Patent Publication Number: US-2019170487-A1

Title: Receptacle for explosives

Description:
FIELD OF APPLICATION 
     The present utility model relates to a container or receptacle for containing explosives, which is intended for blasting process mainly in the mining industry. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pentolite is a high-power explosive product, which is prepared to be used as raw material in the manufacture of explosive charges such as primers or boosters. These primers protect the explosive mixture contained therein, thus avoiding that said mixture is directly exposed to strokes or other external factors; in turn, it has a greater resistance to the water existing in some boreholes. 
     Pentolite is comprised of PETN (pentaerythritol tetranitrate) and TNT (trinitrotoluene). Only a part of PETN is dissolved in TNT, while the remainder is in the form of crystals in suspension. This mixture remains relatively homogeneous during the agitation thereof for preparing the explosive charge, but when the agitation is stopped, the PETN crystals precipitate. In the currently used container, if Pentolite is not cooled rapidly, the PETN crystals precipitate and concentrate on the side opposite to the initiation of the booster in relation to the required detonator(s). Furthermore, the filling of the containers is conducted in layers (2 to 3) to achieve the correct final weight of the product. This implies some time to go through the containers, which reduces the efficiency and the productivity of the process of preparation of the explosives. 
     In order to overcome these failures of the current container a new kind of container is provided, which shows technical advantages over the containers known. 
     The shaping of the containers of the present utility model allows the precipitation of the PETN crystals on the side where the initiation of the Pentolite takes place. This fact increases the Pentolite blasting likelihood, reducing the misfires caused thereby. 
     Another technical advantage showed by the containers of the present utility model corresponds to the fact that their new covers comprise blind conduits or pins, thus reducing the likelihood that the cover itself come off by being incorrectly placed, preventing the mixture from leaving of the container. 
     An additional technical advantage lies on the fact that the containers of the present utility model may be filled in one step only. This implies a reduction on the filling time per container and, as a consequence, productivity is increased. Other technical effect is that this shaping allows the use of a filling system different from the current one, in which a system with more capacity or an automatic type system is used instead of using a plastic bin. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  consists of a cut view, a bottom view, and a top view of a receptacle or container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  consists of a cut view and an exploded view of the stops of the lower part of the receptacle or container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  consists of a top view and an exploded view of the stops of the lower part of the receptacle or container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  consists of a series of views of the cover of the receptacle or container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  consists of a top view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  consists of a cut view of the lower part of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  consists of a side view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  consists of a top view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  consists of a cut view of the lower part of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  consists of a top view of the lower part of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  consists of a side view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  consists of a top view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  consists of a cut view of the lower part of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  consists of a side view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  consists of a top view of the cover of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  consists of a perspective view and a cut view of a safety device of the receptacle or container according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present utility model corresponds to a container or receptacle ( 1 ) for containing a mixture, preferably pentolite, used to initiate a blasting process. 
     The container ( 1 ) comprises at least two parts, a lower part ( 2 ) which is intended to contain the mixture of explosive material, and an upper part or cover ( 3 ) intended to maintain the structural unity of the container and prevent the mixture from leaving of the container ( 1 ). 
     The lower part ( 2 ) comprises an elongated hollow structure, preferably of circular cross-section, wherein the lower part ( 2 ) shows a cylindrical geometry in a first embodiment, and in a second embodiment the lower part ( 2 ) shows a conical geometry, tapering to the base of the lower part ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ). 
     Inside the lower part ( 2 ) a duct or pin ( 4 ) is placed, which preferably shows a cylindrical shape, and extends from the base of the lower part ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ) to a defined distance of the upper end of the lower part ( 2 ), where the duct or pin ( 4 ) is opened at both ends. The duct or pin ( 4 ) is reinforced to the base of the lower part ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ) by a plurality of reinforcing parts ( 5 ), which reduce the risk of bending of the duct or pin ( 4 ) due to the load of the mixture. The duct or pin ( 4 ) is placed in an eccentric position of the section of the lower part ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ), i.e., it is arranged in a position different from the central symmetry axis of the lower part ( 2 ). In the upper part of the lower part ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ), particularly on the inner surface, at least two stops ( 6 ) are provided to allow the closure of the cover ( 3 ) of the container ( 1 ) at the moment of placing said cover. 
     The cover ( 3 ) comprises an opening ( 7 ) which is supplemented by the upper part of the duct or pin ( 4 ) and comprises at least one opening ( 8 ) from which a respective duct or pin ( 9 ) extends towards the lower part of the cover ( 3 ), where said duct or pin ( 9 ) is closed in the lower part thereof. Each duct or pin ( 9 ) is smaller in diameter than its respective opening ( 8 ), thus generating a conical section between the respective opening ( 8 ) and its respective duct or pin ( 9 ). 
     In the upper part of the cover, particularly on its perimeter, the cover ( 3 ) comprises at least a pair of hollows ( 10 ) that allow the cover ( 3 ) to be closed with the lower part ( 2 ) of the container ( 1 ). 
     In that way, the detonator is inserted through the duct ( 4 ) and subsequently inserted into the at least one duct ( 9 ), being thus placed in the lower part of the container ( 1 ), where the highest concentration of PETN is generated. 
     To fasten the detonator in each duct or pin ( 9 ) a safety device is provided in the conical section raised between the respective opening ( 8 ) and its respective duct or pin ( 9 ), where said safety device is fastened in the conical section by a fastening countercone ( 12 ) and a fastening rod ( 13 ). The safety device comprises a grooved opening, which allows fastening and holding the detonator wire in case of traction caused by said wire.