Fluid Pump for Use in Explosive Bore Holes

This invention relates to a fluid pump and more particularly to a fluid pump which may be used in explosive bore holes. Mining and quarrying ordinarily involve blasting operations. The blasting is achieved by drilling a plurality of bore holes in the rock or the like. Dynamite or ANFO is ordinarily placed in the bore holes to achieve the necessary blasting. ANFO is comprised of ammonia nitrate mixed with fuel oil and is less expensive than the dynamite. The problem connected with the use of ANFO in the bore holes is the bore holes are frequently filled with water which dissolves the ANFO and prevents detonation.

A further problem in removing the water from the bore holes is that rocks or the like tend to fall downwardly into the bore hole which interferes with the removal of any pump means which has been previously positioned in the bore hole. A still further problem encountered with the removal of the water from the bore holes is that the fluid pump can be seriously damaged if the pump continues to run after all the water has been removed from the bore hole.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a fluid pump.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump which may be used to pump the water from a bore hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump which is extremely compact.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump for use in bore holes which is efficient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump for use in explosive bore holes which includes a hydraulic motor thereby decreasing the possibility of prematurely detonating the blasting agent.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump for use in bore holes including means for automatically deactivating the fluid pump when the water has been removed from the bore hole.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for preventing rocks or the like from falling downwardly into the bore hole as the water is being removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for removing the fluid pump from the bore hole after the water has been removed therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pump for use in explosive bore holes which is durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view depicting the fluid pump of this invention lowered into a bore hole:

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view seen on lines 2 -- 2 of FIG. 1:

FIG. 3 is a sectional view seen on lines 3 -- 3 of FIG. 2:

FIG. 4 is a sectional view seen on lines 4 -- 4 of FIG. 3:

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view seen on lines 5 -- 5 of FIG. 2:

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the pipe shield which is mounted in the top of the bore hole:

FIG. 7 is a side view of the pipe shield of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic of the circuitry of the invention.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 refers to a bore hole which has been drilled in the rock or the like which is referred to by the reference numeral 12. The numeral 14 generally refers to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure such as a hydraulic pump or the like having a pair of hydraulic hoses 16 and 18 extending therefrom downwardly into the bore hole 10. The circuitry of the hydraulic pump will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The fluid pump of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 20 and comprises an outer housing 22 having a plurality of water inlet openings 24 formed therein to permit water to enter the interior thereof. The numeral 26 refers to a conventional hydraulic motor which is retained to the pump housing 36 which is welded to plug 52. Outer housing 22 and bottom 30 are welded together and assembled over the hydraulic motor 26 and pump element and welded to plug 52. Spacer 32 is provided between motor 26 and 30.

Pump housing 36 extends upwardly from the hydraulic motor 26 within housing 22 and has a plurality of openings 38 formed in its lower end adapted to permit water to enter the interior thereof. Hydraulic motor 26 is provided with a rotatable drive shaft 40 extending upwardly therefrom and including a universal joint 42 imposed therein. The upper end of shaft 40 is connected to a screw-like rotor 44 by means of collar 46. Rotor 44 rotatably extends through a pump stator 48 positioned in pump housing 36. As seen in FIG. 5, stator 48 includes a cylindrical resilient liner 50 which yieldably engages the exterior surface of the screw-like rotor 44. A discharge conduit or line 54 is secured to plug 52 for communication with the upper end of housing 36 as also seen in FIG. 2. Discharge line 54 extends upwardly through the bore hole 10 and laterally therefrom for discharging the water or fluid from the bore hole as illustrated in FIG. 1. As seen in the drawings, the hydraulic hoses 16 and 18 extend downwardly through the bore hole 10 and through a pair of spaced apart openings formed in plug 52. The hoses 16 and 18 bypass the pump housing 36 and pass between the exterior surface of the pump housing 36 and the interior surface of the outer housing 22. The hoses 16 and 18 are fluidly connected to the hydraulic motor 26 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The numeral 56 refers to a polyethylene cable which extends downwardly through the bore hole 10. The lower end of cable 56 is extended through an opening 58 formed in plug 52 as seen in FIG. 2. A knot 60 is formed on the lower end of the cable 56 so that upward movement of the cable 56 in the bore hole 10 will cause the fluid pump 20 to be raised likewise.

The numeral 62 refers to a pipe shield having an outer diameter substantially that of the bore hole 10. A flat plate or shield 64 is secured to the pipe shield 62 as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 for limiting the downward movement of the pipe shield 62 with respect to the bore hole 10 as seen in FIG. 7. The plate 64 engages the ground adjacent the upper end of the bore hole to prevent debris or the like from being dropped into the upper end of the bore hole 10. A pulley 66 is rotatably mounted at the upper end of the pipe shield 62 and is adapted to have the cable 56 extend thereover. Handle 68 is provided on the pipe shield 62 for positioning the same relative to the hole.

In FIG. 8, it can be seen that engine 70 is operatively connected to the hydraulic pump 14 which as a suction inlet 72 in communication with the hydraulic reservoir 74. Hose or line 16 has a hydraulic pressure gauge 76 imposed therein as illustrated in FIG. 8. Line 76 fluidly connects hoses 16 and 18 and has a normally open solenoid valve 80 imposed therein.

The numeral 82 refers to a battery connected to an ignition switch 84 by wire 86. Wires 88 and 90 connect the engine 70 with the switch 84 as depicted in FIG. 8. The numeral 92 refers to a manual push button switch having a pair of contacts 94 and 96. Contact 94 is connected to the valve 80 by wire 98 and is connected to a flow sensor switch 100 by wire 102. Contact 96 is connected to the switch 84 by wire 104. Wire 106 also connects the switch 100 with the switch 84 as seen in FIG. 8. Switch 100 is electrically connected to a flow indicator light 108 by wire 110.

The normal method of operation is as follows. The bore hole would have previously been drilled and would ordinarily have a diameter of 3 to 5 inches. The pipe shield 62 is placed in the upper end of the bore hole as seen in FIG. 7. The fluid pump 20 is then lowered into the bore hole 10 through the pipe shield 62 by means of the hydraulic hoses, discharge line and polyethylene cable 56. The fluid pump is lowered into the bore hole until it is positioned on the bottom thereof as seen in FIG. 2. The water in the bore hole will enter the interior of the outer housing 24 and the interior of the pump housing 36. It is contemplated that the smallest model of the pump will have an outer housing diameter of approximately 2.25 inches which will allow the dewatering of the small bore holes. The key of the switch 84 is then turned on and the flow indicator light 108 will light to show battery current. The engine 70 is then started which activates the hydraulic pump 14 so that the fluid will be pumped through the normally open solenoid valve 80 into the hydraulic reservoir 74. The switch 92 is normally open and the closing of the same causes current to close the solenoid valve 80 so that the hydraulic fluid will be supplied to the hydraulic motor 26 through the hose or line 16. Actuation of the hydraulic motor 26 causes the shaft 40 and rotor 44 to be rotated. The screw-like rotor 44 rotates within the fixed resilient stator 48 to form progressing cavities in the stator 48 which moves the fluid in the pump housing upwardly as indicated by the arrows in the drawings. The water is pumped upwardly from the stator 48 upwardly through the discharge line 54. The water flows through the flow sensor switch 100 to activate the same which allows current to the solenoid valve but halts the flow of current to the indicator light 108 to deactivate the same. The push button switch 92 is then released. The hydraulic motor 26 continues to operate until the bore hole has been completely dewatered. When the water flow through the switch 100 is stopped, the flow sensor switch 100 becomes activated and stops the flow of current to the solenoid valve 80 which then opens so that the flow of fluid to the hydraulic motor 26 will be halted to deactivate the same. The flow indicator light 108 is also illuminated when the flow of water is halted through the flow sensor switch 100 to indicate that the bore hole has been dewatered. The switch 84 can then be moved to its "off" position to deactivate the engine 70 if desired. However, it is preferable to leave the engine running until all the holes are dewatered.

It should be noted that a normally closed solenoid valve could be substituted for the valve 80 with certain electrical circuit changes being incorporated in the schematic of FIG. 8. It should also be noted that a two-way-two position solenoid valve could be substituted for the valve 80 if so desired.

The pipe shield 62 prevents debris or the like from falling downwardly into the bore hole which could cause problems in removing the fluid pump from the bore hole. If difficulty is encountered in removing the fluid pump from the bore hole, it is simply necessary to connect the cable 56 to a tractor or the like to exert upwardly force thereon which pulls the fluid pump from the bore hole due to the connection of the lower end of the cable 56 with the plug 52.

After the fluid pump has been removed from the bore hole, the pipe shield 62 may also be removed from the upper end thereof. The blasting agent may then be placed in the bore hole without fear that the blasting agent will be diluted with ground water. The small compact fluid pump permits it to be used in bore holes and permits the dewatering of bore holes which have heretofore not been practically possible. Thus it can be seen that the fluid pump of this invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.