US3941423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for extracting oil from oil shale
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-04-10
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Granted: 1976-03-02
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Expires: 1994-04-10
Abstract
Abstract Method of and apparatus for extracting oil from oil shale. An excavating unit is driven by supplying steam to a plurality of steam engines mounted in an annulus between stationary outer and inner casings. A hollow center column and apertured screw vane are mounted for rotation in the inner casing and helical screw sections are provided outwardly of the inner casing at both ends of the apparatus for directing material to and from the inner casing. Steam is supplied to the unit for driving the center column and helical screws, with the steam supplied to the center column emanating through openings in the screw vane mounted in the inner casing for separating the oil from the oil shale by pyrolysis. The oil is withdrawn in the form of a vapor product by means of a vacuum applied to the inner casing for separation and condensation at the surface. Following excavation, the unit can be withdrawn to the surface under its own power.
Inventors
- 👤 Gilbert M. Garte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:15
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B4/00; E21B4/16; E21B4/06; E21B4/14; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B43/247
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
Material processing apparatus comprising: a. an outer fixed casing; b. an inner fixed casing spaced from said outer casing and defining therewith an annulus; said inner, fixed casing being formed with openings through which vaporous products within said inner casing can pass, c. helical screw means mounted for rotation within said inner casing and extending above and below said outer casing for conveying material toward and away from said unit; d. drive motor means mounted in said annulus, e. means operatively connecting said drive motor means and said helical screw means for rotating the latter whereby material can be directed to and through said unit, and f. means fur supplying steam to said inner casing for contact with said material directed to and through said unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
Material processing apparatus comprising: a. an outer fixed casing; b. an inner fixed casing spaced from said outer casing and defining therewith an annulus; said inner, fixed casing being formed with openings through which vaporous products within said inner casing can pass, c. helical screw means mounted for rotation within said inner casing and extending above and below said outer casing for conveying material toward and away from said unit; d. drive motor means mounted in said annulus, e. means operatively connecting said drive motor means and said helical screw means for rotating the latter whereby material can be directed to and through said unit, and f. means fur supplying steam to said inner casing for contact with said material directed to and through said unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 1 wherein said helical screw means comprises a hollow center column positioned centrally within said inner casing, a hollow helical screw vane attached to and rotating with said center column, and helical screw sections disposed at both ends of said inner casing, with said helical sections decreasing in diameter outwardly of said unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
84 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 2 wherein said center column is formed with openings for communicating the interior thereof with said hollow helical vane for supplying fluid thereto, said helical vane also being formed with a plurality of openings on the top and bottom thereof for discharging fluid supplied thereto from said center column, and means for supplying steam to said center column and thus said helical vane for discharge into the interior of said inner casing for directly contacting the material fed thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 3 further including a steam hammer casing positioned at the opposite ends of said center column and rigidly secured thereto, said steam hammer casings carrying said helical screw sections positioned exteriorly of said inner casing, the steam hammer casing positioned at the bottom of said unit having mounted therein a cylinder within which is reciprocatingly mounted a piston carrying a piston rod, and an impact hammer carried by said piston rod for engaging and loosening the material in advance of said unit, and means for directing steam to said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 1 further including skirt means positioned above and below, respectively, said inner casing and interconnecting the same with said outer casing, each of said skirts being spaced from said outer casing at its outer most ends by spacer means, and a plurality of ribs formed on the lower most skirt defining between pairs of such ribs comminuting pockets for preliminary grinding said material before entry to said inner casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 5 wherein said inner casing includes top and bottom plates formed with openings therein, and upper and lower crushing plates positioned adjacent said top and bottom plates of said casing and rotating relative thereto, said crushing plates being formed with crushing openings aligned with said openings in said top and bottom casing plates, the material being forced through said crushing openings for comminution therein responsive to the rotation of said helical screw means and the resultant conveying of material upwardly through said bottom crushing plate into said inner casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive motor means comprises a plurality of steam driven engines mounted in said annulus, each of the steam engines including a cylinder and piston carrying piston rods at the opposite ends thereof, said piston rods being operatively connected to pinions engaging rack means disposed at the opposite ends of said inner casing and rigidly attached to said steam hammer casings, and means for supplying steam to said steam driven engines for driving said racks and thus said steam hammer casings, a hollow center column mounted for rotation with said steam hammer casings, and means for supplying steam to said engines for rotating said racks and thus said helical screw means and said center column.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 7 further including impact tools operatively connected to said piston rods for reciprocation therewith, said impact tools extending exteriorly of said outer casing at the opposite ends thereof for engaging the material being excavated at the periphery of said apparatus thereby facilitating the breakup of such material for conveyance to said apparatus by said helical screw means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 7 further including a plurality of vacuum chambers disposed in the annulus between said inner and outer casings and positioned between said steam-driven engines, said inner casing being formed with openings in the regions thereof adjacent to said vacuum chambers for directing vapor products from said inner casing to said vacuum chambers, and vacuum lines interconnecting said vacuum chambers with vacuum-producing equipment provided at ground level at the site of excavation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 1 further including means for supplying steam, combustible gas and compressed air to an area below said apparatus to provide a combustible mixture for disintegrating the material below said apparatus, the vapor products produced by such combustion being drawn upwardly into said inner casing and being drawn from such inner casing to vacuum chambers mounted in said annulus, and vacuum means communicating said vacuum chambers with vacuum-producing equipment mounted at ground level at the excavation site.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The excavating apparatus of claim 1 further including retractable crusher plates carried by said inner casing for crushing material directed to said inner casing by said helical screw means, and means for retracting said crushing plates so as to facilitate the upward movement of material to and through said inner casing thereby expediting the excavating process.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of extracting oil from an oil-bearing formation comprising the steps of: a. excavating by means of a self-digging excavating apparatus until said formation has been reached; b. directing the material in the formation inwardly of said apparatus; c. directing steam under pressure to the interior of said apparatus for extracting oil in the form of a vapor product from said material; d. applying a vacuum to the interior of said apparatus for withdrawing said vapor product to the surface for condensation, and e. withdrawing said apparatus under its own power from the excavating opening thereby leaving the tailings in said excavation opening.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of extracting oil from an oil-bearing formation comprising the steps of: a. excavating by means of a self-digging excavating apparatus until said formation has been reached; b. directing the material in the formation inwardly of said apparatus; c. directing steam under pressure to the interior of said apparatus for extracting oil in the form of a vapor product from said material; d. applying a vacuum to the interior of said apparatus for withdrawing said vapor product to the surface for condensation, and e. withdrawing said apparatus under its own power from the excavating opening thereby leaving the tailings in said excavation opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said oil-bearing formation is shale, and further including the step of disintegrating the shale below said unit as it descends by directing and mixing a combustible gas and compressed air to the area below said unit, the combustion of said gas and air effecting separation of the oil from the shale by pyrolysis, with the oil in vapor form ascending through the interior of the apparatus for vacuum withdrawal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said oil-bearing formation is tar sand.
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) | 1979-03-02 | 1979-09-01 | 1980-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-02 | 1983-09-01 | 1984-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-02 | 1987-09-01 | 1988-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |