Jul 7, 2026

US12674386 - Systems and methods for determining water depth and explosive depth in blastholes

An explosive delivery system for dipping and loading a blasthole to determine water depth and explosive depth in blasthole. The explosive delivery system includes a vehicle with a first reservoir configured to store an explosive and a delivery apparatus reel mounted to the vehicle with a delivery apparatus stored on the delivery apparatus reel. The delivery apparatus having a central bore that extends a length of the delivery apparatus from a proximal end to a distal end of the delivery apparatus and an outlet disposed at the distal end. The explosive delivery apparatus is configured to deliver the explosive out of the outlet of the delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus includes a plurality of level sensors disposed on an outer surface of the delivery apparatus and that are dispersed along the delivery apparatus. Each level sensor is configured to determine if it is disposed in water, air, or explosive.

Assignee: Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Limited
Inventors: Paul Terry, John Myers
Filing date: 2024-05-28

The patent describes an explosive delivery system designed to assess water and explosive depths in blastholes using a vehicle-mounted apparatus with level sensors. These sensors, positioned along a cable, detect the presence of water, air, or explosive, allowing for precise measurement of fluid levels within the blasthole.

Claim 1

1 . A sensor system for detecting a presence of fluid in a blasthole, comprising: a cable that is configured to be inserted into a blasthole; a plurality of level sensors disposed along the cable; and processing circuitry configured to determine if each of the level sensors is disposed in water, air, or explosive, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a height of at least one of water or explosive in the blasthole based on measurements from the plurality of level sensors. a cable that is configured to be inserted into a blasthole; a plurality of level sensors disposed along the cable; and processing circuitry configured to determine if each of the level sensors is disposed in water, air, or explosive, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine a height of at least one of water or explosive in the blasthole based on measurements from the plurality of level sensors.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12674386

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12674386