Patent Application
20190127951
The present invention relates generally to mineral extraction systems, and more specifically, to a sediment classification system for selecting which size material is allowed to enter the system and be collected.
Mineral extraction systems are well known in the art and are effective means to gather material from the earth and remove the desired ore from the surrounding matrix. For example,
One of the problems commonly associated with apparatus 101 is its limited efficiency. For example, when sediment is mixed with water it is difficult to gather because it is able to run out as the bucket is pulled up causing losses of up to 80% of the amount of dry sediment that could be collected by the same bucket.
Additionally when collecting material from a body of water it is the finer material that is desired as the water has had time to help extract the ore from the rocks. The backhoe apparatus 101 is unable to select what type of material is collected further reducing its efficiency.
Accordingly, although great strides have been made in the area of backhoe apparatuses, many shortcomings remain.
The novel features believed characteristic of the embodiments of the present application are set forth in the appended claims. However, the embodiments themselves, as well as a preferred mode of use, and further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the system and method of use of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present application as defined by the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the system and method of use of the present application are provided below. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any actual embodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
The system and method of use in accordance with the present application overcomes one or more of the above-discussed problems commonly associated with conventional backhoe apparatuses. Specifically, the invention of the present application enables the collection of nearly all of the material that enters the bucket. In addition, the material entering the bucket is classified to collect only the finer material. These and other unique features of the system and method of use are discussed below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
The system and method of use will be understood, both as to its structure and operation, from the accompanying drawings, taken in conjunction with the accompanying description. Several embodiments of the system are presented herein. It should be understood that various components, parts, and features of the different embodiments may be combined together and/or interchanged with one another, all of which are within the scope of the present application, even though not all variations and particular embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should also be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, and/or functions between various embodiments is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that the features, elements, and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise.
The preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable others skilled in the art to follow its teachings.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters identify corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views,
In the contemplated embodiment, system 201 includes a backhoe bucket 103 having a first set of bars 203 rigidly attached at the top 205 and bottom 207 ends near the mouth 209 of the bucket 103. A second set of bars 211 is pivotally attached to the first set 203 near the top 205 via a rod 213. The second set of bars 211 being positioned away from the mouth 209 more than the first set of bars 203.
The second set of bars 211 are rigidly attached together by a support bar 215. Force is applied to the support bar 215 via a piston 217 and linkage 219 causing the second set of bars 211 to move towards the mouth 209 of the bucket until the second set 211 is in front of the first set of bars 203 as depicted by
The back 219 of the bucket 103 has a duct 221 rigidly attached thereto with an opening 223 near the bottom 207. The top 225 of the duct 221 is attached to a suction source and is configured to pull material from the bucket to a collection site.
It should be appreciated that one of the unique features believed characteristic of the present application is that the material entering bucket 103 must pass between the first set of bars 203 and the second set of bars 211 limiting the size of the material that can enter.
Another unique feature believed characteristic of the present application is that the material collected by the bucket 103 is transferred to a collection site without removing the bucket 103 from the water, preventing the loss of collected material. It will be appreciated that the suction source and duct 221 enable the capture of almost all the material that enters the bucket 103.
Referring now to
The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. It is therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified, and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the application. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the description. Although the present embodiments are shown above, they are not limited to just these embodiments, but are amenable to various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62578856 | Oct 2017 | US |
