GB2327104A - A chain-linked multi-valved device for control of fluid ore hoists - Google Patents

Abstract

A sliding piston section 35 of a piston control valve 11 having multiple apertures 42,44,46 is motivated by a combination of the force from a chain 32 and hydraulic jacks or rams 38,40. The chain 32 is connected to a weight 26 via a sprocketed wheel 33 having its bearings 34 set into the housing 21 of the control valve 11, to enable radial movement of the chain 32 to assist the sliding motion of the piston 35. The hydraulic jacks or rams 38,40 are able to use a higher concentration of ore flotation fluid as their lubricant and motivation force medium, and are able to take their reaction force from adjacent rock surfaces 39.

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION A CHAIN LINKED SYNCHRONISED MULTI VALVE DEVICE TC CONTROL THE HYDRAULIC ORE HOISTING OF MINING ORES AND TUNNEL WORKS DEBRIS This invention relates to a method generally of moving gold and other mined ores or construction debris of suitable particle size in a stream of purpose designed flotation fluid by means of an upper and lower interconnected U tube with an ore loading chamber just below the base of the upper U tube this and the lower U tube being controlled by a multi function valve whos hydraulic jack components are able to utilise a higher concentration of the same flotation chemical which can simultaneously lubricate all other moving parts of the valving apparatus for use in that method.

The method by which such ore loading chambers' zan be formed as insitu rock pressure vessels also the method by which the tw6 limbs of the upper U tube can be formed as drilled holes at the edge of or beyond the edge of any mine or tunnel access shaft in a manner which allows the drilling bit to be removed from within its drilling drive tube to allow an onward sealed insitu use as the pressurisation and hoisting ducts to such an ore loading chamber being known from US Patents 4950034 and 4878549 the features of these patents plus that of a sealed dowel device with which to optionally joint the sectionalised U tubes and all other round or curved elements of the total system are in-luded in the present specification and drawings thereto but are not claimed as newly invented elements.

In general the present invention relates to t.he currently utilised method of moving gold and other mined ores or tunnel construction debris to surface by means of single or multi stacked ore skips as hoisted by wire rope with surface located winding gear powered by whatever required motive force via purpose designed control equipment. This method has in passing to carry the non productive weight of the skips and their stacking frame plus the weight of the hoisting wire rope with allowances for the overcoming of inertia and associated friction forces where a multi skip hoist shaft can also require extra area over that for man riding cages and equipment hoists as might be obviated if ore could be pumped to surface. Whilst it is known that ore at suitably ground down size can be pumped in a mixture of higher density fluid than water as able to hold the particulate in suspension this imparts hydrostatic and surge forces on such pumps as increase with depth where the advent of a sudden stoppage in flow can create at restart to flow many time consuming problems in such systems. All metal mines and some civil construction works utilise water at their mining or rock excavation level whether for the drilling of diamond cored mineral or rock samples or for general cooling and dust control from percussion drilling and blasting the liquid residue of which can be utilised for mixing of hydraulic ore hoist fluid as afterwards recycled within the working zone prior to any excess being pumped back to circuit or to surface from a gravity fed sump located at base of access shaft. In considering the utilisation of a hydraulic method of ore or tunnel debris hoisting or horizontal transportation the further reuse of whatever water is existant at the salient location is the primary objective where the continuous pumping of minerals of higher specific gravity than water poses not only the problem of their suspension during the pumping process but also their chemical compatability with the purpose designed flotation fluid as mixed with water having whatever pH and minerals content. The use of a double U tube by which to continuously eject ore in a stream of suspending biodegradable pseudoplastic fluid having a design able to accommodate wide ranges of pH and minerals content as well as the reuse of liquid run off from other in mine systems and which can be partially used as an ore lixiviant during its transportation phase or can be utilised as the hydraulic fluid element of recycled treated ore as stowed mine fill with or without uncontaminated cementitious addition and also able to be diluted to water viscosity for general mine use has three basic utilisation requirements namely; that the pre sized ore can be got into the base of the lower U tube via its loading chamber as connecting at atmospheric pressure, that the cyclic operation of the sealed in pressure and flow control valves forming the invented apparatus for use in that method can be performed using or negating venturi induced vacuum effects promoted by a double U tubes cyclic use, and that a lesser energy input than for skip hoisting as operated at surface by existing wire rope control equipment can be effected in as safe a synchronised manner with a built in maintenance capability at all operating elevations, all as exemplified by the apparatus according to the invention now described.

It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and improved method for controlling a deep mine or other sub ground excavations hydraulic ore or debris removal transportation system at the intersection point of an upper and lower gravity motivated U tube configuration or other sealed pressurised loop as allows their separate or combined inter use of the mines total water circuitry without ceasation of flow or the incidence of pressure surges and to provide a new form of apparatus for use in that method.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of operating a chain linked high pressure valve apparatus at the intersection of an upper and lower U tube, comprising an outer multi valve common housing with at least nine entrants one of which is fitted with a double cone type valve allowing the sequence tensioned movement of a chain of a type exhibiting zero elongation via a third unvalved internal entrant carrying a sliding section of the apparatus having three separated aperture allignment type valves as allow the double U tube system to eject either the ore in suspension or recycle the suspension devoid of ore where this element of cycle allows any desanding or chemical beneficiation. Comprising also at higher mine level or at ground level of a set of synchronised lower pressure standard valves connecting into top of longer U tube limb as allows this to impart a larger hydrostatic head to that in shorter U tube limb both limbs connecting to the flotation fluid pumping or gravity supply pipework such as to allow a cyclic operation via a closed preset pressure control loop or with an open gravity controlled overspill calibrated excess hydraulic head arrangement entrant as incorporates an open or closed fluid volume control funnel at top of longer U tube limb where in the gravity assisted case a reciprocal raising and lowering of a weighted vessel by use of a wire rope can effect control of volumetric symetry between the longer and shorter U tube limbs as retains their precalculated differential head. Comprising additionally as to a secondary utilisation this wire rope can be used to open the gravity weight assisted cone valve in the lower level commonly housed control apparatus this being otherwise motivated by either a single or double high pressure hydraulic jack as utilises the same biodegradeable pseudoplastic flotation chemical at an increased concentration as its motive force by which to effect a reciprocal movement with or without assistant gravity ballast weights of the sliding ram type multi apertured valve as forms the main claim to the invention as now separately specified. Comprising particularly at lower mine level the valve apparatus within its common housing has a short enlarged vertical section separating an upper and lower coned valve seat where a solid centralised rod below this enlarged section allows movement of a gravity weighted two way coned valve end carrier where any non seated position produces circulation of flow into a lower pressuriseable ore loading chamber as can be sealed off for such purpose by means of a tensioned link chain connected to a single or reciprocating hydraulic ram in a manner that produces closure by either of the higher or lower engaged cone type valves in such a way that allows flow continuation of fluid or ore fluid mixture upwards from the base of the lower U tube during the filling of loading chamber at atmosheric pressure where whataver cyclic flow status is achieved by the gravity weighted link chain assisting positioning of a sliding piston element within the common housing via intermediate action of a rocking sprocketed unit of small enough radius to move in an arc between fixed stops set into the common housing as provides by piston sliding action the alligment of any one of three apertures in this element of apparatus as disposed at whatever angle to achieve safe cyclic zon surge flow. Comprising also at apparatus level a separately attached high pressure hydraulic jack or jacks set .nto the common housing at such angled position as to obtain a hrust reaction from the adjacent rock face by which to effect sequential positioning of the sliding piston within the valve pparatus common housing the middle aperture of which having a trough bore allowing passage of the ore from the lower U tube upward into the shorter U tube limb above control apparatus on route to its discharge elevation the adjacent aperture in the direction of the longer U tube limb being able to promote flow hrough the upper U tube when devoid of ore by which to provide surgeless continuety of ore hoisting during valved off reloading ?f ore from gravity discharging mine level dry ore chute at ttmospheric pressure this action being effected simultaneously 4ith activation of the adjacent double cone valve together with positioning of furthest of the three apertures from longer U tube Limb to give a connection from the lower U tube by gravity flow into the sump below the base of lower U tube bend where the sump volume is larger than that of the entire fluid circuit as allows its use for evacuation of all fluid with or without ore from the system for either safety or maintenance reasons the sump also teing gravity fed during ore loading from an overflow valve set into the common housing below the enlarged section housing the ouble cone valve and the top of the loading chamber which has 1 separately sealed valve for ingress of ore this also able to De sealed by means of a jacked down valve using rock as its reactant force where these and any additional radial jacks that re used to stabilise the loading chamber about its centroid to ave jack seatings as allow removal of the jacks for periodic maintenance. Comprising of separate safety and operational functions of the double U tube system complete fluid evacuation of the system can be effected by a combined vacuum and pressure subsidiary pumping loop located at the level of the multi valve control apparatus and which negates the need for any valve protrusions within the U bend the construction of which within a thick wall casting is able to accommodate oversizing due to metal loss from ore scour where a venturi induced syphon can be effected by the separately operating sump pump as recycles all overflow fluid from ore loading phase of the cycle at a steady pumping rate back into the longer U tube limb above the control apparatus in such a way as to provide a replenishment of U tube systems motivating head inbalance where separately valved sub circuits at ore discharge elevation can produce laminar or venturi induced vacuum related flow for the optimised use of necessary hydrocyclones able to remove fine ore particles prior to addition or beneficiation of flotation chemical or even to provide a final jetting action to any blockage at ore discharge point.

Comprising by way of an additional hydraulic circuitry control the end cap incorporating the maintenance entry to the apparatus also incorporates the control pipework and inbuilt pre sealed entrant to expandable ring seals system by which to ensure against any small ore particles from the transportation stream being able to clog the sliding valve mechanism where by the continuously imposed head of the longer U tube limb self cleaning is effected where the end cap also incorprates valves able to record and dissipate any induced negative or positive air or fluid pressures present in the cyclic system these further negating the incidence of any surge condition where any flow ceasation would manifest a smoothly changing rheological status.

Comprising also of assistant elements to the functioning of the sliding valve element of the control valve this can also utilise one or more bearing surfaces either as rails or grooves by which to guide and centralise the sliding portion of the valve such bearing surfaces having gaps at the ring seal positions in the form of radial grooves able to accommodate the deflated ring packers during movement of the sliding element to any aperture position where a secondary set of ring seals can be set into a solid ring ledge forming part of the common housing these of either inflatable or compressive expansion type the latter form taking advantage of the available jacking force ad where the jacks themselves would be motivated by hydraulic hoisting fluid rather than oil as would upset cyclic balance of pH and viscosity factors the jack housings being fitted with purpose designed replenishable jacking consistancy pseudoplastic fluid reservoirs at required overpressure to the salient hydrostatic head in the ore hoisting system where all periodic mechanical maintenance would be accomplished via an apparatus end cap.

Comprising as the motivating force element of the total cyclic system the inbalance between the longer and shorter U tubes provides a hydraulic jacking effect by which the ore placed in the loading chamber is forced into U tube bend at ts lowest level by the superimposed hydrostatic head from the upper U tube as then shut off from lower U tube after each batch of ore has passed through the systems multi valve control apparatus for its upward transportation to surface treatment plant where after each such cyclic action the loading chamber holds an element of the flotation fluid equall to the displaced volume of exuded ore and which then has a similar amount of fresh ore placed dry by tremie tube into the loading chamber during which cyclic phase the ore displaces its own volume of fluid via a separate valve co a lower holding sump where a pump at the lowest level of the cyclic system then transfers the excess flotation chemical up to the holding reservoir at the head of the longer U tube limb which has a sufficient cubic capacity and height above the discharge end of the shorter U tube limb to promote a gravity flow under the action of the inbalance between the two limbs the whole cyclic system being powered by only the sump pump which can be of sufficient size to motivate any upper fluid circulation elements relating to the mixing and beneficiated recycling of salient flotation chemical dosages.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of an example with reference to the following drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of the entire hydraulic ore hoist system sited within and adjacent to a shaft and mine roadway which shows the location of the apparatus according to the invention.

Fig.2 is a sectional view of the total fluid circuitry.

Fig.3 is a detailed sectional view of the control apparatus.

Fig.4 is a downward plan view of the lower U tube element.

Fig.5 is a cross sectional view of the sliding valve element.

Fig.6 is a cross sectional view of double cone valve element.

Fig.7 is a detail of sliding valves expanding seals.

Referring to Fig.1 showing generally an embodiment of invention as positioned in a typical mine shaft (1) the angles to its sides accommodating pre drilled holes (2) acting as the ducts within which to house the unequal limbs of a U tube (3) and (4) the base of which (5) is above the level of an escape gravity fed sump with connected multiuse sump pump (6) where mine roadways at whatever level radiate to distant ore producing zones (7) the shaft and roadway intersection zone having a shaped excavation (8) able to house the lower inter connected ore loading chamber (9) and its feeding hopper (10) as operate in a sequential manner in tandem with the control device (11) this being the apparatus according to the invention.

The circuitry of system is shown more particularly in Fig.

2 where at ground level the cyclic fluid control above the device includes a gravity or pressurised water supply (12) feeding to a mixer (13) and pump (14) able to provide the circuit with a pseudoplastic flotation chemical (15) as can be recycled via a ground level low pressure valve array (16) by which to accomplish any necessary chemical upgrading after removal of trapped fines by hydrocyclone (17) the hoisted ore being separated after each cyclic operation by a gravity vibrating screen (18) as allows transit of non or part lixiviated ore (19) to the main ore treatment plant (20) the flotation chemical then recycled by said pump to pass down the longer of the two U tube limbs (3) to the lower level of the U tube hydraulic ore hoist system and its main multi valve control device (11) this apparatus according to the invention now being more particularly described on figs 3 to 6.

The general lower level circuitry as passes into control device (11) consists of the U tubes upper limb (35 as provides the motive hydraulic head able to manifest itself in passing through a thick wall common housing (21) of the said control device which has an upper entrant (22) vertically above two cone valve seats (23) and (24) as set into an enlarged volumetric section (25) able to effect non surge flow during operational modes not having either cone valve in shut position these having their corresponding moving coned ends set onto a gravity weighted element (26) which has an underslung and upwardly protruding rod (27) able to move in a centralising guide (28) in the connection section (29) as has a pressure relieving overflow valve (30) below the cone valve seat (24) and above the connection (31) to pressuriseable ore loading chamber (9) where the upwardly protruding rod connects via a chain (32) to a sprocketed arcing element (33) with its bearing (34) set into the common housing (21) such as to allow a radial movement of said chain to assist the sliding motion of piston (35) set into an internal housing entrant (36) the said piston being acted on by a ram (37) from a hydraulic jack (38) able to take its reactive force from adjacent rock at whatever salient angled position (39) either alone or together with a reciprocal jack (40) sited at furthest end (41) of common housing (21) the said jacks with assistance of gravity weighted element (26) allowing the positioning of any one of three vertical apertures (42) as allows an upper U tube configuration (43) by connection of ducts (3) and (4) or (44) as allows transportation through lower U tube configuration (45) upward to the gravity discharge point (20) or (46) as allows the gravity overflow of flotation fluid from the said lower U tube where this function of the multi aperture piston valve (11) also allows the draining of the shorter limb of the upper U tube to the lowest located pump (6) sump as replenishes the cyclic fluid above the sliding valve element and below the upper entrant to the common housing (21) via a non return valve (47) and where additional elements of the apparatus are more particularly described in Fig 7.

The sliding element of the control apparatus (11) which moves between two extremeties within the common housing (21) has deformable type ring seals and bearing ledges (48) and (49) within the said housing to act both as fluid seals and anti jar units where the more sepecific sealing of each required aperture to the sliding piston is effected by high pressure sealing rings of the expanding type (50) set equidistant about each aperture and which are expanded via a high pressure circuit (51) set into the body of the sliding piston element operated from furthest end of housing (41) dually used as an installation and maintenance port via a pressure cap (52) as houses a combined pressure and flow control gauge (53) where the hydraulic jack (40) at this position is able to operate through the said cap in unison with the jack (38) where both are able to use a higher concentration of flotation fluid (15) both as lubricant and motivation force.

Whilst the control device operates at the junction of an upper and lower U tube configuration other elements of the total system less salient to its flotation cycle are now described where its down and up fluid ducts (3) and (4) can be jointed in long lengths by means of self sealing splined couplings (54) as can be generally used for all radiused joints within the system particularly at those elevations that can be jacked apart to allow insertion of such couplings. The sump pump (6) at salient power requirement for calculated steady flow pumping state as connects into the non return valve (47) by which to effect the transfer of recycled fluid into the higher U tube limb (3) can be optionally routed to effect any syphon effect (55) by which to totally evacuate ore and fluid from the valveless lower U bend or provide a jetting ram arrangement (56) to give any required increased in flow velocity to assist the discharge of ore at its entrant point to treatment plant (20) or to optimise flow at the hydrocyclone (17) positions within the upper circuitry.

As a separate hydraulic control at the upper level the open gravity filled flotation fluid reservoir (57) can have a funnel type entrant (58) and overflow (59) or an optional pressuriseable capping (60) for locations not having an escarpment able to accomodate said reservoir at a high enough level to provide a gravity fed hydraulic head inbalance (61) where a separately operated rope hoist and gantry (62) would be able to position any open or closed coned cylinder or sphere type fluid reservoir at such elevation able to manifest the said head inbalance and where such reservoir could be connected to the downward flowing U tube limb by a flexible conduit (63) any superimposed loading adjacent to mine shaft being carried on purpose designed pilaster or similar foundations (64).

At the lower level of the system the ore loading chamber (9) has particular pressure related requirements which would utilise different construction systems dependent on degree of pressure constraint at whatever salient ore hoisting production rate and where the embodiment of the invention described above would incoporate a loading chamber head plate (65) into which the common housing (,21) of the control device (11) would be connected this head plate also incorporating the ore ingress valve (66) as fed under cravity from collection hopper (10) such valve being optionally located in the horizontal plane within tize metal thickness of the pressure cap at position (67).

As a means to fix and stabilise the ore loading chamber at its capped upper level three positioning jacks (68) can be set into the edge of the capping or otherwise located where the ore ingress valve could also have a rock reactant sealed valve (69) this being the most vulnerable pressure point in the entire cyclic system.

The means by which the volume of the ore loading chamber can be extended uses one or more sections of thick walled cylinder (70) with top and base grooves (71) to incorporate deformable ring seals (72) as would locate into corresponding grooves in underside of upper capping plate (73) and top of base block (74) this having a coned internal shape passing into an incorporated U bend (75) where this and the upper capping plate would have a sufficiency of pre stressable bolts (76) able to withstand the salient pressure with the said deformable seals in operational state the loading chamber then being of monolithic construction it would be able to have the upwardly extending duct connecting to U tube bend (77) attached to the cylinder sections by clamps (78) where the upper end of said duct would connect into the common control valve housing with whatever vacuum or pressure bleed off valve (79) being set into an adjustable coupling (80) able to complete the sealed in fluid circuitry.

The cyclic hydraulic ore hoist system as controlled by the apparatus according to the invention whilst devised specifically for use with a hydrophilic biopolysaccharide pseudoplastic chemical of the Xanthomanas campestris plant pathogen family it can be used with chemical systems having lesser suspending and transportation capability as include both water behaving to newtonian fluid law and bentonite clay suspensions as exhibit the hysterisis loop condition due to inclusion of solid particles having propensity to clog in small confined spaces within mechanical moving parts or to degrease lubricating oil from inundated hydraulic rams. It is a purpose of the system controlled by the multi valve apparatus to provide a biodegrable chemical fluid element allowing its global use in mine and civil tunnel works where on completion of such use it can by simple water addition be returned to a state immediately useable within any mine or civils work for such as drilling or concreting but as importantly for onward agricultural use.

While the invention is susceptible to various equivalent and alternative forms the specific embodiment thereof as shown by way of example and which describes a vertical hydraulic ore hoisting system is intended to cover all equivelts and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (7)

1 An anti surge multi valve control device able to effect

cyclic vertical hoisting or horizontal transportation of pre crushed gold or other mined ores and tunnel excavatIon debris as operated by a combination of a chain linked gravity ceadwelght and an angled hydraulic jack the ram section of which is operated with a higher tnan normal pH ore flotation chemical fluid able to negate -.he inundated ram sustaining corrosive wear even when lixiviation ore treatment chemicals are present in the fluid.

2 A multi valve device as claimed in claim 1, wherein it effects an anti surge transfer of either the flotation chemical alone or when carrying gold or other ores due to the use of a double U tube system as allows such ore to be moved in separate charges where the presence of ore grains during valve operation is precluded by a combination of a self flushing hydraulic head inbalance and sealing packers as act on a sliding piston multi apertured element the spacing of which apertures allows any two such valve positions to be achieved without pressure surges.

3 A multi valve device as claimed in claim i, wherein it allows operation of a double U tube cyclic flow system devoid of surge pressures by the use of a flotation chemical exhbiting an optimum range of viscosity which by its rheology allows singly prepared batches of ore and fluid mixture at highest possible combined density to be hoisted from any depth or over any horizontal distance or a combination of these in a manner that assures any one batch remains suspended when in transit at the precalculated and controllable speed whilst a furt1er batch is being prepared to join the cyclic movement of the whole system and where even a static movement condition will keep any ore batch at its then cyclic point until restart.

4 A multi valve device as claimed in claim I, wherein its outer common housing is fitted with periodic maintenance ports as set into its pressure sealable end caps which are also able to house operable hydraulic jacks as the means to position the device in arhichever required functional position.

5 At the lowest level of the hydraulic ore hoisting system as controlled by the multi valve device as claimed in claim 1, whilst the system as shown in the preferred embodiment of the invention does ot show the means by which the U bend leme= of the base block can be removed a sliding dowled element within such base block as contains the bend element likely to sustain the highest wear from ore particle abrasion can be removed and replaced and which is claimed subsidiary to that in claim 1.

6 As a further subsidiary claim the multi valve device as claimed in claim 1 can have its common housing cast with the loading chamber head cap as incorporates necessary ring seals and tensioning bolt holes to produce sealing of the sectionalised loading chamber to the base block with its incorporated cone and U bend elements as seated into rock to carry the vertical load of the composite system where lateral movement in any plane can be negated by use of hydraulic jacks or other joisting units against the rock walls at salient mine level.

7 The generally described cyclic fluid system able to be controlled by the multi valve device claimed in claim 1 is the main subsidiary claim as incorporates the utilisation of a chemical having pseudoplastic rheology in its fluid state as can effect by use of the multi valve device the recycling of the fluid phase within a hydraulic ore hoist system in a manner that does not require the ore carried in the fluid to pass through the moving parts of any mechanical pumping element.