Abstract: A safety plug for use in a bore hole comprising a bore wall. The safety plug comprises a body having a leading end and a trailing end, and at least one flared portion. An anchoring element extends at least partially around an associated flared portion. Axially displacement of anchoring element relative to its associated flared portion causes the anchoring element to bear against the flared portion and transitions the anchoring element between an unexpanded condition and an expanded condition. A nose, comprising conical elements, extends longitudinally from the leading end of body. The nose is longitudinally compressible.

Abstract: A safety plug for use in rock drilling operations. The safety plug includes a base part and one or more expander elements. The base part has a leading end and a trailing end and a generally cylindrical outer surface between the leading and trailing ends, on which one or more external spirals are formed. The external spirals are provided to engage the internal wall of a bore within which the safety plug is inserted to anchor the base part within the bore. The one or more expander elements have an inactive non-expanded condition and an active, laterally expanded condition. The safety plug is operable to absorb load applied to its leading end in two stages, whereby: in a first stage, load applied to the leading end of the one or more expander elements up to a predetermined load is transferred to the base part and the base part is operable to react the load by engagement of the spirals with the internal wall of the bore.

Abstract: A safety plug for use in rock drilling operations, The safety plug includes a base part and one or more expander elements. The base part has a leading end and a trailing end and a generally cylindrical outer surface between the leading and trailing ends, on which one or more external spirals are formed. The external spirals are provided to engage the internal wall of a bore within which the safety plug is inserted to anchor the base part within the bore. The one or more expander elements have an inactive non-expanded condition and an active, laterally expanded condition. The safety plug is operable to absorb load applied to its leading end in two stages, whereby: in a first stage, load applied to the leading end of the one or more expander elements up to a predetermined load is transferred to the base part and the base part is operable to react the load by engagement of the spirals with the internal wall of the bore.