Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the extraction of solids by hydraulic means.

Background to the Invention

Manufacturers have previously made efforts to transmit solids, for example coal particulates over various distances and for various purposes. One particular field in which the transportation of solid particulates over a very large distance is fundamental, is in relation to mining, and in particular, coal mining. Coal mining for coal, is a huge industry. Coal is commonly generated into energy which can then be converted to, among other things, electricity. Coal mining requires the extraction of coal from underground or surface mines and the transportation of the coal thereof from the mines to be refined. The present invention is most relevant to underground coal mining. Underground coal mining and deep coal mining, usually requires mining at depths of 100 metres to 2000 metres. During underground and deep coal mining processes, coal particulates from the mine are required to be transported from mine shafts to the surface.

A present method used for the transmittal and transportation of coal from a mine shaft to the surface, includes a rope winder system. This system is widely used in many and various forms throughout the deep mining industry world wide. The technique has also been used in the construction industries.

A rope winding mechanism consists of two large, heavy skips or cages.

These are bound by ropes to form a pulley mechanism. In general, two skips or cages are used in tandem so that as one skip is loaded with coal at the bottom of the mine shaft, a second skip is being emptied at the top of the mine. Once the skip at the bottom of the mine has been loaded, this skip is then wound up along the rope winder towards the surface of the mine whilst the unloaded skip is lowered down to the bottom of the shaft down the rope winder system. This method is a classic one up "one down continuous system". This constitutes one cycle, The cycle is continuously repeated.

In order to achieve shaft capacity, i.e. to gain maximum efficiency of coal unloading and loading, in a common rope winder system, an acceleration and braking system is usually implemented in order to reduce the rope winder cycle time.

When the skips or cages are moving away from either the loading / unloading end points the pulley system is accelerated, however, as the skips are transported towards its end point for one cycle, the pulley system is then required to be braked.

This leads to inherent problems with the system. Firstly, the present rope winder mechanism requires a huge power generation which in turn creates a heavy demand on electricity in order to achieve a high shaft capacity. Furthermore, large sporadic demands for electricity are required in order to cope with the indicative nature of the system in terms of braking and acceleration. This process is hugely expensive, increasing the overhead costs of mining at any particular shaft, therefore, increasing the amount of coal required to be mined within a certain period in order to achieve a revenue over and above that of overhead costs. This can put heavy strain on this system. In order to increase cycle time, the rope winder system is accelerated. Large amounts of electricity is required in order to generate acceleration up to speeds which counter act gravitational pull. However, every time the system is braked, the acceleration energy of the winding cycle is lost, therefore, power needs to be continuously generated after breaking. This is an extremely expensive process.

Due to the many variables of the rope winder system, a further problem is that the winding system requires manual operation and constant manual supervision. 24 hour monitoring of the system is required as the components of the system are liable to constant wear and tear. A primary source of wear is the ropes themselves. Due to the nature of the rope winding system, a knocking of skips against the shaft walls or by inter-skip knocking can cause the ropes securing the cages to tear or un-knot. In an extreme case, a tearing or unknotting of a rope in a winding system could cause a "bird cage" effect, whereby all the ropes securing any one skip loosen and release from the skip so that the skip will fall down the shaft. This provides for an extreme safety hazard of the rope winder process, to the workers mining the coal and to the workers monitoring the rope winder system.

In a typical mine shaft, there are usually located two shafts, a downcast and an up-cast. The two shafts relate to the ventilation mode whereby clean air will enter the mine via the downcast and air dust, gas and water vapour will be released from the mine into the earth's atmosphere via the up-cast. As a result, in current modes of solid transportation, systems cannot be installed in the up- cast due to the poor quality of ventilation.

As a result, there is a need for a system which is more cost and time efficient, energy efficient, safer, and provides for an automated or partially automated monitoring and control system. A further problem faced by this challenge is the fact that any one single mineshaft will be of different dimensions to that of another mineshaft. Therefore, an installation method and/or service system is required so that a transportation system can be tailored to any one mineshaft by means of easy installation and use of such a system.

Hydraulic systems have been disclosed for the process of hydraulically mining coal, that is the process of breaking and cutting coal from a mineshaft wall or base. For example, US 4094549 discloses a method for hydraulically mining coal whereby an entry is driven upwardly through a panel of coal to a predetermined terminus and a fluming system, which slopes in the same direction as the entry, is installed in the entry. A monitor is positioned in the entry and a high-pressure jet of water from the monitor is employed to cut coal from the face area of the panel of coal. The cut and broken coal is then further broken with a jet of high pressure water from a second monitor positioned in the entry and located near the face area. The broken coal is then fed to the fluming system and transported through the flume with the aid of gravity as a coal-water slurry.

Furthermore, US 4685840 proposes a method of transporting large diameter solids, such as coal having a diameter of greater than one inch, preferably 8 to 12 inches, predicated on pipe diameter, in the form of a slurry through a pipe line. US 4685840 further discloses a method comprising the step of placing large diameter solids in a vehicle and pumping it through a pipeline. The specific gravity of the vehicle is substantially equal to the specific gravity of the solids so that the coal remains in suspension with a wide range of pipeline velocities. A lubricant is added to the vehicle to reduce friction and enhance energy efficiency of the process. The coal is pumped from a pumping tank into which the solids and the vehicle are introduced, the pumping tank, after filling, is pressurized with a fluid such as air or inert gas to propel the mixture through the pipeline. This pump and its valving allow large diameter solids to be pumped through the pipeline. The large diameter of the solids reduces the apparent viscosity of slurry to greatly reduce friction and further enhance energy efficiency.

However, the cited prior art documents and methods outlined above, do not solve all of the problems discussed.

The present invention aims to solve all of the above mentioned problems, by way of a method for the transportation of coal or other said particulars via a hydraulic system. In light of the matters discussed, there is an inherent need for a system for transporting coal from a mineshaft to the earths surface which relative to the shaft capacity requires minimal energy to run the system whilst also being time efficient. There is also a need for the system to be safe non- hazardous in relation to existing systems and to incorporate a fully or semi- automated monitoring and control means. Furthermore, there is required a monitoring system for the continual maintenance of the transportation system as well as the a simple installation method and procedure. Furthermore, the present invention provides for a system that may be installed and implementing in any shaft of a mine regardless of the ventilation mode i.e. either in the downcast or the up-cast of a mine.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect there is provided a hydraulic solid transportation system suitable for the transportation of coal particulates from a mine said system comprising:

a pump; a down pipe; at least one hopper; an up pipe;

wherein said pump pumps fluid down said down pipe; and

formation of a particulate-fluid suspension occurs in said hopper; and

by means of fluid pressure, said fluid purges the particulates from the hopper and along said up pipe.

Preferably said at least one hopper is a pressure hopper.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system, further comprises a particulate conveying means for transporting particulates to said at least one pressure hopper.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system, further comprises a separation chamber for separation of said particulate fluid suspension. Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system comprises at least one throttle valve located on said up pipe.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system comprises at least one throttle valve located on said down pipe.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system, said up pipe and said down pipe are connected by at least one cross pipe.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system, the flow across the pipe of fluid, or said particulate-fluid suspension, is controlled by a control valve.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system comprises a vortex inducing means located on at least one cross pipe.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system comprises at least one secondary back up pump.

Preferably said fluid is injected into said at least one pressure hopper by at least one vortex scour injector.

Preferably said hydraulic solid transportation system comprises at least one vortex scour injector controlled by at least one control valve.

Preferably said vortex scour injector, has a vortex inducer to induce a vortex in said at least one pressure hopper.

Said at least one pressure hopper may be inclined.

Maybe said hydraulic at least one pressure hopper is at least two dual pressure hoppers, wherein whilst a first pressure hopper is purged of particulates by an injection of said fluid, a second pressure hopper is filled by particulates via said conveying means.

Maybe, once said pressure hopper has been purged of particulates by an injection of said fluid, the fluid in said first pressure hopper can be transferred to the said second pressure hopper by injection in order to purge particulates from the said second pressure hopper.

Maybe said at least one pressure hopper can be fluid locked from the system by the control of at least one control valve.

Maybe said fluid used in the hydraulic transportation system can be recycled.

Preferably said particulate conveying means is a screw conveyor.

Preferably at least one pressure hopper comprises at least one breather valve.

Maybe said hydraulic solid transportation system comprises a two stage cyclone system located towards the exit of the said up pipe.

According to a second aspect there is provided a monitor and control system for the automated surveillance and control of a hydraulic solid transportation system suitable for the transportation of coal particulates from mines said monitor and control system comprising:

a monitoring means to monitor fluid flow and rate at a plurality of locations; a remote control system

wherein said remote control system will monitor the fluid flow and rate via the said monitoring means and will respond to anomalies in the flow rate by auto- correction of the transportation system to maintain a constant programmed flow rate of the fluid.

Maybe said monitor and control system for the automated surveillance and control of a hydraulic solid transportation system comprises a Doppler ultrasonic flow meter.

Maybe said monitoring means comprises at least one water-proof CCTV camera located at least one location on the inner walls of a piping frame work of the said hydraulic solid transportation system.

Maybe said monitor and control system for the automated surveillance and control of a hydraulic solid transportation system comprises a breather pipe and breather valve for investigative access of visual recordable instruments to monitor the said fluid flow and rate of the hydraulic solid transportation system.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method of installation and securing of a hydraulic solid transportation system suitable for the transport of coal particulates in a mine shaft;

wherein said hydraulic solid transportation system is lowered into a predetermined position suitable for efficient hydraulic solid transportation by means of a laser guidance tool; said hydraulic solid transportation system is secured in said predetermined position by one or a series of cradle means.

Preferably said cradle means comprises at least one tell-tale bolt.

Preferably said cradle comprises at least one spine girder.

According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a method of transporting coal particulates from a mine, said method comprising: pumping the fluid along a down pipe into said mine;

forming a particulate-fluid suspension consisting of said coal particulates and said fluid; and

pumping said fluid particulates suspension along an up pipe to a position outside said mine.

Preferably in said method, said fluid is injected into at least one hopper by at least one vortex scour injector.

Preferably in said method, said at least one vortex scour injector is controlled by at least one control valve.

Preferably in said method, said at least one hopper comprises at least two dual pressure hoppers wherein whilst a first pressure hopper is purged of particulates by an injection of said fluid, a second pressure hopper is filled by particulates via a conveying means; and

once said hopper has been purged of particulates by an injection of said fluid, the fluid in said first hopper can be transferred to the said second hopper by injection in order to purge particulates from the said second hopper.

Brief Description of the Drawings For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processing according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows an overview of the hydraulic transportation system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention including a view of the water recycle circuit.

Figure 2A shows a birds eye view of a mine shaft to compare the dimensions of the present invention with existing rope winder systems.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 shows a section of the vertical piping network of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4A shows a birds eye view of the cradle installation system of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows a section of the piping network of an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows a dual pressure hopper system in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 shows an inclined flush hopper system in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 8 shows the dual pressure hopper system in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 shows a graph outlining the coal output in relation to the flow rate of the hydraulic solid transportation system.

Figure 10 shows a cradle installation method in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well- known methods and structures have not been described so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description.

Figure 1 comprises primary breaker 100, hopper 1 10, slow scalp belt feeder

120, sizer 130, chain conveyor 140, screw conveyor 150, pressure hopper 160, drain holding tank 170, vortex scour injector 180, drain 190, scour jets 200, hp pump injector 210, sump 220, up-pipe 230, down-pipe 240, cross pipe 250, cross pipe valves 260, throttle valves 270, throttle valve 280, pump one 280, pump two with diesel standby 300, two stage cyclone 310, primer agitator pump 320, black water reservoir 330, pressure variation chart 340.

Figure 2 comprises vortex inducers 400 incremental pipe and frame section 410, pipe system anchorage means 420, throttle valve 270, throttle valve 280, high range pump 440, primer 450, derwater and preparation system 460, diesel power pump 470, recycle water circuit 480, sump 490.

Figure 2A shows cradle 1500, shaft wall 1510, skip compartments 1520.

Figure 3 shows vortex scour injectors 500 and control valve 510, control valve 520.

Figure 4 shows incremental pipe 600, cross pipe 610, heavy side bolting and cradle 620, spine girder 630, direction of flow 640.

Figure 5 shows incremental pipe section 700, cross pipe 710, vortex inducer 730, spine girder hook 740. Figure 6 shows dual pressure hopper 800, breather and breather valve 810, breather and breather valve 820, screw conveyor 830, fast screw solids filler 840, down-pipe 850, up-pipe 860, regulator valve 870, valve 880, valve 890, flow regulated by bypass 900, hopper 1 910, hopper 2 820, vortex scour injector 930, vortex scour injector 940, control valve 950, control valve 960.

Figure 7 shows inclined flush hopper 1000, breather and breather valve 1010, screw conveyor 1020, screw conveyor valve 1030, down pipe 1040, valve 1050, emergency drain sump 1060, scour jets 1070, scour valves 1080, vortex scour injector 1090, drain 1100, drain pipe 1110, up pipe 1120, valve 1130.

Figure 8 shows dual pressure hoppers 1200, control valve 1210, vortex scour injector 1220, vortex scour injector 1230, cross pipe 1240, multi-section construction 1250, up-pipe 1260, down-pipe 1270, regulator valves 1280, breather and breather valve 1290, breather and breather valve 1300, screw conveyor valves 1310, regulator valves 1320.

Figure 9 shows a graph showing ratio of speed of flow of hydraulic solids transportation system in ratio 2 the amount of coal produced from a mineshaft (in millions of tons).

Figure 10 shows cradle 1400, tell-tale bolts 1410, monitor lines 1420, cables 1430, air compression 1440, hydraulic pressure regulators 1450.

Referring to Figure 1 herein, there is shown a primary breather 100. The primary breaker is a generic system and method for removing, drilling and/or breaking coal from the interior of a mineshaft. Once the coal has been extracted from the walls, ceiling or floor of the mineshaft, coal particulates of various sizes, are transferred to a hopper 110. Preferably the sizer sizes the particulate to between 0mm to 100mm. Hoppers for this principal use can usually support approximate 350 tonnes of coal. At the hopper mouth, coal particulates are then transferred onto a slow scalp belt feeder 120 in which the particulates are then transported to a sizer 130. A sizer is designed for primary or secondary sizing of coals, industrial minerals and ores. Sizers are generally seen as extremely rugged and utilize sizing rotors in a variety of tooth patterns which can size solids to an appropriate size. A sizer usually further comprises a crushing chamber.

For the purposes of the present invention, sizer 130 would likely size coal particulars into sizes between Omm to 15mm in diameter, however alternatively various sizes could be used as to break coal particulars into sizes outside of this range.

Chain conveyor 140 is shown to transport coal from sizer 130 to screw conveyor 150. A chain conveyor generally comprises interlocking metal links which is motorized to form a transport belt on which solids can be transported from one area to another. A screw conveyor is usually in the form of a rotary screw on which solids are placed on the thread of the screw and can be transported via rotation to the "point" end of the screw. Screw conveyor 150 will transport coal particulates which have been sized in sizer 130 to a pressure hopper 160 or plurality of hoppers. Screw conveyor 150 allows for easy access of coal particulates to said hopper 160 or plurality of hoppers.

It should be noted that after the stage of extraction of coal using primary breaker 100, that trampirons and other unsuitable materials including ores and other minerals would generally be removed from the crude coal solids with the utilization of well-known methods and processes, for example the use of magnets.

Furthermore, it should also be known that sizer 130 may comprise a machine or bank of machines which are suitable to prepare coal particulates for the injection and transmittal through the hydraulic solid transportation system. In a preferred embodiment, the crushing sizer machine will be operated in a fluid bath or in the presence of a high moisture content in order to eliminate any hazard risk. This is due to the coal dust in a dry atmosphere giving rise to highly combustible conditions. Due to the strict grading requirements of the hydraulic solid transportation system, re-circulation of oversized coal particulates may be required. The screw conveyor 150 may be similar to those used on large circulatory tunneling machines. However, various other feeding systems for injecting pressure hopper vessels 160 with solids may be used, for example by a compressed air system, by simple gravity feed, or via a slurry pump whereby the said slurry pump is connected directly to the pressure hopper 160 via a valved pipe which could be filled from any point of the vessel regardless of capacity. It is important to note however that any such feed must be capable of supply of coal particulates on a scale as to meet the demands of the mine shaft capacity and allow maximum efficiency of the hydraulic solids transportation system.

In Figure 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, coal particulates will be transported from the screw conveyor 150 into pressure hopper 160. The screw conveyor valve will then be closed. Water from down- pipe 240 will then be injected into hopper 160 via means of scour jets 200 in order to form a suspension of coal particulars in water. The injection of water into the pressure hopper will cause the purging of the coal-water slurry up up-pipe 230 upon control of throttle valve 280. The velocity of pumping will be controlled via throttle valves 270 and 280 which may be in the form of a control valves in which the valves can be opened or closed to incremental hole diameters in order to increase or decrease water pressure.

Between up-pipe 230 and down-pipe 240 are cross pipes 250 which, in a preferred embodiment are located at incremental heights along the up- pipe/down-pipe system. In a preferred embodiment the cross pipes will be substantially angled at 45° in an upwardly direction from the down-pipe end to the up-pipe end to the cross pipe. The cross pipes 250 allow for fluid to be transferred from down pipe 240 to up pipe 230. The cross pipes incorporate a pumping means for increasing the flow rate of the coal-water slurry travelling up the up-pipe 230. The actuated force of the pumping means will be controlled via control valves 260 located substantially on each and every cross pipe. The location of cross pipes at incremental heights of the up-pipe/down-pipe piping system will allow movement and transportation of the coal-water slurry up the up-pipe to be locally controlled. For example, if there was a blockage at a height of 100 metres, or a slow in flow rate at this height, then a cross pipe pump located directly beneath this level would be able to induce and increase the flow rate of the coal-water slurry directly above it in order to remedy the blockage or to increase the flow rate at that particular section.

Furthermore, each and every cross pipe in a preferred embodiment will be fitted with a vortex inducer 400. Vortex inducers in an embodiment of the present invention will act to create a vortex in the up-pipe to increase the flow of the coal- water slurry up the up-pipe 230.

Vortex can be described as any flow possessing water velocity, for example an eddy, whirlpool or other rotary motions.

In other embodiments, vortex inducers may by implemented to induce a vortex in other parts of the hydraulic solid transportation system.

In accordance with Figure 1 , pressure hopper 160 may include a drain 190 which links to a drain holding tank 170. Drain holding tank 170 may be attached to a high pressure pump injector 210 which is able to pump water back from the drain holding tank into the pressure hopper 160 allowing for a recycling of water and thus water efficiency. A draining of liquid in pressure hopper 160 into drain holding tank 170 will allow for coal particulates to re-enter the pressure hopper via screw conveyor 150.

Located substantially towards the surface mouth of the mine shaft will be pump one 290. Pump one is a standard generator, electricity or alternative energy source which will act to generate and increase as well as decrease the flow rate of the fluid in the transportation system. If there is a failure in pump one an automated or manual system will be in place in which pump two with a diesel standby 300 will come into affect so that pump two will take over the role of pump one in generating energy and therefore fluid pressure to increase the flow rate of the hydraulic transportation system.

The incremental pressure of fluid in the down-pipe will increase in proportion to the depth of the down-pipe beneath the earth's surface 340. For example, the internal pressure of the down-pipe when at the depth of between 10-20 metres from the mineshaft mouth is likely to be to the order of 100psi.

However, further down the down-pipe at a depth which is much greater, the pressure increase may be equivalent to 1000-1200psi. The difference in pressure provides for an advantage of locating pump one 290 and/or pump two 300 substantially near the top of said down-pipe 240.

The pressure changes in up-pipe 230 are likely to be of similar proportion of that of those in the down-pipe. However, the difference in pressure (in psi) is likely to be 1.0:1.2 between the down-pipe and up-pipe at any given depth.

Once the coal-water slurry exits up-pipe 230 at an exit located substantially towards the surface of a mineshaft, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the coal-water slurry will then filter through a two-stage cyclone system 310. The cyclone system acts to filter the impurities from the coal-water slurry. A black water reservoir 330 will prevail which will substantially consist of coal and water. A primer agitator pump 320 and various other separation techniques will then be used to separate the water from the coal particulates to provide for a crude coal product.

Vortex inducers 400 may further work to push or break coal particulars which had not been suitable sized in sizer 130 or any other primary or secondary sizer which may lead to a fallback of coal particulars. A fallback situation may occur if a coal particulate is too heavy or dense and the action of one pump is not sufficient to combat the act of gravity so that the coal particulate can not be pumped up the up-pipe to the system's exit. This provides a further advantage of the cross pipes 250 and vortex inducers 400 as this system can provide for an additional "boost" to pump any larger coal particulates up the up-pipe.

The down-pipe 240 is situated to provide fluid to the pressure hopper 160 for the purposes of purging the contents of solids by means of water pressure induced by the opening of the throttle valve 270.

The pressure hopper valves will then be closed when solids have been fully purged and the re-filling of solids is re-commenced. The up-pipe 230 will be positioned as to allow entry of solids from the depressurized hopper to the up- pipe.

The throttle valve 270 is fitted into the base of the down-pipe in order to raise the pressure to the down-pipe 240 thus increasing the differential pressures at each cross pipe 250 connection to the fluid in the up-pipe 230. This will give rise to the increase flow of the fluid in the up-pipe 230, thus again controlling any fallback.

In another embodiment of the present invention, pump one 290 will consist of two electrical high volume pumps (one main and one on standby), and pump two will consist of two diesel emergency high volume pumps. Both pump one

290 and pump two 300 will be able to vary the flow and will have orifice control.

Figure 2 shows the circulatory nature of the water flow in the hydraulic solid transportation system. Water from the black water reservoir in figure 1 is recycled and primed so that it flows through the high range pump 440 and can be pumped into the down pipe ready to purge the coal from the pressure hoppers in the system. It should be noted that the recycled water is unlikely to be 100% pure and thus any recycled water entering the down pipe may have a low density suspension of coal or other particulates. Alternatively however, multiple filtration and distillation systems may be introduced into the transportation system in order to purify any recycled water.

The incremental pipe and frame section 410 and pipe system anchorage 420 is herein shown in figure 2. An incremental frame section is advantageous for the manufacture and positioning of a hydraulic solid transportation system and also allows for an adjustment in the height of the said hydraulic solid transportation systems in accordance with the height and depth of a mine shaft, however alternatively, the piping system may be manufactured as one whole welded piece, or a combination of piping frame work. Figure 2 also highlights a throttle valve 270 and 280 located substantially towards the bottom of the down pipe and the bottom of the up pipe. The throttle valves 270 and 280 can increase or decrease the pressure in either the up pipe or the down pipe. An increase of pressure in the down pipe by adjustment of a throttle valve will have an effect on the pump power of the cross pipes 250, as this will increase the surge of pressure through the cross pipes from the down pipe to the up pipe, thus in turn will increase the flow rate in the up pipe. An increase in the flow rate in the up pipe will invariably increase the productivity of the transportation of coal from the coal mine shaft to the surface.

Primer 450 is a general mechanism which may be used in the system in order to prepare the water so that it is at a suitable grade to be recycled in the hydraulic solid transportation system.

Both up-pipe and down-pipe may be fully drained to sump 490 or a holding tank and pump. This will enable an emergency drainage of the whole hydraulics solid transportation system. A secondary diesel powered back-up pump 470 is shown to be used in the event of a high range pump 440.

Once the particulate-fluid suspension reaches the exit of the up pipe, the slurry is transported to a dewater and preparation system 460 for separation of the crude coal from the slurry.

Figure 2A shows the shaft wall 1510 to which the cradle will secure the piping system to by means of heavy bolting. The cradle framework 1500 will then be secured at incremental lengths down the length of the vertical piping to which the heavy side bolting will be secured into the mine shaft wall with the support of the spine girder (as shown in figure 4). Although a cradle and securing means for the hydraulic solid transportation system has been disclosed, alternative methods and variations may be used to secure the system. Figure 2A also gives an indication of the space a hydraulic solid transportation system would take up in relation to the circumference of a skip rope winder system 1520. The present invention is likely to use minimal space in a mine shaft compared to existing systems to transport coal.

Figure 3 shows a vortex scour injection system 500. Vortex scour injection system 500 may be used in an embodiment of the invention to purge the pressure hoppers of coal up the up pipe. As well as pumping water through the jets of the vortex scour injection system, the vortex scour injection system also comprises a vortex inducing means which will create a vortex within the pressure hopper which will substantially increase the rate of purging of the coal-water slurry from the pressure hopper. Once the coal-water slurry has been purged from the pressure hopper, the remaining water will be drained. After drainage, more coal particulates are fed into the receiver pressure hopper via the screw conveyor. At this point the receiver pressure hopper will be under a fluid lock (similar to an airlock) by the closing of the hopper to the hydraulic system by the closure of valves 520. Once the pressure hopper is filled with coal particulates, the valves 520 are re-opened and the vortex scour injection system acts to purge the pressure hopper of coal particulates and direct the coal particulates in a coal- water slurry suspension up the up pipe. The cycle is then restarted.

Figure 4 shows a zoomed in version of the incremental pipes 600 and furthermore, shows heavy side bolting 620 in which the piping system will be bolted to the mine walls. Preferably, a spine girder 630 will be attached in between the down pipe 640 and up pipe in order to stabilize the framework of the hydraulic solid transportation system. In a preferred embodiment, the piping frame work may be manufactured to approximately 10 metre incremental lengths that each incremental section can be slotted into one an other in order to achieve a relevant height of the piping frame work in accordance with the depth of the mine shaft. The up pipe and down pipe preferably is linked by a cross-pipe 6110 at every incremental length.

Figure 4A shows a birds eye view of the cradle installation means. A securing framework 1610 will secure the piping framework 1630 to the mine shaft wall 1640 by means of tell-tale bolts 1600 the cradle structure will be stabilized by means of a spine girder which will run through the middle of the piping framework in between the up pipe and down pipe of a hydraulic solid transportation system.

Figure 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention whereby incremental piping length structures 700 of approximately 30 foot whereby a plurality of incremental piping structures can be linked together by means of hook and eye securing means or hook and bolt securing means. 740. Figure 5 also shows a cross piping structure 710 connecting the up pipe and down pipe.

Figure 5 also shows a control valve 750 for controlling the flow rate and pressure of any fluids or particulates crossing between the down pipe and up pipe. There is also shown a vortex inducing means 730 located on cross pipe 710 for inducing a vortex in fluids passing along the up pipe.

Figure 6 shows a dual pressure hopper with a breather and breather valve 810 and 820 located on a first hopper 910 and second hopper 920 as a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a dual hopper system is used to expediate the cycle time. After hopper 910 has been purged of coal particulates by vortex scouring injector 930 and transported to up pipe 860 via hopper exit 950, so that coal can not flow up the up pipe 860, hopper 910 is fluid locked. Whilst hopper 910 is being purged, hopper 920 can be filled with coal particulates via screw conveyor 840. Fluid can not be transferred from hopper 910 to hopper 920 at this stage as regulator valves 870, 880 and 890 are all closed. Once both hopper 910 has been purged and hopper 920 has been filled, regulator valves 880 and 890 are both opened so that fluid can be transferred from hopper 910 to hopper 920 in order to purge coal particulates from hopper 2 using the vortex scour injector to pump the particulates up the up pipe 860 via hopper exit 960. Regulator valve 890 is then closed and coal particulates can then be filled up in to hopper 910 via the screw conveyor 840 and the cycle restarted.

A dual system is preferred however only one hopper maybe used or a number of hoppers in order to increase or decrease cycle time. A flow regulator bypass 900 may also be located to connect down pipe and up pipe as a bypass of the pressure hopper system. The control of the liquid flow through flow regulated bypass 900 is controlled via regulator valve 870. A flow regulated bypass system may be introduced in order to control water flow around the hydraulic solid transportation system in the event that water pressure is decreased during the filling or purging of the hopper or dual pressure hopper system.

Figure 7 shows a preferred embodiment of current invention where at least one of the hoppers is inclined 1000 such that the hopper is at a gradient so that fluid and or a coal-water slurry will move by gravity towards the entrance to the up pipe. As per figure 7, a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be that the vortex scour injector system 1090 is located substantially towards the bottom of the said inclined flush hopper 1000. There is also located on the inclined flush hopper a breather and a breather valve 1010. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, valves 1080 may be adjusted in size of the orifice in order to increase or decrease the pressure of the fluid flushing in to the inclined hopper via the scour jets 1070. This will in turn control the rate at which coal is purged up the up pipe 1120 and out of the system. Breather and breather valve 1010 is located in order to release or increase the pressure in the inclined flush hopper in accordance with the hydraulic solid transportation system requirements. Via the breather and breather valve, air pressure water vapour may also be used in order to purge coal particulates from the hopper in to the up pipe. Fluid may then be injected via the vortex scour injector system in order to purge the air out and create a continuous hydraulic flow in order to pump the coal particulates up the up pipe.

Located substantially towards the bottom of the hopper is a drain 1100 with an open and close valve 1110. This will allow for water to be drained out of the hopper and to an emergency sump 1060 as a safety precaution. Valve 1050 is located on the down flow pipe 1040 at a height lower than that of the connector to the vortex fluid supply system of which when valve 1050 is opened, water may be released in an emergency to the sump 1060. Valve 1030 controls the intake of coal particulates into the hopper via screw conveyor 1020.

Figure 8 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprising a dual pressure hoppers 1200. Located on the dual pressure hoppers are breathers and breather valves 1290 and 1300. The breather valves when opened can allow air or water vapour into the hoppers in order to increase the pressure thus increasing the rate of purging of coal particulates from the hopper to the up pipe 1260. The breather valves may also be opened in order to release pressure from the hopper when the pressure in the system is at hazardous levels.

Figure 8 also shows multi-section construction elements 1250 to the dual pressure hoppers. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dual pressure hoppers may be constructed in sections and welded or bolted together in a substantially water and air tight manner to form a complete pressure hopper. However, alternatively, the dual pressure hoppers may be molded and installed as a single unit.

Figure 8 also shows a two way valve 1210 located on the vortex scouring system 1220 and 1230 at a position of the piping network 1240 which links dual pressure hopper 1 with dual hopper pressure 2. The two way valve 1210 allows for fluids to be transferred between dual pressure hopper 1 and dual pressure hopper 2.

The use of a dual pressure hopper system is advantageous to maintain a continuity of coal particulates supply to the up pipe. As one dual pressure hopper is being purged of coal particulates in a coal transportation cycle, the other hopper is being filled with coal particulates. Furthermore, the drainage of water from the purged pressure hopper, to the hopper which is filled with coal particulates, reduces water loss and reduces the cycle time as the drained water can be used to purge the hopper with coal particulates. In a preferred embodiment, one hopper is always in cyclic opposition to the secondary hopper in order to maximize coal particulate transportation output.

Closure of control valves 1310, 1320 and regulator valves 1270 can allow for a pressure hopper or combination of pressure hoppers to be fluid locked.

Figure 9 shows a graph showing the speed of water flow in the up pipe in miles per hour in proportion to the percentage coal output in million tones per annum. It can be seen clearly that the increase in flow rate of the system will proportionately increase the output of coal particulates.

The change in flow rate can be adjusted by an increase or decrease in orifice size of the cross pipe valves, the vortex scour injection control valves or any of the regulator valves which are located on the up pipe, down pipe or dual pressure hoppers. As mentioned previously, problems may occur in this system whereby there is a blockage in the up pipe or there is a fall back problem with regards to large dense particulates which are too heavy to counteract the pull of gravity. In order to combat this problem, cross pipes with vortex inducers and pumping means can be used to increase the energy pushing coal particulates up the up pipe. However, there is also a need to monitor the source of where this problem is in the system so that a particular valve located near the source of the problem can be altered.

It is preferential that one or a combination of valves may be altered at any one time in order to maximize energy efficiency without having to alter every valve in the system when there is only a small local problem. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an automated or semi-automated monitoring device disclosed so that areas of distress in the system can be instantly corrected by a combination of valve corrections controlled by a control centre. The control centre is designed and calibrated to respond with the correct force and timing of force, to correct the transportation system to the required flow pattern. All valves and monitors will be placed suitably to continuously monitor and to correct the systems to suit the changing demands in order to produce an efficient transportation of coal particulates.

Therefore, a control monitor system will minimize the amount of water or fluid used compared with the weight of solid particulates raised up the up pipe.

A Doppler type monitoring system may be used. A Doppler system is a navigational aid which operates at a high frequency and utilizes a wide aperture radiation system to reduce errors caused by reflection from terrain or other obstacles. Specifically, a Doppler ultrasonic flow meter may be used at various points on the up pipe, down pipe, or dual pressure hoppers as an instrument for determining the velocity of fluid flow from the Doppler shift of high frequency sound waves reflected from particles or discontinuities in the flowing fluid. Therefore a Doppler ultrasonic flow meter monitoring system may be able to detect a change in the normal flow rate and therefore activate an automated control of the pump pressure and valve position at certain points in the hydraulic solids transportation system. Any anomaly detected by the flow rate monitor would cause an automated response by the system via an adjustment in valves or pump pressure in order to stabilize the flow rate at the place of distress. Although it is preferred that the monitoring system is automated, it may be the case that monitoring system is manually operated.

In order to provide for a monitoring system which is able to auto-correct, the measurement at normal flow rate must be carefully calibrated in order to create a memory of normal operating modes so that any monitoring system is able to then predict possible stress or potential failure of equipment so that the hydraulic solid transportation system can self right to its normal mode of operation.

An alternative method of monitoring the flow rate and suspension density of the coal-water slurry in the hydraulic solid transportations system would be to install water proof CCTV cameras at a plurality of points on the inner walls of the piping frame work so that the flow of the coal-water slurry could be monitored from a central location via television monitors. Workers who are monitoring the CCTV cameras would be able to get a visual monitor of a certain part of the transportation system and thus could react to abnormalities, for example fall back or blockage, by the adjustment of pump output or valve position.

In a preferred embodiment, a breather pipe may be located at one or various locations on the hydraulic solid transportation system with a valve control as an emergency facility to allow possible investigative access of the internal conditions of the system by CCTV or other audio visual devices. Investigations could be carried out during periodic maintenance cycles.

Figure 10 shows a birds eye view of a cradle construction 1400 for the installation of the hydraulic solid transportation system. The piping frame work 1460 of the hydraulic transportation system must be installed with great accuracy and provision and suitably secured in order to respond and deal with the variation of shocks and stresses associated with the use of substantial power applications at a plurality of points long and within the system.

The cradle is a frame work or other supporting means which may be used for the supporting or restraining of objects. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the piping framework system will be lowered down into the mine shaft in sections or as a whole using a laser guidance tool in order to lower the system into the exact correct positioning. Monitor lines 1420 and cable 1430 will be used to restrain the piping network and the system will be secured to the cradle. Tell tale bolts on 1410 will be used to secure the cradle and attach the piping system at the surface of the mine shaft.

To assist the suppression of dust, dry air and combustible coal particulars to reduce the combustibility on the conveying means, an alternative embodiment may allow for clean hydrant water from the hydraulics solid transportation system to be used to be sprayed in the form of water vapor within the vicinity of the conveying means in order to suppress the combustibility of dust, dry air and coal particulars.

It should also be noted that safety requirements required by differing national law and regulation can be readily implemented or the system altered in order to comply with said national laws and regulations.

Although valves, regulator valves and control valves have been mentioned, alternative valves may be used including but not limited to stop valves, one way valves, two way valves, and multi-directional valves.