| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 2 360 133 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
17.09.2014 Bulletin 2014/38 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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24.08.2011 Bulletin 2011/34 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 10.02.2011 |
|
| (51) |
International Patent Classification (IPC):
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |
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Designated Extension States: |
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BA ME |
| (30) |
Priority: |
11.02.2010 ZA 201001024
|
| (71) |
Applicant: AEL MINING SERVICES LIMITED |
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2196 Johannesburg (ZA) |
|
| (72) |
Inventors: |
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- Wilson, Laurence Justin Pienaar
Midrand 1684 (ZA)
- Pienaar, André
Pretoria 0081 (ZA)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Potter Clarkson LLP |
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The Belgrave Centre
Talbot Street
Nottingham, NG1 5GG
Nottingham, NG1 5GG (GB) |
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| |
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(57) A method of producing an emulsion explosive for use in an underground mining operation
is provided. The method includes feeding, by means of gravity, an emulsion explosive
oxidizer from an oxidizer source to an underground oxidizer holding zone in a mine,
while separately feeding, by means of gravity, an emulsion explosive fuel from a fuel
source to an underground fuel holding zone in the mine. Oxidizer and fuel are withdrawn
from the oxidizer holding zone and the fuel holding zone respectively, and separately
fed, under gravity, to an underground emulsion explosive production zone which is
thus located at a lower level in the mine than the oxidizer holding zone and the fuel
holding zone. An emulsion explosive is produced by admixing the fuel and the oxidizer
in the emulsion explosive production zone.