US3765727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for transporting mined deposits from the sea floor
Assignee: Kennecott Utah Copper LLC
•
Filing: 1972-01-21
•
Granted: 1973-10-16
•
Expires: 1992-01-21
Abstract
Abstract Air is withdrawn from an air lift hydraulic pipe to control turbulence and velocity of flow through the pipe. The air is withdrawn at a location substantially above the air injection station where the expanding air causes excessively high velocity and turbulence which cause nodule breakage and wear of the pipe. In one embodiment a sleeve valve is used to selectively open perforations communicating with the interior of the pipe. The body of the valve can be connected to a vacuum source at the surface to increase the amount of air removed from the pipe. In a second embodiment a perforated member is located within the pipe and flow of air to the outside of the pipe is controlled by valves. The valves also permit selectively connecting the perforated member to a vacuum source at the surface. Hydraulic control arrangements permit regulating the valves from the surface vessel to control the rate of removal of air or gas from the pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 C Schatz
- 👤 J Santangelo
- 👤 M Dubs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:34
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/90; E02F3/907; E21; E21C; E21C50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; gas introducing means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; gas removal means to remove gas from the pipe at a location substantially above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; and control means to control the gas removal means to remove only a portion of the gas introduced by the gas introducing means so that the velocity of material flowing through the pipe can be regulated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; gas introducing means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; gas removal means to remove gas from the pipe at a location substantially above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; and control means to control the gas removal means to remove only a portion of the gas introduced by the gas introducing means so that the velocity of material flowing through the pipe can be regulated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
An airlift system according to claim 1 wherein said means to introduce a gas into the pipe is located below the surface of the sea; and said means to remove gas from the pipe is located below a collection station at the surface of the sea.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
An airlift system according to claim 1 wherein said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means communicating with the interior of the pipe, valve means associated with said passage means to control the flow of gas through the passage means; and said control means includes means to control the valve means to regulate the removal of gas from the pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An airlift system according to claim 3 wherein said passage means include a porous member in communication between the interior and exterior of the pipe, and said valve means includes a valve for controlling the flow of gas from said porous member to the exterior of the pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An airlift system according to claim 4 wherein said porous member is located in the side wall of said pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An airlift system according to claim 3 wherein said means to remove gas further includes means to create a low pressure region communicating with said passage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for continuously transporting particulate material upwardly through a pipe in a body of water while controlling the velocity of the material through the pipe comprising introducing gas into a pipe having an inlet below the water surface to induce a flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; controlling the removal of at least a portion of the gas from said pipe at a location above the locAtion of introduction of the gas and below the uppermost portion of the pipe to control and regulate the velocity of the material flowing through the pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
A process for continuously transporting particulate material upwardly through a pipe in a body of water while controlling the velocity of the material through the pipe comprising introducing gas into a pipe having an inlet below the water surface to induce a flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; controlling the removal of at least a portion of the gas from said pipe at a location above the locAtion of introduction of the gas and below the uppermost portion of the pipe to control and regulate the velocity of the material flowing through the pipe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein said step of removing gas from the pipe includes creating a low pressure region communicating with the interior of the pipe and removing gas from said low pressure region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process for transporting material according to claim 7 wherein said step of removing gas from the pipe includes creating a low pressure region adjacent the outside surface of the pipe, and removing gas through apertures in the wall of the pipe communicating with said low pressure region.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means communicating with the interior of the pipe, and valve means associated with said passage means to control the flow of gas through the passage means; said passage means include a plurality of openings formed in a wall of said pipe; and said valve includes a casing concentric with and moveable along said pipe to selectively cover and uncover said openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means communicating with the interior of the pipe, and valve means associated with said passage means to control the flow of gas through the passage means; said passage means include a plurality of openings formed in a wall of said pipe; and said valve includes a casing concentric with and moveable along said pipe to selectively cover and uncover said openings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
155 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means communicating with the interior of the pipe, and valve means associated with said passage means to control the flow of gas through the passage means; said passage means include a porous member in communication between the interior and exterior of the pipe; said valve means includes a valve for controlling the flow of gas from said porous member to the exterior of the pipe; and said porous member is within said pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
155 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means communicating with the interior of the pipe, and valve means associated with said passage means to control the flow of gas through the passage means; said passage means include a porous member in communication between the interior and exterior of the pipe; said valve means includes a valve for controlling the flow of gas from said porous member to the exterior of the pipe; and said porous member is within said pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said pipe has a side wall including passage means extending between the interior and the exterior of the pipe; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes a sleeve extending around said pipe in the region of said passage means, said sleeve being slidable along said pipe, means to remove said sleeve to a pre-determined location relative to said passage means to selectively cover and uncover said passage means, and means communicating with said sleeve to create a low pressure region within said sleeve; whereby said passage means can be selectively placed in communication with the interior of said sleeve by operating said sleeve moving means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said pipe has a side wall including passage means extending between the interior and the exterior of the pipe; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes a sleeve extending around said pipe in the region of said passage means, said sleeve being slidable along said pipe, means to remove said sleeve to a pre-determined location relative to said passage means to selectively cover and uncover said passage means, and means communicating with said sleeve to create a low pressure region within said sleeve; whereby said passage means can be selectively placed in communication with the interior of said sleeve by operating said sleeve moving means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means within said pipe and in communication with a conduit outside the pipe, a region of low pressure connected to said conduit, and valve means for regulating gas flow from said passage means to said low pressure region via said conduit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
123 words
An airlift-hydraulic system for transporting particulate material from the sea floor comprising, in combination a pipe having an inlet below the surface of the sea; means to introduce a gas into the pipe to cause an upward flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; means to remove gas from the pipe at a location above its location of introduction by said gas introducing means; said means to remove gas from the pipe includes passage means within said pipe and in communication with a conduit outside the pipe, a region of low pressure connected to said conduit, and valve means for regulating gas flow from said passage means to said low pressure region via said conduit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An airlift system according to claim 13 wherein said means to remove gas from the pipe further includes second valve means in said conduit for communicating said conduit with a region at the exterior of said pipe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
108 words
A process for transporting particulate material upwardly in a body of water comprising introducing gas into a pipe having an inlet below the water surface to induce a flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; removing at least a portion of the gas from said pipe at a location above the location of introduction of the gas and below the uppermost portion of the pipe; said step of removing gas from the pipe includes creating a low pressure region communicating with the interior of the pipe, and controlling the flow of gas from the pipe to said low pressure region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
108 words
A process for transporting particulate material upwardly in a body of water comprising introducing gas into a pipe having an inlet below the water surface to induce a flow of water through the pipe at a velocity sufficient to transport the particulate material; removing at least a portion of the gas from said pipe at a location above the location of introduction of the gas and below the uppermost portion of the pipe; said step of removing gas from the pipe includes creating a low pressure region communicating with the interior of the pipe, and controlling the flow of gas from the pipe to said low pressure region.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 15 wherein said step of controlling the flow of gas to said low pressure region includes controlling said flow of gas from a control station at the surface of the water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |