Apparatus and method for stemming blast holes

Abstract

A funnel bucket apparatus is configured to be mountable to typical loader machinery for depositing flowable material at a deposit site. The apparatus includes a bucket and a funnel cover connected by hinges, a discharge chute attachment, a bucket vibrator, and a hydraulic actuator system. An operator controls the actuator system to move the bucket and funnel cover between open and closed positions such that the bucket retains typical loading functions while the apparatus is in the open position. When the bucket is loaded with material, the operator controls the actuator system to move the apparatus into the closed position and positions the apparatus over the deposit site. Material flows through a discharge opening in the funnel cover, through the discharge chute attachment, and down to the deposit site. Efficient and controllable flow rate of material may be facilitated by the bucket vibrator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.