May 12, 2026

US12624612 - Inflatable down hole bag

An inflatable down hole bag for insertion into a blast hole, comprising: a sealed inflatable body; a first substance within the sealed inflatable body; a plurality of tablets separated from the first substance within the sealed inflatable body; and a release for allowing the first substance to contact the tablets; wherein the tablets comprise a second substance, and wherein contact between the first substance and the second substance causes an inflation fluid producing reaction within the sealed inflatable body, thereby inflating the inflatable body, wherein the tablets are configured to fragment after contact with the first substance.

Assignee: MTI GROUP PTY LTD
Inventors: James Matthew Richard Fitzsimons, Nicholas Bodley, Jamie Smith
Filing date: 2023-05-23

inflatabledownholeexplosivematerial

The patent describes an inflatable down hole bag designed for use in blast holes, featuring a sealed body that contains a first substance and tablets containing a second substance that react to produce inflation fluid. Upon contact, the first substance triggers a reaction that inflates the bag, while the tablets are designed to fragment, enhancing the efficiency of the inflation process.

Claim 1

1 . An inflatable down hole bag for insertion into a blast hole, the inflatable down hole bag comprising: a sealed inflatable body; a first substance within the sealed inflatable body; a plurality of tablets separated from the first substance within the sealed inflatable body; and a release for allowing the first substance to contact the tablets; wherein: the tablets comprise a second substance, a third substance, and a binder; the inflatable down hole bag is configured to cause an inflation-fluid-producing reaction within the sealed inflatable body upon contact between the first substance and the second substance, thereby inflating the inflatable body; and the third substance is configured to cause the tablets to fragment. a sealed inflatable body; a first substance within the sealed inflatable body; a plurality of tablets separated from the first substance within the sealed inflatable body; and a release for allowing the first substance to contact the tablets; wherein: the tablets comprise a second substance, a third substance, and a binder; the inflatable down hole bag is configured to cause an inflation-fluid-producing reaction within the sealed inflatable body upon contact between the first substance and the second substance, thereby inflating the inflatable body; and the third substance is configured to cause the tablets to fragment. the tablets comprise a second substance, a third substance, and a binder; the inflatable down hole bag is configured to cause an inflation-fluid-producing reaction within the sealed inflatable body upon contact between the first substance and the second substance, thereby inflating the inflatable body; and the third substance is configured to cause the tablets to fragment.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12624612

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12624612