Modular hydraulic mining tool with slurry inlet metering
AssigneeChem-Struct Corporation
InventorWilliam Fischer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved hydraulic mining tool is disclosed wherein the major components of the tool are formed as separate discrete modules, each including a high torsional strength common mounting flange which permits the modules to be interchangeably attached to one another in varying axial orientations to yield a composite mining tool structure adapted to meet the particular mining requirements of the mineral formation. The mining tool discloses axial and radial slurry inlets, both of which include means for feeding quantities of mined minerals toward the slurry pump of the tool. The feeding means may be adjusted from ground surface during the mining operation to meter the amount of material entering into the slurry pump, thereby maximizing mining efficiency in varying consistency mineral formations.
Claims19
An improved hydraulic mining tool for recovering mineral bearing materials from subterranean deposits comprising:
- a cylindrical casing formed of plural discrete modules, each sized to be received within a bore hole formed in said subterranean deposit;
- a hydraulic cutting jet and an eductor pump disposed within a first one of said plural modules;
- a radial inlet formed on a second one of said plural modules to direct said mineral bearing material radially into the interior of said casing;
- an axial inlet formed on a third one of said plural modules to direct said mineral bearing material axially within the interior of said casing;
- and
- common mounting means formed on each of said modules for interchangeably connecting said plural modules in a selective coaxial orientation adapted to meet the particular formation consistency of said subterranean deposit.
An improved hydraulic mining tool apparatus for the recovery of mineral bearing materials from subterranean deposits comprising:
- a drill string adapted to rotate within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said deposit;
- a mining tool mounted on one end of said drill string and disposed within said deposit;
- a hydraulic cutting jet positioned on said mining tool for dislodging said mineral bearing material from said deposit and forming a resultant mineral bearing slurry;
- a pump located on said mining tool for transporting said resultant mineral bearing slurry through said drill string to ground surface;
- inlet means formed on said mining tool for permitting said mineral bearing slurry to enter into said mining tool and travel toward said pump;
- and
- means mounted to said mining tool for metering the amount of said mineral bearing slurry entering into said mining tool during the mining operation.
An improved hydraulic mining tool apparatus for the recovery of mineral bearing material from subterranean deposits comprising:
- a drill string adapted to rotate within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said deposit;
- a mining tool mounted on one end of said drill string and disposed within said deposit;
- a hydraulic cutting jet positioned on said mining tool for dislodging said mineral bearing material from said deposit and forming a resultant mineral bearing slurry;
- a pump located on said mining tool for transporting said mineral bearing slurry through said drill string to ground surface;
- an inlet opening formed on one end of said mining tool to axially receive said mineral bearing slurry within the interior of said mining tool;
- an inclined plane auger mounted to said mining tool and extending axially through said inlet opening to be partially disposed within said formation;
- a shroud extending about said auger and rotably mounted to said mining tool to permit relative rotational movement between said auger and said shroud;
- and
- means for maintaining said shroud substantially stationary within said deposit during rotation of said drill string;
- said auger, shroud and maintaining means cooperating together to transport said mineral bearing slurry without shear-off through said inlet opening.
An improved hydraulic mining tool for recovering mineral bearing materials from subterranean deposits comprising:
- a casing formed of plural discrete modules, each sized to be received within a bore hole extending from ground surface into said subterranean deposit;
- a hydraulic cutting jet and a pump carried on a first one of said plural modules, said cutting jet positioned to dislodge said mineral bearing material from said deposit and form a resultant mineral bearing slurry and said pump adapted to transport said mineral bearing slurry from said deposit to ground surface;
- inlet means formed on a second one of said modules for allowing entry of said mineral bearing slurry into the interior of said casing and toward said pump;
- means formed a third one of said modules for crushing said mineral bearing slurry;
- and
- common mounting means formed on each of said modules for interchangeably connecting said plural modules in differing axial orientations to vary the composite structure of said mining tool to meet the particular mining requirements of the subterranean deposit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.