Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for monitoring a transverse position of a conveyor belt or its material load. A processor receives a digital video or digital images capturing movement of the conveyor belt and the material load. The processor segments the images or frames into a group of contiguous pixels representative of the conveyor belt, and the material load, such as by moving object detection, using background segmentation and threshold processing, pixel intensity-based segmentation or image texture-based segmentation. The processor determines a pixel coordinate of the group of contiguous pixels, which is indicative of the transverse position of the conveyor belt or the material load. The processor generates an alarm or report or a data signal, which depends, directly or indirectly, on the determined pixel coordinates.

Abstract: A process for forming a deaerated oil sand slurry is provided comprising: providing a first vessel having an overhead space and a bottom space; delivering oil sand and a low vapor pressure hydrocarbon liquid into the overhead space and mixing the oil sand and hydrocarbon liquid to release air trapped in the oil sand and form the deaerated slurry; optionally adding an inert gas stream to the overhead space to displace the air released from the oil sand; and collecting the deaerated slurry in the bottom space to form a slurry layer to prevent gas exchange between the first vessel and downstream extraction equipment.

Abstract: A method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand slurry involves limiting the size of rock and clay lumps in the slurry to a first size, conditioning the slurry in a pipeline, screening the slurry through a rotary screening apparatus to remove the lumps that are larger than a second size, and subjecting the slurry to gravity separation to separate the bitumen as a bitumen froth. A fastener assembly for securing a screen panel to a drum shell of a rotary screening apparatus includes an outer insert for insertion into an aperture of a drum shell, an inner insert for insertion through an aperture of the screen panel and into an inward facing pocket of the outer insert, and a bolt for securing together the outer and inner inserts. An insert for removable insertion into an aperture of a drum of a rotary screening apparatus defines a screening aperture.

Abstract: A process for forming a deaerated oil sand slurry is provided comprising: providing a first vessel having an overhead space and a bottom space; delivering oil sand and a low vapor pressure hydrocarbon liquid into the overhead space and mixing the oil sand and hydrocarbon liquid to release air trapped in the oil sand and form the deaerated slurry; optionally adding an inert gas stream to the overhead space to displace the air released from the oil sand; and collecting the deaerated slurry in the bottom space to form a slurry layer to prevent gas exchange between the first vessel and downstream extraction equipment.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for monitoring a transverse position of a conveyor belt or its material load. A processor receives a digital video or digital images capturing movement of the conveyor belt and the material load. The processor segments the images or frames into a group of contiguous pixels representative of the conveyor belt, and the material load, such as by moving object detection, using background segmentation and threshold processing, pixel intensity-based segmentation or image texture-based segmentation. The processor determines a pixel coordinate of the group of contiguous pixels, which is indicative of the transverse position of the conveyor belt or the material load. The processor generates an alarm or report or a data signal, which depends, directly or indirectly, on the determined pixel coordinates.

Abstract: A system for correcting transverse misalignment of a conveyor belt relative to a supporting pulley, includes a frame is pivotally attached to a stationary member. A guide surface engages the frame to guide pivoting of the frame about the pivot point simultaneously about a vertical axis and a longitudinally aligned axis. Idler rollers rotatably mounted on the frame define a rolling contact surface for the conveyor belt, which is concavely-shaped in a transversely-extending vertical plane. The pivoting of the frame causes the surface to impart a combined transverse pushing effect, torsional steering effect, and torsional tiling effect on the conveyor belt. An actuator applies a force to pivot the frame about the axis. A computer determines an amount of the misalignment based on a signal from a sensor, and automatically controls the actuator to pivot the frame, depending on the determined amount of the misalignment.

Abstract: A system for correcting transverse misalignment of a conveyor belt relative to a supporting pulley, includes a frame is pivotally attached to a stationary member. A guide surface engages the frame to guide pivoting of the frame about the pivot point simultaneously about a vertical axis and a longitudinally aligned axis. Idler rollers rotatably mounted on the frame define a rolling contact surface for the conveyor belt, which is concavely-shaped in a transversely-extending vertical plane. The pivoting of the frame causes the surface to impart a combined transverse pushing effect, torsional steering effect, and torsional tiling effect on the conveyor belt. An actuator applies a force to pivot the frame about the axis. A computer determines an amount of the misalignment based on a signal from a sensor, and automatically controls the actuator to pivot the frame, depending on the determined amount of the misalignment.

Abstract: A feed diffuser for use in a rotating screen having drain holes is provided, comprising a flow chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end and defining a flow path for a slurry having solid material larger than the drain holes flowing between the upstream end and the downstream end; the flow chamber having an intermediate portion disposed between the upstream end and the downstream end; the intermediate portion having a first opening; the flow chamber having an inclined floor, the lowest point of the inclined floor being adjacent to the first opening; whereby the inclined floor is sufficiently inclined such that when the slurry flows down the flow path, the larger solid material is directed towards the first opening.

Abstract: A feed diffuser for use in a rotating screen having drain holes is provided, comprising a flow chamber having an upstream end and a downstream end and defining a flow path for a slurry having solid material larger than the drain holes flowing between the upstream end and the downstream end; the flow chamber having an intermediate portion disposed between the upstream end and the downstream end; the intermediate portion having a first opening; the flow chamber having an inclined floor, the lowest point of the inclined floor being adjacent to the first opening; whereby the inclined floor is sufficiently inclined such that when the slurry flows down the flow path, the larger solid material is directed towards the first opening.

Abstract: A process and process line for mining and blending a plurality of different grade oil sand ore is provided comprising forming an open stockyard for blending and stockpiling the different grades of oil sand ore, whereby the blending of the different grades of oil sand ore is managed by haul trucks dumping the different grades of oil sand ore at a dispatched coordinate either on the perimeter of the stockyard or in the stockyard pit.

Abstract: A slurry preparation tower is provided comprising an intake opening through which oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower; a first sizer device operative to comminute oil sand passing through the first sizer device to a first upper size threshold; a second sizer device operative to comminute oil sand passing through the second sizer device to a second upper size threshold, wherein the second upper size threshold is less than the first upper size threshold; a first solvent supply device for adding solvent to the oil sand prior to or during its comminution in the first sizer device; and a plurality of deflector plates positioned between the first sizer device and the second sizer device to assist in the mixing of the first comminuted oil sand and solvent.

Abstract: A process line for use in an oil sands ore body mining operation is provided, which comprises: a semi-mobile crushing station for receiving as-mined oil sand ore and comminuting the oil sand ore to a first size; a semi-mobile compact slurry preparation unit for receiving the comminuted oil sand ore and mixing the oil sand ore with water to form an oil sand slurry; and a semi-mobile solids removal assembly for removing a portion of the coarse solids from the oil sand slurry prior to extracting from the slurry an enriched bitumen froth.

Abstract: A system for forming an oil sand slurry from mined oil sand is provided, comprising a slurry preparation tower having an intake opening through which oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower, a first sizer device to comminute the oil sand passing through it, a second sizer device to further comminute the oil sand, and a pump box for receiving oil sand that has passed through the second sizer and feeding it to a pump; at least one conveyor, having a discharge end, for transporting mined oil sand to the slurry preparation tower; a metal detector for detecting a piece of metal in the mined oil sand and transmitting a signal; and a metal rejection device operative to, in response to the signal from the metal detector, reject a portion of oil sand containing the piece of metal before the portion of oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower.

Abstract: Staged crushing combined with water addition and mixing is practiced at the mine site to prepare an oil sand slurry ready for hydrotransport. More particularly, as-mined oil sand is crushed to conveyable size (e.g. ?24?) using a mobile crusher. The pre-crushed ore product is conveyed to a dry ore surge bin. Ore is withdrawn from the bin and elevated to the upper end of a slurry preparation tower having downwardly aligned process components to enable gravity feed. The ore is further crushed in stages to pumpable size (e.g. ?4?) by a stack of crushers and water is added during comminution. The ore and water are mixed in a mixing box and delivered to a pump box. The surge bin and tower are relocatable. Screening and oversize reject treatment have been eliminated to achieve compactness and enable relocatability.

Abstract: A system for forming an oil sand slurry from mined oil sand is provided, comprising a slurry preparation tower having an intake opening through which oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower, a first sizer device to comminute the oil sand passing through it, a second sizer device to further comminute the oil sand, and a pump box for receiving oil sand that has passed through the second sizer and feeding it to a pump; at least one conveyor, having a discharge end, for transporting mined oil sand to the slurry preparation tower; a metal detector for detecting a piece of metal in the mined oil sand and transmitting a signal; and a metal rejection device operative to, in response to the signal from the metal detector, reject a portion of oil sand containing the piece of metal before the portion of oil sand enters the slurry preparation tower.

Abstract: Staged crushing combined with water addition and mixing is practiced at the mine site to prepare an oil sand slurry ready for hydrotransport. More particularly, as-mined oil sand is crushed to conveyable size (e.g. ?24?) using a mobile crusher. The pre-crushed ore product is conveyed to a dry ore surge bin. Ore is withdrawn from the bin and elevated to the upper end of a slurry preparation tower having downwardly aligned process components to enable gravity feed. The ore is further crushed in stages to pumpable size (e.g. ?4?) by a stack of crushers and water is added during comminution. The ore and water are mixed in a mixing box and delivered to a pump box. The surge bin and tower are relocatable. Screening and oversize reject treatment have been eliminated to achieve compactness and enable relocatability.

Abstract: Staged crushing combined with water addition and mixing is practiced at the mine site to prepare an oil sand slurry ready for hydrotransport. More particularly, as-mined oil sand is crushed to conveyable size (e.g. —24?) using a mobile crusher. The pre-crushed ore product is conveyed to a dry ore surge bin. Ore is withdrawn from the bin and elevated to the upper end of a slurry preparation tower having downwardly aligned process components to enable gravity feed. The ore is further crushed in stages to pumpable size (e.g. —4?) by a stack of crushers and water is added during comminution. The ore and water are mixed in a mixing box and delivered to a pump box. The surge bin and tower are relocatable. Screening and oversize reject treatment have been eliminated to achieve compactness and enable relocatability.

Abstract: Staged crushing combined with water addition and mixing is practiced at the mine site to prepare an oil sand slurry ready for hydrotransport. More particularly, as-mined oil sand is crushed to conveyable size (e.g. ?24?) using a mobile crusher. The pre-crushed ore product is conveyed to a dry ore surge bin. Ore is withdrawn from the bin and elevated to the upper end of a slurry preparation tower having downwardly aligned process components to enable gravity feed. The ore is further crushed in stages to pumpable size (e.g. ?4?) by a stack of crushers and water is added during comminution. The ore and water are mixed in a mixing box and delivered to a pump box. The surge bin and tower are relocatable. Screening and oversize reject treatment have been eliminated to achieve compactness and enable relocatability.