Patent Publication Number: US-2022234051-A1

Title: Placer recovery of particles and related systems, methods, and devices

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/140,317, filed Jan. 22, 2021, and titled PLACER RECOVERY OF PARTICLES AND RELATED SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by this reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates generally to placer recovery of particles in a stream, and more specifically to recovery of particles that are heavier than other particles in a stream. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Materials such as precious metals (e.g., gold) may accumulate in stream or river beds. Given the high value of precious metals, profit may be obtained from harvesting materials from stream or river beds. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While this disclosure concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming specific embodiments, various features and advantages of embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a placer recovery system, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a material collection device of the placer recovery system of  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of a filter tube of the material collection device of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  is a zoomed-in side view of a sub-portion of the filter tube of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a top view of the collector within the shell of the material collection device of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a bottom view of the collector within the shell of the material collection device of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an inlet end and an outlet end of the material collection device of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 7  is a material intake device, which is an example of a material intake device of  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 8A  illustrates a side view of a dislodging tool, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 8B  illustrates a bottom view of the dislodging tool, according to some embodiments; 
         FIG. 9  is a side view of a placer recovery system, which is an example of the placer recovery system of  FIG. 1  implementing a water pump; and 
         FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a placer recovery system, according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific examples of embodiments in which the present disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to practice the present disclosure. However, other embodiments enabled herein may be utilized, and structural, material, and process changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
     The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular method, system, device, or structure, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure. In some instances similar structures or components in the various drawings may retain the same or similar numbering for the convenience of the reader; however, the similarity in numbering does not necessarily mean that the structures or components are identical in size, composition, configuration, or any other property. 
     The following description may include examples to help enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosed embodiments. The use of the terms “exemplary,” “by example,” and “for example,” means that the related description is explanatory, and though the scope of the disclosure is intended to encompass the examples and legal equivalents, the use of such terms is not intended to limit the scope of an embodiment or this disclosure to the specified components, steps, features, functions, or the like. 
     It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the drawings could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following description of various embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments may be presented in the drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated. 
     Furthermore, specific implementations shown and described are only examples and should not be construed as the only way to implement the present disclosure unless specified otherwise herein. Elements, circuits, and functions may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present disclosure in unnecessary detail. Conversely, specific implementations shown and described are exemplary only and should not be construed as the only way to implement the present disclosure unless specified otherwise herein. Additionally, block definitions and partitioning of logic between various blocks is exemplary of a specific implementation. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced by numerous other partitioning solutions. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted where such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present disclosure and are within the abilities of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     The embodiments may be described in terms of a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describe operational acts as a sequential process, many of these acts can be performed in another sequence, in parallel, or substantially concurrently. In addition, the order of the acts may be re-arranged. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, other structure, or combinations thereof. 
     Any reference to an element herein using a designation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not limit the quantity or order of those elements, unless such limitation is explicitly stated. Rather, these designations may be used herein as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements may be employed there or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner. In addition, unless stated otherwise, a set of elements may include one or more elements. 
     As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as, for example, within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90% met, at least 95% met, or even at least 99% met. 
     Recovery of materials from stream or river beds may involve a great deal of work in treacherous conditions, which may result in injury or even death to individuals harvesting the materials, and may result in damage or destruction to equipment and other property. Also, given an often small proportion of desired materials in stream or river beds compared to larger proportions of undesired or worthless materials, it may be difficult to harvest a sufficient amount of desired materials to make the recovery process worthwhile. 
     Disclosed herein are material collection devices, placer recovery systems, and related methods that facilitate recovery of desired materials from stream or river beds. Embodiments herein improve safety to individuals harvesting the materials, reduce the probability of damage to equipment, and quickly and easily collect heavy materials such as gold from undesired or worthless materials. 
     In some embodiments a material collection device includes a filter tube and a collector positioned below the filter tube. The filter tube includes a wall defining apertures, an inlet through which fluid and material enter the filter tube, protrusions extending inwardly from the wall of the filter tube, and an outlet through which the fluid and the material exit the filter tube. The protrusions are in front of the apertures from a perspective of the inlet. The collector is configured to collect particles of the material that exit the filter tube through the apertures. 
     In some embodiments a placer recovery system includes a material collection device, a material intake device, and a material transmission device. The material collection device includes a filter tube extending therethrough and a collector positioned below the filter tube. The filter tube includes apertures and protrusions in front of the apertures from a perspective of an inlet of the filter tube. The material intake device intakes material from a streambed and fluid from the stream. The material transmission device delivers the material and fluid from the material intake device to the material collection device. 
     In some embodiments a method of operating a placer recovery system includes intaking, by a material intake device, material from a streambed and fluid from a stream and delivering the material and the fluid from the material intake device to a material collection device. The method also includes collecting first particles on a collector of the material collection device, the first particles sufficiently dense to exit a filter tube through one or more apertures having protrusions in front of the one or more apertures. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a placer recovery system  100 , according to some embodiments. The placer recovery system  100  includes a material collection device  200 , a material intake device  102 , and a material transmission device  104 . The material collection device  200  includes a filter tube (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) extending therethrough, the filter tube including apertures and protrusions in front of the apertures from a perspective of an inlet  116  of the filter tube and a collector (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) positioned below the filter tube, as will be discussed in more detail below. The material intake device  102  intakes material  108  from a streambed  112  or a river bed and fluid from a stream  110 . The material transmission device  104  delivers the material  108  and fluid  410  (see  FIG. 4 ) from the material intake device  102  to the material collection device  200 . As used herein, the term “streambed” refers to a bottom or bed of any body of water including a stream, a river, a canal, a pond, a lake, a puddle, an ocean, or other body of water. 
     In operation an operator  106  may utilize the material intake device  102  to intake the material  108  from the streambed  112 , the material transmission device  104  may deliver the material  108  and fluid to the inlet  116  of the material collection device  200 , and the material collection device  200  may collect desirable particles of the material  108 , and discharge, from an outlet  118  of the material collection device  200 , discarded material  114  including undesired materials of the material  108 . 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of a material collection device  200  of the placer recovery system  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments. The material collection device  200  includes a shell  208 , a filter tube  300 , and a collector  202  positioned below the filter tube  300 . The shell  208  defines a collection chamber  210 . The filter tube  300  extends through the collection chamber  210 . The collector  202  is positioned within the collection chamber  210  below the filter tube  300 . The filter tube  300  includes an inlet  116  through which fluid and material enter the filter tube  300 . The filter tube  300  also includes an outlet  118  through which the fluid and material exit the filter tube  300 .  FIG. 3  illustrates more detail regarding the filter tube  300 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a portion of a filter tube  300  of the material collection device  200  of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments. The filter tube  300  includes a wall  306  defining apertures  302 . The filter tube  300  also includes protrusions  304  extending inwardly from the wall  306  of the filter tube  300 . The protrusions are positioned in front of the apertures  302  from a perspective of the inlet  116  ( FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). 
       FIG. 4  is a zoomed-in side view of a sub-portion of the filter tube  300  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the wall  306 , apertures  302  in the wall  306 , and protrusions  304  extending inwardly from the wall  306  in front of the apertures  302 .  FIG. 4  also illustrates a first particle  402  and a second particle  404 . The first particle  402  may be a denser particle than the second particle  404 . By way of non-limiting example, the first particle  402  may be a gold particle, which is desired to be collected by the material collection device  200  ( FIG. 2 ). Since the first particle  402  is denser than the second particle  404 , the first particle  402  may have an exit path  406  that has a steeper descent following the protrusions  304  than a retention path  408  of the second particle  404 . As a result, the first particle  402  may exit the filter tube  300  through one of the apertures  302 , and the second particle  404  may be retained within the filter tube  300  until it reaches the outlet  118  and is discarded as discarded material  114  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     In addition to the protrusions  304 , which extend inwardly into the filter tube  300  ( FIG. 3 ) from the wall  306 , in some embodiments the filter tube  300  may also include outward protrusions  412 , which may protrude outwards from the wall  306 . The outward protrusions  412  may be positioned behind the apertures  302  from a perspective of the inlet  116  ( FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments an angle θ between a line perpendicular to the wall  306  and a line from a tip  414  of one of the protrusions  304  to a tip  416  of a corresponding one of the outward protrusions  412  may be between 5° and 55°. By way of non-limiting example, the angle θ may be substantially 30°. Although not shown in  FIG. 4 , the angle θ may be substantially 0° (e.g., the line from the tip  414  to the tip  416  may be substantially perpendicular to the wall  306 . 
     Returning to  FIG. 2 , the collector  202  is configured to collect particles (e.g., first particle  402  of  FIG. 4 ) of the material  108  that exit the filter tube  300  through the apertures  302 . The collector  202  may include ridges  204  on a top surface thereof to prevent collected particles that collect thereon from leaving the top surface. In some embodiments the collector  202  may include eddy features  212  formed therein instead of or in addition to the ridges  204  to induce eddies in the fluid within the collection chamber  210  proximate to the ridges  204 . Such eddies may encourage particles leaving the filter tube  300  (e.g., through the apertures  302  of  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) to travel toward and rest on the collector  202  (e.g., on or in the ridges  204  and/or on or in the eddy features). 
     The collector  202  may also include rollers  206  configured to engage with an inner surface of the shell  208  to maintain the collector  202  in a substantially horizontal orientation (e.g., slightly slanted as shown in  FIG. 2 ) under the filter tube  300  regardless of an orientation of the material collection device  200 . In other words, the collector  202  is configured to remain below the filter tube  300  regardless of an orientation of the material collection device  200 . As a result, if the material collection device  200  rolls around within a stream during operation, the collector  202  remains below the filter tube  300  and may continue to collect particles. Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the apertures  302  and their corresponding protrusions  304  are arranged substantially all around the wall  306  to enable the particles of the material to exit the filter tube  300  through the apertures  302  regardless of an orientation of the filter tube  300 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a top view  502  of the collector  202  within the shell  208  of the material collection device  200  of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates a bottom view  504  of the collector  202  within the shell  208  of the material collection device  200  of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B  together, the bottom view  504  shows the rollers  206 , and the top view shows the ridges  204  and the eddy features  212 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5B , the rollers  206  may be secured to the collector  202  via threaded members, which may enable rotation of the threaded members to change a position of the rollers  206 . In some embodiments the eddy features  212  may include swirl patterns therein to induce the fluid (e.g., the fluid  410  of  FIG. 4 ) to eddy (e.g., to swirl around) responsive to the fluid passing over the eddy features  212 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an inlet end  602  and an outlet end  604  of the material collection device  200  of  FIG. 2 , according to some embodiments. The inlet end  602  may include a valve that may be opened or closed to allow or impede fluid (e.g., water) from the body of water to enter the collection chamber  210 . The outlet end  604  may allow fluid to exit the collection chamber  210 . As a result, the fluid may flow through the material collection device  200 . By way of non-limiting example, the material collection device  200  may be submerged in the fluid and a current of the body of water may move water through the material collection device  200 . In some embodiments a mesh  606  may be included behind the inlet end  602  to prevent debris from entering the collection chamber  210  and resting on the collector  202  or interfering with the particles as they descend from the filter tube  300  toward the collector  202 . 
       FIG. 7  is a material intake device  700 , which is an example of the material intake device  102  of  FIG. 1 , according to some embodiments. The material intake device  700  includes a nozzle  702  at an end thereof. The nozzle  702  is configured to propel fluid into the streambed to dislodge the material (e.g., material  108  of  FIG. 1 ) from the streambed. The material intake device  700  also includes a dislodging tool at the end of the material intake device  700 . The material intake device  700  is configured to dislodge the material from the streambed. By way of non-limiting example, the dislodging tool may include a spike  704  configured for insertion into the streambed to enable an operator of the material intake device  102  to churn through the streambed with the spike  704  to dislodge the material from the streambed. 
     Other dislodging tools may be used at the end of the material intake device  102  in some embodiments. By way of non-limiting example, a dislodging tool may include a driven wheel having one or more teeth protruding therefrom. An example of a dislodging tool having a driven wheel and one or more teeth protruding therefrom is illustrated in  FIG. 8A . 
       FIG. 8A  illustrates a side view  802  of a dislodging tool  800 , according to some embodiments. 
       FIG. 8B  illustrates a bottom view  804  of the dislodging tool  800 , according to some embodiments. Referring to  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 8B  together, in some embodiments the dislodging tool  800  may be positioned at the end of a material intake device such as the material intake device  102  of  FIG. 1  to dislodge material (e.g., material  108  of  FIG. 1 ) from a streambed (e.g., the streambed  112  of  FIG. 1 ). The dislodging tool  800  includes a wheel  806  having teeth  808 . When the wheel  806  is driven to spin (e.g., by fluid turning the wheel  806  as illustrated by the side view  802 ) the teeth  808  dislodge material that the material intake device may intake. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a placer recovery system  900 , which is an example of the placer recovery system  100  of  FIG. 1  implementing a water pump  902 . The placer recovery system  900  includes the material collection device  200 , the filter tube  300 , the material transmission device  104 , and the material intake device  102  discussed above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The placer recovery system  900  also includes an outlet end  906  and an inlet end  908  for the material collection device  200 . The outlet end  906  and the inlet end  908  are similar to the outlet end  604  and the inlet end  602  discussed with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     The placer recovery system  900  also includes a pump connector  904  configured to connect to the water pump  902 . The water pump  902  may in some embodiments drive the flow of fluid and material through the placer recovery system  900 . In such embodiments the water pump  902  may be configured to move the material and the fluid through the filter tube  300  of the material collection device  200 . In some embodiments naturally occurring current flowing through the material collection device  200  may drive the flow of fluid through a placer recovery system  100  in addition to or instead of the water pump  902 . By way of non-limiting example, the material intake device  102  may be used upstream from the material collection device  200  and current operating on the material collection device  200  may create suction in the material transmission device  104 , similar to siphoning of gasoline from a gas tank. 
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating a method  1000  of operating a placer recovery system, according to some embodiments. In operation  1002 , method  1000  includes intaking, by a material intake device, material from a streambed and fluid from a stream. In operation  1004 , method  1000  includes delivering the material and the fluid from the material intake device to a material collection device. In operation  1006 , method  1000  includes collecting first particles on a collector of the material collection device, the first particles sufficiently dense to exit a filter tube through one or more apertures having protrusions in front of the one or more apertures. In operation  1008 , method  1000  includes discarding, through an outlet of the material collection device, second particles of the material. 
     As used in the present disclosure, the term “combination” with reference to a plurality of elements may include a combination of all the elements or any of various different subcombinations of some of the elements. For example, the phrase “A, B, C, D, or combinations thereof” may refer to any one of A, B, C, or D; the combination of each of A, B, C, and D; and any subcombination of A, B, C, or D such as A, B, and C; A, B, and D; A, C, and D; B, C, and D; A and B; A and C; A and D; B and C; B and D; or C and D. 
     Terms used in the present disclosure and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.). 
     Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. 
     In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one or more of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc. 
     Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” should be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     While the present disclosure has been described herein with respect to certain illustrated embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that the present invention is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the illustrated and described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed along with their legal equivalents. In addition, features from one embodiment may be combined with features of another embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of the invention as contemplated by the inventor.