Rock Breaking Cartridge and Use Thereof

Abstract

A rock breaking cartridge ( 10 ) which includes a tubular body ( 12 ), spaced inner and outer second caps ( 14 and 16 ) inside the tubular body ( 12 ), a propellant ( 20 ) inside the tubular body ( 12 ) between the caps ( 14 and 16 ), a radially expansible stemming device ( 30 ) inside the tubular body ( 12 ) spaced from the inner cap ( 14 ), and a filler ( 34 ) between the inner cap ( 14 ) and the stemming device ( 30 ).

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . A rock breaking cartridge comprising: a tubular body, an enclosure which is defined inside the tubular body, a propellant inside the enclosure, a stemming device which is positioned inside the tubular body and which, upon activation, expands a portion of the tubular body in a radial sense, the stemming device being spaced from the enclosure, and a filler inside the tubular body between the enclosure and the stemming device. 
   
   
       9 . A rock breaking cartridge according to  claim 8  wherein the stemming device includes components with relatively inclined surfaces which are relatively movable thereby to cause a portion of the tubular body in which the stemming device is located to expand radially. 
   
   
       10 . A rock breaking cartridge according to  claim 9  wherein the tubular body is weakened to facilitate expansion thereof by the stemming device. 
   
   
       11 . A rock breaking cartridge according to  claim 10  wherein the tubular body is split at least in a longitudinal sense thereby to define at least one portion of the tubular body which is readily expansible in a radial sense upon activation of the stemming device. 
   
   
       12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A rock breaking cartridge according to  claim 9 , further comprising two-wedge-shaped components forming a substantially cylindrical body which are positioned inside the tubular body with a relatively close fit with a large face of one component facing the filler. 
   
   
       14 . A rock breaking cartridge according to  claim 9 , wherein the stemming device comprises at least a first component which defines a wedge-shaped cavity, a wedge shaped barrel in the cavity and a thread mechanism which draws the barrel into the cavity to radially expand the at least first component. 
   
   
       15 . A rock breaking cartridge according to  claim 13 , wherein one component includes a groove in an outer surface to accommodate a lead wire extending to an igniter in the propellant.