AU2019253822A1

AU2019253822A1 - Levelling System and Method

Info

Publication number: AU2019253822A1
Application number: AU2019253822A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruno Ruggiero
Original assignee: Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-08
Filing date: 2019-10-22
Publication date: 2020-05-28
Also published as: ZA201907239B

Abstract

Abstract A jacking assembly 10 for levelling a structure, and a system and method for levelling a structure are described. The jacking assembly 10 comprises a body 12 adapted to be mounted between a support member 14 and a 10 support stool 16 associated with the structure. The body 12 has a recess 18 within which a jack 20 can be received. During levelling of the structure a jack 20 is installed within the recess 18 so as to engage with either the support stool 16 or the support member 14 as well as the body 12. When operated the jack lifts the body 12 and/or the support member 14 until the structure is 15 level. It eliminates the need to use another crane to lift each corner of the structure during levelling or relevelling. Drawings to Accompany Abstract: Figures 4 and 5 3/s I l III I IM H H ii11!

Description

“LEVELLING SYSTEM AND METHOD”

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a levelling system and method for levelling a structure and relates particularly, although not exclusively, to such a levelling system and method for levelling top-of-tank (TOT) steelwork in a gold processing plant.

Background to the Invention

A typical gold processing plant includes a carbon-in-leach (CIL) or carbon-inpulp (CIP) circuit, usually comprising a series of six or more tanks 100 arranged in a zig-zag pattern. Each tank is fitted with top-of-tank (TOT) steelwork 102, which is used to mount the agitator, inter-tank (inter-stage) 15 screen and other equipment required for each tank 100 to complete the process. The TOT steelwork 102 on each tank is subsequently connected, to allow a CIL gantry crane 104 to travel the full length of the CIL circuit and service all of the equipment mounted onto the TOT steelwork 102. A typical arrangement is shown in Figure 1 (in plan view).

The TOT steelwork for each tank is usually designed as a repeatable module, which is assembled on the ground, and subsequently lifted onto an individual tank. The tank 100 that the TOT steelwork sits on is used to support the TOT steelwork 102 and serves as the load path to ground via four mounting stools 106. Once the TOT steelwork associated with each tank is erected, all of the TOT steelwork must be levelled uniformly and to within specification before the interconnecting steelwork between modules is fitted and the individual modules bolted down into position. A single module and the TOT stools 106 are shown in Figure 2.

Once the TOT steelwork 102 is bolted into position, the CIL gantry crane rail 30 108 (or billet) is fixed to the steelwork via Gantrex or equivalent clips (not visible). The Gantrex clips allow the crane rail 108 to be adjusted during operation should any settling of the structure occur over time as the OIL circuit is put into service. The Gantrex clips however have a limited range of adjustment - should the differential settlement exceed limits, the entire TOT steel assembly must be relevelled. Failure to level the steelwork to within specification renders the CIL gantry crane 104 unusable. The crane rail 108 is shown in Figure 3.

Historically, the levelling and placement of the TOT steelwork 102 has been undertaken by crane, whereby each corner of the TOT module is lifted by crane to allow the steelwork to be shimmed to the required level - this however is an inexact and laborious process; more so once the entire steelwork assembly is in place.

The present invention was developed with a view to simplifying the method of levelling the TOT steelwork mounted on each tank safely, precisely and quickly. However it will be appreciated that the same method and system could be modified and adapted to effect the levelling of other structures.

References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a jacking assembly for levelling a structure, the jacking assembly comprising:

a body adapted to be mounted between a support member and a support stool associated with the structure, the body having a recess within which a jack can be received, wherein during levelling of the structure a jack is installed within the recess so as to engage with either the support stool or the support member as well as the body, and when operated the jack lifts the body and/or the support member until the structure is level.

In one embodiment the body of the jacking assembly is constructed of steel plates, welded together in the form of a bench. Advantageously the bench comprises a rectangular top plate, supported by a plurality of side wall plates, and two base plates. Preferably two internal wall plates are provided, and a rear wall plate. Preferably, in addition to a front and a rear side wall plate, on each side of the bench, there is also an intermediate side wall plate, provided between the front and rear side wall plates. Advantageously the wall plates form the recess within the body, whilst ensuring that the full load, bearing on the top plate, is transferred through the bench to the base plates.

Preferably a series of holes is provided in the base plates to allow the body of the jacking assembly to be bolted to the support stool after levelling.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for levelling a structure, the method comprising:

mounting a body of a jacking assembly between a support member and a support stool associated with the structure, the body having a recess in which a jack can be received;

measuring out-of-tolerance of the structure immediately above the support stool;

installing a jack within the recess so as to engage with either the support stool or the support member as well as the body;

lifting the body and/or the support member by operating the jack; and, inserting shims and/or packers of appropriate thickness between mating surfaces of the body and the support member or support stool to achieve the required degree of levelling.

Typically the jack is installed temporarily in the recess and the method comprises the further step of removing the jack after the step of inserting shims. Preferably the step of mounting the body of a jacking assembly comprises first mounting the body on top of the support stool, and then mounting the support member on top of the body. Advantageously bolts are loosely inserted in holes provided for this purpose in the body, the support stool and the support member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for levelling a structure, the system comprising:

a jacking assembly comprising a body adapted to be mounted between a support member and a support stool associated with the structure, the body having a recess in which a jack can be received;

means for measuring out-of-tolerance of the structure immediately above the support stool; and, a jack adapted to be installed within the recess so as to engage with either the support stool or the support member as well as the body, so that when operated the jack lifts the body and/or the support member until the structure is level.

The system also typically comprises shims of appropriate thickness for insertion between mating surfaces of the body and the support member or support stool to achieve the required degree of levelling.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word “preferably” or variations such as “preferred”, will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of the system and method of levelling a structure, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a gold processing plant;

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a tank in the plant of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a top-of-tank support member, showing the location of a first embodiment of a jacking assembly according to the present invention, underneath the support member, and a rail for a gantry crane on top of the support member;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the top-of-tank support member, jacking assembly and a support stool shown in Figure 3, during a levelling operation;

Figure 5 is an enlargement of Figure 4 showing the location of the jacking assembly on the support stool;

Figure 6(a) and (b) are front and back isometric views respectively of the first embodiment of the jacking assembly according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the jacking assembly of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a horizontal section view through the jacking assembly of Figure 6.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of a jacking assembly 10 for levelling a structure in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 4 to 8, comprises, a body 12 adapted to be mounted between a support member 14 and a support stool 16 associated with the structure. The support member 14 in this

2019253822 22 Oct 2019 case is a horizontal steel beam of a top-of-tank (TOT) steelwork for a tank in a gold processing plant. The body 12 of the jacking assembly 10 has a recess 18 within which a jack 20 can be received.

The jacking assembly 10 is shown in Figures 3-5 during a levelling operation.

During levelling of the structure a jack 20 is installed within the recess 18 so as to engage with either the support stool 16 or the support member 14 as well as the body 12, and when operated the jack 20 lifts the body 12 and/or the support member 14 until the structure is level. In this embodiment, the body 12 and the support member 14 are both lifted by the jack 20 from off the support stool 16, as shown in Figures 3-5, and there is a gap between the support stool 16 and a bottom of the body 12. Shims 22 (not shown) of appropriate thickness can be inserted into this gap, between mating surfaces of the body 12 and the support stool 16 to achieve the required degree of levelling.

The body 12 of the jacking assembly 10 of this embodiment is constructed of steel plates, welded together in the form of a bench 12, as can be seen more clearly in Figures 6 to 8. The bench 12 comprises a rectangular top plate 30, supported by a plurality of side wall plates 32, and two base plates 34a and 34b. There are also two internal wall plates 36a and 36b, and a rear wall plate 38. In addition to front and rear side wall plates 32a and 32b, on each side of the bench 12, there is also an intermediate side wall plate 32c. The wall plates form the recess 18, whilst ensuring that the full load, bearing on the top plate 30, is transferred through the bench 12 to the base plates 34a and 34b.

A series of holes 40 are provided in the base plates 34 to allow the body 12 of the jacking assembly 10 to be bolted to the support stool 16 after levelling. These holes 40 are also employed during the levelling process to keep the jacking assembly 10 aligned with the support stool 16, as will be described in more detail below.

There are two components in the design of an individual support for top-oftank (TOT) steelwork 102 for each tank 100, and typically four supports per

2019253822 22 Oct 2019 tank. The two components are the tank support stool 16, which is the lowest member and welded to a tank side wall, and support member 14 which is part of the TOT steelwork 102. The TOT steelwork in this case is the structure we are trying to support and level.

A preferred system for levelling a structure according to the invention comprises the jacking assembly 10, and means for measuring out-oftolerance of the structure immediately above the support stool 16. Preferably a plurality of jacking assemblies 10 are provided, one for each support stool 16. The means for measuring out-of-tolerance is typically a theodolite (not 10 shown). In use, each jacking assembly 10 is mounted between, and is bolted to, both the support stool 16 and the support 14 of the TOT steelwork 102 once assembled.

The system also comprises a jack 20, which is adapted to be installed within the recess 18 of a jacking assembly 10, so as to engage with either the 15 support stool 16 or the support member 14 as well as the body 12 of the jacking assembly, so that when operated the jack lifts the body 12 and/or the support member 14 until the structure is level. Preferably a plurality of jacks 20 is provided, one for each jacking assembly 10. Typically hydraulic jacks 20 are employed. The system also typically comprises shims 22 of 20 appropriate thickness for insertion between mating surfaces of the body 12 and the support member 14 or support stool 16 to maintain the required degree of levelling.

A preferred method of levelling the TOT steelwork structure will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Each tank 100 is erected with its 25 associated support stools 16. The method of levelling comprises mounting a body 12 of a jacking assembly 10 on top of each support stool 16. Preferably bolts (not shown) are inserted through each hole 40 provided in the base plates 34 an corresponding holes provided in the support stool 16, (see Figure 5). Note these bolts are in fact pins and serve only to guide the 30 steelwork vertically and prevent any sideways movement.

The support member 14 of the TOT steelwork 102 is then erected on top of each body 12 of the jacking assemblies 10, and bolts are inserted to connect to the TOT steelwork. Note these bolts also are in fact only pins and serve only to guide the steelwork vertically during assembly and prevent any sideways movement.

The method then comprises measuring out-of-tolerance of the structure immediately above each support stool 16, for example, using a theodolite, and installing a jack 20 within each recess 18 of the jacking assemblies 10 so as to engage with either the support stool 16 or the support member 14 as well as the body 12 of the jacking assembly. The bolts are loosened, and then the body 12 and/or the support member 14 are lifted by operating the jack 20 until the structure is level. The jacks 20 may be operated sequentially, one support stool at a time, or alternatively, all at once using four jacks at each of the support stools respectively.

The method then comprises inserting shims of appropriate thickness between mating surfaces of the body 12 and the support member 14 or support stool 16 to achieve the required degree of levelling. Then the load is released from each jack and the TOT steelwork 102 is allowed to bear on the support stool 16, (via the body 12 of the jacking assembly). The bolts can then be tightened and the jack 20 removed from within the recess.

This method of levelling may be employed In the event that the TOT steelwork needs to be levelled upon initial installation, or subsequently relevelled, due to differential settlement of the foundations (levelling is critical to ensure that any gantry crane rails remain within specification). The gantry crane rail and interconnecting steelwork is removed, and the levelling method re-performed as per the initial installation.

Now that preferred embodiments of the system and method of levelling have been described in detail, it will be apparent that the described embodiments provide a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following:

(i) It eliminates the need for using another crane to lift each corner of the TOT module, to allow the TOT steelwork to be shimmed to the required level, which is an inexact and laborious process.

(ii) It provides the infrastructure needed to relevel the structure at a later stage, if needed due to differential settlement of the foundations. This is a significant problem in large tankage trains where the ground bearing pressures are not equal in X and Y directions, i.e. plan, as the tankage train is much longer than it is wide, resulting in differential settlement (and even more so in poor founding conditions).

(iii) It enables levelling of the structure to within fine tolerances, which is essential to ensure safe and reliable operation of the gantry crane.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, the design and structure of the body of the jacking assembly may vary significantly from that of the described embodiment. The bench form of the body of the jacking assembly is particularly advantageous for this application to TOT steelwork for the tank module of a gold processing plant. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.

Claims

1. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure, the jacking assembly comprising:

2. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the body of the jacking assembly is constructed of steel plates, welded together in the form of a bench.

3. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the bench comprises a rectangular top plate, supported by a plurality of side wall plates, and two base plates.

4. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure as defined in claim 3, wherein two internal wall plates are provided, and a rear wall plate.

5. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure as defined in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein, in addition to a front and a rear side wall plate, on each side of the bench, there is also an intermediate side wall plate, provided between the front and rear side wall plates.

6. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure as defined in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the wall plates form the recess within the body, whilst ensuring that the full load, bearing on the top plate, is transferred through the bench to the base plates.

2019253822 22 Oct 2019

7. A jacking assembly for levelling a structure as defined in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein a series of holes is provided in the base plates to allow the body of the jacking assembly to be bolted to the support stool after levelling.

8. A method for levelling a structure, the method comprising:

5 mounting a body of a jacking assembly between a support member and a support stool associated with the structure, the body having a recess in which a jack can be received;

10 installing a jack within the recess so as to engage with either the support stool or the support member as well as the body;

lifting the body and/or the support member by operating the jack; and, inserting shims and/or packers of appropriate thickness between mating surfaces of the body and the support member or support stool to achieve the 15 required degree of levelling.

9. A method for levelling a structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the jack is installed temporarily in the recess and the method comprises the further step of removing the jack after the step of inserting shims.

10. A method for levelling a structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the step

20 of mounting the body of a jacking assembly comprises first mounting the body on top of the support stool, and then mounting the support member on top of the body.

11. A method for levelling a structure as defined in claim 10, wherein bolts are loosely inserted in holes provided for this purpose in the body, the

25 support stool and the support member.

12. A system for levelling a structure, the system comprising: a jacking assembly comprising a body adapted to be mounted between a support member and a support stool associated with the structure, the body having a recess in which a jack can be received;

means for measuring out-of-tolerance of the structure at the support stool; and, a jack adapted to be installed within the recess so as to engage with either the support stool or the support member as well as the body, so that when operated the jack lifts the body and/or the support member until the structure is level.

13. A system for levelling a structure as defined in claim 12, further comprising shims of appropriate thickness for insertion between mating surfaces of the body and the support member or support stool to maintain the required degree of levelling.