1. A system for the transport of an ore pulp in a line system which is located along a gradient and in which the ore pulp flows under the effect of the gravitational force, the system comprising:
a plurality of generator stations arranged at a distance from one another at different altitudes along the gradient of the line system;
the plurality of generator stations each including a continuous-flow machine driven by the ore pulp and a generator coupled to the associated continuous-flow machine for generating electrical energy;
wherein each continuous-flow machine includes a housing rotatably mounted about an axis and having an inlet for the ore pulp;
the inlet being connected to an outlet of a pipeline carrying the ore pulp and opening into at least two curved pipe parts;
the outlet of the pipeline providing that the ore pulp flows out at a distance from the axis and has, when flowing out, a flow direction which, in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the axis, has a velocity component oriented perpendicularly to this axis in such a way that a torque is exerted on the housing about this axis; and
wherein the continuous-flow machine comprises a rotating shaft which is driven by the flowing ore pulp and is connected to the generator in a gearless manner.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein there are two curved pipe parts, and the ore pulp flows out of the two curved pipe parts via two openings, wherein the two curved pipe parts are arranged in such a way that the reaction forces produced during the outflow of the ore pulp at the openings are opposite and equal.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein a head of the ore pulp upstream of a generator station is within the range of 500 to 1000 m.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of the continuous-flow machine is formed by a pipe into which the outlet of the pipeline is inserted.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the pipe forms the rotating shaft.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ore pulp discharging from the continuous-flow machine flows into a collecting basin, from which it flows further on to a subsequent processing plant or to the next generator station.
7. A method for transporting of an ore pulp in a line system which is located along a gradient and in which the ore pulp flows under the effect of the gravitational force, the method comprising:
arranging a plurality of generator stations at different altitudes along the gradient of the line system;
the plurality of generator stations each including a continuous-flow machine driven by the ore pulp and a generator coupled to the continuous-flow machine for generating electrical energy;
wherein each continuous-flow machine has a housing mounted such as to be rotatable about an axis and having an inlet for the ore pulp;
connecting the inlet to an outlet of a pipeline carrying the ore pulp;
wherein the inlet opens into at least two curved pipe parts, from which the ore pulp flows out at a distance from the axis and has, when flowing out, a flow direction which, in a plane oriented perpendicularly to the axis, has a velocity component oriented perpendicularly to this axis in such a way that a torque is exerted on the housing about this axis; and
driving a rotating shaft of the continuous-flow machine by the flowing ore pulp wherein the rotating shaft is connected to the generator in a gearless manner.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein there are two curved pipe parts, and the ore pulp flows out of the two curved pipe parts via two openings, and the method comprising: arranging the two curved pipe parts in such a way that the reaction forces produced during the outflow of the ore pulp at the openings are opposite and equal.
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein a head of the ore pulp upstream of a generator station is within the range of 500 to 1000 m.
10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the inlet of the continuous-flow machine is formed by a pipe into which the outlet of the pipeline is inserted.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the pipe forms the rotating shaft.
12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the ore pulp discharging from the continuous-flow machine flows into a collecting basin, from which it flows further on to a subsequent processing plant or to the next generator station.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for sealing a puncture extending through tissue, comprising:
a cartridge comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a puncture through tissue, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a plug disposed within the cartridge lumen, the plug comprising a lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof;
a pusher member disposed within the cartridge lumen for deploying the plug from the cartridge when the cartridge is retracted relative to the pusher member;
a positioning member comprising an elongate member and an expandable positioning element carried on a distal end of the elongate member, the elongate member received though the lumens of the plug and the cartridge such that the cartridge, plug, and pusher member are advanceable from a proximal position on the positioning member to a distal position wherein the plug is disposed adjacent the positioning element; and
cooperating elements on the pusher member and the positioning member that limit subsequent movement of the pusher member relative to the positioning member when the pusher member is advanced to the distal position,
wherein the positioning member is removable through the pusher member with the positioning element collapsed, thereby allowing the positioning member to be withdrawn from a puncture before the pusher member is withdrawn such that pusher member prevents the plug from moving proximally while the positioning member is withdrawn.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooperating elements prevent the pusher member from being retracted proximally from the distal position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooperating elements comprise first and second elements on the pusher member and the positioning member, the first element passing freely over the second element when the cartridge, plug, and pusher member are advanced to the distal position, the second element subsequently preventing the first element from passing proximally back over the second element, thereby preventing the pusher member from being retracted proximally from the distal position.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first element comprises a latch element.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second element comprises a raised element.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug is disposed immediately adjacent the positioning element in the distal position.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge is retractable relative to the pusher member, the pusher member comprising a distal end that prevents the plug from moving proximally while the cartridge is retracted.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cooperating elements allow the pusher member to be directed distally from the distal position such that the plug may be compressed between the pusher member and the positioning element when the positioning element is expanded.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plug is formed from a lyophilized hydrogel comprising hydrolytically degradable bonds, the hydrogel expanding when exposed to an aqueous physiological environment.
10. An apparatus for sealing a puncture extending through tissue, comprising:
a cartridge comprising a proximal end, a distal end sized for insertion into a puncture through tissue, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends;
a plug disposed within the cartridge lumen, the plug comprising a lumen extending between proximal and distal ends thereof;
a pusher member disposed within the cartridge lumen for preventing the plug from moving proximally when the cartridge is retracted proximally relative to the pusher member for deploying the plug from the cartridge;
a positioning member comprising an elongate member and an expandable positioning element carried on a distal end of the elongate member, the elongate member received through the lumens of the plug and the cartridge such that the plug is disposed immediately adjacent the positioning element; and
cooperating elements on the pusher member and the positioning member that prevent the pusher member from being retracted proximally relative to the positioning element,
wherein the positioning member is removable through the pusher member with the positioning element collapsed, thereby allowing the positioning member to be withdrawn from a puncture before the pusher member is withdrawn such that pusher member prevents the plug from moving proximally while the positioning member is withdrawn.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cooperating elements comprise first and second elements on the pusher member and the positioning member.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first element comprises a latch element.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second element comprises a raised element.
14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the cooperating elements allow the pusher member to be directed distally relative to the positioning element such that the plug may be compressed between the pusher member and the positioning element when the positioning element is expanded.
15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plug is formed from a lyophilized hydrogel comprising hydrolytically degradable bonds, the hydrogel expanding when exposed to an aqueous physiological environment.
16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plug comprises a folded sheet cylindrical shape.
17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plug comprises an adherent layer on at least a portion of an exposed surface thereof, the adherent layer comprising a mixture of first and second hydrogel polymers that remain in an unreactive state until exposed to an aqueous physiological environment.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the adherent layer further comprises a pH activating agent.
19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the hydrogel comprises PEG polymer.