WO1991006841A1

WO1991006841A1 - Splitter apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1991006841A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000512
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter David Wright; Ian Joseph Dredge
Original assignee: Ausdrill Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1989-10-26
Filing date: 1990-10-26
Publication date: 1991-05-16

Abstract

Splitter apparatus (10) characterised in that it comprises an inlet (28), a discharge (30) and an arrangement of plates (26) formed by a first portion (14). A second portion (16) is disposed above the first portion (14). The second portion (16) has a pair of pivotable baffles (80) therein. The arrangement of plates (26) and the pivotable baffles (80) are able to split particulate material (96) into several flow paths such that a representative sample is obtained.

Description

TITLE SPLITTER APPARATUS DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a splitter apparatus. The splitter apparatus of the present invention may be used to obtain a sample of particulate material held in a cyclone or other container. Such particulate material may be drill cuttings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Conventional sample splitters generally obtain a sample by sequential and progressive splitting of the particulate material. This can result in such conventional sample splitters being of large and complex structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a splitter apparatus comprising an inlet, a discharge and plate means between said inlet and said discharge, said plate means forming flow passages such that material flowing from said inlet to said discharge is split into distinct flow paths substantially at said inlet by said plate means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a lower perspective view of a splitter apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, connected to a cyclone;

Figure 2 is a first elevational view of the splitter apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the baffles thereof in a first position; Figure 3 is a second elevational view of the splitter apparatus shown in Figure 1, with the baffles thereof in a second position;

Figure 4 is an upper perspective view of the first portion of the splitter apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a first lower perspective view of the first portion of the splitter apparatus, shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a second lower perspective view of the first portion of the splitter apparatus, shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the plates of the first portion of the splitter apparatus, with only one of the walls thereof shown; and

Figure 8 is a partly cut-away elevational view of. the second portion of the splitter apparatus shown in Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a splitter apparatus 10^' connected to a cyclone 12. The cyclone 12 does not, however, form part of the present invention.

The splitter apparatus 10 comprises a first portion 14 and a second portion 16. The first portion 14 is positioned beneath the second portion 16. The first portion 14 is shown separately in Figures 4 to 7.

The first portion 14 is of substantially tubular form, and is substantially square in cross section having walls 18,

20, 22 and 24. The first portion 14 contains an arrangement of plates

(shown generally at 26 in Figure 7) forming flow passages or chutes down which material may flow.

The first portion 14 comprises an inlet part 28 and a discharge part 30. The plates 26 comprise a first plate 32 which extends between the walls 18 and 22 of the first portion 14, from the upper inlet part 28 thereof to the lower discharge part 30. The first plate 32 is inclined downwardly with the upper edge 34 thereof being nearer the wall 24 and the lower edge 36 being nearer the wall 20. The first plate 32 is of substantially square shape. The first plate 32, wall 20 and parts of the walls 18 and 22 form a first passage or chute 38 through which material may flow. The plates 26 comprise a second plate 40. The second plate 40 extends from the wall 24 to the first plate 32. The second plate 40 extends downwardly from the upper inlet part 28 of the first portion 14 to the lower discharge part 30 thereof. The second plate 40 is substantially upright. A portion 42 of the lower part of the second plate 40 is offset in an inclined manner. The offset portion 42 is inclined in the direction toward the wall 22. The plates 26 comprise a third plate 44 which extends across from the wall 22 substantially half way toward the wall 18 of the first portion 14. The third plate 44 extends downwardly from the upper inlet part 28 of the first portion 14 toward the lower discharge part 30 thereof. The third plate 44 is positioned substantially upright. The first portion 14 has a tubular member 46 projecting downwardly from a corner thereof. The tubular member 46 has walls which extend from the walls 22 and 24, the offset portion 42 of the second plate 40, and the third plate 44. A fourth plate 48 extends between two opposed walls 50 and 52 of the tubular member 46 to bisect the opening thereof at the discharge part 30. The fourth plate 48 extends between the two opposed walls 50 and 52 of the tubular member 46 which themselves extend from the wall 22 and the offset portion 42.

A pair of notches 54 are provided in the two opposed walls 50 and 52 of the tubular member 46 adjacent the fourth plate 48. A movable plate 56 is provided above the fourth plate 48. The movable plate 56 is mounted on a rod 58 which is pivotally held between the two opposed walls 50 and 52 of the tubular member 46. The rod 58 extends outwardly from the tubular member 46 to form an offset lever 60. A retainer plate 62 having notches 64 therein extends from a wall of the tubular member 46.

The lever 60 is repositionable in the notches 64 to alter the angle of the movable plate 56.

The plates 26 comprise a fifth plate 66 which extends across from the wall 18 substantially half way toward the wall 22 of the first portion 14 to the second plate 40.

The fifth plate 66 extends downwardly from the upper inlet part 28 of the first portion 14 to the lower discharge part 30 thereof. The fifth plate 66 is inclined downwardly with its upper edge 68 being at the wall 24. The fifth plate 66 is of substantially rectangular shape.

The fifth plate 66 and parts of the wall 18, first plate 32 and second plate 40 form a second passage or chute 70 through which material may flow. The third plate 44 and parts of the second plate 40, and walls 22 and 24 form a third passage or chute 72 through which material may flow.

The fourth plate 48 bisects the opening of the tubular member 46 at the discharge part 30 to form fourth and fifth passages or chutes 74 and 76, respectively.

One or more hooks 78 may be provided at the lower part of the tubular member 46.

The second portion 16 is substantially tubular, and is substantially circular in cross-section. The second portion 16 contains a pair of baffles 80.

The baffles 80 are hingedly connected together by a pin 82 and are pivotable about the pin 82.

The baffles 80 are pivotable between a first position

(shown in Figure 2 and in phantom in Figure 8) and a second position (shown in Figure 3 and in solid lines in Figure 8). In the first position, the baffles 80 are in a closed position and are substantially in contact with the inside wall 84 of the second portion 16. In the second position, the baffles 80 are in an open position and out of contact with the inside wall 84 and are positioned in downwardly inclined positions. In the first position of the baffles 80, material is prevented from flowing through the first portion 16, i.e. material above the baffles 80 cannot flow through the second portion 16 to the first portion 14. In the second position of the baffles 80, material is able to flow through the second portion 16, i.e. any material above the baffles 80 is able to flow through the second portion 16 to the first portion 14. The baffles 80 are connected by a spring 86. A lever assembly 88 is connected to the baffles 80 and to a rod 90 of an air cylinder 92. The rod 90 is movable between an extended and a retracted position. When the rod 90 moves from its extended position to its retracted position, the baffles 80 are caused to pivot from their first position to their second position. In use, the splitter apparatus 10 is connected to a cyclone 12 by clamps 94 provided on the first portion 14. The cyclone 12 may be associated with a mobile blast hole drill rig (not shown) which is used to drill a hole in the ground. Whilst the drill rig is in operation and baffles 80 are in the first position and close off the second portion 16. Cuttings 96 from the drilling operation are able to collect in the cyclone 12 above the baffles 80. This is shown in Figure 2. The cuttings 96 enter the cyclone 12 as they are formed as residue by the drilling operation and thus their vertical distribution in the cyclone 12 corresponds to the different depths in the ground from which they came. It is desirable to obtain a statistically representative sample of these cuttings for assay purposes whilst maintaining this vertical distribution of cuttings in the sample obtained. After the drilling operation has been completed, the air cylinder 92 operates to retract the rod 90, causing the baffles 80 to pivot to their second position, shown in Figure 2.

This causes the cuttings 96 in the cyclone 12 to fall through the second portion 16. The cuttings 96 pass through either one of the two passages formed by the baffles 80 and the internal wall 84 of the second portion 16. This splits the cuttings 96 into two substantially equal first flow paths, as shown in Figure 3. These two flow paths flow to the inlet part 28 of the first portion 14. One of these flow paths flows through the first passage or chute 38 of the first portion 14 to the ground. The other first flow path is again split into two substantially equal second flow paths by the first plate 32. One of these second flow paths flows through the passage or chute 38 to the ground, as shown in Figure 3. The othei second flow path is again split into two substant tally equal third flow paths by the second plate 40. One of these third flow paths flows through the passage or chute 70 to the ground.

The other third flow path (formed by the second plate 40) flows through the passage or chute 72.

In this way, the cuttings 96 are split into distinct flow paths substantially at the inlet part 28 by the plates 26. The other third flow path which flows through the passage or chute 72 is again split into two substantially equal fourth flow paths by the fourth plate 48. One of these fourth flow paths flows through the passage or chute 74 and the other through the passage or chute 76. A sample bag 98 (or other suitable container) may be fitted over the opening of the passage or chute 74 using the notches 54 and hooks 78 to collect the sample cuttings. The cuttings 96 flowing through the passage or chute 76 fall to the ground. The lever 60 can be positioned in the appropriate notch 64 such that the movable plate 56 is at the desired angle. When the lever 60 is in the middle notch 64 the movable plate 56 is substantially upright as can be seen in Figure 3. When the lever 60 is repositioned in one of the other two notches 64 the angle of the movable plate 56 changes. When repositioned in the upper notch 64 the movable plate 56 is moved clockwise (as seen in Figure 3) to angle the movable plate 56 in a first direction; when repositioned in the lower notch 64, the movable plate is moved anti-clockwise (as seen in Figure 3) to angle the movable plate 56 in a second direction.

Thus, by angling the movable plate 56 in the first direction a smaller amount of cuttings 96 can be directed to pass through the passage or chute 74, whilst angling the movable plate 56 in the second direction a larger amount of cuttings 96 can be directed to pass through the passage or chute 74. The sample collected in the sample bag 98 is a statistically representative sample of the cuttings originally in the cyclone 12 according to their vertical distribution therein and is suitable for assay purposes. Since the sample is representative of the vertical distribution of the cuttings 96 in the cyclone 12, the sample is also vertically representative of the depths in the ground from which the cuttings 96 came. The splitter apparatus of the present invention may be made of a comparatively compact form and built in various sizes to accommodate different sized cyclones. The splitter apparatus of the present invention enables a suitable sample to be obtained without any contamination of the flow paths formed by the splitting steps. Further, the splitter apparatus of the present invention enables a sample to be obtained from a single pass of the cuttings, without a complex arrangement of sequential and progressive splitting.

Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

- 10 - 12CLAIMS

1. Splitter apparatus characterised in that it comprises an inlet, a discharge and plate means between said inlet and said discharge, said plate means forming flow passages such that material flowing from said inlet to said discharge is split into distinct flow paths substantially at said inlet by said plate means.

2. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that said plate means comprises a first plate arranged to split a flow of particulate material into two flow paths.

3. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 2, characterised in that said plate means comprises a second plate arranged to split one of said two flow paths into two further flow paths.

4. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that said plate means comprises a further plate arranged to split one of said two further flow paths into another two flow paths.

5. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that said first and second plates extend substantially from said inlet to said outlet and split said material into said flow paths substantially at said inlet.

6. Splitter apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said plate means is surrounded by wall means which together form said flow passages.

7. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised in that said first plate extends between a pair of walls of said wall means and is downwardly inclined, said first plate and wall means forming a flow passage.

8. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised in that said second plate extends between a wall of said wall means and said first plate, said first and second plates, said wall means and another plate of said plate means forming a further flow passage.

9. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised in that said plate means comprises an additional plate which extends between a wall of said wall means and said second plate, said second and additional plates and said wall means forming another flow passage.

10. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 9, characterised in that said further plate is provided in said other flow passage remote from said inlet.

11. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 4 or 9, characterised in that movable plate means is provided above said further plate to alter the relative amount of material passing through said other two flow paths.

12. Splitter apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterised in that baffle means is provided above said inlet, said baffle means arranged to split said material into at least two flow paths which flow to said inlet with at least one undergoing further splitting of said material.

13. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 12, characterised in that said baffle means is provided in a tubular shaped portion above said inlet.

14. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 12 or 13, characterised in that said baffle means is pivotable between a first closed position in which no material is able to pass therethrough and a second position in which said material is split by said baffle means.

15. Splitter apparatus according to Claim 14, characterised in that said baffle means comprises a pair of baffle plates pivotably mounted together.