Hydraulic and earth engineering – Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying – retrieving,... – Advancing subterranean length of pipe or cable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-03-06
Taylor, Dennis L. (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Subterranean or submarine pipe or cable laying, retrieving,...
Advancing subterranean length of pipe or cable
C175S053000, C405S154100, C405S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196766
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for movement along an underground passage and to a method of moving an apparatus along an underground passage.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
The invention has been devised particularly, although not exclusively for use in an underground mining operation which utilises a mining head positioned at one end of an elongate element, such as a pipe string, whereby the mining head can be manoeuvred to, and through, an underground formation by movement of the elongate element. The mining head creates a passage along which the elongate element passes. A difficulty with this arrangement is that in situations where the passage is formed in soft sandy deposits and the like, material surrounding the passage can collapse around the pipe string with the result that the pipe string can become jammed in the ground.
Traditionally, underground mining operations of the type described above do not allow hard wiring of the mining head and rely on other means or control and operation of motors and telemetry. For example, “mud” motors running on pressurised bentonite fluid and the use of “mud” pulsing for telemetry purposes has limited the drilling capacity of this form of underground mining. If the mining head were able to be hard wired drilling capacity could be increased by the use of electro/hydraulic power and through direct control of the mining head by the use of telemetry cabling.
It would be advantageous to provide a shroud around the pipe string for lining the passage so as to prevent surrounding material from collapsing onto the pipe string. The apparatus and method of the present invention have as one object thereof to overcome the above-mentioned problems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus adapted for movement through a passage formed in the ground, characterised by an elongate element and means for positioning a shroud around at least part of the longitudinal periphery of the elongate element for supporting engagement with the periphery of the passage to provide a space through which the elongate element can move, the shroud being of flexible construction and being arranged to be progressively installed in position as the elongate element moves along the passage, and means for introducing an inflation fluid into the region between the shroud and the elongate element for inflating the shroud and maintaining it in supporting engagement with the periphery of the passage, wherein the shroud is delivered to the elongate element from a remote storage point for installation.
The shroud may be assembled from flexible material which turns around a location on the elongate element to provide an inner section which is conveyed with the elongate element and an outer section which is turned back with respect to the inner section and which provides the shroud, the outer section being fixed in relation to the passage whereby the flexible material turns around from the inner section to the outer section to provide the shroud as the elongate element moves along the passage.
The flexible material may comprise two or more elongate sections arranged such that the longitudinal sides thereof are joined one to another at the outer section to provide the shroud.
The longitudinal sections may have complimentary connector elements on their longitudinal sides for joining the longitudinal edges thereof together.
The flexible material may be turned around from the inner section to the outer section at turning means such as rollers moving with the elongate element. Conveniently, the rollers are mounted on the elongate element. The rollers may be accommodated within a protective casing positioned around a leading end of the elongate element.
The inner section of the flexible material may be accommodated in one or more longitudinal passages provided on the outer periphery of the elongate element.
In circumstances where the elongate element is required to be particularly long it is preferable that driving means be provided in or adjacent to the longitudinal passages thereby facilitating the travel of the inner section of flexible material. Still preferably, the driving means may be provided so as to specifically engage and facilitate the travel of the connector elements of the inner section of flexible material thereby facilitating the travel of the flexible material itself.
A seal may be provided between a fixed end of the outer section of the flexible material and the elongate element to define the outermost end of the shroud, the seal permitting sliding movement of the elongate element therethrough as it moves within the passage.
A further seal may be provided between the outer section of the flexible material and the elongate element to define an innermost end of the shroud.
The flexible material may be stored in roll form and unwound from the roll and progressively delivered to the elongate element as it advances through the passage to provide the inner section and thereby allows deployment of the shroud over long distances. The rolls of flexible material may be stored at ground level.
The inflation fluid may comprise a slurry such as Betonite slurry.
The present invention further provides an elongate structure adapted to be moved axially through an underground passage, comprising an elongate element and means for positioning a shroud around at least part of the longitudinal periphery of the elongate element as it advances through the passage for engagement against the periphery of the passage to provide a space through which the elongate element can move, the shroud being assembled from flexible material which is delivered from a remote storage point and turns around a location moving with the elongate element to provide an inner section which is conveyed with the elongate element and an outer section which is turned back with respect to the inner section to provide the shroud, wherein the outer section is fixed in relation to the passage, there being further provided means for introducing as inflation fluid into the region between the shroud and the elongate element.
Preferably, the outer section of the flexible material defines an inner region and an inflation fluid is delivered into the inner region to urge the outer section into supporting engagement with the periphery of the passage.
The present invention still further provides a connector means for use in the releasable hermetic fixing together of elongate sections of flexible material of which is comprised a shroud, the connector means comprising first and second connector elements of complimentary configuration whereby such may be pressed together and force applied to pull such apart acts to strengthen the grip therebetween, the connector elements requiring an unpeeling or unzipping action to separate same.
Each connector is preferably elongate and extends along one longitudinal side of an elongate section of flexible material. The first connector element may be provided in a male configuration with the second connector element provided in a complimentary female configuration.
The first and second connector elements further have complimentary longitudinal ridges and recesses provided thereon and arranged such that force applied to pull same apart acts to strengthen the grip of the second connector element about the first connector element.
The present invention also provides a method for facilitating movement of apparatus underground, characterised by the deployment and positioning of a shroud about at least a part of a longitudinal periphery of that apparatus as it advances through a passage created thereby for supporting engagement with the periphery of the passage, the shroud being assembled from a flexible material delivered to the apparatus from a remote storage point, an inflation fluid fluid being introduced into the region between the shroud and the apparatus for inflating the shroud and maintaining it in supporting engagement with the periphery of the passage.
The flexible material of the shroud is characterised in that the flexible material of t
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Taylor Dennis L.
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