U.S. patent number 3,845,990 [Application Number 05/389,272] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-05 for slurry hopper system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Continental Oil Company. Invention is credited to David L. McCain.
United States Patent |
3,845,990 |
McCain |
November 5, 1974 |
SLURRY HOPPER SYSTEM
Abstract
A low profile hopper for mixing a granular solid product, such
as coal, with water to form a slurry. The hopper consists of an
open-topped tank having low side walls and a bottom. One end has a
slurry pump inlet, and the other end contains a water inlet system.
The tank is designed to direct the slurry and gravity feed the
slurry to the pump inlet. A water level maintenance system is
provided which is mounted in the tank and communicates with the
water inlet means for controlling the level of the water,
regardless of the amount of product being dumped into the hopper.
Baffles are also included to reduce surface turbulence in the
vicinity of the water level maintenance system.
Inventors: |
McCain; David L. (Ponca City,
OK) |
Assignee: |
Continental Oil Company (Ponca
City, OK)
|
Family
ID: |
26970489 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/389,272 |
Filed: |
August 21, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
298118 |
Oct 16, 1972 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
406/12; 406/80;
366/153.1; 299/18; 406/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
53/30 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
53/30 (20060101); B65G 53/00 (20060101); B65g
053/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;259/4,18,95,36,97,98,151,147 ;299/18,88,56,64 ;302/14,15,16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Jenkins; Robert W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Miller; William J. Kotarski, Jr.;
Joseph C.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This is a continuation of applicants' co-pending application of the
same title, Ser. No. 298,118 filed Oct. 16, 1972. Related subject
matter is disclosed in the co-pending application of Reichl et al,
Ser. No. 294,720 filed Oct. 3, 1972 and entitled "A Mobile Slurry
Handling System."
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hopper assembly for forming a slurry of a granular solid
product and water in restricted spaces for transportation by a
slurry pump, comprising:
an open-topped tank having horizontal dimensions greater than
vertical dimensions and having interconnected end walls and side
walls and a bottom tapered downwardly toward one end wall;
means for feeding water into the tank adjacent the higher end of
the bottom;
means for feeding the granular solid into the tank adjacent the
higher end of the bottom;
means adjacent the lower end of the tank bottom forming an outlet
for the slurry to the pump;
means in the tank limiting the flow of water through the upper
portion of the tank to minimize turbulence; and
means for maintaining the water at a predetermined level in the
tank.
2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the means for feeding
water into the tank comprises a manifold extending around the end
wall at the higher end of the bottom and the adjacent portions of
the side walls, and slots in said end wall and adjacent portions of
the side walls at the bottom of the tank communicating with the
manifold.
3. An assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for limiting
the flow of water through the tank comprises at least one baffle
extending between the side walls above said slots.
4. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the means forming an
outlet for the slurry to the pump comprises an opening in the
respective end wall extending from a medial portion of the end wall
to the bottom of the tank and having a width less than the width of
the tank, and a baffle extending from adjacent each side of the
opening to the respective side wall in spaced relation from the
respective end wall to funnel the slurry through the opening.
5. The assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said means forming an
outlet for the slurry further comprises a baffle extending from the
top of the opening into the container.
6. The assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the means for
maintaining the water at a pre-determined level includes level
control sensing means in the tank adjacent the end of the tank
associated with the outlet for the slurry and positioned above said
opening.
7. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the means for feeding
granular solid into the tank comprises a conveyer extending over
the top of the tank and terminating adjacent the end of the tank
associated with the higher end of the bottom to feed the solid into
the tank remote from the outlet for the slurry.
8. A hopper assembly for forming a slurry of a granular solid
product and water is restricted spaces for transportation by a
slurry pump comprising:
an open-topped tank having horizontal dimensions greater than
vertical dimensions and having interconnected end walls and side
walls and a bottom tapered downwardly toward one end wall;
a water manifold extending around the lower portion of the end wall
at the higher end of the bottom and around adjacent portions of the
side walls communicating with the interior of the tank through
slots formed in the respective end wall and adjacent portions of
the side walls;
a water supply line connected to the manifold;
a control valve in the water supply line;
means for feeding the granular solid into the tank adjacent the
higher end of the bottom;
the end wall at the lower end of the bottom having an outlet
opening formed therein for discharge of slurry formed in the
tank;
a plurality of vertical baffles extending between the side walls
having the lower edges thereof positioned above the slots through
which the water enters the tank;
a level control sensor positioned in the tank above said outlet
opening; and
a level controller connected to the sensor and the control valve
for maintaining the water level in the tank above said outlet
opening.
9. The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein the sensor is positioned
between the vertical baffle located nearest to the end wall having
the outlet opening therein and said end wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for forming a
slurry from a granular solid and water, and more particularly, but
not by way of limitation, to such apparatus particularly useful in
coal mining.
The best prior art relating to the above system is found in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,260,548, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Continuous
Mining and Transporting Coal" by E. H. Reichl. In addition to
disclosing a basic slurry system this patent discloses a slurry
hopper operating on the centrifuge principle. The hopper consists
of a funnel-shaped retaining means having a pump inlet at the apex.
Water inlet means are provided around the periphery at the top. The
product is moved by conveyor and dumped into the top along with
water to form a slurry. The hopper system in the Reichl patent does
not disclose an effective way for maintaining the water level at a
predetermined height so that the pump system can, for this reason,
overfill or cavitate. Secondly, a centrifugal-type hopper as in the
Reichl patent tends to cause the water to spiral, permitting air to
pass directly into the pump and the slurry hose. Entrained air,
among other things, tends to cause the pump to become inefficient
and reduces the product pumped into the line, all of which tends to
be detrimental to the proper operation of this system. Further, a
centrifugal type hopper requires excessive head room which is at a
premium in a coal mine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention discloses a hopper assembly including a tank which
has shallow sides and a bottom which is tapered to the pump inlet.
A plurality of baffles extends into the water slurry mixture,
reducing surface turbulence, thereby allowing entrapped air to
escape before entering the pump. The baffles also provide a
reduction in water turbulence so that the water level can be
properly determined and adjusted. The water inlet means injects
water into the hopper along the bottom of the hopper. Water
entering in this manner causes a directed stream of water which
mixes with the product being dumped into the hopper, resulting in
the flow and mixing of product with water as it moves toward the
pump inlet. The overall design of this system permits large
bariations in the quantity of the product being dumped into the
hopper without causing overflow of the hopper or without causing
air to enter the slurry hoses or pump. The hopper assembly has a
low profile, making it particularly useful in restricted spaces,
such as in coal mining.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a schematic layout of a hose hauling system which may be
used with this invention and its interconnection with the slurry
hopper system of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view, partially schematic, of the slurry hopper
system showing the location of the pump, the product conveyor, and
water level control; and
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hopper.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The same numbers will be used throughout the specification for the
same or similar parts.
Referring to all of the drawings, but in particular to FIG. 1,
reference character 10 designates a mine digging machine which
mines the product, such as coal, and feeds the product onto a
conveyor 11. The product 12 is dropped into a crusher 13, which may
be any usual type crusher such as a roll crusher or jaw crusher,
and may include means for separating the material that does not
need to be crushed and crushing only the larger material. Crushers
are well known and will not be further discussed. The material from
the crusher is dropped or conveyed into the tank of a hopper system
14 which contains water. A water level control 15 applies a
continuous signal through line 16 to a valve 17 which is connected
to a water line 18. Another water line 19 is connected to valve 17
and through a plurality of slots (not shown) communicates with the
interior of the tank of the hopper system.
A slurry pump 20 has its inlet connected to the outlet 21 of the
hopper system 14. Slurry pump 20 has an outlet 22 connected to a
slurry hose 23. Another hose 24 is connected to water line 18. Both
hoses 23 and 24 are supported upon a slurry transportation system
which essentially comprises a plurality of carts 25 connected by
linkage 26. A conveyor mechanism 27 controls the movement of the
carts, linkage and pipe assembly around a 180.degree. turn 28. The
termination of the slurry hose 23 and water hose 24 is at a remote
terminal 29. A surface separator 30 may be connected to remote
terminal 29 through any well known system 31 such as a pipe
line.
The operation of the overall system functions as follows:
As the mining machine 10 removes product 12, it is carried by
conveyer 11 and passed to crusher 13 where it is deposited in the
tank of hopper system 14. Pump 20 pulls the slurry mixture from the
hopper and passes it into hose 23, whereby it is eventually
received at a remote terminal 29, pumped to the surface through
pipe line 31, and separated by separator 30. As mining machine 10
works in and out of the coal seam, the slurry hose must follow
these movements. Carts 25, through a servo mechanism, will follow
the in and out movements of the mining machine. A portion of the
slurry line between the conveyer 27 and the remote terminal 29
functions as a storage. Thus as additional length of hose is
needed, conveyer 27 will move in the direction of arrow 32,
shortening the amount in storage and lengthening the amount of
slurry hose which can penetrate the mine room with the mining
machine. In order to accomplish the above, however, conveyer 27
must move the carts 25, including the slurry hose supported by it,
from the position in storage to a position where it can be utilized
by the mining machine. Conveyer 27 accomplishes the transition from
storage to active use by lifting the carts through 180.degree.
while the conveyer itself is moving either in the direction of
arrow 33 where additional storage is needed or arrow 32 where less
storage is needed. The conveyer further restricts the hose to a
definite radius, thereby preventing excess flexing or bending.
The hopper system 14 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
system comprises an open topped tank 14a having overall dimensions
such that the horizontal dimensions are greater than the vertical
dimensions in order that the hopper may be most conveniently used
in restricted spaces, such as in coal mines where the head room is
extremely limited. The tank 14a has side walls 300 and 301
interconnected with end walls 302 and 303. The bottom 312 of the
tank slopes downwardly from the end wall 302 toward the end wall
303, with the central portion 312a, the lowest portion of the
bottom, being converged toward the central portion of the end wall
303 and the remaining portions of the bottom 312 being extended
upwardly from the lower central portion to connect with the side
walls 300 and 301, as well as the end wall 303. A plurality of
vertical baffles 304 extend transversely across the tank between
the side walls 300 and 301, with the lower edges of the baffles 304
being spaced upwardly from the bottom 312 of the tank.
A manifold 305 extends around the end wall 302 and the adjacent
portions of the side walls 300 and 301 to form a water supply
manifold. The manifold 305 communicates with the interior of the
tank 14a through slots 306 formed through the end wall 302 and the
adjacent portions of the side walls 300 and 301. The slots 306 are
formed adjacent the bottom 312 of the tank below the baffles 304,
such that water is fed into the tank below the baffles 304. The
water pipe 19, previously mentioned, communicates with the manifold
305.
An outlet opening 307 is formed in the end wall 303 and is sized
vertically to extend from the medial portion of the end wall 303 to
the adjacent portion of the bottom 312 of the tank, in order that
slurry formed in the tank will flow freely through the opening 307.
The width of the opening 307 is such that the side edges of the
opening are spaced from the adjacent side walls 300 and 301. Stated
otherwise, the width of the opening 307 corresponds to the width of
the respective end of the central portion 312a of the tank bottom,
that being the lowest point at the bottom of the tank. A baffle 308
extends from one side edge of the opening 307 to the respective
side wall 301 a distance from the end wall 303, and a similar
baffle 310 extends from the opposite side of the opening 307 to the
side wall 300 at a point spaced from the end wall 303. The baffles
308 and 310 form what may be considered a funnel to direct the
slurry gravitating through the tank 14a out the outlet opening 307.
Another baffle 309 may be extended from slightly above the opening
307 into the interior of the tank to further funnel the slurry out
the opening 307. The outlet opening 307 is, of course, connected to
the inlet of the slurry pump 20 as indicated in FIG. 2.
The level control 15, previously mentioned, has a level sensor 15a
extending into the tank 14a at a point between the lower edges of
the baffles 304 and the top of the walls of the tank and, as
previously mentioned, the controller 15 controls the opening and
closing of the water valve 17 to assure an adequate supply of water
in the hopper system. The location of the sensor 15a assures an
adequate supply of water in the hopper system to prevent cavitation
at the outlet opening 307.
As previously indicated, the granular solid product is fed to the
hopper system by a suitable conveyer either directly or indirectly
from a crusher. Such a conveyer is schematically illustrated in
FIG. 2 at reference character 45 to illustrate the positioning of
the conveyer with respect to the tank 14a. The conveyer 45 extends
over the tank 14a and terminates a short distance beyond the end
wall 302 in order that the solid product 46 will be deposited into
the open top of the tank at a point remote from the outlet opening
307.
In operation, as previously indicated, water is supplied to the
tank of the hopper system through the slots 306 and the solid
product is supplied into the open upper end of the tank, such that
the solid and the water will be thoroughly mixed as the water and
product flow downwardly through the tank along the bottom 312 to
form a slurry discharging through the opening 307. the baffles 304,
being spaced above the bottom 312, do not interfere with the
movement of the slurry along the bottom and through the outlet
opening 307, but minimize the turbulence of water being fed into
the tank when the system is operating at maximum capacity. In a
typical form of the invention, the individual slots 306 may be 6
inches long and the tank may be sized to handle up to 11 tons of
coal per minute. It should also be noted that the water level
sensor 15a is positioned at a point remote from the entry of the
water into the tank between the baffle 304 nearest the end wall 303
to be in the least turbulent area of the water moving through the
tank, such that the sensor and controller 15 may perform the
function of accurately maintaining an adequate supply of water in
the tank.
It should be apparent from the foregoing that the present hopper
system is particularly adapted for use in restricted spaces, such
as in coal mining operations. The water level in the tank of the
hopper may be accurately controlled and the invention will not be
subjected to cavitation of the slurry pump.
Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts or
elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in
the drawings without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims.
* * * * *