CA1170978A - Modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining a mineral formation - Google Patents
Modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining a mineral formationInfo
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- CA1170978A CA1170978A CA000389955A CA389955A CA1170978A CA 1170978 A CA1170978 A CA 1170978A CA 000389955 A CA000389955 A CA 000389955A CA 389955 A CA389955 A CA 389955A CA 1170978 A CA1170978 A CA 1170978A
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- mining
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- mineral bearing
- tool
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Abstract
MODULAR HYDRAULIC MINING TOOL
AND IMPROVED METHOD OF HYDRAULICALLY
MINING MINERAL FORMATIONS
ABSTRACT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An improved hydraulic mining tool is disclosed wherein the major components of the tool are formed as separate discreate modules each including a high tortional strength common mounting flange which per-mits the modules to be interchangeably attached to one another. The mining tool is provided with axial and radial slurry inlets both of which include means for directing a continuous quantity of mined material toward the eductor conduit of the tool. The direct-ing means may be adjusted from above ground surface during the mining operation to maximize mining efficiency in varying consistency mineral formations.
AND IMPROVED METHOD OF HYDRAULICALLY
MINING MINERAL FORMATIONS
ABSTRACT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An improved hydraulic mining tool is disclosed wherein the major components of the tool are formed as separate discreate modules each including a high tortional strength common mounting flange which per-mits the modules to be interchangeably attached to one another. The mining tool is provided with axial and radial slurry inlets both of which include means for directing a continuous quantity of mined material toward the eductor conduit of the tool. The direct-ing means may be adjusted from above ground surface during the mining operation to maximize mining efficiency in varying consistency mineral formations.
Description
~7~g78 MODULAR HYD~AULIC MINING TOOL
AND IMPROVED METHOD OF HYDRAULICALLY
MINING_MINERAL FORMATIO~S
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for hydraulically mining mineral depoRits, and more particularly, to a modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining high viscosity crude oil mineral formations such as tar sands and oil shale.
In recent years, hydraulic mining technique-~have been developed which permit the recovery of subterranean mineral deposits by use of a high velocity liquid stream being discharged directly into the mineral depos~t to dislodge the mineral~
from the surrounding mineral bed. The discharged liquid mixe3 with the freed mineral particles and forms a resultant aqueous slurry which may be pump-ed as by way of a hydraulic jet pump to ground sur-face for subsequent processing by conventional or unconventional separation systems.
To date, the majority of the prior art hydraulic mining tool apparatus have been effectively utilized to primarily recover minerals such as uraniu~ ore or coal, which due to their generally uniform non-cohesive structure, rapidly dislodge fram the mineral deposit, readily migrate within the aqueous slurry, and typically transport without conglomeration, upward within the jet pump of the mining tool. However, in the recovery of viscous crude oil m-nerals, ffuch as tar sands and oil shale, peculiar mining problems exi~t which to a great extent has rendered the heretofore hydraulic mining sy~tems ineffective '~
1~7~P~7t3 and commericially impracticable.
The~e peculiar mining problems are a result of the basic composition of viscou~ crude oil mineral formation~ which typically are of a non-uniform nature, varying significantly between different mineral bed sites a~ well a~ throughout the elevation of the sa~e mineral bed ~ite. With specific reference to tar sand mineral formations, it has been found that due to the high cohe~ive and adhesive properties of the bitumen constituent contained therein, the individual tar sand mineral particles often are strongly held or bound in the mineral formation and are difficult to hydraulically dislodge from the mineral bed.
Similarly, when freed from the formation, ~uch bound tar aand particles often are in the form of a gum or clay-like maq~ which does not readily migrate within the aqueou~ ~lurry and i~ highly susceptible to be-coming lodged within and obstructing the internal co~-ponents of th0 hydraulic mining tool.
In addition, due to the highly non-uniform nature of tar sand and oil shale mineral formation~, the bore hole in which the mining tool i8 inserted, i8 highly ~usceptible to cave-in situation~ wherein the mineral formation falls in and around the drlll string during the mining operation. These cave-in situatlon~
result in substantial frictional forces being developed in and around the mining tool and drill ~tring which generate ~ub~tantial torque on the mining tool during rotation. As such, extremely high tortional ~trength requirements are necessitated in tar sand and oil ~hale mining applications which are not typically en-countered in uranium or coal formation mining.
Further, in contrast to uniform, light coheaive and adheqive mlneral formations, the hydraulic mining efficiency rate in tar ~a~d and oil shale mineral formations i.e., the amount of the mined mineral being transported to L7~!3g7~
ground surface per unit of time, is typically sporadic due to the varying con~istency of the mineral formation.
In this regard, the majority of the prior art hydraulic mining tool syqtems have failed to include any means for adjusting the operation of the tool to compensate for the variances in the consistency of the formation and typically have relied solely upon natural gravity force migration of the aqueous slurry within the for-mation and the suction developed by the hydraulic jet pump to introduce the mined minerals into the mining tool.
Thu~, there exists a substantial need in the art for a hydraulic mining tool apparatus which is specif-ically adapted to withstand the high tortional forces, accomodate the non-uniform~ cohesive and adh~sive prop-erties, and compensate for thQ varying formatlon con-~tency encountered in viscou~ crude oil mineral formations.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT I~VE~TIO~
The pre~ent invention comprises an improved hydraulic mining tool and method of hydraulically mining which i8 specifically adapted to address and eleviate the above referenced problem~ associated in the hydraulic ~ining of viscou~ crude oii for~a~ions such ~
tar sand and oil shale. More particularly, the hydrau-lic mining tool of the present invention in~orporates a novel modular conqtruction wherein the ma~or com-ponents of the mining tool, i.e., the hydraulic jetpump and cutting jet, the rock crusher, the radial slurry inlets, and the bottom slurry inle~s, are form-ed a~ separate, individual units, each adapted to be interchangeably attached to one another, Each of the separate modules includes a common mounting flange arrangement which po~sesses sufficient structural integrity to withstand the extremely high torque ~7C~78 conditions encountered during tar ~and and oil shale mining applications. By use of this modular con-qtruction and common mounting flange arrangement the mining tool of the present invention may be readily modified to accomodate the particular mineral for-mation being mined with either the rock crusher, radial slurry inlet, or bottom slurry inlet modules or a combination of the sameJbeing mounted to the jet pump eductor and cutting jet ~odule of the mining tool to yield the most efficient mining recovery rate.
Additionally, by use of the modular construction of the present invention, spare module~ may be in-ventoried at the mining site and rapidly substituted onto the mining tool thereby reducing any period of down time of the mining operation necessitated for ~ repair of the mining tool. Hence, the present inven-tion permits versatility in the composite structure of the mining tool to meet the precise operational mining requirements of the mineral formation, while min-imizing the time period for repair of the tool.
To augment the increased versatility and reduceddown time benefits made pos ible by the modular con-struction of the mining tool, the pre~ent invention additionally incorporates means for varying the size of the radial slurry inlet openings during the mining operation, thereby permitting a proportional m0terlng of the amount of mined material entering into the mining tool between the radial and axial slurry openings.
In a first embodiment, the varying means compri~es a coaxial cylinder which may be reciprocated axially within the interior of the casing of the mining tool to selectively cover and uncover the radial slurry inlets. In a second embodiment, the varying means comprises plural wicket gates, each located within one of the radial slurry inlets of the mining tool and adapted to pivot radially outwa~d to selectively open and clo~e the radial slurry inlet~. Preferably, these wicket gates are formed having an arcuate con-figuration and are positioned on the mining tool to direct the mined mineral particles inwardly toward the jet pump eductor conduit during rotation of the mining tool. As such, the varying means of the present invention, provides metering as well as a positive feeding of mined material into the eductor of the mining tool which may be adjusted during the mining operation to maximize mining efficiency.
In addition, the present invention includes a feed ~crew sleeve as3embly ad~acent the axial or bottom slurry inlet of the m1ning tool which contin-uously lifts mined material upward toward the jet pump eductor, and further permits the mining tool to drill it's own hole during the mining operation.
Thus, as will be recognized from the following spec-ification the pre ent invention provides a signifi-cantly improved hydraulic mining tool which insures that mined ~aterial is continuously fed directly into the jet pump eductor of the mining tool, irrespec-tive of the particular consistency of the mineral deposit being mined.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
. .
These a~ well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein;
Figure 1 1~ perspective view of the modular mining tool of the present invention disposed within a bore hole and connected to plural drill sections extending upward to ground surface;
Figure 2 i8 an enlarged cross sectional view of the eductor/cutting jet module of the hydraulic mining tool of the present invention illustrating the relative ~7~978 position of the cutting jet conduit, jet pump conduit, and eductor conduit extending within the interior of ~he module and depicting the common mounting flange arrangement utilized to interconnect each of the S modules of the mining tool;
Figure 3 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the radial slurry inlet module of the mining tool of the present invention and illustrating ~
first embod~ment of means for varying the size of the radial slurry openings therein;
Figure 4 i8 a per~pectiv~ view of the radial slurry inlet module of Figure 3 illustrating the location of hydraulic conduits extending axially adjacent the perimeter surface of the module;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the radial slurry opening varying means of Figure 3 illustrat~ng the detailed co~tr~ction thereof;
Figure 6 is a partial cros~ sectional view of the radial slurry inlet module depicting a second embodiment of means for varying the size of the radial slurry openings wherein a hydraulicly actua-ted wicket gate is positioned within each of the rad-ial slurry openings;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the wicket gate structure of Figure 6 depicting the gate in a fully open position;
Figure 8 is a partial cross sectional view of a modified wicket gate structure for use on the radial slurry inlet module of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the modified wicket gate structure of Figure 8 depicting the gates in a closed position;
Figure 10 i8 a cross sectional view of the rock crushing module of the present invention;
Figure 11 iq a cross ~ectional view of a fir~t embodiment of the axial sluxry inle~ module of the present invention;
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the axial slurry inlet module t~e~ ab~ 12-12 of Figu.re 11.
'78 Figure 13 iY a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the axial ~lurry inlet module of the present invention;
Figure 14 is a cross ~ectional view of the axial slurry inlet module taken about line~ .14-14 of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the axial slurry inlet module of Figure 13.
D~TAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF TH~ PaEFERRED _M~ODIME~T
Referring to Figure 1 there i8 shown the modular hydraulic mining tool apparatus 10 of the present invention, connected at the upper end to plural drill ~ection~ 12 which extend upward above ground surface.
The mining tool 10 i~ depicted in its operational mode, being lowered into a pre-exiqting bore hole 14 which extends through the overburden 16 and into a de~ired mineral formation 18, which by way of examp].e compriQes a tar sand mineral formation.
Extending axially within the interior of the drill sect~ons12, are a jet pump supply condui~ 20, a jet pump eductor conduit 22, and a cutting ~et supply conduit 24 which initiate at a height above ground surface and terminate at connection~ within the mining tool 10. A conventional kelly ~ection (not shown) and a three passage swivel (not shown) is typically provided above ground surface which permits rotation of entire drill string whlle main-taining sealed connections of the jet pump supply con-duit 20 and cutting jet supply conduit 24 with respective pumps (not ~hown) and the eductor conduit 24 which a ~urge tank or ~ettling re~evoir (not shown).
In operation, the entire drill string is rotated by conventional ~eans from above ground surface and a high velocity liquid i~ introduced through the c~tting jet ~upply conduit 24 and discharged radially outward through the mining tool 10 to dislodge tar sand 1~7~3~7~
particles from the formation 18. The dislodged particles form an aqueous mixture or slurry with the discnarged liguid, which migrates downward within the formation 18 and into the interior of the mining 10 through the radial slurry inlets and axial slurry inlets of the tool. The a~ueous slurry ~ 8 subsequently llfted upward to ground surface by way of a hydraullc jet pump disposed within the interior of the mining tool, formed by the jet pump -qupply conduit 20 dis-charging a high velocity liquid vertically upwardwithin the interior of the eductor conduit 22. For a more detailed description of the basic operatlon of hydraulic mining tools, r~ference may be made to United States Patent 3951457 issued to Redfordr -As depicted in Figure 1, the minlng tool 10 of the present invention is formed in a modular construc-tion, compo~ed of an eductor/cutting jet module 30 a rock crushing module 32, a radial slurry inlet module 34, and an axial or bottom slurry inlet module 36.
Each of the modules 30, 32, 3i, and 36 are removably attached to one another by use of a common mounting flange arrangement, which as will become more apparent infra, permits the rock crushing module 32, radial slurry inlet module 34, and axial slurry inlet modulc 36, or a combination of the same to be either mounted to or removed fro~ the eductor/cutting jet module 30 of the mining tool 10 prior to insertion of the ~ining tool into the formation 18. Hence, depending upon the particular con istency of the tar sand formation i.e., sandy, clay-like or predominantly laced with rocks, the mining tool 10 may be composed of the appropriate modules 32-36 to facilitate maximum mining efficiency.
Referring to Figure 2, the detailed construction of the eductor/cutting jet module 30 of the present invention may be described. The module 30 is formed in a tubular configuration having an outer cylindrical casing 40, the diameter of which is sized to be re-ceived within bore hole 14 formed in the mineral formation 18 ~shown in Figure 1) typically being 12 to 16 inche~. The cutting jet supply conduit 24 initiates adjacent the upper end of the casing 40 and extends to a manifold 42 ridgedly mounted to the in~ide diameter of the casing 40. The manifold 42 is preferably provided with plural, axially spaced threaded apertures 44 which extend radially outward through the casing 40. Each of the threaded apertures 44 receive either a venturi nozzle 46 or a plug 48 which permits the position as well as the number of cutting jets to be adjusted prior to insertion of the tool 10 within the bore hole 14. By such an arrange-ment, high pressure liquid pumped from ground surface through the cutting jet conduit 24 is accelerated through the venturi nozzle 46 and discharged radially outward in the tar sands formation 18. Although in the preferred embodimenl, the manifold 42 is po~ition-ed to discharge the cutting jet liquid in only a single radial direction, those skilled in the art will recog-nize that an additional manifold 42 may be positioned on the opposite side of the casing 40 to balance ~he liquid discharge or a cylindrical manifold may be utilized to facilitate liquid discharge in multiple radial direction.
The eductor/cutting jet module 30 additionally includes a jet pump supply conduit 20 and jet pump eductor conduit 22, both of which terminate at a distance slightly above the lower end of the module.
~L'7~)~78 As shown, the jet pump supply conduit 20 is provided with a nozzle 50 which is co-axially aligned with an eductor venturi 52 for~ed on the lowermost end of the eductor conduit 22. As liquid is pumped downward through the jet pump supply conduit 20, it is accele-rated through the jet pump nozzel 50 and discharged upwardly through the eductor venturi 52. Upon passage through the venturi 52, a strong suction force is created in the region below the eductor venturi 52 which pulls the aqueous tar sand slurry-u~war~ into the eductor conduit 22 and -~ubsequently drives it tv ground surface.
The eductor/cutting jet module 30 as well as the remaining modules 32, 34, 36 is provided with a common upper and lower mounting flange 60 and 62 respectively, adapted to interconnect each of the separate modules 30, 32, 34, 36 and specifically designed to withstand high tortional forces. The upper flange 60 is prefer-ably formed in a spool or annular ~onfiguration having a wall thickness substantially greater than the wall thickness of the casing 40, and is rigidly attached to the casing 40 as by way of a peripheral fillet weld 64.
The upper surface of the flange 60 is provided with a plurality of threaded aperture~ 66 which are symet-rically spaced in a bolt circle pattern and extend partially through the length of the flange 60. The upper portion of each of the ape~ture~ 66 addition-ally includes an increased diameter counterbore 68 which as will be explained in more detail below, serves to ac~urately align the mating flange 60 and 62 of adjacent modules of the mining tool.
The lower flange 62 is additionally formed as an annular spool ~e~ber an~ is rigidly attached to the ca~ing 40 by a peripherial fillet weld 64. A plur-ality of rece~sed pockets 70 are formed along the periphery of the flange 62 and are positioned on a bolt circle pattern corresponding with the threaded 1~7~ 78 apertures 66 formed in the u~per flange ~ The pockets 70 terminate at a distance spaced from the lowermost end of the flange 62 and each define a shoulder 72. An aperture 74 extends axially through each of the shoulders 72 and is aligned with a res-pective one of the threaded ap~r~u~es 66 formed in the upper flange 60.
By such a mating flange arrangement, the indiv-idual modules 30 through 36 of the mining tool 10 maybe connected together by abuttment along their upper and lower flanges 60 and 62 respectively.
Plural bolt~ 76 may subsequently be inserted within the pockets 70, lowered through the apertures 74 of the lower flange 62 and threaded into the threaded apertures 66 of the upper flange 60. In the preferred embodiment, the shank portion 78 of the bolts 76 is sized to be only slightly less than the diameter of the aperture 74 and counterbore 68 and is formed having a length sufficient to extend into the counter-bore 68. Thus, when the bolts 76 are securely tight-ened in the apertures 66, the shank portion 78 of the bolts 76 accurately registers or aligns the upper and lower flanges 60 and 62 of adjacent modules to-gether. Additionally, due to the shank portion 78 of the bolts 76 being closely sized with ~nd extending through the aperture 74 and into the counterbore 68 of the apertures 66, the primary tortional force applied to the module interface is carried by the shank portion 78 rather than the thr~ad~1 section of the bolt~ 76.
Thus, by use of the common mating upper and lower flange arrangement of the present invention, a high and tortional integrity interconnection between each of the separate modules 30 through 36 of the mining tool is insured.
In Figure 3 and Figure 4, the radial slurry inlet module 34 of the present invention is illustrated.
1~7~D~78 The radial slurry inlet module 34 is formed having an outer cylindrical casing, 80, opposite ends of which include the upper and lower common mounting flange, 63 and 62 respectively, which permits the radial slurry inlet module 80 to be connected to the other modules, 30, 32, and 36 of the mining tool in the manner pre-viously described and as depicted by the phantom lines in Figure 3. As shown, the radial slurry inlet module 34 is provided with plural oblong openings 82 adjacent its upper-most end, which are adapted to permit the aqueous mineral slurry mined by the cutting jet no~zel 46 to enter into the interior of the mining tool and be transported upward to the eductor conduit 24 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30. The openings lS 82 are preferably located as close to the upper end of the module 34 as possible, (i.e. minimize the distance between the opening 82 and eductor venturi 52 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30) so that frictional forces of the mined slurry within the tool are minimized and maximum eductor suction is sensed at the openings 82, It i~ an important feature of the present in-vention that the radial slurry inlet module 34 includes means for varying the size of the slurry openings 82 during the mining operation so that the amount of mined material entering the mining tool 10 through the radial slurry inlet module 34 and axial slurry inlet module 36 may be pr~portionally metered to meet tbe immediate mining requirements of the formation.
The particular means for varying the size of the radial slurry openings 82 is shown in Figure 3 and 5 and comprises a cylindrical sleeve 86 which is hy-draulically actuated to telescope axially within the interior of the casing 80 and selectively block a portion or the entirety of the radial inlet openings 82.
The sleeve 86 is formed having an outside dia-meter slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing 80 and includes a reduced diameter portion 88 initiating adjacent its lower end and extending app-~o roximately midway along its length. An annularshoulder 90 lS formed ~djacent the lower end of the sleeve 86 which as best shown in Figure 5, locates an ~7~ 7~
annular sealing ring 92 bridging between the outside diametex of the sleeve 86 and the in~ide diameter of the casing 80. The ring 92 is maintained against the shoulder 90 of the sleeve 86 by a split ring 94 which S tightly engages a mating groove formed in the sleeve 86. A pair of 0 rings 96 and ~8 are additionally provided to form ~ liquid tight ~eal between the casing 80 and ~leeve 88.
A second sealing ring 100 bridges the gap between the casing 80 and reduced diameter portion 88 adjacent the upper end of the reduced diameter portion ~8 and is maintained in a stationary position between a pair of annular shoulder~ 102 and 104~r~ in the outer casing 80. As with the lower sealing ring 92, a pair lS of 0 rings 106 and 108 are provided to form a liquid tight seal against the reduced diameter portion 88 and casing 80. ~y such a structure a piston cycllnder arrangement is provided with the annular voids formed between the reduced diameter section 88 and outer casing 80)1Ocated above the and below the upper sealins ring lOOJdefining upper and lower control cham~ers 110 and 112 respectively. Each of the control cha~berA
110 and 112 include a respective hydraulic conduit 114 and 118 which extends upward to ground ~urface within a recess 120 formed along the outer perlphery of the casing 34 as well as on each of the remaining modules 30, 34, and 36 and drill sections 12. As shown, the hydraulic line 114 preferrably communicates with the lower control chamber 112 via a passage 113 formed in the upper sealing ring lOO~whereas the hydraulic line 114 communicates with the upper control chamber 110 via passage 115.
With the structure defined, the operation of the telescoping ~leeve 86 within the module 34 and the manner in which the size of the radial slurry inlet opening 82 ~s varied during the mining operation may be described. Referring to Figure 3, the sleeve 86 is depicted in its lower most position wherein the lower distal end of the sleeve 86 abutts against the annular shoulder 130 formed ~y the increased wall thickne~s of the lower mounting flange 62. ~q will be recognized with the sleeve 86 maintained in this position, the upper end 87 of the sleeve 86 is po~itioned below the radial slurry inlet openings 82 and hence the inlets 82 are in a fully open condition. When it is desired to reduce the size of the radial slurry openings 82, the upper control chamber 110 may be pressurized fro~
above ground surface, via the hydraulic conduit 114 while the lower control chamber 112 i~ vented via the hydraulic conduit 118, thereby causing a pressure gradient to exist acros~ the upper sealing ring 100.
Thi~ pressure gradient results in the 8 leeve 86 raising upward within the interior of the caxing 80 lin the direction of the arrow in Figure 3) whereby the upper end 87 of the sleeve 86 obstructs a portion or the entirety of the radial ~lurry openings 82. In its furthest upward extension, the upper end of the sleeve 20 86 abutts against a shoulder 132 formed by the increased wall thickne~s of the upper flange 68, thereby preventing the lower sealing ring 92 from contacting the upper sealing ring 100. Conversely, when it is de~ired to increase the size of the openings 82, the upper control chamber 110 may be vented while the lower control chamber 112 i8 pressurized, causing a reverse pres~ure gradiont to exist across the upper sealing ring 100 whareby th~
~leeve 86 returns to its lower most position shown in F$gure 3. Thus, by regulating the pressure within the slurry inlet openings 82 may be selectively ad~u~ted during the mining operation between fully open and fully closed positions to meter the amount of ~lurry entering into the mining tool 10 through the rad$al slurry inlet~ 82.
In Figure 6 and 7, an alternative means for ad-justing the size of the openings 82.of the r~dial 117~7~3 slurry inlet module 34 is depicted which, additionally serve~ to direct or feed mined material into the eductor venturi 52 of the mining tool 10. In this embodiment, the reciprocating sleeve 86 is replaced by plural wicket gates 150, each disposed within a respective one of the slurry openings 82 r As shown, the wicket gates 150 are preferrably formed having an arcuate exterior surface configuration consistent with the curvature of the outer casing 80 of the module and are sized to be received within the openings 82.
A pair of generally L-shaped ~truts 152 are rigidly attached to the interior surface of the wicket gateslS0 and extend radially inward within the in-terior of the caaing 80. As best shown in Figure 6, both of the struts 152 are pivotally connected as by way of a pin 154 to a pair of hinges 156 located at a distance spaced from the side edge of the slurry inlet opening 82. The struts 152 are additionally connected to a re~pective hydraulic actuator 158 which 20 is positioned relative th~ struts 152 and casing 80 to cause the wicket gates 150 to pivot about the pins 154. Each of the acuators 158 may be connected to a pressure source located above ground by a variety of conventional means but, for purposes of illustration, 25 a pair of hydraulic conduits 160 and 162 (illustrated in Figure 6 ) are provided, which extend axially through the interior of the module 34 as well as the remainder of the drill string.
In operation, selective pressurization of the hydraulic actuators 158 causes each of the wicket gates 150 to pivot from a closed position (shown ~y the full lines in Figure 6) to a fully open position shown in Figure 7. Due to the pivot pins 154 being positioned adjacent the side edge of the inlet open-ing 82, during this pivotal movement, the leadingedge 164 of the gates 150 travels ra~ially outward at 1~7~78 a substantially greater distance than the trailing edge 166 of the gate~,whereby the gate~ serve as funnel~ or scoop-like members extending about the pheriphery of the casing 80~ Thus during rotatlon of the mining tool 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, the wicket gates 150 serve to direct the mined mineral material along their inner surface into the interior of the radial slurry inlet module 34. To prevent any over-extension of the hydraulic actuator 158 as well as to prevent the wicket gates 150 from being inadvertantly torn off the module 34 during rotation of the mining tool 10, a pair of stops 168 are rigidly mounted to each of the L-.~haped struts 152 and are adapted to abutt the interior surface of the casing 80. In the preferred embodiment, the hydraulic actuators 15B may be con-trolled from above ground surfaco to permit the wicket gates 150 on each of the radial slurry inlet openings 82 to be positioned at any pi~otal location between their fully open and fully closed positions. Thus, by use of this wicket gate arrangement, mined material ic effectively fed or forced into the intexior of the module 34 at a rate controlled and regulated from above ground during the mining operation.
Figure 8 and Figure 9 depict a modification of the wicXet gate construction of Figure 6 and 7 which is ~pecifically adapted for rotation of the mining tool in both the clockwise and the counter-clockwise direction and which further alleviates the require-ment of a separate hydraulic actuator on each of the wicket gates. As best shown in Figure 9, in this modification~ the plural inlet opening 82 of the module 34 are po~itioned in pairs 82A and 82B which are vertically off-set from one another along the length of the module 34. In the preferred embodiment, the openings 82A and 82B are formed in a truncated triangular 1 ~7~ ~ 7~3 configuration and each receive a complementary shaped wicket gate 150A and 159B. As with the wicket gates 150 of Figure 6 and 7, the wicket gates 150Aand 150B each include a pair of L-shaped mounting strut A 152A and 152B which are pivotally connected to a pair of hinge~
156Aand 156B rigidly mounted to the casing 80 of the module 34. In contrast to the pivot pin mounting of the gates 150 in Figure 6 and 7, the wicket gate~
150A and 150B are mounted to the hinges 156A and 156B
by tortion bar 170Awhich is pre-torqued to normally bias the wicket gates 150A and 150B into an open position indicated by the phantom lines in Figure 8.
By this particular arrangement, when the mining tool 10 is initially inserted within the bore hole 15 14 ~shown in Figure 1) the lower inclined edge 151 of - the truncated triangular configuration of the wicket gates 150A and 150B serves as a cam surface against the bore hole and urges the gates 150A and 150B radially inward toward the axis of the module 34. When the camming force overcomes the outward biasing force of the tortion bar 170, the wicket gates 150A and 15~Bmove inward to a closed position indicated by the full line position in Figure 8. Once the tool ha~ been inserted into the bore hole, during rotation in a clockwise direction, the wicket gate~ 150A are blased outward by the tortion bar 170 and maintained in an open position to direct mined mineral slurry inward within the inter-ior of the module 34, while the wicket gate~ 1508 are driven to a closed position. Conversely, when the mining tool 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the wicket gate 150B moves to its open position while the wicket gate 150A is driven to a closed position.
Thus, by use of the modified wicket gate design of Figures 8 and 9, a positive feeding action of mined slurry within the interior of the radial slurry inlet module 34 is facilitate~ without the necessity of hydraulic actuation.
In Figure 12, the rock crushing module 32 of the present invention i8 depicted which is typically disposed between the eductor/cutting jet module 30 and the radial slurry inlet module 34 of the mining tool 10 to insure the mined mineral and rock particles traveling into the eductor conduit 22 are of a size sufficient to pass upward into the venturi 52 without becoming lodged therein. As shown, the module 32 includes a cylindrical casing 200 which i~ provided with an upper and lower common mounting flange 60 and 62 formed in the manner as heretofore described.
Disposed within the interior of the casing 200 is a fixed jaw 202 and movable jaw 204 which are positioned on opposite sides and proximal to a central throat lS or passage 206. The movable jaw 204 is pivotally mounted about a pin 208 securely anchored to the casing 200 and is provided with a suitable linkage 210 which extends to a hydraulic actuator 212.
In operation, reciprocation of the hydraulic actuator 212 causes the movable jaw 204 to pivot about the pin 208 and move acro~s the opening of the throat 206 toward the stationary jaw 202. During this move-ment, any rock or large particulate matter lodged at the lower end of the throat 206 is crushed upon impact between the movable jaw 204 and reduced in size. Upon repeated cyclic movement of the movable jaw 204r the rocks and particulate matter reduce to a size sufficient to pass through the throat 206 and upward into the eductor cutting jet module 30. As will be recognized, by sizing the opening of the throat 206 to beslightly less than the minimum diameter of the eductor venturi 52, mined mineral particles and rock particles may travel reely through the educt-or venturi 52 and upward through the eductor conduit 22 to ground surface.
Those skilled in t~he art will recognize that the reciprocation speed and frequency cycle of the movable ~7~
jaw 204 may be controlled by conventional techniques to permit the jaw crusher to be adjusted to suit the particular composition of the mineral formation.
For instance, in formations known to have a large S quantity of hard rock particles, the jaw crusher module 32 may be set to provide high impact forces and rapid reciprocation cycles to throughly crush all part-icles entering therein; whereas in formations having a predominantly gum-like tar consistency, the impact force and reciprocation cycles may be lowered to pro-bide a mashing action. Thus, by use of the rock crushing module 32 of the present invention, blockage of the eductor venturi 52 of the mining tool 10 may be substantially eliminated in a simple yet effective manner.
Figure 11 and 12 depicts the axial or bottom slurry inlet module 36 of the present invention which i~
preferably positioned to be the lowermost or end ~odule on the composite mining tool 10. AB with the other modules 30, 32 and 34~ the axial ~lurry inlet module 36 includes a cylindrical outer casing 220 having an upper common mounting flange 60 rigidly attached to it~
upper distal end. Positioned coaxially within the interior of the ca~ing 220 i~ a feed screw or auger 222 which preferably extends a short distance beyond the lower distal end 224 of the casing 220 to be disposed within the mineral formation 18 (Figure 1). A~ shown, the feed screw 224 is provided with plural support fins 226 adjacent its upper end which are rigidly mounted as by a fillet weld, to the inside periphery of the mounting flange 60. As such, during rotation of the mining tool 10, the outer casing 220 and feed screw 222 of the axial inlet module 36 rotate in unison.
~7~7~3 To eliminate any shearing off of the mined material 18 during transport along the length of the feed screw 222, the axial inlet module 34 additionally includes a shroud or sleeve 230 which surrounds the scre~ 220 and is adapted to remain substantially stationary or rotate slowly in direction opposite to the rotation of the module 36. As shown in Figure 11, the shroud 230 i8 formed as a cylindrical tube having an out~ide diameter sized slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing 220 and an inside diameter sized sli~htly greater than the maximum diameter of the feed screw 222.
Suitable bearings 232 and 234 are provided along the perimeter of the shroud 230 to insure the coaxial alignment and permit relative rotational movement between the shroud 230 and casing 220.
- The upper end of the shroud 230 includes a reduced diameter section 236 which is spaced radially inward from the casing 220. The section 236 i8 sealed by ~u~table means 238 and 240 to the inside diameter of the upper mounting flange 60 and the inside diameter of the casing 220 respectively, to define an annular shroud rotation chamber 242. As be~t ~hown in Figure 12, a plurality of substantially "S" -~haped vanes 244 are affixed to the perimeter surface of the reduced diameter section 236 and extend generally radially outward acros~
the annular chamber 242 toward the inside cylindrical wall of the casing 220. The vanes 244 ars preferably formed of a flexible material such as rubber or canvas and are sized to extend axially throughout the length of the annular chamber 242.
An inlet conduit 250 and outlet conduit 252 extend axially through the upper common mounting flange 60 and into the annular shroud rotation chamber 242. A~ shown in Figure 12, the inlet conduit is located at approx-imately a nine o'clock position on the flange 60 whilethe outlet conduit is l~cated at approximately a twelve o'clock position. Disposed between the inlet and outlet 1~ 7~b~78 conduits 250 and 252 respectively, (i.e. at the ten through eleven o'clock position~ is a barrier wall 254 which extends axially throughout the height of the annular chamber 242. The barrier is rigidly mounted to the in~ide cylindrical wall of the ca~ing 220 and at its maximum radial dimension is slightly spaced from the cylindrical wall of the reduced diameter qection 236 of the shroud 230. As such, the barrier 254 requires water or other liquid being introduced through the inlet conduit 250 to travel in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 12) through the annular chamber 242 prior to exiting through the outlet conduit 252.
With the structure defined, the operation of the ~hroud 230 of the module 36 may be described. As will be recognized during the mining operation, the outer ca~ing 220 and feed screw 222 of the module rotate in a clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 12. During this rotation, the shroud 230 will rotate with the ca~ing 220 unless and until an arresting force is applied to the ~hroud 230 in an opposite ~i.e. counter-clockwise) direction. Thi~
arresting force is generated by the introduction of a high pressure liquid (from ground surface or tapped from the cutting jet conduit 24 or jet pump conduit 20) through the inlet conduit 250 which upon entering the annular chamber 242, i8 directed by the barrier 254 to flow in a counter-clockwise directlon toward the outlet conduit 252. As the high presfiure liquid flows through the chamber 242, it impinges and builds up pressure upon the plural "S" ~haped vanes 244, sealing their distal ends outward against the cylindrical wall of the casing 220 and imparting a counter-clockwise rotational force to the vanes 244 ~a~ indicated by the arrows in Figure 12) which is transmitted to the re-duced diameter portion 236 of the shroud 230. As the individual vanes 244 of the shroud 230 rotate past the oulet conduit 252 the pressure behind them is vented or wasted through the conduit 252 which allows them to collapse upon contact with the barrier 254.
7~3 As such, the vanes are urged against the cylindrical wall of the reduced diameter portion 236 of the shroud 230 and pas~ harmlessly beyond to be again impinged upon by the incoming liquid at the inlet conduit 250.
When the liquid discharged into the annular chamber generates a counter-clockwise rotational speed on the shroud 230 which is equal to the clockwise rotation-al speed of the outer casing 220 and feed screw 222, the ~hroud is stationary within and relative to mineral formation 18 (Figure 1). Thus, as mined mineral material is contacted by the lower end of the feed screw 222, it is urged outward against the stationary shroud 230 and lifted upward along the length of the screw 222 toward the eductor venturi 52 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30 ~Figure 1). To assist this upward trans-port within the shroud 230, plural elongate obstruction bars 256 are provided along the interior of the shroud 230 which prevent the rotation of the mined minerals during travel on the feed screw`222.
As will be recognized, by raising the pressure of the liquid discharged into the annular chamber 242, the counter-clockwise rotational speed of the shroud 230 may be increased to exceed the clockwise rotational speed of the casing 220 which has the same result as increasing the rotational speed of the feed screw 222.
As such, a supercharging effect may be provided which ~ignificantly increases the amount of mined material entering axially upward through the module 36 without increasing the rotational speed of the mining tool 10 within the formation.
In addition to the forced feeding and supercharging effect produced by use of the axial slurry inlet module 36, the use of the axial slurry inlet module 36 permits a novel hydraulic mining method wherein the mining tool itself may form its own bore hole within the mineral formation. Specifically, as previously mentioned, during the hydraulic mining process, the mineral for-7~3 mation is highly susceptible to cave-in situatlons wherein the mineral formation falls in and around the drill string and mining tool 10. Heretofor~, when such a cave-in occured, and it was necessary to remove the mining tool 10 out of the formation for repair or inspection, mineral settling within the borehole pre-vented the mining tool 10 from being re-inserted back into the mineral formation. Similarly, due to the mineral formation in the vacinity of the bore hole being ~ 10 saturated with liquid from the previous hydraulic mining operation, the bore hole fail~ed to possess ~ufficient integretity to permit conventional drilling apparatus such as a tri-cone bit or mud turbine~which require the re-circulation of drill tailings upward to ground surface about the annulus of the bore hole to - be utilized. Hence, due to the failure of existing apparatus to remove the tailings from the formation, it was neces~ary to abandon the drill site and begin the mining operation at a new location.
The present invention, by use of its axial slurry inlet and screw feed, eliminates this deficiency by providing for the removal of the drill tailing to ground surface within the eductor conduit. As such, the mining tool 10 of the pre~ent invention may be readily lowered back into the mineral formation with the feed ~crew raising the drill tailinga upward to the eductor venturi such that the mining tool re-drills its own bore hole. Thus, the present invention i8 ~pecifically adapted to efficiently mine tar sand formation~ which heretofore was impracticable or impossible in the art.
In Figure 13 through 15, an additional e~bodiment of the axial sl~rry inlet module 36 of the present invention is depicted which is additionally adapted to provide a substantially stationary shroud surround-ing the feed screw. As ~hown, the module 36 is formedhaving an outer cylindrical ca~ing 260 including an upper common mounting flange 60 attached to its upper 1 3L7~
end. A feed screw 262 i8 coaxially positioned within the interior of the casing 260 and is rigidly mounted to the upper flange 60 by way of a three arm spider w~
flange 264. A shroud 26~ is journaled to the interior of the casing 260 to permit relative rotational move-ment there between, and extends axially below the casing 260 and beyond the end of the feed screw 262.
An optional dome cap 294 (indicated by phantom lines) may additionally be mounted to the lower end of the shroud 266 to facilitate easy lowering of the module 36 into the bore hole 14 (Figure 1).
As shown, the shroud 266 is provided with plural inlet apertures 270 adjacent its lower distal end which are adapted to permit mined slurry material to enter lS within the interior of the shroud 266 and be contacted - by the feed screw 262. Although not shown, these aper-tures 270 may be provided with a telescoping sleeve assembly similiar to that shown in Figure 3 to permit the size of the openings to be adiusted during operation.
Z0 A pair of arcuate shaped arm members 272 are additionally provided each pivotally mounted about an axial hinge 274 located along the outer periphery of the shroud 266.
As shown in Figure 14, the arm members 272 are adapted to be selectively extended radially outward from their closed position (indicated by the phantom lines in Figure 14) to a fully opened position (indicated by the full lines in Figure 14). In their fully opened position, the arcuate arm members provide a substantial ~urface area which, as will be explained in more detail infra, serves as a dynamic brake to maintain the shroud substantial stationary in the mineral format~n 18 during rotation of the mining tool 10.
The particular mechanism for selectively opening and closing the arcuate arm members 272 is best shown in Figure 13 and 14. As shown, each of ~he arm member~
272 are provided with a supporting rib 280 adjacent their lower edge which includes a bell crank portion 282 which extends radially within the interior of the shroud 266. A bearing pin 284 is rigidly mounted to each of the bell crank portions 282 and is received within a respective elongate slot 286 formed in an actuator plate 288. The actuator plate 288 is rot-atably mounted upon a pedestal 230 which is rigidly affixed to the lower distal end of the shroud 266 by a end plate flange 292~ A pair of hydraulic operators 296 are provided on opposite sides of the axis of the actuator plate 288 and are pivotally mounted at one end to the cylindrical wall of the plate as by way of a pin 298. Suitable hydraulic lines (not shown) may be connected to each hydraulic operator 296 and extend upward within the interior of the module 36 as well as the remaining modules of the mining tool 10 and drill string to ground surface to permit the selective act-uation of the operators 296.
By such a structure, it will be recognized that actuation of the hydraulic operators 296 will cause a rotational movement of the actuator plate 288 about its central axis. Due to the beaxing pins 284 being engaged within the elongate slots 286 of the actuator plate 288, during rotational movement of the plate 288, each of the bell crank portions of the supporting ribs 280 travel in an arcuate path within the interior of the shroud 266 causing a corresponding pivotal movement of the arcuate arm members between an open and closed position.
As will be recognized, during the actual mining operation, wherein the outer casing 260 and feed ~crew 262 rotate in a clockwise direction, the arcuate arm members 272 may be hydraulically actuated into an open position (in the manner previously described). Due to the substantial surface area of the arm members 272 a substantial drag force or resistance is developed on the arm members 272 which serves as a dynamic brake to maintain the shroud 266 in a substantially stationary position within the mineral formation or at least reduce the clockwise rotational spPed of the shroud 266. As such, mined slurry material entering into the module 36 through the inlet apertures 270 may be trans-ported upward along the length of the feed screw 262toward the eductor venturi 52 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30. Alternatively, when it is desired to remove the mining tool 10 out of the formation 18, the hydraulic operators may be actuated in the opposite direction, causing the arm members 272 to return back to the closed position tightly against the perimeter of the shroud 266.
Thus, from the above it will be recognized that each of the separate modules or ~ combinatlon of one or lS more of the separate modules may be mounted or removed from the ~ining tool 10 to yield a most efficient mining recovery rate for the particular mineral for-mation being mined. In addition, due to the present invention adjustable sized radial slurry inlets, the inconsistent recovery rates heretofore as~ociated with hydraulic mining may be ~ubstantially reduced.
Further, due to the present invention providing a positive feeding of material both throu~h the axial aa well as radial slurry openings, the mining tool of the present invention insure~ that mined materials are continuously being transported from the bore hole upward to ground surface. Thu~, in summary, the present invention provides the significantly improved hydraulic mining tool and ~ethod of operating the same which is specifically adapted for viscous crude oil mineral formations such as tar sand and oil shale formation.
AND IMPROVED METHOD OF HYDRAULICALLY
MINING_MINERAL FORMATIO~S
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for hydraulically mining mineral depoRits, and more particularly, to a modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining high viscosity crude oil mineral formations such as tar sands and oil shale.
In recent years, hydraulic mining technique-~have been developed which permit the recovery of subterranean mineral deposits by use of a high velocity liquid stream being discharged directly into the mineral depos~t to dislodge the mineral~
from the surrounding mineral bed. The discharged liquid mixe3 with the freed mineral particles and forms a resultant aqueous slurry which may be pump-ed as by way of a hydraulic jet pump to ground sur-face for subsequent processing by conventional or unconventional separation systems.
To date, the majority of the prior art hydraulic mining tool apparatus have been effectively utilized to primarily recover minerals such as uraniu~ ore or coal, which due to their generally uniform non-cohesive structure, rapidly dislodge fram the mineral deposit, readily migrate within the aqueous slurry, and typically transport without conglomeration, upward within the jet pump of the mining tool. However, in the recovery of viscous crude oil m-nerals, ffuch as tar sands and oil shale, peculiar mining problems exi~t which to a great extent has rendered the heretofore hydraulic mining sy~tems ineffective '~
1~7~P~7t3 and commericially impracticable.
The~e peculiar mining problems are a result of the basic composition of viscou~ crude oil mineral formation~ which typically are of a non-uniform nature, varying significantly between different mineral bed sites a~ well a~ throughout the elevation of the sa~e mineral bed ~ite. With specific reference to tar sand mineral formations, it has been found that due to the high cohe~ive and adhesive properties of the bitumen constituent contained therein, the individual tar sand mineral particles often are strongly held or bound in the mineral formation and are difficult to hydraulically dislodge from the mineral bed.
Similarly, when freed from the formation, ~uch bound tar aand particles often are in the form of a gum or clay-like maq~ which does not readily migrate within the aqueou~ ~lurry and i~ highly susceptible to be-coming lodged within and obstructing the internal co~-ponents of th0 hydraulic mining tool.
In addition, due to the highly non-uniform nature of tar sand and oil shale mineral formation~, the bore hole in which the mining tool i8 inserted, i8 highly ~usceptible to cave-in situation~ wherein the mineral formation falls in and around the drlll string during the mining operation. These cave-in situatlon~
result in substantial frictional forces being developed in and around the mining tool and drill ~tring which generate ~ub~tantial torque on the mining tool during rotation. As such, extremely high tortional ~trength requirements are necessitated in tar sand and oil ~hale mining applications which are not typically en-countered in uranium or coal formation mining.
Further, in contrast to uniform, light coheaive and adheqive mlneral formations, the hydraulic mining efficiency rate in tar ~a~d and oil shale mineral formations i.e., the amount of the mined mineral being transported to L7~!3g7~
ground surface per unit of time, is typically sporadic due to the varying con~istency of the mineral formation.
In this regard, the majority of the prior art hydraulic mining tool syqtems have failed to include any means for adjusting the operation of the tool to compensate for the variances in the consistency of the formation and typically have relied solely upon natural gravity force migration of the aqueous slurry within the for-mation and the suction developed by the hydraulic jet pump to introduce the mined minerals into the mining tool.
Thu~, there exists a substantial need in the art for a hydraulic mining tool apparatus which is specif-ically adapted to withstand the high tortional forces, accomodate the non-uniform~ cohesive and adh~sive prop-erties, and compensate for thQ varying formatlon con-~tency encountered in viscou~ crude oil mineral formations.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT I~VE~TIO~
The pre~ent invention comprises an improved hydraulic mining tool and method of hydraulically mining which i8 specifically adapted to address and eleviate the above referenced problem~ associated in the hydraulic ~ining of viscou~ crude oii for~a~ions such ~
tar sand and oil shale. More particularly, the hydrau-lic mining tool of the present invention in~orporates a novel modular conqtruction wherein the ma~or com-ponents of the mining tool, i.e., the hydraulic jetpump and cutting jet, the rock crusher, the radial slurry inlets, and the bottom slurry inle~s, are form-ed a~ separate, individual units, each adapted to be interchangeably attached to one another, Each of the separate modules includes a common mounting flange arrangement which po~sesses sufficient structural integrity to withstand the extremely high torque ~7C~78 conditions encountered during tar ~and and oil shale mining applications. By use of this modular con-qtruction and common mounting flange arrangement the mining tool of the present invention may be readily modified to accomodate the particular mineral for-mation being mined with either the rock crusher, radial slurry inlet, or bottom slurry inlet modules or a combination of the sameJbeing mounted to the jet pump eductor and cutting jet ~odule of the mining tool to yield the most efficient mining recovery rate.
Additionally, by use of the modular construction of the present invention, spare module~ may be in-ventoried at the mining site and rapidly substituted onto the mining tool thereby reducing any period of down time of the mining operation necessitated for ~ repair of the mining tool. Hence, the present inven-tion permits versatility in the composite structure of the mining tool to meet the precise operational mining requirements of the mineral formation, while min-imizing the time period for repair of the tool.
To augment the increased versatility and reduceddown time benefits made pos ible by the modular con-struction of the mining tool, the pre~ent invention additionally incorporates means for varying the size of the radial slurry inlet openings during the mining operation, thereby permitting a proportional m0terlng of the amount of mined material entering into the mining tool between the radial and axial slurry openings.
In a first embodiment, the varying means compri~es a coaxial cylinder which may be reciprocated axially within the interior of the casing of the mining tool to selectively cover and uncover the radial slurry inlets. In a second embodiment, the varying means comprises plural wicket gates, each located within one of the radial slurry inlets of the mining tool and adapted to pivot radially outwa~d to selectively open and clo~e the radial slurry inlet~. Preferably, these wicket gates are formed having an arcuate con-figuration and are positioned on the mining tool to direct the mined mineral particles inwardly toward the jet pump eductor conduit during rotation of the mining tool. As such, the varying means of the present invention, provides metering as well as a positive feeding of mined material into the eductor of the mining tool which may be adjusted during the mining operation to maximize mining efficiency.
In addition, the present invention includes a feed ~crew sleeve as3embly ad~acent the axial or bottom slurry inlet of the m1ning tool which contin-uously lifts mined material upward toward the jet pump eductor, and further permits the mining tool to drill it's own hole during the mining operation.
Thus, as will be recognized from the following spec-ification the pre ent invention provides a signifi-cantly improved hydraulic mining tool which insures that mined ~aterial is continuously fed directly into the jet pump eductor of the mining tool, irrespec-tive of the particular consistency of the mineral deposit being mined.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
. .
These a~ well as other features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein;
Figure 1 1~ perspective view of the modular mining tool of the present invention disposed within a bore hole and connected to plural drill sections extending upward to ground surface;
Figure 2 i8 an enlarged cross sectional view of the eductor/cutting jet module of the hydraulic mining tool of the present invention illustrating the relative ~7~978 position of the cutting jet conduit, jet pump conduit, and eductor conduit extending within the interior of ~he module and depicting the common mounting flange arrangement utilized to interconnect each of the S modules of the mining tool;
Figure 3 is an enlarged partial cross sectional view of the radial slurry inlet module of the mining tool of the present invention and illustrating ~
first embod~ment of means for varying the size of the radial slurry openings therein;
Figure 4 i8 a per~pectiv~ view of the radial slurry inlet module of Figure 3 illustrating the location of hydraulic conduits extending axially adjacent the perimeter surface of the module;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the radial slurry opening varying means of Figure 3 illustrat~ng the detailed co~tr~ction thereof;
Figure 6 is a partial cros~ sectional view of the radial slurry inlet module depicting a second embodiment of means for varying the size of the radial slurry openings wherein a hydraulicly actua-ted wicket gate is positioned within each of the rad-ial slurry openings;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the wicket gate structure of Figure 6 depicting the gate in a fully open position;
Figure 8 is a partial cross sectional view of a modified wicket gate structure for use on the radial slurry inlet module of the present invention;
Figure 9 is a partial perspective view of the modified wicket gate structure of Figure 8 depicting the gates in a closed position;
Figure 10 i8 a cross sectional view of the rock crushing module of the present invention;
Figure 11 iq a cross ~ectional view of a fir~t embodiment of the axial sluxry inle~ module of the present invention;
Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the axial slurry inlet module t~e~ ab~ 12-12 of Figu.re 11.
'78 Figure 13 iY a partial perspective view of a second embodiment of the axial ~lurry inlet module of the present invention;
Figure 14 is a cross ~ectional view of the axial slurry inlet module taken about line~ .14-14 of Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of the axial slurry inlet module of Figure 13.
D~TAILED DESCRIPTIO~ OF TH~ PaEFERRED _M~ODIME~T
Referring to Figure 1 there i8 shown the modular hydraulic mining tool apparatus 10 of the present invention, connected at the upper end to plural drill ~ection~ 12 which extend upward above ground surface.
The mining tool 10 i~ depicted in its operational mode, being lowered into a pre-exiqting bore hole 14 which extends through the overburden 16 and into a de~ired mineral formation 18, which by way of examp].e compriQes a tar sand mineral formation.
Extending axially within the interior of the drill sect~ons12, are a jet pump supply condui~ 20, a jet pump eductor conduit 22, and a cutting ~et supply conduit 24 which initiate at a height above ground surface and terminate at connection~ within the mining tool 10. A conventional kelly ~ection (not shown) and a three passage swivel (not shown) is typically provided above ground surface which permits rotation of entire drill string whlle main-taining sealed connections of the jet pump supply con-duit 20 and cutting jet supply conduit 24 with respective pumps (not ~hown) and the eductor conduit 24 which a ~urge tank or ~ettling re~evoir (not shown).
In operation, the entire drill string is rotated by conventional ~eans from above ground surface and a high velocity liquid i~ introduced through the c~tting jet ~upply conduit 24 and discharged radially outward through the mining tool 10 to dislodge tar sand 1~7~3~7~
particles from the formation 18. The dislodged particles form an aqueous mixture or slurry with the discnarged liguid, which migrates downward within the formation 18 and into the interior of the mining 10 through the radial slurry inlets and axial slurry inlets of the tool. The a~ueous slurry ~ 8 subsequently llfted upward to ground surface by way of a hydraullc jet pump disposed within the interior of the mining tool, formed by the jet pump -qupply conduit 20 dis-charging a high velocity liquid vertically upwardwithin the interior of the eductor conduit 22. For a more detailed description of the basic operatlon of hydraulic mining tools, r~ference may be made to United States Patent 3951457 issued to Redfordr -As depicted in Figure 1, the minlng tool 10 of the present invention is formed in a modular construc-tion, compo~ed of an eductor/cutting jet module 30 a rock crushing module 32, a radial slurry inlet module 34, and an axial or bottom slurry inlet module 36.
Each of the modules 30, 32, 3i, and 36 are removably attached to one another by use of a common mounting flange arrangement, which as will become more apparent infra, permits the rock crushing module 32, radial slurry inlet module 34, and axial slurry inlet modulc 36, or a combination of the same to be either mounted to or removed fro~ the eductor/cutting jet module 30 of the mining tool 10 prior to insertion of the ~ining tool into the formation 18. Hence, depending upon the particular con istency of the tar sand formation i.e., sandy, clay-like or predominantly laced with rocks, the mining tool 10 may be composed of the appropriate modules 32-36 to facilitate maximum mining efficiency.
Referring to Figure 2, the detailed construction of the eductor/cutting jet module 30 of the present invention may be described. The module 30 is formed in a tubular configuration having an outer cylindrical casing 40, the diameter of which is sized to be re-ceived within bore hole 14 formed in the mineral formation 18 ~shown in Figure 1) typically being 12 to 16 inche~. The cutting jet supply conduit 24 initiates adjacent the upper end of the casing 40 and extends to a manifold 42 ridgedly mounted to the in~ide diameter of the casing 40. The manifold 42 is preferably provided with plural, axially spaced threaded apertures 44 which extend radially outward through the casing 40. Each of the threaded apertures 44 receive either a venturi nozzle 46 or a plug 48 which permits the position as well as the number of cutting jets to be adjusted prior to insertion of the tool 10 within the bore hole 14. By such an arrange-ment, high pressure liquid pumped from ground surface through the cutting jet conduit 24 is accelerated through the venturi nozzle 46 and discharged radially outward in the tar sands formation 18. Although in the preferred embodimenl, the manifold 42 is po~ition-ed to discharge the cutting jet liquid in only a single radial direction, those skilled in the art will recog-nize that an additional manifold 42 may be positioned on the opposite side of the casing 40 to balance ~he liquid discharge or a cylindrical manifold may be utilized to facilitate liquid discharge in multiple radial direction.
The eductor/cutting jet module 30 additionally includes a jet pump supply conduit 20 and jet pump eductor conduit 22, both of which terminate at a distance slightly above the lower end of the module.
~L'7~)~78 As shown, the jet pump supply conduit 20 is provided with a nozzle 50 which is co-axially aligned with an eductor venturi 52 for~ed on the lowermost end of the eductor conduit 22. As liquid is pumped downward through the jet pump supply conduit 20, it is accele-rated through the jet pump nozzel 50 and discharged upwardly through the eductor venturi 52. Upon passage through the venturi 52, a strong suction force is created in the region below the eductor venturi 52 which pulls the aqueous tar sand slurry-u~war~ into the eductor conduit 22 and -~ubsequently drives it tv ground surface.
The eductor/cutting jet module 30 as well as the remaining modules 32, 34, 36 is provided with a common upper and lower mounting flange 60 and 62 respectively, adapted to interconnect each of the separate modules 30, 32, 34, 36 and specifically designed to withstand high tortional forces. The upper flange 60 is prefer-ably formed in a spool or annular ~onfiguration having a wall thickness substantially greater than the wall thickness of the casing 40, and is rigidly attached to the casing 40 as by way of a peripheral fillet weld 64.
The upper surface of the flange 60 is provided with a plurality of threaded aperture~ 66 which are symet-rically spaced in a bolt circle pattern and extend partially through the length of the flange 60. The upper portion of each of the ape~ture~ 66 addition-ally includes an increased diameter counterbore 68 which as will be explained in more detail below, serves to ac~urately align the mating flange 60 and 62 of adjacent modules of the mining tool.
The lower flange 62 is additionally formed as an annular spool ~e~ber an~ is rigidly attached to the ca~ing 40 by a peripherial fillet weld 64. A plur-ality of rece~sed pockets 70 are formed along the periphery of the flange 62 and are positioned on a bolt circle pattern corresponding with the threaded 1~7~ 78 apertures 66 formed in the u~per flange ~ The pockets 70 terminate at a distance spaced from the lowermost end of the flange 62 and each define a shoulder 72. An aperture 74 extends axially through each of the shoulders 72 and is aligned with a res-pective one of the threaded ap~r~u~es 66 formed in the upper flange 60.
By such a mating flange arrangement, the indiv-idual modules 30 through 36 of the mining tool 10 maybe connected together by abuttment along their upper and lower flanges 60 and 62 respectively.
Plural bolt~ 76 may subsequently be inserted within the pockets 70, lowered through the apertures 74 of the lower flange 62 and threaded into the threaded apertures 66 of the upper flange 60. In the preferred embodiment, the shank portion 78 of the bolts 76 is sized to be only slightly less than the diameter of the aperture 74 and counterbore 68 and is formed having a length sufficient to extend into the counter-bore 68. Thus, when the bolts 76 are securely tight-ened in the apertures 66, the shank portion 78 of the bolts 76 accurately registers or aligns the upper and lower flanges 60 and 62 of adjacent modules to-gether. Additionally, due to the shank portion 78 of the bolts 76 being closely sized with ~nd extending through the aperture 74 and into the counterbore 68 of the apertures 66, the primary tortional force applied to the module interface is carried by the shank portion 78 rather than the thr~ad~1 section of the bolt~ 76.
Thus, by use of the common mating upper and lower flange arrangement of the present invention, a high and tortional integrity interconnection between each of the separate modules 30 through 36 of the mining tool is insured.
In Figure 3 and Figure 4, the radial slurry inlet module 34 of the present invention is illustrated.
1~7~D~78 The radial slurry inlet module 34 is formed having an outer cylindrical casing, 80, opposite ends of which include the upper and lower common mounting flange, 63 and 62 respectively, which permits the radial slurry inlet module 80 to be connected to the other modules, 30, 32, and 36 of the mining tool in the manner pre-viously described and as depicted by the phantom lines in Figure 3. As shown, the radial slurry inlet module 34 is provided with plural oblong openings 82 adjacent its upper-most end, which are adapted to permit the aqueous mineral slurry mined by the cutting jet no~zel 46 to enter into the interior of the mining tool and be transported upward to the eductor conduit 24 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30. The openings lS 82 are preferably located as close to the upper end of the module 34 as possible, (i.e. minimize the distance between the opening 82 and eductor venturi 52 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30) so that frictional forces of the mined slurry within the tool are minimized and maximum eductor suction is sensed at the openings 82, It i~ an important feature of the present in-vention that the radial slurry inlet module 34 includes means for varying the size of the slurry openings 82 during the mining operation so that the amount of mined material entering the mining tool 10 through the radial slurry inlet module 34 and axial slurry inlet module 36 may be pr~portionally metered to meet tbe immediate mining requirements of the formation.
The particular means for varying the size of the radial slurry openings 82 is shown in Figure 3 and 5 and comprises a cylindrical sleeve 86 which is hy-draulically actuated to telescope axially within the interior of the casing 80 and selectively block a portion or the entirety of the radial inlet openings 82.
The sleeve 86 is formed having an outside dia-meter slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing 80 and includes a reduced diameter portion 88 initiating adjacent its lower end and extending app-~o roximately midway along its length. An annularshoulder 90 lS formed ~djacent the lower end of the sleeve 86 which as best shown in Figure 5, locates an ~7~ 7~
annular sealing ring 92 bridging between the outside diametex of the sleeve 86 and the in~ide diameter of the casing 80. The ring 92 is maintained against the shoulder 90 of the sleeve 86 by a split ring 94 which S tightly engages a mating groove formed in the sleeve 86. A pair of 0 rings 96 and ~8 are additionally provided to form ~ liquid tight ~eal between the casing 80 and ~leeve 88.
A second sealing ring 100 bridges the gap between the casing 80 and reduced diameter portion 88 adjacent the upper end of the reduced diameter portion ~8 and is maintained in a stationary position between a pair of annular shoulder~ 102 and 104~r~ in the outer casing 80. As with the lower sealing ring 92, a pair lS of 0 rings 106 and 108 are provided to form a liquid tight seal against the reduced diameter portion 88 and casing 80. ~y such a structure a piston cycllnder arrangement is provided with the annular voids formed between the reduced diameter section 88 and outer casing 80)1Ocated above the and below the upper sealins ring lOOJdefining upper and lower control cham~ers 110 and 112 respectively. Each of the control cha~berA
110 and 112 include a respective hydraulic conduit 114 and 118 which extends upward to ground ~urface within a recess 120 formed along the outer perlphery of the casing 34 as well as on each of the remaining modules 30, 34, and 36 and drill sections 12. As shown, the hydraulic line 114 preferrably communicates with the lower control chamber 112 via a passage 113 formed in the upper sealing ring lOO~whereas the hydraulic line 114 communicates with the upper control chamber 110 via passage 115.
With the structure defined, the operation of the telescoping ~leeve 86 within the module 34 and the manner in which the size of the radial slurry inlet opening 82 ~s varied during the mining operation may be described. Referring to Figure 3, the sleeve 86 is depicted in its lower most position wherein the lower distal end of the sleeve 86 abutts against the annular shoulder 130 formed ~y the increased wall thickne~s of the lower mounting flange 62. ~q will be recognized with the sleeve 86 maintained in this position, the upper end 87 of the sleeve 86 is po~itioned below the radial slurry inlet openings 82 and hence the inlets 82 are in a fully open condition. When it is desired to reduce the size of the radial slurry openings 82, the upper control chamber 110 may be pressurized fro~
above ground surface, via the hydraulic conduit 114 while the lower control chamber 112 i~ vented via the hydraulic conduit 118, thereby causing a pressure gradient to exist acros~ the upper sealing ring 100.
Thi~ pressure gradient results in the 8 leeve 86 raising upward within the interior of the caxing 80 lin the direction of the arrow in Figure 3) whereby the upper end 87 of the sleeve 86 obstructs a portion or the entirety of the radial ~lurry openings 82. In its furthest upward extension, the upper end of the sleeve 20 86 abutts against a shoulder 132 formed by the increased wall thickne~s of the upper flange 68, thereby preventing the lower sealing ring 92 from contacting the upper sealing ring 100. Conversely, when it is de~ired to increase the size of the openings 82, the upper control chamber 110 may be vented while the lower control chamber 112 i8 pressurized, causing a reverse pres~ure gradiont to exist across the upper sealing ring 100 whareby th~
~leeve 86 returns to its lower most position shown in F$gure 3. Thus, by regulating the pressure within the slurry inlet openings 82 may be selectively ad~u~ted during the mining operation between fully open and fully closed positions to meter the amount of ~lurry entering into the mining tool 10 through the rad$al slurry inlet~ 82.
In Figure 6 and 7, an alternative means for ad-justing the size of the openings 82.of the r~dial 117~7~3 slurry inlet module 34 is depicted which, additionally serve~ to direct or feed mined material into the eductor venturi 52 of the mining tool 10. In this embodiment, the reciprocating sleeve 86 is replaced by plural wicket gates 150, each disposed within a respective one of the slurry openings 82 r As shown, the wicket gates 150 are preferrably formed having an arcuate exterior surface configuration consistent with the curvature of the outer casing 80 of the module and are sized to be received within the openings 82.
A pair of generally L-shaped ~truts 152 are rigidly attached to the interior surface of the wicket gateslS0 and extend radially inward within the in-terior of the caaing 80. As best shown in Figure 6, both of the struts 152 are pivotally connected as by way of a pin 154 to a pair of hinges 156 located at a distance spaced from the side edge of the slurry inlet opening 82. The struts 152 are additionally connected to a re~pective hydraulic actuator 158 which 20 is positioned relative th~ struts 152 and casing 80 to cause the wicket gates 150 to pivot about the pins 154. Each of the acuators 158 may be connected to a pressure source located above ground by a variety of conventional means but, for purposes of illustration, 25 a pair of hydraulic conduits 160 and 162 (illustrated in Figure 6 ) are provided, which extend axially through the interior of the module 34 as well as the remainder of the drill string.
In operation, selective pressurization of the hydraulic actuators 158 causes each of the wicket gates 150 to pivot from a closed position (shown ~y the full lines in Figure 6) to a fully open position shown in Figure 7. Due to the pivot pins 154 being positioned adjacent the side edge of the inlet open-ing 82, during this pivotal movement, the leadingedge 164 of the gates 150 travels ra~ially outward at 1~7~78 a substantially greater distance than the trailing edge 166 of the gate~,whereby the gate~ serve as funnel~ or scoop-like members extending about the pheriphery of the casing 80~ Thus during rotatlon of the mining tool 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7, the wicket gates 150 serve to direct the mined mineral material along their inner surface into the interior of the radial slurry inlet module 34. To prevent any over-extension of the hydraulic actuator 158 as well as to prevent the wicket gates 150 from being inadvertantly torn off the module 34 during rotation of the mining tool 10, a pair of stops 168 are rigidly mounted to each of the L-.~haped struts 152 and are adapted to abutt the interior surface of the casing 80. In the preferred embodiment, the hydraulic actuators 15B may be con-trolled from above ground surfaco to permit the wicket gates 150 on each of the radial slurry inlet openings 82 to be positioned at any pi~otal location between their fully open and fully closed positions. Thus, by use of this wicket gate arrangement, mined material ic effectively fed or forced into the intexior of the module 34 at a rate controlled and regulated from above ground during the mining operation.
Figure 8 and Figure 9 depict a modification of the wicXet gate construction of Figure 6 and 7 which is ~pecifically adapted for rotation of the mining tool in both the clockwise and the counter-clockwise direction and which further alleviates the require-ment of a separate hydraulic actuator on each of the wicket gates. As best shown in Figure 9, in this modification~ the plural inlet opening 82 of the module 34 are po~itioned in pairs 82A and 82B which are vertically off-set from one another along the length of the module 34. In the preferred embodiment, the openings 82A and 82B are formed in a truncated triangular 1 ~7~ ~ 7~3 configuration and each receive a complementary shaped wicket gate 150A and 159B. As with the wicket gates 150 of Figure 6 and 7, the wicket gates 150Aand 150B each include a pair of L-shaped mounting strut A 152A and 152B which are pivotally connected to a pair of hinge~
156Aand 156B rigidly mounted to the casing 80 of the module 34. In contrast to the pivot pin mounting of the gates 150 in Figure 6 and 7, the wicket gate~
150A and 150B are mounted to the hinges 156A and 156B
by tortion bar 170Awhich is pre-torqued to normally bias the wicket gates 150A and 150B into an open position indicated by the phantom lines in Figure 8.
By this particular arrangement, when the mining tool 10 is initially inserted within the bore hole 15 14 ~shown in Figure 1) the lower inclined edge 151 of - the truncated triangular configuration of the wicket gates 150A and 150B serves as a cam surface against the bore hole and urges the gates 150A and 150B radially inward toward the axis of the module 34. When the camming force overcomes the outward biasing force of the tortion bar 170, the wicket gates 150A and 15~Bmove inward to a closed position indicated by the full line position in Figure 8. Once the tool ha~ been inserted into the bore hole, during rotation in a clockwise direction, the wicket gate~ 150A are blased outward by the tortion bar 170 and maintained in an open position to direct mined mineral slurry inward within the inter-ior of the module 34, while the wicket gate~ 1508 are driven to a closed position. Conversely, when the mining tool 10 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the wicket gate 150B moves to its open position while the wicket gate 150A is driven to a closed position.
Thus, by use of the modified wicket gate design of Figures 8 and 9, a positive feeding action of mined slurry within the interior of the radial slurry inlet module 34 is facilitate~ without the necessity of hydraulic actuation.
In Figure 12, the rock crushing module 32 of the present invention i8 depicted which is typically disposed between the eductor/cutting jet module 30 and the radial slurry inlet module 34 of the mining tool 10 to insure the mined mineral and rock particles traveling into the eductor conduit 22 are of a size sufficient to pass upward into the venturi 52 without becoming lodged therein. As shown, the module 32 includes a cylindrical casing 200 which i~ provided with an upper and lower common mounting flange 60 and 62 formed in the manner as heretofore described.
Disposed within the interior of the casing 200 is a fixed jaw 202 and movable jaw 204 which are positioned on opposite sides and proximal to a central throat lS or passage 206. The movable jaw 204 is pivotally mounted about a pin 208 securely anchored to the casing 200 and is provided with a suitable linkage 210 which extends to a hydraulic actuator 212.
In operation, reciprocation of the hydraulic actuator 212 causes the movable jaw 204 to pivot about the pin 208 and move acro~s the opening of the throat 206 toward the stationary jaw 202. During this move-ment, any rock or large particulate matter lodged at the lower end of the throat 206 is crushed upon impact between the movable jaw 204 and reduced in size. Upon repeated cyclic movement of the movable jaw 204r the rocks and particulate matter reduce to a size sufficient to pass through the throat 206 and upward into the eductor cutting jet module 30. As will be recognized, by sizing the opening of the throat 206 to beslightly less than the minimum diameter of the eductor venturi 52, mined mineral particles and rock particles may travel reely through the educt-or venturi 52 and upward through the eductor conduit 22 to ground surface.
Those skilled in t~he art will recognize that the reciprocation speed and frequency cycle of the movable ~7~
jaw 204 may be controlled by conventional techniques to permit the jaw crusher to be adjusted to suit the particular composition of the mineral formation.
For instance, in formations known to have a large S quantity of hard rock particles, the jaw crusher module 32 may be set to provide high impact forces and rapid reciprocation cycles to throughly crush all part-icles entering therein; whereas in formations having a predominantly gum-like tar consistency, the impact force and reciprocation cycles may be lowered to pro-bide a mashing action. Thus, by use of the rock crushing module 32 of the present invention, blockage of the eductor venturi 52 of the mining tool 10 may be substantially eliminated in a simple yet effective manner.
Figure 11 and 12 depicts the axial or bottom slurry inlet module 36 of the present invention which i~
preferably positioned to be the lowermost or end ~odule on the composite mining tool 10. AB with the other modules 30, 32 and 34~ the axial ~lurry inlet module 36 includes a cylindrical outer casing 220 having an upper common mounting flange 60 rigidly attached to it~
upper distal end. Positioned coaxially within the interior of the ca~ing 220 i~ a feed screw or auger 222 which preferably extends a short distance beyond the lower distal end 224 of the casing 220 to be disposed within the mineral formation 18 (Figure 1). A~ shown, the feed screw 224 is provided with plural support fins 226 adjacent its upper end which are rigidly mounted as by a fillet weld, to the inside periphery of the mounting flange 60. As such, during rotation of the mining tool 10, the outer casing 220 and feed screw 222 of the axial inlet module 36 rotate in unison.
~7~7~3 To eliminate any shearing off of the mined material 18 during transport along the length of the feed screw 222, the axial inlet module 34 additionally includes a shroud or sleeve 230 which surrounds the scre~ 220 and is adapted to remain substantially stationary or rotate slowly in direction opposite to the rotation of the module 36. As shown in Figure 11, the shroud 230 i8 formed as a cylindrical tube having an out~ide diameter sized slightly less than the inside diameter of the casing 220 and an inside diameter sized sli~htly greater than the maximum diameter of the feed screw 222.
Suitable bearings 232 and 234 are provided along the perimeter of the shroud 230 to insure the coaxial alignment and permit relative rotational movement between the shroud 230 and casing 220.
- The upper end of the shroud 230 includes a reduced diameter section 236 which is spaced radially inward from the casing 220. The section 236 i8 sealed by ~u~table means 238 and 240 to the inside diameter of the upper mounting flange 60 and the inside diameter of the casing 220 respectively, to define an annular shroud rotation chamber 242. As be~t ~hown in Figure 12, a plurality of substantially "S" -~haped vanes 244 are affixed to the perimeter surface of the reduced diameter section 236 and extend generally radially outward acros~
the annular chamber 242 toward the inside cylindrical wall of the casing 220. The vanes 244 ars preferably formed of a flexible material such as rubber or canvas and are sized to extend axially throughout the length of the annular chamber 242.
An inlet conduit 250 and outlet conduit 252 extend axially through the upper common mounting flange 60 and into the annular shroud rotation chamber 242. A~ shown in Figure 12, the inlet conduit is located at approx-imately a nine o'clock position on the flange 60 whilethe outlet conduit is l~cated at approximately a twelve o'clock position. Disposed between the inlet and outlet 1~ 7~b~78 conduits 250 and 252 respectively, (i.e. at the ten through eleven o'clock position~ is a barrier wall 254 which extends axially throughout the height of the annular chamber 242. The barrier is rigidly mounted to the in~ide cylindrical wall of the ca~ing 220 and at its maximum radial dimension is slightly spaced from the cylindrical wall of the reduced diameter qection 236 of the shroud 230. As such, the barrier 254 requires water or other liquid being introduced through the inlet conduit 250 to travel in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in Figure 12) through the annular chamber 242 prior to exiting through the outlet conduit 252.
With the structure defined, the operation of the ~hroud 230 of the module 36 may be described. As will be recognized during the mining operation, the outer ca~ing 220 and feed screw 222 of the module rotate in a clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 12. During this rotation, the shroud 230 will rotate with the ca~ing 220 unless and until an arresting force is applied to the ~hroud 230 in an opposite ~i.e. counter-clockwise) direction. Thi~
arresting force is generated by the introduction of a high pressure liquid (from ground surface or tapped from the cutting jet conduit 24 or jet pump conduit 20) through the inlet conduit 250 which upon entering the annular chamber 242, i8 directed by the barrier 254 to flow in a counter-clockwise directlon toward the outlet conduit 252. As the high presfiure liquid flows through the chamber 242, it impinges and builds up pressure upon the plural "S" ~haped vanes 244, sealing their distal ends outward against the cylindrical wall of the casing 220 and imparting a counter-clockwise rotational force to the vanes 244 ~a~ indicated by the arrows in Figure 12) which is transmitted to the re-duced diameter portion 236 of the shroud 230. As the individual vanes 244 of the shroud 230 rotate past the oulet conduit 252 the pressure behind them is vented or wasted through the conduit 252 which allows them to collapse upon contact with the barrier 254.
7~3 As such, the vanes are urged against the cylindrical wall of the reduced diameter portion 236 of the shroud 230 and pas~ harmlessly beyond to be again impinged upon by the incoming liquid at the inlet conduit 250.
When the liquid discharged into the annular chamber generates a counter-clockwise rotational speed on the shroud 230 which is equal to the clockwise rotation-al speed of the outer casing 220 and feed screw 222, the ~hroud is stationary within and relative to mineral formation 18 (Figure 1). Thus, as mined mineral material is contacted by the lower end of the feed screw 222, it is urged outward against the stationary shroud 230 and lifted upward along the length of the screw 222 toward the eductor venturi 52 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30 ~Figure 1). To assist this upward trans-port within the shroud 230, plural elongate obstruction bars 256 are provided along the interior of the shroud 230 which prevent the rotation of the mined minerals during travel on the feed screw`222.
As will be recognized, by raising the pressure of the liquid discharged into the annular chamber 242, the counter-clockwise rotational speed of the shroud 230 may be increased to exceed the clockwise rotational speed of the casing 220 which has the same result as increasing the rotational speed of the feed screw 222.
As such, a supercharging effect may be provided which ~ignificantly increases the amount of mined material entering axially upward through the module 36 without increasing the rotational speed of the mining tool 10 within the formation.
In addition to the forced feeding and supercharging effect produced by use of the axial slurry inlet module 36, the use of the axial slurry inlet module 36 permits a novel hydraulic mining method wherein the mining tool itself may form its own bore hole within the mineral formation. Specifically, as previously mentioned, during the hydraulic mining process, the mineral for-7~3 mation is highly susceptible to cave-in situatlons wherein the mineral formation falls in and around the drill string and mining tool 10. Heretofor~, when such a cave-in occured, and it was necessary to remove the mining tool 10 out of the formation for repair or inspection, mineral settling within the borehole pre-vented the mining tool 10 from being re-inserted back into the mineral formation. Similarly, due to the mineral formation in the vacinity of the bore hole being ~ 10 saturated with liquid from the previous hydraulic mining operation, the bore hole fail~ed to possess ~ufficient integretity to permit conventional drilling apparatus such as a tri-cone bit or mud turbine~which require the re-circulation of drill tailings upward to ground surface about the annulus of the bore hole to - be utilized. Hence, due to the failure of existing apparatus to remove the tailings from the formation, it was neces~ary to abandon the drill site and begin the mining operation at a new location.
The present invention, by use of its axial slurry inlet and screw feed, eliminates this deficiency by providing for the removal of the drill tailing to ground surface within the eductor conduit. As such, the mining tool 10 of the pre~ent invention may be readily lowered back into the mineral formation with the feed ~crew raising the drill tailinga upward to the eductor venturi such that the mining tool re-drills its own bore hole. Thus, the present invention i8 ~pecifically adapted to efficiently mine tar sand formation~ which heretofore was impracticable or impossible in the art.
In Figure 13 through 15, an additional e~bodiment of the axial sl~rry inlet module 36 of the present invention is depicted which is additionally adapted to provide a substantially stationary shroud surround-ing the feed screw. As ~hown, the module 36 is formedhaving an outer cylindrical ca~ing 260 including an upper common mounting flange 60 attached to its upper 1 3L7~
end. A feed screw 262 i8 coaxially positioned within the interior of the casing 260 and is rigidly mounted to the upper flange 60 by way of a three arm spider w~
flange 264. A shroud 26~ is journaled to the interior of the casing 260 to permit relative rotational move-ment there between, and extends axially below the casing 260 and beyond the end of the feed screw 262.
An optional dome cap 294 (indicated by phantom lines) may additionally be mounted to the lower end of the shroud 266 to facilitate easy lowering of the module 36 into the bore hole 14 (Figure 1).
As shown, the shroud 266 is provided with plural inlet apertures 270 adjacent its lower distal end which are adapted to permit mined slurry material to enter lS within the interior of the shroud 266 and be contacted - by the feed screw 262. Although not shown, these aper-tures 270 may be provided with a telescoping sleeve assembly similiar to that shown in Figure 3 to permit the size of the openings to be adiusted during operation.
Z0 A pair of arcuate shaped arm members 272 are additionally provided each pivotally mounted about an axial hinge 274 located along the outer periphery of the shroud 266.
As shown in Figure 14, the arm members 272 are adapted to be selectively extended radially outward from their closed position (indicated by the phantom lines in Figure 14) to a fully opened position (indicated by the full lines in Figure 14). In their fully opened position, the arcuate arm members provide a substantial ~urface area which, as will be explained in more detail infra, serves as a dynamic brake to maintain the shroud substantial stationary in the mineral format~n 18 during rotation of the mining tool 10.
The particular mechanism for selectively opening and closing the arcuate arm members 272 is best shown in Figure 13 and 14. As shown, each of ~he arm member~
272 are provided with a supporting rib 280 adjacent their lower edge which includes a bell crank portion 282 which extends radially within the interior of the shroud 266. A bearing pin 284 is rigidly mounted to each of the bell crank portions 282 and is received within a respective elongate slot 286 formed in an actuator plate 288. The actuator plate 288 is rot-atably mounted upon a pedestal 230 which is rigidly affixed to the lower distal end of the shroud 266 by a end plate flange 292~ A pair of hydraulic operators 296 are provided on opposite sides of the axis of the actuator plate 288 and are pivotally mounted at one end to the cylindrical wall of the plate as by way of a pin 298. Suitable hydraulic lines (not shown) may be connected to each hydraulic operator 296 and extend upward within the interior of the module 36 as well as the remaining modules of the mining tool 10 and drill string to ground surface to permit the selective act-uation of the operators 296.
By such a structure, it will be recognized that actuation of the hydraulic operators 296 will cause a rotational movement of the actuator plate 288 about its central axis. Due to the beaxing pins 284 being engaged within the elongate slots 286 of the actuator plate 288, during rotational movement of the plate 288, each of the bell crank portions of the supporting ribs 280 travel in an arcuate path within the interior of the shroud 266 causing a corresponding pivotal movement of the arcuate arm members between an open and closed position.
As will be recognized, during the actual mining operation, wherein the outer casing 260 and feed ~crew 262 rotate in a clockwise direction, the arcuate arm members 272 may be hydraulically actuated into an open position (in the manner previously described). Due to the substantial surface area of the arm members 272 a substantial drag force or resistance is developed on the arm members 272 which serves as a dynamic brake to maintain the shroud 266 in a substantially stationary position within the mineral formation or at least reduce the clockwise rotational spPed of the shroud 266. As such, mined slurry material entering into the module 36 through the inlet apertures 270 may be trans-ported upward along the length of the feed screw 262toward the eductor venturi 52 of the eductor/cutting jet module 30. Alternatively, when it is desired to remove the mining tool 10 out of the formation 18, the hydraulic operators may be actuated in the opposite direction, causing the arm members 272 to return back to the closed position tightly against the perimeter of the shroud 266.
Thus, from the above it will be recognized that each of the separate modules or ~ combinatlon of one or lS more of the separate modules may be mounted or removed from the ~ining tool 10 to yield a most efficient mining recovery rate for the particular mineral for-mation being mined. In addition, due to the present invention adjustable sized radial slurry inlets, the inconsistent recovery rates heretofore as~ociated with hydraulic mining may be ~ubstantially reduced.
Further, due to the present invention providing a positive feeding of material both throu~h the axial aa well as radial slurry openings, the mining tool of the present invention insure~ that mined materials are continuously being transported from the bore hole upward to ground surface. Thu~, in summary, the present invention provides the significantly improved hydraulic mining tool and ~ethod of operating the same which is specifically adapted for viscous crude oil mineral formations such as tar sand and oil shale formation.
Claims (19)
1. An improved hydraulic mining tool for recovering mineral bearing materials from subterranean deposits comprising:
a cylindrical casing formed of plural discrete modules, each sized to be received within a bore hole formed in said subterranean deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet and an eductor pump disposed within a first one of said plural modules;
a radial inlet formed on a second one of said plural modules to direct said mineral bearing material radially into the interior of said casing;
an axial inlet formed on a third one of said plural modules to direct said mineral bearing material axially within the interior of said casing; and common mounting means formed on each of said modules for interchangeably connecting said plural modules in a selective coaxial orientation adapted to meet the particular formation consistency of said subterranean deposit.
a cylindrical casing formed of plural discrete modules, each sized to be received within a bore hole formed in said subterranean deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet and an eductor pump disposed within a first one of said plural modules;
a radial inlet formed on a second one of said plural modules to direct said mineral bearing material radially into the interior of said casing;
an axial inlet formed on a third one of said plural modules to direct said mineral bearing material axially within the interior of said casing; and common mounting means formed on each of said modules for interchangeably connecting said plural modules in a selective coaxial orientation adapted to meet the particular formation consistency of said subterranean deposit.
2. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 1 wherein said common mounting means comprises:
a flange mounted on opposite ends of said discrete modules, each of said flanges including plural apertures positioned in a mating bolt circle pattern; and plural fastening means sized to be received within said apertures for removably attaching said flanges together on adjacent ones of said plural modules.
a flange mounted on opposite ends of said discrete modules, each of said flanges including plural apertures positioned in a mating bolt circle pattern; and plural fastening means sized to be received within said apertures for removably attaching said flanges together on adjacent ones of said plural modules.
3. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 1 wherein said second one of said plural modules additionally includes means for varying the size of said radial inlet to meter the amount of said mineral bearing material entering into the interior of said casing during he mining operation.
4. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 3 wherein said means for varying the size of said radial inlet further includes means for positively feeding said mineral bearing material into the interior of said casing.
5. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 4 wherein said feeding means comprises at least one gate pivotally mounted to said second one of said plural modules adjacent said radial inlet and movable radially outward from said module.
6. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 3 wherein said varying means comprises a sleeve coaxially positioned within said second one of said plural modules and adapted to reciprocate axially along the length of said module.
7. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 1 wherein said third one of said modules further includes means for feeding said mineral bearing material through said axial inlet.
8. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 7 wherein said feeding means comprises an inclined plane screw extending within the interior of said third one of said modules.
9. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 1 further comprising:
means for crushing said mined mineral bearing material, said means disposed within a fourth one of said plural modules.
means for crushing said mined mineral bearing material, said means disposed within a fourth one of said plural modules.
10. An improved hydraulic mining tool apparatus for the recovery of mineral bearing materials from subterranean deposits comprising:
a drill string adapted to rotate within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said deposit;
a mining tool mounted on one end of said drill string and disposed within said deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet positioned on said mining tool for dislodging said mineral bearing material from said deposite and forming a resultant mineral bearing slurry;
a pump located on said mining tool for transporting said resultant mineral bearing slurry through said drill string to ground surface inlet means formed on said mining tool for permitting said mineral bearing slurry to enter into said mining tool and travel toward said pump; and means mounted to said mining tool for metering the amount of said mineral bearing slurry entering into said mining tool during the mining operation.
a drill string adapted to rotate within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said deposit;
a mining tool mounted on one end of said drill string and disposed within said deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet positioned on said mining tool for dislodging said mineral bearing material from said deposite and forming a resultant mineral bearing slurry;
a pump located on said mining tool for transporting said resultant mineral bearing slurry through said drill string to ground surface inlet means formed on said mining tool for permitting said mineral bearing slurry to enter into said mining tool and travel toward said pump; and means mounted to said mining tool for metering the amount of said mineral bearing slurry entering into said mining tool during the mining operation.
11. The hydraulic mining tool apparatus of claim 10 wherein said inlet means comprises at least one opening formed through said mining tool and said metering means comprises a coaxial sleeve positioned within the interior of said mining tool and adapted to selectively reciprocate axially within said tool to varying the effective size of said opening.
12. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 10 wherein said inlet means comprises at least one opening formed through said mining tool and said metering means comprises a gate pivotally mounted within said at least one opening and movable radially outward from said mining tool to vary the effective size of said opening.
13. The hydraulic mining tool apparatus of claim 12 wherein said gate is located to direct said mineral bearing slurry through said at least one opening.
14. An improved hydraulic mining tool apparatus for the recovery of mineral bearing material from subterranean deposits comprising:
a drill string adapted to rotate within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said deposit;
a mining tool mounted on one end of said drill string and disposed within said deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet positioned on said mining tool for dislodging said mineral bearing material from said deposit and forming a resultant mineral bearing slurry;
a pump located on said mining tool for transporting said mineral bearing slurry through said drill string to ground surface;
an inlet opening formed on one end of said mining tool to axially receive said mineral bearing slurry within the interior of said mining tool;
an inclined plane auger mounted to said mining tool and extending axially through said inlet opening to be partially disposed within said formation;
a shroud extending about said auger and rotably mounted to said mining tool to permit relative rotational movement between said auger and said shroud; and means for maintaining said shroud substantially stationary within said deposit during rotation of said drill string; said auger, shroud and maintaining means cooperating together to transport said mineral bearing slurry without shear-off through said inlet opening.
a drill string adapted to rotate within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said deposit;
a mining tool mounted on one end of said drill string and disposed within said deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet positioned on said mining tool for dislodging said mineral bearing material from said deposit and forming a resultant mineral bearing slurry;
a pump located on said mining tool for transporting said mineral bearing slurry through said drill string to ground surface;
an inlet opening formed on one end of said mining tool to axially receive said mineral bearing slurry within the interior of said mining tool;
an inclined plane auger mounted to said mining tool and extending axially through said inlet opening to be partially disposed within said formation;
a shroud extending about said auger and rotably mounted to said mining tool to permit relative rotational movement between said auger and said shroud; and means for maintaining said shroud substantially stationary within said deposit during rotation of said drill string; said auger, shroud and maintaining means cooperating together to transport said mineral bearing slurry without shear-off through said inlet opening.
15. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 14 wherein said maintaining means comprises means for rotating said shroud in an opposite direction and at substantially the same speed as the rotation of said drill string.
16. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 14 wherein said maintaining means comprises a retractable dynamic brake mounted to said shroud.
17. An improved hydraulic mining tool for recovering mineral bearing materials from subterranean deposits comprising:
a casing formed of plural discrete modules, each sized to be received within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said subterranean deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet and a pump carried on a first one of said plural modules, said cutting jet positioned to dislodge said mineral bearing material from said deposit and form a resultant mineral bearing slurry and said pump adapted to transport said mineral bearing slurry from said deposit to ground surface;
inlet means formed on a second one of said modules for allowing entry of said mineral bearing slurry into the interior of said casing and toward said pump;
means formed a third one of said modules for crushing said mineral bearing slurry; and common mounting means formed on each of said modules for interchangeably connecting said plural modules in differing axial orientations to vary the composite structure of said mining tool to meet the particular mining requirements of the subterranean deposit.
a casing formed of plural discrete modules, each sized to be received within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said subterranean deposit;
a hydraulic cutting jet and a pump carried on a first one of said plural modules, said cutting jet positioned to dislodge said mineral bearing material from said deposit and form a resultant mineral bearing slurry and said pump adapted to transport said mineral bearing slurry from said deposit to ground surface;
inlet means formed on a second one of said modules for allowing entry of said mineral bearing slurry into the interior of said casing and toward said pump;
means formed a third one of said modules for crushing said mineral bearing slurry; and common mounting means formed on each of said modules for interchangeably connecting said plural modules in differing axial orientations to vary the composite structure of said mining tool to meet the particular mining requirements of the subterranean deposit.
18. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 17 further comprising means formed on said second module for metering the amount of said mineral bearing slurry entering into the interior of said casing.
19. The hydraulic mining tool of claim 18 further comprising means formed on said second module for forcibly feeding said mineral bearing slurry into the interior of said casing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000389955A CA1170978A (en) | 1981-11-12 | 1981-11-12 | Modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining a mineral formation |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000389955A CA1170978A (en) | 1981-11-12 | 1981-11-12 | Modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining a mineral formation |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1170978A true CA1170978A (en) | 1984-07-17 |
Family
ID=4121394
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000389955A Expired CA1170978A (en) | 1981-11-12 | 1981-11-12 | Modular hydraulic mining tool and improved method of hydraulically mining a mineral formation |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1170978A (en) |
-
1981
- 1981-11-12 CA CA000389955A patent/CA1170978A/en not_active Expired
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