Patent ID: 7971534

Claim:
A mobile platform for the delivery of bulk explosive comprising: a vehicle comprising a frame; a tank for holding a bulk explosive; and a conduit for conveying a bulk explosive from said tank to a blast hole; wherein said tank comprises a wall having an interior wall surface and an exterior wall surface; a first rotary shaft for supporting a mixing blade that is used to mix an explosive composition within said tank; wherein said first rotary shaft extends from a first terminal end to a second terminal end; wherein a hole portion of said first rotary shaft is located in a hole in said wall and extends from said interior wall surface to said exterior wall surface; wherein said first terminal end of said first rotary shaft is located outside of said tank such that an exterior portion of said first rotary shaft is located between said first terminal end and said hole portion of said first rotary shaft; wherein said exterior portion of said rotary shaft is comprised of an engagement portion and an intermediate portion that is located between said engagement portion and said hole portion; a bearing for engaging said first rotary shaft at said engagement portion of said exterior portion of said first rotary shaft; and wherein said bearing is located outside of said tank and spaced from said exterior wall surface such that said engagement portion of said exterior portion of said first rotary shaft is spaced from said exterior wall surface of said tank and at least a portion of said intermediate portion is exposed such that, during operation, bulk explosive from the interior of said tank that has traversed the space between a surface that defines said hole and said rotary shaft can be cast off before reaching the bearing.