Bulk delivery system

Abstract

There is provided a bulk delivery system for moving bulk material from an elevation below the surface of a host to the host surface. The delivery system includes a storage system mounted on the host surface, a device submersible in the bulk material for lifting the bulk material to the host surface, and a flexible conduit connecting the storage system with the lifting device. The device for lifting the bulk material may be a pump or an eductor. When an eductor is used, a motive conduit is attached to the eductor for introducing a motive product, such as air or previously recovered bulk material into the eductor for drawing the bulk material therein and into the flexible conduit leading to the host surface. The storage system is rotatably mounted on the host for rotation between an operating position in which the flexible conduit and lifting device are located over the bulk material and a storage position in which the flexible conduit and lifting device are stored on the host.

1 . A bulk delivery system for moving bulk material from an elevation below the surface of a host to the host surface, which comprises: 
 a storage system mounted on the host surface;    a device submersible in the bulk material for lifting the bulk material to the host surface;    a flexible conduit connected at an upper end to the storage system and at a lower end to the lifting device.    
   
   
       2 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage system comprises: 
 a base mounted on the host;    a reel attached to the base;    a drive mechanism associated with the reel for rotating the reel for lowering the lifting device into the bulk material and for raising the lifting device to the host surface.    
   
   
       3 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 2 , wherein the reel includes a drum for storing the flexible conduit when the lifting device is not in use.  
   
   
       4 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , further including a tension bearing cable attached to the flexible conduit for supporting the weight of the lifting device, the flexible conduit, and the bulk material contained in the flexible conduit.  
   
   
       5 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the device for lifting the bulk material comprises an electric pump, and further including a power cable associated with the flexible conduit for providing power to the pump.  
   
   
       6 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the device for lifting the bulk material comprises a hydraulic pump, and further including a hydraulic conduit associated with the flexible conduit for providing hydraulic force to the pump.  
   
   
       7 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the device for lifting the bulk material comprises a pneumatic pump, and further including an air conduit associated with the flexible conduit for providing pneumatic force to the pump.  
   
   
       8 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the device for lifting the bulk material comprises an eductor.  
   
   
       9 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 8 , wherein the eductor comprises: 
 a device for providing at least one fluid jet in the bulk material;    at least one diffuser associated with each fluid jet; and    at least one suction port associated with the fluid jet for receiving the bulk material into the eductor.    
   
   
       10 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 9 , further including a motive conduit attached to the eductor for introducing a motive product into the eductor for drawing the bulk material into the eductor and the flexible conduit.  
   
   
       11 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the motive product comprises air.  
   
   
       12 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 10 , wherein the motive product comprises bulk material.  
   
   
       13 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the device for lifting the bulk material comprises a plurality of eductors spaced at intervals along the flexible conduit for boosting the bulk material to the host surface.  
   
   
       14 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage system is rotatably mounted on the host for rotation between an operating position in which the flexible conduit and lifting device are located over the bulk material and a storage position in which the flexible conduit and lifting device are stored on the host.  
   
   
       15 . The bulk delivery system of  claim 1 , wherein the storage system is detachably mounted to the host and is portable for relocation with respect to the host.  
   
   
       16 . A method for moving bulk material from an elevation below the surface of a host to the host surface, which comprises: 
 rotating a reel on the host for lowering a flexible conduit stored on the reel and an electric pump connected to the flexible conduit into the bulk material;    energizing the electric pump for moving the bulk material into the flexible conduit and therethrough to the host surface; and    conveying the bulk material into a holding tank on the host surface.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of energizing the electric pump includes operating an electric slip ring attached to the reel so that the electric pump is energized through power cables attached to the flexible conduit.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including the step, after sufficient bulk material has been moved to the host surface, of rotating the reel on the host for winding the flexible conduit thereon and for raising the electric pump to the host surface for storage thereon.  
   
   
       19 . A method for moving bulk material from an elevation below the surface of a host to the host surface, which comprises: 
 rotating a reel on the host for lowering a flexible conduit stored on the reel and an eductor connected to the flexible conduit into the bulk material;    pumping a motive product into the eductor for providing a fluid jet and thereby drawing the bulk material into the eductor and the flexible conduit and therethrough to the host surface; and    conveying the bulk material into a holding tank on the host surface.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the motive product is bulk material temporarily stored in the holding tank.