PROCESS OF TRANSPORTATION OF SLURRY BY ROCK DREDGER Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: excavation. SUBSTANCE: while working ground 13 in face 11 slurry flows through suction pipe 3 and is fed through pump 2 into pressure pipe-line 4. Compressed air is supplied over pipe 9 into flow of slurry in pressure pipe-line 4. Presence of air in water-and-ground mixture provides for reduced energy consumption for its transportation due to diminished mass, reduced losses of pressure on friction against walls of pipes, full protection against damage in case of water hammer thanks to compressibility of air. Clogging of pressure pipe-line with ground blockings in case of emergency shut-down of suction dredge is avoided because of continuous feed of compressed air into pipe-line. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of transportation of slurry thanks to increased operational reliability of hydraulic transportation system and diminished loss of pressure in it. 3 dwg