AU2011256916B2

AU2011256916B2 - Material delivery method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2011256916B2
Application number: AU2011256916A
Authority: AU
Inventors: William John Campbell
Original assignee: Campbell Carole Ms
Current assignee: Campbell Carole Ms
Priority date: 2010-12-20
Filing date: 2011-12-20
Publication date: 2017-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-12-20
Also published as: AU2011256916A1

Description

2011256916 21 Feb 2017

MATERIAL DELIVERY METHOD AND APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for conveying or delivering cement or other similar materials into an underground site.

5 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

In mining operations it is often required to transport cement or cement based pastes deep into mine shafts to either fill the voids left by mining operations or to apply to the interior surface of the constructed mine shaft so as to provide protection from rock fall and increase the integrity of the shaft itself. 10 The most common method of transporting the cement based material into the mine shaft is to pre-mix the cement based material on the surface of the ground, typically at the mining site, the mixed cement material is then loaded into cement trucks which are then subsequently driven the length of the mine shaft to the site of application. At times such journeys can be quite long and can travel many kilometres. This journey 15 can be quite hazardous, the cement trucks themselves having to travel at low speed in quite hazardous conditions.

Typically the cement mixture being transported by truck has to be specially treated so that it does not set too quickly during the transportation of the cement mixture into the mine. It is standard practice to use either special chemical retardants/accelerators to 20 either slow down or increase the curing speed of the cement mixture as required.

Due to the inefficiencies and hazards associated with the transport of cement or other such material from the surface of a mine to its site of intended use further down deep within the mine itself there is a need to develop faster, more efficient and safer methods of delivery for such materials.

25 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 1

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to deliver cement material or cement mixtures from the surface of a mining site to within a mine shaft. 2011256916 21 Feb 2017

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least substantially ameliorate, the disadvantages and shortcomings of the prior art. 5 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taking in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 10 According to the present invention, although this should not be seen as limiting the invention in any way, there is provided a method of delivering material from a first location to a second remote location, the method including the steps of pre-mixing the material to be transported, placing slickline between the first and second locations, inserting a separation member into an interior opening of the slickline, 15 introducing the pre-mixed material into an opening in the slickline, placing a second separation member on top of the material, the separation member nestingly fitting within an internal diameter of the slickline, pumping of fluid, such as water, on top of the second separation member so that the weight of the fluid forces the first and second separation members down the slickline, taking with it the pre-mixed material 20 to be transported to the second location.

Other materials may also be transported by the present invention, such as premixed aggregate materials.

In preference, the first and second separation members have at least one scraper member positioned on the outer periphery of the separation member. 25 In preference, the at least one scraper member forms a seal between the separation member and the internal diameter of the slickline. 2

In preference, the slickline is a series of welded or seamless steel tubes connected together. 2011256916 21 Feb 2017

In preference, the fluid is water.

In preference, the material to be transported is shotcrete. 5 In preference, there is a separation valve to enable separation of the first liquid to a first outlet and the mixture to a second outlet

The term “slick line” or “slickline” defines a system of interconnected tubes or conduits arranged end to end and secured together (reversibly so that they can be un-joined) to provide a length of interconnected tubes from a first to a second point. 10 The interconnected tubes can be rigid or flexible depending on the use requirements.

In a further form of the invention there is a system when used to transfer material from a first to a second location, the system including at least one hollow conduit, a first and second separation member shaped to fit within the least one hollow conduit, a flow control means to control movement of the first and second separation 15 members down the least one hollow conduit.

In preference, there is a separation valve to enable separation of the first liquid to a first outlet and the mixture to a second outlet.

In yet a further form of the invention there is method of delivering a material from a first location to a second remote location, the method including the steps of: 20 a. placing at least one hollow conduit between the first and second locations; b. initially pre-filing the hollow conduit with a first volume of liquid; c. and then inserting a separation member into an interior opening of the hollow conduit; 3 d. introducing the material into an opening in the hollow conduit; 2011256916 21 Feb 2017 e. placing a second separation member on top of the material; f. wherein the separation members nestingly fitting within an internal diameter of the hollow conduit; 5 g. then removing the first volume of liquid in a controlled manner from the second remote location so as to allow the material to travel down the hollow conduit from the first location to the second remote location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example, an employment of the invention is described more fully the 10 renown for with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a first view of an embodiment of the invention without any material in the slickline;

Figure 2A shows material position between a first and second separation member in the slickline; 15 Figure 2 B shows the movement of the section with the cement material down the slickline due to removal of the water below the first separation member

Figure 3A shows the removal of the first separation member;

Figure 3B shows the flow of the cement material from the slick line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 20 In practice of the present invention, a mine shaft is constructed and an access shaft (2) is drilled connecting the surface or work surface (4) with a designated underground transfer area (5) in the mine shaft below, as shown in figure 1. The shaft (2) or conduit may be made by drilling a substantially vertical bore from the 4 surface of the earth or other such working surface to connect with the mine shaft. A slickline (10) for pumping material is then inserted into the shaft (2), the slickline (10) being constructed from welded or other seamless tubing that is connected together. The slickline (10) then extends down the length of the shaft (2) and a valve (12) or 5 other suitable regulating device is then attached to or fixed to the end (13) of the slickline (10) that enters the mine shaft (the remote location). 2011256916 21 Feb 2017

The slickline (10) is then substantially pre-filled with a liquid (11) prior to the insertion of the material to be transported to the remote location, typically water and a first separation member is inserted into the slickline so as to substantially reduce the 10 amount of liquid passing the first separation member (15a). Water (11) is then removed from the slickline (10), by opening the valve (12) taking the first separation member (15a) down with it and at the same time a pre-mixed material, such as a cement material (16), can be introduced into the slickline (10), the added weight of the cement material (16) on top of the first separation member (15a) assisting to 15 force the separation member (15a) down the slickline (10). At any time the flow of water (11) may be stopped by closing the valve 1 (2) thus stopping the progression of the first separation member (15) down the slickline (10), and cement material (16) can be continued to be added to the chamber formed behind the first separation member (15a) to a predefined volume. The actual volume of cement material (16) 20 itself being defined on the basis of the type of material being used and the length that it has to travel to the mine shaft below (remote location). Naturally, the longer the distance the material has to travel then potentially the greater amount of plasticizer or extender material that would need to be added in order to retard the material from curing. 25 A second separation member (15b) is then placed on top of the volume of cement (16) in the slickline, the second separation member (15b) being placed upon or inserted into the slickline so as to now create a substantially closed chamber containing the material (16)1. Water (17) is then inserted into the slickline (10) on top of the second separation member (15b) and then water (11) is then removed from 30 the slickline (10) in the mine shaft so allowing the first (15a) and second (15b) separation members to travel substantially vertically down the shaft with the cement 5 material (16) located or positioned between the two separation members. As additional water (17) is added to the top of the slickline (10) this helps to force the second separation (15b) member down the slickline (10) keeping the cement material between the two separation members. 2011256916 21 Feb 2017 5 When the bulk of the water (11) has been removed from the mine shaft end of the slickline then the first separation member (15a) can be isolated through a series of valves (12) or chambers and removed so that the cement material (16) can be accessed and utilised either by placing into various transporting means or introduced into a pump means to allow pumping of the cement material to the desired work site. 10 Once all the cement material (16) has been removed from the slickline (10) then the second separation member (15b) may then also be isolated and removed from the slickline shaft, the separation members then both being transported back to the work surface in due course.

Each of the separation members (15) fits within the internal diameter of the slickline 15 shaft (10) so as to substantially separate the material being transported, in this instance a cement material, from the liquid at either ends. As water is used this is effectively a non-compressionable material and therefore the separation members have to fit within the internal diameter of the slickline so that under pressure either water or the cement material is not forced out of its appropriate chamber into the 20 other as this may result in contamination of the system.

The separation members (15) can have a protruding flange around its outer diameter that urges against the internal wall of the slickline (10). The flange can be made from a suitably resilient material, such as a high strength rubber so as to act like a squeegee as it travels down the length of the slickline. 25 In the alternative, the flange can be constructed from a high resilient material such as a high impact plastic or metal material and spring loaded into place such that it is forced out from the separation member into the surface of the internal diameter of the slickline. As the separation members pass along the slickline the flange members 6 serve to clean and remove any debris left over on the interior diameter of the slickline surface. 2011256916 21 Feb 2017

This new method of delivering material from a first location to a second remote location within a mine shaft can potentially also be used in other situations, such as 5 the transportation of material into an open surface mine cutting and may also be employed where the slickline is positioned in a horizontal position.

The present invention brings an increased level of efficiency and safety to the delivery of material, and in particular cement based material to remote work locations, located within mine shafts that are otherwise difficult and/or hazardous to 10 deliver material via traditional means of transport.

Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction [and process steps, parameters of operation etc] without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. 7

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of delivering a material from a first location to a second remote location, the method including the steps of: a. placing at least one hollow conduit between the first and second locations; b. initially pre-filing the hollow conduit with a first volume of liquid; c. and then inserting a separation member into an interior opening of the hollow conduit; d. introducing the material into an opening in the hollow conduit; e. placing a second separation member on top of the material; f. wherein the separation members nestingly fitting within an internal diameter of the hollow conduit; g. then removing the first volume of liquid in a controlled manner from the second remote location so as to allow the material to travel down the hollow conduit from the first location to the second remote location.
2. The method of claim 1 further characterised in that a second volume of liquid is inserted into the hollow conduit on top of the second separation member so that the second volume of liquid forces the first and second separation members down the hollow conduit.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, further characterised in that the first and second separation members have at least one scraper member positioned on the outer periphery of the separation member and the at least one scraper member forms a seal between the separation member and the internal diameter of the hollow conduit.
4. The method of anyone of claims 1-3, further characterised in that the hollow conduit is a series of welded or seamless steel tubes connected together.
5. The method of anyone of claims 1 - 4, further characterised in that the liquid is water.
6. The method of any one of claims 1-5, further characterised in that the material is an aggregate material.
7. A system when used to transfer material from a first to a second location in accordance with the method of claim 1, the system including at least one hollow conduit, a first and second separation member shaped to fit within the least one hollow conduit, a pump for introducing a first liquid into the at least one hollow conduit, a pump for introducing a material to be transferred into the at least one hollow conduit; the first and second separation members separating the material from the first liquid and a flow control means to control movement of the first and second separation members down the least one hollow conduit by allowing removal of the first liquid from the at least hollow conduit.
8. The system of claim 8, further characterised in that the system further includes a separation valve to enable separation of the first liquid to a first outlet and the mixture to a second outlet.