Patent ID: 8136672
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: B03B,B07B,B08B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for forming a slurry from an oil sand ore, the apparatus comprising: a slurry vessel forming an upper opening and having a lower portion; a slurry outlet provided at the lower portion of the slurry vessel; an ore processor bed operating to receive and comminute the oil sand ore and to produce a granular material while screening and sorting the oil sand ore from an oversize material unsuitable for slurry formation in the slurry vessel, the ore processor bed comprising a frame disposed over the upper opening of the slurry vessel, a plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements comprising at least four rotatable elements and a drive mechanism operative to drive the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements, the frame supporting the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements and comprising an elongated upper portion of the ore processor bed formed at least in part by the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements; a sprayer for spraying the oil sand ore with a solvent along the elongated upper portion of the ore processor bed as the oil sand ore is transported by the plurality of spaced apart rotatable elements to comminute the oil sand ore and to produce the granular material while screening and sorting the oil sand ore from the oversize material, the sprayer disposed over and directed towards the elongated upper portion of the ore processor bed; and a water inlet for receiving water in the slurry vessel for mixing with the granular material.