Method and apparatus for excavating settled body of solids
USRE28945E · kind E · reissue
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1975 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
Method and apparatus for excavating and removing a settled body of discrete mineral solids (e.g., a tailings pond from a mining operation) by procedures which progress downwardly from the surface of the body. High pressure streams of liquid are traversed along a path in a pulping zone lowermost in first region of the body. The liquid forms a pumpable slurry with the mineral solids in the zone, and the slurry is then pumped from the zone leaving an undercut cavity sufficient to cause collapse of the overburden of solids. The collapsed overburden is then formed into additional pumpable slurry which is removed by pumping. Successive stages of excavation are carried out by moving the streams of liquid downwardly to a second region where the foregoing steps are repeated. In the apparatus a caisson is disposed vertically in the body and stabilized by means of a plurality of circumferentially positioned pilings. A plurality of high velocity nozzles are mounted in the caisson to direct liquid streams into a pulping zone surrounding the caisson. The slurry which is formed in the pulping zone flows through portals in the caisson into a slurry sump in the lower end of the caisson where a pump…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.