Conoco Inc.

Eston F Petry

Julian B Coon

John B Riester

Kenneth E McBee, Ii

Method and apparatus for hydraulically mining a location using a hydraulic monitor which has horizontal and vertical positionable control apparatus. The hydraulic monitor is connected to a source of high pressure water. Distance and direction measuring equipment are mounted on the monitor and controlled in a manner to scan the location. The output from the distance and direction measuring equipment is inputted to a computer and a visual video display monitor. The computer converts the information from the distance and direction measuring equipment to a visual representation of the cavity being mined. The hydraulic monitor includes a means for diverting the high velocity jet during the distance measuring period so that the water pressure is not varied in the high pressure pipe and the mined material is continuously washed toward the collection apparatus during the measuring period. All hydraulic monitor functions are controlled from remote operator location.

Remotely sensing of excavation cavity during mining

A hydraulic monitor barrel is protected from falling debris by attaching to the monitor housing a pair of spaced vertically positioned plates, so that the monitor barrel can moved freely between the plates and yet be protected by the plates from any debris which should fall on the monitor. In addition, the bearing of the monitor is protected by providing a yieldable coupling between the housing and the bearing, so that when vertical forces are applied to the housing, the housing settles against the base of the monitor and transfers the forces thereby from the vertical plates to the monitor base, rather than through the monitor bearing.

Hydraulic monitor protection apparatus

Apparatus for generating a pressure pulse in a fluid comprising a pipe, an opening into said pipe for filling said pipe with fluid, a piston mounted in the pipe, and coupled to a vibrator output. An air bleeder is mounted through said pipe at a location to remove all the air in the pipe as it is filled with fluid and vibrator control apparatus for controlling the frequency and phase of the vibrator and any additional vibrators coupled to a common fluid path.

Fluid vibration apparatus

Method for unplugging a pipeline filled with fluid and solid material by blocking the pipeline below the plugged portion, injecting pressure pulses into the pipeline on both sides of the plugged portion until the plugged portion becomes fluidized and then forcing water into and through the plugged portion to remove the plug. The method further contemplates controlling the frequency and the phase of the injected pressure pulses to best match the length of the pipeline between the injected pulses so that the pulse applied to each side of the plug is out of phase.

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Barrackville, WV, United States of America

Eston F Petry