Mine water desanding apparatus

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM WATER IN A MINE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A SLUSHER TRENCH BELOW THE MINE FLOOR; A SUMP BELOW THE MINE FLOOR; A DRAINAGE DITCH IN THE MINE FLOOR DRAINING INTO SAID SUMP; A LIQUIDSOLIDS CYCLONE SEPARATOR HAVING A FEED INLET IN AN UPPER SECTION, A HEAVIER SOLIDS-LIQUID OUTLET IN ITS BOTTOM, AND A LIGHTER SOLIDS-LIQUID OUTLET IN ITS TOP; A RETURN CONDUIT FROM SAID LIGHTER SOLIDS-LIQUID OUTLET TO SAID SUMP; A FIRST FLOATCONTROLLED VALVE IN SAID RETURN CONDUIT HAVING A FLOAT AT A SELECTED LEVEL IN SAID SUMP ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID FIRST VALVE AS SAID FLOAT RISES; A PUMP HAVING ITS INLET IN A LOWER LEVEL OF SAID SUMP AND ITS OUTLET CONNECTED BY CONDUIT WITH THE FEED INLET OF SAID CYCLONE SEPARATOR; A SCREW TYPE INCLINED CLASSIFIER POSITIONED WITH ITS LOWER END BELOW THE OUTLET OF SAID CYCLONE SEPARATOR AND WITH ITS UPPER END OVER SAID SLUSHER TRENCH FOR DELIVERY OF SOLIDS THERETO; A DISPOSAL LINE CONNECTED WITH SAID LIGHTER SOLIDS-LIQUID OUTLET; A SECOND FLOAT-CONTROLLED VALVE IN SAID DISPOSAL LINE HAVING A SECOND FLOAT AT A SELECTED LEVEL IN SAID SUMP ADAPTED TO CLOSE SAID SECOND VALVE AS SAID SECOND FLOAT LOWERS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND FLOAT-CONTROLLED VALVES BEING ARRANGED SUCH THAT ONE OF SAID VALVES IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY OPEN AT ALL TIMES DURING OPERATION OF SAID PUMP; MEANS FOR CONVEYING THE HEAVIER SOLIDS-LIQUID MATERIAL FROM SAID CYCLONE SEPARATOR TO THE LOWER END OF SAID CLASSIFIER; MEANS FOR CONVEYING OVERFLOW LIQUID FROM THE LOWER END OF SAID CLASSIFIER TO SAID SUMP; AND MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SCREW OF SAID CLASSIFIER.