US3856355A — Recovery of sub-surface metals

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

In the method of recovering segregatable particles in an underground formation, the steps that include a. progressively rotatably cutting into the underground formation both up and down and laterally to produce an underground swath, and to loosen said particles, said lateral cutting being carried out during up and down cutting, b. delivering liquid in a pressurized stream to said swath to displace the loosened particles in the delivered water, and c. locally collecting the displaced particles in a collection zone in said swath, during said cutting, for subsequent retrieval at the surface.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 92 words

In the method of recovering segregatable particles in an underground formation, the steps that include a. progressively rotatably cutting into the underground formation both up and down and laterally to produce an underground swath, and to loosen said particles, said lateral cutting being carried out during up and down cutting, b. delivering liquid in a pressurized stream to said swath to displace the loosened particles in the delivered water, and c. locally collecting the displaced particles in a collection zone in said swath, during said cutting, for subsequent retrieval at the surface.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 10 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said particles are metallic.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said particles are selected from the group that includes the noble metals.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 3 wherein said rotating of the cutting means and bodily displacement of the tubing are effected to cut the formation both directly beneath and at the side of the collector means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 108 words

In the method of recovering segregatable particles in an underground formation, and employing metallic tubing extending downwardly into the formation and cutting means and collector means carried by said tubing, the steps that include a. rotating the cutting means and bodily displacing the tubing up and down and also laterally to effect cutting of the formation both up and down and laterally to form an underground swath, and to loosen the particles, b. delivering water In a pressurized stream via the tubing to said swath to displace the loosened particles in the delivered water, and c. locally collecting the displaced particles in the collector means, for subsequent retrieval.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 108 words

In the method of recovering segregatable particles in an underground formation, and employing metallic tubing extending downwardly into the formation and cutting means and collector means carried by said tubing, the steps that include a. rotating the cutting means and bodily displacing the tubing up and down and also laterally to effect cutting of the formation both up and down and laterally to form an underground swath, and to loosen the particles, b. delivering water In a pressurized stream via the tubing to said swath to displace the loosened particles in the delivered water, and c. locally collecting the displaced particles in the collector means, for subsequent retrieval.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 5 wherein the tubing and cutting means are bodily displaced both up and down and generally laterally during rotation of the cutting means.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 6 wherein the cutting means and collector means are rotated by rotating the tubing and at a rotary speed to effect centrifugal throw-out of non metallic particles from the collector means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 7 including the step of suspending the rotating tubing for lateral tilting to effect said lateral cutting of the formation by said cutting means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 7 including the step of simultaneously suspending the rotating tubing for said generally vertical displacement while the tubing remains tilted.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 9 including the step of providing a carrier vehicle at the surface and from which the tubing is suspended as aforesaid.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 10 including the step of advancing the carrier vehicle during said cutting of the formation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said vehicle has articulated support legs, and wherein said advancement of the vehicle is carried out by operating said legs.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 85 words

In apparatus for recovering segregatable particles in an underground formation, the combination comprising a. first means for progressively rotatably cutting into the underground formation both up and down and laterally to produce an underground swath and to loosen said particles, said means including tubing to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said swath to displace the loosened particles in the delivered water, and b. collector means carried by said tubing for collecting the displaced particles in said swath during said cutting, for subsequent retrieval.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 85 words

In apparatus for recovering segregatable particles in an underground formation, the combination comprising a. first means for progressively rotatably cutting into the underground formation both up and down and laterally to produce an underground swath and to loosen said particles, said means including tubing to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said swath to displace the loosened particles in the delivered water, and b. collector means carried by said tubing for collecting the displaced particles in said swath during said cutting, for subsequent retrieval.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

The combination of claim 13 wherein said first means includes a rotary cutter carried by the tubing to extend below the level of said collector means, and a rotary reamer carried by the tubing to extend sidwardly of said collector means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The combination of claim 14 wherein said reamer includes a series of blades extending generally parallel to said tubing in radially outwardly spaced relation thereto, and circularly spaced thereabout.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The combination of claim 15 wherein said collector means includes a series of collector trays spaced lengthwise of the tubing and located radially inwardly of said blades.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The combination of claim 13 wherein said first means includes a rotary table at the surface for rotating the tubing.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

The combination of claim 13 wherein said first means includes a mast at the surface, and elevator means carried by the mast to elevate and lower the tubing.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 18 wherein said first means includes structure for tilting the mast.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 12 words

The combination of claim 18 including a carrier vehicle supporting said mast.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The combination of claim 18 including a rotary table at the surface for rotating the tubing during said elevation and lowering thereof.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 15 words

The combination of claim 21 including a carrier vehicle supporting the mast and rotary table.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 75 words

The combination of claim 22 including additional combinations supported by said vehicle, said combinations including at least one additional mast on the vehicle, at least one additional rotary table on the vehicle for rotating at least one additional tubing string, at least one additional elevator on the additional mast to elevate and lower the additional tubing string, means to tilt said additional mast, and formation cutting means and particle collector means on the additional tubing.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 23 words

The combination of claim 23 including articulated, terrain engaging legs on the vehicle and means to operate the legs to advance the vehicle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-12-23	1978-06-24	1978-12-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-12-23	1982-06-24	1982-12-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-12-23	1986-06-24	1986-12-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Recovery of sub-surface metals

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