[go: up one dir, main page]

US2211243A - Apparatus for and method of breaking coal - Google Patents

Apparatus for and method of breaking coal Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2211243A
US2211243A US186621A US18662138A US2211243A US 2211243 A US2211243 A US 2211243A US 186621 A US186621 A US 186621A US 18662138 A US18662138 A US 18662138A US 2211243 A US2211243 A US 2211243A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
coal
pressure
breaking
accumulator
expansible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US186621A
Inventor
Judith L Meyer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to US186621A priority Critical patent/US2211243A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2211243A publication Critical patent/US2211243A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C37/00—Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading
    • E21C37/06—Other methods or devices for dislodging with or without loading by making use of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure in a borehole
    • E21C37/10—Devices with expanding elastic casings

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus for breaking coal in natural formations through the intermediary of an expansivevfluid.
  • Methods heretofore employed consist of placing an expansible element in a bore of the coal Vein and then introducing an expanding pressure uid 'into the element whereby to exert a breaking force on the'coal formation. Methods of this character are exemplied in United States Patents No. 1,879,907 and No. 1,915,687, issued to the inventor of the present method. y
  • a further object of the invention is to combine the old method and the new method by first employing a breaking force steadily, to be followed by suddenly applied impulses of increased pressure.
  • Anothero-bject of the invention is to provide, for the purpose above mentioned, an yapparatus oi simple and efficient construction under full control of the operator; and still other objects and advantages will be found in the course of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawing.
  • the drawing in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated.
  • Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic view, illustrating means that are well adapted to carry out the improved method
  • Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of part of the device shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view, of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and drawn to a larger scale;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional View on line II- of Figure 2.
  • reference character I2 denotes a power unit, such as an electric motor, that is in driving connection with a pump I3, having an intake conduit I4 and a discharge conduit I5.
  • a tank or other form of reservoir, is shown at I Ii, having a dividing partition I'I, through which is a cone valve I8, operated by a handle I9, extending exteriorly of the tank.
  • the lower division of the tank is provided with a liquid sight-gauge 20.
  • the discharge conduit I5 is provided with a check valve 2 I, and a threeway valve 22, through which it leads to a flexible conduit 23, that connects with a eXible and laterally expansible tube or capsule 24, that is shown operatively positioned in a drilled hole 25 in a coal vein 2B.
  • the three-way valve 22 may be manually, or otherwise, rotated to direct the output from the pump, through a branch conduit 21 into an accumulator 28, that comprises a cylinder 29, a piston 30 therein, with a packing gland 3l, and a piston rod 32 therethrough, on which is a cross head 33, that bears against compression springs 34.
  • An outlet conduit 35 leads from the accumulator back to the main discharge conduit I5, and is provided with a pressure-indicating gauge 35 and a shut-01T release valve 3l.
  • FIG. 2 and 4 the details of the expansible tube element, 24, are more fully illustrated and they comprise a thick-walled eXible and eX- pansible tube 38, that is capped at each' end with a closing element, or cap 39, each of which has an inwardly projecting nipple, 39a, that engages the inner surface of the tube 33, which is securely clamped therearound, by bands 50, each having a rounded edge lilla, positioned inwardly of the assembly, to prevent cutting or other damage to the tube, when expanded.
  • a closing element, or cap 39 each of which has an inwardly projecting nipple, 39a, that engages the inner surface of the tube 33, which is securely clamped therearound, by bands 50, each having a rounded edge lilla, positioned inwardly of the assembly, to prevent cutting or other damage to the tube, when expanded.
  • the two caps are connected by a hollow rod 4I, having apertures 42 in communication with the closed interior of the tube.
  • a pipe nipple 43 serves to complete the connection between the flexible conduit 23 and the hollow rod, while the latter serves the useful purpose of tying the end caps together to prevent longitudinal expansion of the flexible tube 38.
  • the expansible element, 24 is an improvement over the similar devices disclosed in Meyer Patents Nos. 1,879,907 and 1,915,687, and these improvements are being claimed in another application, Serial No. 189,127, thepresent application being devoted, primarily, to the method of coal breaking.
  • the improved method for breaking coal is as V45 follows: A substantially non-compressible liquid is placed in the upper division of the tank I6, and a predetermined and measured amount thereof, is permitted to flow to the lower division of the tank, by means of the cone valve I8, wherefrom it is pumped into the system above described. The operator first permits the pumped liquid to be delivered directly through conduit I5 into the expansible tube element 2e, to start the cracking of the coal by the hydrostatic pressure applied to the inner walls oi the drilled hole 25, in the coal vein.
  • the three-way valve s is rotated to close conduit l5 and direct the pumped liquid into the accumulator 28, which drives the piston thereof, downwardly, compressing the springs 36.1, until a predetermined pressure is indicated on the gauge 36, whereupon the operator opens the release Valve 3'1, to release the stored or accumulated pressure, thereby delivering a shock or water-hammer blow to the breaking coal through the conduits l5 and 23 and the walls of the expansible tube 38.
  • a three-way valve of this character permits closing of the passage to the accumulator and direct movement of fluid to the tube 38, or the closing of the direct passage to the tube 38 and discharge of the pump into the accumulator, or closing of the pump discharge passage, and opening communication between the accumulator and the tube through passage 21, or if desired, simultaneous closing of the passage l5 and the branch 27.
  • the elements of the accumulator could be reversed, or some other type of accumulator could be substituted for the one that is shown, merely as an example.
  • the piston 3Q for instance, could be forced outwardly against tension springs.
  • the lower end of the cylinder could be provided with a small closable common air valve and, if closed, the air on the side of the piston that is opposite to the pressure liquid, can be used as an elastic compressive cushion to aid the compression springs 24, in their function,
  • a plurality of branch conduits may be used to serve a plurality of expansible tubes, simultaneously, and the apparatus may preferably be mounted for easy transportation, as, for instance, on a mine car or the like.
  • a pressure relief valve fill By virtue of providing a measured amount of liquid for the pump, only a limited pressure can be built up in the system. As a further safeguard, if, for any reason, pressure, in the system, exceeds a predetermined point, a pressure relief valve fill, will automatically open to pass liquid back into the tank I6, via conduit 45. A manually operable valve 46, may also be opened, when desired, to return liquid to the tank.
  • the full equivalent of the release valve 3l may be arranged for, either manual or automatic opening at a predetermined pressure, or time, and/or for repeated openings at intervals, the preferred object being to follow steady disruptive preliminary pressure, with one or more shocks or blows to the coal, or a series of shocks may, in some instances, suice without preliminary pressure.
  • the method of breaking coal or the like in natural formations which comprises i'lrst subjecting coal within such a formation to a sustained uid pressure, establishing a iuid body under higher pressure, and applying said higher pressure to the coal body under the sustained pressure, by a sudden release of the established iiuid body into an expansible element within the formation.
  • apparatus for breaking coal or the like inclusive of an expansible element and a source of fluid-flow under pressure connected with said element the improvement which comprises an accumulator connected with the source of fluidiiow and connected with the expansible element, means for optionally directing the fluid-now to said element or to the accumulator, means for automatically returning the uid-iiow to the source when a predetermined pressure has been built up in the accumulator, and means for suddenly releasing the force of the uid in the accumulator into the expansible element.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)

Description

Aug.A 13, 1940. a. J. MEYER 2,211,243
y APPARATUS FOR `AND METHOD QF BREAKING COAL I Filed Jan. 24, 1938 INVENTOR. RALPH JMfyf/P @fc5/w50 .2W .fao/rb' L MEYER, wif/wsrRAr/f/,r
vmoRNEY.
Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED y STATES annals APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD F BREAKING COAL Ralph J. Meyer, deceased, late of Denver, Colo., by Judith L. Meyer, administratrixDenver,
Colo.
Application Januaryv 24, 193s, serial No. 186,621
Claims.
.This invention relates to a method and apparatus for breaking coal in natural formations through the intermediary of an expansivevfluid.
Methods heretofore employed consist of placing an expansible element in a bore of the coal Vein and then introducing an expanding pressure uid 'into the element whereby to exert a breaking force on the'coal formation. Methods of this character are exemplied in United States Patents No. 1,879,907 and No. 1,915,687, issued to the inventor of the present method. y
It has been found that the methods described in the above mentioned patents were effective only under favorable conditions but did not always produce the desired results.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple method and apparatus by which the coal in the area adjacent the eX- pansible element is subjected to sudden shocks rather than to a gradually applied and progressively increasing pressure.
A further object of the invention is to combine the old method and the new method by first employing a breaking force steadily, to be followed by suddenly applied impulses of increased pressure.
Anothero-bject of the invention is to provide, for the purpose above mentioned, an yapparatus oi simple and efficient construction under full control of the operator; and still other objects and advantages will be found in the course of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing, in the several views of which like parts are similarly designated.
Figure 1 is a partly diagrammatic view, illustrating means that are well adapted to carry out the improved method;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of part of the device shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view, of part of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and drawn to a larger scale; and
Figure 4 is a sectional View on line II- of Figure 2.
In the drawing, reference character I2, denotes a power unit, such as an electric motor, that is in driving connection with a pump I3, having an intake conduit I4 and a discharge conduit I5. A tank or other form of reservoir, is shown at I Ii, having a dividing partition I'I, through which is a cone valve I8, operated by a handle I9, extending exteriorly of the tank.
The lower division of the tank is provided with a liquid sight-gauge 20. The discharge conduit I5 is provided with a check valve 2 I, and a threeway valve 22, through which it leads to a flexible conduit 23, that connects with a eXible and laterally expansible tube or capsule 24, that is shown operatively positioned in a drilled hole 25 in a coal vein 2B.
The three-way valve 22 may be manually, or otherwise, rotated to direct the output from the pump, through a branch conduit 21 into an accumulator 28, that comprises a cylinder 29, a piston 30 therein, with a packing gland 3l, and a piston rod 32 therethrough, on which is a cross head 33, that bears against compression springs 34.
An outlet conduit 35, leads from the accumulator back to the main discharge conduit I5, and is provided with a pressure-indicating gauge 35 and a shut-01T release valve 3l.
1n Figures 2 and 4, the details of the expansible tube element, 24, are more fully illustrated and they comprise a thick-walled eXible and eX- pansible tube 38, that is capped at each' end with a closing element, or cap 39, each of which has an inwardly projecting nipple, 39a, that engages the inner surface of the tube 33, which is securely clamped therearound, by bands 50, each having a rounded edge lilla, positioned inwardly of the assembly, to prevent cutting or other damage to the tube, when expanded.
The two caps are connected by a hollow rod 4I, having apertures 42 in communication with the closed interior of the tube. A pipe nipple 43 serves to complete the connection between the flexible conduit 23 and the hollow rod, while the latter serves the useful purpose of tying the end caps together to prevent longitudinal expansion of the flexible tube 38.
The expansible element, 24, is an improvement over the similar devices disclosed in Meyer Patents Nos. 1,879,907 and 1,915,687, and these improvements are being claimed in another application, Serial No. 189,127, thepresent application being devoted, primarily, to the method of coal breaking.
The improved method for breaking coal is as V45 follows: A substantially non-compressible liquid is placed in the upper division of the tank I6, and a predetermined and measured amount thereof, is permitted to flow to the lower division of the tank, by means of the cone valve I8, wherefrom it is pumped into the system above described. The operator first permits the pumped liquid to be delivered directly through conduit I5 into the expansible tube element 2e, to start the cracking of the coal by the hydrostatic pressure applied to the inner walls oi the drilled hole 25, in the coal vein.
After fracture has begun, the three-way valve s is rotated to close conduit l5 and direct the pumped liquid into the accumulator 28, which drives the piston thereof, downwardly, compressing the springs 36.1, until a predetermined pressure is indicated on the gauge 36, whereupon the operator opens the release Valve 3'1, to release the stored or accumulated pressure, thereby delivering a shock or water-hammer blow to the breaking coal through the conduits l5 and 23 and the walls of the expansible tube 38.
A three-way valve of this character permits closing of the passage to the accumulator and direct movement of fluid to the tube 38, or the closing of the direct passage to the tube 38 and discharge of the pump into the accumulator, or closing of the pump discharge passage, and opening communication between the accumulator and the tube through passage 21, or if desired, simultaneous closing of the passage l5 and the branch 27.
The sudden shock to the previously cracked and breaking coal, has been found to be more effective than a continuing steady internal pressure, and this method prevents the expansible tube from being damaged, by preventing it from being slowly forced into the cracks as they open in the coal, adjacent the drilled hole 25, which would occur if steady pressure were continued as begun.
Obviously, the elements of the accumulator could be reversed, or some other type of accumulator could be substituted for the one that is shown, merely as an example. The piston 3Q, for instance, could be forced outwardly against tension springs. In the arrangement shown, the lower end of the cylinder could be provided with a small closable common air valve and, if closed, the air on the side of the piston that is opposite to the pressure liquid, can be used as an elastic compressive cushion to aid the compression springs 24, in their function,
A plurality of branch conduits may be used to serve a plurality of expansible tubes, simultaneously, and the apparatus may preferably be mounted for easy transportation, as, for instance, on a mine car or the like.
By virtue of providing a measured amount of liquid for the pump, only a limited pressure can be built up in the system. As a further safeguard, if, for any reason, pressure, in the system, exceeds a predetermined point, a pressure relief valve fill, will automatically open to pass liquid back into the tank I6, via conduit 45. A manually operable valve 46, may also be opened, when desired, to return liquid to the tank.
The full equivalent of the release valve 3l, may be arranged for, either manual or automatic opening at a predetermined pressure, or time, and/or for repeated openings at intervals, the preferred object being to follow steady disruptive preliminary pressure, with one or more shocks or blows to the coal, or a series of shocks may, in some instances, suice without preliminary pressure.
Thus, coal may be broken from the vein safely,
economically and e'iciently, with a high percentage of large lumps and with no delays required to clear the mine of smoke or gas, and with no damage to the expansible tubes, other than normal wear.
Steady expansive breaking pressure has been applied in drilled holes in coal veins heretofore, but the present improvement resides, primarily, in following this with a shock or a series of shocks, radially in all directions or in substituting a shock or a series of shocks, for the steady pressure.
What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:
1. The method of breaking coal or the like in natural formations, which comprises i'lrst subjecting coal within such a formation to a sustained uid pressure, establishing a iuid body under higher pressure, and applying said higher pressure to the coal body under the sustained pressure, by a sudden release of the established iiuid body into an expansible element within the formation.
2. They method of breaking coal which comprises, measuring a quantity of liquid, pumping some of the liquid into an expansible element within a body of coal thereby subjecting said coal to pressure, accumulating some of the liquid under pressure exteriorly of the said element, and then admitting the force of the accumulated liquid to the expansible element.
3. In a method of breaking coal or the like inclusive of a dow of fluid under pressure and the step of applying the expansive force of said iiuid while confining it, the improvement which comprises diverting some of the fluid to accumulate the same under pressure, and suddenly releasing the pressure of the accumulated fluid into the expanding and confining means, providing a forcey impulse superimposed on the expanding force.
4. In apparatus for breaking coal or the like inclusive of an expansible element and a source of fluid-dow under pressure connected with said element, the improvement which comprises an accumulator connected with the source of fluidiiow and connected with the expansible element, means for optionally directing the fluid-flow to said element or to the accumulator, and means for suddenly releasing the force of the fluid in the accumulator into the eXpansible element.
5. In apparatus for breaking coal or the like inclusive of an expansible element and a source of fluid-flow under pressure connected with said element, the improvement which comprises an accumulator connected with the source of fluidiiow and connected with the expansible element, means for optionally directing the fluid-now to said element or to the accumulator, means for automatically returning the uid-iiow to the source when a predetermined pressure has been built up in the accumulator, and means for suddenly releasing the force of the uid in the accumulator into the expansible element.
JUDITH L. MEYER. Administrati of' the Estate of Ralph J. Meyer,
Deceased.
US186621A 1938-01-24 1938-01-24 Apparatus for and method of breaking coal Expired - Lifetime US2211243A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US186621A US2211243A (en) 1938-01-24 1938-01-24 Apparatus for and method of breaking coal

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US186621A US2211243A (en) 1938-01-24 1938-01-24 Apparatus for and method of breaking coal

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2211243A true US2211243A (en) 1940-08-13

Family

ID=22685647

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US186621A Expired - Lifetime US2211243A (en) 1938-01-24 1938-01-24 Apparatus for and method of breaking coal

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2211243A (en)

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2798557A (en) * 1952-05-16 1957-07-09 Exxon Research Engineering Co Fracturing oil bearing formations
DE1014048B (en) * 1954-08-03 1957-08-22 Konrad Grebe Process for the extraction of coal or other minerals by pressing down with pressurized water
DE1017563B (en) * 1954-04-26 1957-10-17 Dipl Berging Albrecht Graefer Method and device for impact traction in mining by means of rapidly successive mechanical impacts
US2990166A (en) * 1957-08-29 1961-06-27 Myles A Walsh Mining method
DE1182175B (en) * 1957-08-05 1964-11-26 Pleiger Maschf Paul Impact device
DE1193901B (en) * 1956-09-27 1965-06-03 Glueckauf Guenther Klerner Mas Device for blasting the mining shock with pressurized water
DE1224240B (en) * 1958-08-16 1966-09-08 Glueckauf Guenther Klerner Mas Method and device for blasting minerals, in particular for extracting coal
US4266827A (en) * 1978-10-16 1981-05-12 Cheney Alwyn Halley Incompressible fluid type rock breaker
US4474409A (en) * 1982-09-09 1984-10-02 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Interior Method of enhancing the removal of methane gas and associated fluids from mine boreholes
EP0160023A4 (en) * 1983-10-05 1986-09-24 Bernard Amos Century Inflatable cartridge assembly.
EP0225415A1 (en) * 1985-12-10 1987-06-16 Okumura Machinery Corporation Rock breaking or crushing device
US4711501A (en) * 1984-07-30 1987-12-08 Okumura Machinery Corporation Rock crushing device
US4721339A (en) * 1984-10-23 1988-01-26 Okumura Corporation Rock crushing device and a method thereof
US9348319B1 (en) 2014-10-30 2016-05-24 Société Anonyme de la Manufacture d'Horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie Chronograph mechanism and timepiece comprising the chronograph mechanism

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2798557A (en) * 1952-05-16 1957-07-09 Exxon Research Engineering Co Fracturing oil bearing formations
DE1017563B (en) * 1954-04-26 1957-10-17 Dipl Berging Albrecht Graefer Method and device for impact traction in mining by means of rapidly successive mechanical impacts
DE1014048B (en) * 1954-08-03 1957-08-22 Konrad Grebe Process for the extraction of coal or other minerals by pressing down with pressurized water
DE1193901B (en) * 1956-09-27 1965-06-03 Glueckauf Guenther Klerner Mas Device for blasting the mining shock with pressurized water
DE1182175B (en) * 1957-08-05 1964-11-26 Pleiger Maschf Paul Impact device
US2990166A (en) * 1957-08-29 1961-06-27 Myles A Walsh Mining method
DE1224240B (en) * 1958-08-16 1966-09-08 Glueckauf Guenther Klerner Mas Method and device for blasting minerals, in particular for extracting coal
US4266827A (en) * 1978-10-16 1981-05-12 Cheney Alwyn Halley Incompressible fluid type rock breaker
US4474409A (en) * 1982-09-09 1984-10-02 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Interior Method of enhancing the removal of methane gas and associated fluids from mine boreholes
EP0160023A4 (en) * 1983-10-05 1986-09-24 Bernard Amos Century Inflatable cartridge assembly.
US4711501A (en) * 1984-07-30 1987-12-08 Okumura Machinery Corporation Rock crushing device
US4721339A (en) * 1984-10-23 1988-01-26 Okumura Corporation Rock crushing device and a method thereof
EP0225415A1 (en) * 1985-12-10 1987-06-16 Okumura Machinery Corporation Rock breaking or crushing device
US9348319B1 (en) 2014-10-30 2016-05-24 Société Anonyme de la Manufacture d'Horlogerie Audemars Piguet & Cie Chronograph mechanism and timepiece comprising the chronograph mechanism

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2211243A (en) Apparatus for and method of breaking coal
US2381929A (en) Well conditioning apparatus
US4718493A (en) Well treating method and system for stimulating recovery of fluids
US3165920A (en) Tool for testing pipe with water and gas simultaneously
US2303727A (en) Means for testing underground strata for the fluid content thereof
US3155164A (en) Means for setting tubular bodies
US5411098A (en) Method of stimulating gas-producing wells
US2526695A (en) Well conditioning apparatus
NO331290B1 (en) Load carrier for use in a wellbore
US3374838A (en) Fluid expansible packer and anchor apparatus
US3978921A (en) Apparatus for cryothermal fracturing of rock formations
US5407010A (en) Artificial lift system
US1850218A (en) Hydraulic or air expanded packer
US3393741A (en) Method of fracturing subsurface formations
US3200882A (en) Fracturing of wells
US1852242A (en) Means for pumping fluids
US2609879A (en) Permanent type packing means for wells
US1398822A (en) Casing-pulling apparatus
US2798557A (en) Fracturing oil bearing formations
US2733045A (en) burns
CN106644767B (en) Ram blowout preventer under-pressure shear test device
US1842107A (en) Art and apparatus for sealing off oil wells
US5370187A (en) Over-pressured well fracturing method
US2923358A (en) Formation fracture detector
US3507540A (en) Method and apparatus for cutting large diameter bore holes