Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An arrangement for hydraulically conveying solids of different specific weights in form of slurries comprising, in combination, at least two elongated chambers lack having a different volume; a source of slurry; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; conduit means including slurry supply conduits communicating said source of slurry with said chambers for admission of slurry into the latter, a discharge conduit communicating with said chambers, and fluid conduits communicating said source of hydraulic fluid with said chambers for expulsion of admitted slurry from the chambers; valve means operative for selectively cyclically establishing and interrupting communication of said conduits with said chambers; means for detecting the specific weight of the solid component in the slurry supplied by said slurry source; and means for selecting one of the chambers as a function of the detected specific weight of the solid component of the slurry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An arrangement for hydraulically conveying solids of different specific weights in form of slurries comprising, in combination, at least two elongated chambers lack having a different volume; a source of slurry; a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid; conduit means including slurry supply conduits communicating said source of slurry with said chambers for admission of slurry into the latter, a discharge conduit communicating with said chambers, and fluid conduits communicating said source of hydraulic fluid with said chambers for expulsion of admitted slurry from the chambers; valve means operative for selectively cyclically establishing and interrupting communication of said conduits with said chambers; means for detecting the specific weight of the solid component in the slurry supplied by said slurry source; and means for selecting one of the chambers as a function of the detected specific weight of the solid component of the slurry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said selecting means includes valves operative for including a part of each chamber into the path of flow of said slurry and said hydraulic fluid through such chamber, and for excluding such part from said path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, and said detecting means comprising a specific weight measuring device in said supply conduit communicating said source of slurry with said chambers; and wherein said selecting means is operative in dependence on the indication of said specific weight measuring device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 1; wherein said selecting means is operative for utilizing said larger volume when the specific weight of the solid component of the slurry approximates that of coal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said selecting means is operative for utilizing said smaller volume when the specific weight of the solid component of the slurry approximates that of rock.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means for varying the rate of admission of the slurry into the respective chambers per unit time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A combination as defined in claim 1; and further comprising means for varying the rate of expulsion of the slurry from the respective chambers per unit time.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of hydraulically conveying solids of different specific weights in form of slurries, with an arrangement having at least two chambers each having a different effective volume, comprising the steps of sensing the specific weight of a slurry to be conveyed to determine whether it is below or above a predetermined limit; selecting the chamber with the maximum chamber length when the specific slurry weight is below said predetermined limit, and selecting the chamber with the minimum chamber volume when the specific slurry weight is above said predetermined limit; admitting the slurry into one of the chambers having the selected chamber volume hydraulically expelling the slurry from said one chamber so as to convey the expelled slurry to a remote location and simultaneously with the step of expelling also admitting slurry into the other of said chambers having the selected chamber volume; and repeating the preceding steps.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of hydraulically conveying solids of different specific weights in form of slurries, with an arrangement having at least two chambers each having a different effective volume, comprising the steps of sensing the specific weight of a slurry to be conveyed to determine whether it is below or above a predetermined limit; selecting the chamber with the maximum chamber length when the specific slurry weight is below said predetermined limit, and selecting the chamber with the minimum chamber volume when the specific slurry weight is above said predetermined limit; admitting the slurry into one of the chambers having the selected chamber volume hydraulically expelling the slurry from said one chamber so as to convey the expelled slurry to a remote location and simultaneously with the step of expelling also admitting slurry into the other of said chambers having the selected chamber volume; and repeating the preceding steps.