GB2159853A

GB2159853A - Removing unwanted water

Info

Publication number: GB2159853A
Application number: GB08413961A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sydney Howe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-06-01
Filing date: 1984-06-01
Publication date: 1985-12-11
Also published as: GB8413961D0; GB2159853B

Abstract

A method of removing unwanted water, particularly from mines, comprising coupling a pressurised water supply to the input side of a prime mover, the mechanical output side of said prime mover being connected to a water pump which is operable to pump said unwanted water to a collection point or collection means. The water at the input side of the prime mover is less in volume and higher in pressure, or vice versa, than the water exitting from the pump. The prime mover is a reciprocating piston, or a hydraulic motor, mechanically connected to the pump.

Description

SPECIFICATION Removing unwanted water This invention relates to a method of pumping away unwanted water, the method of the invention having particular application in mines.

There is often a need in mines to move small quantities of water which have gravitated to the lowest available place, such water causing inconvenience to workmen and other personnel who may have to travel through and/or work in such water. The water is often contaminated with mud and/or oil and/or mild chemicals and originates from various sources, the most common sources being natural drainage out of the strata, excess and waste water from dust suppression and leaking or damaged supply pipes.

A requirement of the Mines and Quarries Act is that all production areas--coal production areas-major developments, and roadways equipped with conveyors, shall have adequate fire fighting facilities.

The water supply of the fire fighting facilities-such water being a normally unused power source-must be reasonably clean and uncontaminated for practical purposes, and because the static head of water increases the pressure of the water in the deeper mines, it is not uncommon to find "on site" water pressures well in excess of 250 Ibs/in2.

The present invention therefore proposes to make use of the water supply of the fire fighting facility to remove the quantities of unwanted water referred to above.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of removing unwanted water, particularly from mines, the method comprising coupling a water supply of a fire fighting facility to the input side of a prime mover, the mechanical output side of said prime mover being connected to a water pump which is operable to pump said unwanted water to a collection point or collection means.

Preferably, said prime mover will be a hydraulic motor or a reciprocating piston or gear motor.

The exhaust (discharge) output side of the water pump will be connected to a pipe range or similar which is at a lower operating pressure than that of the water in the fire fighting facility, or alternatively by varying the quantities of water used and pumped, the pumped pressure can be increased or decreased.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the invention according to a first embodiment; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and firstly to Fig.

1, a water supply pipe 2 from a water supply of a fire fighting facility (not shown) is connected to the input side of a prime mover 4, in the form of a hydraulic motor or reciprocating piston or gear motor. The water in the supply pipe 2 is at a relatively high pressure, of the order of 250 Ibs/in2 or greater.

An output shaft 6 of the prime mover 4 is connected to a drive shaft 8 of a water pump 10 which is connected, via line or pipe 1 2 to the unwanted water (not shown) to be removed.

The output 14 of the pump 10 and the output 1 6 of the prime mover 4 are connected together at 1 8 and then go to discharge in the direction of arrow 22.

In operation, water from the water supply source passes via supply pipe 2 to the prime mover 4 so as to cause operation of the latter and hence, via the coupling between shafts 6 and 8, operation of the pump 10 which thus draws water to be removed via line 1 2 to discharge line 14. After passing through the prime mover, the exhaust water from the supply source mixes with the water exiting from the pump, the mixture then proceeding to discharge, which may be a collection tank (not shown) or the water may be discharged onto materials being transported on a conveyor.

The diameter of the pipe 2 will be smaller than that of the common discharge pipe 20 and hence the pressure in the pipe 1 2 will be less than that in the pipe 2.

The water from the fire fighting facility would preferably pass through an inlet valve which is connected by pipes or internal galleries to filters, prior to the water passing into the prime mover 4. The prime mover 4 will drive a cam with a captive follower, where one part reciprocates, such follower being connected to the pump 10, preferably a diaphragm type pump. Alternatively, a rotary screw type pump may be utilised. Yet a further alternative may consist of the provision of a cylinder or cylinders with reciprocating pistons to drive the pump.

In an alternative arrangement of the invention referring now to Fig. 2, wherein like parts are given like reference numerals, the water from the exhaust (discharge) output side 1 6 of the prime mover 4 is fed to the input side of the pump 10, instead of directly to discharge.

The feeding of the water to the input side of the pump 10, would have the added advantage of diluting the contaminated water being removed. In the arrangement of Fig. 2, the pipe 1 2A, i,e, that portion of the pipe 1 2 after the point of connection between the pipes 1 6 and 12, will be of a larger diameter than that of the pipe 2, as will be the diameter of the pipe 14.

It will be appreciated that the water outlets from the prime mover 4 and the pump 10-in the Fig. 1 arrangement-may be kept entirely separate so that they discharge their respective waters separately, non-return valves preferably being used to prevent "back flow" of water.

If desired, an automatic speed control may be provided to compensate for variations in water flow caused by different "on site" pressures in the water supply of the fire fighting facility.

With the above described invention, use will be made of an otherwise largely unused power supply source. In addition, the unit will be fully submersible (if necessary) without need for special seals etc., and can be used in locations where electricity is not allowed and other power is not available.

Claims

1. A method of removing unwanted water, particularly from mines, comprising coupling a pressurised water supply to the input side of a prime mover, the mechanical output side of said prime mover being connected to a water pump which is operable to pump said unwanted water to a collection point or collection means.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the water at the input side of said prime mover is less in volume but higher in pressure than the water exitting from said pump.

3. A method according to Claim 1, wherein the water at the input side of said prime mover is greater in volume but lower in presure than the water exitting from said pump.

4. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said prime mover is a reciprocating piston which is mechanically connected to said pump.

5. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein said prime mover is a hydraulic motor which is mechanically connected to said pump.

6. A method according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the exhaust (discharge) output side of the water pump is connected to a pipe range or similar which is at a lower operating pressure than that of the pressurised water supply.

7. A method according to any Claims 1 to 6, wherein by varying quantities of water used and pumped, the pumped pressures can be increased or decreased.

8. A method of removing unwanted water, particularly from mines, substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.

9. Apparatus for use in a method of removing unwanted water according to any of Claims 1 to 8.

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: Claim 1 above have been deleted or textually amended.

New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:-

1. A method of removing unwanted water, particularly from mines, comprising coupling a pressurised water supply to the input side of a prime mover, the mechanical output side of said prime mover being connected to a water pump which is operable to pump said unwanted water to a collection point or collection means, water discharged from the prime mover being coupled to the inlet side or the outlet side of the said pump.