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 PATENT PENDING APPLICATIONS: Technology for Tomorrow |
Western American Mining Assigns Patent Pending rights to Spectrum Acquisition
Western American Mining has developed and maintains a portfolio of Patent Pending applications that form the proprietary base for our research and development efforts in the area of Biomining and small foot print technologies. We believe that our intellectual property and our technology base provides a competitive advantage and will facilitate the successful development and commercialization of techniques and devices for use in a wide array of alternative green mining approaches.
- Laser Guidance System for Diamond Wire Stone Cutting Apparatus
- Intrinsically SafeSystem for Mineshaft Illumination
- Continuous Refractory Ore Bioprocessing Apparatus
Laser Guidance System for Diamond Wire Stone Cutting Apparatus Laser guidance system is for controlling diamond wire cutting machinery The Patent Pending applies to a wire cutting system that can continuously detect the precision of cuts being made and modulate the cutting wire’s feed rate so as to maximize the cutting performance and to extend the working life of the cutting wire. Precision cutting of large stones is efficiently achieved using a continuous cable imbedded with diamond-impregnated beads.
The WAMCO laser guidance system for diamond wire stone cutting apparatus operatively connects cutting wire speed control to a sensor that detects the straightness of the cutting wire as it cuts into a stone. When the system detects deviation of the kerf or notch being cut from the intended, straight cut path, the system communicates with the wire speed controller, i.e., the subsystem that controls the rate at which the wire cutting system moves between the wire guide wheels, so that the proper adjustment of the travel speed may be made so that the distortion is corrected. Accordingly, the forces on the cutting wire are kept within the wire’s maximum acceptable tensile limits and non-straight cuts are quickly righted.
Intrinsically Safe System for Mineshaft Illumination
The need for illumination systems in a mineshaft is inevitable, as is the unwanted accumulation of naturally occurring flammable gases. When such gas accumulations reach potentially explosive concentrations, there is a potential for a large loss of life should those gases be ignited. This potential is an ever present concern when using conventional lighting systems to illuminate the mineshafts and tunnels.
WAMCO’s Intrinsically safe system for illuminating a mineshaft or tunnel utilizes large diameter optical fibers to remotely transport light from a light source to an area to be illuminated. Bundles of glass fibers grouped together with a special refractive cladding, where each fiber is configured to provide a visible spectrum radiant flux that approaches the fiber’s full modal carrying capacity.
Continuous Refractory Ore Bioprocessing Apparatus
The bioprocessor monitors the gasification and digestion of metal ore using bacteria in a controlled agitation tank. This technology will increase the production and diminish the waste and harmful chemicals traditionally used in the mining industry. The technology monitors the oxygen and carbon dioxide at every point of the process and provides gasification when and where it is needed.
Microbial processes applied to mining operations are gaining increasing interest in recent years. Potential and current applications include the mining of gold, copper and other heavy metals, desulfurization of coaland oil, tertiary recovery of oil and biosorption of metalions. Currently, bacterial leaching of copper and biooxidation of refractory gold concentrates are well established large-scale processes that are carried on using heaps and tank reactors. Heap operation is simple and adequate to handle large volumes of minerals, but their productivity and yields are limited because of the severe difficulties in exerting an adequate process control.
Biomining Ore Processing Bioreactor Apparatus
Currently, bacterial leaching of copper and biooxidation of refractory gold concentrates are well established large-scale processes that are carried on using heaps and tank reactors. Heap operation is simple and adequate to handle large volumes of minerals, but their productivity and yields are limited because of the severe difficulties in exerting an adequate process control.
Biomining encompasses two related microbial processes that are useful in the extractive metallurgy of heavy metals: Bacterial or Bio Leaching is the solubilization of one or more components of a complex solid by contact with a liquid phase. Biooxidation is the bacterial oxidation accompanying the metal of interest, as in the biooxidation of refractory gold minerals.
All of our research efforts to date are at the level of basic research or in the prototype stage of development. We are focused on leveraging our key assets, including our intellectual property, our engineering team, our market insight andour capital, to accelerate the advancement of our four technologies. In addition, we are pursuing strategic collaborations with members of academia, industry and foundations to further accelerate the pace of our research efforts.
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