IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,602,519
Granted Patent B2
US 12,602,519 · App. 18/480,663 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Systems for automated blast design planning and methods related thereto

Inventors: Scott Giltner (Louisville, KY); Rufus E. Flinchum (Roanoke, VA); Jeffrey Averett (Grantsville, UT); Joseph Nawrocki, Jr. (Buena Vista, VA)
Assignee: Dyno Nobel Inc.
G06F30/13F42D3/04G06G7/54G06Q50/02B64U2101/30B64U2201/20G06F2101/10
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,602,519
App. No.
18/480,663
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, method, or apparatus for generating a blast plan that can receive blast data comprising geological properties of a blast site, blasthole parameters, and available explosive product. A pattern footage can be determined based on a relationship between the face height, the specific energy of the available explosive product, and the geological properties of the bench. The burden and spacing can be determined from the pattern footage.

Claims (34)

1 . A system for generating a blast plan, the system comprising:

a memory device to store location data for a blast site acquired from one or more sources;

a processing unit to:

determine geological properties for the blast site from the location data;

generate profiles of portions of the blast site with the geological properties;

generate a model of the blast site;

generate a blast plan for the model based on the geological properties and the profiles, the blast plan comprising an arrangement of blastholes, and explosives to be used for each of the blastholes.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the geological properties are received from at least one of seismic data, drilling data, drill cuttings, or core samples.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the geological properties comprise blasthole measurements including a blasthole diameter.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further to optimize a pattern of the blastholes based on the geological properties.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein optimizing comprises generating a dataset comprising generating a plurality of permutations and simulating the plurality of permutations.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein optimizing comprises varying an emulsion explosive density within a set of permutations for simulation to determine an optimum energy profile for each blasthole.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine a burden and a spacing for the blastholes.

8 . A method for generating a blast plan, the method comprising:

determining geological properties for a blast site from location data;

generating profiles of portions of the blast site with the geological properties;

generating a model of the blast site; and

generating a blast plan for the model based on the geological properties and the profiles, the blast plan comprising an arrangement of blastholes, and explosives to be used for each of the blastholes.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the geological properties are received from at least one of seismic data, drilling data, drill cuttings, or core samples.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the geological properties comprise blasthole measurements including a blasthole diameter.

11 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising optimizing a pattern of the blastholes based on the geological properties.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein optimizing comprises generating a dataset comprising generating a plurality of permutations and simulating the plurality of permutations.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein optimizing comprises varying an emulsion explosive density within a set of permutations for simulation to determine an optimum energy profile for each blasthole.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising determining a burden and a spacing for the blastholes.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

determine geological properties for a blast site from location data;

generate profiles of portions of the blast site with the geological properties;

generate a model of the blast site; and

generate a blast plan for the model based on the geological properties and the profiles, the blast plan comprising an arrangement of blastholes, and explosives to be used for each of the blastholes.

16 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the geological properties are received from at least one of seismic data, drill data, drill cuttings, or core samples.

17 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the geological properties comprise blasthole measurements include a blasthole diameter.

18 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further configure the computer to optimize a pattern of the blastholes based on the geological properties.

19 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein optimizing comprises generate a dataset comprising generating a plurality of permutations and simulating the plurality of permutations.

20 . The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein optimizing comprises vary an emulsion explosive density within a set of permutations for simulation to determine an optimum energy profile for each blasthole.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 4, 2023
From: GILTNER, SCOTT; FLINCHUM, RUFUS E.; AVERETT, JEFFERY; NAWROCKI, JOSEPH, JR
To: DYNO NOBEL INC.
Reel/Frame 065119/0791 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17819213 · Aug 11, 2022
Continuation 16782941 · Feb 5, 2020
Continuation PCTUS2020016544 · Feb 4, 2020
Provisional Application 62801312 · Feb 5, 2019
Related Publication 20240111916A1 · Apr 4, 2024
References Cited (60)
US 3735704A · Livingston · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 6442105B1 · Tubel et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6772105B1 · Heck · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 8214073B2 · Keskinen · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 8392014B2 · Saleniemi · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 8538698B2 · Heck, Sr. · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 8733473B2 · Nadeau · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 9476303B2 · Nettleton · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9605926B1 · Means · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 10101486B1 · Palmer et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10837750B2 · Averett · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 11073000B2 · Oppolzer · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20090256412A1 · Nieto · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100044107A1 · Keskinen · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120024605A1 · Elinas · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20120179322A1 · Hennessy · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20160313107A1 · Birkin · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20190234722A1 · Averett · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200250355A1 · Giltner · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210049344A1 · Treat · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210148689A1 · Averett · 2021 [cited by examiner]
CN 104929687A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 105627843A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
CN 106327579A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
CN 107907017A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
CN 108731561A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EA 010244B1 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP H0424394B2 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP H05180597A · 1993 [cited by applicant]
JP H1181855A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP H11132700A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 2001021298A · 2001 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014515443A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015209832A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015229831A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020170019523 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
India Office Action dated Feb. 17, 2023 for IN202117036511. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jun. 4, 2020 for PCT/US2020/016544. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Jul. 3, 2023 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/819,213. [cited by applicant]
O-Pit; https://www.o-pitblast.com; accessed Mar. 5, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Orice Blast IQ; https://www.oricaminingservies.com/au.en/section/products_and_services/blastiq_systems; accessed Mar. 5, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Strayos; https://www.strayos.com; accessed Mar. 5, 2020. [cited by applicant]
“Blast Design”, Orica.com viewed Jun. 3, 2022 at https//www.orica.com/products-services/mining-services/BlastIQ/solutions/blast-design#. YitXznrMKUk, May 2018. [cited by applicant]
“Blaster Guide a Resource for the Explosives and Blasting Industry: 2002”, Viewed Jun. 3, 2022 at https://www.austinpowder.com/wp-content/themes/austinpowder/regional/blasters-guide/downloads/1-general_information.pdf, … [cited by applicant]
“Blasting and Explosives—1 Quick Reference Guide”, Viewed Jun. 3, 2022 at http://www.leg.mn.gov/docs/2015/other/150681/PFEISret_1/Dyno%20Nobel%202010.pdf, 2010. [cited by applicant]
“Demonstrating Complete Blast Quality Control with the Next Generation BlastIQ Platform”, Viewed Jun. 3, 2022 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2F_ND_9ptg, Jul. 31, 2018. [cited by applicant]
“ShotPlus”, Orica.com viewed Jun. 3, 2022 at https://www.orica/product-services/mining-services/BlastIQ/technologies/shotplus#.YjTC7-pBw2x, 2019. [cited by applicant]
“Video Roundup 45th”, ISEE, 2019 viewed Jun. 3, 2022 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZdkWPx3oDA, Jan. 28, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Bamford, Thomas , et al., “A Real-Time Analysis of Rock Fragmentation Using UAV Technology”, 6th International Conference on Computer Applications in the Minerals Industries, Figure 6, Jul. 14, 2016, 1-12. [cited by applicant]
Hudson , et al., “Put to The Test—Case Studies, World Coas”, http://pulications.workdcoal.com/flip/world-coal.2017/June/kplat4f.html, Jun. 2017. [cited by applicant]
Medinac, F. , et al., “Pre-and Post-Blast rock Block Size Analysis Using UAV-Based Data and Discrete Fracture Network”, 2nd International Discrete Fracture Network Engineering Conference, USA, tables 1-2 and Figures 5-6… [cited by applicant]
Morin , et al., “Monte Carlo Simulation as a Tool to Predict Blasting Fragmentation Based on the Kuz-Ram Model”, Computers & Geosciences, Pergamon, Amsterdan, NL, vol. 32 No. 3 ISSN 0098-3004, 2006. [cited by applicant]
Kim, Jeong-Jin , “New Blasting Handbook”, Korean Industrial Technology Association/Fiscal, Machine Translation, 2019-2021. [cited by applicant]
“Blaster's Guide”, A Resource for the Explosives and Blasting Industry, accessed Nov. 20, 2024 from https://austinpowder.com/wp-content/themes/AustinPowder/regional/blasters-guide/downloads/1-General_Information.pdf, 20… [cited by applicant]
“Demonstrating Complete Blast Quality Control with the Next Generation BlastIQTM Platform”, Orica, accessed Nov. 20, 2024 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZF_ND_9Ptg. [cited by applicant]
“DNA-Blast Group”, Video Round Up 45th, ISEE, accessed on Nov. 20, 2024 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?V=GZskWPx3oDA, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Hamdi , et al., “A Methodology for Rock Mass Characterisation and Classification to Improve Blast Results”, International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences 42, 2005, 177-194. [cited by applicant]
Qu, Shijie , et al., “The Blast0Code Model—A Computer-Aided Bench Blast Design and Simulation System”, Fragblast: International Journal for Blasting and Fragmentation, vol. 6 No. 1, 2002, 85-103. [cited by applicant]
Yamamoto , “A Tentative Plan for Explosive Standards”, Japan Explosive Society, vol. 3 No 2, Dec. 31, 1942, 93-110. [cited by applicant]
Wang, et al., “Multi-Planar Detection Optimization Algorithm for the Interval Charging Structure of a Large-Diameter Longhole Blasting Design Based on Rock Fragmentation Aspects”, Mar. 7, 2018. [cited by applicant]