Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02865399 2014-09-25
Title of the Invention
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VOLUME REDUCTION OF FINE PARTICULATE
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the volume reduction of
fine
particulate and more particularly to the volume reduction of mine tailings by
promoting
the dense packing of the discrete solid particles or by infusing tailings
sludge into the
spaces between those solid particles.
Backdround of the Invention
Human consumption of minerals and fossil fuels continues at an ever-increasing
rate.
Both the mining industry and the oil and gas industry produce large quantities
of tailings
that require disposal. These tailings must be disposed of in an
environmentally safe
and cost effective manner.
Tailings are produced as a by-product in both the mining and oil and gas
industry. For
example, hard rock mining extracts minerals from ore by first pulverizing the
rock into
fine particles, from which the minerals are extracted using chemicals. The
processed
fine particles or "tailings" are typically small, ranging in size from the
size of a grain of
sand down to a few micrometres.
In oil sands mining, loose sand and partially consolidated sandstone that are
saturated
with bitumen are treated to separate and recover the valuable bitumen, with
the
remaining treated material placed in a tailing pond. In addition to the
particulate matter,
large quantities of water wind up in the tailings ponds which take decades to
settle.
Efforts are being made to accelerate the settling of tailings ponds. For
example, one
strategy involves dredging mature tailings from the bottom of the tailings
pond, mixing
the mature tailings with a polymer flocculent and then spreading the resulting
mixture
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CA 02865399 2014-09-25
over a "beach" with a shallow grade. This is claimed to reduce the time to
reclaim a
tailing pond from 40 years to 7-10 years.
There is neither a practical method nor an apparatus available to the mining
and oil/gas
industries to either minimize the volume of solid particles after they enter
the tailing
pond or to maximize recovery of the fluid within the tailing pond for reuse.
In the
absence of any practical way to deal with the large amounts of semi-fluid
waste
products discharged from the mine milling process, several mines have had to
shut
down production for the want of storage volume in environmentally acceptable
terrain
and within economical proximity to the ore body and milling facilities.
lo Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide methods
and apparatus
for either promoting the dense packing of the discrete solid particles, or
accommodating
very fine viscous sludge within the void spaces between coarser particles.
It is a further object of an embodiment of the invention to provide a method
and
apparatus for reducing a tailing pond and enabling the recovery of the liquid
contained
therein.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the volume
reduction of
fine particulate and more particularly to the volume reduction of mine
tailings by
promoting the dense packing of the discrete solid particles using a poker
equipped with
a paddle for mixing together strata of various sized particles and imparting
vibration.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises a mixing assembly comprising a
poker
that can be raised or lowered into material to be mixed, the poker having an
outer
casing housing a spiral coupling connected to at least one paddle, said paddle
having a
radially restrained position and a radially extended position, and the spiral
coupling
adapted to rotate the paddle and/or transmit vibrations to the paddle.
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In another embodiment the invention relates to a method and apparatus for
infusing
sludge from mine tailings into the pre-existing void between larger particles
using a
poker equipped with a paddle for mixing the particles and imparting vibration.
In yet another embodiment, the apparatus facilitates the introduction of
pressurized
fluid, such as cement grout or tailings slimes, into the material being mixed
by the
paddles at the base of the poker.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus for the compaction
of fine
particulate comprises a poker for insertion into the particulate, the poker
comprising an
elongated cylindrical outer casing mountable to a delivery vehicle, with a
drive shaft
extending within the outer casing and operatively connected to a rotatable
coupling. At
least one elongate element is connected at one end to the rotatable coupling
and at an
opposite end to a nose cone, and is movable from a first position to a second
position
radially extended from the outer casing.
In another aspect, the elongate element comprises a paddle. The paddle has a
top
portion, an intermediate portion and a bottom portion; wherein the top portion
being
hingedly connected at a first end to the rotatable coupling and at a second
end to the
intermediate portion, and the bottom portion being hingedly connected at a top
end to
the intermediate portion and at a bottom end to the nose cone. The nose cone
is
adapted for penetrating the particulate. The paddle is rotatable relative to
the outer
casing. The rotatable coupling is adapted to transmit rotation or vibration.
In another aspect, the rotatable coupling comprises an upper spiral coupling
connected
to the drive shaft and a lower spiral coupling rotatably connected to a lower
end of the
outer casing. A weight is seated on the upper spiral coupling and the lower
spiral
coupling is seated within a bushing or roller bearing with seals, which in
turn is
connected to the lower end of the outer casing.
In another aspect rotation of the upper spiral coupling in a first direction
causes the
lower spiral coupling to rotate, and rotation of the upper spiral coupling in
an opposite
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direction results in vertical forces being applied to the lower spiral
coupling thereby
causing vibration.
In another aspect, the invention further comprises a central actuating element
extending
within the outer casing and connected at a lower end to the nose cone. The
central
actuating element is actuatable to move the elongate element from the first
position to
the second position.
In another aspect, the central actuating element comprises a threaded shaft.
In another aspect, the central actuating element comprises a cable actuatable
by a
cable winch.
In another aspect, the central actuating element comprises a pipe. The nose
cone has
a hollow upper portion having a cylindrical side wall having holes therein.
The pipe is in
fluid communication with a source of fluid to be dispensed through the holes
of the
cylindrical side wall.
In another aspect, the nose cone has at least one fluke.
In another aspect, the outer casing has holes defined therein and a mesh
screen
connected thereto.
In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for compacting
particulate
material by inserting a poker into particulate material to be compacted, the
poker having
at least one stirring element extendible from a first position for penetrating
the
particulate material when the poker is inserted to a second position extending
radially
outward from the poker, extending the stirring element from the first position
to the
second position; and alternately rotating the stirring element through the
particulate
material and causing the stirring element to vibrate.
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In another embodiment, the invention comprises a method for minimizing the
volume
occupied by the combined volumes of a volume of particulate material and a
separate
volume of viscous fluid by inserting a poker into the particulate material and
dispersing
the viscous fluid through the poker into the particulate material surrounding
the poker,
thereby filling void space between adjacent particulate with the viscous
fluid.
The foregoing was intended as a broad summary only and of only some of the
aspects
of the invention. It was not intended to define the limits or requirements of
the invention.
1.0 Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the
detailed
description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view of a ground deployment vehicle equipped with the
preferred
embodiment of the mixing apparatus of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a top view of the invention shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a water deployment vehicle equipped with the
preferred
embodiment of the mixing apparatus of the invention.
Fig. 4 is a top view of the invention shown in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus according
to the
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6a is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus shown in
Fig. 5 and
the mixing paddles partially deployed.
Fig. 6b is a bottom view of the mixing apparatus shown in Fig. 6a.
Fig. 7a is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus shown in
Fig. 5, with
the mixing paddles fully deployed.
Fig. 7b is a bottom view of the mixing apparatus shown in Fig. 7a.
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Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view of the bottom portion of the mixing
apparatus according
to the invention showing the interior components.
Fig. 9a is a side view showing the nose cone and its connection to the paddles
of the
mixing apparatus.
Fig. 9b is an enlarged sectional view of the upper part of the nose cone
showing the
fluid discharge holes.
Figs. 10a to 10d show the spiral coupling forming an internal hammer and drive
mechanism according to the invention.
Fig. Ills a side view of the general arrangement of the apparatus and the
plumbing
1.0 works when used in the fluid injection mode.
Fig. 12 is a partial sectional view of a portion of apparatus shown in Fig.
11.
Fig. 13a is a partial sectional view of the power box shown in Fig. 12 showing
the cable
disconnected from the central open pipe of the apparatus.
Fig. 13b is a partial sectional view of the power box shown in Fig. 12 showing
the
central open pipe of the apparatus connected to an extension pipe which in
turn is
connected to a pressure line.
Fig. 14 is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus according
to the
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 15 is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus shown in
Fig. 14,
with the outer casing retracted to reveal the mixing paddles contained
therein.
Fig. 16a is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus shown in
Fig. 14,
with the outer casing retracted and the mixing paddles partially deployed.
Fig. 16b is a bottom view of the mixing apparatus shown in Fig. 16a.
Fig. 17a is a side view of the bottom portion of the mixing apparatus shown in
Fig. 14,
with the outer casing retracted and the mixing paddles fully deployed.
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Fig. 17b is a bottom view of the mixing apparatus shown in Fig. 17a.
Fig. 18 is a partial sectional view of the bottom portion of the mixing
apparatus
according to the invention showing the interior components.
Fig. 19 is a side view showing the nose cone and paddles of the mixing
apparatus.
Fig. 20 is a partial sectional view of the bottom portion of the mixing
apparatus
according to the invention showing the interior components.
Fig. 21 is a side view showing the nose cone and its connection to the paddles
of the
mixing apparatus.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The preferred embodiment of a mixing apparatus 10 is shown on a ground
deployment
vehicle 2 in Figs. 1 and 2, and on a water-based deployment vessel 22 in Figs
3 and 4.
The ground vehicle 2 may be used when the surface of the mass of particles to
be
treated is substantially solid and capable of supporting it. For those
situations where
there is a significant liquid presence, the water-based deployment vessel 22
may be
used.
Ground deployment vehicle 2 can take the form of any suitable motorized
vehicle as
known in the art, capable of mobile operation, maneuvering and deploying the
mixing
apparatus of the invention. Similarly, the water-based deployment vessel 22
can take
the form of any suitable motorized vessel, such as a barge or the like,
capable of mobile
operation, maneuvering and deploying the mixing apparatus of the invention.
The deployment vehicle 2 and vessel 22 are each equipped with a mast 4 having
a slide
mount 6 driven by a double acting piston located within the mast 4. A power
box 8 is
connected to, and suspended from, the mount 6, and houses a rotation motor
drive and
a cable winch. An elongated, cylindrical poker 12 having actuatable paddles 14
is
connected to and suspended from the power box and may be inserted into, and
removed from the material to be treated, either the ground 20 (for the ground
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deployment vehicle 2) or the water 24 and ground/tailings 28 requiring
treatment (for the
water-based deployment vessel 22).
Preferably, for the water-based deployment vessel 22, the vessel is equipped
with a
central opening, such as moon-pool 26 through which the poker is inserted into
the
liquid and the material to be treated. This system alleviates any stability
concerns for
the vessel, by centering the weight within the vessel.
As best shown in Fig. 8, the poker 12 has an outer casing 30, preferably in
the form of a
cylindrical metal pipe, although it can be made of any suitable material
capable of
withstanding the forces required for penetration of the material to be
treated. A bushing
(or roller bearing with seals) 50 is seated within, and connected to, the
bottom end of
outer casing 30, preferably by welding to the inside of the outer steel casing
30.
A cylindrical drive shaft 38 extends from the rotation motor drive in the
power box 8 to
an upper spiral coupling 44 to which it is fixedly connected by welding or the
like. A
lower spiral coupling 48 is seated within bushing 50 and is freely rotatable
and vertically
retained therein. The various components may be made of any suitable material;
for
example, drive shaft 38 may be made of mild steel pipe or tubing.
Preferably the spiral couplings are made of mild steel with case-hardened
opposing
faces for withstanding the impact forces when the bottom of the upper spiral
coupling 44
and the top of the lower spiral coupling 48 come into contact with one another
as
discussed in more detail below.
A plurality of deployable paddles or elongate members 14 are hingedly
connected at
one end to the lower spiral coupling 48 and are hingedly connected at the
other end to a
hub 55 (shown in Fig. 9a) that is in turn secured to the nose cone 32 (both
Fig. 8 and 9
show only a pair of paddles 14 in order to better illustrate the connections
with the spiral
coupling and nose cone). Hub 55 allows the paddles 14 to rotate freely
relative to the
nose cone. Preferably there are at least 2 paddles, however, there could be
only 1 or
more. The paddles 14 are movable from a radially constrained position (see
Fig. 5) for
insertion of the poker 12 into a material to be treated, to a deployed
position in which
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the paddles extend radially outward from the cylindrical poker 12 (shown in
Fig. 7a) as
discussed in more detail below.
A central actuating element in the form of cylindrical central open pipe 37
extends from
the power box 8 to the nose cone 32, within the interior of cylindrical drive
shaft 38. As
shown in Figs. 9a and 9b, central open pipe 37 is fixedly connected by welding
or the
like to the top of the upper portion 39 of the nose cone 32. Upper portion 39
is hollow
with the outer circumference of the side wall having a plurality of discharge
holes 54 to
allow liquid pumped through central open pipe 37 to exit into the surrounding
material to
be treated. At the top, central open pipe is preferably connected via steel
cable 73 to
1.0 cable winch 72 as shown in Fig. 12. A pipe clamp 75 can be used to
anchor the central
open pipe in place when necessary as described more below. Preferably, the top
of
central open pipe 37 has a threaded portion for connecting to a pipe cap 76
having a
hoisting ring to which cable 73 is connected. Pipe cap 76 is removable to
allow an
extension pipe 77 to be connected to pipe 37.
Preferably, the lower portion of outer casing 30 has a plurality of drainage
holes 56
defined therein (by drilling, machining or the like) which are covered by a
filter/mesh
screen 58 to prevent solids from entering into the interior of the outer
casing 30. A
common submersible or air-lift pump (not shown for clarity) could be used to
withdraw
any liquids draining into outer casing 30 through holes 56 and convey it to
the surface
for further processing or treatment and recycling.
Deployment
The operation of the mixing apparatus will be described in more detail with
reference to
Figs. 5-10. The bottom portion of poker 12 is shown in Figs. 5 through 7. In
Fig. 5, the
poker is in penetration mode. When in this position, the central open pipe 37
is locked
in place by way of the pipe clamp 75. The nose cone 32 has a bottom portion
that is
preferably a solid metal cone for penetrating the material (ground, tailings,
etc.) to be
treated. Once the deployment vehicle/vessel 2, 22 is positioned in the desired
location,
the slide mount is driven downwards along mast 4 by way of the piston drive,
thereby
forcing poker 12 into the material and penetrating to a desired depth for
treatment.
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After insertion into the material to be treated to a desired depth, mixing
paddles 14 are
deployed. The mixing paddles are preferably longitudinally extending arms,
comprised
of three portions, top and bottom longer portions 13 and 15 and a smaller
central portion
17, the smaller central portion 17 hingedly 42 connected to the top 13 and
bottom 15
portions.
The spiral coupling mechanism is designed to transmit rotation, or
alternatively,
vibration by way of hammer blows, depending on the direction of axial rotation
applied
to top section of the paired parts by way of cylindrical drive shaft 38 being
driven by a
rotational drive motor 74 (shown in Fig. 12). Looking downwards, when rotated
counter-
clockwise, upper spiral coupling 44 becomes interlocked with lower spiral
coupling 48,
forcing both it, and the paddles, to rotate.
As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, once the poker is at the desired depth, the central
open pipe
37 is released by the pipe clamp 75 and is pulled upwards by the cable winch
72,
thereby lifting the nose cone 32, and forcing the paddles 14 to fold into
their deployed
position extending radially outward from the bottom of the poker. Once the
paddles are
fully deployed (the winch having pulled central open pipe 37 to its highest
position), the
pipe clamp 75 is used to once again lock pipe 37 in position and the winch can
be
deactivated.
Preferably nose cone 32 is equipped with flukes 57, which resist rotational
movement
when the nose cone 32 is inserted into a material to be treated. In this
fashion, the
torque applied to the connection point between the nose cone and central open
pipe 37
is limited.
The spiral coupling mechanism is a mechanism whereby a pair of surfaces is in
intimate
vertical contact but with their vertical separation dependent on the relative
degree of
rotation of its two parts. The principle underlying the functionality of the
spiral coupling
is that the elevation of any point on the surface of the spiral is directly
proportional to
both its radial distance from the vertical axis, and also to the angular
rotational
separation/translation (degrees) from the lowest datum.
CA 02865399 2014-09-25
When rotated clockwise, upper spiral coupling 44 is free to rotate over lower
spiral
coupling 48, moving up and down as illustrated in Figs. 10a to 10d, resulting
in vertical
vibratory impacts being applied to the paddles. Preferably, a donut weight 40
is seated
on the upper spiral coupling 44. As shown in Figs. 10a ¨ 10d, as the upper
spiral
coupling 44 is forced to rotate clockwise by way of drive shaft 38 connected
to the
rotation motor drive 74 in power box 8, it is forced to separate from the
lower spiral
coupling 48 until it has completed a 360 degree rotation and gravity acts to
force it (and
the donut weight) back down, slamming into lower spiral coupling 48 and
causing
vibration.
The upper spiral coupling 44 rotates around its vertical central axis as
dictated by the
torque from the drive shaft 38 to which it is solidly affixed/welded. The
lower spiral
coupling 48 is solidly affixed/welded to upper paddle arm(s) 13, transmitting
either the
vibration or rotation depending on the rotation of upper spiral coupling 44.
As the operator finds advantageous, the rotational direction of the drive
shaft may be
alternated between rotation of the paddles, or vertical vibrations being
introduced into
the tailings/soil. The speed at which the drive shaft is made to turn while
rotating the
paddles might be set in the order of 1 to 10 RPM, whereas in its vibration
function it
might be set at about 1500 RPM or any suitable rate.
The concurrent use of the vertical vibrations (hammer blows per rotation rate)
together
with the agitation of the surrounding tailings mass is intended to complement
the degree
of densification of the solid phase.
While a preferred paddle has been described herein, it is also contemplated
that other
paddle designs would work, provided the paddles can move from a radially
constrained
position for penetrating the material to be treated and a radially extending
position for
treating the material. The paddles may also be shaped as hydrodynamic foils
such that
their rotation can serve to elevate the whole assembly out of the mass in
which it is
immersed/deployed.
By continuing to cause the paddles or wings to rotate as the tubular body of
the
mechanism is gradually withdrawn (by double acting piston slide mount 6) from
its initial
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penetrated depth within the tailings or material mass, the full depth of the
material within
the compass of the apparatus will be thoroughly mixed. Alternatively, if
treatment at a
given layer is all that is required, the paddles may be moved back into
penetration mode
by releasing the pipe clamp 75 from central pipe 37 and then withdrawing the
poker 12
using piston slide mount 6.
While a single poker deployment vehicle has been shown and described, it is
also
contemplated that a single surface transportation vehicle could be used to
deploy
several, suitably arrayed, mechanisms of this type in order to treat a larger
aerial extent
than attainable by a single apparatus, and in the same time.
IA) How the Method would Work in Practice
The method will now be described in more detail with reference to treatment of
tailings.
This method could be applied to any particulate requiring treatment; for
example, to
geotechnical problems in river deltas.
Instances of the apparatus, either singly or in a multiple array, would be
taken to a
chosen location by a suitable deployment vehicle (tractor or barge), and made
to enter
the tailings mass vertically to a desired depth. Penetration of material to be
treated can
be assisted by the activation of the spiral coupling vibration function at an
appropriate
rate of rotation. Furthermore, the gradual withdrawal of the mechanism can be
assisted
by the paddles when consciously designed to perform in this fashion as
discussed
above.
Once the poker 12 has reached its assigned depth within the tailing mass, nose
cone 32
is drawn upwards by the central pipe 37 and the paddles 14 are extended out
into the
surrounding tailings and made to rotate. It is anticipated that this
deployment will be
accomplished by incremental adjustment of extension and rotation speed,
determined
by the "feel" of the machine operator. And, furthermore the operator's "feel"
will be a
component in determining the effective/efficient rate of withdrawal.
Alternatively, it is
obviously possible, by state-of-practice technology to utilize pressure
sensors and
solenoid instrumentation to have the apparatus operated remotely. Once
extended, the
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paddles are alternated between rotation and vibration thereby mixing and
packing the
particulate (in this case tailings).
To treat large aerial extents, the columnar treatment proposed here would
simply need
to be applied at multiple interconnected positions across the area requiring
treatment.
The mining/design engineer would lay out an array of treatment axes suitable
to
optimize the operation.
The novel approach presented above is based on the realization that the pore
spaces
existing between larger particles are both filled with fluid and at the same
time potential
reservoirs for smaller particles or viscous fluids such as tailing slimes or
cement grout or
the like.
The apparatus is designed to be operated in two modes which may be employed
separately or in combination. These modes are described separately below for
clarity,
and are referred to as the volume reduction mode, and the void space
utilization mode.
The Volume Reduction Mode
In this mode, energy is expended in both strata mixing and vertical vibration.
Since the natural processes of fluid transport of particles (tailings are
discharged as
dense fluid into impoundment/storage/pond) results in particles settling out
of
suspension strictly according to their size and the lateral velocity of the
transporting
fluid; consequently, the resulting deposit of the solid phase is inherently a
layering of
uniformly sized particles. Furthermore, because the discharge from the mill is
variable
and episodic (rather than the relative constant flow of a river bearing a
range of soil
particles) the solid phase comes out of suspension in strata of uniform size
which have
limited areal extent. Thus, the typical tailings deposit consists of seams of
uniformly
sized particles (consequently of loose packing, and low density) with large
pore volumes
containing fluid. These seams are inter-layered to an extent which depends on
the
degree of mill discharge temporal consistency/inconsistency as well as the
location at
which the mine staff choose to position the discharge pipe around the
perimeter of the
pond.
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The result is that the volume occupied by tailings is unnecessarily high
because of
being made up of seams of uniformly sized particles. The solution advocated
here is to
intentionally disturb these naturally formed seams, so that the particle sizes
are mixed
together in order that the volume occupied by the solid phase aggregation of
particles is
reduced as the pore space between larger particles becomes filled by smaller
particles.
This procedure will result in making the overall volume previously needed to
store the
separate seams of uniformly sized particles much reduced. And in consequence
the
fluid volume previously occupying the pore spaces will be liberated as a
supernatant
liquid which can be pumped back to the mill or for further treatment. The
supernatant
1.0 liquid is either collected at the surface level or can be collected
within the outer casing
30 through drainage holes 56 and drawn to the surface by suction.
Mixing of grain sizes ensures that the resulting aggregation cannot liquefy.
An
important implication of this is that the treated tailings should thereafter
allow the option
for safe use of "upstream" construction above treated tailings. It is
anticipated that the
placement of a layer of earthfill (for an increase in tailings dam crest
elevation) could
commence within a week or so of treatment by the method and apparatus
presented
herein.
The Void Space Utilization Mode
In this mode energy is expended in pressurized fluid injection and in paddle
rotation to
spread the fluid further afield, and possibly in pumping fluid to the surface.
Fig. Ills a side view of the general arrangement of the apparatus 10 and the
plumbing
works appropriate to this mode.
In addition to the general deployment equipment (the mobile carrier for land 2
being
shown in Fig. 11), a possible typical tailing slimes or concrete grout supply
arrangement
is shown 60. The fluid source 62 might be an existing stratum or a reservoir.
The fluid
would be withdrawn from fluid source 62 through a suction hose 64 connected to
a fluid
pump 66. Pressure line 68 would convey the fluid from the pump discharge to
the top of
central open pipe 37 through a pipe connector 69 attached to pipe extension
77.
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Referring to Figs. 13a and 13b, conversion of the apparatus for use with the
fluid
systems 60 is shown. In its natural/relaxed configuration, and under the
deadweight of
the nose cone 32, the apparatus will hang from the power box 8 with its
paddles 14 in
the confined (non-deployed) position, suitable for ground penetration. While
in this
posture, the pipe clamp 75 is activated to constrain the central open pipe 37
vertically.
The poker 12 is then forced to enter the material to be treated to the desired
depth of
treatment. At this stage pipe clamp 75 is opened and cable winch 72 is used to
pull the
central pipe 37 upwards until the paddles 14 have been deployed outwards to
the
desired extent. Following this, the pipe clamp 75 is reactivated to lock
central pipe 37 so
as to keep paddles 14 in their deployed position. Cable 73 is relaxed and
cable winch
72 is withdrawn to one side of power box 8. The interior of power box 8 can be
accessed as necessary through a covered access door 78 or other suitable
access
point. Covered access 78 is opened and pipe cap 76 is removed from the top of
pipe
37 (unscrewed or otherwise disconnected if a different connection is used),
and
extension pipe 77 is attached to pipe 37 in its stead, with its upper portion
protruding
through hole 79 in slide mount 6 and power box 8. Pipe connector 69 is used to
attach
pressure line 68 to the top end of extension pipe 77 after which the apparatus
is ready
for use.
At the bottom end of 37, within the compass of the paddles, (see Fig, 9a and
9b) the
2o fluid would be expelled into the ground/tailings through discharge holes
54 in upper part
of nose cone 39. Pre-existing void water/fluid expelled by the intrusion of 62
would
have an opportunity of easy escape from the site of activity by means of
drainage holes
56 at the lower end of outer casing 30, (see Fig 8). Holes 56 are covered by a
filter/mesh screen 58 to prevent solid entering 30. As discussed above, a
common
submersible or air-lift pump (not shown) could be used to convey the seepage
water to
the surface.
The fluid injection portion of the poker could be used to either fill the void
space with
tailing suspension (also referred to as yoghurt) so as to dispose of this
waste in a
suitable manner. Alternatively, by injecting a cement grout, a concrete column
could be
formed which would likely prove more economical than stone-column
construction.
CA 02865399 2014-09-25
In an alternative embodiment shown in Figs. 14 to 19 and a further alternative
embodiment shown in Figs. 20 and 21, no fluid injection or retrieval system is
taught.
Referring to Fig. 18, the poker 112 has an outer casing 130. Within the
interior of the
outer casing 130 is a cylindrical cable cover 136 through which the central
actuating
element in the form of cable 134 passes, the cable 134 extending from the
cable winch
in the power box 8 through to a nose cone 132 (shown in Figs. 14-17 and 19),
to which
it is connected via a swivel connector 52 (shown in Fig. 19), or other
suitable connector.
A marine-type swivel is preferred so that the rotation of the nosecone/paddle
assembly
will not result in the cable being twisted or put under excessive torque.
1.0 The cable cover 136, and cable 134 are located within the cylindrical
drive shaft 138,
the drive shaft extending from the rotation motor drive in the power box 8 to
upper spiral
coupling 44. A lower spiral coupling 48 is seated within bushing 50 and is
freely
rotatable and vertically retained therein. The various components may be made
of any
suitable material; for example, cable cover 136 may be made of mild steel pipe
or tubing
while the cable 134 may be made of steel rope.
The cable cover sleeve 136, which is connected to, and seated within, the
lower spiral
coupling 48, extends a sufficient distance upwards towards the power box 8 to
prevent
tailings or particles adhering to the hoisting cable 34 because of its initial
immersion in
the tailings/soil from contaminating the mechanism above the sealed bushing
50.
The plurality of deployable paddles 14 are hingedly connected at one end to
the lower
spiral coupling 48 and are hingedly connected at the other end to the nose
cone 132.
The bottom portion of poker 112 is shown in Figs. 14 through 17b. In Fig. 14,
the poker
is in penetration mode, with retractable outer casing 131 extending to the
nose cone 32,
which is preferably a solid metal cone for penetrating the material (ground,
tailings, etc.)
to be treated. Once the deployment vehicle/vessel 2, 22 is positioned in the
desired
location, the slide mount is driven downwards along mast 4 by way of the
piston drive,
thereby forcing poker 112 into the material and penetrating to a desired depth
for
treatment.
16
CA 02865399 2014-09-25
After insertion into the material to be treated to a desired depth, mixing
paddles 14 are
deployed. As shown in Fig. 15, retractable outer casing 131 is retracted to
reveal the
mixing paddles 14. As shown in Figs. 16a to 17b, once the retractable outer
casing 131
has been retracted, the cable winch in the power box begins retracting the
cable,
thereby lifting the nose cone 32 and forcing the paddles 14 to fold into their
deployed
position extending radially outward from the bottom of the poker.
In the alternative embodiment taught in Figs. 20 and 21, the nose cone is
retracted by
means of a threaded rod 237. Once the poker is at the desired depth, the drive
shaft is
rotated anti-clockwise, thereby lifting the nose cone 232 by means of a
central actuating
element in the form of threaded rod 237 securedly connected in the upper
portion 239 of
nose cone 232 and threaded through lower spiral coupling 48, and forcing the
paddles
14 to fold into their deployed position extending radially outward from the
bottom of the
poker. Preferably nose cone 232 is equipped with flukes 257, which resist
rotational
movement when the nose cone 232 is inserted into a material to be treated. In
this
fashion, when the drive shaft paddles are rotated anti-clockwise, the nose
cone 232
(and threaded rod 237) is prevented from rotating by way of the contact of the
fluke 257
with the material. Threaded rod 237 and lower spiral coupling 48 therefore
rotate
relative to each other thereby drawing the threaded rod (and nose cone)
upwards into
the poker and deploying the paddles 14.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the preferred and
alternative
embodiments have been described in some detail but that certain modifications
may be
practiced without departing from the principles of the invention.
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