast probe apparatus of claim 12 wherein the balloon type structure contains the incompressible fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The blast probe apparatus of claim 10 wherein the cage is a cylinder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The blast probe apparatus of claim 14 wherein the cage has a plurality of rectangular openings on walls of the cylinder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The blast probe apparatus of claim 15 wherein the rectangular openings have rounded corners. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The blast probe apparatus of claim 10 wherein the adjustable probe tip has preset stops to limit adjustment to a set range. ### Claim 18 A method for creating a plasma blast, the method comprising: charging a capacitor bank; discharging the capacitor bank to two electrodes said electrodes mounted on an axis with tips opposing each other and enclosed in a cage, wherein the cage is a cylinder with at least one opening, wherein at least two of the plurality of electrodes are separated by a dielectric separator and at least one of the at least two of the plurality of electrodes constitute an adjustable probe tip with a maximum gap between the electrodes less than the gap between any of the electrodes and the cage enclosing the electrodes; creating a plasma explosion between the two electrodes; directing a symmetrical focus of the plasma explosion through the at least one opening in the cage. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one opening is rectangular. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the rectangular openings have rounded corners.