Patent US3842522A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3842522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for hydraulically raising ore and other materials
Assignee: Klein Schanzlin and Becker AG
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of containers in a riser conduit cooperate cyclically with a main suction pump and a flushing pump. Control valves are cyclically operated so that the main suction pump exhausts clear flushing water from one container, whereby a pressure differential is produced for raising an ore-water mixture in the lower portion of the riser conduit to the level of the container, while the ore-water mixture in another container is flushed through the upper riser conduit portion to the surface level. Between two and four containers can be used for the cyclical operation so that the ore-water mixture flows continuously out of the upper riser conduit portion, while any contact between the material and the main suction pump and the flushing pump is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 K Holzenberger
- 👤 O Schiele
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:38
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F7/00; E02F7/10; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E21; E21C; E21C50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
A method of hydraulically raising material, such as ore, from the bottom of the sea through a riser conduit having upper and lower conduit portions, comprising the steps of providing a distributing station between said lower and upper riser conduit portions including a plurality of vertical conduit-shaped containers; providing a main pump means and a flushing pump means, providing connecting conduit means including a plurality of lower connecting conduits connecting the upper ends of said lower riser conduit portions with the lower enDs of said conduitshaped containers; providing connecting means between the inlet of said main pump means and said conduit-shaped containers; providing connecting means between the outlet of said flushing pump means and said conduit-shaped containers; providing valves in each of said connecting means; reducing the pressure in at least one of said containers via said main pump means while venting said container to the atmosphere for producing a pressure differential between said one container and the respective lower conduit portion of said riser conduit; opening the valve provided in the connecting means between the respective upper end of said riser conduit portion and the lower end of said one container while closing the valve in the connecting means between said main pump means and said one container so that a mixture of said material and water rises into said container through the respective lower conduit portion of said riser conduit without entering said main pump; controlling communication between said containers by producing a pressure differential in one of said containers while effecting flushing of said mixture with clear water from another of said containers by said flushing pump means so that said mixture is flushed through said upper conduit portion of said riser conduit to the sea surface without flowing through either of said pump means, said steps being carried out cyclically with the respective containers, so that the flow of the flushed material in said upper conduit portion to the sea surface level is substantially continuous.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
329 words
A method of hydraulically raising material, such as ore, from the bottom of the sea through a riser conduit having upper and lower conduit portions, comprising the steps of providing a distributing station between said lower and upper riser conduit portions including a plurality of vertical conduit-shaped containers; providing a main pump means and a flushing pump means, providing connecting conduit means including a plurality of lower connecting conduits connecting the upper ends of said lower riser conduit portions with the lower enDs of said conduitshaped containers; providing connecting means between the inlet of said main pump means and said conduit-shaped containers; providing connecting means between the outlet of said flushing pump means and said conduit-shaped containers; providing valves in each of said connecting means; reducing the pressure in at least one of said containers via said main pump means while venting said container to the atmosphere for producing a pressure differential between said one container and the respective lower conduit portion of said riser conduit; opening the valve provided in the connecting means between the respective upper end of said riser conduit portion and the lower end of said one container while closing the valve in the connecting means between said main pump means and said one container so that a mixture of said material and water rises into said container through the respective lower conduit portion of said riser conduit without entering said main pump; controlling communication between said containers by producing a pressure differential in one of said containers while effecting flushing of said mixture with clear water from another of said containers by said flushing pump means so that said mixture is flushed through said upper conduit portion of said riser conduit to the sea surface without flowing through either of said pump means, said steps being carried out cyclically with the respective containers, so that the flow of the flushed material in said upper conduit portion to the sea surface level is substantially continuous.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of hydraulically raising material as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of reducing comprises reducing the pressure to atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of hydraulically raising material as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of reducing comprises reducing the pressure to a level approaching the vapor pressure limit 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) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |