US3881775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Mining method and apparatus therefor
Assignee: Kerr-Mcgee Coal Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-08
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Granted: 1975-05-06
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Expires: 1994-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for remote mining of a subterranean body of ore, through a bore hole, from a surface station. The apparatus includes an elongated rotatable member, an elongated powered cutting member pivotally attached near one end of said rotatable member and an actuator associated with the rotatable member and the cutting member adapted to move the cutting member between a position substantially perpendicular to the rotatable member and a stored position substantially parallel to the rotatable member. The apparatus further includes a surface station, connected to the other end of the rotatable member comprising means to rotate the rotatable member, means to insert and remove the rotatable member through a bore hole, means to control the cutting member and means to control the actuator. In a preferred method of operation the cutting member initially is positioned substantially parallel to the rotatable member and lowered into a bore hole extending into the body of ore to be mined. When the rotatable member and cutting member are in a desired position, the rotatable member is rotated, the cutting member is driven and extended from its initial position until it contacts the ore and begins to cut the ore into small pieces for recovery. The extension of the cutting member continues until it reaches a final outward position, generally about perpendicular to the rotatable member. Thus, the ore is mined from a large area by the elongated cutting member through a relatively small diameter access hole. The small pieces of ore are readily removable by conventional means such as, for example, a screw conveyor, vacuuming and the like. In accordance with a preferred method, the area being mined is flooded with a fluid having a specific gravity of from about 1.1 to about 2.5 whereby the small pieces of ore float in the fluid and are transportable by circulation of the fluid from the surface to the mined area and back to the surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Alfred Mcpherson
- 👤 Homer Charles Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 17:54
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B7/00; E21B7/28; E21B11/00; E21B11/06; E21B43/00; E21B43/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
Apparatus for mining ore comprising: a. a rotatable shaft having a fluid passageway therethrough b. a cutter assembly including i. an elongated housing attached to one end of the rotatable shaft, the axes of the housing and shaft being substantially coincident, said housing having a fluid passageway providing communication between the passageway in the shaft at one end and an opening located near the other end of the housing; ii. an elongated cutting chain assembly pivotally attached near one end of the housing, said assembly including a cutting chain in cooperative engagement with a drive sprocket and an elongated chain guide member, said cutting chain assembly being adapted to have a tilt of at least 1* and less than about 85* with respect to its axis; iii. chain cutter drive means to rotate said drive sprocket; iv. an actuator attached to said housing and cutting chain assembly adapted to move said cutting chain assembly through any position between a stored position substantially parallel to said housing and an extended position substantially perpendicular to said housing and c. a surface station attached to the other end of the rotatable shaft and including means for rotating said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft, means for controlling said actuator and means for controlling said chain cutter drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
Apparatus for mining ore comprising: a. a rotatable shaft having a fluid passageway therethrough b. a cutter assembly including i. an elongated housing attached to one end of the rotatable shaft, the axes of the housing and shaft being substantially coincident, said housing having a fluid passageway providing communication between the passageway in the shaft at one end and an opening located near the other end of the housing; ii. an elongated cutting chain assembly pivotally attached near one end of the housing, said assembly including a cutting chain in cooperative engagement with a drive sprocket and an elongated chain guide member, said cutting chain assembly being adapted to have a tilt of at least 1* and less than about 85* with respect to its axis; iii. chain cutter drive means to rotate said drive sprocket; iv. an actuator attached to said housing and cutting chain assembly adapted to move said cutting chain assembly through any position between a stored position substantially parallel to said housing and an extended position substantially perpendicular to said housing and c. a surface station attached to the other end of the rotatable shaft and including means for rotating said shaft, means for raising and lowering said shaft, means for controlling said actuator and means for controlling said chain cutter drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
providing a bore hole extending from the surface into the body of coal;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
providing a bore hole extending from the surface into the body of coal;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said chain cutter drive means is a hydraulic motor connected to said drive sprocket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
introducing a rotatable member, having a fluid passageway therethrough and an elongated powered cutting member near its lower end, into the bore hole until the elongated cutting member is in the body of coal;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
introducing a rotatable member, having a fluid passageway therethrough and an elongated powered cutting member near its lower end, into the bore hole until the elongated cutting member is in the body of coal;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
pivoting the elongated cutting member outwardly to contact the coal, applying power to the elongated cutting member and rotating the rotatable member and elongated cutting member whereby coal is cut from the body;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
pivoting the elongated cutting member outwardly to contact the coal, applying power to the elongated cutting member and rotating the rotatable member and elongated cutting member whereby coal is cut from the body;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said actuator is a hydraulic piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing is provided with a recess adapted to receive said elongated cutting chain assembly in the stored position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
circulating a fluid having a specific gravity of from about 1.1 to about 2.5 and an API funnel viscosity of from about 35 to 80 seconds per quart into the area being mined and forming an aqueous suspension of the cut coal; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
circulating a fluid having a specific gravity of from about 1.1 to about 2.5 and an API funnel viscosity of from about 35 to 80 seconds per quart into the area being mined and forming an aqueous suspension of the cut coal; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
recovering the aqueous suspension of coal at the Surface station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
recovering the aqueous suspension of coal at the Surface station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the lower end of said housing is ballasted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said hydraulic motor drives said cutting chain at a linear velocity of from about 300 to 1, 200 feet per minute.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated cutting chain guide member is provided with a fluid passage therethrough to provide communication between this passageway in the housing and a plurality of openings in said guide member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a recess adapted to receive said elongated cutting chain assembly in the stored position.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lower end of said housing is ballasted.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of mining a subterranean body of coal from a surface station comprising the steps of: 1. providing a bore hole extending from the surface into the body of coal; 2. introducing a rotatable member, having a fluid passageway therethrough and an elongated powered cutting member near its lower end, into the bore hole until the elongated cutting member is in the body of coal; 3. pivoting the elongated cutting member outwardly to contact the coal, applying power to the elongated cutting member and rotating the rotatable member and elongated cutting member whereby coal is cut from the body; 4. circulating a fluid having a specific gravity of from about 1.1 to about 2.5 and an API funnel viscosity of from about 35 to 80 seconds per quart into the area being mined and forming an aqueous suspension of the cut coal; and 5. recovering the aqueous suspension of coal at the Surface station.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of mining a subterranean body of coal from a surface station comprising the steps of: 1. providing a bore hole extending from the surface into the body of coal; 2. introducing a rotatable member, having a fluid passageway therethrough and an elongated powered cutting member near its lower end, into the bore hole until the elongated cutting member is in the body of coal; 3. pivoting the elongated cutting member outwardly to contact the coal, applying power to the elongated cutting member and rotating the rotatable member and elongated cutting member whereby coal is cut from the body; 4. circulating a fluid having a specific gravity of from about 1.1 to about 2.5 and an API funnel viscosity of from about 35 to 80 seconds per quart into the area being mined and forming an aqueous suspension of the cut coal; and 5. recovering the aqueous suspension of coal at the Surface station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the circulating fluid is pumped down through the passageway in the rotatable member and the aqueous suspension of coal is recovered from the surface end of the bore hole.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the circulating fluid comprises an aqueous dispersion of hematite and has a specific gravity of about 1.5.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the circulating fluid is pumped through the bore hole into the area being mined and the aqueous suspension of coal flows out of the area being mined through the passageway in the rotatable member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 13 wherein a gas is introduced into the aqueous suspension of coal in the fluid passageway of the rotatable member.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the elongated cutting member is a cutting chain.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the cutting chain is powered by a down hole hydraulic motor.
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) | 1978-05-05 | 1978-11-04 | 1979-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-05 | 1982-11-04 | 1983-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-05 | 1986-11-04 | 1987-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |