US3455515A - Fluid drilling process and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

y 1969 J. J. CONNOLLY 3,455,515

FLUID DRILLING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AIR UNDER PRESSURE .6' FlG 2 FIG 3 FIG 4 ZZITE/IZ' v i I INVENTOR,

---- N J. CONNOI L BY V Ila.

ATTORNEYS July 15, 1969 J. J. CONNOLLY 3,455,515

FLUID DRILLING PROCESS AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FlG ..1O

A A A 57 1' 59 59' f I I I7 T WATER 6O UNDER PRESSURE I6 65 [/63 v n 66 t L I A 67% 67 f L, I i 62 r l s9 FIG 11 INVENTOR.

JOHN J. CONNOL'LY TMJ' 'wTmm/ ATTORNEYS United States Patent FLUID DRILLING PROCESS AND APPARATUS John J. Connolly, Millbrae, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Coyne Cylinder Co., San Francisco, Cal1f.,

a corporation of California Filed Dec. 16, 1966, Ser. No. 602,347

Int. Cl. 1302c 19/00; E21c 37/00; B07b 11/00 US. Cl. 241-15 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method for removing solidified insoluble filler mate- :rial from within a container having an aperture of lesser cross section than the largest cross section of the enclosed solidified insoluble material that includes subjecting the filler material to impingement with a stream of liquid under high pressure, the velocity of the stream being at least sufficient to disintegrate a portion of the filler material, and apparatus for accomplishing the same.

This invention relates to a process for removing insoluble cementitious-type filler material from within a container having an opening of smaller cross section than the largest cross section of the filler material. More particularly, this invention is directed to a process for the rapid disintegration and removal of insoluble, hardened, cementitious fillers from a container or cylinder by projecting a stream of liquid such as water against the filler material at a velocity suflicient to disintegrate the filler material and to apparatus for accomplishing the same.

In the storage of highly unstable gases such as acetylene, solidified porous filler materials are disposed within the storage unit to assist in dispersing and preventing local concentration of the gas that could create a hazardous and explosive condition within the unit. Among the porous filler materials which have been employed in this manner are those which are formed, for example, from calcium hydrate and silica; see US. Patent 3,077,708, issued Feb. 19, 1963. These high strength, dimensionally stable materials are normally further combined with fibrous materials such as asbestos, charcoal and the like, to produce fillers with various porosity characteristics. The resulting fibercontaining compositions retain high strength properties in addition to high porosity and are ideally suited for filling cylinders employed to store fluids under high pressure.

In normal operations, the filler ingredients are introduced in a fluidized form through a conventional gauge opening into the storage container and allowed to cure (set) usually at an elevated temperature. This curing step drives off large quantities of Water and other volatiles, leaving a hardened porous insoluble mass which substantially fills the entire container.

When it has been necessary or desirable to remove the insoluble filler to replace the filler or utilize the container in a different manner, such removal has been found to be extremely diflicult at best. The relatively small openings in this type of container, i.e., the apertures into which valves are threaded and through which the fluidized cementitious filler is initially introduced, are of insuflicient cross section to receive mechanical implements such as drill bits and the like of adequate size to assist in the removal of the hardened filler mass. Therefore, it has been necessary heretofore to at least partially disassemble or destroy such containers in order to mechanically extract the hard insoluble filler material therefrom.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to remove a hardened mass of insoluble filler material from within a container having an opening of lesser cross section than the largest cross section of the filler 3,455,515 Patented July 15, 1969 material by directing a stream of liquid against the filler material at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate the filler material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus for removing hardened insoluble filler material from within a container having an aperture of small cross section by discharging a stream of water under high pressure from a straight confined path at a velocity suflicient for destructive contact against the filler material within the container to produce disintegrated filler particles which will flow out of the container along with spent water.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel fluid-projecting device for introducing a stream of water under high pressure into a container and changing the direction of the stream of Water in such a manner that the resulting stream will have a velocity sufiicient, when discharged against an insoluble hardened filler mass disposed within the container, to cause the disintegration of the mass.

Broadly stated, the present invention is directed to a novel process which includes introducing a stream of water under high pressure into an enclosed container filled with a mass of cementitious insoluble material without altering the outer configuration of the container. The stream is either introduced at a velocity sufiicient to destroy the unity of the hardened insoluble mass or is accelerated to this desired velocity subsequent to its introduction. The stream is then conducted, transverse to its direction of introduction through the aperture, along a straight confined path for a distance sufficient to diminish the turbulence caused by the directional change so that the velocity of the stream, when discharged from the confined path, will remain sufficient to disintegrate the hardened insoluble mass. The stream is then discharged (projected) from the straight confined path out against the hardened insoluble mass to destroy the unity of the hardened mass. The resulting disintegrated filler particles are caused to flow from within the container along with the spent Water which results from dissipation of the high velocity stream through impingement against the filler :mass.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, a fluiddispersing (fluid-projecting) means, including at least one nozzle having an outer portion which defines a straight confined path of a length suflicient to maintain a stream velocity sufficient to disintegrate an insoluble filler mass, is employed to accomplish the aforementioned directional change in the stream. The fluid-dispersing means has a sufficiently small cross section so that it can be inserted through a valve-receiving aperture with which pressureresistant containers of this type are conventionally formed.

To accomplish the broad objectives of this invention, it has been found advantageous to first form a channel or tubular cavity extending inwardly from an aperture in the container through the insoluble filler material. Thus, an access path is provided for advancing the fluid-dispersing means into close proximity to the filler mass so that a high-pressure stream of water may be projected against the surface of the remaining insoluble filler mass. This preliminary channel can be produced in a number of ways. For example, a drill bit having a lesser cross section than the cross section of an aperture in the container can be inserted and a channel formed by conventional mechanical drilling. However, the channel produced with such a mechanical implement will inherently be of lesser cross section than the cross section of the aperture. Furthermore, any fibrous components, such as asbestos, present in the insoluble filler mass will tend to adhere to the drill bit and reduce the effectiveness of the drilling operation.

Therefore, it has been found preferable to employ a first fluid-dispersing means designed to propel a stream of water, at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate a portion of the insoluble filler mass, in a direction generally parallel to the direction of insertion of this first fluid-dispersing means. In this manner, the channel is formed generally ahead of the fluid-dispersing means and can be extended along the length of the filler mass by advancing the fluiddispersing means. Furthermore, it has been found that the channel, produced by a stream of water under high pressure and directed in this manner, has a substantially greater cross section than the cross section of the aperture through which the fluid-dispersing means is initially inserted.

After an initial channel or cavity has been provided through the insoluble filler mass, a second novel fluiddispersing means is inserted in the container through the aperture. This second means changes the direction of the high-pressure stream of water so that it is projected against the remaining filler mass while maintaining the stream of Water at a velocity sufiicient to accomplish the desired disintegration. By this is meant that the stream of water is directed against the surface of the remaining insoluble cementitious filler transverse to the access path provided by the initial channel or cavity While maintaining suflicient velocity to provide the necessary disintegration. This intense stream causes disintegration of the filler mass outwardly from the tubular cavity towards the wall of the container along a path generally defined by the direction of the intense stream of water. Thus, through properly timed advancement of the second fluiddispersing means along the tubular cavity, impingement of the stream of Water on the remaining portion of the filler mass produces complete disintegration of the insoluble filler mass.

The process of this invention can be most advantageously accomplished when the container, that is to be freed of a hardened insoluble filler, is positioned so that filler particles that are broken away from the filler mass by the impingement of a high-pressure stream of water will be continually removed from the vicinity of contact between the high-pressure water and the remaining integral filler mass. Thus, by aligning the container with an aperture disposed near the lower end thereof, the means provided for directing the high-pressure stream of Water can be advanced upwardly through the aperture into the container, while projecting the high-pressure stream of water against the insoluble filler. In this manner particles of the insoluble filler mass which are broken away from the mass gravitate downwardly along with the spent water toward the bottom of the container where the aperture is located. The disintegrated filler particles are then removed from the container through that portion of the aperture which is not occupied by the fluiddispersing means.

In a still further aspect of the process of this invention, provision is made for a stream of air under high pressure to be introduced into the container through an aperture preferably spaced upwardly from the aperture through which the water under high pressure is being introduced. This high-pressure air stream has been found to increase the rate at which the spent water is forced from the container, thereby preventing a buildup of water Which would flood the container and submerge the fluid-dispersing means. Submerging the fluid-dispersing means is undesirable as it causes the force exerted by the high-pressure stream of water to be dissipated by contacting the spent water rather than on impact with the insoluble filler mass.

Through the application of slight rotational movement to the container during impingement of the high-pressure stream of water against the enclosed filler mass, a further increase in the rate at which the insoluble cementitious filler material is removed will be obtained. This advantage has been observed irrespective of the direction of rotation of the container.

Turning now to the apparatus of this invention, various means are contemplated for accelerating the disintegration of the insoluble filler material and the rate of removal of the disintegrated material as it gravitates to the lower end of the container. As previously set forth, it has been found advantageous to provide fluid-dispersing means having two distinct configurations. The first fluiddispersing means is formed to propel a high-pressure stream of water against the surface of the filler mass along, i.e., in a direction substantially parallel to a direction corresponding to the advancement of the fluid-dispersing means into the container. Through the use of this first fluid-dispersing means, the resulting tubular channel into the filler mass provides an unencumbered guide path for insertion of a second fluid-dispersing means to freely propel high-pressure water against the surface of the remaining filler mass transverse to the direction of advancement of the fluid-dispersing means while maintaining sufiicient velocity to disintegrate the filler mass. In this manner, a very efiicient two-phase operation is provided which produces a rapid and simple removal of the hardened filler mass from within containers such as those employed to store fluids under high pressure.

In still another aspect of this invention, it has been found that when the insoluble filler mass is of high strength, the rate of removal of the disintegrated filler particles from the container can be substantially increased by insuring that these disintegrated particles are of a size to be easily removed along with the spent water through that portion of the inlet not occupied by the support for the fluid-dispersing means. This is best accomplished by providing an auxiliary source of highpressure water which is inserted into the aperture alongside the fluid-dispersing means and adjacent the inner edge of the aperture. This auxiliary source of Water under high pressure impinges upon the disintegrated particles that have gravitated to the bottom of the container and produces an additional secondary reduction (comminution) in the overall size of the particles. In this way, the particles can then flow from the container with the spent water.

When a softer insoluble cementitious filler is to be removed, this desirable secondary size reduction of the disintegrated particles can be accomplished through the use of a rotatable helical auger mounted around the tubular conduit which supports the fluid-dispersing means. By rotating this auger at high speeds in the proper direction, the particles which have been broken away from the main filler mass and gravitated to the bottom of the container with the spent water will be further comminuted by mechanical contact with the helical surface. Furthermore, by proper rotation of this helical surface, the descending configuration of the auger will assist in causing the filler particles and spent water to flow through the aperture and out of the container.

The invention will be more fully understood when reference is made to the following detailed disclosure especially in view of the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are further schematic views illustrating the subsequent steps of operation relating to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a fluid-dispersing head employed to produce the tubular cavity illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan View of the fluid-dispersing head of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating a fluid-dispersing head employed to disintegrate the remaining hardened porous filler as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the fluid-dispersing head illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary schematic illustration of the nozzle jets illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a. second embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views, there is shown a cylinder A mounted upon table B. Table B is fabricated of a suitable highstrength material such as steel and the like and includes platform 10 having an opening 11 and means (not shown) for the oi-directional variable speed rotation of platform 10 about a vertical axis through opening 11. Cylinder A, including apertures 12 and 12, is positioned so that aperture 12 is coaxially aligned with opening 11 in platform 10. Table B also includes frame members 13 and sleeve member 14 for retaining cylinder A preferably as shown.

As further schematically illustrated by FIG. 1, conduit C of rigid construction, is disposed for insertion and retraction through aperture 12 into cylinder A. Conduit C, having a tubular passage 15, is connected through coupling 16 to pump 17 for supplying a stream of water under high pressure (not shown) to fluid-dispersing head D. Fluiddispersing head D is attached to the outer end of conduit C in a conventional manner such as by screw threads (partially shown in FIGS. 5 and 7).

In operation, cylinder A is first positioned on rotatable table B with aperture 12 thereof disposed downwardly and coaxially aligned with opening 11 in platform 10. It is preferred that cylinder A be disposed so that aperture 12 is located near the bottom thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. In this manner, the spent water resulting from dissipation of the stream of water under high pressure gravitates toward the bottom of cylinder A and flows out through aperture 12.

Fluid-dispersing head D, supported by conduit C, is inserted into aperture 12 and cylinder A. An intense stream of water under high pressure is supplied by pump 17 through tubular passage in conduit C while cylinder A is slowly rotated. The stream of water under high pressure is propelled at high speed out of fluid-dispersing head D and impinges upon insoluble porous filler mass 25 with sufficient velocity to cause disintegration thereof into filler particles 25'. As the filler mass 25 disintegrates under the force of this high velocity stream of water, tubular channel or cavity 36 of substantially greater cross section than that of aperture 12 is formed. Upward advancement of conduit C and head D into continued close proximity with the remaining surface of mass 25 extends channel 36 for the full length of cylinder A, as shown in FIG. 2.

When tubular channel 36 is completed through the full length of mass 25, fluid-dispersing head D, hereinafter more fully described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, is withdrawn from cylinder A. Fluid-dispersing head D is then removed from conduit C and replaced by head D, hereinafter more fully described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Fluid-dispersing head D, along with conduit C, is then inserted into channel 36 in filler mass 25 within cylinder A. Fluid-dispersing head D is slowly raised along channel 36 while projecting a stream of water against filler mass 25 at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate that portion of filler mass 25 which is located in the path of the intense stream of water. Thereafter by rotating cylinder A, the stream of water is propelled against a constantly changing surface of filler mass 25 so that mass 25 is substantially completely disintegrated as fluid-dispersing head D is advanced into cylinder A. Of course, this desired rotation can also be accomplished by rotating conduit C, including fluid-dispersing head D or D, either simultaneously with the rotation of cylinder A or in lieu thereof.

To insure rapid egress through inlet 12 of disintegrated particles 25 of filler mass 25 and the spent water 26 resulting from dissipation of the stream of water a source of air under high pressure is employed. This is most conveniently accomplished by attaching a source of air under high pressure (not shown) to aperture 12' disposed above aperture 12 and preferably near the upper end of cylinder A. The air source is provided through tube 22 and coupling 16 attached at aperture 12 of cylinder A. One skilled in this art will recognize the advantage to be gained by employing conventional pressure seals around couplings 16 and 16 to insure that the effect of the pressure exerted by the air being introduced from tube 22 will be directed against the surface of the spent water 26. In this manner buildup of spent water 26 within cylinder A is inhibited to minimize the possibility of either fluid-dispersing head D or D becoming submerged.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, fluid-dispersing head D includes tubular sleeve 30 having female threads 31 along one end thereof corresponding to male threads (not shown) on the outer end of conduit C. Mounted within the other end of sleeve 30, by welding or in some other conventional manner, is nozzle 32 having a frusto-conical shaped outer end. Nozzle 32 is provided at this outer end with orifice 34 which directs a portion of the high pressure stream of water parallel to the direction of advancement of fluid-dispersing head D supported on conduit C.

Spaced around the frusto portion of nozzle 32 are orifices 34 which are slanted outwardly at a rather steep angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of conduit C. It will be apparent to one skilled in that art that nozzle 32 may be of any other geometric configuration such as, for example, semispherical, as long as orifices 34 and 34 are arranged to propel the stream of water under high pressure in a direction generally in advance of head D and preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of conduit C so as to form channel 36, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when fluid-dispersing head D is advanced in cylinder A.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, fluid-dispersing head D includes sleeve 40 having female threads 31 at one end corresponding to male threads (not shown) on the outer end of conduit C. Head D is provided with nozzle 42 held within the other end of sleeve 40 in some conventional manner such as by welding. Nozzle 42 is provided with an outer portion 43 defining a straight tubular passage preferably formed to project the high-pressure stream of water from conduit C substantially perpendicular to channel 36. In this manner, the distance that the stream of water is projected prior to impingement with the surface of mass 25 is minimized.

It will be apparent to one skilled in this art that when outer portion 43 is disposed at an angle to channel 35, the stream of water is projected through a longer distance before impinging upon mass 25. Therefore, the velocity of the stream of water, which inherently decreases as the distance from head D increases, will be reduced when outer portion 43 forms an angle with channel 36. However, it is within the scope of this invention to provide outer portion 43 to project a stream of water in any direction transverse to the axis of tubular channel 36 provided that the velocity at impact is maintained sufficient to disintergrate mass 25.

In a preferred embodiment, head D is formed with a second nozzle 42' having a straight outer portion 43' disposed to direct a high-pressure stream of water, While maintaining a velocity sufficient to disintegrate mass 25, oblique to the longitudinal axis of tubular channel 36. It is preferred that nozzle 42 be modified so that its outer portion 43 forms an acute angle, such as about 30, with a plane normal to the axis of conduit C. In this manner, the stream of water which is propelled at high velocity outwardly from nozzle 42 will impinge upon mass 25 slightly ahead of head D. Thus, when conduit C and head D have been inserted for substantially the full length of cylinder A, the stream of water being emitted from nozzle 42 through outer portion 43 will be directed into upper corners 44 of cylinder A and thereby insure complete disintegration of filler mass 25.

It has been found to :be of critical importance to provide straight outer portions 43 and 43' of nozzles 42 and 42, respectively, with a sufiicient length to eliminate turbulence in the respective stream of water which is emitted under high pressure. The required length for outer portions 43 and 43 has been found to be directly related to the angular change in direction to which the stream of water is subjected when passing from conduit C to dispersing head D. As this angular change in direction increases, the length of the outer portion of the nozzle must also be increased. When outer portions 43 and 43 are of insufficient length, the velocity (force) of the stream of water is dissipated by the turbulence resulting from the aforementioned change in direction. As a result, the velocity will be insuflicient to disintegrate filler mass 25.

The elimination of turbulence can be further enhanced, as shown in FIG. 9, by the addition of orifice 46 to nozzle 42. Orifice 46 assists in straightening out" the stream of water prior to its emission from head D so that the velocity of the projected stream will be suflicient to disintegrate filler mass 25. In the preferred embodiment, a similar orifice 46' is provided in the outer end of nozzle 42.

Nozzle 42 is preferably disposed in a direction, when projected on a plane perpendicular to the axis of tubular cavity 36, which is opposite to the direction of the highpressure steam emitted by nozzle 42' when projected in a similar manner. Although nozzles 42 and 42', when constructed as illustrated in FIG. 7 and 8, would produce rotational movement of head D if head D is mounted to freely rotate, it is advantageous to control the rotation of head D as set forth infra, with reference to FIG. 10.

It will be apparent to one skilled in this art that when head D is freely rotatable, the rotational movement resulting from the release of the high-pressure stream of waterwill be accomplished at a sacrifice in the impinging force exerted by the streams of water against the surface of filler mass 25. It will also be apparent to one skilled in this art that any number of nozzles can be employed including a single nozzle 42. However, advantages have been found to result when fluid-dispersing head D is provided with each of the nozzles 42 and 42'.

Referring to FIG. 10, in another embodiment of this invention, conduit C is provided with an outer helicallygrooved surface in the form of auger 57. Conduit C is further provided with means for its rapid rotation including motor 58, pulleys 59 and 59 and pulley belt 60. In this manner when conduit C is inserted into cylinder A, and motor 58 activated, auger 57 is rotated simultaneously with the fluid-dispersing head secured on conduit C. Thus, the stream of water under high pressure which is emitted from head D or D is uniformly distributed around the exposed surface of filler mass 25 and, most importantly, auger 57 assists in the further comminution of disintegrated filler particles 25. In addition, the auger 57 acts as a conveyor to remove particles 25 and spent water 26 resulting from impingement of the high-pressure water stream.

Referring to FIG. 11, in a preferred embodiment of this invention which has been found to be particularly effective when insoluble cementitious filler mass 25 is of especially high strength, an auxiliary stream of water under high pressure is provided through assembly E. Assembly E includes a jet nozzle 61 which, in operation, is disposed alongside conduit C at the mouth of aperture 12 of cylinder A as illustrated. A stream of water is then introduced under high pressure from a source (not shown), through tube 62, connector 63 and tube 64 which are in fluid communication with nozzle 61, and propelled from nozzle 61.

Assembly E is constructed so that nozzle 61, mounted on support 65, can be moved (shown in phantom) about pin 66 and out of aperture 12. This is accomplished by loosening nut 67 threaded on bolt 67 which is disposed through slot 68 in support 69. In this manner an auxiliary stream of water under high pressure is caused to impinge upon filler particles 25 which have gravitated to the bottom of cylinder A after being broken away from filler mass 25. The impact of this auxiliary stream upon filler particles 25' causes further disintegration (comminution) thereof and enhances their rate of removal out of cylinder A through aperture 12 around conduit C.

By way of example it has been found that a conventional cylinder, containing a hard insoluble porous filler mass formed in accordance with US. Patent 3,077,708, supra, can be disposed on table B as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. Slight counterclockwise rotation was applied to table B and cylinder A, e.g., at about 6-8 revolutions/minute. Conduit C, having fluid-dispersing head D attached thereto, was inserted into one-inch aperture 12 in cylinder A. Water under a pressure of more than 3000 p.s.i. was directed through passage 15 of conduit C and out of fluid-dispersing head D at a rate of about 10 gal. per minute. Conduit C, including auger 57 and head D, was rotated counterclockwise at about 200 rpm. while being advanced into cylinder A.

Air under pressure of about p.s.i.g. was introduced through opening 12' in the upper end of cylinder A. Orifices 34 and 34 in head D were all of #54 drill size. Orifices 34' were formed at an angle of 45 to the axis of conduit C. A channel 36 about 2 /2 inches in diameter, was produced along substantially to entire length of cylinder A. Pump 17, motor 58 and the air pressure source were then shut otf and conduit C and head D withdrawn from cylinder A.

Head D was removed from conduit C and head D was secured to conduit C. Head D included nozzles 42 and 42 formed of inch OD steel tube. Orifices 46 and 46' were provided in nozzles 42 and 42, respectively, with passages of a #54 drill size. The outer portion 43 of nozzle 42 was positioned at an angle of 60 to the axis of conduit C and the outer portion 43' of nozzle 42' was positioned perpendicular to the axis of conduit C. The outer portions 43 and 43' of nozzles 42 and 42, respectively, were disposed so that when projected on a plane perpendicular to the axis of tubular cavity 36, the streams provided were opposed to each other. Outer portions 43 and 43' were formed with a length sufficient to negate the turbulence resulting from the change in direction to which the stream of water under high pressure was subjected in flowing from passage 15 in conduit C through head D.

Drill C was again inserted upwardly into the lower end of cylinder A along channel 36. Pump 17, motor 58 and the air pressure source were again activated and the remainder of filler mass 25 disintegrated and removed from cylinder A. Complete removal was accomplished in about two hours with no damage to cylinder A.

By way of further example, auger 57 was removed from around conduit C. Another cylinder was positioned on table A and auxiliary jet assembly E having a inch OD nozzle was mounted in aperture 12 alongside conduit C supporting the appropriate fluid-dispersing head. As water was consecutively directed against the surface of filler mass 25 through the fluid-dispersing heads D and D, assembly E was activated to propel an auxiliary stream of water against particles 25' as they were broken away from mass 25 and gravitated towards aperture 12. This auxiliary stream produced further comminution of particles 25' and insured their egress around conduit C out of aperture 12.

It will be apparent to one skilled in this art that the method and apparatus of this invention can be advantageously employed to remove an insoluble filler material of larger cross section than the cross section of the largest inlet or outlet aperture in the container.

Although a number of embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for removing a mass of solidified insoluble filler material from within a container having an aperture of lesser cross section than the largest cross section of said solidified insoluble material, comprising the steps of: forming a tubular cavity extending from said aperture into said mass; introducing a stream of liquid under high pressure through said aperture into said tubular cavity in a direction substantially parallel to said tubular cavity, said stream having a velocity at least sufficient to disintegrate at least a portion of the filler material remaining after formation of said tubular cavity; conducting said stream in a direction transverse to said tubular cavity along a straight confined path, said stream being confined along said path for a distance sufiicient to reduce any turbulence produced in said stream as a result of the transverse change in direction so that said stream will be discharged from said straight confined path at said sufficient velocity; discharging said stream from said straight confined path against said remaining filler material to cause said disintegration; continuing the discharge of said stream at said disintegrating velocity for a time sufiicient to disintegrate at least that portion of said filler material which extends in the direction of said discharge from said cavity to the wall of said container; removing said disintegrated filler material from said container; and advancing the discharge of said stream along said tubular cavity as said filler material is disintegrated so that when the advancement has been extended from said aperture through said mass, substantially all of said filler material will have been disintegrated and removed.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 and further characterized by disposing said container with said aperture at about the bottom thereof and allowing the disintegrated material to gravitate toward the bottom of said container whereby said disintegrated material continuously flows from said container.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 and further characterized by supplying a stream of air to said container through a second aperture spaced upwardly from first said aperture, said stream of air being under sufficient pressure to increase the rate of removal of said disintegrated material from said container through first said aperture.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2 and further characterized by rotating said container about an axis extending through the axis of said aperture to enhance the rate at which the disintegration of said filler material is accomplished.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 and further characterized by introducing a second liquid stream into said tubular cavity through said aperture, said second stream having a sufiicient velocity to comminute the disintegrated material which gravitates toward said aperture to decrease the size of said disintegrated material; and projecting said second stream from about said aperture into said container in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said tubular cavity to comminute said disintegrated material to insure that the comminuted material will flow from said container through said aperture.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tubular cavity is formed by introducing a stream of liquid through said aperture in said container to impinge upon said filler material, said stream having a velocity sufficient to disintegrate a portion of the filler material; projecting said stream against the exposed surface of said filler material while maintaining said disintegration velocity; continuing the projection of said stream for a time sufiicient to disintegrate a portion of said filler material; and advancing the projection of said stream through said mass of filler material in a direction defined by the disintegration of the portion of said filler material to form said tubular cavity.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said stream is introduced into said tubular cavity from rotating means whereby the projection of said stream is accomplished during the rotation of said means.

8. A method for removing a solidified insoluble filler material from within a container having an aperture of lesser cross section than the largest cross section of said solidified insoluble material, comprising: providing a first means for directing a first stream of water at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate a portion of said filler material; inserting said first means into said container through said aperture; projecting said first stream against the exposed surface of said filler material while maintaining said first stream at said disintegrating velocity for a time suflicient to disintegrate a portion of said material; advancing said first means generally along the direction of projection of said stream while continuing said projection to form a tubular cavity in the remainder of said material; withdrawing said first means from said container; providing a second means of lesser cross section than said aperture and tubular cavity for projecting a second stream of water under high pressure against said filler material transverse to the axis of said tubular cavity and at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate at least a portion of the remainder of said filler material; inserting said second means through said aperture into said tubular cavity; projecting said second stream against said filler material while maintaining said second stream at said disintegrating velocity; continuing the projection of said second stream for a time suflicient to disintegrate at least that portion of said filler material which extends in the direction of said projection from said cavity to the wall of said container; removing said disintegrated filler material from said container and advancing said second means along said tubular cavity while continuing the projection of said second stream at said disintegrating velocity so that when the advancement has been completed, substantially all of said filler material will have been disintegrated and removed.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said second means includes an outer straight conducting path of sufiicient length to reduce any turbulence produced by the transverse projection of said stream so that said stream will be projected from said straight conducting path at said sufiicient velocity.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 and further' characterized by disposing said container with the aperture at about the bottom thereof; and continuously removing from said container through said aperture the disintegrated material that gravitates toward the bottom of said container during said dispersion.

11. A method in accordance with claim 9 and further characterized by providing means for rotating said container about an axis through the axis of first said aperture to enhance the rate at which the disintegration of said filler material is accomplished.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11 and further characterized by providing a third means within said aperture for projection of an auxiliary stream of water at sufiicient velocity to comminute said disintegrated filler material; projecting said auxiliary stream simultaneously with the projection of said first or second stream of water whereby the rate of removal of said disintegrated filler material from said container through first said aperture will be enhanced.

13. A method in accordance with claim 11 and further characterized by providing said first and second means with a helically-grooved longitudinal surface and providing rotation means for said first and second means so that the rotation of either of said means will cause said helically-grooved surface to contact the disintegrated portion of said filler material as it falls toward said aperture thereby decreasing the size of said disintegrated filler material to insure its flow from said container through first said aperture.

14. A device suitable for removing solidified insoluble filler material from within a container having aperture of lesser cross section than the largest cross section of said soluble material, comprising: a tubular support; means attached to the first end of said support for supplying a stream of liquid under high pressure to said support; and means attached to the second end of said support for projecting said stream against said solidified insoluble filler material transverse to said tubular support, said means including a pair of nozzles secured to and in fluid contact with said second end of said tubular support, said pair of nozzles each having an inner section generally aligned with the axis of said tubular support, one of said pair of nozzles having an outer section dis posed at an oblique angle to said axis and the other of said pair of nozzles having an outer section disposed at about a right angle to said axis, said pair of nozzles being generally disposed to discharge said stream of liquid in opposite directions, the outer sections of both said nozzles defining a straight outer path of a length suflicient to pnoject said stream at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate at least a portion of said filler material whereby when said means is inserted into a tubular cavity in said filler material and said stream projected against said material, at least a portion of said material will be disintegrated.

15. A device in accordance with claim 14 and further characterized by means to rotate said container about its axis.

16. A device in accordance with claim 14 and further characterized by an additional fluid-projecting means which is disposed at about said aperture to provide an auxiliary stream of liquid at a velocity sufficient to comminute the disintegrated material produced by the stream from first said projection means.

17. A device suitable for removing solidified insoluble filler material from within a container having an aperture of lesser cross section than the largest cross section of said insoluble material, comprising: a tubular support; means attached to one end of said support for applying a stream of liquid under high pressure to said support; and means attached to the second end of said support for projecting said stream against said solidified insoluble filler material transverse to said tubular support, said means defining a straight outer path of a length sufficient to project said stream at a velocity sufficient to disintegrate at least a portion of said filler material whereby when said means is inserted into a tubular cavity in said filler material and said stream projected against said material, at least a portion of said material will be disintegrated, said tub-ular support including a helically-gro'oved outer surface whereby when said support is rotated, the helical surface contacts the disintegrated filler material and increases the rate of removal of said disintegrated material from within said container through said aperture.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,261,198 4/1918 Week et al. 299-17 1,661,672 3/ 1928 Morrison 175-67 2,620,841 12/ 1952 Jacobson 241-40 2,745,647 5/1956 Gilmore 299-17 3,030,086 4/1962 Donaldson et :al. 299-17 3,306,665 2/1967 Lobbe 299-17 3,326,607 6/1967 Book 299-17 GERALD A. DOST, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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