AU2010200495B2

AU2010200495B2 - Sampling System

Info

Publication number: AU2010200495B2
Application number: AU2010200495A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul James Kennedy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2010-02-10
Publication date: 2013-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-10
Also published as: AU2010200495A1

Abstract

Abstract A sampling system 10 comprises a diverter element 20 having an inlet 22 and 5 a first outlet 24 and a second outlet 26. The system also comprises a first cyclone 12 having a first intake 16 in communication with the first outlet 24 of the diverter element 20, and a second cyclone 14 having a second intake 17 in communication with the second outlet 26 of the diverter element 20. When drilled material entrained in an air flow enters the inlet 22 of the diverter 10 element 20, a proportion of the airflow and entrained material exits via the first outlet 24 into the first cyclone 12 and the remainder of the airflow and entrained material exits via the second outlet 26 into the second cyclone 14. Drawing suggested for publication with Abstract: Figure 1 Fig1

Description

ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention title: "SAMPLING SYSTEM" Applicant: PAUL JAMES KENNEDY Associated Provisional Application No.: 2009900533 The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 "SAMPLING SYSTEM" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to system for extracting a sample from a drilling 5 operation. Background to the Invention Current systems for providing samples of drilled material generally comprise a single major cyclone into which the drilled material is fed. A splitter is 10 provided at the base of cyclone for splitting the sample into portion for sampling and waste material which is bagged. It is usually necessary to retain the bags of waste in case the material needs to be re-sampled for any reason. 15 The waste material is generally bagged and must be physically removed. As the bags of waste material may weigh over 50kg, significant time and manpower is utilised in the handling of the waste. Also, the large amount of waste material removed results in significant costs in later rehabilitation of the area being drilled. 20 Given that large volumes of material pass through the cyclone and the fact that some material remains behind in the cyclone, cross contamination between samples is also a known problem of current systems. 25 The present invention is directed at overcoming, at least in part, the abovementioned problems. References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is 30 part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

3 Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a sampling system comprising: a diverter element having an inlet and first and second outlets; 5 a first cyclone having a first intake in communication with the first outlet of the diverter element; and a second cyclone having a second intake in communication with the second outlet of the diverter element; wherein, in use, when drilled material entrained in an air flow enters the inlet 10 of the diverter element, a proportion of the airflow and entrained material exits via the first outlet into the first cyclone and the remainder of the airflow and entrained material exits via the second outlet into the second cyclone. The diverter element preferably comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, the inlet and the first outlet being at opposite ends of the first 15 chamber and the second outlet being located at an end of the second chamber adjacent the first outlet. Preferably, an aperture is provided in a wall between the first and second chambers and a portion of airflow and drilled material is diverted by an angled vane extending into the first chamber to flow through the aperture into the second chamber. The first and second 20 chambers may be elongate having generally rectangular cross sections. In a preferred embodiment, the first intake of the first cyclone is located adjacent the second intake of the second cyclone. Preferably the rotating airflow in the first and second cyclones is in opposite directions. In one embodiment, the air with entrained drilled material is delivered to the 25 inlet of the diverter element by a conduit. In an alternative embodiment the diverter comprises a single chamber of elongate configuration, having the inlet and the second outlet at opposite ends of the chamber. Preferably an aperture forming the first outlet is 4 provided in a wall of the chamber, and a portion of the airflow and drilled material is diverted by an angled vane extending into the chamber to flow through the aperture into the first cyclone. Preferably, a conveyor is provided to transport material exiting the first 5 cyclone. The second cyclone may be provided with a splitter such that material exiting the second cyclone is split into two samples. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a dust suppression system for extracting dust from an airstream, the system 10 comprising: an enclosure having an inlet for receiving the airstream with entrained dust and an outlet through which a cleaned airstream exits; a plurality of dust filters arranged within the enclosure in an array; a baffle member arranged within the enclosure for directing the airstream 15 through the array of dust filters; and, filter cleaning means for directing a blast of air through the filters at predetermined intervals of time wherein, in use, accumulated dust is removed from the filters. Preferably the dust filters are of each of elongate configuration and are 20 arranged in a vertical orientation, with an end of each filter through which the dust is received facing downwards. Typically the dust filters are each in the form of a filter bag. Preferably the baffle member is the first of a plurality of baffle members, the first baffle member being in the form of a substantially vertically oriented wall 25 arranged substantially orthogonal to the inlet of the enclosure and adapted to redirect the airstream downwards beneath the array of dust filters. Advantageously a second baffle member is arranged in a substantially horizontal orientation beneath of the array of filters wherein, is use, the 5 airstream has to travel upwards around the second baffle member to pass through the array of filters. Preferably the second baffle member is one of a plurality of second baffle members. Preferably the second baffle member comprises a pair of substantially planar surfaces joined at right angles to 5 each other. In a preferred embodiment the filter cleaning means comprises an air manifold arranged in a substantially horizontal orientation above the array of filters. Typically the filters are arranged in a rectangular array having a plurality of columns and rows. Preferably the air manifold comprises a 10 plurality of purge pipes, each purge pipe being arranged above a row of filters in the array, and having a plurality of apertures through which a blast of air is injected into the top of each filter wherein, in use, each filter is substantially purged of dust by the blast of air. Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word 15 "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the 20 working of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of the sampling system, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, 25 in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the sampling system of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front of the sampling system of Figure 1; 6 Figure 3a is a top plan view of the diverter element of the sampling system of Figure 1; Figure 3b is a front view of the diverter element; Figure 4 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the sampling 5 system of the present invention; and, Figure 5 is top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a dust suppression system of the present invention. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments 10 A first embodiment of the sampling system 10 in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, comprises a first major cyclone 12 and a second minor cyclone 14. The first cyclone 12 is provided with a first intake 16 and the second cyclone 14 is provided with a second intake 17. The first and second cyclones 12 and 14 are arranged such that the first 15 intake 16 of the first cyclone 12 is positioned adjacent the second intake 17 of the second cyclone 14. As can be seen in Figure 1, the first and second cyclones 12 and 14 are arranged such that the air flow within the cyclones rotates in opposite directions with the respective tangential intakes 16 and 17 of the first and second cyclones 12 and 14 parallel to and adjacent each 20 other. The first cyclone 12 is expected to be of a larger size to handle a portion of the drilled material relatively large compared to the second cyclone 14. The drilled material is delivered to the sampling system 10 via a conduit 18. The conduit 18 delivers the drilled material from the bore hole entrained in an 25 airflow in a known manner. The sampling system 10 is also provided with a diverter element 20. The diverter element 20 includes an inlet 22 connected to the conduit 18 such that the inlet 22 receives the airflow and entrained drilled material. The 7 diverter element 20 also includes a first outlet 24 and a second outlet 26. The first outlet 24 is in communication with the first intake 16 of the first cyclone and the second outlet 26 is in communication with the second intake 17 of the second cyclone 14. 5 The diverter element 20 is arranged to divert a relatively small portion of the airflow and entrained material to the second outlet 26 whilst a majority of the airflow and material flow is diverted to the first outlet 24. Figures 3a and 3b show an embodiment of the diverter 20. The diverter 20 comprises a first chamber 28 and a second chamber 30. The first chamber 10 28 is generally elongate having a rectangular cross section and includes the inlet 22 at a first end thereof and the first outlet 24 at the second end thereof such that airflow and material entering the inlet 22 flow generally straight through the first chamber 28 and out of the first outlet 24. The second chamber 30 is generally of the same configuration as the first chamber 28 15 and is positioned alongside and parallel to the first chamber 28. The second outlet 26 is located at an end of the second chamber 30 adjacent the first outlet 24. A wall 34 in the diverter element 20 separates the first and second chambers 28 and 30 includes an aperture 36. The aperture 36 includes an angled vane 20 38 extending into the first chamber 28 positioned such that air flowing into the first chamber 28 from the inlet 16 is directed by the angled vane 38 to flow through the aperture 36 into the second chamber 30. The angle of the vane 38 relative to the wall 34 and the length of the vane 38 are to be set based on the percentage of the airflow and material that are to be diverted into the 25 second chamber 30. A relatively small percentage of the airflow and drilled material is to be diverted into the second chamber 30 and thereby to the second cyclone 14. The second cyclone 14 is also provided with a splitter 40 in a known manner. The splitter 40 is provided to split the sampled material exiting the second 30 cyclone 14 into two generally equally sized samples which can be bagged for analysis.

8 The outlet of the first cyclone 12 may be provided with a conveyor 42 for receiving the material exiting the first cyclone 12. The conveyor 42 is provided to transport waste material from the first cyclone 12 to a suitable location. 5 In use, the drilled material from the conduit 18 passes through the diverter element 20 where a portion is shaved off by the angled vane 38 to pass into the second cyclone 14. The material passing through the second cyclone 14 is split into two samples, one for analysis and a spare sample if required. As the drilled material entering the second cyclone 14 comprises a small portion 10 diverted during the drilling process, the samples received from the second cyclone 14 comprise a wholly representative sample of the drilled material. As the material to be analysed is passing through a smaller cyclone, it is expected that the amount of contamination may be reduced. The drilled material exiting the first cyclone 12 onto the conveyor 42 15 comprises a relatively large amount of material which would otherwise be bagged and physically removed. The sampling system 10 thereby reduces the labour that would be required for this operation. Further, this waste material will remain at the drill site, thereby allowing for reduced costs in rehabilitation of the site. 20 A second embodiment of a sampling system 50 according to the present invention is illustrated in Figure 4. The sampling system 50 is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 except that in this embodiment a first cyclone 52 is separated from a second cyclone 68 by some distance. The first cyclone 52 has an intake 54 for receiving an airflow with entrained drilled material via a 25 diverter element 56. The diverter element 56 of this embodiment comprises a single chamber 58 of elongate configuration. The diverter element 56 includes an inlet 60 connected to the conduit 18 such that the inlet 60 receives the airflow and entrained drilled material. The diverter element 56 also includes a first outlet 30 62 and a second outlet 64. The first outlet 62 is in communication with the intake 54 of the first cyclone and the second outlet 64 is in communication 9 with the intake of the second cyclone 68. The inlet 60 and the second outlet 64 at opposite ends of the chamber 58. Preferably an aperture forming the first outlet 62 is provided in a wall of the chamber 58, and a portion of the airflow and drilled material is diverted to flow through the aperture into the 5 first cyclone 52 by an angled vane 66 extending into the chamber 58. Typically the vane 66 is positioned so that the bulk of the airflow and entrained drilled material is diverted into the first cyclone 52. In other respects the sampling system 50 of Figure 4 is similar to the sampling system of the first embodiment and its operation will not be 10 described again in detail. The airflow with entrained drilled material entering the cyclones of the sampling system produces a lot of dust (fine ore particles) which can be a health hazard. Therefore according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a dust suppression system 70 for extracting dust from an 15 airstream. Figure 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a dust suppression system 70 for extracting dust from a cyclone 52. The dust suppression system 70 comprises an enclosure 72 having an inlet 74 for receiving the airstream with entrained dust and an outlet 78 through which a cleaned airstream exits the enclosure. A plurality of dust filters 76 is 20 arranged within the enclosure 72 in an array. In this embodiment, the dust filters 76 are of each of elongate configuration and are arranged in a vertical orientation, with an end of each filter through which the dust is received facing downwards. Typically the dust filters are each in the form of a filter bag 76 with the open mouth of the bag facing downwards. 25 A baffle member 84 is arranged within the enclosure 72 for directing the airstream through the array of dust filters 76. Preferably the baffle member 84 is the first of a plurality of baffle members, the first baffle member being in the form of a substantially vertically oriented wall 84 arranged substantially orthogonal to the inlet 74 of the enclosure and adapted to redirect the 30 airstream downwards beneath the array of dust filters 76. Every time the dust-laden airstream encounters a barrier arranged substantially orthogonally 10 to the direction of the flow of the airstream, approximately half of the dust falls out of the airstream. This is because the dust particles are heavier than the air particles and are less easily redirected through 90*. The dust particles thus removed from the airstream fall to the bottom of the enclosure 72. 5 The dust suppression system preferably further comprises a filter cleaning means 86 for directing a blast of air through the filters 76 at predetermined intervals of time wherein, in use, accumulated dust is removed from the filters 76. In illustrated embodiment the filter cleaning means comprises an air manifold 86 arranged in a substantially horizontal orientation above the array 10 of filters 76. Typically the filters 76 are arranged in a rectangular array having ten columns and five rows of filters. The illustrated rectangular array of filter bags 76 has a capacity of approximately 2500 cubic feet per minute (cfm). Preferably the air manifold comprises five purge pipes 80, each purge pipe 80 being arranged 15 above a row of filters 76 in the array. The purge pipes 80 each have a plurality of downwardly-directed apertures provided therein through which a blast of air is injected into the top of each filter 76. In this manner, any dust which has accumulated inside the filter bags 76 is knocked down and falls to the bottom of the enclosure 72 wherein, in use, each filter bag 76 is 20 substantially purged of dust by the blast of air. Advantageously a plurality of second baffle members 82 is arranged in a substantially horizontal orientation beneath of the array of filter bags 76. In use, the airstream has to travel upwards around the second baffle members 82 to pass through the array of filter bags 76. Preferably each second baffle 25 member 82 comprises a pair of substantially planar surfaces joined at right angles to each other. Once again the same principles applies: when the dust laden airstream encounters a barrier arranged substantially orthogonally to the direction of the flow of the airstream, approximately half of the dust falls out of the airstream. Hence the planar surfaces of the second baffle 30 members 82 assist in further extracting dust particles from the airstream. Any 11 remaining fine dust particles are substantially removed from the airstream by the array of filter bags 76. It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing 5 embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.

Claims

1. A sampling system comprising: a diverter element having an inlet and first and second outlets; 5 a first cyclone having a first intake in communication with the first outlet of the diverter element; and a second cyclone having a second intake in communication with the second outlet of the diverter element; wherein, in use, when drilled material entrained in an air flow enters the inlet 10 of the diverter element, a proportion of the airflow and entrained material exits via the first outlet into the first cyclone and the remainder of the airflow and entrained material exits via the second outlet into the second cyclone.

2. A sampling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the diverter element comprises a first chamber and second chamber, the inlet and the first outlet 15 being at opposite ends of the first chamber and the second outlet being located at an end of the second chamber adjacent the first outlet.

3. A sampling system as defined in claim 2, wherein an aperture is provided in a wall between the first and second chambers and a portion of airflow and drilled material is diverted by an angled vane extending into the 20 first chamber to flow through the aperture into the second chamber.

4. A sampling system as defined in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first and second chambers may be elongate having generally rectangular cross sections.

5. A sampling system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, 25 wherein the first intake of the first cyclone is located adjacent the second intake of the second cyclone. 13

6. A sampling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the diverter element comprises a single chamber of elongate configuration, having the inlet and the second outlet at opposite ends of the chamber.

7. A sampling system as defined in claim 6, wherein an aperture forming 5 the first outlet is provided in a wall of the chamber, and a portion of the airflow and drilled material is diverted by an angled vane extending into the chamber to flow through the aperture into the first cyclone.

8. A sampling system as defined in claim 7, wherein the first intake of the first cyclone is located some distance from the second intake of the second 10 cyclone.

9. A sampling system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the airflow in the first and second cyclones is rotating in opposite directions.

10. A sampling system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, 15 wherein the air with entrained drilled material is delivered to the inlet of the diverter element by a conduit.

11. A sampling system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a conveyor is provided to transport material exiting the first cyclone.

12. A sampling system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, 20 wherein the second cyclone is provided with a splitter such that material exiting the second cyclone is split into two samples. Dated this 21 day of June 2013 Paul James Kennedy 25 by his Patent Attorneys Janet Stead & Associates