Corpuscular beam in mining and excavation

[57] ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a method and apparatus for mining and excavating through rocky terrain without a mechanical tool or machine which must be made rugged enough to withstand the forces and impacts necessary to break rocks. The excavation is carried out with an electron beam which is projected against the rock. The beam is conducted from a generator through a long tube, which may be 20 feet long or more, and is emitted at the end of the tube. The generator and tube may be mounted on the turret of a vehicle so that the tube can swing in an arc of large angle in the plane of a rocky seam or at any angle transverse to this plane. The beam bores an opening in which the vehicle moves which may be in the direction of and/or at an angle to the beam.

There is also disclosed excavating apparatus, for example an auger, including a beam generator for breaking up the terrain in which the excavation takes place ahead of the pick-up edge of the auger.

Claims, 18 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED FEB 271973

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PATENTED FEB 2 71973

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These prior art practices are highly time consuming. In case of mechanical drills and cutters the tool is rapidly worn out or broken by the reaction of the high forces applied and must be frequently replaced, for ⁵ which purpose the machine must be moved back and time is lost that adds to the tool cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention the mining ore ex¹⁰ cavation is carried out by projecting a corpuscular beam on the rock face of the mine or excavation. The beam is conducted from the corpuscular source over a long tube of relatively small cross-sectional area and is 1₅ emitted on the rock at the end of this tube. By impingement of the beam the rock face is fractured to a depth of one-fourth inch to 10 inches. The debris from the fracture may be removed progressively as it is produced and the fracturing continued until the desired 20 narrow seam is mined out.

Typically, the corpuscular beam generator may be mounted so that it can be moved in three dimensions, over a high-angle arc longitudinal of the seam and over arcs transverse to the seam. A slot may thus be 25 produced in the seam which is wide enough for penetration of the tube and for the facilities for removal of the debris. The debris may be removed in any convenient way: by flushing with a stream of water, by suction hoses (vacuum cleaners) or by mechanical ^,n scrapers. After adequate thickness of rock has been removed from the face of the mine or excavation the corpuscular beam machine is moved up and a new cycle of fracturing is carried out. Since the corpuscular beam machine does not experience any reaction forces it can move on a relatively lightweight carriage on wheels or on caterpillar tracks.

The corpuscular beam machine and its vehicle can be locally controlled from an operator’s booth on the vehicle which may be air conditioned or completely remotely controlled over cables of several miles in length. To guide it in the desired direction a closed circuit television system can be used. The X-rays which are produced where the beam impinges on the rock can be used for identifying the chemical composition of the rock and thereby discriminate between ore-bearing and non ore-bearing rock. Since no operator need be near to the machine the apparatus can work under conditions which would normally be unsuitable for person50 nel. For instance, temperatures higher than tolerable for humans may exist, noxious or poisonous atmospheric conditions may exist, the working space may be so narrow that no humans could operate there. Since it has been demonstrated that a corpuscular (electron) 55 beam can cut rock even under water, a machine of this type can also work under water.

The complete machine must necessarily be of relatively large dimensions, however the beam itself can be thrown over very large distances while maintained in a narrow evacuated tube. It is possible to fire an electron beam for example through an evacuated tube 20 to 100 feet long, with a diameter of only a few inches. To guide the beam in the center of this tube and to keep it 65 focused (narrow) magnetic lenses and deflection systems and beam responsive apparatus to control the lenses and deflection system are needed along the tube, but the overall size of this system can be kept below a

CORPUSCULAR BEAM IN MINING AND EXCAVATION

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following patents and applications are incorporated herein by reference:U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,600 granted Jan. 19, 1971 to William E. Shoupp and Berthold W. Schumacher for “Distribution and cutting of Rocks, Glass and the Like.”

Application Ser. No. 756,654 filed Aug. 30, 1968 to Berthold W. Schumacher and Robert E. La Croix for “Corpuscular Beam In The Atmosphere”, now abandoned and replaced by continuation application Ser. No. 105,113 filed Jan. 8,1971.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,351 granted June 29, 1971 to William E. Shoupp and Berthold W. Schumacher for “Cutting of Rocks, Glass and the like.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the art of mining and/or excavating in rocky terrain and has particular relationship to such mining or excavating with corpuscular beams (for example electrons or ions like He⁺ or H⁺) emitted into the atmosphere and specifically with an electron beam of high power projected into the atmosphere. The above-listed applications disclose the rupturing of rocks by projecting a high-power electron beam on the rocks. The beam penetrates into the rock breaking, spalling and/or melting the rock.

Typical of the mining with which the invention concerns itself is mining for gold. The gold is usually deposited in a narrow rocky seam which must be broken to remove the material from which the gold is derived. In accordance with some of the teachings of the prior art, the removal of material from the seam is carried out with the aid of a manually operated ₄₀machine or tool capable of breaking the rock by applying continuous forces of high magnitude to the rocks. Such a tool must be rugged to withstand the high forces and must be firmly supported or braced to apply the forces and absorb their reactions. In practice this 45 machine is laboriously operated step-by-step into the seam by an attendant who sits behind the excavating tool. After every few steps the supports for the machine are relaxed, the machine is advanced, and then secured in the new position and the necessary forces are impressed to make an advanced penetration into the seam. (See the African Mining Journal, Nov. 29, 1968, page 1,245 — One Year of Rock-Cutting Trials. Swiss Journal TECHNICA, Birkhauser Verlag, Nov. 19, 1968 — Gerd. Kampf-Emden pgs. 1635-1639- “Stationen des vollmechanischen Tunnelvortriebs”; Engineering and Mining Journal, McGraw-Hill, Apr. 1968-“USBM Examines Exotic Ways of Breaking Rock” pgs. 85-92)

Another practice of mining is, of course, the old drilland-blast method. An opening of at least 3 to 4 feet must be blasted out of the rock in order to advance with men and machinery, and to make reasonable progress since the breakage or opening per charge has roughly the same depth as heights. This leads to uneconomical over-breakage if the seam in only 1 foot high, or reblasting requires working in shifts.

3,718,367 height of about 10 inches and a width of about 20 inches. If the corpuscular beam mining machine is equipped with such a long boom, just 10 inches high, narrow slots can be cut out of the rock to appreciable depths. This is particularly advantageous in mining where the ore may be found in narrow layers embedded in the bedrock. In the excavation for instance of a tunnel 20 feet or more in diameter, the long narrow beam tube has the advantage that the machinery for removal of the debris, usually called the mucking equipment, can be brought close to the tunnel face, leaving only a narrow passage for the beam tube. Besides the tunnel face can readily be inspected.

In accordance with a further aspect of this invention drilling apparatus or a drilling head is provided with which vertical or inclined holes can be readily drilled in rocky terrain. The head includes a generator for producing corpuscular beam for progressively fracturing the rock just ahead of the drilling and material pickup mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, both as to its organization and as to its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing this invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a view in side elevation and a plan view respectively showing the vehicle with the corpuscular-beam generator used in the practice of this invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views generally diagrammatically 35 showing the control for maintaining the long corpuscular beam aligned;

FIG. 6 is a view in prespective showing the manner in which the invention is practiced in a mining or excavating operation;

FIG. 7 is a view partly diagrammatic and partly in plan showing the practice of this invention in mining a narrow seam;

FIG. 8 is a view in section taken along line VIII—VIII of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective fragmental plan views showing a modification of this invention in two different stages of its practice;

FIG. 11 is a fragmental plan view showing a further modification of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan view, looking-up, at an auger in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 13 is a view in side elevation of the auger shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a view in section taken along line XIV— XIV of FIG. 15 showing a modification of the invention shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a view of a section taken along line XV—

XV of FIG. 14; ₆₀

FIG. 16 is a view partly in side elevational and partly in section of another modification of the invention shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 is a fragmental view in section of still another modification of the invention shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 18 is a view in side elevation of an electron beam generator uniquely applicable to the practice of this invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 8 show mining or excavating apparatus for operating in a narrow seam 31 in rocky ter₅ rain 33. This apparatus includes an assembly 34 of a vehicle 35, a generator 37 and control mechanism. The vehicle 35 may be a track-vehicle as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The vehicle 35 carries the electron-beam generator 37 and is provided with the necessary con10 ^tro1·

The vehicle 35 includes a rotatable turret 39 which carries the generator 37. The vehicle 35 also includes a cabinet 41 which distributes power to the vehicle and its components, and to the generator 37 and its com15 ponents. The cabinet 41 receives power and also electrical control commands through a cable 43. The cable 43 may be several miles long and is connected at its remote end to a power-supply and control assembly 45 which includes a console 47 for an operator who con20 trols the operation of the apparatus. Alternatively the controls or a duplicate set of them can be provided in a control booth 900, in which the operator may ride. The power supply may also be a nuclear or radioactive generator near the vehicle with the control affected 25 remotely. The turret 39 includes a drive 49 which can be commanded from the console 47 to rotate the turret over large angle of the order of 360° about the axis 51 of the turret and over adequate angles transversely to the horizontal plane which is at right angles to the verti30 cal axis 51 of the turret.

The generator 37, as far as its beam generating facilities are concerned, may be of the type disclosed in the above listed applications. This generator 37 differs from those of the applications in that it includes a long tube 55 through which the electron beam is guided. The tube may be 20 to 100 feet long and the beam is emitted from the end of the tube. The beam is preferably a high-power beam, for example from 150 KV and 0.05A to 1MV and 1A and higher voltages and/or currents may be used. It may be a D.C. or a pulsed beam.

Provisions are made as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for maintaining the beam E aligned along the tube 55. As shown in FIG. 5 the generator 37 includes an enclosure 57 which is evacuated to a low pressure and within which a source 59 of electrons is provided. The electrons are accelerated and focused into the beam E by an anode 61 and focusing cap 62 and passed into tube 55 which is also evacuated. The beam E is focused by coil 63 and passed through a series of apertures including an aperture 65 near the exit end of the beam tube and which aperture may be comprised of copper or tungsten. To the extent that the beam E may be misaligned as it reaches the aperture 65, it impinges on the metal to one side or the other of the axis of the aperture 65, thereby generating X-rays. The X-rays are detected through collimator apertures 67 and 69 on one or the other side of the axis of aperture 65 and produce signals in an associated X-ray responsive means 71 or 73 which in turn set a control 75. The control, triggered by either 71 or 73, acts on refocusing coil 77 and deflecting coil 79 to realign and/or refocus the beam so that it passes through the center of aperture 65 and aperture 81 with a minimal current going to the walls of these apertures. A plurality of misalignment detectors and refocusing coils may be disposed along a long tube 55. Electrostatic deflection and/or mechanical align3,718,367

FIG. 10. The seam may be cut first on one side of the passageway 129 and then in the opposite side of the passageway.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 11 includes a gun 135 5 having near the end of the tube 137 a tilting end-piece 139 and a beam deflecting system 140 whose operation may be coordinated with the setting of the end piece 139 and the beam kept aligned by means as shown in FIG. 4. The beam El is then projected into the rock ¹⁰ 141 at an angle of, say, 45° to the axis of tube 137. A saw-tooth slot 143 is then produced in the roof 145 and bottom 147 defining the seam. In operation the rock in the center is fractured first piercing a hole I; then the ₁₅ upper corner is fractured piercing hole II; finally the lower corner is fractured piercing hole III, the piercing taking place by the process as described in more detail in copending U.S. Pat. No. 3,556,600.

Since the beams E or El cut force-free, no accurate 2Q track is needed for generator positioning; a catepillar carriage 35 moving over the rough rock surface is adequate. The actual positioning of the tube 35 to the spot which is to be pierced, or to a line along which a melt-cut is to be made, is controlled by a sensor (closed 25 circuit TV) and servo-control system which swings the generator 37 (with or without the long-nose tube 55 but not the vehicle 35.

Depending upon the kind of rock the cut may be shallow but fast, or deeper and slower. The different 30 size of the debris requires different removal systems. The cost of those systems affects the economics more than the actual energy expenditure in the cutting process (which is higher for shallow cutting). If a spalling type of rock were present high speed beam E ³³ movements (for example, 200 inch/minute at moderate beam power would remove layers one-fourth inch at a time).

Typically a generator according to this invention could also be provided which is long and slim, say 20 inches in diameter and 6 to 10 ft. length. This generator could move inside a tube of 30 inch diameter on a wheel system which guides it to the tube and leaves enough space between the wheels to flush out the ₄₅ debris with water. The cable for the electric power supply, the hoses for gases, compressed air, water, etc., can be dragged through the tube behind the generator. But in view of the fact that the cutting process as such is force-free, and is effective in any type of rock or soil 50 which may be encountered, there is no need to brace against the walls of the seam and consequently no need for heavy mechanical bracing devices, etc. This type of apparatus has consequently no need for heavy mechanical bracing devices, etc. This type of apparatus 55 would have great economic importance in all cases where tunnels must be dug, e. g. for water lines, where an actual cross section of say 900 sq. in. is sufficient for the purpose (the transport of the water) but a large cross section tunnel must be built to accommodate men and machinery with present day tunneling methods.

The apparatus shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 includes an auger 151 which is in the form of a hollow generally cylindrical bucket having a helical base 153 with a linear cutting edge 155 along the lower-most portion. The auger is rotatable by a drive 157 by a shaft 159. As the auger 151 rotates its cutting edge picks up material transmitting the material upwardly. So that the auger merit devices (not shown) may also be used in addition or instead of the above mentioned magnetic means. Essentially the electron beam is under no electrical field in the tube 55 and this tube may be regarded as a drift tube.

The generator 37 is provided with a plurality of evacuating channels 85, 87, 89 connected to adequate pumping equipment 91 in the turret 39. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of auxiliary pumps 93, 95, 97 for example Roots-pumps, may be connected to the channels 85, 87, 89, feeding the exhaust at a substantial pressure through a long tube 99 of relatively small cross section. The tube 99 at its remote end, is exhausted by the atmosphere by a suitable pump 101.

Television cameras 104 and 105 (FIG. 2), connected in closed circuits with one or several viewers 103 (FIG. 1) at the console 47, are mounted at the end of tube 35 and on the turret 39. In addition a spectral analyzer 106 for visible light and/or X-rays is mounted on or near the end of the tube 35. This analyzer 106 feeds back data as to the character of the light and X-rays generated by the beam E to the console 47. From these light or X-ray spectra the ore-bearing and other properties of the rock 33 can be determined.

Debris removal apparatus 107 (FIG. 1) controlled from the turret 39 is also provided in the seam 31.

Typically the generator 37 may have a 20 ft. long tube 55 tyhich has a diameter of less than 10 inches; duct may have the same or a smaller diameter. This long-nosed generator 35 could cut a 20 inch slot into the rock 33 to a depth of about 18 ft. without any need to widen this slot. The generator 37 proper with power supply and other parts can move on a vehicle 35 in a passage 4 ft. wide X 5 ft. high. The slot 31 excavated by the beam E is of adequate cross-sectional area to accommodate the beam tube.

As shown in FIG. 6 the passageway 111 for the vehicle 35 as well as the seam 31 can be cut out by the electron beam E. Initially the vehicle 35 is moved into a position opposite the seam 33 to be cut with the seam extending on both sides of the vehicle 35 generally perpendicular to the anticipated direction of movement of the vehicle. The beam E is then caused to scan the terrain directly ahead over an area great enough to accommodate the vehicle 35. The debris is progressively removed. As the passageway 111 is cut out, the vehicle 35 advances into the passageway. As the vehicle advances the beam E scans the seam progressively cutting into the seam. As the vehicle 35 enters the passageway 111 it cuts out slots 31 of larger and larger radius until the tube 35 penetrates to its full length cutting out a wide seam as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show apparatus including a generator 121 composed of telescopic tube sections 123, 125, 127. Adequate movable vacuum seals (for example Oring seals with rotatable O-rings in grooves) are provided between the sections 123-125, 125-127 and the sections are provided with evacuating facilities (not shown).

In the use of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the vehicle 35 is moved linearly back and forth in a passageway 129 which may be cut by the beam from the generator 121. Initially the length of the sections 123-127 is reduced as shown in FIG. 9 and ultimately the sections are extended to full lengths as shown in

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The auger 201 shown in FIG. 16 is particularly suitable for drilling where a casing 203 is provided in the hole. In this case the auger 201 has a helical base similar to the auger 151 of FIGS. 12 and 13. But the 5 electron beam generator 205 differs from the generator 163 in that the generator 205 is capable of drilling a hole of greater diameter than that required by auger 201 to accommodate the casing 203. The generator 205 includes a tiltable head 207 and associated elec¹⁰ tron-beam deflecting means (not shown); the head 207 may be tilted to the position shown in full line so that the beam E3 ruptures the rock along a surface 209 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the casing. The head 207 may then be tilted to the position 211 '5 shown in broken lines and caused to sweep the bottom 213 of the hole as represented by the broken line position 215.

The augers 151,181, 201 shown in FIGS. 12-16 are reasonably self-centering once they have penetrated ²⁰ into the ground for some distance. However, in very hard rock an additional centering mechanism is desired; it may also prove difficult to scoop up the debris in the very center of the hole by the scraping 2 j movement of the edge 155 of the auger. This condition can be alleviated by having a pilot drill 221 in the center tube 223 of the auger 225 as shown in FIG. 17. For this purpose a conventional diamond drill head 221 may be used. Such a drill head cuts a hole 2 to 3 inches 3q in diameter. It moves ahead of the electron beam E4 and the debris produced by it can be flushed out by water.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 18 a generator 231 is provided which is provided with small auxiliary pumps 35 (for example Roots-pumps) 93, 95, 97 adjacent the nose of the generator. The pumps 93, 95, 97 evacuate successive stages 233, 235, 237 of the generator 231 to pressures as indicated on FIG. 18. The highest-pressure stage 237 is at a pressure of about 5 torr and feeds into 40 line 99 at a pressure of about 50 torr. A line operating at 50 torr can transport 10 times as much gas by weight as a line of the same diameter operating at 5 torr. Line 99 can be of relatively small diameter, and can be long and flexible and feed a remote pump 101 which 45 operates into the atmosphere. The generator 231 and the pumps 93, 95, 97 can be turned twisting the line 99 and the other lines and cables to a limited extent. The generator 231 has a plurality of power supplies 239 and 241 which are connected in parallel to energize the 50 electron beam.

For excavating a ditch in rocky terrain where customarily a so-called power shovel is used an electron beam and electron gun of the long nose type may also be used to break the rock in front of the cutting or ⁵⁵ scraping edge of the power shovel, just as it has been described above with reference to the auger.

While preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed herein, many modifications thereof are feasible. This invention then is not to be restricted ex6° cept insofar as is necessitated by the spirit of the prior art.