Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Apparatus And Process For Mining Of Minerals
The present invention relates to apparatus and process for mining of
minerals in which the won mineral is transported away from the point of
mining by fluid along a pipeline.
The invention is particularly suitable for the open cast mining of tarsand.
The conventional way of open cast mining of tarsand involves digging the
tarsand from a layer deposit of tarsand and transferring the dug tarsand to a
series of trucks which each transport the dug tarsand to a fixed fluid
conveyor inlet station. The fluid conveyor inlet station is connected to a
remote tarsand processing plant by a tarsand conveying pipeline and serves
the purpose of enabling the dug tarsand to be introduced into the tarsand
conveying pipeline. The fluid conveyor inlet station is also connected by a
pipeline to a source of conveying fluid, usually water. The source of water
is usually a settlement pond located at the tarsand processing plant and so it
is common for the fluid conveyor inlet station to be connected to the tarsand
processing plant by two pipelines (viz. a water supply pipeline and a tarsand
2o conveying pipeline) which run in parallel form the tarsand processing plant
to the fluid conveyor inlet station.
The fluid conveyor inlet station includes a mixing chamber into which the
dug tarsand is deposited by the trucks. In the mixing chamber the tarsand is
mixed with water to produce a slurry. The slurry is passed through a sizer to
remove unwanted large lumps and is fed into a fluid pump connected to the
tarsand conveying pipeline and pumped along the tarsand conveying
pipeline to the processing station.
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Typically the maximum throughput of dug tarsand is in the order of 5000
tons per hour and in order to convey this quantity from the fluid conveyor
input station to the tarsand processing station the diameter of the tarsand
conveying pipeline is about 1 meter.
Typically the distance between the fluid conveyor input and the tarsand
processing station is in the order of 4 kilometres. It is important therefore
for the slurry to be continually pumped along the tarsand conveying
pipeline in order to avoid settlement .of the tarsand in the pipeline. Should
this occur, it is necessary to pump water only along the tarsand conveying
pipeline until the settled-out tarsand is removed. During this time, mining of
the tarsand has to be stopped.
A general aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and
process for mining of minerals which enables the won mineral to be
introduced into a fluid conveyor at the location of mining for transport to a
remote location and thereby obviate the need for a series of trucks and a
fixed fluid conveyor inlet station.
2o According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an
apparatus for transporting mineral from a point of mining to a remote
location, the apparatus including a mobile mineral breaker rig having a
mineral outlet, the rig including a fluid inlet pipe for receiving conveying
fluid, a mineral inlet for introducing mineral from said mineral outlet into
2s said fluid pipe and a fluid outlet pipe for conveying said fluid mixed with
mineral received from said mineral outlet, an extensible pipeline assembly
connected at one end to said inlet and outlet pipes and being adapted for
connection at its opposite end to one end of a static pipeline communicating
with said remote location, said extensible pipeline assembly being
3o expandable to enable said mobile rig to move away from said one end of the
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static pipeline whilst maintaining fluid communication therewith, said
extensible pipeline assembly comprising a series of elongate pipe
assemblies which are articulated at adjacent ends to one another in a zig-zag
manner via an articulated joint, each elongate pipe assembly including two
s lengths of pipe which are arranged side-by-side and secured together such
that one length of pipe defines an upper pipe and the other length of pipe
defines a lower pipe, the articulated joint between each end of adjacent
elongate pipe assemblies including an upper rotary joint which connects
adjacent ends of the upper pipes of adjacent pipe assemblies and a lower
rotary joint which connects adjacent ends of the lower pipes of adjacent
pipe assemblies, the axis of rotation of the upper and lower rotary joints of
each articulated joint being co-axial.
Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with
~s reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figures 1 a,b,c are schematic illustrations of a process according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2a, 2b are plan views of an apparatus according to a first
2o embodiment of the present invention shown with the extensible assembly
fully extended and fully contracted, respectively;
Figure 3 is a side view of the first embodiment;
Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the fluid conveyor pipelines
shown in Figure 3;
2s Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of the mobile mineral breaker rig
shown in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of the mineral inlet valve shown
in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along lines VII-VII in Figure 6;
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Figure 8 is a side view of the mobile breaker rig having an
alternative mineral inlet valve;
Figure 9 is a plan view of the mobile breaker rig shown in Figure 8;
and
s Figure 10 is an end view of the mobile breaker rig shown in Figure 8.
Referring initially to Figure la there is diagrammatically shown a layer
deposit of tarsand TS and a digger D which digs tarsand and deposits the
tarsand into a mobile breaker rig MBR. The rig MBR is connected to a
static water supply pipeline WSP and a static tarsand conveying pipeline
TSP by an extensible pipeline assembly EPA. The pipeline TSP is
connected to a tarsand processing station S whereat at the tar is separated
from the sand. Sand and water are deposited into a settlement pond SP and
the water from the pond is pumped by a pump P along the water supply
is pipeline WSP.
The digger D deposits dug tarsand into a receiving hopper H of the rig
MBR, and as described later, the dug tarsand is subsequently introduced
into the extensible pipeline assembly EPA and is transported to the tarsand
2o processing station along pipeline TSP.
As the digger advances in direction A along the tarsand layer deposit, it cuts
a channel C and the mobile rig MBR advances also in direction A so as to
enable the digger to deposit dug tarsand into the hopper H by slewing its
2s bucket into position.
As the rig MBR advances in direction A, the extensible pipeline assembly
EPA extends from is fully contracted condition Em;" until a maximum
extension EmaX is reach as shown in Figure lb.
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When the maximum extension has been reached, the extensible pipeline is
disconnected from the static pipelines WSP, TSP at connection point CP,
and contracted back to its fully contracted condition Em;". The static
pipelines are then extended by the introduction of additional pipes AD to
form a new connection end CPN of the pipelines WSP,TSP which are at an
advanced position in direction A. The extensible pipeline assembly is
reconnected to the new connection end CPN of pipelines WSP,TSP to
enable further advancement of the rig MBR in direction A as shown in
Figure 1 c.
The extendable length by which the extensible pipeline assembly EPA may
be extended between its fully extended condition and its fully contracted
condition is preferably chosen so as to enable the mining operation to run
continuously as long as possible so as to minimise the number of times the
1s mining operation has to be stopped to enable extension of the static
pipelines TSP,SWP to be made. It is envisaged that the extendable length
may be in the region of 200 metres but it will be appreciated that it may be
more or less than 200 meters.
2o The mobile rig MBR and extensible pipeline assembly EPA are shown in
greater detail in Figures 2 to 5.
The extensible pipeline assembly EPA preferably comprises a series of
elongate pipe assemblies 90 which are articulated to one another in a zigzag
25 manner. The assembly EPA has a first end assembly 90a which is connected
to the mobile rig MBR and a second end assembly 90b which is connected
to the static pipelines WSP,TSP. The first and second assemblies 90a,90b
are interconnected by at least one intermediate pipe assembly 90c.
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At each point of articulation PA there is provided a mobile ground support
MS which supports the assemblies 90 on the ground whilst static or whilst
being moved during extension or contraction of the assembly EPA.
s Articulation about articulation points AP is preferably restricted such that
the zigzag formation is retained when the assembly EPA is fully extended.
In this respect the articulation is preferably restricted such the angle a is
about 25 degrees or greater when the assembly is fully extended, viz. the
angle subtended between adjacent pipe assemblies is about 130° or less.
This enables the assembly EPA to be contracted by moving the first and
second end assemblies 90a,90b inwards toward one another.
The point of articulation PA between the second end assembly 90b and
pipelines TSP,WSP is preferably supported on a power driven support MSP
~s which enables the second end assembly 90b to be driven in direction A after
disconnection from pipelines TSP,WSP and so cause contraction of
assembly EPA. During contraction, the pipe assemblies 90 are pushed
together about their points of articulation preferably up to a predetermined
stop limit wherein angle ~3 is a predetermined minimum which prevents
2o adjacent assemblies 90 engaging one another. Preferably angle ~i is about
25°.
During expansion of the extensible pipeline assembly EPA, it is envisaged
that the mobile rig MBR will pull first end assembly 90a and so pull the
2s intermediate assembly 90c and end assembly 90b until the maximum
extension is achieved.
It is therefore envisaged that the supports MS, apart from MSP which
carries the articulation between the second assembly 90b and pipelines
3o WSP,TSP will be free moving and preferably in the form of castors 90d.
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Each castor has a wheel assembly 190 rotatably mounted on a carriage
frame 191. The carriage frame 191 is mounted on a support frame 192
attached to lower pipe 102 via a turntable having a vertical axis of rotation
which is co-axial with the axis of rotation AR. However it is also envisaged
that if the power requirement for pushing/pulling all the assemblies cannot
be met by the rig and support MSA then one or more of the supports MS
may be power driven and preferably radio controlled.
After disconnecting the assembly EPA from the static pipelines TSP, WSP
the assembly EPA is contracted to its fully contracted condition by
advancement of the powered mobile support MSP which is preferably in the
form of a chassis mounted on tracks.
If it is desired to increase the extendable length of the assembly EPA, it is
envisaged that one or more additional extensible units comprising
assemblies 90a, 90b, 90c may be added. Each extensible unit would include
a powered support MSP carrying an articulation point between pipe
assembly 90b of one unit and pipe assembly 90a of another unit. The
powered support MSP in between each unit would act to push the pipe
2o assembly 90c of the upstream unit (in direction A) and pull the pipe
assembly 90a of the downstream unit.
As more clearly seen in Figure 4, each assembly 90 is preferably
constructed from two lengths of pipe, viz. an upper pipe 100 and a lower
2s pipe 102, which are located side by side and are rigidly secured together,
preferably, by a lattice of struts 103. This arrangement provides a self
supporting structure enabling the pipes 100,102 to span a relatively long
distance when only being supported from opposite ends at articulation
points AP. The pipes 100, 102 are preferably made in one piece from steel
3o and are about 1 meter in diameter. Typically the length of the pipes
100,102
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between the points of articulation AP is about 50 meters but it is envisaged
that the length may be longer, e.g. 100 meters.
At each point of articulation, the lower pipes 102 mounted directly onto a
s support MS and are joined to one another by a rotary joint 106 having an
axis of rotation AR. The joint 106 preferably includes a rotary bearing so as
to act as a turntable between the connected pipes 102. Preferably the joint is
also constructed to accommodate a limited amount of lateral movement
between the connected pipes 102.
io
The upper pipes are connected by a rotary joint 107 which has an axis of
rotation co-axial with the axis AR. To accommodate lateral deflection
permitted by the joints 106, one or both the pipes 100, 102 preferably
include a telescopic portion 108 which may be defined by a sliding joint or
~s a flexible joint.
It is envisaged that the lower pipe 102 is used to convey the tarsand slurry
and that the upper pipe is used to convey fresh water. Thus at the
articulation point connecting the second end assembly to the static pipelines
2o WSP,TSP the mobile support MSA carries a connection pipes 1 OOa,102a for
connection to pipelines WSP and TSP respectively.
At the mobile rig MBR the pipes 100,102 of first end assembly 90a are
connected to a water inlet pipe 100b and a tarsand slurry outlet pipe 102b
2s via joints 107,106 respectively.
It will be noted that at each articulation point AP, the tarsand slurry is
caused to flow around bends in the pipe 102; this is advantageous as it
encourages mixing of the tarsand with water and also helps lumps to
3o degrade. Preferably at each bend, a replaceable bend piece 110 which
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forms part of the pipe is provided so that a new bend piece 110 may be
fitted should abrasive wear from the tarsand slurry occur.
It is envisaged that the electrical cable required to power the mobile rig may
s conveniently be mounted to run along the assembly EPA. In such a case,
when the static pipelines WSP,TSP are extended, it is necessary to carry out
an extension of the power cable at the same time.
The mobile breaker rig MBR includes a chassis 20 on which is mounted the
hopper H into which tarsand dug by digger D is deposited. The deposited
tarsand is conveyed by a feed conveyor 22 to a mineral breaker 24. The
mineral breaker is preferably of a construction as disclosed in our European
patents Nos. 0 167 178 and 0 096 706.
is The tarsand passes through the mineral breaker 24 and in so doing, lumps of
in excess of a predetermined size are broken down so that tarsand emerging
from the breaker 24 contains no lumps in excess of the predetermined size.
Typically the predetermined size will be in the region of SOOmm.
2o The tarsand emerging from the breaker is deposited onto a take-away
conveyor 26 which transports the tarsand to a rotary mineral valve 28 via
which the tarsand is introduced into the extensible pipeline assembly for
transport to the tarsand processing station TS.
2s The valve 28 preferably includes a rotating shaft or drum 30 having a
series
of mineral accommodating pockets 34 spaced about its circumference. In
Figure 7, three pockets 34 are shown but it will be appreciated that more or
less than three pockets 34 may be provided.
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The drum 30 is housed in a casing 36 having an upper inlet port 37 into
which mineral is deposited. Deposited mineral enters a pocket 34 as the
drum is rotated in direction of arrow R and is transferred by the pocket 34 to
a lower output port 38 which communicates with a conduit 40 along which
s water supplied from the pipe 100a communicating with pipeline WSP. The
conduit is connected to pipe 100a at its inlet end 42 to the pipeline WSP and
is connected at its outlet end 44 to the pipe lO2a for communication with
pipeline TSP.
A water pump WP, such as a turbine pump, is mounted on the chassis 20
immediately upstream of the valve 28 for pumping water supplied from the
water supply pipeline WSP into the inlet 42 preferably through a venturi
which acts to accelerate water entering conduit 40. The conduit 40 is also
preferably curved as shown to create a sweep in the flow of water to ensure
1s that the pocket 34 is cleaned out of mineral before it re-enters the casing
36.
Preferably a water outlet port 47 is provided in the casing 36 which enables
water to empty out of each pocket before it returns to the inlet port 37.
2o The chassis 20 is supported on the ground by a tracked assembly 50 via a
slewing assembly S 1. The chassis 20 also preferably includes extensible
legs 53 locate at each corner of the chassis 20. Each leg 53 preferably has
an enlarged ground engaging pad 54 fitted thereto to spread load applied to
soft ground. The extensible legs 53 when retracted are located clear of the
2s ground but can be extended to raise the chassis 20 away from the ground in
order to lift the track assembly clear of the ground. This enables to the
track
assembly to be slewed to a desired rotary position before being lowered
onto the ground by retraction of the legs 53. In this way the rig MBR can be
moved in any direction away from a static position.
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In Figures 8 to 10 the breaker rig MBR is shown having an auger assembly
60 which constitutes an alternative arrangement to the use of a takeaway
conveyor and rotary valve 28 for transferring the tarsand from the mineral
breaker 24 and into the extensible pipeline assembly EPA.
s
The auger assembly includes a pair of side by side augers 62 rotably housed
in a casing 64. The casing 64 includes two tubular sections 65 each housing
an auger 62. In an upper central region of the casing 64 the two tubular
sections have a common opening to define an inlet for mineral emerging
Io from the mineral breaker 24 via an inlet chute 66.
The augers 62 are preferably located on axes of rotation which are parallel
to those of the breaker drums 24a and are of about the same diameter as the
breaker drums. This enables the chute 66 to have vertical walls which is an
~s ideal arrangement since tarsand is less likely to stick to a vertical wall.
Access covers 160 are preferably provided to enable access internally of the
augers for maintenance purposes.
A pair of secondary mineral inlet chutes 68 are preferably provided on the
2o upstream side of chute 66 which communicate with each tubular section 65
to receive overspill tarsand from the feed conveyor 22.
Each auger 62 is preferably in the form of a hollow shaft 70 about which a
helical blade 72 extends. Rotation of an auger 62 causes the tarsand to be
2s transferred into the downstream portion of the tubular section 65. The
helical blade 72 terminates in-board of the terminal end 71 of the shaft 70
such that a plug of tarsand is created in the terminal region TR of the
tubular section 65. This plug acts as a seal to prevent water flowing along
the tubular section 65 in a direction toward the chute 66.
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Preferably a comminuting assembly 80 is located within the tubular section
65 immediately upstream of the terminal region TR which act to comminute
the tarsand as it passes into the terminal region TR and so acts as a
secondary breaking means to further breakdown lumps of tarsand before
s entry of the tarsand into the extensible pipeline assembly EPA. Preferably
the comminuting assembly 80 comprises a fixed disc-like blade having
apertures passing therethrough mounted internally on the tubular section 65
and a rotary blade mounted on the shaft 70 which sweeps across an axial
face of the fixed disc to shear tarsand as it passes through the apertures in
the fixed blade.
Water is pumped along the hollow shaft 70 to emerge through its terminal
end 71 through an axially facing port 75. Accordingly, as the plug of
tarsand emerges from the terminal region TR it merges with the jet of water
1s emitted from the port 75 to be transported along outlet pipe 102b.
It is envisaged that one or more radially directed ports may be formed in the
end portion of each shaft 70 so as to enable mixing of water with the tarsand
plug before it emerges from each tubular section 65.
As seen in the Figures, the terminal end 71 is preferably tapered inwardly
such that port 75 has a reduced diameter relative to the internal diameter of
the hollow shaft 70.This creates a venturi effect wherein water flow is
accelerated as it emerges from the port 75 and so creates turbulence and
2s also increase flow velocity for causing effective mixing and suspension of
the tarsand with the conveying water flow.
The venturi effect also causes slight heating of the water which is
advantageous when operating the mobile rig in low atmospheric
3o temperatures.
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Each auger is rotated by an individual motor 86 and each shaft 70 is
supplied with water from an individual pump WP via a conduit 87 and
sealed chamber 88. Water is fed to pumps WP via a pair of pipes 100a.
s Accordingly, if a failure occurs with one of the augers, it is still
possible to
run the mobile rig at half capacity using the other auger.
Whilst the example shown in Figure 8 uses a pair of augers 62, it will be
appreciated that the pair of augers may be replaced by a single auger. It is
io also envisaged that each auger may include more than one helical blade and
that the helix angle of the or each blade may vary along the length of the
hollow shaft 70.
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