US1324074A - Method of conveying material and generating power - Google Patents

Description

ROCK

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F. G. SHREVES.

METHOD 0F CONVEYING MATERIAL AND GENEHATING POWER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. Il. IQIB.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

2 fw@ MM2' UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

FREDERICK G. SHREVES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

METHOD CONVEYING MATERIAL AND GENERATING POWER.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FEEDERICK G. SHREVES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in h/Iethods of Conveying Material and Generating Power, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates vto a method of conveying material by gravity from an upper to a lower level, whereby the head pressure produc-ed by said material is utilized as a inedinm for generating power for driving certain mechanismv employed. Y

rIhere are vast natural deposits of material of commercial value in out-of-the-way places or inconvenient locations, particularly ,in the mountains atl high altitudes, distant from power sources and from railroads'or other transportation facilities.

Heretofore the expense of mining and conveying such material has been a barrier to its profitable marketing. rlherefore the primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for economically mining, preparing or crushing, and conveying mate rial of commercial value, that has been deposited by nature or other agencies, more or less distant above a convenient distributing depot. Y

A further object of the invention is to pro- `vide for utilizing the head pressure for generating power for any purpose desir d.

I have conceived the improved method from my connection with actual existing conditions, or from my desire to profitably i market large quantities of calcareous material, or lime shale that is deposited in certain mountainous section of the United States. As similar conditions prevail in many localities, with like natural deposits or with deposits of valuable material of different types, and as it is obvious that the Vmethod is universally adaptable foi` the purposes set forth, under similar conditions, I will take as a foundation for the explanation of my method the said existing` circumstances that prompted my invention.

To facilitate the explanation, the accompanying drawing is made a part of the speciyfication, similar reference characters being f employed to designate corresponding parts.

As the invention has reference to the method and only broadly to the means for carrying out said method, the said drawing is merely diagrammatic.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, .1919.

Application filed January 11, 1918. Serial No. 211,330.

Referring now to said diagrammatic drawing, l represents a bed or natural deposit of lime rock or shale located high up in a precipitcus mountain. 'assume that it is desired to mine the said shale and convey it to a convenient storage location er distributing point 2 at the base of the mountain. Assume further that the mass of the mountain under the shale bed is of solid hard rock. I lirst clear away a pertion of the shale bed, or tunnel into it to ferm a shelf 3 on the rock ioundation. Next I sink a vertical shaft l lof predetermined, suitable, lateral dimension. The shaft a communicates with a chamber 5 formed in the rock 200 feet, more or less, below the shale bed. A motor 6, preferably of turbine type designed to perform the required functions in combination with the other e ements, is located within the chamber 5.' The'inlet of the motor (i is connected with the shaft il, and a shaft 7 provides a discharge from said motor 6, said shaft 7 connecting the chamber with a chamber S located at a lowerlevel. In the diagram the chamber 8 is in substantially the same level as the storage bin 2, however it will be understood that the chamber 8 may be located a considerable distance above the bin 2v and equipped the same as chamber 5, a shaft similar to shaft 7 connecting- The material is crushed o-r otherwise reduced to a granulated or powdered state and loaded into the shaft 4, the force of gravity carrying said material through the shaft and motor 6. The said motor is located a predetermined distance below the inlet to shaft 4, sufficient for the head pressure of granulated or powdered mass of material in shaft 4, to drive the motor G. lllith a motor especially designed for the purpose, suiiicient power will be generated to drive a dynamo 9 operatively connected with Said motor 6. I will here state that it has been demonstrated that powdered lime shale weighing about 98 lbs. to the cubic foot, with a 200 foct head, carried through a suitably designed turbine motor, will generate about 300 I-I. I).

Power is transmitted from the dynamo 9 through suitable transmission connections 10 to an auxiliary motor 11 that is connected with a erusher 12 located at the upper level in proximity to the shale bed 1. The motor 11 may also be used for operating other mechanism employed in mining the material.

A primary motor 13, preferably an internal combustion engine using gasolene as a fuel medium, is connected with the crusher 12, and suitable valves are provided for governing the flow of material through the shafts.

It will readily be seen that the improved method provides for the conveyance of granulated or powdered material by gravity from upper to ower-levels, and the installation of co-acting mechanical means, whereby the head pressure roduced by said material generates power or driving the operating mechanism.

By utilizing the head pressure as a power medium, light machinery, which is easily handled, can be employed at the shale bed. There is a vast saving in fuel and in the transportation of same, as the primary motor for initially operating the crusher, which is the only member requiring fuel, is not in constant use. While the primary motor is a necessary element of the method when the material has first to be reduced to a powdered state, it is not the master power source.

While I have described my improved method as embodying vertical conveyer shafts drilled through solid rock, the rock formation making the walls of the shafts, it is obvious that the same general principles will prevail if tubes or suitable concrete eonduits are employed, said tubes or conduits being firmly anchored and depending from an upper to a lower level and co-acting with suitable motor mechanism as above described. It is also obvious that the power generated can be transmitted and utilized for operating other mechanism, such as for example, conveyers for transporting the material from the storage bin 2 to points remote therefrom.

eration in connection with the conveyance 0fany material of a granular or powdered character, from a higher to a lower level.

rlhe same method can be applied to the economical transportation of sand from beds located above a plane where it is desired for use. The same principles may also be applied in handling grain in elevators.

What I claim and desire tosecure by Let- 1. In the transportation to a lower level of material located at an altitude, crushing or otherwise reducing the material, while at the higher level, to a condition suitable for the operation of a gravity motor, then deliv-.

ering the material to a lower level and through a gravity motor so as to utilize the head pressure of said material for generating power, and utilizing said'power.

2. In the transportation to a lower level of material located at an altitude, crushing or otherwise reducing the material, while at the higher level, to a condition suitable for the operation of'a gravity motor, then deliverin the material to a lower level and, throng a gravity motor so as to utilize the headpressure of said material for generating power, and utilizing said power in part at least in the reduction of more of the material at the higher level to the condition suitable for the operation of the gravity motor.

In testimony whereof I aliix m si nature.

FREDERICK G. S RE ES.

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