Expansion device for breaking solid material, use of the device and method for producing it

Abstract

An expansion device for breaking solid materials, including at least one hose element having an inner expansion chamber with a non-circular cross section before pressurization or having an inner pressuring means and/or a reinforcement arranged on the outside of the inner expansion chamber which has a non-circular cross section before pressurization. The inner pressuring means is arranged around the inner expansion chamber and the reinforcement is arranged around the inner pressuring means. Optionally an outer layer is arranged around the reinforcement, having at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion which is arranged outside the reinforcement. The at least one hose element has a coupling connection on a first end of the hose element, and optionally a second coupling connection on a second end of the hose element.

1 . Expansion device ( 1 ) for breaking solid materials, wherein the expansion device comprises at least two hose elements ( 2 ), each hose element ( 2 ) comprising:
 an inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) having a non-circular cross section before pressurization or having an inner pressuring means ( 4 ) and/or a reinforcement ( 5 ) arranged on the outside of the inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) which have a non-circular cross section before pressurization;   the inner pressuring means ( 4 ) which is arranged around the inner expansion chamber ( 3 );   the reinforcement ( 5 ) which is arranged around the inner pressuring means;   optionally an outer layer ( 6 ) arranged around the reinforcement;   optionally at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ) which is arranged outside the reinforcement ( 5 ) or outside the optional outer layer ( 6 );   and wherein   each hose element ( 2 ) comprises a coupling connection ( 8 ) on a first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), and optionally a second coupling connection ( 10 ) on a second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 );   and wherein   the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises an outer pressuring means ( 12 ) which is arranged on the outside of and encapsulates said at least two hose elements ( 2 ), at least a portion between the coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of each hose element ( 2 ) and the optional second coupling connection ( 10 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of each hose element ( 2 ).   
     
     
         2 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one hose element is a high pressure hose, and wherein at least one hose element is a low pressure hose. 
     
     
         3 . Expansion device ( 1 ) for breaking solid materials, wherein the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises at least one hose element ( 2 ) comprising:
 an inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) having a non-circular cross section before pressurization or having an inner pressuring means ( 4 ) and/or a reinforcement ( 5 ) arranged on the outside of the inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) which have a non-circular cross section before pressurization;   the inner pressuring means ( 4 ) which is arranged around the inner expansion chamber;   the reinforcement ( 5 ) which is arranged around the inner pressuring means;   optionally an outer layer ( 6 ) arranged around the reinforcement;   optionally at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ) which is arranged outside the reinforcement ( 5 ) or outside the optional outer layer ( 6 );   and wherein   said at least one hose element ( 2 ) comprises a coupling connection ( 8 ) on a first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), and optionally a second coupling connection ( 10 ) on a second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 );   wherein   two “directional-breaking-force amending” means ( 13 ) are positioned on opposite sides of said at least one hose element ( 2 ), outside the reinforcement ( 5 ) or the optional outer layer ( 6 ) arranged around the reinforcement ( 5 ), which two “directional-breaking-force amending” means ( 13 ) are held against the hose element ( 2 ) by at least one tightening means ( 14 ) around the two “directional-breaking-force amending” means ( 13 );   and wherein   the expansion device ( 1 ) optionally also comprises an outer pressuring means ( 12 ) which is arranged on the outside of and encapsulates said at least one hose element ( 2 ) and the two “directional-breaking-force amending” means ( 13 ), at least a portion between the coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ) and the optional second coupling connection ( 10 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 ).   
     
     
         4 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein each “directional-breaking-force amending” means ( 13 ) has a cross section being half cylindrical, triangular, quadratic or a combination thereof, and extends at least a portion along and outside the length of the hose element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . Expansion device ( 1 ) for breaking solid materials, wherein the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises at least one hose element ( 2 ) comprising:
 an inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) having a non-circular cross section before pressurization or having an inner pressuring means ( 4 ) and/or a reinforcement ( 5 ) arranged on the outside of the inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) which have a non-circular cross section before pressurization;   the inner pressuring means ( 4 ) which is arranged around the inner expansion chamber ( 3 );   the reinforcement ( 5 ) which is arranged around the inner pressuring means ( 4 );   optionally an outer layer ( 6 ) arranged around the reinforcement ( 5 );   optionally at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ) which is arranged outside the reinforcement ( 5 ) or outside the optional outer layer ( 6 );   and wherein   said at least one hose element ( 2 ) comprises a coupling connection ( 8 ) on a first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), and optionally a second coupling connection ( 10 ) on a second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 );   wherein   the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises an outer pressuring means ( 12 ) which is arranged on the outside of and encapsulates said at least one hose element ( 2 ), at least a portion between the coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ) and the optional second coupling connection ( 10 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 ),   and wherein   the coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), and optionally the second coupling connection ( 10 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), is arranged to be connected to a device ( 15 ) provided to generate at least one pulse of pressurized medium inflow.   
     
     
         6 . Expansion device ( 1 ) for breaking solid materials, wherein the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises at least one hose element ( 2 ) comprising:
 an inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) having a non-circular cross section before pressurization or having an inner pressuring means ( 4 ) and/or a reinforcement ( 5 ) arranged on the outside of the inner expansion chamber ( 3 ) which have a non-circular cross section before pressurization;   the inner pressuring means ( 4 ) which is arranged around the inner expansion chamber ( 3 );   the reinforcement ( 5 ) which is arranged around the inner pressuring means ( 4 );   optionally an outer layer ( 6 ) arranged around the reinforcement ( 5 );   optionally at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ) which is arranged outside the reinforcement ( 5 ) or outside the optional outer layer ( 6 );   and wherein   said at least one hose element ( 2 ) optionally comprises a coupling connection ( 8 ) on a first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), and is blinded on a second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 );   wherein   the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises an outer pressuring means ( 12 ) which is arranged on the outside of and encapsulates said at least one hose element ( 2 ), at least a portion between the coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ) and the optional second coupling connection ( 10 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 ),   and wherein   the expansion device ( 1 ) is provided to expand inside of the expansion chamber ( 3 ) by means of at least one “indirectly expanding” component or mixture by means of a phase transformation of the component or mixture via change in temperature or pressure and/or by means of a chemical reaction.   
     
     
         7 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claims 3 - 6 , wherein the expansion device ( 1 ) comprises at least two hose elements ( 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claims 1 - 7 , wherein said at least one or two hose elements ( 2 ) comprise a coupling connection ( 8 ) connected to a coupling ( 16 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of said at least one or two hose elements ( 2 ) and comprise a blind plug ( 17 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of said at least one or two hose elements ( 2 ), the blind plug ( 17 ) optionally being connected to a second coupling connection ( 10 ). 
     
     
         9 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the inner pressuring means ( 4 ) and/or the optional outer layer ( 6 ) arranged around the reinforcement ( 5 ) is made of a polymeric material, such as polyester, polyurethane, rubber, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ) and/or the outer pressuring means ( 12 ) is made of a material comprising polymeric materials, polyurethane, rubber, steel, or a composite material, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claims 8 - 10 , wherein the blind plug ( 17 ) on each second end ( 10 ) of said at least one or two hose elements ( 2 ) is provided as a casted blind plug. 
     
     
         12 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein each end coupling ( 16 ) and/or blind plug ( 17 ) of each second end ( 10 ) of said at least one or two hose elements ( 2 ) is flat in design. 
     
     
         13 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein anyone, two or all of the inner pressuring means ( 4 ), the reinforcement ( 5 ) and the optional outer layer ( 6 ) have a petal-like, elliptical, convex or banana-like shape before pressurization. 
     
     
         14 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the outer pressuring means ( 12 ) also comprises fibers extending in the longitudinal direction of the expansion device ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claim 5  or  7 - 14 , wherein the device ( 15 ) provided to generate at least one pulse of pressurized medium inflow is a cartridge containing at least one explosive component. 
     
     
         16 . Expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the outer pressuring means ( 12 ) has a circular, diamond-shaped, triangular or cubical cross section in the longitudinal direction of the expansion device. 
     
     
         17 . Use of an expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claim 1 - 5  or  7 - 16 , for the breaking or cracking of solid materials by use of a pressurised hydraulic medium. 
     
     
         18 . Use according to  claim 17 , wherein increase of pressure is made gradually and by pulsation. 
     
     
         19 . Use of an expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claims 6 - 16 , for the breaking or cracking of solid materials by use of at least one “indirectly expanding” component or mixture which expands by means of a phase transformation of the component or mixture via change in temperature or pressure and/or by means of a chemical reaction. 
     
     
         20 . Method for the production of an expansion device ( 1 ) according to anyone of  claims 1 - 16 , the method comprising the following steps:
 producing at least one hose element ( 2 ) by
 applying the reinforcement ( 5 ) around the inner pressuring means ( 4 ); 
 optionally applying the outer layer ( 6 ) around the reinforcement; 
 optionally providing the coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of the hose element ( 2 ), optionally also providing the second coupling connection ( 10 ) on the second end ( 11 ) of the hose element ( 2 ); 
 optionally connecting a coupling ( 16 ) or a blind plug ( 17 ) to any coupling connection ( 8 ,  10 ); 
   optionally providing the at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ) which is arranged outside the reinforcement ( 5 ) or outside the optional outer layer ( 6 ); and   casting or vulcanization of the expansion device ( 1 ), wherein the outer pressuring means ( 12 ) is arranged and casted or vulcanized on the outside of said at least one hose element ( 2 ), said outer pressuring means ( 12 ) encapsulating said at least one hose element ( 2 ), at least up to the optional coupling connection ( 8 ) on the first end ( 9 ) of said at least one hose element ( 2 ), and also encapsulating the optional at least one “directional-breaking-force amending” material portion ( 7 ), said outer pressuring means ( 12 ) optionally also sealing the first end ( 9 ) and/or the second end ( 11 ), each by a casted blind plug ( 17 ).   
     
     
         21 . Method according to  claim 20 , wherein at least two hose elements ( 2 ) are produced and the outer pressuring means ( 12 ) is casted or vulcanized to encapsulate the at least two hose elements ( 2 ) in one expansion device ( 1 ). 
     
     
         22 . Method according to  claim 20  or  21 , wherein at least one part of said at least one hose element ( 2 ) is flattened during the application of an increased temperature. 
     
     
         23 . Method according to anyone of  claims 20 - 22 , wherein a blind plug ( 17 ) is provided on the second end ( 11 ) of said at least one hose elements ( 2 ), by casting or optionally by connection to a provided second coupling connection ( 10 ).