Apparatus and process for hydraulic mining

Apparatus for mining a subterranean deposit of granular ore by forming a slurry thereof with a fluid comprising:

• a. a rotatable tool string having a first fluid passage through which fluid flows downwardly and a first slurry passage through which a slurry of said fluid and granular ore flows upwardly,
• b. supported therefrom underground a substantially rigid housing containing an outwardly directed cutting jet nozzle for impinging said fluid against said ore to form said slurry and having
• 1. a second fluid passage therein connecting said first fluid passage with said jet nozzle,
• 2. A slurry inlet through said housing,
• 3. a second slurry passage connecting said inlet with said first slurry passage,
• 4. a first valve for controlling the amount of slurry passing through said second slurry passage,
• 5.

Apparatus for mining a subterranean deposit of granular ore by forming a slurry thereof with a fluid comprising:

• a. a rotatable tool string having a first fluid passage through which fluid flows downwardly and a first slurry passage through which a slurry of said fluid and granular ore flows upwardly, said tool string comprising (1) one or more sections each having an inner pipe through which said slurry flows upwardly and an outer pipe substantially concentric with said inner pipe forming an annular passage outside the inner pipe and inside the outer pipe through which fluid flows downwardly, said inner pipe being connected to said second slurry passage and said annular passage being connected to said second fluid passage, and (2) a coupling connecting said inner pipe of one section to said inner pipe of an adjacent section, and a perforated spacer positioned in the upper end of said outer pipe, said spacer having a hole of a sufficient size through which said inner pipe loosely slides but through which said coupling is unable to slide, said spacer being supported against downward movement in said outer pipe, whereby the the lower end of said inner pipe projects below the lower end of said outer pipe when said outer pipe is suspended vertically to facilitate the joining of sections,
• b. supported therefrom underground a substantially rigid housing containing an outwardly directed cutting jet nozzle for impinging said fluid against said ore to form said slurry and having
• 1. a second fluid passage therein connecting said first fluid passage with said jet nozzle,
• 2. a slurry inlet through said housing,
• 3. a second slurry passage connecting said inlet with said first slurry passage,
• 4. a valve for controlling the amount of slurry passing through said second slurry passage, and
• 5. a level controller in said housing for detecting the level of said slurry adjacent said housing and for actuating said valve gradually towards the open position when said slurry level rises above the normal operating set-point and for actuating said valve gradually towards the closed position when said slurry level drops below the normal operating set-point.

Apparatus for mining a subterranean deposit of granular ore by forming a slurry thereof with a fluid comprising:

• a. a rotatable tool string having a first fluid passage through which fluid flows downwardly and a first slurry passage through which a slurry of said fluid and granular ore flows upwardly,
• b. supported therefrom underground a substantially rigid housing containing an outwardly directed cutting jet nozzle for impinging said fluid against said ore to form said slurry and having
• 2. a second fluid passage therein connecting said first fluid passage with said jet nozzle,
• 2. a slurry inlet through said housing,
• 3. a second slurry passage connecting said inlet with said first slurry passage,
• 4. a valve for controlling the amount of slurry passing through said second slurry passage,
• 5. a level controller in said housing for detecting the level of said slurry adjacent said housing and for actuating said valve gradually towards the open position when said slurry level rises above the normal operating set-point and for actuating said valve gradually towards the closed position when said slurry level drops below the normal operating set-point,
• 6. a hydraulic turbine disposed in said second fluid passage and driven by fluid passing through said passage, and a pump driven by said turbine disposed in said second slurry passage to pump slurry upwardly therethrough, and
• 7. a bottom jet nozzle for discharging fluid into said slurry outside said housing to discourage restrictions on movement of said housing, said bottom jet nozzle being connected to said second fluid passage after said fluid has passed through said turbine.