US008136672B2

( 12) Ulllted States Patent ( 10) Patent N 0. : US 8, 136, 672 B2

Bjornson et a] . ( 4 5 ) Date of Patent: Mar. 20, 2012
( 5 4 ) SIZIN G ROLLER SCREEN ORE 2, 606, 861 A * 8/195 2 Eastwood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208/5 5
PROCESSIN G APPARATUS 2, 674 , 5 64 A 4 /195 4 H erm anson
2, 894 , 824 A 7/195 9 Lannlng
( 75 ) Inv entors: Brad Bjornson, F ort Mc Mu rray ( CA) ; i et 31'
Dou g C0X , F O1 I MCMu rray ( CA) ; Pal1l 3326035 4 8 A 7/1966 Reic h l
Mac Dou g all, F ort Mc Mu rray ( CA) ; 3, 392, 105 A 7/ 1968 Poettm ann et al.
Garth Book er, F ort Mc Mu rray ( CA) ( Continu ed)
( 73) Assig nee: Su nc or Energ y , Inc . , Alb erta ( CA) F OREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
( * ) N otic e: Su b jec t to any disc laim er, th e term of th is CA 85 7305 _ V1970
p atent is ex tended or adju sted u nder 35 ( Com m u ed)
U. S. C. 15 4 b b 0 da .
( ) y y s OTH ER PUBLICATION S
( 21) APP1~ N OJ 12/64 6, 84 2 K eller et al. ; A Uniq u e, Reag ent- Based, Sep eration Meth od f or Tar
_ Sands and Env ironm entallly Clean Up s ; Presented to AlCh E 2001
( 22) F lled: Dec 23 2009 Annu al Meeting , N ov . 6, 2001, Reno, N ev ada.
( 65 ) Prior Pu b lic ation Data ( Continu ed)
Us 2010/015 5 305 A1 Ju n 24 2010 Prim ary Ex am iner * Terrell Matth ews
- - 74 ) Attorney , Ag ent, or F irm * K ilp atric k Townsend &
Related US. Ap p lic ation Data ( _
Stoc k ton LLP. ; M. H enry H eines
( 63) Continu ation of ap p lic ation N o. 11/ 187, 977, ? led on
Ju l. 25 , 2005 , noW Pat. N o. 7, 677, 397. ( 5 7) ABSTRACT
( 5 1) Int Cl A m ined ore p roc essing ap p aratu s to p roc ess m ined ores, su c h
B0' 7B 1' 3/00 ( 2006 01) as oil sands ore, into g ranu lar m aterial is disc losed. An ore
5 2 U S Cl 209/672_ 209' /665 _ 209/667_ 209/671 p roc essor b ed rec eiv es th e ore to b e p roc essed. Th e ore p ro
( ) _ ' ' ' """ "_ ' _ c essor b ed h as a f ram e su p p orting sev eral rotating elem ents
( 5 8) F ield of Classi? c ation Searc h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/665 , eac h Sep arately driv en to p rov ide indep endent rotation rate
_ _ 209/66_ 7 671 672 and direc tion f rom th e oth er. Th e ore p roc essing b ed is op er
See ap p h c anon ? le f or Com p lete Searc h h lstory ' ab le as a siz ing dev ic e to dec im ate m ined ore su p p ly into
( 5 6) R f Ct d g ranu lar m aterial and sep arating it f rom roc k s and oth er larg e
e erenc es 1 e
U. S. PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
183, 114 A 10/1876 Blak e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/135
5 28, 974 A 11/1894 Pik e
670, 312 A 3/1901 Cressonnieres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/15 9
816, 763 A 4 /1906 Trask . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/14 2
1, 277, 34 4 A 8/1918 Mc Carg ar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/15 9
1, 930, 24 7 A 10/1933 Mc Corm ic k
lu m p m ineral m aterials f ou nd in situ . Th e ore p roc essing b ed
m ay b e oriented to p rov ide an u p Ward inc lination, Wh ic h ,
Wh en c om b ined With alternating rotating elem ent rotation
direc tions, p rov ides a c ru sh ing ac tion to th e ore m aterial to
c ru sh larg er roc k . Alternately , a roc k c ru sh er is also p rov ided
to disinteg rate ov ersiZed m aterials.
12 Claim s, 5 Drawing Sh eets
US 8, 136, 672 B2
Pag e2
U. S. PATEN T DOCUMEN TS 2004 /025 1731 A1 12/2004 Potts
2004 /0262980 A1 12/2004 Watson
3, 4 02, 896 A 9/1968 D9919 2005 /005 15 00 A1* 3/2005 Pric e eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210/767
3, 5 09, 64 1 A 5 /1970 Sm lth ML 2005 /0134 102 A1* 6/2005 c y niennan eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299/7
3, 5 24 , 5 97 A 8/1970 Bu r_ den, Jr. et a1. . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/14 2 Zoos/0161372 A1 700% Colic
3, 5 81, 875 A 6/1971 Gu ls. 2005 /0173726 A1 8/2005 Potts
iii/22; : 5 1332 5 911116 2006/009124 9 A1 5 /2006 Potts
3, 972, 861 A M976 Gilrc dner Jr et a1 2006/022605 4 A1* 10/2006 Bish op , Ji. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/667
t 976 O k ~ ~ 2007/0014 905 A1 1/2007 Ch en eta1.
1323/22; 2 * @ 1977 p ilg t inz n etal 208/ 4 15 2007/0095 032 A1 5 /2007 N i1seneta1.
4 l03 972 A 8/l978 K oc h anowsk sl' ' t' i """" " 2007/018074 1 A1 8/2007 BJOIIISOII et 31.
4 , 120, 776 A M978 M. t 1 ~ 2007/018095 1 A1 8/2007 Arm strong etal.
4 , 139, 64 6 A M979 Gg sg g f f ' 2008/004 7198 A1 2/2008 Meh lh oseetal.
4 24 4 165 A M981 MCElWain 2008/01214 93 A1 5 /2008 Bjornsonetal.
4 4 24 113 A M984 Mitc h ell 2008/01735 72 A1 7/2008 Bjornsonetal.
4 24 863294 A 12/1984 Miller et a1, 2008/019705 6 A1* 8/2008 K enny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/64 4
4 5 05 5 16 A 3/1985 Sh elton 2010/015 5 305 A1* 6/2010 Bjornsonetal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208/390
4 , 5 05 , 811 A 3/1985 Grif ? th s eta1.
4 , 5 12, 95 6 A 4 /1985 Rob inson et a1. F OREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
4 , 5 38, 734 A 9/1985 Gill CA 84 15 81 12/1970
4 , 5 4 9, 935 A 10/1985 Tc h erny ak CA 890903 1/1972
4 , 5 85 , 180 A 4 /1986 Potts CA 9175 85 12/1972
4 , 65 8, 964 A 4 /1987 williains CA 9185 88 1/1973
4 , 733, 828 A 3/1988 Potts CA 92265 5 3/1973
4 , 74 1, 4 4 4 A 5 /1988 Bielag u s CA 997300 9/1976
4 , 763, 84 5 A 8/1988 Gu g g enh eim er CA 1085 762 9/1980
4 , 781, 331 A 11/1988 Potts CA 1088883 11/1980
4 , 795 , 036 A 1/1989 williains CA 1106789 8/1981
4 , 799, 627 A 1/1989 Potts CA 111735 3 2/1982
4 , 85 1, 123 A 7/1989 Mish ra CA 1126187 6/1982
4 , 994 , 097 A 2/1991 BrOu WerS CA 11325 11 9/1982
5 , 039, 227 A * 8/1991 Leu ng eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366/137 CA 1137906 12/1982
5 , 117, 983 A 6/1992 Marrs CA 115 334 7 9/1983
5 , 124 , 008 A 6/1992 Rendall et a1. CA 116325 7 3/1984
5 , 14 3, 5 98 A 9/1992 Giah ain eta1. CA 11935 86 9/1985
5 , 161, 74 4 A 11/1992 H orstetal. CA 1214 4 21 11/1986
5 , 186, 820 A 2/1993 Sc h u ltz eta1. CA 1231692 1/1988
5 , 24 2, 5 80 A 9/1993 SllI' y CA 1266261 2/1990
5 , 25 7, 699 A 11/1993 F iiek ei et a1. CA 130905 0 10/1992
5 , 264 , 118 A 11/1993 c y nieinian eta1. CA 211624 3 3/1993
5 , 362, 000 A 11/1994 Sc h welling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/15 9 CA 2000984 11/1994
5 , 4 4 1, 206 A 8/1995 Sc h ade eta1. CA 2029795 11/1996
5 , 4 5 0, 966 A 9/1995 Clark etal. CA 2105 176 5 /1997
5 , 4 80, 5 66 A 1/1996 Strand CA 2164 925 6/1997
5 , 5 03, 712 A 4 /1996 Brown CA 2088227 2/1998
5 , 5 89, 5 99 A * 12/1996 Mc Mu llen eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 85 /24 0 c A 2294 860 6/1998
5 , 64 5 , 714 A 7/1997 Strandetal. CA 2195 604 1/1999
5 , 723, 04 2 A 3/1998 Strand eta1. CA 2217623 4 /1999
5 , 772, 127 A * 6/1998 Mac iejewsk i et a1. . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/21 c A 2220821 5 /1999
5 , 95 4 , 277 A * 9/1999 Mac iejewsk i et a1. 24 1/21 CA 2227667 7/1999
5 , 960, 964 A * 10/1999 Au stin eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/672 CA 2084 375 7/2002
6, 033, 187 A 3/2000 Addie CA 2235 938 4 /2003
6, 065 , 607 A 5 /2000 Mag nu sson eta1. CA 224 9679 4 /2003
6, 076, 75 3 A 6/2000 Mac iejewsk i CA 225 0623 4 /2003
6, 25 0, 4 76 B1 6/2001 K roon eta1. c A 225 4 04 8 5 /2003
6, 318, 5 60 B2* 11/2001 Dav is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/672 CA 2290029 8/2003
6, 319, 099 B1 11/2001 Taneu e eta1. CA 2294 860 9/2003
6, 322, 84 5 B1 11/2001 Du nlow CA 2332207 2/2004
6, 371, 305 B1* 4 /2002 Au stin eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/672 CA 235 2274 2/2004
6, 390, 915 B2 5 /2002 Biant1ey eta1. CA 235 8805 2/2004
6, 4 5 0, 775 B1 9/2002 H u tc h inson eta1. CA 24 36818 2/2004
6, 4 60, 706 B1 10/2002 Dav is CA 2398026 3/2004
6, 5 17, 733 B1 2/2003 Carlson CA 24 5 3697 4 /2004
6, 5 21, 079 B1 2/2003 Roy CA 24 4 1969 5 /2004
6, 5 85 , 5 60 B2 7/2003 Taneu e eta1. c A 24 4 0311 3/2005
6, 64 8, 14 5 B2 11/2003 Dav is eta1. CA 24 4 0312 3/2005
6, 800, 116 B2 10/2004 Stev ens et a1. CA 24 76194 1/2006
6, 818, 05 8 B2 11/2004 Ronin CA 24 80122 3/2006
6, 821, 060 B2 11/2004 Mc Tu rnk eta1. CA 24 86137 3/2006
7, 008, 966 B2 3/2006 Deg eorg e eta1. CA 24 98862 4 /2006
7, 013, 937 B2 3/2006 Potts CA 25 06398 5 /2006
7, 111, 738 B2 9/2006 A11en CA 25 1804 0 5 /2006
7, 207, 5 04 B2 4 /2007 Willm ot CA 25 20821 5 /2006
7, 399, 4 06 B2 7/2008 Mik u la eta1. CA 25 2094 3 5 /2006
7, 5 5 6, 715 B2 7/2009 Gaston eta1. c A 25 225 14 5 /2006
7, 5 88, 206 B2 9/2009 H au sinan eta1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 1/235 CA 25 26336 5 /2006
7, 893, 378 B2* 2/2011 K enny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209/5 76 CA 25 4 8370 6/2006
2002/001884 2 A1 2/2002 Du nlow CA 25 4 8371 6/2006
2003/008964 4 A1 5 /2003 H ank s CA 25 4 9895 6/2006
US 8, 136, 672 B2
Pag e 3
CA 25 5 2031 6/2006
CA 25 5 4 725 6/2006
CA 25 5 805 9 8/2006
CA 24 9984 0 9/2006
CA 24 9984 6 9/2006
CA 24 69326 5 /2007
CA 25 6764 3 5 /2007
CA 25 6764 4 5 /2007
CA 2610124 5 /2008
CA 2610169 5 /2008
DE 2834 987 2/1980
DE 3936681 5 /1990
EP 0167178 4 /1990
EP 04 9385 8 6/1995
F R 2185 027 5 /1973
GB 14 37605 6/1976
GB 2010777 7/1979
GB 04 019331 1/2005
GB 04 068029 1/2005
JP 005 0964 92 4 /1993
W0 WO 83/00318 2/1983
W0 WO 83/02071 6/1983
W0 WO 83/03062 9/1983
W0 WO 83/034 4 4 10/1983
W0 WO 88/01201 2/1988
W0 WO 96/2914 9 9/1996
W0 WO 96/30629 10/1996
W0 WO 98/5 8739 12/1998
W0 WO 99/5 4 04 9 10/1999
W0 WO 00/10896 3/2000
W0 WO 00/35 5 85 6/2000
W0 W0 02/092231 11/2002
W0 W0 03/006165 1/2003
W0 W0 03/05 6134 7/2003
W0 W0 03/074 394 9/2003
W0 WO 2004 /005 673 1/2004
W0 WO 2004 /094 061 11/2004
W0 WO 2005 /0004 5 4 1/2005
W0 WO 2005 /04 6874 5 /2005
W0 WO 2005 /04 6875 5 /2005
W0 WO 2005 /072877 8/2005
W0 WO 2006/035 209 4 /2006
OTH ER PUBLICATION S
Th e F ine Tailing s F u ndam entals Consortiu m ; Adv anc es in Oil
Sands Tailing s Researc h , ISBN 0- 7732- 1691- X , Pu b lish ed b y
Alb erta Dep artm ent of Energ y , Ju n. 1995 .
Stau sZ et al. ; Th e Ch em istry of Alb erta Oil Sands, Bitu m ens and
H eav y Oils4 Ch ap ter 4 iCom p osition and Stru c tu re of Alb erta Oil
Sands Carb onates ; Alb erta energ y Researc h Institu te, 2003, p p .
29- 67.
Restric tion Req u irem ent dated Dec . 12, 2008 f or US. Ap p l. N o.
1 1/ 5 95 , 817.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated May 23, 2008 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 11/5 95 , 817.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Mar. 2, 2009 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 11/5 95 , 817.
Restric tion Req u irem ent dated Dec . 2, 2008 f or US. Ap p l. N o.
1 1/ 5 5 8, 34 0.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Ap r. 29, 2009 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 11/5 5 8, 34 0.
Restric tion Req u irem ent dated Au g . 28, 2008 f or US. Ap p l. N o.
1 1/ 5 5 8, 303.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated N ov . 12, 2008 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 11/5 5 8, 303.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Ju l. 21, 2009 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 11/5 95 , 817.
N atu ral Resou rc es Canada, Treatm ent of Bitu m en F roth and Oil
Tailing s, downloaded f rom WWW. nrc an. g c . c a/es/etb /c Wrc /eng lish /
ast/researc h areas/f roth andslop /f roth andslop . h tm on Dec . 5 , 2001.
N ational Energ y Board, Canada s Oil Sands: A Su p p ly and Mark et
Ou tlook to 2015 ; An Energ y Mark et Assessm ent, Oc t. 2000.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Ap r. 13, 2007 f or CA Patent Ap p lic ation N o.
24 76194 .
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Ju l. 29, 2008 f or CA Patent Ap p lic ation N o.
24 76194 .
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Ju n. 2, 2009 f or CA Patent Ap p lic ation N o.
24 76194 .
Printed p u b lic ation nam ely Sc reen- p rinted ( 5 p ag es) elec tronic b ro
c h u re f rom th e Web site of Rox on Eq u ip m ent. Date disp lay Jan. 27,
2004 ( b roc h u re sc reen p rinted Jan. 27, 2004 ) along With 23 sc reen
p rinted p ag es f rom th e Web site f or WWW. rox ong rou p . c om arc h iv ed
b y th e Web Arc h iv e ( h ttp : //Web . arc h iv e. org ) .
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Jan. 26, 2007 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 10/825 , 230.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Oc t. 3, 2007 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 10/825 , 230.
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Ju n. 20, 2008 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 10/825 , 230.
N otic e of AlloWab ility dated May 8, 2009 f or US. Ap p l. N o.
10/ 825 , 230.
Rim m er et al. ; H y droc y c lone- b ased Proc ess f or Rejec ting Solids
f rom Oil Sands at th e Mine Site Wh ile Retaining Bitu m en f or Trans
p ortation to a Proc essing Plant ; Su nc or Ex trac tion 3rd edition, p p .
93- 100, p ap er deliv ered on Monday Ap r. 5 , 1993 at a c onf erenc e in
Alb erta, Canada entitled Oil Petroleu m F u tu re .
Protest to CA 235 8805 Ap p lic ation ? led Ap r. 15 , 2002, 217 p ag es.
Oil Sands, Ou r Petroleu m F u tu re ; c onf erenc e h eld at Edm onton
Conv ention Centre, Edm onton, Alb erta, Canada, Ap r. 4 - 7, 1993.
H arding , Joh n; Cost Sav ing Mov es into H ig h Gear artic le in F inan
c ial Post, Ap r. 4 , 2006.
Ex c erp ts f rom Inf orm ation Pac k ag e f or Mob ile Cru sh ing Plants
( MCP) , K ru p p Canada, 1177 11 Av e. , S. W. , Su ite # 4 05 , Calg ary ,
Alb erta, p p . 1- 7 p u b lish ed Sep . 2004 , Canada, p p . 8- 4 6 p u b lish ed
May 2003.
Jonah , K en; Sy nc ru de s Mine Produ c tion Planning , Mine Planning
and Eq u ip m ent, Sing h al ( ed) , p p . 4 4 3- 4 5 6, 1988 Balk em a, Rot
terdam , ISBN 90 8191 8197.
Dou c et et al. ; Drilling and Blasting in Tarsand , Su nc or Oil Sands
Grou p , N ov . 7- 8, 1985 .
De Malh erb e et al. ; Sy nth etic Cru de f rom Oil Sands ; VDI- Verlag
Gm b H , Du sseldolf , 1983, v ol. 3, N o. 8, p p . 20- 21.
Coward, Ju lian; sem inar m aterial u sed as c lass h andou t, Univ ersity of
Alb erta, Mar. 20, 2000.
Restric tion Req u irem ent dated Au g . 4 , 2011 f or US. Ap p l. N o.
12/ 5 62, 785 .
Of ? c e Ac tion dated Oc t. 21, 2011 f or US. Ap p l. N o. 12/5 62, 785 .
Joh an, K en; Sy nc ru de s Mine Produ c tion Planning , Mine Planning
and Eq u ip m ent, Sing h al ( ed. ) , p p . 4 4 3- 4 5 6.
N atu ral Resou rc es Canada, Treatm ent of Bitu m en F roth and Oil
Tailing s.
Printed p u b lic ation nam ely Sc reen- p rinted( 5 p ag es) elec tronic b ro
c h u re f rom th e Web site of Rox on Eq u ip m ent. Date disp lay Jan. 27,
2004 ( b roc h u re sc reen p rinted Jan. 27, 2004 ) along With 23 sc reen
p rinted p ag es f rom th e Web site f or WWW. rox ong rou p . c om arc h iv ed
b y th e Web Arc h iv e ( h ttp : //Web . arc h iv e. org ) .
Rim m er et al. ; H y droc y c lone- b ased Proc ess f or Rejec ting Solids
f rom IOil Sands at th e Mine Site Wh ile Retaining Bitu m en f or Trans
p ortation to a Proc essing Plant ; Su nc or Ex trac tion 3rd edition, p p .
93- 100, p ap er deliv ered on Monday Ap r. 5 , 1993 at a c onf erenc e in
Alb erta, Canada entitled Oil Petroleu m F u tu re .
Protest to CA 235 8805 Ap p lic ation.
H arding , Joh n; Cost- Sav ing Mov es into H ig h Gear artic le in F inan
c ial Post, Ap r. 4 , 2006.
Ex c erp ts f rom Inf orm ation Pac k ag e f or Mob ile Cru sh ing Plants
( MCP) , K ru p p Canada.
* c ited b y ex am iner
US. Patent Mar. 20, 2012 Sh eet 1 of 5 US 8, 136, 672 B2
23
/
H Y R
US. Patent Mar. 20, 2012 Sh eet 2 of 5 US 8, 136, 672 B2
US. Patent Mar. 20, 2012 Sh eet 3 of 5 US 8, 136, 672 B2
US. Patent Mar. 20, 2012 Sh eet 4 0f 5 US 8, 136, 672 B2
18 16 4 O
38
36
16
14
F IG. 7
18 F IG. 7a
US. Patent Mar. 20, 2012 Sh eet 5 of 5 US 8, 136, 672 B2
2 i
US 8, 136, 672 B2
1
SIZIN G ROLLER SCREEN ORE
PROCESSIN G APPARATUS
CROSS- REF EREN CE TO RELATED
APPLICATION S
Th is ap p lic ation is a c ontinu ation of c o- p ending ap p lic a
tion Ser. N o. 11/187, 977, ? led Ju l. 25 , 2005 , th e c ontents of
Wh ic h are inc orp orated b y ref erenc e in th eir entirety .
BACK GROUN D OF TH E IN VEN TION
1. F ield of th e Inv ention
Th is inv ention relates to th e p roc essing of m ined ore and
m ore p artic u larly relates to siz ing and c onditioning of m ined
ore m aterials.
2. Desc rip tion of th e Prior Art
Earth f orm ations are m ined to rec ov er v alu ab le m inerals
th at are inc orp orated in th e earth en f orm ations or are c ov ered
b y an earth en ov erb u rden. F or ex am p le, N orth ern Alb erta h as
oil sands f orm ations th at c ontain v alu ab le b itu m en h y droc ar
b ons. Variou s tec h niq u es are in u se or h av e b een disc u ssed f or
rec ov ery of b itu m en h y droc arb ons f rom oil sands f orm ations.
In ac c ordanc e With one m eth od of rec ov ery , th e oil sands
f orm ations are m ined to rem ov e in situ b itu m en b earing ore
f rom th e f orm ation in Wh ic h it is f ou nd. Th e rem ov ed oil
sands ore is th en p roc essed to sep arate th e h y droc arb ons f rom
th e sand and m ineral m aterials. Onc e sep arated, th e h y dro
c arb ons are th en f u rth er p roc essed into interm ediate or ? n
ish ed p rodu c ts su c h as sy nth etic c ru de oil, f u els and th e lik e.
Wh en th e m ining m eth od of ex trac tion is em p loy ed, th e oil
sands ore ex trac ted f rom th e earth is transp orted to a p roc ess
ing f ac ility Wh ere sep aration of th e b itu m en h y droc arb ons
f rom th e oth er m aterials in th e ore c an tak e p lac e. Th e m ined
oil sands ore is ty p ic ally transp orted to p roc essing f ac ilities
b y tru c k or b y slu rry transp ort v ia a p ip eline or b y c om b ina
tions of th e tWo or b y oth er m ec h anism s. F req u ently , th e oil
sands ore is m ined at a c onsiderab le distanc e f rom Wh ere th e
p roc ess of sep arating th e oil sands into h y droc arb ons, sand
and m inerals tak es, p lac e. Distanc e af f ec ts c onditioning and
rec ov ery in h y drotransp ort sy stem s, c onseq u ently , transp ort
of th e m ined ore to a sep aration f ac ility ty p ic ally inv olv es
transp orting th e m ined ore sig ni? c ant distanc es. Moreov er,
th e loc ation f rom Wh ic h th e ore is tak en c h ang es ov er tim e as
th e oil sands ore is dep leted as a resu lt of f orm ation m ining ,
c onseq u ently resu lting in m ig ration of th e m ining site along
th e f orm ation. Bec au se th e loc ation of th e sou rc e of oil sands
ore c h ang es ov er tim e, th e ore transp ort start p oint at th e
m ining site m u st b e m ob ile to p erm it th e ore to b eg in transp ort
f rom th e sou rc e f orm ation site as th at c h ang es ov er tim e.
One m ec h anism f or transp ort of th e ore to th e sep aration
f ac ility is b y f orm ing th e m ined ore into a slu rry . Su itab le
solv ents, f or ex am p le Water, are m ix ed With th e p roc essed ore
to f orm a slu rry and th e slu rry p rodu c ed is th en transp orted to
a sep aration p roc essing f ac ility ov er a p ip eline. To p rep are th e
ore f or slu rry transp ort, th e m ined ore is p ref erab ly c om m i
nu ted into th e sm aller p artic le siz e to f ac ilitate transp ort b y
slu rry p u m p ing . F u rth erm ore, larg e roc k s and oth er u ndesir
ab le ov ersiz ed solids are not c andidate slu rry c om p onents. In
one m anner of op eration th ese ov ersiz ed solids are rem ov ed
or sep arated f rom th e p roc essed ore th at is to b e f orm ed into
a slu rry . In anoth er m anner of op eration th ese ov ersiz ed solids
are c ru sh ed and inc lu ded With th e p roc essed ore th at is to b e
f orm ed into a slu rry . Bec au se th e loc ation Wh ere th e ore is
ex trac ted f rom Will c h ang e ov er tim e, it is p ref erab le to h av e
20
25
30
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
2
readily m ov ab le slu rry eq u ip m ent to redu c e th e need f or long
transp ort f rom th e m ining area to th e slu rry p roc essing eq u ip
m ent.
SUMMARY OF TH E IN VEN TION
Th e p resent inv ention p rov ides a m ined ore p roc essing
ap p aratu s th at is op erab le as a siz ing dev ic e in eith er a Wet or
dry p roc ess th at sc reens, sorts and c om m inu tes m ined ore into
g ranu lar m aterial sep arating it f rom roc k s and oth er larg e
lu m p m ineral m aterials f ou nd in situ . Th e inv ention is also
op erab le as a c ru sh er siz ing dev ic e th at c om m inu tes m ined
ore into g ranu lar m aterial and c ru sh es ov ersiz ed roc k and
oth er larg e lu m p m ineral m aterials f ou nd in situ into and
inc lu ded With th e g ranu lar m aterial p rodu c ed f rom c om m i
nu tion of th e ore.
Moreov er, th e p roc essing ap p aratu s of th e p resent inv en
tion is adap ted f or u se to p roc ess th e p rodu c ed g ranu lar m ate
rial into a slu rry c om p osition f or h y drotransp ort. In th e p re
f erred em b odim ent, th e m ined ore p roc essing ap p aratu s of th e
p resent inv ention is p ortab le to f ac ilitate m ov ing it f rom one
loc ation to anoth er. Pref erab ly it is adap ted to p roc ess h ig h
v olu m es of m ined ore m aterial in a c om p ac t p ortab le f ac ility .
In one of its asp ec ts th e inv ention p rov ides an ore p roc essor
b ed h av ing an u p p er su rf ac e p ortion adap ted to rec eiv e m ined
ore m aterial to b e p roc essed. Th e ore p roc essor b ed h as a
f ram e su p p orting at least tWo sp ac edly disp osed rotating ele
m ents. Th e m ined ore m aterial is p lac ed on th e p roc essor b ed
Wh ere it c ontac ts th e rotating elem ents and is p roc essed into
g ranu lar m aterial as it p asses along th e p roc essor b ed and
th rou g h th e sp ac ing b etWeen th e rotating elem ents of th e
p roc essor b ed. Eac h of th e rotating elem ents is indep endently
op erated to rotate in a c loc k Wise or c ou nter c loc k Wise direc
tion and at indep endent rates. Th e p roc essor b ed is orientab le
With resp ec t to h oriz ontal to p rov ide a h oriz ontal su rf ac e or
inc line. In one c on? g u ration, th e m ined ore m aterial is c on
tac ted With a solv ent and su p p lied to th e p roc essor b ed. Th e
solv ent assists in p roc essing th e m ined, ore m aterial into
g ranu lar m aterial and to aid in du st redu c tion du ring th e
p roc ess. Th e solv ent m ay b e h eated. In anoth er c on? g u ration,
th e m ined ore f eed m aterial is p rem ix ed With a solv ent su c h as
Water b ef ore it is su p p lied to th e p roc essor b ed. Th ere are also
ap p lic ations Wh ere dry f eed is added to th e ap p aratu s to
p rodu c e dry p rodu c ts, th at is, no solv ent, su c h as Water, is
added. In th e p ref erred em b odim ent, th e p rodu c ed g ranu lar
m aterial is rec eiv ed in a h op p er v essel Wh ere solv ent su c h as
Water is added to f orm a slu rry c om p osition f ac ilitating ? u id
or h y dro transp ort of th e g ranu lar m aterial in slu rry f orm .
Th e p ref erred em b odim ents of th e inv ention Will noW b e
desc rib ed With ref erenc e to th e draWing s.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TH E DRAWIN GS
F IG. 1 is an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of th e
p ref erred em b odim ent of th e inv ention.
F IG. 2 is an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of an
alternate em b odim ent of th e inv ention inc lu ding a c ru sh er.
F IG. 3 is an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of an
alternate em b odim ent of th e inv ention p rov iding a f eed h op
p er.
F IG. 4 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of th e
em b odim ent of F IG. 1 b u t in op eration With ou t a p roc essor
b ed solv ent su p p ly and With th e p roc essor b ed oriented h ori
z ontally ab ov e th e slu rry v essel.
F IG. 5 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of th e
em b odim ent of F IG. 2 b u t in op eration With ou t a p roc essor
b ed solv ent su p p ly , With th e c ru sh er disp osed at th e f eed end
US 8, 136, 672 B2
3
of th e p roc essor b ed and With th e p roc essor b ed oriented
h oriz ontally ab ov e th e slu rry v essel.
F IG. 6 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of th e
em b odim ent of F IG. 5 b u t With th e p roc essor b ed oriented at
an u p Ward inc line ab ov e th e slu rry v essel.
F IGS. 7 and 7a are p lan v ieWs of th e ore p roc essor b ed
rotating elem ents rotatab ly disp osed th erein sh owing v aria
tions in sp ac ing s.
F IG. 8 is an elev ation v ieW sh owing v ariou s disk p ro? les of
th e rotating elem ent disk assem b lies.
F IG. 9 is an elev ation v ieW sh oWing v ariou s disk p ro? les of
th e rotating elem ent disk assem b lies adap ted f or c ru sh ing
roc k .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TH E IN VEN TION
AN D PREF ERRED EMBODIMEN TS
F IG. 1 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of th e
p ref erred em b odim ent of a m ined sand p roc essing f ac ility
c onstru c ted in ac c ordanc e With th e p rinc ip les of th e inv en
tion. Mined ore 10 to b e p roc essed, f or ex am p le oil sands ore,
is su p p lied to a f eed c onv ey or 12. Th e ore m ov es along f eed
c onv ey or 12 Wh ere it is deliv ered at 11 onto an u p p er p ortion
su rf ac e of an ore p roc essor b ed 14 . Th e ore p roc essor b ed 14
h as p lu rality of rotating elem ents 16 in th e f orm of inter
? tting rotating disk assem b lies. Eac h of th e rotating elem ent
disk assem b lies h as a p lu rality of disk s ? x ed to a driv en ax le
18. In th e op eration of th e ap p aratu s sh oWn in F IG. 1, eac h
rotating elem ent is op erated to rotate in a c loc k Wise direc tion
c au sing th e ore to m ov e along th e u p p er p ortion of th e ore
p roc essor b ed in a lef t to rig h t direc tion. As th e ore m ov es
along th e u p p er p ortion of th e ore p roc essor b ed, th e Weig h t of
th e ore c om ing to rest on th e disk s of rotating disk assem b lies
c au ses th e ? nerp ortions of th e ore to sep arate and f all th rou g h
th e interstitial sp ac es of th e rotating elem ents of th e ore p ro
c essor b ed at 20 into th e u p p er op ening 21 of slu rry v essel 22.
Th e ore p assing ov er th e u p p er su rf ac e p ortion of th e ore
p roc essor b ed is p ref erab ly c ontac ted With a solv ent su p p ly
24 , su c h as a Water sp ray direc ted toWard th e ore, to assist in
ore disinteg ration. Pref erab ly , a h eater 23 is p rov ided to h eat
th e solv ent su p p ly 24 c au sing h eating of th e ore to f u rth er
assist in ob taining disinteg ration of th e ore p assing ov er th e
ore p roc essor b ed. Larg er roc k and oth er u ndesirab le ov er
siZed m aterials 25 th at are too v olu m inou s to b e p roc essed in
p assag e ov er th e ore p roc essor b ed 14 are c arried to a Waste
c onv ey or 26 f or disp osal. With in slu rry v essel 22, th e disin
teg rated ore 20 is m ix ed With a solv ent 28, su c h as Water, to
f orm a slu rry solu tion 30. A h eater 27 m ay b e p rov ided to h eat
th e solv ent 28 and th u s h eat th e slu rry solu tion. In th e p re
f erred em b odim ent, th e loWer p ortion of th e slu rry v essel h as
a dec reasing c ross sec tion relativ e to th e c ross sec tion of th e
u p p er op ening 21 of slu rry v essel 22.
Th e dec reasing c ross sec tion of th e slu rry v essel p erm its
th e f orc e of g rav ity to u rg e th e slu rry solu tion 30 toWard a
slu rry f eed ou tlet 34 as it p asses th rou g h th e slu rry v essel 22.
Th e slu rry f eed ou tlet 34 p rov ides an eg ress p ath f or rem ov ing
slu rry f rom th e slu rry v essel b y p u m p ing f or deliv ery to a
transp ort p ip eline.
F IG. 2 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of an
alternate em b odim ent of th e inv ention. In th e em b odim ent of
F IG. 2, a c ru sh er ap p aratu s 29 is p rov ided to c ru sh th e ov er
siZe m aterial 25 rec eiv ed f rom th e ore p roc essor b ed. Th e
c ru sh ed m aterial p rodu c ed b y th e c ru sh er is su p p lied to th e
slu rry v essel 22 and b ec om es p art of th e solids inc lu ded in th e
slu rry solu tion 30.
F IG. 3 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of an
alternativ e em b odim ent of th e inv ention p rov iding a f eed
10
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
65
4
h op p er 19. In th e c on? g u ration of F IG. 3, th e m ined ore 10 is
su p p lied to a f eed h op p er 19 Wh ere it is c ontac ted With a
solv ent su p p ly 28, su c h as Water. Th e solv ent and ore inter
m ing le du ring p assag e th rou g h f eed h op p er 19 and are dis
c h arg ed f rom th e f eed h op p er onto th e u p p er p ortion of an end
of th e p roc essor b ed 14 .
F IG. 4 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of an
alternativ e em b odim ent of th e inv ention f rom th at of F IG. 1,
Wh erein th e ore p roc essor b ed 14 is disp osed h oriZontally
ab ov e th e u p p er op ening 21 of th e slu rry v essel 22. In th is
c on? g u ration, th e ore 10, f or ex am p le oil sand ore, is p assed
ac ross th e ore p roc essor b ed and eac h of th e rotating disk
assem b lies 16 c an rotate in a c loc k Wise or c ou nterc loc k Wise
direc tion as sh oWn b y th e dou b le- h eaded arroWs. Eac h rotat
ing disk assem b ly h as a sep arate driv e m eans 36 as sh oWn
m ore c learly in F IG. 7 Wh ic h c ontrols th e direc tion and sp eed
of rotation of th e c ou p led rotating disk assem b ly . Th e disk
assem b ly driv e m eans 36 is v ariab le sp eed and rev ersib le
p erm itting th e driv en disk assem b ly to rotate in a c loc k Wise or
c ou nterc loc k Wise direc tion at a su itab le rate of rotation.
Moreov er, in th e em b odim ent of F IG. 4 it Will b e noted th at
th ere are no sp ray noZZles sh oWn as th e ore p roc essing c an
oc c u r With or With ou t a solv ent sp ray b eing ap p lied to th e ore
dep ending on th e ty p e of ore th at is b eing p roc essed. In one
m anner of op eration, alternating rotating disk assem b lies are
tu rned in op p osite direc tions c au sing th e disk assem b lies to
ap p ly a p inc h ing or c ru sh ing f orc e to th e ore to assist in
c om m inu tion and disinteg ration of th e ore as it p asses ov er
ore p roc essor b ed 14 .
F IG. 5 sh oWs an elev ation p artial c ross- sec tion v ieW of an
alternate em b odim ent of th e inv ention f rom th at dep ic ted in
F IG. 2. In th e em b odim ent of F IG. 5 , th e c ru sh er ap p aratu s 29
is disp osed to rec eiv e th e f eed ore and p roc ess th at ore b ef ore
deliv ery to th e ore p roc essor b ed 14 . With th e p roc ess
arrang em ent of F IG. 5 , any ov ersiZe m aterial 25 rec eiv ed is
c ru sh ed b ef ore th e ore is su p p lied to th e ore p roc essor b ed 14 .
F IG. 6 sh oWs an alternate orientation of th e ore p roc essor
b ed 14 Wh ic h is oriented to p rov ide an u p Wardly inc lined
su rf ac e, or a neg ativ e dec lination ang le, f or th e ore 10 th at
p asses ov er th e ore p roc essor b ed. Prov iding a neg ativ e dec
lination ang le assists th e ore p roc essor b ed in ef f ec ting c ru sh
ing of th e ore, su c h as oil sands ore, p artic u larly c ru sh ing of
th e ov ersiZed m aterials Wh en th e u p Wardly inc lined su rf ac e is
u sed in c o- op eration With alternating rotation direc tions of
th e rotating elem ents of th e ore p roc essor b ed. Th u s, th e ore
p roc essor b ed c an b e oriented ab ov e th e slu rry v essel at dif
f ering inc linations. Th e ore p roc essor b ed c an b e oriented to
p rov ide a doWnWardly inc lined su rf ac e, th at is a p ositiv e
dec lination ang le, as sh oWn in F IGS. 1, 2 and 3; a h oriZontal
su rf ac e, th at is a dec lination ang le of Zero, as sh oWn in F IGS.
4 and 5 ; or an u p Wardly inc lined su rf ac e, th at is a neg ativ e
dec lination ang le, as dep ic ted in F IG. 6. Pref erab ly th e ore
p roc essor b ed is c on? g u red to p rov ide a dec lination ang le in
th e p ref erred rang e of 30 to +300 relativ e to h oriZontal.
F IG. 7 is a top p lan v ieW of an ore p roc essor b ed 14
sh oWing th e rotating elem ents in m ore detail. Th e rotating
elem ents are p rov ided b y an inter- ? tting sp ac ing of rotating
disk assem b lies 16 and eac h assoc iated driv e ax le 18 relativ e
to one anoth er. In th e p ref erred arrang em ent, eac h rotating
disk assem b ly 16 and driv e ax le 18 h as its oWn driv e m eans
36. Th e driv e m eans 36 is v ariab le sp eed and rev ersib le
enab ling eac h disk assem b ly to rotate in a c loc k Wise or c ou n
terc loc k Wise direc tion dep ending on th e c h osen m anner of
op eration f or th e ore p roc essor b ed 14 . A f ram e 38 to Wh ic h
th e rotating disk assem b lies 16/driv e ax les 18 are m ou nted f or
rotation u sing b earing s 4 0 su p p orts th e rotating disk assem
b lies 16. F IG. 7a sh oWs a v ariation in sp ac ing of th e p roc essor
US 8, 136, 672 B2
5
b ed rotating elem ents f rom th e sp ac ing of F IG. 7. In F IG. 7a,
a redu c ed inter- ? tting sp ac ing of rotating disk assem b lies 16
p rov ides f or dec reasing siZed m aterial th at Will b e p rov ided
f rom th e ore p roc essor b ed.
Pref erab ly Wh ere th e em b odim ent of th e inv ention p ro
v ides a solv ent su p p ly , as dep ic ted f or ex am p le as sp ray 24 in
F IGS. 1 and 2, at least som e of th e sp ray noZZles are direc ted
toWard p roc essor b ed 14 and are op erated at su f ? c ient p res
su re and v eloc ity rates to p rov ide a jet sp ray c leaning ac tion to
c lean th e rotating elem ents of m aterial th at m ay tend to c log
th e ore p roc essor b ed.
F IG. 8 sh oWs a p ro? le v ieW of th e rotating disk assem b lies
16. Th ey c an b e c on? g u red With v ariou s c irc u m f erenc e p ro
? les inc lu ding a rou nd p ro? le 4 2 Wh ic h is p ref erab ly p rov ided
With a rou g h ened c irc u m f erenc e to assist in transp orting and
c ontac ting th e oil sand ore along th e p erip h eral c irc u m f erenc e
of th e rotating disk assem b lies 16. An alternate c irc u lar notc h
4 4 m ay b e sp ac edly disp osed ab ou t th e c irc u m f erenc e of th e
rotating disk assem b ly or a tooth ed c irc u m f erenc e 4 6 m ay b e
em p loy ed. An alternate sinu soidal c irc u m f erenc e 4 8 m ay also
b e p rov ided. As Will b e u nderstood, it is not nec essary f or
eac h of th e rotating disk assem b lies to b ear th e sam e p ro? le as
all th e oth ers. Th e disk assem b lies c an inc lu de dif f erent p ro
? les to assist, in c ru sh ing th e m ined ore, and in ore c om m i
nu tion.
F IG. 9 is an elev ation v ieW sh oWing v ariou s disk p ro? les of
th e rotating elem ent disk assem b lies adap ted f or c ru sh ing
roc k . Th e siZes of th e rotating disk s c an also v ary to alloW
dif f erent siZing and siZe redu c tion c ap ab ilities. Th is Will c re
ate v ariations in th e siZing ap ertu res. Elong ations 5 0 or k ic k
ers are p ref erab ly added to th e p ro? le to p rom ote th e rem ov al
of j am m ed m aterial f rom b etWeen th e disk s. Th e elong ations
m ay inc lu de a de? ec tion 5 2 to p rov ide a h am m er- lik e p ro? le
f or th e disk s assem b lies p rov ided f or roc k c ru sh ing .
N oW th at th e inv ention h as b een desc rib ed nu m erou s su b
stitu tions and m odi? c ations Will oc c u r to th ose sk illed in th e
art. Th e inv ention is not lim ited to th e sp ec i? c em b odim ents
desc rib ed h ere With ref erenc e to th e draWing s b u t rath er is
de? ned in th e c laim s ap p ended h ereto.
Wh at is c laim ed is:
1. An ap p aratu s f or f orm ing a slu rry f rom an oil sand ore,
th e ap p aratu s c om p rising :
a slu rry v essel f orm ing an u p p er op ening and h av ing a
loWer p ortion;
a slu rry ou tlet p rov ided at th e loWer p ortion of th e slu rry
v essel;
an ore p roc essor b ed op erating to rec eiv e and c om m inu te
th e oil sand ore and to p rodu c e a g ranu lar m aterial wh ile
sc reening and sorting th e oil sand ore f rom an ov ersiZe
m aterial u nsu itab le f or slu rry f orm ation in th e slu rry
v essel, th e ore p roc essor b ed c om p rising a f ram e dis
p osed ov er th e u p p er op ening of th e slu rry v essel, a
p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents c om p rising
at least f ou r rotatab le elem ents and a driv e m ec h anism
op erativ e to driv e th e p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le
elem ents, th e f ram e su p p orting th e p lu rality of sp ac ed
ap art rotatab le elem ents and c om p rising an elong ated
u p p er p ortion of th e ore p roc essor b ed f orm ed at least in
p art b y th e p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents;
a sp ray er f or sp ray ing th e oil sand ore With a solv ent along
th e elong ated u p p er p ortion of th e ore p roc essor b ed as
th e oil sand ore is transp orted b y th e p lu rality of sp ac ed
5
20
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
6
ap art rotatab le elem ents to c om m inu te th e oil sand ore
and to p rodu c e th e g ranu lar m aterial Wh ile sc reening and
sorting th e oil sand ore f rom th e ov ersiZe m aterial, th e
sp ray er disp osed ov er and direc ted toWards th e elon
g ated u p p er p ortion of th e ore p roc essor b ed; and
a Water inlet f or rec eiv ing Water in th e slu rry v essel f or
m ix ing With th e g ranu lar m aterial.
2. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein eac h of th e
p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents c om p rises a sh af t
and a p lu rality of disk s c ou p led to th e sh af t, and Wh erein eac h
of th e disk s are su b stantially th e sam e siZe.
3. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein eac h of th e
p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents c om p rises a sh af t
and a p lu rality of disk s c ou p led to th e sh af t, th e disk s of eac h
sh af t inter- ? tting With th e disk s of an adjac ent sh af t.
4 . Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 3 Wh erein eac h of th e
disk s h as a p ro? le selec ted f rom th e g rou p c onsisting of :
( a) a c irc u lar serrated edg e p ro? le;
( b ) a tooth ed edg e p ro? le; and
( c ) an u ndu lating p ro? le.
5 . Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein th e p lu rality
of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents c om p rises at least six rotat
ab le elem ents, eac h of th e p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le
elem ents h av ing a sh af t and a p lu rality of disk s c ou p led to th e
sh af t.
6. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein th e p lu rality
of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents c om p rise a ? rst set of
rotatab le elem ents and a sec ond set of rotatab le elem ents
disp osed b etWeen th e ? rst set of rotatab le elem ents, eac h sh af t
of th e ? rst set of rotatab le elem ents h av ing at least th ree
sp ac ed ap art disk s, and eac h sh af t of th e sec ond set of rotat
ab le elem ents h av ing at least f ou r sp ac ed ap art disk s.
7. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein th e driv e
m ec h anism is op erativ e to ( a) rotate at least one rotatab le
elem ent at a rotational sp eed dif f erent th an a rotational sp eed
of at least one oth er rotatab le elem ent and ( b ) rotate th e at
least one rotatab le elem ent in a direc tion op p osite to th e at
least one oth er rotatab le elem ent.
8. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein th e ore
p roc essor b ed is oriented su b stantially h oriZontally .
9. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein th e ore
p roc essor b ed is oriented at an inc line relativ e to th e h oriz on
tal.
10. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 f u rth er c om p rising
at least one elong ate k ic k er ex tending radially f rom at least
one disk .
11. Th e ap p aratu s as c laim ed in c laim 1 Wh erein th e sp ray er
c om p rises a p lu rality of sp ray c r c lc m c nts op erativ e to sp ray
th e solv ent toWards a su b stantial p ortion of th e ore p roc essor
b ed as th e oil sand ore is transp orted and c om m inu ted b y th e
p lu rality of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents f rom a f ront end
of th e ore p roc essor b ed toWards a b ac k end of th e ore p ro
c essor b ed.
12. Th e ap p aratu s of c laim 1 Wh erein th e sp ray er is op era
tiv e to sp ray th e oil sand ore With th e solv ent ov er su b stan
tially all of th e elong ated u p p er p ortion of th e p roc essor b ed as
th e oil sand ore is transp orted and c om m inu ted b y th e p lu ral
ity of sp ac ed ap art rotatab le elem ents f rom a f ront reg ion of
th e ore p roc essor b ed toWards a b ac k reg ion of th e ore p ro
c essor b ed.