LE ROUX PIETER WILLEM (ZA)
LE ROUX PIETER WILLEM (ZA)
| US0532183A | 1895-01-08 | |||
| GB874942A | 1961-08-16 | |||
| EP0383379B1 | 1993-05-12 | |||
| US5373652A | 1994-12-20 | |||
| US3161900A | 1964-12-22 |
PATENT CLAIMS
1. A method for mining, which includes the steps
(a) of providing a sweeping arrangement having an electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic operable brush; and
(b) of sweeping a geological structure and/or mine sweepings into a predetermined location and/or of loosening a geological structure and/or mine sweepings.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the geological structure and/or mine sweepings include precious stones and/or minerals and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines and/or platinum group metals and/or diamonds and/or chrome.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, which includes the step of collecting the swept precious stones and/or minerals and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines and/or platinum group metals and/or diamonds and/or chrome for further processing.
4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the geological structure is vertical, horizontal, slanted and/or a ceiling.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sweeping arrangement has a rotational brush.
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sweeping arrangement includes a supporting and/or pivoting arm.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which replaces known sweeping processes in mining processes.
8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is an additional and/or supplemental step in mining processes.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, in which the mining processes include pillar mining and/or stoping and/or sub-level stoping.
10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which is used to perform at least one of the following functions:
(a) to collect ore and/or mineral deposits;
(b) to collect fine material;
(c) to clean an area including a mining area;
(d) to clean a final layer of overburden in the mining processes;
(e) to open ridges; and
(f) to clean pre-blast areas.
11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which s used to clean and/or sweep of tailing in the mining processes.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11, in which the tailings include finely ground rock material that remains once all economically-valuable metals are removed.
13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes the step of providing a vacuum system adapted to collect or move swept and/or unswept material in conjunction with the sweeping arrangement.
14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sweeping arrangement is operable by means of an excavator and/or front- loader and/or any other machinery equipment provided with hydraulic, pneumatic and/or electrical operating means.
15. A sweeping arrangement for mining, which includes
(a) a supporting arm connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine;
(b) a rotational support head supported by the supporting arm;
(c) a rotational brush supported by the rotational support head; (d) electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means adapted to rotate the rotational brush; and
(e) central axis rotating means adapted to rotate the rotational support head about a central axis.
16. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 15, in which the central axis rotating means includes an electrical ac motor and/or dc motor and/or gearbox and/or rotary actuators and/or hydraulics and/or pneumatics.
17. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16, in which the central axis rotating means includes locking means.
18. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17, which is adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure on the rotational brush.
19. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 18, in which the downward pressure is applied by means of the pivoting member of the machine.
20. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 19, in which the rotational brush is adapted to be rotated multi-directional and/or about 360 degrees.
21. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 20, in which the supporting arm is extendable and/or telescopic.
22. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 21, in which the pivoting member is a bucket and/or a pivoting arm.
23. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 22, in which the machine is an excavator and/or a front-loader and/or applicable carrier.
24. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 23, which is adapted to be used for mining means.
25. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 24, in which includes suction means.
26. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 25, in which the suction means is adapted to collect swept and/or unswept material.
27. A sweeping arrangement for mining, which includes
(a) a supporting arm connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine and being adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure;
(b) a rotational brush supported by the supporting arm; and
(c) electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means adapted to rotate the rotational brush.
28. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 27, in which the central axis rotating means utilises an electrical ac motor and/or dc motor and/or gearbox and/or rotary actuators and/or hydraulics and/or pneumatics.
29. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 27 or claim 28, in which the central axis rotating means includes locking means.
30. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 29, which is adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure on the rotational brush.
31. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 30, in which the downward pressure is applied by means of the pivoting member of the machine.
32. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 31, in which the rotational brush is adapted to be rotated multi-directional and/or about 360 degrees.
33. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 32, in which the supporting arm is extendable and/or telescopic.
34. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 33, in which the pivoting member is a bucket and/or pivoting arm.
35. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 34, in which the machine is an excavator and/or a front-loader and/or applicable carrier.
36. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 35, which is adapted to be used for mining means.
37. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 36, in which includes suction means.
38. A sweeping arrangement as claimed in claim 37, in which the suctions means is adapted to collect swept and/or unswept material.
39. A sweeping arrangement for mining substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
40. A machine for mining including a sweeping arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
41. A method for mining substantially as hereinbefore described. |
METHOD FOR MINING
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for mining.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for mining in particular removing small traces of minerals and ores.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
Mining is the process of extracting metallic or non-metallic mineral deposits, including gemstones, from below the earth's surface. Mineral resources are mineral deposits in such form and quantity that mining of the mineral may be feasible. The location, grade, quality and quantity of ore are estimated from specific geological evidence. Mineral resources are subdivided based upon the confidence of estimated qualities of that resource. The ore is the rock which contains a mineral or a concentration of minerals and/or metals which can be mined.
A mine includes underground, subterranean excavation, quarry, pit and open cast. Furthermore, mining engineering is the branch of engineering chiefly concerned with the sinking and equipment of mineshafts and working, and al operations incidental to the winning and preparations of minerals.
Mining methods are devised for each deposit, with the result that there are many variations, including open pit, benches lode, shaft, raise, stope, cross cut, drift, winze, adit, and portal.
A stope is an area in an underground mine where ore is mined or underground excavations where the ore body is extracted on the place of thee reef, whereas stoping is the process of mining the ore body on the plane of the reef.
Sub-level stoping includes sub-level (blasthole) open stoping, which is an underground mining method used in large, steeply dipping ore bodies where the wall rock is competent in nature. Drives are developed in the ore on equally spaced levels, often in a circular or fan pattern, on retreat. The ore is then extracted at the bottom of the stope on a haulage level.
Pillar mining is the mining of scattered blocks of reef of variable size usually associated with older shafts, which have been left behind and are now being mined in the final clean-up stage of the mine's ore body.
Sweeping is a type of mining method, namely the process of removing small traces of gold or other minerals and ore which are found in cracks and crevices of mine stopes, of which these minerals and ores are of high grade material . The sweeping process is the final process in stoping operations where the footwall is thoroughly cleaned to remove the last portion of broken ore and fines.
Unfortunately, the known sweeping methods in mines are labour-intensive and ineffective and often not productive in particular labour productivity is low being the ratio of minerals and/or ore produced to the total number of employees or the area mined in square metres to the total number of employees. In addition the recovery rate is low, being the proportion of valuable material obtained in the processing of an ore.
It is an object of the invention to suggest a method for mining, which will assist in overcoming these problems.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention, a method for mining includes the steps
(a) of providing a sweeping arrangement having an electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic operable brush; and
(b) of sweeping a geological structure and/or mine sweepings into a predetermined location and/or of loosening a geological structure and/or mine sweepings.
The geological structure and/or mine sweepings may include precious stones and/or minerals and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines and/or platinum group metals and/or diamonds and/or chrome.
The method may include the step of collecting the swept precious stones and/or minerals and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines and/or platinum group metals and/or chrome and/or diamonds for further processing.
The geological structure may be vertical, horizontal, slanted and/or a ceiling.
The sweeping arrangement may have a rotational brush.
The sweeping arrangement may include a supporting and/or pivoting arm.
The method may replace known sweeping processes in mining processes.
The method may be an additional and/or supplemental step in mining processes.
The mining processes may include pillar mining and/or stoping and/or sub-level stoping.
The method may be used to perform at least one of the following functions:
(a) to collect ore and/or mineral deposits;
(b) to collect fine material;
(c) to clean an area including a mining area;
(d) to clean a final layer of overburden in the mining processes;
(e) to clean and/or sweep of tailings in the mining processes;
(f) to open ridges; and
(g) to clean pre-blast areas.
The tailings may include finely ground rock material that remains once all economically-valuable metals are removed.
The method may include the step of providing a vacuum system adapted to collect or move swept and/or unswept material in conjunction with the sweeping arrangement.
The sweeping arrangement may be operable by means of an excavator and/or front-loader and/or any other machinery equipment provided with hydraulic, pneumatic and/or electrical operating means.
Also according to the invention, a sweeping arrangement for mining includes
(a) a supporting arm connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine;
(b) a rotational support head supported by the supporting arm;
(c) a rotational brush supported by the rotational support head;
(d) electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means adapted to rotate the rotational brush; and
(e) central axis rotating means adapted to rotate the rotational support head about a central axis.
Yet further according to the invention, a sweeping arrangement for mining includes
(a) a supporting arm connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine and being adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure;
(b) a rotational brush supported by the supporting arm; and
(c) electrical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means adapted to rotate the rotational brush.
The central axis rotating means may utilise an electrical ac motor and/or dc motor and/or gearbox and/or rotary actuators and/or hydraulics and/or pneumatics.
The central axis rotating means may include locking means.
The arrangement may be adapted to apply and/or control downward pressure on the rotational brush.
The downward pressure may be applied by means of the pivoting member of the machine.
The rotational brush may be adapted to be rotated multi-directional and/or about 360 degrees.
The supporting arm may be extendable and/or telescopic.
The pivoting member may be a bucket.
The pivoting member may be a pivoting arm .
The machine may be an excavator and/or a front-loader and/or applicable carrier.
The sweeping arrangement may be adapted to be used for mining means.
The sweeping arrangement may include suction means.
The suction means may be adapted to collect swept and/or unswept material .
The invention extends to any machine including a sweeping arrangement as described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.
In the drawings there is shown in :
Figure 1 : A perspective pictorial view of a sweeping arrangement for mining according to the invention;
Figure 2 : A sectional top view of the sweeping arrangement as seen from arrows II-II in Figure 1;
Figure 3 : A sectional side view of the sweeping arrangement as seen from arrows III-III in Figure 1;
Figure 4: A close-up of the rotational brush, rotational support head and the central axis rotating means of the sweeping arrangement as shown in Figure 2;
Figure 5: A sectional side view of the sweeping arrangement as seen from arrows V-V in Figure 4; and
Figure 6: A side view of the rotational brush as shown in Figure 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings, a sweeping arrangement for mining in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown.
A sweeping arrangement 10 according to the invention includes
(a) a supporting arm 12 connected to at least one pivoting member of a machine;
(b) a rotational support head 14 supported by the supporting arm 12;
(c) a rotational brush 16 supported by the rotational support head 12;
(d) hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means 18 adapted to rotate the rotational brush 16; and
(e) central axis rotating means 20 adapted to rotate the rotational support head 14 about a central axis.
The central axis rotating means 20 is operated by means of an electrical dc motor 22 and gearbox 24.
The central axis rotating means 20 includes locking means.
The sweeping arrangement 10 is adapted to apply downward pressure on the rotational brush 16. The downward pressure is applied by means of the pivoting member of the machine.
The rotational brush 16 is adapted to rotate multi-directional and 360 degrees.
The pivoting member of the machine can be a bucket, or a pivoting arm.
The machine can be an excavator (as shown in Figure 1) or a front-loader.
The sweeping arrangement 10 is adapted to be used for mining means.
The sweeping arrangement 10 if required includes suction means adapted to collect swept and unswept material.
A method for mining in accordance with the invention, includes the steps
(a) of providing a sweeping arrangement having a hydraulic and pneumatic operable brush;
(b) of sweeping a geological structure including minerals, and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines into a predetermined location or of loosening a geological structure including minerals and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines; and
(c) of collecting the swept minerals and/or ores and/or metals and/or regolith and/or rock material and/or fines for further processing.
The sweeping arrangement includes a rotational brush.
The method is adapted to replace known sweeping processes in mining processes and is an additional or supplemental step in mining processes.
The mining processes can include pillar mining, stoping and sub-level stoping.
The regolith generally includes fragmental and unconsolidated rock material overlying bedrock.
The method is adapted to be used to perform at least one of the following :
(a) to collect ore and/or mineral deposits;
(b) to collect fine material;
(c) to clean an area including a mining area;
(d) to clean a final layer of overburden in the mining processes;
(e) to clean or sweep of tailings in the mining processes; and
(f) to open ridges.
The tailings generally include finely ground rock material that remains once all economically-valuable metals are removed.
The method also includes the step of providing a vacuum system adapted to collect or move swept material in conjunction with the sweeping arrangement.
The sweeping arrangement is operable by means of an excavator, a front-loader or any machinery equipment provided with hydraulic and pneumatic operating means.
The present invention thus provides a method for mining in particular for removing small traces of minerals and ores.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 Sweeping arrangement
12 Supporting arm
14 Rotational support head 16 Rotational brush
18 Hydraulic and/or pneumatic rotational means
20 Central axis rotating means
22 Electrical dc motor
24 Gearbox