Hydraulic elevation apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured for bidirectionally conveying objects comprising:
- a transport container containing one or more objects; and
a transportation chamber having upper and lower outlets for transporting the transport container in a chamber liquid internally disposed within the transportation chamber,wherein the apparatus is configured to elevate the transport container to the upper outlet by flotation and lower to the lower outlet the transport container by sinking in the chamber liquid to convey objects,wherein the transport container is airtight to allow the transport container to elevate by floatation in the chamber liquid,wherein said lower outlet is under said upper outlet and comprises an airlock to control ingress into, and egress from, the transport chamber.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The hydraulic transportation apparatus and method of the present invention incorporate a multiple chamber framework internally disposed preferably within at least one single shaft structure, which facilitates movement of object transport containers within the multiple chamber framework. Preferably, fluid elevation is employed to elevate and lower object transport containers and their contents within the multiple chamber framework. Each single shaft structure may be constructed from an existing rehabilitated shaft, or a newly drilled shaft. The present invention may be utilized in vertical or incline lifting environments, and an auxiliary hoist chamber may be incorporated into the multiple chamber framework for use as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, elevating objects by employing fluid elevation. The present invention may be employed in a variety of heavy lifting scenarios, including underground mining or in above ground lifting environments.
33 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. An apparatus configured for bidirectionally conveying objects comprising:
-
a transport container containing one or more objects; and a transportation chamber having upper and lower outlets for transporting the transport container in a chamber liquid internally disposed within the transportation chamber, wherein the apparatus is configured to elevate the transport container to the upper outlet by flotation and lower to the lower outlet the transport container by sinking in the chamber liquid to convey objects, wherein the transport container is airtight to allow the transport container to elevate by floatation in the chamber liquid, wherein said lower outlet is under said upper outlet and comprises an airlock to control ingress into, and egress from, the transport chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for bidirectionally transporting objects comprising:
-
providing a transport container; loading the transport container with one or more objects; elevating the transport container containing the one or more objects in a chamber liquid internally disposed within a transportation chamber having upper and lower outlets, wherein the transport container is airtight to allow the transport container to elevate to the upper outlet by floatation in the chamber liquid; unloading the transport container; and lowering the transport container by sinking the transport container in the chamber liquid within the transportation chamber to the lower outlet, wherein said lower outlet is under said upper outlet and comprises an airlock to control ingress into, and egress from, the transport chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An apparatus configured for bidirectionally conveying objects comprising:
-
a transport container containing one or more objects; a delivery chamber having an upper and lower outlets for elevating the transport container from the lower outlet to the upper outlet by flotation in a first chamber liquid internally disposed within the delivery chamber, wherein the transport container is airtight to allow the transport container to elevate by floatation in the first chamber liquid; and a return chamber for lowering the transport container by sinking in a second chamber liquid internally disposed within the return chamber, wherein said lower outlet is under said upper outlet and comprises an airlock to control ingress into, and egress from, the delivery chamber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A method for bidirectionally transporting objects comprising:
-
providing a transport container; loading one or more objects into the transport container; elevating the transport container by flotation in a first chamber liquid internally disposed within a delivery chamber having upper and lower outlets, wherein the transport container is airtight to allow the transport container to elevate from the lower outlet to the upper outlet by flotation in the first chamber liquid; unloading the transport container; and lowering the transport container by sinking in a second chamber liquid internally disposed within a return chamber, wherein said lower outlet is under said upper outlet and comprises an airlock to control ingress into, and egress from, the delivery chamber. - View Dependent Claims (36)
-
Specification