Shaped charge detonation system and method

Abstract

Encapsulated shaped charge for efficient initiation of hydrodynamic velocity detonation of explosives column. A water tight capsule with angled sides containing sufficient quantities of explosive and a detonator means where the capsule substantially occupies the cross-section of the bore-hole. The capsule contains up to 30 pounds of explosives. The capsule efficiently and sufficiently initiates a column of explosives whereby the amount of Nitrogen Dioxide is substantially decreased.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shaped charge detonation device with a shaped charge of explosive material used to initiate a column of blasting agent, said shaped charge detonation device comprising, 
 a capsule filled with the explosive material, said capsule has a shape to direct an initiation energy towards the column of blasting agent, said capsule shape includes a tapered end, a flat end opposite the tapered end and a passage from the flat end to the tapered end along the centerline of the capsule with a tube located in the passage, said capsule is formed from a plastic material,    a detonator means for initiating the explosive material, and    a detonation cord means to initiate the detonator means.    
     
     
         2 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule includes a recess in the tapered end for the detonator means.  
     
     
         3 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the detonator means is a cast booster.  
     
     
         4 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the detonator means is a cylindrical cast booster.  
     
     
         5 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule shape is substantially cylindrical.  
     
     
         6 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule shape includes an outer shape and an inner shape, the outer shape includes the tapered end to allow the capsule to be lowered past obstructions in a borehole and the inner shape includes the shape to direct the initiation energy.  
     
     
         7 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the capsule shape includes angled sides.  
     
     
         8 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the angled sides are angled between 13 to 18 degrees.  
     
     
         9 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the angled sides are angled between 16 to 17 degrees.  
     
     
         10 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the capsule shape includes draft sides above the angled sides, the draft sides are angled between 3 to 4 degrees.  
     
     
         11 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plastic material of the capsule above the recess is thinner than other areas of the capsule.  
     
     
         12 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the tapered end is frustoconical.  
     
     
         13 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule includes a watertight lid.  
     
     
         14 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule is formed in one piece.  
     
     
         15 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the capsule includes a sealable fill hole in the flat end.  
     
     
         16 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule has a diameter at the flat end substantially equal to a diameter of the column of blasting agent.  
     
     
         17 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the tube is integral with the capsule.  
     
     
         18 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule includes handholds located at the flat end.  
     
     
         19 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the capsule contains between 20 to 30 pounds of the explosive material.  
     
     
         20 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the capsule contains between 23 to 27 pounds of the explosive material.  
     
     
         21 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the explosive material and the blasting agent are like materials.  
     
     
         22 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the blasting agent is Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil.  
     
     
         23 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said capsule includes internal baffles to strengthen the capsule.  
     
     
         24 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said capsule is formed of plastic.  
     
     
         25 . A shaped charge detonation device with a shaped charge of explosive material used to initiate a column of blasting agent contained within a borehole, the shape charge detonation device includes a detonation means for initiating the explosive material and a detonation cord means to initiate the detonation means, said device comprising, 
 a capsule filled with the explosive material wherein the capsule has a shape to direct an initiation energy towards the column of blasting agent,    the capsule shape includes a tapered end, a substantially flat end and a passage through the center of the capsule with a tube located in the passage, said tapered end is frustoconical to allow the capsule to be lowered past obstructions in the borehole the shape of the capsule includes sides angled from the tapered end at between 13 to 18 degrees from the capsule centerline to direct the initiation energy at an outermost diameter of the column of blasting agent.    
     
     
         26 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the capsule is plastic and watertight to allow 20 to 30 pounds of the explosive material to remain in the borehole for long periods of time while remaining unaffected by conditions in the borehole.  
     
     
         27 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the capsule includes a recess in the tapered end for locating the detonator means.  
     
     
         28 . A capsule for use in a shaped charge detonation system whereby the capsule may be transported empty and filled with explosive materials on a blast site, said capsule comprising: 
 a tapered end to allow the capsule to be lowered past obstructions in a borehole,    a flat end to maximize an interface surface area between an initiation energy produced by detonation of the explosive material and a column of blasting agent,    a passage from the flat end to the tapered end through a centerline of the capsule to isolate the explosive material from a detonation cord, and    a recess in the tapered end for a detonator.    
     
     
         29 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said capsule includes angled sides for forming the explosive material into a shaped charge.  
     
     
         30 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 29  wherein said angled sides are angled between 13 to 18 degrees from the capsule centerline.  
     
     
         31 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 30  wherein said angled sides are angled between 16 to 17 degrees from the capsule centerline.  
     
     
         32 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said capsule includes handhold means located on the flat end of the capsule to allow handling of the capsule.  
     
     
         33 . A capsule as claimed in  claim 28  wherein said capsule includes internal baffles to strengthen the capsule.  
     
     
         34 . A shaped charge detonation device for reducing emissions of Nitrogen Oxides from blasting, whereby a shaped charge of an explosive material contained within a capsule releases an initiation energy upwardly into a column of blasting agent in order to ensure a resultant detonation reaction attains steady state velocity of detonation in the blasting agent column closer to the shaped charge device and thereby prevent deflagration of the blasting agent, said device comprising said capsule, a detonator means for initiating the explosive material, and a detonation cord means for initiating the detonator means.  
     
     
         35 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 34  wherein said capsule contains between 20 to 30 pounds of the explosive material.  
     
     
         36 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the capsule has a snap-fit lid for sealing and a tube through a centerline for a passage for the detonation cord means.  
     
     
         37 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the capsule has angled sides to form the shaped charge to direct the initiation energy upwardly into the column of blasting agent and across an entire cross-section of the column of blasting agent.  
     
     
         38 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 37  wherein said angled sides located above the tapered end continue outwardly and upwardly at between 13 to 18 degrees from the capsule centerline.  
     
     
         39 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the capsule has a tapered end to guide the capsule past obstructions when lowered down a borehole.  
     
     
         40 . A shaped charge detonation device as claimed in  claim 39  wherein said tapered end has a recess for the detonator means.  
     
     
         41 . A method of blasting to ensure a column of blasting agent attains steady state velocity detonation near a shaped charge including, 
 providing an empty capsule to a blaster,    filling the capsule with an explosive material to form the shaped charge,    sealing the capsule,    locating a detonator at a first end of the capsule,    attaching a detonator cord to the detonator,    locating the capsule and the detonator in a borehole, and    detonating the shaped charge.    
     
     
         42 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the capsule is shaped to provide a shaped charge when filled with the explosive material, said capsule includes angled sides, a tapered end to allow the capsule to move past obstruction in the borehole, and a recess in the tapered end to locate the detonator means  
     
     
         43 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the capsule is filled with 20 to 30 pounds of the explosive material.  
     
     
         44 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the explosive material and the blasting agent are like materials.  
     
     
         45 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 41  wherein the detonator means is a cast booster.  
     
     
         46 . A method of blasting to reduce emissions of pollutants by ensuring a column of blasting agent attains hydrodynamic velocity detonation near a shaped charge whereby an initiation energy released by the shaped charge efficiently and sufficiently initiates the column of blasting agent, including, 
 providing a capsule shaped to direct an initiation energy towards a column of blasting agent,    filling the capsule with explosive material to form the shaped charge,    sealing the capsule,    placing a detonator means for detonating the explosive material at a first end,    placing a detonation cord means for detonating the detonator means through a tube located along a centerline in the capsule,    attaching the detonation cord means to the detonator means,    locating the capsule in a borehole, and    detonating the shaped charge such that the initiation energy spreads across the entire cross-section of the column of blasting agent and provides sufficient energy to overcome adverse conditions in the borehole and the column of blasting agent.    
     
     
         47 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the step of locating the capsule in a borehole includes lowering the capsule to the bottom of the borehole by the detonation cord means.  
     
     
         48 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the capsule has a snap-fit lid for sealing the capsule.  
     
     
         49 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the first end of the capsule is a tapered end to allow the capsule to easily move past obstructions in the borehole.  
     
     
         50 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the capsule includes a recess centered on the capsule centerline at the tapered end to locate the detonator means.  
     
     
         51 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the capsule includes angled sides to form a shaped charge with the explosive material.  
     
     
         52 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 51  wherein the angled sides are angled at between 13 to 18 degrees from the capsule centerline.  
     
     
         53 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 51  wherein the angled sides are angled at between 16 to 17 degrees from the capsule centerline.  
     
     
         54 . A method of blasting as claimed in  claim 46  wherein the capsule is filled with 20 to 30 pounds of the explosive material.