US2327497A - Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, 1943; c. J. BURCH ET AL APPARATUS FOR WORKING MINERAL MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 7,, 1940 Q H m m I: N u 1 v H m E MM ue m Q a N g RR A0 wv HE CG q w m w a m ATTORNEY Patented Aug; 24, 1943 APPARATUS non woaxmo MINERAL MATERIALS AND THE LIKE Charles J. Burch and George H. Smith, Kenmore,

N. Y., assignors to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of Ohio Application December 7, 1940, Serlal No. 369,002

11 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatusfor working mineral materials and the like by methods wherein the debris produced during the working operation must be removed promptly from the region of operation. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for piercing, cutting, or grooving mineral materials and the like, for example, drilling or piercing blast holes in rock, including a debris-removing device which is so constructed and arranged with respect to the other parts of the apparatus that the utmost simplicity of construction and operation may be obtained. Moreover, the invention also relates to a novel form of debris-removal device which is of particular value for conveying debris from a region of operation, for example, for the removal of a mixture of water and finely-divided disintegrated slag particles from a blast hole being thermally pierced in a mineral material, such as iron ore.

The present invention i closely related to that described and claimed in the copending application, Serial No. 368,288, of Charles J. Burch, filed December 3, 1940.

Prior to the present invention, many different types of devices were used for removing rock dust or other undesirable debris from a rock-piercing, cutting, grooving or similar operation wherein ,the dust or other debris would present a hazard if permitted to exhaust to theatmosphere adjacent to thescene of operation. In many cases, such debris-removal devices comprised separate individual units which were used in conjunction with the pneumatic drill, blowpipe, or othermineral working instrumentality. Such separate units occupied a large amount of valuable space and required separate means for holding them, thus "complicating the set-up and alignment of the mineral working apparatus, and hindering the operation considerably. Furthermore, prior debris-removal devices were too slow in operation, and were apt to clog up with slag or other debris produced in mineral working operations of the type in which the debris passes to the exhausting system in a dampened state, for example, as in the thermal method of operation described fully in the aforementioned copending applica' tion.

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide suitable apparatus for overcoming the above-mentioned undesirable features of prior apparatus. Another object is to provide apparatus for working mineral materials and. the like which shall include as an integral part of the apparatus a debris-removal device constructed and arranged to serve the double function of removing debris and supporting the other parts of the apparatus. Still another object is to provide a debris-removal device which shall be efl'icient and rapid in its action, and which shall operate without clogging, even when exhausting damp debris.

The above and other objects, and the novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification, having reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation, partly broken away and in section, showing the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

The present invention will be described, by way of example only, s applied to apparatus for thermally piercing holes in meltable mineral materials and the like by the method of meltin material to form a slag, quenching and solidifying the slag, mechanically disintegrating the solidified slag, and removing the disintegrated slag and other debris, such as water, steam, and gases of combustion from the hole, all as described in the aforementioned copending application.

The apparatus comprises, generally, a debris collection and transporting conduit D supporting a movable carriage C carrying a mineral working instrumentality B, such as the rock-piercing blowpipe described in the aforementioned copending application, which is thus wholly supported by the conduit D. A suitable support independent of the mineral working instrumentality, such as a tripod T of well-known construction, in turn supports the conduit D. Means wholly supported by the conduit D is provided between the instrumentality B and the ccmduit D for moving the instrumentality B over the conduit D.

The debris-removal conduit D itself comprises, briefly, a housing having a front rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to a surface of a mass M of the mineral material to be worked, and

- a main conduit portion leading from the housing.

Means is carried by the housing adjacent to the rim thereof for spraying water rearwardly away from the mass M and directly into the housing to wash the interior walls and to provide an additional impelling force for debris; and a water jet also is injected from a separate nozzle into the main conduit portion for the same purpose.

At its rear end, the conduit D is adapted to be connected to a hose, which in turn may be connected through intermediate debris-collecting devices to an exhaust fan or similar suctionproducing device.

More specifically, the debris-removal conduit D comprises a debris-collecting housing ll, having an entrance provided with a front rim l2, adapted to be positioned adjacent to the face of the mineral material M to be worked, for example, at the mouth of a hole H being pierced. A rearwardly projecting tube or annular flange l3, made integral with the housing II as by welding, forms a passage l4 through which the mineral working instrumentality is operable. The flange 13 carries on its rear end face a pair of separable arcuate closure and bearing members [5 and I6, lined on their inner surfaces with wear-resistant bearing material such as Haynes Stellite alloy which are hinged to the lower portion of the flange l3 by the bolts ll and I8, and latched at the top by a bolt I9 and a pressure plate 20. The conduit D also comprises a downwardly and rearwardly inclined neck portion 2| connected at its upper end to the housing ll, an elbow 22 connected to the bottom of the neck 2|, and a horizontal portion 23 leading from the elbow 22. Adjacent to its rear end, a down-turned elbow 24 is provided in the conduit D, beyond which the conduit again extends horizontally, as at 25, to its rear end to which a suction hose may be fitted. Welded joints preferably connect together the several portions of the conduit D.

A tubular water-injecting ring 26, which is bolted to the housing H on the forward rim l2, is provided with a plurality of equi-spaced annularly-arranged water discharge orifices 2'I drilled through the inner side of the tubular ring in such away that water-jets will be discharged inwardly of the housing II for promptly wetting debris and washing it into the main conduit portion 23 and will thoroughly wash down the inside walls of the conduit D. A single water-spray nozzle 28 is arranged substantially centrally in the conduit D intermediate the ends thereof at the elbow 22 in such a way as-to discharge a wide cone-shaped spray of water rearwardly into the horizontal portion 23 of the conduit D to impel the debris rearwardly, and to thoroughly wash.

down the walls of the conduit. Water is supplied to the nozzle 28 through suitable pipe connections 29 extending through a port 30 in the elbow 22, around which is welded a flange 3|. A suitable closure 32, such as a drilled steel plate, is bolted to the outer face of the annular flange SI and fits snugly around th pipe connection 29. Water is supplied to both the nozzle 28 and the spray ring 26 througha water-supply conduit 33.

The debris-removal conduit D is supported in position by means of the tripod T, carrying on its upper end an. adjustable sliding trunnion 34 having a cone 35 pivoted about a vertical axis in a socket member 36 on the tripod. A stationary clamp 37 and a movable clamp 38 on the trunnion 34 are clamped to suitable longitudinally extending ways 39 welded to the bottom of the horibontal conduit portion- 23. The conduit D may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the tripod T simply by loosening the clamp nut 40 of the trunnion 34, which in turn loosens the movable clamp 38, then sliding the'ways 39 through the clamps 3i and 38 to the desired position, and thereafter tightening the clamp nut 4|]. The conduit D may be adjusted to any desired angle by rotating the cone 35 in the socket 36, and by properly adjusting the length and angular arrangement or the pivoted tripod legs 4|.

Two channel-shaped guiding and supporting tracks 42, which are welded to the top of the horizontal conduit portion 24 and supported thereby with their generally U-shaped channels racing one another, extend along the full length of the horizontal conduit portion 23 and overhang the elbow 24 and the horizontal conduit portion 25 at the rear end of'the conduit D, thereby forming a bight 43.

A long teed screw 44 is journalled at its forward end within a front bearing block 45 welded to the top of the conduit portion 23 between .the tracks 42, and at its rear end is journalled in a pillow block 46 adjacent to the rear end of the tracks 42. The feed screw 44 may be rotated manually by means of a suitable hand crank 41 secured to its rear end; or it may be rotated automatically by means of a suitable motor and gear mechanism (not shown) enclosed within a housmg 48 supported by suitable brackets in the bight 43. A clutch 49 provides for selective operation of the feed screw 44 either manually or automatically. Suitable speed control or the feed screw 44 may be obtained by regulating the rheostat control 50 at the forward end of the housing 48.

The carriage C, which is mounted for travel over the debris-removal conduit D, comprises a housing 52 carrying two L-shaped longitudinallyextending slides 53 fitting slidingly within the channels of the tracks 42. A split travelling nut 54 is secured to the slide plates 53, as by welding, and engages the feed screw 44 so that the carriage C may be driven over the conduit D when the feed screw is rotated. The travelling nut 54 may be disengaged from the feed screw 44 by rotating the handwheels 55 to cause the two halves of the split nut to move away from one another and the feed screw, the carriage C thereafter being movable by hand in either direction over the tracks 42 to a properly adjusted position.

A blowpipe B, including a rotatable reamer sleeve 56 carrying slag-disintegrating reamer teeth 51 adjacent to its forward end, is gripped by the jaws 58 of a rotatable chuck 59 threaded over the rear end of a tubular shaft 60 near the top of the housing C. The blowpipe B also comprises a non-rotatable heat-producing unit, including the tip GI and rear body 62, which is held against rotation by the weight of the supply hoses W, O and A for water, oxygen, and acetylene, respectively, carried by the rear body 62. Other means, of course, may be used for holding the heat producing unit against rotation. A motor 83 on the carriage C rotates the shaft 60 and chuck 59 through a suitable reduction gear and a sprocket and chain connection (not shown) so that the sleeve 56 and slag-breaking teeth 51 will rotate continuously as the carriage C is advanced over the support by the feed screw 44.

If longitudinal adjustment of the blowpipe B relatively to the carriage C is desired, the chuck 59 maybe disengaged from the sleeve 56 by turnng the bolts 64, which relax the pressure of the laws 58 on the reamer sleeve. Complete removal of the blowpipe B from the apparatus also may be obtained by withdrawing the jaws 58 through the rear end of the chuck 59, and loosening the latch bolt I9 which permits the two arcuate closure and bearing members l5 and IS on the flange I 3 to swing apart. The blowpipe then may be withdrawn rearwardly through the passage l4 of the housing II, the passage in the tubular 1 asa'agsor shaft 66, and the chuck 59, all of which are of suificient size to permit the passage of the projecting teeth 51 on the blowpipe. Insertion of the blowpipe, of course, is accomplished in the reverse order.

The foregoing description of the invention is by way of example only, and it is evident that modifications and changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising a conduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track means secured to said conduit; and a carriage movable over said conduit along said track means, said carriage being adapted to carry a mineral working instrumentality.

2. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the. like comprising a conduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track means secured to and supported by said conduit; a carriage movable along said track means, said carriage being adapted to carry a mineral working instrumentality; and means supported by said conduit for moving said carriage along said track means.

3; Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising a conduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track means secured to and supported by said conduit; 9. carriage movable along said track means, said carriage being adapted to carry a mineral working instrumentality; means supported by said conduit for moving said carriage along said track means; way means secured to said conduit; and means engaging said way means for supporting said conduit, said way means and said conduit supporting means being adjustable relatively to one another.

. 4. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising a conduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; and track means secured to and supported by said conduit adapted to support and guide a carriage.

5. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising a conduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track means secured to and supported by said conduit adapted to support and guide a carriage; and way means secured to said conduit adapted to be engaged by conduit supporting means.

6. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising means for collecting and conveying debris from a region oi operation, including a housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to the surface of a mineral mass, and a conduit leading from said housing; means carried by said housing adjacent to the rim thereof having pas sage means constructed and arranged for diecharging a plurality of; liquid streams in a direc= erable through said housing, said instrumentality being supported by and movable over said conduit.

'7. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising means for collecting and conveying debris from a region of operation, including a housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to the surface of a mineral mass, and a conduit leading from said housing; means adjacent to the rim of said housing for discharging a plurality of liquid streams directly into said housing for promptly wetting debrisand washing such debris from said housing into said conduit; means intermediate the ends of said conduit for discharging liquid therein; and a mineral working instrumentality operable through said housing, said instrumentality being supported by and movable over said conduit.

8. Debris collection and conveying apparatus comprising a housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to the surface of a mass of mineral or the like; a conduit leading from said housing; and means carried by said housing adjacent to the rim thereof having passage means constructed and arranged for discharging a plurality of liquid streams in a direction away from such a mass and directly into said housing for promptly wetting debris and washing such debris from said housing into said conduit.

9. Debris collection and conveying apparatus comprising a housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adjacent to the surface of a mass of mineral or the like; a. conduit leading from said housing; means carried by aid housing adjacent to the rim thereof having passage means constructed and arranged fcr discharging a plurality of liquid streams in a direction awayfrom such a mass and directly into said housing for promptly wetting debris and washing such debris from said housing into said conduit; and means intermediate the ends of said conduit for discharging liquid therein.

10. Apparatus for working mineral materials and the like comprising a conduit for conveying debris from a region of operation; track means secured to and supported by said conduit adapted to support and guide a. carriage; and means supported by said conduit for moving such a carriage over said conduit.

11. Debris collection and conveying apparatus comprising a, housing having an entrance provided with a rim adapted to be positioned adiacent to the surface of a mass of mineral or the like; a conduit leading from said housing; and a spray ring carried by said housing on said rim, said spray ring having a plurality of annularly arranged outlets disposed on the inner side thereof for discharging liquid streams directly into said housing in a direction away from such a mass. 4

' GHARIES J. BURCH.

GEQRGE H. S.

Images