AU2021286382A1

AU2021286382A1 - Sealed Hopper and Pump Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2021286382A1
Application number: AU2021286382A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Alexander Jones
Original assignee: Manuplex Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Manuplex Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-08
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2022-12-22

Abstract

DUST MINIMISATION PUMPING AND DELIVERY METHOD ABSTRACT A sealed hopper and pump assembly (100) for conveying a sealing product (10) to a seal site (20), the assembly (100) including: a hopper (110) having an upper opening (112) for receiving the sealing product (10) and a lower opening (114) for dispensing the sealing product (10); a pump (120) disposed at the lower opening (114) for receiving the sealing product (10) and conveying the sealing product (10) from the hopper (110); a nozzle (130) for depositing the sealing product (10) conveyed by the pump (120) from the hopper (110) onto the seal site (20), wherein the hopper (110) further includes a filtered air aperture (116) and the upper opening (112) of the hopper (110) includes a hatch (118) for sealing the hopper (110) such that ingress and egress of air of the hopper (110) occurs through the filtered air aperture (116). Fig. 1 114 (0 FIG.t FIG.1I

Description

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SEALED HOPPER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a sealed hopper and pump assembly, as well as a method of using the same.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Underground mines are dangerous working environments with a large financial and ethical incentive to minimize catastrophic, as well as chronic, incidents to workers below ground, as well as to the machinery operating below ground. A major concern regarding miner health and safety, as well as the functioning of machines, is airborne dust and fines. One source of fines and dust is sealing compound, typically referred to as shotcrete or sprayed concrete, that is sprayed on walls, disused access points, or other sites requiring sealing. Typically, shotcrete is pneumatically projected in dust form onto a seal site, and subsequently mixed on the seal site with a liquid, such as water.

[0003] Due to the systems used to convey the sealing product from its reservoir to the sealing site, and the typical application in dry powdered form, significant dust is produced.

SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to at least substantially address one or more of the above disadvantages, or at least provide a useful alternative to the above-mentioned sealing devices and methods.

[0005] In a first aspect a sealed hopper and pump assembly for conveying a sealing product to a seal site, the assembly including: a hopper having an upper opening for receiving the sealing product and a lower opening for dispensing the sealing product; a pump disposed at the lower opening for receiving the sealing product and conveying the sealing product from the hopper; a nozzle for depositing the sealing product conveyed by the pump from the hopper onto the seal site, wherein the hopper further includes a filtered air aperture and the upper opening of the hopper includes a hatch for sealing the hopper such that ingress and egress of air of the hopper occurs through the filtered air aperture.

[0006] Preferably, the pump includes a rotary feed valve for metering the sealing product conveyed from the hopper.

[0007] Preferably, the pump further includes a venturi chamber that, when connected to a source of compressed air, accelerates the sealing product toward the nozzle.

[0008] Preferably, the nozzle includes a mixing attachment for mixing the sealing product with a liquid, preferably water, prior to the sealing product leaving the nozzle.

[0009] Preferably, the hatch is smaller than the upper opening of the hopper, and the hopper further includes an upper plate for sealing an area between the hatch and the upper opening.

[0010] Preferably, the assembly further includes an air filtration unit attached to the filtered air aperture, the air filtration unit being configured to filter sealing product from the ingress and/or egress of air of the hopper.

[0011] Preferably, the filtered air aperture is connected to an internal pipe located inside the hopper adjacent the upper opening thereof, the internal pipe being adapted to convey egressing air from an interior of the hopper to the filtered air aperture.

[0012] Preferably, the hopper further includes a sealing product agitation device to encourage the sealing product to move toward the lower opening.

[0013] Preferably, the sealing product agitation device includes an air flow bubbling system that, when connected to a source of compressed air, causes air bubbles to traverse the hopper from the lower opening toward the upper opening, and then egress through the filtered air aperture.

[0014] Preferably, the sealing product agitation device includes a shaker connected to the hopper, the shaker being configured to induce vibrations in the hopper to encourage the sealing product to move toward the lower opening under the influence of gravity.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of using the sealed hopper and pump assembly of the first aspect to apply the sealing product to the seal site, the method including the steps of: at well-ventilated location, filling the hopper with the sealing product; sealing the hatch of the hopper; moving the hopper to the seal site; and using the pump and nozzle to apply the sealing product to the seal site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a sealed hopper and pump assembly 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The assembly 100 is typically used for conveying a sealing product 10, for example shotcrete, to a seal site 20, for example an exposed wall within an underground mine. As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly 100 includes a hopper 110 having upwardly and outwardly diverging sidewalls 111 that extend from a lower opening 114 to an upper opening 112. The upper opening 112 is adapted to receive the sealing product 10, while the lower opening 114 is adapted to dispense the sealing product 10. The hopper 110 includes a hatch 118 for sealing the hopper 110, as well as a filtered air aperture 116, such that ingress and egress of air to or from the hopper 110 occurs through the filtered air aperture 116.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, The hatch 118 is preferably smaller than the upper opening 112 of the hopper 110, such that the hatch 118 is small enough to be manually lifted and operated. The hopper 110 further includes an upper plate 119 for sealing an area between the hatch 110 and the upper opening 112, such that the hopper 110 remains sealed, when the hatch 118 is sealed. The hatch 118 includes locks 115 to urge the hatch 118 against the upper plate 119 to ensure a good seal.

[0019] Moving back to FIG. 1, the assembly 100 further includes an air filtration unit 150 that is attached to the filtered air aperture 116. The air filtration unit 150 is adapted to filter sealing product from an air flow in or out of the filtered air aperture 116. In the preferred embodiment, the air flow is an egress from the hopper 110 through the filtered air aperture 116 to the air filtration unit 150, which filters the sealing product 10 from the air such that an amount of sealing product 10 leaving the hopper 110 is reduced. Preferably, the filtered air aperture 116 is connected to an internal pipe 117 located inside the hopper 110, as shown in FIG. 3. The internal pipe 117 is preferably adjacent the upper opening 112 of the hopper 110 to reduce the proportion of sealing product 10 flowing into the internal piper 117, given that the sealing product 10 will tend to settle towards the lower opening 114 of the hopper 110 under the influence of gravity.

[0020] Moving back to FIG. 1, the assembly 100 further includes a pump 120 located at, or adjacent, the lower opening 114 for receiving the sealing product 10 and conveying the sealing product 10 from the hopper 110. The sealing product 10 is conveyed by the pump 120 to a nozzle 130 that is adapted to deposit the sealing product 10 onto the seal site 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the pump 120 preferably includes a rotary feed valve 122 located between the lower opening 114 and the nozzle 130 for metering the sealing product 10 being conveyed from the hopper 110, such that the amount of sealing product 10 being applied by the nozzle 130 to the seal site 20 is adjustable by adjusting a speed of the rotary feed valve 122. The pump 120 further preferably includes a venturi chamber 124 located between the rotary feed valve 122 and the nozzle 130. The venturi chamber 124 is connectable to a source of compressed air such that the sealing product 10 can be accelerated toward the nozzle 130.

[0021] The nozzle 130 preferably includes a mixing attachment 132, for example a turbulent mixing chamber (not shown), for mixing the sealing product 10 with a liquid, preferably water, prior to the sealing product 10 leaving the nozzle 130. The nozzle 130 may be connected to the pump 120 using a hose (not shown), in which case the mixing attachment 132 is preferably located at an end of the hose opposite the pump 120 and adjacent the nozzle 130.

[0022] Reverting again to FIG. 1, the hopper 110 further includes a sealing product agitation device 160 to encourage the sealing product to move toward the lower opening 114. In one embodiment, the sealing product agitation device 160 includes an air flow bubbling system 162 that is connectable to a source of compressed air. When connected, the air flow bubbling system 162 causes air bubbles to traverse the hopper 110 from the lower opening 114 toward the upper opening 112, accelerating and promoting the sealing products tendency to settle toward the lower opening 114 under the influence of gravity. The air bubbles egress or leave the hopper 110 through the filtered air aperture 116.

[0023] In another embodiment, the sealing product agitation device includes a shaker 164 connected to the hopper 110. The shaker 164 is configured to induce vibrations in the sidewalls 111 of the hopper 110, thereby encouraging the sealing product to move toward the lower opening 114 under the influence of gravity.

[0024] The assembly 100 further includes a frame 170 holding the hopper 110, the pump 120, and/or the air filtration unit 150. The frame 170 preferably includes a lift point 172, as seen in FIG. 3, such that the assembly 100 can be lifted by a forklift as a skid, or in the form of quick connections for other lifting and conveying vehicles typically used in underground mines. The frame 170 further includes a ladder 174 for manual access to the hatch 118.

[0025] Use of the assembly 100 will now be discussed.

[0026] At a well-ventilation filling location, the hopper 110 is filled with the sealing product through the hatch 118. Alternatively, the entire upper plate 119 may be removed to allow the sealing product to be filled into the hopper 110 more quickly. Since the filling location is well ventilated, the product of dust by filling the hopper 110 is not a major concern. The hopper 110 is then sealed by applying the upper plate 119, if it was removed, and securing the hatch 118 with locks 115. The hopper 110 is moved to the seal site, for example an exposed wall in an underground mine. Typically, the seal site is poorly ventilated, or dust development is otherwise a concern.

[0027] Using the pump 120, the sealing product is metered from the hopper 110 and accelerated by the venturi chamber 124 towards the nozzle 130. If the mixing attachment 132 is being used, the sealing product is mixed with water and applied to the seal site. To ensure a steady supply of sealing product, the sealing product agitation device 160 operates to encourage the sealing product to move toward the lower opening 114, and thus the pump 120. The compressed air being used to provide the agitation leaves the hopper 110 through the filtered air aperture and is filtered by the air filtration unit. Thus, dust production by use of the assembly 100 is largely minimized.

[0028] Integers:

sealing product 120 pump seal site 122 rotary feed valve 100 assembly 124 venturi chamber 110 hopper 130 nozzle 111 sidewalls 132 mixing attachment 112 upper opening 140 filtered air 114 lower opening 150 air filtration unit 115 locks 160 sealing product agitation device 116 filtered air aperture 162 air flow bubbling system 117 internal pipe 164 shaker 118 hatch 170 frame 119 upper plate 172 lift points

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A sealed hopper and pump assembly for conveying a sealing product to a seal site, the assembly including: a hopper having an upper opening for receiving the sealing product and a lower opening for dispensing the sealing product; a pump disposed at the lower opening for receiving the sealing product and conveying the sealing product from the hopper; a nozzle for depositing the sealing product conveyed by the pump from the hopper onto the seal site, wherein the hopper further includes a filtered air aperture and the upper opening of the hopper includes a hatch for sealing the hopper such that ingress and egress of air of the hopper occurs through the filtered air aperture.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the pump includes a rotary feed valve for metering the sealing product conveyed from the hopper.

3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pump further includes a venturi chamber that, when connected to a source of compressed air, accelerates the sealing product toward the nozzle.

4. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the nozzle includes a mixing attachment for mixing the sealing product with a liquid, preferably water, prior to the sealing product leaving the nozzle.

5. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hatch is smaller than the upper opening of the hopper, and the hopper further includes an upper plate for sealing an area between the hatch and the upper opening.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the assembly further includes an air filtration unit attached to the filtered air aperture, the air filtration unit being configured to filter sealing product from the ingress and/or egress of air of the hopper.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the filtered air aperture is connected to an internal pipe located inside the hopper adjacent the upper opening thereof, the internal pipe being adapted to convey egressing air from an interior of the hopper to the filtered air aperture.

8. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the hopper further includes a sealing product agitation device to encourage the sealing product to move toward the lower opening.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sealing product agitation device includes an air flow bubbling system that, when connected to a source of compressed air, causes air bubbles to traverse the hopper from the lower opening toward the upper opening, and then egress through the filtered air aperture.

10. The assembly of claim 8 or 9, wherein the sealing product agitation device includes a shaker connected to the hopper, the shaker being configured to induce vibrations in the hopper to encourage the sealing product to move toward the lower opening under the influence of gravity.

11. A method of using the sealed hopper and pump assembly of any one of claims 1 to 10 to apply the sealing product to the seal site, the method including the steps of: at well-ventilated location, filling the hopper with the sealing product; sealing the hatch of the hopper; moving the hopper to the seal site; and using the pump and nozzle to apply the sealing product to the seal site.

Manuplex Holdings Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person LMW IP Pty Ltd