Utec Corporation LLC

Brian F Loader

Paul S Keeling

A method and apparatus for placement of continuous pre-split, gel explosive in an elongated borehole or cavity. An anchor is attached to one end of a selected length of continuous gel explosive. A suitable anchor is a flexible, plastic 'pilgrim's hat' with a hole in the narrow, closed end. The size of the anchor depends on the width of the borehole; the flared skirt should be narrow enough to permit insertion of the anchor into the hole but wide enough to resist removal. One end of the explosive charge is pressed through the hole in the anchor. The remainder of the length of explosive is placed inside a tubular member, such as PVC pipe. The loaded pipe then is inserted into the borehole or cavity with the anchor leading. The pipe is used to push the anchor back into the hole to the desired depth. Then, the pipe is withdrawn. The flexible skirt on the anchor engages the sidewall of the borehole and thus resists removal with the pipe. As the pipe is pulled out of the borehole, the explosive charge is left behind in a substantially linear arrangement. The explosive is detonated in a conventional manner.

Continuous explosive charge assembly for use in an elongated cavity

A method and apparatus for placement of continuous pre-split, gel explosive in an elongated borehole or cavity. An anchor is attached to one end of a selected length of continuous gel explosive. A suitable anchor is a flexible, plastic &ldquo;pilgrim's hat&rdquo; with a hole in the narrow, closed end. The size of the anchor depends on the width of the borehole; the flared skirt should be narrow enough to permit insertion of the anchor into the hole but wide enough to resist removal. One end of the explosive charge is pressed through the hole in the anchor. The remainder of the length of explosive is placed inside a tubular member, such as PVC pipe. The loaded pipe then is inserted into the borehole or cavity with the anchor leading. The pipe is used to push the anchor back into the hole to the desired depth. Then, the pipe is withdrawn. The flexible skirt on the anchor engages the sidewall of the borehole and thus resists removal with the pipe. As the pipe is pulled out of the borehole, the explosive charge is left behind in a substantially linear arrangement. The explosive is detonated in a conventional manner.

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Salem, UT, United States of America

Brian F Loader