US2242520A - Hydraulic mining apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 20, 1941.

O. GRUNDBORG HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Olaf fi'cwzdbmg BY |l|l|lII|I IIIh II llllllalll Filed Sept. 9, 1937 y 20,1941- 0. GRUNDBORG 2,242,520

HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Fild Sept. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 N? INVENTQR M MM ATTORNEY5 May 20,1941. 0. GRUNDBQRG I HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed S ot. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 I \Yla I I I III/I I III,

.0 5 mm MS m m firm m m M w 0 W y O.GRUNDBORGI' 2,242,520

HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Olaf fiyzmdbarg BY 4M4, l- M TORNEY y o. GRUNDBORG 2,242,520

' HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 9, 1937 air W E N m w A HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. '9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 a INVENTOR v Qlaf' G'wmfiong ATTORNEYS May 20, 1941. o. GRUNDBORG 2,242,520

HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1937 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR 1Z9 135 85 v Olaf fimmdborg M I 4- M ATTO NEY May 20,1941,

' o. GRUNDBORG HYDRAULIC MINING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9 1937 8 She ets-Sheet B INVENTOR Qla zf finanlibwg m mmkvs Patented May 20, 1941 UNITED STATES FATENT QFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hydraulic mining dredges and apparatus therefor.

A primary object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which is especially suited to the mining and reduction to a silt-like consistency of submerged gold bearing deposits of clay and th like, which, owing to the mutually adherent and agglomerative tendencies of the particles comprising the same, cannot by known methods be mined eificiently and effectively and reduced to the silt-like consistency required for recovery of the gold.

This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention by employment of a dredge having a pivotally elevatable suction pipe projecting therefrom and terminating in a power driven rotary excavator of special construction such that it functions to excavate the clay-like earth in the form of thin shavings which are immediately broken up, in passing over the excavator cutter blades, into particles of such fineness that they are easily reduced to a fine silt due to the churning action to which they are subjected in transit along with large quantities of water through the suction pipe, etc. to the gold extracting apparatus.

The relatively soft clay-like deposits referred to usually occur as surface layers which are backed by much harder, denser and richer gold bearing beds, requiring an excavator of more rugged and different construction and operation from that which is best adapted to disintegration of the clay-like surface layer. further object of the invention is to provide a power driven rotary excavator of novel construction for the mining of such denser deposits, such excavator being capable of moving and casting aside rocks of sizes larger than those which may safely be passed through the suction pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for so operating the excavator, particularly the type last referred to, that the axis of the excavator will automatically be maintained substantially horizontal as the suction pipe is elevated and depressed, this being the position in which the latter type of excavator operates most effectively on such deposits.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for so maneuvering the dredge that excavation may be carried on with little or no interruption. This consists of a series of cables extending from power driven drums on the dredge to appropriate moorings whereby the dredge may be advanced, retarded 0r Accordingly a laterally displaced or may be pivoted about its stern for swinging the bow back and forth and with it the suction pipe projecting from the bow, so that the excavator may be swung back and forth continuously across an area to be mined.

To permit of elevating and depressing the suction pipe and also of pivoting the dredge about its stern, certain joints in the pipe line conveying the excavated material from the excavator to.

the recovery equipment must be articulated in such manner as to provide substantially waterand-air-tight swivel joints between pipe sections. A further object of the invention is to provide novel arrangements for effecting such junctions.

These and other objects of the invention will be explained more in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a plan view, and Fig, 2a side elevation of a dredge in accordance with the invention, these figures also depicting in dashed lines various positions which may be assumed by the dredge and the elevatable suction pipe during excavation.

Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of the dredge primarily illustrative of the arrangements of the mooring cables above referred to, employed for maneuvering the dredge.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial section at 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the details of the water-andair-tight articulated joint between the elevatable suction pipe and a stationary pipe section. This view also includes some of the details of the power drive for the rotary excavator.

Fig. 5 shows in side elevation on an enlarged scale, a strut and collar arrangement for rotatably supporting the articulated pipe and power drive junction shown in detail in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 also shows a portion of the mechanism for maintaining the axis of the rotary excavator substantially horizontal when required.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section at 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the details of a watertight anti-friction bearing for the excavator drive shaft.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section at l'i of Fig. 2 showing the manner in which the excavator'is journaled to the suction pipe terminus, and also the gearing whereby the excavator is rotated by the power drive shaft; while Fig. 8 is a section at 88 of Fig. 7 showingthe arrangement of the excavator in rear elevation and the gearing arrangement in sectional elevation.

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 are respectively a side ele vation, a front end elevation and a section at Il-ll of Fig. 9, of the excavator in accordance with the invention for excavating the soft claylike surface layer.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged partial sectional elevation at I2-| 2 of Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the outlet pipe from the suction pipe mechanism is articulated about a vertical axis at the stern of the dredge to permit of pivoting the same about the stern.

Fig. 13 is likewise a partial side-section at l2-l2 of Fig. 1 showing a sheave arrangement for passing one of the mooring lines of the dredge from a power driven drum to a mooring oi the bow; this sheave arrangement being also shown in front elevation in Fig. 14 comprising a section at l4-l4 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 15, 16, 1'1 and 18 are respectively a plan view, a longitudinal transverse section, a longitudinal vertical section, and a side elevation of a portion of the mechanism for maintaining the axis of the rotary excavator substantially horizontal as the suction pipe is raised or lowered.

Figs. 19, and 21 show the construction of the rotary excavator in accordance with the invention required for excavating the harder and more impervious gold bearing stratum referred to which lies beneath the softer layer of surface clay; Fig. 19 being a side elevation of the same, Fig. 20 a front end elevation and Fig. 21 a transverse longitudinal section.

Referring to the drawings the dredge comprises a barge I, on which are mounted a prime mover 2, such as a Diesel engine, having a drive shaft 3, driving through belts 4, 5, 6, an electric generator 1 for supplying light, etc., a centrifugal suction pump 8, and a sealing water pump 9. The intake of the suction pump 8 is coupled through a water tight swivel joint I!) to a pipe elbow I I connected to a suction pipe l2 projecting through a slotted opening or well 13 in the bow of the barge whereby the suction pipe may be elevated and depressed about the horizontal axis of the swivel joint IE1, and thus may assume positions such as l4, I5, l6, l1, Fig. 2. A rotary excavator I8 is journaled to the projecting end of the suction pipe, and is rotated by a power driven shaft 19, paralleling the suction pipe, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter.

The outlet of pump 8 comprises a pipe line extending upward from the pump, thence horizontally to the stern of the barge, and thence downwardly to a water tight swivel junction at 2| with a pipe elbow 22 joined to a flexible outlet pipe line 23 of rubber hose or the like, extending i to the gold extracting equipment located on the shore, or to a floating recovery and tailing disposal unit. By virtue of this arrangement the barge may be pivoted about a stern post 24, coaxial with the vertical axis of the pipe swivel joint 2|, whereby the barge may be pivoted about its stern to positions such as 25, 26, 21, Fig. 1.

For maneuvering the barge to positions such as 25, 26, 21 as well as for advancing, backing or laterally displacing the same, a series of cables 28 to 32 inc. are provided extending from power driven drums 33 to 31 inc. respectively to moorings 38 to 42 inc., Fig. 8, respectively. Cables 28, 29 pass about opposite sides of a sheave 43, Figs. 2 and 12, journaled to the stern post 24 of the barge whereby the barge may be pivoted about the same. Also by taking up on one of the drums 33, 34 and slacking off on the other the barge may be displaced laterally in either direction. Cables 30, 3| pass over pulleys 44, 45,

46 and 41, 48 to the moorings 48, 4| off the port and starboard bows, whereby upon taking up on one of the drums 35, 36 and slacking off on the other the barge may be swiveled to port. or starboard about its stern post 24. Cable 32 comprising a headline passes over pulleys 49 to 52, Figs. 2 and 13, to a mooring 42 off the bow, whereby upon taking up or slacking off on drum 31 the barge may be advanced or backed up, this movement entailing also aslacking off or taking up on drums 33, 34 controlling cables 28, 29. It will be observed that the headline pulleys 5D to 52 are substantially vertically in line with the stern post 24, and that after passing over these pulleys the headline entirely clears the roof of the dredge so as not to interfere with the pivoting of the dredge about its stern post as above described. Thus the barge may be maneuvered as desired in the manner explained.

For elevating or lowering the suction pipe l2 about its swivel joint iii, to positions such as 14 to 11 inc., a cable 53 passes from a power driven drum 54 over pulleys 55, 5E, and sheaves 51, 58, 59.

The cable drums 33 to 31 inc. and the rotary excavator 18 are driven from a shaft which in turn is chain driven at GI through a clutch 62 from shaft 3 of the Diesel engine. A shaft 53 is in turn chain driven at 64 from shaft 60, and in turn drives through a variable speed gear 65 and a chain drive at 66, a shaft 61, Figs. 1 and 4, which in turn drives through bevel gears 68, Fig. 4, the drive shaft [9 extending to the rotary excavator l8.

Shaft 63 also drives through bevel gears 69 a shaft 10 which drives drums 35, 35 through a reversing gear 1!, manipulated by a gear shift lever 12 having a neutral position for disengaging the gears, a variable gear 13, and a worm gear 14. Drums 35, 36 are coupled through a clutch 15 whereby they may be simultaneously or independently driven. Shaft 18 also applies chain drives as shown to shafts l6 and 11 geared through the reversing gears and worm gears shown to drums 33, 54 and 34, 31. Drums 35, 36 containing the port and starboard mooring cables 30, 3! are ordinarily driven simultaneously through engagement of clutch 15, so that by extending cables 35, 3| oppositely about their respective drums, the simultaneous rotation of these drums in either direction will slack off on one cable to the same extent that it takes up on the other.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 7 to 11 inc., the rotary excavator applicable to the disintegration of the relatively soft surface layer of clay-like earth consists essentially of a crown member 80, preferably circular, a coaxial, flanged ring member 8| of larger diameter axially displaced therefrom, and a plurality of cutting blades such as 82, preferably of metal strip, extending between the crown and ring members and equally spaced about their peripheries. The blades are welded to the crown member at an angle to the axis thereof providing effective cutting and are curved outwardly from the axis toward the ring member and thence downwardly and peripherally forwardly in the direction of rotation of the excavator to terminate in slots 83 of the ring member, the slots being directed at an angle to the outer periphery of the ring member, as shown more particularly in Fig. 11, for providing more effective cutting. The blades are secured in the slots preferably by welding. The

such as the ball bearings 81, on a flanged portion 88 of the pipe section 85.

For applying a power drive to the excavator an internal gear 89 is bolted, as at 98, to the inner ring member 88. Gear 89 meshes with a spur gear 9I keyed to the drive shaft I9.

Since the excavator operates while submerged, the gears and bearings above referred to are provided with a water-tight housing consisting of: a ring 92 bolted to ring 86, and having concentric peripheral grooves and ribs 93 fittin into conforming ribs and grooves of a flange 94 of the suction pipe; a ring 95 bolted to ring 88 and having concentric ribs and grooves 96 fitting into conforming ribs and grooves of a ring 91 bolted to flange 88; together with packing rings 98, 99 held in place by rings I88, I8I bolted to rings 92, 91 respectively, the arrangement being thus such as not to interfere with rotation of the excavator.

The drive shaft I8 for the rotary excavator is likewise provided with a water-tight housing and is mounted in anti-friction bearings as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and '1. The housing comprises tubular segments such as I85 to I89 inc. threaded together as shown. The segments such as I01, Fig. 6, are provided with lugs I II having eyelets I I2 for bolting the drive shaft housing to the suction pipe I2 as shown in Fig. 1. Segments I81 are also provided with anti-friction bearings I I3, through which the drive shaft I9 is journaled.

The drive shaft I9 enters the excavator bearing and gearing housing through a housing II4 containing an anti-friction bearing H5 supporting the shaft, the housing being sealed on the shaft entry side by a bushing H6 threaded to housing H4, and a packing I I1 disposed about the end of the bushing and about the shaft, held in place by a packing nut I I8.

The form of excavator shown in Figs. 19, 20, 21 which is adapted more particularly for excavating the hard substratum, comprises a drum-like cage I28 consistin of a crown member I2! and a coaxial flanged ring member I22 of larger diameter spaced therefrom, a plurality of ribs such as I23, extending radially outward from the crown member and thence longitudinally to the ring member, the ribs being equally spaced peripherally thereabout and braced at intervals by members I24 extending between adjacent ribs. Bolted to the ribs I23 as at I25 are a plurality of scoop-like bucket members such as I26, I21, I28, presenting cutting edges, such as I29, I38, in a common direction of rotation, and being of arcuate contour as shown at I3I, for directing excavated material toward the interior of the excavator and thence to the orifice of the pipe section 85. To this end this excavator may be substituted for that shown in Figs. 7 to 11 inc., by unbolting the latter from the flanged ring member 85, and bolting the flange of this member to the flange of ring member I22, as shown in Fig. 21.

For proper operation of the excavator shown in Figs. 19 to 21, inc., its axis should be maintained substantially horizontal as the suction all) pipe is elevated and depressed. A mechanism for accomplishing this is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 15, 16, 17 and 18. It consists essentially in a hollow knuckle joint I35 articulatable about a horizontal axis I36, and having an arm I31 joined to the terminus of the suction pipe I2; and a finger I38 bolted to pipe section which carries the rotary excavator; a universal joint I39, coaxial with the knuckle joint, interposed in the drive shaft I9, and an equalizing rod I48 having one end-pinconnected to an arm I42 of the knuckle joint finger I 38, the opposite end of the equalizing rod I48 being pin-connected at I43 to a stationary arm I44 attached to a strut I45 mounting a bearing housing I46 rotatively supporting a portion of the pipe elbow II forming part of the swivel joint I8 as shown in Fig. 4.

The equalizing rod I48, suction pipe IZ, and the arms I42 and I44 thus form in efiect the sides of a parallelogram which is pin-connected at the joints, and hence which elongates as the suction pipe is elevated and contracts in length as the suction pipe is depressed, and in so doing rotates the arm I42 attached to the knuckle joint finger I38 in such manner as to maintain the axis of the excavator substantially fixed in direction, for example horizontal. The positions of the excavator in relation to the suction pipe and equalizing rod when the pipe is elevated and when it is depressed are illustrated at I211, M841 and I2, I48 respectively of Fig. 18. Arm I44, Fig. 5, is provided with a series of eyelets I41 progressively spaced from the pivotal axis of the suction pipe swivel joint I8, so that the direction in which the axis of the excavator is maintained may be altered by shifting the point of pivotal attachment of the equalizing rod I31 from one eyelet to another. The type of excavator shown in Fig. 9 operates best when its axis of rotation is maintained substantially coaxial with the suction pipe. This is accomplished by pin-connecting the equalizin rod I48 to the lowermost eyelet I41. With this connection the position of the excavator for various elevations is about as shown at I4 to I1 inc. of Fig. 2.

Considered somewhat more in detail, the knuckle joint I35 takes the form of a split drum consisting of an inner member I58 rotatable Within an outer member I5I. As shown more particularly in Fig. 17, the inner member I58 is integral with and opens into the arm I31; while the outer member I5I is integral with and opens into the finger I38, the outer member being bolted to the finger as shown in Fig. 16 at I52. Reverting to Fig. 17, the inner member is of such extent peripherally as to provide an opening I53 into the finger I38 for all positions of articulation, the angle throughout which articulation is possible being determined by the peripheral extent of the outer member I5I in relation to the size of the arm I81, as is evident from Fig. 17. The inner member is outwardly flanged along its arcuate edges as shown at I54, the flanges being housed in conforming inner arcuate grooves I55 of the outer member. The outer member overlaps the inner member as shown more particularly at I56, Fig. 16, and a hold-down segment I51 is also provided which is bolted to the inner member as shown and which overlaps the portion I55 of the outer member to hold down the portion I58 of the outer member in such manner as to permit of free rotation between the outer and inner members. The outer member is also provided with a water-tight casing I58 which houses the universal joint as shown more particularly Fig. 16.

Reverting to Fig. 4, the air-tight swivel joint I0, which is a suction joint, comprises a pair of pipes II, I60 each having an outer flange ISI, I62 spaced slightly from a terminus I 63, I64 thereof, the terminus of pipe I 6'3 having an inner peripheral recess I65 articularly housing the terminus I53 of pipe II- A split ring IE6 the halves of which are detachably bolted at IE1, is provided at one end with an inner flange IE8 lockingly engaging flange IEI of pipe II, and having at its opposite end an exteriorly projecting flange I69 bolted to flange I62 of pipe I60. The exterior surfaces of the pipes between their flanges and their termini are preferably flared outwardly slightly as shown at I18. An annular gasket I1I of flexible sheet material, such as rawhide, leather, rubber, etc. encircles this portion of the pipes including the outer junction I12 between them. The opposite ends of this gasket lie along theflanges IBI, I62 as shown, the gasket being thus maintained snugly overlying the pipe joint by a pair of resilient metal rings, such as rings of helically coiled spring wire, I13, I14 extending about the pipes respectively.

A compression form of swivel joint employed for swivel joint 20, Fig. 2, is shown in detail in Fig. 12. In this modification the upper pipe 20 terminates in a flange I15 having an inner peripheral recess I16 articularly housing the terminus I11 of pipe elbow 22, which is provided with a flange I18 spaced from the terminus. A split ring I19 of the type previously described, houses flange I18 of pipe 22 and is bolted to flange I15 of pipe 20. An annular gasket I86 of flexible sheet material, such as, rawhide, leather, rubber, etc., is interposed between flanges I15, I8I, the inner edge of the gasket engaging pipe elbow 22 as shown, and is held snugly against the same by a resilient metal ring I82 of helically coiled spring wire or the like. Pipe elbow 22 is preferably provided with a peripheral groove I83 for seating ring I82.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 14, the barge is provided with a sloping roof I84 mounted on supports I85 for protecting the machinery and workmen. To the same end the headline pulleys 50, 52 are provided with a housing I86.

Operation of the dredge consists in allocating the barge over an area to be mined by taking up or slacking off on the various drums 32 to 31 inc. controlling the mooring cables until the barge is in the position desired. Thereafter the drums controlling the stern and headline cables 28, 29, 32 are locked in position by adjusting the gear shifts controlling the same to their neutral positions. The gear shifts controlling drums 35, 36 and 54 are thereupon manipulated appropriately to adjust the excavator I8 to proper elevations as the barge is swung alternately to port and starboard about the pivoted stern mooring whereby the excavator removes the earthy material in successive and preferably contiguous arcuate furrows, so that the mining may be carried on uninterruptedly. The disintegrated material thus removed passes up the suction pipe I2, through pump 8, and through the outlet pipe 23 which extends to shore, or to a floating recovery and tailing disposal unit, as shown in Fig. 3, where the mined material is delivered in the form of a water borne fine silt to the recovery equipment.

What I claim is:

1. In an hydraulic mining dredge of the character described, the combination of: a suction pipe journaled at one end through a stationary bearing member for pivoting said pipe about a horizontal axis, a rotary excavator, a hollow knuckle joint articulatable about a horizontal axis, the free end of said suction pipe terminating in the arm of said knuckle joint, said rotary excavator being journaled to the finger thereof, an equalizing rod paralleling said suction pipe, said rod being pivoted at one end to the finger of said joint, said rod being adjustably pivoted at its opposite end to said stationary. bearing member whereby the axis of said excavator may be adjusted to remain substantially fixed in direction as the free end of said suction pipe is elevated and depressed.

2. In an hydraulic mining dredge of the character described, the combination of: an elevatable suction pipe projecting therefrom, said suction pipe terminating at one end in an elbow journaled through a stationary housing mounted on said dredge for pivoting said pipe about a horizontal axis, a hollow knuckle joint having an arm joined to the opposite end of said suction pipe and a finger articulatable about a horizontal axis with respect to said arm, a rotary excavator journaled to said finger, an equalizing rod paralleling said suction pipe and having one end pivoted to said finger and its opposite end pivoted to said housing, and means for altering the points of attachment of said equalizing rod to said finger and said housing in relation to the said axes of rotation of said suction pipe and knuckle joint for altering the direction in which the axis of said excavator is maintained.

3. In an hydraulicmining dredge of the character described, the combination: a suction pipe having a portion journaled at one end through a stationary housing for rotating said pipe about a horizontal axis, a hollow knuckle joint having an arm joined to the opposite end of said pipe and a finger articulatable about a horizontal axis, a rotary excavator journaled to said finger, an equalizing rod paralleling said suction pipe and having one end pivoted to said housing and its opposite end pivoted to said finger thereby to maintain the axis of-said excavator substantially fixed in direction as said suction pipe is raised and lowered, a drive shaft for said excavator having a portion paralleling said suction pipe and a portion paralleling said finger, and a universal joint coaxial with the axis of said knuckle joint, coupling said shaft portions.

4. In an hydraulic mining dredge of the character described: a pivotably elevatable suction pipe, a rotary excavator, and a hollow knuckle joint having an arm joined to said suction pipe and a finger rotatably supporting said excavator, said knuckle joint including a split-drum having an outer sector integral with said finger and. an inner sector integral with said arm, said inner sector being articularly housed in said outer sector, said sectors providing an internal passage between said arm and finger for all positions of articulation of said joint.

5. In an hydraulic mining dredge in combination: a suction pipe having a portion journaled at one end through a stationary housing for rotating said pipe around a horizontal axis, a hollow knuckle joint having an arm joined to the opposite end of said pipe and a finger articulatable about a horizontal axis, a rotary excavator anti-frictionally journaled to said finger over the orifice thereof, an equalizing rod paralleling said said knuekle joint, coupling said drive shaft portions, means gearing said drive shaft to said excavator, a water-tight housing enclosing said shaft, gearing means and anti-frictional bearings, and the means anti-frictionally supporting said drive shaft in said housing.

OLAF GRUNDBORG.

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