US20030173818A1 - Mining system - Google Patents
Mining system Download PDFInfo
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- US20030173818A1 US20030173818A1 US10/362,407 US36240703A US2003173818A1 US 20030173818 A1 US20030173818 A1 US 20030173818A1 US 36240703 A US36240703 A US 36240703A US 2003173818 A1 US2003173818 A1 US 2003173818A1
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- slurry
- unit
- pumping unit
- pipe
- watering
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- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 51
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 59
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 41
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 40
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 25
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004513 sizing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003245 coal Substances 0.000 abstract description 20
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 206010042618 Surgical procedure repeated Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 eg. Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008092 positive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011435 rock Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21D—SHAFTS; TUNNELS; GALLERIES; LARGE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS
- E21D9/00—Tunnels or galleries, with or without linings; Methods or apparatus for making thereof; Layout of tunnels or galleries
- E21D9/12—Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoil; Working or loading platforms
- E21D9/13—Devices for removing or hauling away excavated material or spoil; Working or loading platforms using hydraulic or pneumatic conveying means
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21C35/00—Details of, or accessories for, machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral from the seam, not provided for in groups E21C25/00 - E21C33/00, E21C37/00 or E21C39/00
- E21C35/20—General features of equipment for removal of chippings, e.g. for loading on conveyor
Definitions
- THIS INVENTION relates to a mining system.
- the invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, conveying mined material(s) from a mining machine to a remote location, eg., for processing.
- the invention relates, but is not limited to, a method of and apparatus for the continuous transfer of coal from the mining face during development of roadways underground, including longwall gateroads.
- pipe(s) shall include pipe(s), pipeline(s), conduit(s), hose(s) and the like.
- a small mining machine cuts a tunnel (or gateroad) through the seam and the coal is transferred to a remote location, eg., a main tunnel or road via shuttle cars, eg., operating in pairs.
- mined material eg., coal
- the present invention resides in a method for transferring mined material(s) (eg., coal) from a mining face to a remote location, including the steps of:
- the method further includes the step:
- the present invention resides in apparatus to effect the method.
- the mined material (eg., coal and rock) is preferably crushed and/or sized in a crushing unit which has a surge hopper or bin to receive the mined material from a mining machine.
- the surge hopper or bin is dimensioned to receive 30 seconds to several (eg., 5) minutes' output from the mining machine.
- the sized material is mixed and pumped by a pumping unit having at least one, but preferably two or more, pumps, the pumps being connected to (preferably) respective slurry pipes operable to convey the slurry to a de-watering unit at a remote location.
- a pumping unit having at least one, but preferably two or more, pumps, the pumps being connected to (preferably) respective slurry pipes operable to convey the slurry to a de-watering unit at a remote location.
- the crushing unit and the pump unit may be separate machines, or be mounted on a single (preferably articulated) frame.
- the de-watering unit has one, or more, return water pipes connected to the pumping unit.
- each slurry pipe and each return water pipe has at least one flexible portion connected to the pump and/or the de-watering unit to allow for advance of the pumping unit (with the advance of the mining machine) relative to the de-watering unit.
- the flexible portions include one or more coils, is and/or concertina-like sections, supportable from the roof, walls and/or floor of the mine, eg., by a monorail or sled(s).
- the pipes may further include one or more rigid portions, which may be suspended from the roof and/or walls of the mine.
- Additional flexible portions may be interposed in the pipes to accommodate further advance of the pumping unit (and mining machine) along the gateroads and/or around corners into crossroads (or cut-thru's).
- FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a longwall coal mine incorporating the present invention
- FIG. 2 is detail B on FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale
- FIG. 3 is a sectional side view taken on line A on FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.
- FIG. 4 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 3.
- the coal mine 100 has gateroads 101 to enable the coal 102 to be mined, eg., by longwall mining methods.
- the machinery of the present invention must be designed to be capable of negotiating the junctions between the gateroads 101 and cross roads 103 .
- coal 102 is mined from the mining face 104 by a mining machine 10 to enable the gateroad 101 (or cross road 103 ) to be developed.
- the coal 102 is transferred to the rear of the mining machine 10 , eg., via an armoured chain 11 along the centre of the mining machine 10 .
- the coal 102 is discharged into a surge bin 21 at the front of a crushing unit 20 .
- the capacity of the surge bin 21 is selected so that the flow of the coal from the crushing unit 20 can be interrupted for, 30 seconds to a few (eg., 5) minutes, without interruption to the operation of the mining machine 10 .
- the coal 102 is crushed and sized in the crushing unit 20 and is transferred to a pumping unit 30 , where it is mixed with the water to form a slurry. (The water is returned to the pumping unit 30 via a return pipeline from a de-watering unit, to be hereinafter described.)
- the crushing unit 20 and pumping unit 30 may be provided as separate machines, or on a single articulated chassis or frame—see FIG. 2.
- Each slurry pipe 41 - 43 is connected, at its downstream end, to a de-watering unit 50 , where the coal 102 is de-watered (i.e., separated from the slurry) and directed to a conveyor 60 which carries the coal out of the mine, eg., via a series of other conveyors.
- At least one return water pipe 51 returns the water from the de-watering unit 50 to the pumping unit 30 .
- the pipe system 40 has the three slurry pipes 41 - 43 where intermediate portions 41 b - 43 b comprise, eg., 150 mm diameter pipes suspended from the roof 105 of the gateroad 101 .
- the pipes may be suspended from the walls and/or supported from the floor, eg., by sleds 206 .
- the slurry pipes 41 - 43 have flexible end portions 41 c - 43 c connected to the de-watering unit 50 .
- Each slurry pipe 41 - 43 has a flexible end portion 41 a - 43 a connected to a respective pump 31 - 33 , where the flexible portions 41 a - 43 a are coiled and suspended from a monorail 106 on the roof 105 (or supported by sleds 206 on the floor) of the gateroad 101 . It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that as the mining machine 10 , crushing unit 20 and pumping unit 30 advance, the flexible end portions 41 a - 43 a are de-coiled and supported at spaced intervals by the monorail 106 .
- the return water pipe(s) 51 can also have intermediate portions (or rigid/coiled pipes) supported on the monorail(s) 106 /sled(s) 206 with flexible end portions connected to the pumps 31 - 33 and de-watering unit 50 in the manner of the slurry pipes 41 - 43 .
- a further monorail 106 is fixed to the roof 105 between the existing monorail 106 and the machine/units 10 / 20 / 30 , the new monorail 106 supporting additional lengths of flexible pipe.
- the additional lengths are supported by further sleds 206 .
- One of the pumps, eg., 31 may be stopped, and slurry pipe 41 disconnected therefrom to allow one of the new flexible pipes to be interconnected to the pump 31 and flexible end portion 41 a of slurry pipe 41 .
- Pump 31 can be restarted, and the procedure repeated successively with pumps 32 and 33 . This means that only one-third of the transfer capacity between the mining machine 10 and the conveyor 60 is lost at any time. This is in contrast with existing transfer methods where production is halted when additional conveyor modules are supplied to allow for the advance of the mining machine 20 .
- the full length of the pipelines 41 - 43 is of flexible material.
- the process allows maximum access to the face—the machinery can operate close to one wall of the roadway, thus allowing supplies and other equipment to access the road and the miner at the face;
- capacity can be increased by additional or larger pump units
- distance for material transfer can vary from hundreds of metres, to thousands of metres, depending upon requirements;
- articulated frame between the crushing unit 20 and pumping unit 30 provides mobility
- ability to pump slurry from the face means pumps can be used to clean muck from the roads at the face and create a cleaner and safer work environment;
- the present invention can be used in conjunction with existing mining equipment
- the present invention can be used in main headings development as well as gateroad development;
- the present invention can be used for bolting equipment and for cut and flit arrangements
- first aid and smoke room can be close by
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
- Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)
- Pipeline Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A mining system to convey mined materials (eg., coal) from a mining machine (10) to a remote location has a crushing unit (20) receiving the mined material from the mining machine (10) via a surge bin (21). The material is crushed and sized and mixed with water to form a slurry in a pumping unit (30). Slurry pipes (41-43) interconnect pumps (31-33) on the de-watering unit (50) to convey the slurry to the de-watering unit (50) from which it can be conveyed by fixed conveyors (60) to the remote location. The slurry pipes (41-43), and return water pipe(s) (51), have intermediate portions (41 a-43 a) suspended from a monorail (106) and/or mounted on a sled (206), and flexible end portions (41-43 a, 41 c-43 c) to allow advance off the mining machine (20) along gateroads (101) and/or crossroads (103) in the mine.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- THIS INVENTION relates to a mining system.
- In particular, the invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, conveying mined material(s) from a mining machine to a remote location, eg., for processing.
- More particularly, the invention relates, but is not limited to, a method of and apparatus for the continuous transfer of coal from the mining face during development of roadways underground, including longwall gateroads.
- Throughout the specification, including the claims, the term “pipe(s)” shall include pipe(s), pipeline(s), conduit(s), hose(s) and the like.
- 2. Prior Art
- Conventionally, gateroads and cross-roads (or cut-thru's) are cut in a coal seam to enable a longwall mining machine to mine the coal in the seam.
- A small mining machine cuts a tunnel (or gateroad) through the seam and the coal is transferred to a remote location, eg., a main tunnel or road via shuttle cars, eg., operating in pairs.
- There is danger to the miners in the gateroads as they are liable to be run down by the shuttle cars in the gateroads. The shuttle cars quickly cut up the floors of the gate roads and the damaged floors incur high maintenance loads on the shuttle cars.
- As an alternative to the shuttle cars, modular conveyors (eg., as disclosed in AU-A-10873/92 (MECO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD)) have been proposed to transfer the coal.
- While the conveyors are safer to the workers, and result in less damage to the gateroad floors, production must be halted each time a conveyor module must be added to allow for the advance of the mining machine.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the transfer of mined material, eg., coal, from a mining machine to a remote location which can allow for advance of the mining machine.
- It is a preferred object to provide a method which can allow such an advance with minimal reduction in the transfer rate.
- It is a further preferred object to provide a method where the advance of the machine can be over a considerable distance.
- It is a still further preferred object to provide a method which can use, or incorporate, existing equipment.
- Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description.
- In one aspect, the present invention resides in a method for transferring mined material(s) (eg., coal) from a mining face to a remote location, including the steps of:
- a) crushing and/or sizing the mined material;
- b) mixing the crushed/sized material with water to form a slurry;
- c) pumping the slurry to the remote location through one or more flexible slurry pipes; and
- d) de-watering the slurry to recover the mined material.
- Preferably, the method further includes the step:
- e) returning the water for mixing with further mined material for step (b).
- In a second aspect, the present invention resides in apparatus to effect the method.
- The mined material (eg., coal and rock) is preferably crushed and/or sized in a crushing unit which has a surge hopper or bin to receive the mined material from a mining machine.
- Preferably, the surge hopper or bin is dimensioned to receive 30 seconds to several (eg., 5) minutes' output from the mining machine.
- Preferably, the sized material is mixed and pumped by a pumping unit having at least one, but preferably two or more, pumps, the pumps being connected to (preferably) respective slurry pipes operable to convey the slurry to a de-watering unit at a remote location.
- The crushing unit and the pump unit may be separate machines, or be mounted on a single (preferably articulated) frame.
- Preferably, the de-watering unit has one, or more, return water pipes connected to the pumping unit.
- Preferably, each slurry pipe and each return water pipe has at least one flexible portion connected to the pump and/or the de-watering unit to allow for advance of the pumping unit (with the advance of the mining machine) relative to the de-watering unit.
- Preferably, the flexible portions include one or more coils, is and/or concertina-like sections, supportable from the roof, walls and/or floor of the mine, eg., by a monorail or sled(s).
- The pipes may further include one or more rigid portions, which may be suspended from the roof and/or walls of the mine.
- Additional flexible portions may be interposed in the pipes to accommodate further advance of the pumping unit (and mining machine) along the gateroads and/or around corners into crossroads (or cut-thru's).
- To enable the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
- FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a longwall coal mine incorporating the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is detail B on FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;
- FIG. 3 is a sectional side view taken on line A on FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale; and
- FIG. 4 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 3.
- The
coal mine 100 hasgateroads 101 to enable thecoal 102 to be mined, eg., by longwall mining methods. - The machinery of the present invention must be designed to be capable of negotiating the junctions between the
gateroads 101 andcross roads 103. - As shown on an enlarged scale in FIGS. 3 and 4,
coal 102 is mined from themining face 104 by amining machine 10 to enable the gateroad 101 (or cross road 103) to be developed. - The
coal 102 is transferred to the rear of themining machine 10, eg., via anarmoured chain 11 along the centre of themining machine 10. - The
coal 102 is discharged into asurge bin 21 at the front of a crushingunit 20. The capacity of thesurge bin 21 is selected so that the flow of the coal from the crushingunit 20 can be interrupted for, 30 seconds to a few (eg., 5) minutes, without interruption to the operation of themining machine 10. - The
coal 102 is crushed and sized in the crushingunit 20 and is transferred to apumping unit 30, where it is mixed with the water to form a slurry. (The water is returned to thepumping unit 30 via a return pipeline from a de-watering unit, to be hereinafter described.) - On the
pumping unit 30, three slurry pumps 31-33 are respectively connected to slurry pipes 41-43 of thepipe system 40, to be described in more detail. - The crushing
unit 20 andpumping unit 30 may be provided as separate machines, or on a single articulated chassis or frame—see FIG. 2. - Each slurry pipe41-43 is connected, at its downstream end, to a
de-watering unit 50, where thecoal 102 is de-watered (i.e., separated from the slurry) and directed to aconveyor 60 which carries the coal out of the mine, eg., via a series of other conveyors. At least onereturn water pipe 51 returns the water from the de-wateringunit 50 to thepumping unit 30. - The
pipe system 40 has the three slurry pipes 41-43 whereintermediate portions 41 b-43 b comprise, eg., 150 mm diameter pipes suspended from theroof 105 of thegateroad 101. (The pipes may be suspended from the walls and/or supported from the floor, eg., bysleds 206.) At the downstream end, the slurry pipes 41-43 haveflexible end portions 41 c-43 c connected to thede-watering unit 50. Each slurry pipe 41-43 has aflexible end portion 41 a-43 a connected to a respective pump 31-33, where theflexible portions 41 a-43 a are coiled and suspended from amonorail 106 on the roof 105 (or supported bysleds 206 on the floor) of thegateroad 101. It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that as themining machine 10, crushingunit 20 and pumpingunit 30 advance, theflexible end portions 41 a-43 a are de-coiled and supported at spaced intervals by themonorail 106. - The return water pipe(s)51 can also have intermediate portions (or rigid/coiled pipes) supported on the monorail(s) 106/sled(s) 206 with flexible end portions connected to the pumps 31-33 and de-watering
unit 50 in the manner of the slurry pipes 41-43. - When the
flexible portions 41 a-43 a are nearly fully decoiled, afurther monorail 106 is fixed to theroof 105 between the existingmonorail 106 and the machine/units 10/20/30, thenew monorail 106 supporting additional lengths of flexible pipe. Alternatively, the additional lengths are supported byfurther sleds 206. - One of the pumps, eg.,31, may be stopped, and
slurry pipe 41 disconnected therefrom to allow one of the new flexible pipes to be interconnected to thepump 31 andflexible end portion 41 a ofslurry pipe 41. -
Pump 31 can be restarted, and the procedure repeated successively withpumps mining machine 10 and theconveyor 60 is lost at any time. This is in contrast with existing transfer methods where production is halted when additional conveyor modules are supplied to allow for the advance of themining machine 20. - Even if a pump31-33 fails, production, albeit at a reduced rate, can be maintained.
- It will be readily apparent to the skilled addressee that the number/capacity of the pumps31-33/slurry pipes 41-43 return water pipe(s) 51, can be varied to suit the particular mine requirements.
- In certain applications, it may be preferable that the full length of the pipelines41-43 is of flexible material.
- Advantages of the invention include:
- the process described can be totally continuous, providing no interruptions to the miner cutting coal at the face;
- the process allows maximum access to the face—the machinery can operate close to one wall of the roadway, thus allowing supplies and other equipment to access the road and the miner at the face;
- maximum access allows other mining processes to take place simultaneously whereas they would normally have to wait until the shuttle cars are stopped;
- safety (eg., for roof bolting, ventilation, installation/modifications) is greatly enhanced, as there are no shuttle cars wheeling along roads, thus:
- less exposure to gas initiation via cable damage;
- less chance of driver injury from shuttle cars wheeling on rough roads;
- much less road damage, and full access to maintain roads, so less chance of damage to vehicles and passengers and pedestrian traffic;
- no sudden cable movement to cause injury.
- multiple pumps provide continuous operation—pumps can be maintained or interchanged during production;
- very reliable crushing unit, with possibility for backup motor and rotor.
- ability to carry supplies and spares on the machinery, for easy access;
- low maintenance costs, due to simplicity of operation and construction;
- simplicity of construction and use of existing components provides for simple maintenance;
- flexibility to adapt system to a variety of requirements, which creates many options for mining operators—this creates a positive effect for mine planning and logistics;
- capacity can be increased by additional or larger pump units;
- distance for material transfer can vary from hundreds of metres, to thousands of metres, depending upon requirements;
- articulated frame between the crushing
unit 20 andpumping unit 30 provides mobility; - ability to pump slurry from the face means pumps can be used to clean muck from the roads at the face and create a cleaner and safer work environment;
- the present invention can be used in conjunction with existing mining equipment;
- the present invention can be used in main headings development as well as gateroad development;
- the present invention can be used for bolting equipment and for cut and flit arrangements;
- continuous conveyor panel extension operations;
- first aid and smoke room can be close by; and
- other additional equipment can be added to the framework, eg., bolting equipment, carrying of supplies, ventilation apparatus, floor cleaning/pumping apparatus, etc., and operator F.O.D.S.
- Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.
Claims (25)
1. A method for transferring mined material(s) from a mining face to a remote location, including the steps of:
a) crushing and/or sizing the mined material;
b) mixing the crushed/sized material with water to form a slurry;
c) pumping the slurry to the remote location through a plurality of flexible slurry pipes; and
d) de-watering the slurry to recover the mined material; and
e) returning the water for mixing with further mined material for step (b); wherein:
in step (b), the crushed/sized material is mixed and pumped by a pumping unit having at least one pump, the pump(s) being connected to at least one slurry pipe operable to convey the slurry to a de-watering unit at the remote location;
to effect step (e), a de-watering unit has one, or more, return water pipe(s) connected to the pumping unit where the crushed/sized material is mixed with the water to form the slurry of step (b); and
each slurry pipe and/or return water pipe has at least one flexible portion connected to the pumping unit and/or the de-watering unit to allow for advance of the pumping unit (with the advance of the mining machine) relative to the de-watering unit.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
the mined material is crushed and/or sized in a crushing unit having a surge hopper or bin to receive the mined material from a mining machine.
3. A method a claimed in claim 2 wherein:
the surge hopper or bin is dimensioned to receive 30 seconds to 5 minutes' output from the mining machine.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein:
the flexible portions include one or more coils, and/or concertina-like sections, supportable from a roof and/or walls of the mine by monorail(s).
5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein:
the slurry pipe(s) and/or return water pipe(s) further include one or more rigid portions, which are suspended from the roof and/or walls of the mine.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein:
additional flexible portions are interposed in the slurry pipe(s) and/or return water pipe(s) to accommodate further advance of the pumping unit (and mining machine) along gateroads and/or around corners into crossroads or cut-thru's in the mine.
7. A method for transferring mined material(s) from a mining face to a remote location, including the steps of:
a) crushing and/or sizing the mined material;
b) mixing the crushed/sized material with water to form a slurry;
c) pumping the slurry to the remote location through one or more flexible slurry pipes;
d) de-watering the slurry to recover the mined material; and
e) returning the water through one or more return water pipes for mixing with further mined material for step (b); wherein:
the flexible portions including one or more coils, and/or concertina-like sections, supportable from a roof and/or walls of the mine by monorail(s).
8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein:
the slurry pipe(s) and/or return water pipe(s) further include one or more rigid portions, which are suspended from the roof and/or walls of the mine.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein:
additional flexible portions are interposed in the slurry pipe(s) and/or return water pipe(s) to accommodate further advance of the pumping unit (and mining machine) along gateroads and/or around corners into crossroads or cut-thru's in the mine.
10. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein:
in step (b), the crushed/sized material is mixed and pumped by a pumping unit having at least one pump, the pump(s) being connected to at least one slurry pipe operable to convey the slurry to a de-watering unit at the remote location.
11. A method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein:
to effect step (e), a de-watering unit has one, or more, return water pipe(s) connected to a pumping unit where the crushed/sized material is mixed with the water to form the slurry of step (b).
12. Apparatus for transferring mined materials from a mining face to a remote location, including:
a crushing unit to receive the mined material from a mining machine at the mining face, and operable to crush and/or size the mined material;
a pumping unit to mix the crushed/sized material with water to form a slurry and having at least one pump;
a de-watering unit at the remote location to de-water the slurry to recover the mined material;
at least one slurry pipe interconnecting the pump(s) on the pumping unit to the de-watering unit and operable to convey the slurry therebetween; and
at least one return water pipe interconnecting the de-watering unit to the pumping unit and operable to return water to the pumping unit for mixing with further mined material;
each slurry pipe and/or return water pipe has at least one flexible portion connected to the pumping unit and/or to the de-watering unit to enable advance of the crushing unit and pumping unit, with the advance of the mining machine, relative to the de-watering unit, the flexible portion(s) includine one or more coils, and/or concertina-like sections, supportable from a roof and/or walls of the mine by monorail(s).
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein:
each slurry pipe and/or return water pipe includes one or more rigid portions suspended from the roof and/or walls of the mine.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein:
additional flexible portions are interposed in the slurry pipe(s) and/or return water pipe(s) to accommodate advance of the crushing unit, and the pumping unit, with the mining machine, along gateroads and/or around corners into cross-roads or cut-thru's in the mine.
15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14 , wherein:
the crushing unit has a surge bin or hopper, dimensioned to receive 30 seconds to 5 minutes' output of the mined material from the mining machine.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein:
the mining machine, crushing unit and pumping unit are interconnected to advance simultaneously.
17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16 wherein:
a respective slurry pipe interconnects each pump to the de-watering unit.
18. Apparatus for transferring mined materials from a mining face to a remote location, including:
a crushing unit to receive the mined material from a mining machine at the mining face, and operable to crush and/or size the mined material;
a pumping unit to mix the crushed/sized material with water to form a slurry and having at least one pump;
a de-watering unit at the remote location to de-water the slurry to recover the mined material;
a plurality of slurry pipes interconnecting the pump(s) on the pumping unit to the de-watering unit and operable to convey the slurry therebetween, at least one return water pipe interconnecting the de-watering unit to the pumping unit and operable to return water to the pumping unit for mixing with further mined material; and
each slurry pipe and/or return water pipe has at least one flexible portion connected to the pumping unit and/or to the de-watering unit to enable advance of the crushing unit and pumping unit, with the advance of the mining machine, relative to the de-watering unit.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein:
the flexible portion(s) include one or more coils, and/or concertina-like sections, supportable from a roof and/or walls of the mine by monorail(s).
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 wherein:
each slurry pipe and/or return water pipe includes one or more rigid portions suspended from the roof and/or walls of the mine.
21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein:
additional flexible portions are interposed in the slurry pipe(s) and/or return water pipe(s) to accommodate advance of the crushing unit, and the pumping unit, with the mining machine, along gateroads and/or around corners into cross-roads or cut-thru's in the mine.
22. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 21 , wherein:
the crushing unit has a surge bin or hopper, dimensioned to receive 30 seconds to 50 minutes' output of the mined material from the mining machine.
23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein:
the mining machine, crushing unit and pumping unit are interconnected to advance simultaneously.
24. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 23 wherein:
a respective slurry pipe interconnects each pump to the de-watering unit.
25. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 24 wherein:
the crushing unit and the pumping unit are mounted on a single articulated chassis or frame.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AUPQ9793 | 2000-08-31 | ||
AUPQ9793A AUPQ979300A0 (en) | 2000-08-31 | 2000-08-31 | Mining system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20030173818A1 true US20030173818A1 (en) | 2003-09-18 |
Family
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Family Applications (1)
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US10/362,407 Abandoned US20030173818A1 (en) | 2000-08-31 | 2001-08-31 | Mining system |
Country Status (10)
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---|---|
US (1) | US20030173818A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1455842A (en) |
AU (1) | AUPQ979300A0 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2463048A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE10196548T1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2383598A (en) |
NZ (1) | NZ524761A (en) |
PL (1) | PL359417A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002018748A1 (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA200302169B (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2007006066A1 (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2007-01-18 | Sandvik Mining And Construction Materials Handling Gmbh & Co Kg | Transport device for continuously removing mined material |
CN102671760A (en) * | 2012-04-14 | 2012-09-19 | 江苏林康自动化工程技术有限公司 | Vertical-type dry-concentration placer ore taking and magnetic concentration system and method |
US20190143337A1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-05-16 | Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd. | Method for mining and processing of an ore |
CN113669061A (en) * | 2021-09-15 | 2021-11-19 | 太原理工大学 | Device capable of lapping anti-skid static pre-splitting top plate and using method thereof |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE202009001477U1 (en) | 2009-02-06 | 2009-04-09 | Holcim Technology Ltd. | Device for the continuous mining and removal of minerals |
PE20140994A1 (en) * | 2011-08-03 | 2014-09-05 | Tech Resources Pty Ltd | PROCESSING OF MINING EXTRACTION MATERIAL |
CN103010233B (en) * | 2011-09-23 | 2016-08-03 | 徐广杰 | Empty rail mine car |
CN104847357A (en) * | 2015-04-28 | 2015-08-19 | 中国矿业大学 | Pumper and pipeline transportation type semicontinuous mining transportation technology for open-pit mine |
CA3105124A1 (en) | 2018-07-19 | 2020-01-23 | Underground Extraction Technologies Pty Ltd | Recovering conveyor systems and continuous miners from mined plunge tunnels in underground mines |
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US3790214A (en) * | 1972-09-29 | 1974-02-05 | O Kilroy | Hydraulic mining system |
US3845990A (en) * | 1972-10-16 | 1974-11-05 | Continental Oil Co | Slurry hopper system |
US3924895A (en) * | 1973-12-07 | 1975-12-09 | William C Leasure | Method and apparatus for hydraulic transportation of mined coal |
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US3260548A (en) * | 1965-03-11 | 1966-07-12 | Consolidation Coal Co | Method and apparatus for continuously mining and transporting coal |
US3941425A (en) * | 1973-08-21 | 1976-03-02 | Consolidation Coal Company | Mobile slurry handling system |
US4286822A (en) * | 1979-12-14 | 1981-09-01 | Conoco, Inc. | Underspoil slurry haulage |
-
2000
- 2000-08-31 AU AUPQ9793A patent/AUPQ979300A0/en not_active Abandoned
-
2001
- 2001-08-31 DE DE10196548T patent/DE10196548T1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-08-31 CN CN01814520A patent/CN1455842A/en active Pending
- 2001-08-31 US US10/362,407 patent/US20030173818A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-08-31 PL PL01359417A patent/PL359417A1/en unknown
- 2001-08-31 NZ NZ524761A patent/NZ524761A/en unknown
- 2001-08-31 CA CA002463048A patent/CA2463048A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-08-31 WO PCT/AU2001/001098 patent/WO2002018748A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2001-08-31 GB GB0303031A patent/GB2383598A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2003
- 2003-03-18 ZA ZA200302169A patent/ZA200302169B/en unknown
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3790214A (en) * | 1972-09-29 | 1974-02-05 | O Kilroy | Hydraulic mining system |
US3845990A (en) * | 1972-10-16 | 1974-11-05 | Continental Oil Co | Slurry hopper system |
US3924895A (en) * | 1973-12-07 | 1975-12-09 | William C Leasure | Method and apparatus for hydraulic transportation of mined coal |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2007006066A1 (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2007-01-18 | Sandvik Mining And Construction Materials Handling Gmbh & Co Kg | Transport device for continuously removing mined material |
US20090078542A1 (en) * | 2005-07-13 | 2009-03-26 | Manfred Fuchs | Transport device for continuously removing mined material |
US7926640B2 (en) | 2005-07-13 | 2011-04-19 | Sandvik Mining And Construction Materials Handling Gmbh & Co Kg | Transport device for continuously removing mined material |
CN102671760A (en) * | 2012-04-14 | 2012-09-19 | 江苏林康自动化工程技术有限公司 | Vertical-type dry-concentration placer ore taking and magnetic concentration system and method |
US20190143337A1 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2019-05-16 | Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd. | Method for mining and processing of an ore |
US11162361B2 (en) * | 2017-11-15 | 2021-11-02 | Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd. | Method for mining and processing of an ore |
CN113669061A (en) * | 2021-09-15 | 2021-11-19 | 太原理工大学 | Device capable of lapping anti-skid static pre-splitting top plate and using method thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
PL359417A1 (en) | 2004-08-23 |
GB2383598A (en) | 2003-07-02 |
ZA200302169B (en) | 2004-02-16 |
WO2002018748A1 (en) | 2002-03-07 |
AUPQ979300A0 (en) | 2000-09-21 |
NZ524761A (en) | 2004-08-27 |
CN1455842A (en) | 2003-11-12 |
GB0303031D0 (en) | 2003-03-12 |
DE10196548T1 (en) | 2003-07-31 |
CA2463048A1 (en) | 2002-03-07 |
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