Abstract An apparatus for carrying out a method of recovering underground deposits of soluble minerals according to which an access shaft is sunk to the region of the deposit and a tunnel is driven from the shaft to the deposit, whereupon an upright working shaft is advanced from the tunnel into the deposit. From the working shaft a plurality of vertically spaced substantially horizontal and at least substantially parallel flushing passages are driven into the deposit, and intermediate these passages the deposit is formed with a plurality of slots each connecting two adjacent ones of the passages and inclined thereto. Water is forced through the passages and slots to dissolve soluble minerals from the deposit and the thus-obtained solution is collected in the respectively lower of the passages. The collected solution is at least substantially saturated with dissolved minerals by supplying it together with fresh water through the deposit to the next lower of the passages. The saturated solution is collected underground and thereupon pumped from below ground to above ground where the dissolved minerals are recovered and where residual water remaining after recovery of the minerals is returned into the passages.
Inventors
👤 E Messer
👤 A Singewald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-07 10:52
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C41/00; E21C41/16; E21C41/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for recovering soluble minerals from underground deposits, comprising a movable support movable along an underground passage; a plurality of flushing tubes mounted on said support for shifting movement relative thereto and each having a leading outlet orifice and a plurality of radial orifices; guide tubes on said support and each accommodating one of said liquid tubes for shifting movement thereof; first shifting means for shifting said flushing tubes; at least one spray tube shiftable longitudinally of said flushing tubes and comprising rows of spray outlets; second shifting means for shifting said spray tube; arresting means for arresting said support with reference to said underground passage in a predetermined position; and conduit means for supplying liquid to said tubes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
An apparatus for recovering soluble minerals from underground deposits, comprising a movable support movable along an underground passage; a plurality of flushing tubes mounted on said support for shifting movement relative thereto and each having a leading outlet orifice and a plurality of radial orifices; guide tubes on said support and each accommodating one of said liquid tubes for shifting movement thereof; first shifting means for shifting said flushing tubes; at least one spray tube shiftable longitudinally of said flushing tubes and comprising rows of spray outlets; second shifting means for shifting said spray tube; arresting means for arresting said support with reference to said underground passage in a predetermined position; and conduit means for supplying liquid to said tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said movable support comprises a wheeled frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said spray tube extending transversely to the elongation of said underground passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said conduit means comprising main conduit means and branch conduit means connecting said main conduit means with the respective tubes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, said rows of spray outlets of said spray tube extending in longitudinal direction of said underground passage.