US3761132A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for repositioning earthen material
Assignee: WASTELAND RECLAMATION CORP
•
Filing: 1973-01-15
•
Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1993-01-15
Abstract
Abstract Subterranean earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks is repositioned by delivering fluid under pressure downwardly to local portions of the material and effecting upward return flow of fluid through overlying material to effect sinking of rocks and upward displacement of soil, and depositing the soil in a surface layer overlying the sunken rocks. Also, precious metal particles may be removed from the upwardly displaced soil, in the manner described.
Inventors
- 👤 D Grable
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:25
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F7/00; E02F7/06; E02F1/00; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/96; E02F3/963; E02F3/964; E02F5/00; E02F5/006; E02F5/02; E02F5/10; E02F5/102; E02F9/00; E02F9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle including structure penetrating into the subterranean material and releasing pressurized water thereon for locally hydraulically agitating the subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle including structure penetrating into the subterranean material and releasing pressurized water thereon for locally hydraulically agitating the subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said other means includes an elongated agitator operable to penetrate into and to agitate the earthen material to be repositioned.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, said advancing means including articulated legs carried by the vehicle and fluid pressure responsive actuators connected with said legs to extend and retract same.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, said advancing means including articulated legs carried by the vehicle and fluid pressure responsive actuators connected with said legs to extend and retract same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said other means includes multiple elongated agitators operable to penetrate into and to agitate the earthen material to be repositioned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said elongated agitators include ducts for flowing liquid downwardly into the soil and rocks subject to agitation, and means on the vehicle tO supply pressurized liquid to said ducts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said vehicle is elongated and said legs are carried at longitudinally opposite ends of the vehicle and have retracted positions in which the legs are raised relative to the vehicle and extended positions in which the legs are lowered relative to the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, said other means comprising an elongated duct having an open terminal to release pressurized water into the earthen material, weight means carried to sink said terminal in fluidized earthen material, and the duct being flexible at a location between the vehicle and said weight means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, said other means comprising an elongated duct having an open terminal to release pressurized water into the earthen material, weight means carried to sink said terminal in fluidized earthen material, and the duct being flexible at a location between the vehicle and said weight means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 7 including a cable extending from the vehicle and carrying the weight means, and the duct comprising a hose attached to the weight means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as defined in claim 7 including control means on the carrier vehicle for displacing an upper portion of the duct relative to the carrier vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said duct comprises an elongated flexible hose and said control means includes boom structure supporting an above-ground portion of the hose for movement relative to the carrier vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said control means includes a cable connected with the weight means and having an above ground portion supported by the boom structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said control means includes actuator means on the carrier vehicle for displacing the boom structure relative to the vehicle and for endwise extending and retracting the cable relative to the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein said duct comprises multiple ducts each including an elongated flexible hose, there being control means on the carrier vehicle for selectively displacing upper portions of the hoses relative to the vehicle, the outboard ends of the ducts being weighted, said control means comprising multiple boom structures one for each hose, multiple cables respectively connected with the weighted outboard ends of the ducts, and actuator means for displacing the boom structures relative to the vehicle and for endwise extending and retracting the cables relative to the vehicle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said weight means comprises an elongated tubular weight connected in series with the flexible duct and a shoe removably attached to the tubular weight at the lower end terminal thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the shoe has a side outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the shoe has an end outlet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein the tubular weight is longitudinally tapered.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
115 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, and c. separator structure located to be sunk downwardly in the earthen material in response to hydraulic agitation of said material, and having entrance and discharge zones to pass soil to be deposited over the sunken rocks over which the vehicle moves.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
115 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, and c. separator structure located to be sunk downwardly in the earthen material in response to hydraulic agitation of said material, and having entrance and discharge zones to pass soil to be deposited over the sunken rocks over which the vehicle moves.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said sepaRator structure includes a sluice to segregate metal particles from the soil passing between said inlet and discharge zones.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 19 including means to vibrate said sluice relative to the vehicle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein the duct comprises a flexible hose connected with said water supply means, and elongated boom means on and movable relative to the carrier vehicle for displacing an above ground upper portion of the hose relative to the carrier vehicle.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said other means includes an elongated duct having an open terminal to release pressurized water to hydraulically agitate the earthen material for relative movement toward the separator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 22 including means on the carrier vehicle to supply water to the duct.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said vehicle carrries a lower openwork grille, and said separator means is elongated and carried to extend within said grille.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein the vehicle includes a floatable hull above said frame and connected therewith.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein the frame includes a forward grille projecting forwardly of said entrance zone to deflect rocks beneath the separator and to pass soil to said entrance zone in response to carrier vehicle forward advancement.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said other means includes a. an elongated duct to supply water to the subterranean earthen material to be agitatoted, and b. means to withdraw water from a zone directly above the separator means, for supply to said duct, and to pressurize the water supplied to said duct.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
76 words
In the method of repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, and employing a carrier vehicle the steps that include a. moving the vehicle over the earthen terrain to be repositioned, and b. locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material by releasing water under pressure into the subterranean material for effecting sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the sunken rocks in response to vehicle movement.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
76 words
In the method of repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, and employing a carrier vehicle the steps that include a. moving the vehicle over the earthen terrain to be repositioned, and b. locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material by releasing water under pressure into the subterranean material for effecting sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the sunken rocks in response to vehicle movement.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 28 wherein vehicle movement is carried out to repeatedly travel the vehicle over a selected zone of said earthen material until the material fluidizes, and including the step of floatably supporting the vehicle in the fluidized material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 29 including the step of separating metallic particles from the soil beneath the vehicle and during said vehicle movement.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 30 wherein the separation step is carried out by effecting flow of fluidized soil over a sluice carried by the vehicle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 31 including the step of withdrawing water from a zone directly above the sluice and pressurizing and delivering said water to the locus of subterranean hydraulic agitation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28 wherein said vehicle movement is carried out by clawing the terrain locally about the vehicle.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 28 including the step of employing the forward lower extent of the vehicle to deflect rocks beneath the vehicle and to pass muddy soil into the lower extent of the vehicle, in response to vehicle advancement.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
70 words
The method of repositioning subterranean earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, that includes a. delivering water under pressure downwardly to local subterranean portions of the subterranean earthen material and releasing the water into said material and effecting upward return flow of water through overlying material to effect sinking of rocks and upward displacement of the soil, and b. depositing said soil in a surface layer overlying the sunken rocks.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
70 words
The method of repositioning subterranean earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, that includes a. delivering water under pressure downwardly to local subterranean portions of the subterranean earthen material and releasing the water into said material and effecting upward return flow of water through overlying material to effect sinking of rocks and upward displacement of the soil, and b. depositing said soil in a surface layer overlying the sunken rocks.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 35 including the step of removing water from the upwardly displaced soil prior to deposition thereof in said layer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 35 wherein bedrock underlies said iNtermixed soil and rocks, and wherein said water delivery is effected to subterranean material proximate the upper surface of said bedrock.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 37 wherein metal particles are concentrated proximate said bedrock upper surface, and said water delivery is carried out to entrain said particles for upward flow with said upwardly displaced soil.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 38 including the step of separating the metal particles from the upwardly displaced soil.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 39 wherein said particles include gold.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 35 wherein pump means on a carrier craft is employed to deliver said water under pressure via multiple hoses to said local portions of the subterranean earthen material, and including the step of displacing upper above-ground portions of the hoses relative to the carrier craft, thereby to variably shift the subterranean loci of water delivery.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said displacement of the upper portions of one hose is carried out to direct subterranean water delivery therefrom toward a portion of another hose which has become stuck in the underground formation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the method of recovery gold particles concentrated in a subterranean zone underlying a formation of intermixed soil and rocks, the steps that include a. delivering water in a pressurized jet stream to said zone and releasing said stream into said subterranean zone and effecting local upward return flow of water and intermixed soil and gold particles from said zone and through said formation, and b. receiving said upward return flow in a separation zone, and therein separating the gold particles from the soil.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the method of recovery gold particles concentrated in a subterranean zone underlying a formation of intermixed soil and rocks, the steps that include a. delivering water in a pressurized jet stream to said zone and releasing said stream into said subterranean zone and effecting local upward return flow of water and intermixed soil and gold particles from said zone and through said formation, and b. receiving said upward return flow in a separation zone, and therein separating the gold particles from the soil.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 43 including the step of recovering the return flow of water for pressurization and delivery to said subterranean zone in said jet stream.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 44 including the step of oscillating said jet stream within the formation to effect underground displacement of the locus of delivery thereof to different of said subterranean zones.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
139 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, said other means including first and second elongated ducts one having a subterranean outlet port, and the other having a subtarranean inlet port in proximity to said one duct outlet port, and means for delivering water under pressure to said one duct for subterranean discharge via said outlet port, and for drawing water and entrained soil upwardly within said other duct via said inlet port.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
139 words
In apparatus for repositioning earthen material including intermixed soil and rocks, the combination comprising a. a carrier vehicle and advancing means operatively connected therewith for advancing the vehicle over terrain to be repositioned, and b. other means carried by the vehicle for locally hydraulically agitating subterranean earthen material to effect sinking of rocks relative to the vehicle and for effecting deposition of a layer of soil overlying the rocks in response to vehicle advancement, said other means including first and second elongated ducts one having a subterranean outlet port, and the other having a subtarranean inlet port in proximity to said one duct outlet port, and means for delivering water under pressure to said one duct for subterranean discharge via said outlet port, and for drawing water and entrained soil upwardly within said other duct via said inlet port.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |