Fine solids recovery system, method and pick-up wand

Abstract

A fine solids recovery system including a high pressure pump and a pick-up wand that is intended to be inserted into a liquid containing fine solids therein. The system also includes a high pressure hose having one end that is in fluid communication with the high pressure pump and a second end that is in fluid communication with the pick-up wand. There is also an exhaust hose that is in fluid communication with the pick-up wand. In operation, the high pressure pump pumps liquid though the high pressure hose and into the pick-up wand to create a vacuum therein, thereby drawing up a slurry. In certain embodiments, the exhaust hose is connected to a recovery vessel, such as an oversized container, a sealed tank, or an open-top tank. The invention also relates to a method of using such a system, as well as to the details of a pick-up wand.

1 . A fine solids recovery system comprising;
 a high pressure pump;   a pick-up wand configured and arranged to be inserted into a body of liquid containing fine solids therein;   a high pressure hose having one end that is in fluid communication with said high pressure pump and a second end that is in fluid communication with said pick-up wand; and   an exhaust hose that is in fluid communication with said pick-up wand,   wherein said high pressure pump pumps high pressure liquid though said high pressure hose and into said pick-up wand to create a vacuum within said pick-up wand, thereby drawing up a slurry of the liquid containing fine solids therein into said pick-up wand and then through said exhaust hose.   
     
     
         2 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 1 , wherein said high pressure liquid is water at a pressure within a range of approximately 2500 to 4500 psi. 
     
     
         3 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second high pressure pump; and   a second high pressure hose attached to said second high pressure pump,   wherein said second high pressure pump pumps high pressure liquid though said second high pressure hose and directly into said exhaust hose at a location downstream of said pick-up wand, thereby boosting the force of the flow of slurry through said exhaust hose.   
     
     
         4 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a recovery vessel that is in fluid connection with an outlet end of said exhaust hose. 
     
     
         5 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 4 , wherein said recovery vessel includes a filter for separating the fine solids from the slurry. 
     
     
         6 . The solids recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wire basket;   a cloth filter seated within said wire basket, said cloth filter being configured and arranged to separate fine solid from the slurry;   a recovery vessel that is in fluid communication with an outlet end of said exhaust hose, whereby the slurry passes from said exhaust hose, through said cloth filter wherein the fine solids are captured, and into said recovery vessel.   
     
     
         7 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 4 , wherein said recovery vessel comprises:
 a tank;   a tank exhaust pipe that fluidly connects said tank and the body of liquid; and   a weir system for hindering fine solids from passing from said tank into said tank exhaust pipe.   
     
     
         8 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein said weir system includes a perforated weir. 
     
     
         9 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 7 , wherein said weir system is comprised of a plurality of weir panels arranged in series. 
     
     
         10 . The fine solids recovery system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a trash pump that is configured and arranged to receive low pressure liquid from a stream though a low pressure hose; and   a sluice table,   wherein:
 said high pressure pump is configured and arranged to receive low pressure liquid from said trash pump through an intermediate hose; 
 said pick-up wand is configured and arranged to draw up slurry from the same stream that said trash pump receives liquid from; and 
 said exhaust hose includes an outlet that directs the slurry toward said sluice table. 
   
     
     
         11 . A method of recovering fine solids from a fluid, the method comprising the following steps:
 inserting a pick-up wand into a catch tank that holds a slurry of the fluid and the fine solids, wherein the pick-up wand is attached to an exhaust hose that extends between a first end that is in fluid communication with the pick-up wand and a second end that is in fluid communication with a recovery vessel;   flowing high pressure liquid through a high pressure hose and into the exhaust hose, via the pick-up wand, to create vacuum pressure within the pick-up wand;   drawing up the slurry, which includes some of the fine solids along with some of the fluid, from the catch tank into the pick-up wand via the vacuum pressure; and   conveying the drawn-up slurry through the exhaust hose and into the recovery vessel.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein during said step of flowing high pressure liquid to create pressure within the pick-up wand, the high pressure liquid is directed in an axial direction of a tube portion of the pick-up wand, but without having any portion of any piping that conveys the high pressure liquid to the pick-up wand disrupt the flow of the slurry through the pick-up wand. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein during said step of flowing high pressure liquid to create pressure within the pick-up wand, the high pressure liquid is directed in an axial direction of a tube portion of the pick-up wand, as well as being directed into a central portion of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising a step of flowing high pressure liquid through a second high pressure hose and into a portion of the exhaust hose at a location downstream of the pick-up wand, thereby boosting the force of the flow of slurry through the exhaust hose. 
     
     
         15 . A pick-up wand comprising:
 a high pressure hose operatively connected to a source of high pressure fluid, said high pressure hose including an outlet end through which high pressure fluid exits said high pressure hose;   a tube configured and arranged to transport a slurry mixture; and   a nozzle connected to an inlet end of said tube, said nozzle being configured and arranged to collect a slurry mixture and to pass said slurry mixture into said tube;   wherein said outlet end of said high pressure hose is positioned, with respect to said tube and said nozzle, to provide high pressure fluid into said tube, thereby creating a vacuum within said nozzle for conveying the slurry mixture through said nozzle and into said tube, and   further wherein said outlet end of said high pressure hose is located adjacent a bend in a flowpath of the slurry mixture through said nozzle, whereby said outlet end of said high pressure hose does not disrupt the flow of the slurry mixture through said nozzle.   
     
     
         16 . The pick-up wand according to  claim 15 , wherein said tube is relatively rigid, and extends along a straight line, and further wherein said tube is configured and arranged to attached to a relatively flexible exhaust hose. 
     
     
         17 . The pick-up wand according to  claim 16 , wherein said outlet end of said high pressure hose directs the high pressure liquid along a relatively straight path coincident with a central axis of said tube. 
     
     
         18 . The pick-up wand according to  claim 15 , further comprising a screen positioned within said nozzle. 
     
     
         19 . The pick-up wand according to  claim 15 , further comprising a control valve attached to said tube, wherein said control valve is configured and arranged to turn the flow of high pressure fluid on and off. 
     
     
         20 . The pick-up wand according to  claim 15 , wherein the high pressure fluid is water. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the recovery vessel used during said conveying step is a sandbag; and   the catch tank used during said inserting step is one of a river or lake.