Abstract:
A borehole subsurface mining system and methods for generating sonically pulsed hydraulic jets for subsurface excavation and slurry extraction, combining modulated oscillating energy at relatively low frequencies produced from a sonic drill head of working sonic core drilling rigs in combination with energy and water flow from a pressurized pumping system, to perform pulsed jet slurry mining of underground resource deposits through at least one partially cased subterranean borehole using a sonic drill head member and rod string members in relation to which the attached inventive pulsed jetting apparatus and methods operate. The system design and methods includes an adaptably attachable, sectional, tubular combination apparatus assembly with at least one casing member in general axial alignment comprised of sonic rod, jetting educator coupling, transition rod, jetting sub-coupling and jetting shoe rock bit members. Also includes methods for sump heavy concentrate core barrel extraction and for optimizing high density slurry extraction.
Abstract:
A tunnel excavation technique using a water jet. A water jet system includes a moving unit movable back and forth with respect to an area to be blasted for tunnel excavation, an articulated robot arm mounted on the moving unit, a water jet nozzle which ejects high-pressure water and an abrasive toward an area to be excavated, and a control unit which controls the moving unit, the articulated robot arm and the water jet nozzle. A free face having a predetermined depth is formed of the area to be excavated in the direction in which the tunnel is to be excavated using the water jet system. Since the blasting is performed after the free face is formed, blast vibration can be effectively restricted.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for dredging under water ground layers includes the steps of providing a dredging device composed of a mechanical dredging component having a part operative to contact the under water ground layers and exert a dredging action; and at least one water jet effective to inject water under pressure in an area where the mechanical dredging component is operative; mechanically impacting the underwater ground layers with the part to fracture the underwater ground layers and form fractured material; and injecting water under pressure from the at least one water jet simultaneously with the mechanical impacting to remove the fractured material so that an improved break-away pattern of material is obtained and reduced wearing of said part.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for the hydraulic removal of bitumen from a tar sand deposit comprises forming a borehole into the tar sand deposit and securing a casing into the borehole. Into the casing is inserted a mining tool having a water/diluent channel and a slurry exit channel. Through the casing the borehole is charged with crushed aggregate. At the lower end of the tool are nozzles through which high pressure hot water/diluent is injected as a jet from the water/diluent channel into the tar sand deposit causing a cavity to form in the tar sand deposit. The heat of the water/diluent jets and dissolving action of the diluent softens the tar sand contacted and the impact of the jets and the scouring action of the aggregate, as impinged upon by the jets, removes the tar sand from the surface of the developing cavity into a water phase. A bitumen/diluent phase rises to the surface of the water phase and is removed from the cavity through the casing. A water sand slurry at the bottom of the developing cavity is removed from the slurry exit channel where sand is subsequently removed and the water is recovered and reintroduced back into the process along with makeup water and diluent. Water temperature and pressures are controlled to optimize the hydraulic mining process.
Abstract:
Slurryable ore where the overburden is unstable and subject to collapse is mined from substantially parallel elongated main trenches connected by a perpendicular trench at the bottom of the mineral seam. A plurality of softwall mining devices supported by face equipment is placed in the perpendicular trench. The devices slurry the mineral material and move into the mineral seam as the overburden sloughs behind the mining devices. The subsided overburden is supplemented as necessary with injected material. Slurried mineral flows to the parallel trenches for removal to the surface. After the softwall devices have advanced the length of the parallel trenches, the devices are withdrawn and placed in additionally developed trenches elsewhere in the ore reserve.
Abstract:
A horizontal remote mining system comprising a water jet cutting head, down hole crusher, jet pump, and guidance system for orchestrating select excavation of a horizontal borehole. The system is assembled on the end of a drill string comprised of multiple compartments accommodating various water pressures and functions in association with the remote excavation process. Selective tubing is also utilized to facilitate movement of air and ventilation of the borehole. In this manner, relatively thin coal seams can be economically mined.
Abstract:
A method and system for cutting kerfs in rock is shown and described. In one embodiment, a single fan jet is mounted in ultrahigh-pressure tubing. In an alternative embodiment, a manifold in which two fan jets are mounted is coupled to a manifold in which two round jets are mounted, such that the twin fan jets are directed so as to cover the entire width of the kerf and the round jets are directed towards the edges of the kerf to cut out a well defined kerf. In another alternative embodiment, an angled fan nozzle is mounted in ultrahigh-pressure tubing and combined in a system with another angled fan nozzle mounted in ultrahigh-pressure tubing such that the angled fan jets may be directed at opposite walls of a kerf to carve out a well defined kerf of a desired depth.
Abstract:
A system for removal of workpiece material with a high velocity jet of working fluid, comprising an ultra-high pressure pump including a plurality of low pressure fluid cylinders and a plurality of high pressure cylinders longitudinally aligned with and adjacent the outer end of each low pressure fluid cylinder and having a high pressure piston reciprocally mounted therein and interconnected to reciprocate with a low pressure piston in an adjacent low pressure cylinder. High pressure valves are provided for each high pressure cylinder including an inlet check valve and an outlet check valve for releasing said working fluid under high pressure. A high pressure manifold is interconnected to the outlet check valves and a conduit carries the high pressure working fluid to a high velocity jet forming nozzle. A suction hood surrounds the nozzle for carrying away material debris removed from the workpiece and a liquid spray is provided to wet the debris removed by the jet and confine the material for pick-up by the suction hood.
Abstract:
A cutter drum assembly for longwall mining machines incorporating means for spraying trickle water onto the face area being mined as the cutter drum rotates. This requires valving for supplying high-pressure liquid to only those nozzles adjacent the face area as the drum rotates. In accordance with the invention, the valving takes the form of individual valves spaced around the drum, the valves being actuated by a relatively low-pressure control medium (i.e., a liquid) which obviates the necessity for the close tolerances and rigid sealing requirements of prior art devices where high-pressure liquid valve assemblies were built into the rotary connection between a support shaft and the drum which rotates about it.
Abstract:
A tool for a mineral winning machine, more usually a plough, has a flat plate-like body with a bore containing a nozzle insert and preferably a hard metal cutting region or blade is also provided on the body. High pressure water is conveyed through the bore and nozzle insert to discharge as a jet which is directed to impinge against the mineral or coal face to effect a cut therein hydraulically. The nozzle insert has its discharge mouth in a protected position inside the body.