Conveyors: fluid current – Ambulant or portable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-07-31
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: fluid current
Ambulant or portable
C406S137000, C406S194000, C406S196000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267539
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
A system and apparatus for transporting a colloidal like mixture of mineral material and water from a mining site to a processing facility.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,794 shows a control apparatus including means to position and move the controlled apparatus having a fluid discharge device for vertical and horizontal movement. The control apparatus comprises a control input, a joystick, a controlled apparatus position limit, and a switch for selecting manual and automatic position and movement; a computer, a memory for storing program, a device for receiving controlled apparatus position information and a device for generating and communicating electrical signals; first and second controlled apparatus position determining devices; first and second control remotely controlled electrically operating drive motors for adjusting and controlling movement to the controlled apparatus, and first and second current sensing devices interposed between said computer and the drive motors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,395 teaches a method and apparatus for mining a location using a hydraulic monitor having a horizontal and vertical positionable control apparatus. The hydraulic monitor is connected to a source of high pressure water. Distance and direction measuring equipment are mounted on the monitor and controlled in a manner to scan the location. The output from the distance and direction measuring equipment is fed to a computer and a visual video display monitor. The computer converts the information from the distance and direction measuring equipment to a visual representation of the cavity being mined.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,639,003 comprises a high-pressure stream of leach solution directed against a mine waste dump or other mass of mineral-bearing material to be leached to dislodge and break up the material.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,998,199 discloses a hydraulic monitors of the type used in placer mining and fire fighting and more particularly relates to hydraulic motors arranged to utilize the reaction force of liquid discharge of the liquid about two angularly related axes.
U.S. Pat. No. 740,731 teaches an apparatus for mining phosphatic pebble comprising. a station having washing and cleaning apparatus for the material and a pump and motor therefor for elevating the material thereto, a pipe extending from the pump to the sump, and an auxiliary pump having an independent motor. The auxiliary pump is coupled with the pipe and intermediate the first-named pump and the sump end of the pipe and arranged in a plane considerably below that of the first-mentioned pump in the upper plane.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and apparatus for transporting a colloidal like mixture of phosphate or other mineral materials suspended in water from a mining site to a processing facility through a pipeline. Mineral materials are mechanically extracted from the ground by a dragline or other excavating equipment and deposited in a stockpile adjacent to a slurry pit near the mining area. The mineral materials in the stockpile are then washed into the slurry pit by complementary undulating high velocity streams of water discharged by at least two automated water guns positioned on opposing sides of the slurry pit. Once in the slurry pit, the mineral materials are mixed with water discharged from the opposing automated water guns to form a colloidal like water-mineral matrix that flows by gravity through a crushing grid to a hydraulic pump inlet disposed within the slurry pit. Of course, a single automated water gun may be used.
Each automated water gun is mounted on a portable sled in operative communication with a water supply conduit. The sled can be selectively positioned adjacent to the slurry pit by wheel loaders or track-mounted heavy equipment typically used in mining operations. Each automated water gun includes a barrel moveable through a selectable range of vertical and horizontal motion sufficient to allow water discharged from the outlet thereof to be directed against the stockpile of mineral material, the surface of the slurry pit and the crushing grid surrounding the hydraulic pump inlet. Movement of each water gun barrel is accomplished by a corresponding vertical positioning device and a horizontal positioning device. The vertical positioning device and the horizontal positioning device each comprises a hydraulic cylinder in operative communication with an electrically driven hydraulic power unit mounted on the portable sled. The movement of each water gun barrel is controlled by a logic circuit coupled to a corresponding electromechanical valve within the hydraulic system connecting the horizontal positioning device and vertical positioning device to the electrically driven hydraulic power unit.
A remote control panel is provide in a portable control room mounted on a sled or off-road truck which can be positioned near the slurry pit at distance sufficient to protect the operator and control room from the dragline dump bucket and debris or high pressure water escaping the slurry pit. A camera positioned on a telescoping mast mounted the top of the control room is operatively coupled to a video monitor in the control room to allow observation of the automated water cannons by a human operator. A series of floodlights operatively coupled to the remote control panel are positioned around the slurry pit to facilitate nighttime operation of the water guns.
To control the matrix production process, the operator monitors the operation of the automated opposing water guns through a window and the video monitor in the portable control room. In order to vary the pattern of movement in the water gun barrels, the operator selectively presses a switch on the control panel corresponding to the desired pattern of movement. Once a particular pattern has been selected, the automated water guns will continue to cycle automatically through that pattern of motion until the operator halts the operation of the water guns or selects a new pattern of motion. Alternatively, the operator may elect to control the movement of the water gun barrels manually with the pattern of motion corresponding in real time to control inputs through a joystick or other input means on the control panel.
In operation, mineral material is deposited in a stockpile on the edge of the slurry pit by a dragline or excavating equipment. Streams of high velocity water discharged from the barrels of the automated water guns are periodically directed to the base of the stockpile in recurring undulating patterns thereby causing mineral material on the edge of the stockpile to slough off into the slurry pit. Depending upon the consistency and stability stockpile, the operator can choose from a number of predetermined patterns of motion of the barrel of the automated water guns thereby modulating the rate at which mineral materials slough off of the stockpile and into the slurry pit.
Streams of high velocity water discharged from the barrels of the automated water guns are further periodically directed to the surface of the slurry pit in complimentary undulating patterns mixing the mineral material and water into a matrix. By periodically selecting between a series of predetermined patterns of motion in each water gun, the mineral materials are maintained in suspension within the matrix and the operator can maintain a steady flow of the colloidal like water-mineral matrix to the hydraulic pump. In addition to scouring the edge of the stockpile and matrix within the slurry pit, the operator may also select predetermined patterns which direct streams of high velocity water to the face of the crushing grid and hydraulic pump inlet to remove any debris or clumps of material blocking the flow of matrix through the grid.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claim
Bower Kenneth W
Ellis Christopher P.
Fisher III Arthur W.
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