CA1126764A - Device for collecting solid bodies on an underwater bed - Google Patents
Device for collecting solid bodies on an underwater bedInfo
- Publication number
- CA1126764A CA1126764A CA312,174A CA312174A CA1126764A CA 1126764 A CA1126764 A CA 1126764A CA 312174 A CA312174 A CA 312174A CA 1126764 A CA1126764 A CA 1126764A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- collecting
- bed
- structures
- bodies
- unit according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 47
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 42
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000012432 intermediate storage Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 4
- 239000013049 sediment Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000008093 supporting effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000010006 flight Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005461 lubrication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F7/00—Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material
- E02F7/005—Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material conveying material from the underwater bottom
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
- E02F5/00—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes
- E02F5/006—Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes adapted for working ground under water not otherwise provided for
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
- E21C50/00—Obtaining minerals from underwater, not otherwise provided for
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
- Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
- Farming Of Fish And Shellfish (AREA)
Abstract
A DEVICE FOR COLLECTING SOLID BODIES
ON AN UNDERWATER BED
Abstract of the Disclosure A device for collecting solid bodies such as polymetallic nodules on an underwater bed such as a sea floor comprises at least one collecting structure and a storage structure which are intended to be applied against the sea floor, means for displacing the structures along the sea floor, for collecting nodules and for trans-ferring the nodules into the storage structure. Each collecting structure is coupled to the storage structure by means of at least one link-arm in such a manner as to permit of relative motion with at least three degrees of freedom and to maintain the collecting means in a pre-determined position with respect to the sea floor during a nodule-collecting operation.
ON AN UNDERWATER BED
Abstract of the Disclosure A device for collecting solid bodies such as polymetallic nodules on an underwater bed such as a sea floor comprises at least one collecting structure and a storage structure which are intended to be applied against the sea floor, means for displacing the structures along the sea floor, for collecting nodules and for trans-ferring the nodules into the storage structure. Each collecting structure is coupled to the storage structure by means of at least one link-arm in such a manner as to permit of relative motion with at least three degrees of freedom and to maintain the collecting means in a pre-determined position with respect to the sea floor during a nodule-collecting operation.
Description
fi~
This invention relates to a device :Eor collecting solid bodies on an underwater bed, a primary application o~
the device being the collection of polymetallic nodules on a sea floor.
In response to the economic attention focused on the potential mineral resource o:Efered by nodule deposi~s, many types of equipment have been developed for extrac~ing nodules from sedimentary material on a sea floor which can lie at a considerable depth below the surface of the sea~
Thus the different devices which are already known travel along the bottom and are equipped with means for collecting and storing nodules. Devices of this type can either be operated from the surace by means of cables which draw them along the sea bed or alternatively, ~hey can be equipped with means which permit independent dis-placement along said sea bed.
Some nodule-collecting devices which have their own source of energy can also be designed not only to collect nodules but also to raise them to the surface.
However, the devices of the above-mentioned type which were designed prior to the present invention are subject to a disadvantage in that they do not make it possible to obtain a sufficiently high nodule-collection yield in respect of a given swept surface æ ea of the sea floor.
In factr tnese devices are so designed that the efficiency of their collecting means decreases when their specific weight in water increases, especially as a result d;`
:~:
~26~
of storage of the nodules.
A further drawback attached to collecting and storing devices lies in the fact that they do not permit of satisfactory separation of the nodules from the support-ing sediment.
The precise aim of the present invention is to provide a device which serves to collect solid bodies on an underwater bed and makes it possible to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.
This device essentially comprises :
- at least one structure for collecting solid bodies, said structure being intended to be applied against said underwater bed, - a structure for storing collected bodies, said structure being intended to be applied against said bed, - means for displacing structures along said bed, said means being rigidly fixed to the storage structure, - means for collecting solid bodies, said means being rigidly fixed to the collecting structure or structures, - means for providing a coupling between each collecting structure aforesaid and the storage structure which permit a relative movement of one structure with respect to the other and make it possible to maintain said collecting means in a predetermined position with respect to said underwater bed at the time of collection of bodies, said means for providing a coupling between a collecting structure and the storage structure being such as to comprise at least one link-arm connected to each il ~2167fi~
structure in order to ensure at least three degxees o~
~reedom between said structures, - means for transferring collected bodies into said storage structure.
One of the chiPf advantages of the device as defined in the foregoing lies in the fact that it serves to maintain preferentiaL positioning of the collecting means with respect to the sea floor at the time of extraction of bodies such as nodules. In fact, the device is so designed that its collecting means are advantageously carried by a structure which has a substantially constant specific weight at the time of extraction of nodules and is capable of following the variations in profile of the sea floor in a suitable manner. In more exact terms, the collecting structure or structures are capable of following variations in profile of the sea bed at least in pitc~ir.g motion, rolling motion, ramming and lateral drift.
Moreover, said collecting structure is preferably supported on the sea bed by means of a bearing surface ~aving two portions located respectively upstream and down-stream of said collecting means according to the direction of displacement of said structures, the front end of each po~tion aforesaid being provided with a convex curvature - with respect to said sea bed.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the means for collecting solid bodies com~rise a plurality of extraction blades parallel to the direction of displacement, said extraction blades being pivotally :
:
:, ; ~ - .
. .
. ~
: ~ :
i4 mounted on a shaft located at right ang-les to said blades, means for positioning the extraction blades and defining the work position of the extraction blades with respect to said sea bed, at least one flexihle-blade wheel for impelling the extracted bodies, said wheel being mounted above said extraction blades on a shaft which is sub-stantially parallel to the extraction-blade shaft and means for driving said wheel in rotation.
The advantage of the distinctive feature thus mentioned lies in the fact that maximum separation from the sea-~ed material is achieved when collecting solid bodies such as nodules.
In accordance with this distinctive feature, the upstream and downstream portions of the bearing surface of the collecting structure are so dimensioned that the pivotal axis of the extraction blades remains in a sub-stantially constant relative position with respect to the sea bed irrespective of the variations in profile of the bed and in the quantity of nodules which are present in the transfer means.
Furthermore, the device in accordance with the invention can advantageously be provided in addition with means for measuring variations in slope of the sea bed between two zones located respectivel~ upstream and down-stream of the collecting means and means which are actuated by said measuring means and serve to control the means ~or positioning the extraction blades.
In accordance with another advantageous feature , . ' .
i7~
which is provided for ensuring operational safe~y, ~he aforesaid means for positioning the extraction blades are preferably capable of permitting withdrawal of the extraction blades when a force e!xceeding a predekermined threshold value is applied to the blade tips, then of restoring said extraction blades to the work positions thereof when said force is below said thrashold value.
Moreover, the blade-positioning means can advantageously be associated with means for defining a limiting position of blade withdrawal so that each extraction blade in this position constitutes a bearing member which supports the collecting structure on said sea bed.
It is thus possible to forestall any potential dangeriof jamming and fracture of the extraction blades on an obstacle and to assist the passage of the collecting structure over this latter.
In accordance with yet another distinctive feature of the invention, the means for transferring solid bodies comprise a unit for discharging collected bodies into said s~orage structure, said unit being pivotally mounted on said collecting structure, at least one conveyor for bringing the collected bodies into the dis-charging unit and means for guiding and driving sald conveyor.
In accordance with the in~ention, the flexible-blade wheel and the conveyor can be driven either by mQ~ors or from at least one unit which is rigidly fixed to said collecting ~tructure in such a manner as to be applied ,~
:~
' , ,~, ~
~6~
against said sea bed and to be set in motion by reaction on the bed at the time of propulsion of the structures.
In accordance with the invention, the means for propelling said structures can be constituted by a cable secured at each end respectively to the storage structure and to a surface vehicle or by a cable or link-arm for coupling the storage structure to the body of an underwater vehicle. These propulsion means can also be constituted by units for carrying the storage structure, said units being capable of setting said structure in motion by reaction on said sea bed.
Furthermore, the collecting structure of the device in accordance with the invention can constitute the dredge of the nodule-collecting vehicle as described in Canadian patent application No. 295,125 filed on January 17th, 1978 in the name of the present Applicant.
Further distinctive features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferential embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention for collect-ing nodules on a sea floor.
This description will be given with reference to the accompanying arawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a general view in perspective showing a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in which this latter is drawn and supplied with power by fi7~
means of a cable ;
- Fig. 2 is a rear view of the device of Fig. 1, this view being taken along the plane Pl of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a partial side view of the front end of the device of Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 4 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1, - this view being taken along`the plane P2 of Fig. 1 ;
- Figs. 5a and ~ are views in elevation showing the mode of operation of a device in accordance with the invention ;
- Fig. 6 is a view in elevation showing a second embodiment of the device in accordance with the in~ention ;
- Figs. 7a and 7b show alternative forms of construction of the collecting unit.
In Fig. 1, there is shown in perspective a first embodiment o~ the ~evice in accordance with the invention for collecting polymetallic nodules on a sea floor as it travels along the sea-floor surface S.
The device in accordance wi-th the invention is essentially constituted by ~wo distinct structures A and B
having the respective functions of collection of nodules on the seà-floor surface S and of storage of these latter.
Assuming that the collecting structure A is travelling in the direction of the arrow Fl said structure comprises from the front end to the rear end a nodule-collecting unit R and a unit T for transferring collected nodules into the structure B.
~' ` . ' ' ~. '- ~ ' .
7~4 In accordance with the essential feature of the invention, the collecting structure A is coupled to the storage structure B in order that the collecting unit R
can be maintained in a predetermined position with respect to the sea-floor surface S at the time of collection o~
nodules.
It is thus apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 that the structures A and B are coupled together by means of link-arms 2 and ~ each pivotally mounted by means of swivel-bearing systems 2r and 4r on the one hand on each side of the collecting unit R and on the other hand on the - -structure B at the front end of this latter.
It can already be noted that the respective bodies o the structures A and B are constituted by open structures having a suitable specific weight in water.
Said structures are fabricated from liyhtweight materials and equipped if necessary with means of a type known per se for fixing their specific weights such as, or example, a container or a composite material of known type.
It can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 that the storage structure B is essentially composed of a storage bin 6 fixed on two longitudinal members 8 and 9, the collecting structure A being located between said members in front of the storage bin 6. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the structures A and B are drawn along the sea-floor surface S
by means of a cable 7 which is secured to the structure B.
Said structures are supported on the sea floor S by bearing surfaces lOa-, lO'a, lO'b and lO"b which are so designed ~ ~fit~
that a convex area is always applied against the sea-bottom terrain. Thus a reduction in supporting capacity of the sea bed or an increase in pressure of the structure B on said sea bed are compensated by an increase in the bearing area.
As shown in Fig. 1, the collecting unit R of the structure A comprises a pluxality of parallel extraction blades 12 mounted at right angles on a pivotal shaft 14 associated with means MR for positioning the extraction blades 12 with respect to the sea floor S and permitting the withdrawal of said blades whenever these latter encounter an obstacle. Said collecting unit also comprises a blade-wheel 16 which is intended to provide mechanical assistance for the collection of nodules. Said blade-wheel is mounted above the extraction blades 12 on a shaft 15 which is substantially parallel to the shaft 14 and asso-ciated with means (not shown in this figure~ for driving the blade-wheeI in rotation. Said wheel is equipped with flexible blades 17 which are capable of engaging the nodules after these latter have been dislodged from the sea bed S by the extraction blades 12 and of thrusting them towards the transfer unit T. It should be noted that, taking into account its curved shape, the structure lO'A
also constitutes the equivalent of a bumper or fender for protecting the wheel 16 and its flexible blades 17 from obstacles which may be encountered in the sea bed.
It will be noted that the two bearing surfaces lO'a and lOa of the structure A are located respectively .
...
-: , ..
: ..
: - .: : : -:: :
:: ~ - . ~ . , ;
fi7~c upstream and downstream of said collecting unit R in order to prevent clogging or sticking of this latter in the sediment at the time of a variation in profile of the sea floor S. The dimensions of said bearing surfaces are such that, at the time of variations in profile of the sea floor S and in the quantity of nodules which are present in the transfer unit T, the shaft 14 remains su~s~antially in the same relative position with respect to the sea floor S.
In Figs. 3 and 4 in which the components of the device already shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by the same references and in which the surface lO'a has been omitted for the sake of enhanced clarity, the aforesaid means MR associated with the pivotal shaft 14 of the extraction blades 12 are shown in greater detail.
Figs. 3 and 4 accordingly show that each end of said shaft 14 is rigidly fixed to a grooved sector 2Q for a cable 22 which is secured to the end of a spring 24 housed within a casing 25. Said spring works in tension in order to bring said sector 20 into position against a stop 26 which defines the working angle of the extraction blades 12 with respect to the sea-floor surface S or so-called work position in which said extraction blades 12 are buried in the sea bed S at a suitable angle and the edges of which are located beneath the nodules W to be extracted.
It should be noted that a suitable adjustmen-t of the position of the shaft 14 with respect to the bearing - , .:
: .~
2fi754 surface lOa can be associated with the means M~.
Also worthy of mention is the fact that the spring 24 is calibrated in such a manner as to ensure that the extraction blades 12 are caused to retract to a limiting position of withdrawal defined b~y the stop 28 in respect of a predetermined value of resistance of the sea floor at the tips of the blades 12. Said stop 28 is so designed that the retracted extraction blades 12 form part of the bearing surface of the structure A which is applied on the sea floor S and prevent ~ailure of the blades when these latter encounter a hard obstacle.
. Furthermore, the positioning of the stop 28 can be adjusted by means of a feeler 11 as a function of variations in profile of the sea bottom upstream of the structure A, a feeler transducer 13 being intended to actuate a unit 15 for controlling the positioning of the : stop 28. It is noted that the feeler 11 could be replaced by any detector which is responsive to the characteristics of the sea floor upstream of the structure A.
Another point worthy of note is the fact that the extraction blades 12 are mounted on the shaf~ 14 with a reIative spacing which is slightly smaller than t~e size of the polymetallic nodules N. Said extraction blades can be of various shapes such as prismatic, conical or pyramidal whilst the blade profile and material are such as to ensure minimum resistance to penetration into the sea bed S. It should be added that provision can be made for injection of water at the blade tips in order to ensure ' 2fi7~4 necessary lubrication with respect to certain salts which have a strongly adheren.t character.. ..
In Fig. 4, there is also shown diagrammatically the method adopted for driving t:he blade-wheel 16.
Thus it can be seen in this figure that said blade-wheel 16 is centered on a shaft 15 which is sub~.
stantially parallel to the sea-floor surface in the same manner as the shaft 14 and constituted by a sleeve 30 which is rigidly fixed to the body of the collecting structure A, said wheel 16 being driven in rotation by the reduction-gear motor set 32 which is housed within the interior of said sleeve 30. - - -In the case in which the specific weight isadjusted by means of composite materials fixed on the vertical flanks of the structure A, it is possible not to place the reduction-gear motor sets within the sleeve 30 but to place these latter within the composite structure, these means being employed.to drive the shaft 16.
It is apparent from Fi~s. 1 and 3 that the transfer unit T is essentially made up of a belt conveyor 36 and a discharge chute 38 which is pivotally mounted on the structure A. The belt conveyor is constituted by a set of belts carried by guide rollers or idlers 40 and 42 and by a driving roller 44. The rollers are posi~ioned în such a m~nner as to ensure that the collected nodules can be carried to a height and a distance from their point of collection which are suficient to discharge them into the storage bin 6. It is noted in Figs. 1 and 3 that the ~.2t~
discharge chute 38 is pivotally mounted on the shaft of the guide roller 40 of the belt conveyor 36 and applied against the structure B within the storage bin 6. This permits a variation in the angle o~ tilt of the discharge chute 38 with respect to the structure A at the time of penetration of the structure B into the sea bed S when the storage bin 6 is being filled with nodules. The set of belts 36 which forms the conveyor can be replaced by a flight conveyor which is well known to anyone versed in the art. It can be recalled briefly that a flight conveyor of this type consists of two driving side chains mounted on the driving rollers and of flights located at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, the ends of the flights being attached to the chains. Said flights are at right angles to bars which are rigidly fixed to the structure. ~lthough this form of construction has not been illustrated, the substitution of this type of conveyor for the belt conveyor 36 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 will appear evident to anyone versed in the art. Furthermore, an arrangement of this type makes it possible to ensure a certain calLbration o~ bodies to be collected prior to transfer to the storage means.
It should be'mentioned that the conveyor belt 36 r which has a smooth'carrying surface in this example of construction, is so designed as to pass beneath the bearing surface lOa in such a manner as to increase the relative veIoc:ity of this latter with'respect to the sea floor S and to entrain water with a view to reducing .
:: .
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friction.
The principle of opera-tion of the de.~ice in accordance wi~h the invention will be described herein-after with reference to Figs. 3, 5a and 5b. Figs. Sa and 5b have the configuration of the device in accordance with the invention respectively at the beginning and.during extraction of nodules from the sea floor S.
At the time of extraction of nodules by displace-ment of the structures A and B over the sea floor S, the structure A which ensures collection of nodules is sub-- jected only to a tractive force which is substantially parallel to the floor by virtue of the fact that it is coupled to the structure B by means of the link-arms 2 and 4 whilst the specific weigh~ of said collecting structure is practically not subject to any variation.
Preferably, the specific weight of the structure A is fixed at a value such that the pressure on the sea bed at any point of its bearing surfaces lO'a and lOa is lower than the maximum supporting capacity of the sea bed.
It is recalled that the collecting structure A
is in any case capable of following the variations in profile of the sea floor S, not only in pitching motion but also in rolling motion, ramming an~ lateral drif-t within the limits set by the structure B.
Thus it is apparent from Figs. 5a and 5b that the means MR (20, 22, 24, 25, 26) which are controlled by the feeler 11 make it possible to obtain a given angle of penetration of the extract~on blades 12 into the sea bed S
, -15-~: . , . ~ , i7~4 during a collecting operation~ this being achieved irrespective of the degree of penetration of the structure B into said sea bed.
A satisfactory result is therefore achieved at the time of displacement of the device along the sea-floor surface S in that the nodules are lifted and separated from the sediment by t,he extraction blades 12~
propelled towards the rear by the flexible blades 17 of the blade wheel 16, then engaged by the belt conveyor 36 and thus directed into the storage bin 6 of the structure B.
Moreover, it can.be -seen from Fig. 3 that, when the extraction blades 12 enco,unter an element which is either too heavy or too deeply embedded in the sea floor S, said blades are in that case subjected to a torque which causes them to withdraw to the stop 28 in opposition to the resistance of the spring 24. After withdrawal, the extraction blades 12 are thus supported and permit lifting of thè structure'A as this latter passes over said obstacle without any attendant danger of blade failure.
A further noteworthy advantage is that sticking of the extraction blades 12 in the sediment at the time of a variation in profile of the sea floor is prevented by means of the feeler 11 and/or the bearing surface lO'a upstream,of the blades. -~ -In Fig.'6, there is ~hown a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. This em~odiment comprises a high-capacity storage structure B which is so ,designed as to carry out displacement of the device and . ~ . ,.
upward transfer of collec-ted nodules to the surface, and a plurality of collecting structures A. It will at once be observed that each collecting structure A is designed and coupled to the storage structure B in much the same manner as the device shown diagrammatically in the preceding figures and that the unit constituted by these structures can be pivotally mounted on the storage structure.
In accordance with one of the distinctive features of the embodiment of the device shown in the figure now under consideration, said storage structure B is equipped with means both for supporting and propelling it along the surface S of the sea floor.
Thus in Fig. 6, the references 50 designate units which are rigidly fixed to a helical propulsion fin 52.
Said units are intended to support the structure B on the sea floor S by means of their external walls and to effect the propulsion of the structure B once they have been driven in rotation.
In accordance with another distinctive feature of this embodiment, the structure B is constituted by two s_parable modules Bl and B2 which are shown separately in Fig. 6, the upper module B2 being intended to permit upward transfer of collected nodules to the surface of the sea.
To this end, said module B2 has its own source of energy, a suitable ballast capacity at a set of propulsion units for underwater operation of the module.
It will further be noted that the module B2 is i7~
provided with a storage bin 54 into which the nodules are transferred. After being collected by each structure ~, said nodules are first transferred, as explained earlier, into a buffer sto~age space 6' provided at the front end of the structure B.
In Fig. 6, the reference numeral 56 designates screw conveyors which are intencled to transfer the nodules in the upward direction from the buffer storage space 6' into the storage bin 54.
There is also shown in dashed lines in Fig. 6 a hood 57 of the structure B which serves to protect the collecting structures A against external shocks, especially when they are raised to the surface, and which reduces hydrodynamic drag of the device as a whole.
In Figs. 7a and 7b, there are shown two forms of construction of the mechanism employed for driving the 1exible-blade wheel 16 and the belt conveyor 36 in the case of a device according to the invention which is drawn by a cable 7 from the surface of the sea~ ~
- 20 In these alternative embodiments, driving of the bIade-wheel 16 and of the belt conveyor 36 is performed by means of elements which are set in motion by reaction on the sea floor at the time of displacement of the structure A.
Thus in the alternative embodiment of Fig. 7a, the collecting structure A comprises at least one endless screw or auger 56 which engages in the sea bed S in such a manner as to be driven in rotation at the time of displace-ment of the structure. Thus the flexible-blade wheel 16 - ' I . ~ ; ~ -, ~
: ''; ~ ' fi7~4 and the belt conveyor 36 are driven in rotation from said auger by means of the shaft 58, the motion converter 60, the pulley 44' and the belts 62 and 64.
In the alternative embodiment of Fig. 7b, the structure A comprises at least one blade-wheel 66 which engages in the sea bed S and is intended to drive the flexible-blade wheel 16 and conveyor belt 36 in rotation by means of the belt 58', the pulley 44" and the belts 62' and 64'.
.
--lg--, ~ . . .,~ , ~ , . . .
This invention relates to a device :Eor collecting solid bodies on an underwater bed, a primary application o~
the device being the collection of polymetallic nodules on a sea floor.
In response to the economic attention focused on the potential mineral resource o:Efered by nodule deposi~s, many types of equipment have been developed for extrac~ing nodules from sedimentary material on a sea floor which can lie at a considerable depth below the surface of the sea~
Thus the different devices which are already known travel along the bottom and are equipped with means for collecting and storing nodules. Devices of this type can either be operated from the surace by means of cables which draw them along the sea bed or alternatively, ~hey can be equipped with means which permit independent dis-placement along said sea bed.
Some nodule-collecting devices which have their own source of energy can also be designed not only to collect nodules but also to raise them to the surface.
However, the devices of the above-mentioned type which were designed prior to the present invention are subject to a disadvantage in that they do not make it possible to obtain a sufficiently high nodule-collection yield in respect of a given swept surface æ ea of the sea floor.
In factr tnese devices are so designed that the efficiency of their collecting means decreases when their specific weight in water increases, especially as a result d;`
:~:
~26~
of storage of the nodules.
A further drawback attached to collecting and storing devices lies in the fact that they do not permit of satisfactory separation of the nodules from the support-ing sediment.
The precise aim of the present invention is to provide a device which serves to collect solid bodies on an underwater bed and makes it possible to overcome the disadvantages mentioned above.
This device essentially comprises :
- at least one structure for collecting solid bodies, said structure being intended to be applied against said underwater bed, - a structure for storing collected bodies, said structure being intended to be applied against said bed, - means for displacing structures along said bed, said means being rigidly fixed to the storage structure, - means for collecting solid bodies, said means being rigidly fixed to the collecting structure or structures, - means for providing a coupling between each collecting structure aforesaid and the storage structure which permit a relative movement of one structure with respect to the other and make it possible to maintain said collecting means in a predetermined position with respect to said underwater bed at the time of collection of bodies, said means for providing a coupling between a collecting structure and the storage structure being such as to comprise at least one link-arm connected to each il ~2167fi~
structure in order to ensure at least three degxees o~
~reedom between said structures, - means for transferring collected bodies into said storage structure.
One of the chiPf advantages of the device as defined in the foregoing lies in the fact that it serves to maintain preferentiaL positioning of the collecting means with respect to the sea floor at the time of extraction of bodies such as nodules. In fact, the device is so designed that its collecting means are advantageously carried by a structure which has a substantially constant specific weight at the time of extraction of nodules and is capable of following the variations in profile of the sea floor in a suitable manner. In more exact terms, the collecting structure or structures are capable of following variations in profile of the sea bed at least in pitc~ir.g motion, rolling motion, ramming and lateral drift.
Moreover, said collecting structure is preferably supported on the sea bed by means of a bearing surface ~aving two portions located respectively upstream and down-stream of said collecting means according to the direction of displacement of said structures, the front end of each po~tion aforesaid being provided with a convex curvature - with respect to said sea bed.
In accordance with an advantageous feature of the invention, the means for collecting solid bodies com~rise a plurality of extraction blades parallel to the direction of displacement, said extraction blades being pivotally :
:
:, ; ~ - .
. .
. ~
: ~ :
i4 mounted on a shaft located at right ang-les to said blades, means for positioning the extraction blades and defining the work position of the extraction blades with respect to said sea bed, at least one flexihle-blade wheel for impelling the extracted bodies, said wheel being mounted above said extraction blades on a shaft which is sub-stantially parallel to the extraction-blade shaft and means for driving said wheel in rotation.
The advantage of the distinctive feature thus mentioned lies in the fact that maximum separation from the sea-~ed material is achieved when collecting solid bodies such as nodules.
In accordance with this distinctive feature, the upstream and downstream portions of the bearing surface of the collecting structure are so dimensioned that the pivotal axis of the extraction blades remains in a sub-stantially constant relative position with respect to the sea bed irrespective of the variations in profile of the bed and in the quantity of nodules which are present in the transfer means.
Furthermore, the device in accordance with the invention can advantageously be provided in addition with means for measuring variations in slope of the sea bed between two zones located respectivel~ upstream and down-stream of the collecting means and means which are actuated by said measuring means and serve to control the means ~or positioning the extraction blades.
In accordance with another advantageous feature , . ' .
i7~
which is provided for ensuring operational safe~y, ~he aforesaid means for positioning the extraction blades are preferably capable of permitting withdrawal of the extraction blades when a force e!xceeding a predekermined threshold value is applied to the blade tips, then of restoring said extraction blades to the work positions thereof when said force is below said thrashold value.
Moreover, the blade-positioning means can advantageously be associated with means for defining a limiting position of blade withdrawal so that each extraction blade in this position constitutes a bearing member which supports the collecting structure on said sea bed.
It is thus possible to forestall any potential dangeriof jamming and fracture of the extraction blades on an obstacle and to assist the passage of the collecting structure over this latter.
In accordance with yet another distinctive feature of the invention, the means for transferring solid bodies comprise a unit for discharging collected bodies into said s~orage structure, said unit being pivotally mounted on said collecting structure, at least one conveyor for bringing the collected bodies into the dis-charging unit and means for guiding and driving sald conveyor.
In accordance with the in~ention, the flexible-blade wheel and the conveyor can be driven either by mQ~ors or from at least one unit which is rigidly fixed to said collecting ~tructure in such a manner as to be applied ,~
:~
' , ,~, ~
~6~
against said sea bed and to be set in motion by reaction on the bed at the time of propulsion of the structures.
In accordance with the invention, the means for propelling said structures can be constituted by a cable secured at each end respectively to the storage structure and to a surface vehicle or by a cable or link-arm for coupling the storage structure to the body of an underwater vehicle. These propulsion means can also be constituted by units for carrying the storage structure, said units being capable of setting said structure in motion by reaction on said sea bed.
Furthermore, the collecting structure of the device in accordance with the invention can constitute the dredge of the nodule-collecting vehicle as described in Canadian patent application No. 295,125 filed on January 17th, 1978 in the name of the present Applicant.
Further distinctive features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferential embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention for collect-ing nodules on a sea floor.
This description will be given with reference to the accompanying arawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a general view in perspective showing a first embodiment of the device according to the invention in which this latter is drawn and supplied with power by fi7~
means of a cable ;
- Fig. 2 is a rear view of the device of Fig. 1, this view being taken along the plane Pl of Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3 is a partial side view of the front end of the device of Fig. 1 ;
- Fig. 4 is a front view of the device of Fig. 1, - this view being taken along`the plane P2 of Fig. 1 ;
- Figs. 5a and ~ are views in elevation showing the mode of operation of a device in accordance with the invention ;
- Fig. 6 is a view in elevation showing a second embodiment of the device in accordance with the in~ention ;
- Figs. 7a and 7b show alternative forms of construction of the collecting unit.
In Fig. 1, there is shown in perspective a first embodiment o~ the ~evice in accordance with the invention for collecting polymetallic nodules on a sea floor as it travels along the sea-floor surface S.
The device in accordance wi-th the invention is essentially constituted by ~wo distinct structures A and B
having the respective functions of collection of nodules on the seà-floor surface S and of storage of these latter.
Assuming that the collecting structure A is travelling in the direction of the arrow Fl said structure comprises from the front end to the rear end a nodule-collecting unit R and a unit T for transferring collected nodules into the structure B.
~' ` . ' ' ~. '- ~ ' .
7~4 In accordance with the essential feature of the invention, the collecting structure A is coupled to the storage structure B in order that the collecting unit R
can be maintained in a predetermined position with respect to the sea-floor surface S at the time of collection o~
nodules.
It is thus apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 that the structures A and B are coupled together by means of link-arms 2 and ~ each pivotally mounted by means of swivel-bearing systems 2r and 4r on the one hand on each side of the collecting unit R and on the other hand on the - -structure B at the front end of this latter.
It can already be noted that the respective bodies o the structures A and B are constituted by open structures having a suitable specific weight in water.
Said structures are fabricated from liyhtweight materials and equipped if necessary with means of a type known per se for fixing their specific weights such as, or example, a container or a composite material of known type.
It can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 that the storage structure B is essentially composed of a storage bin 6 fixed on two longitudinal members 8 and 9, the collecting structure A being located between said members in front of the storage bin 6. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the structures A and B are drawn along the sea-floor surface S
by means of a cable 7 which is secured to the structure B.
Said structures are supported on the sea floor S by bearing surfaces lOa-, lO'a, lO'b and lO"b which are so designed ~ ~fit~
that a convex area is always applied against the sea-bottom terrain. Thus a reduction in supporting capacity of the sea bed or an increase in pressure of the structure B on said sea bed are compensated by an increase in the bearing area.
As shown in Fig. 1, the collecting unit R of the structure A comprises a pluxality of parallel extraction blades 12 mounted at right angles on a pivotal shaft 14 associated with means MR for positioning the extraction blades 12 with respect to the sea floor S and permitting the withdrawal of said blades whenever these latter encounter an obstacle. Said collecting unit also comprises a blade-wheel 16 which is intended to provide mechanical assistance for the collection of nodules. Said blade-wheel is mounted above the extraction blades 12 on a shaft 15 which is substantially parallel to the shaft 14 and asso-ciated with means (not shown in this figure~ for driving the blade-wheeI in rotation. Said wheel is equipped with flexible blades 17 which are capable of engaging the nodules after these latter have been dislodged from the sea bed S by the extraction blades 12 and of thrusting them towards the transfer unit T. It should be noted that, taking into account its curved shape, the structure lO'A
also constitutes the equivalent of a bumper or fender for protecting the wheel 16 and its flexible blades 17 from obstacles which may be encountered in the sea bed.
It will be noted that the two bearing surfaces lO'a and lOa of the structure A are located respectively .
...
-: , ..
: ..
: - .: : : -:: :
:: ~ - . ~ . , ;
fi7~c upstream and downstream of said collecting unit R in order to prevent clogging or sticking of this latter in the sediment at the time of a variation in profile of the sea floor S. The dimensions of said bearing surfaces are such that, at the time of variations in profile of the sea floor S and in the quantity of nodules which are present in the transfer unit T, the shaft 14 remains su~s~antially in the same relative position with respect to the sea floor S.
In Figs. 3 and 4 in which the components of the device already shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by the same references and in which the surface lO'a has been omitted for the sake of enhanced clarity, the aforesaid means MR associated with the pivotal shaft 14 of the extraction blades 12 are shown in greater detail.
Figs. 3 and 4 accordingly show that each end of said shaft 14 is rigidly fixed to a grooved sector 2Q for a cable 22 which is secured to the end of a spring 24 housed within a casing 25. Said spring works in tension in order to bring said sector 20 into position against a stop 26 which defines the working angle of the extraction blades 12 with respect to the sea-floor surface S or so-called work position in which said extraction blades 12 are buried in the sea bed S at a suitable angle and the edges of which are located beneath the nodules W to be extracted.
It should be noted that a suitable adjustmen-t of the position of the shaft 14 with respect to the bearing - , .:
: .~
2fi754 surface lOa can be associated with the means M~.
Also worthy of mention is the fact that the spring 24 is calibrated in such a manner as to ensure that the extraction blades 12 are caused to retract to a limiting position of withdrawal defined b~y the stop 28 in respect of a predetermined value of resistance of the sea floor at the tips of the blades 12. Said stop 28 is so designed that the retracted extraction blades 12 form part of the bearing surface of the structure A which is applied on the sea floor S and prevent ~ailure of the blades when these latter encounter a hard obstacle.
. Furthermore, the positioning of the stop 28 can be adjusted by means of a feeler 11 as a function of variations in profile of the sea bottom upstream of the structure A, a feeler transducer 13 being intended to actuate a unit 15 for controlling the positioning of the : stop 28. It is noted that the feeler 11 could be replaced by any detector which is responsive to the characteristics of the sea floor upstream of the structure A.
Another point worthy of note is the fact that the extraction blades 12 are mounted on the shaf~ 14 with a reIative spacing which is slightly smaller than t~e size of the polymetallic nodules N. Said extraction blades can be of various shapes such as prismatic, conical or pyramidal whilst the blade profile and material are such as to ensure minimum resistance to penetration into the sea bed S. It should be added that provision can be made for injection of water at the blade tips in order to ensure ' 2fi7~4 necessary lubrication with respect to certain salts which have a strongly adheren.t character.. ..
In Fig. 4, there is also shown diagrammatically the method adopted for driving t:he blade-wheel 16.
Thus it can be seen in this figure that said blade-wheel 16 is centered on a shaft 15 which is sub~.
stantially parallel to the sea-floor surface in the same manner as the shaft 14 and constituted by a sleeve 30 which is rigidly fixed to the body of the collecting structure A, said wheel 16 being driven in rotation by the reduction-gear motor set 32 which is housed within the interior of said sleeve 30. - - -In the case in which the specific weight isadjusted by means of composite materials fixed on the vertical flanks of the structure A, it is possible not to place the reduction-gear motor sets within the sleeve 30 but to place these latter within the composite structure, these means being employed.to drive the shaft 16.
It is apparent from Fi~s. 1 and 3 that the transfer unit T is essentially made up of a belt conveyor 36 and a discharge chute 38 which is pivotally mounted on the structure A. The belt conveyor is constituted by a set of belts carried by guide rollers or idlers 40 and 42 and by a driving roller 44. The rollers are posi~ioned în such a m~nner as to ensure that the collected nodules can be carried to a height and a distance from their point of collection which are suficient to discharge them into the storage bin 6. It is noted in Figs. 1 and 3 that the ~.2t~
discharge chute 38 is pivotally mounted on the shaft of the guide roller 40 of the belt conveyor 36 and applied against the structure B within the storage bin 6. This permits a variation in the angle o~ tilt of the discharge chute 38 with respect to the structure A at the time of penetration of the structure B into the sea bed S when the storage bin 6 is being filled with nodules. The set of belts 36 which forms the conveyor can be replaced by a flight conveyor which is well known to anyone versed in the art. It can be recalled briefly that a flight conveyor of this type consists of two driving side chains mounted on the driving rollers and of flights located at right angles to the direction of motion of the conveyor, the ends of the flights being attached to the chains. Said flights are at right angles to bars which are rigidly fixed to the structure. ~lthough this form of construction has not been illustrated, the substitution of this type of conveyor for the belt conveyor 36 shown in Figs. 1 and 3 will appear evident to anyone versed in the art. Furthermore, an arrangement of this type makes it possible to ensure a certain calLbration o~ bodies to be collected prior to transfer to the storage means.
It should be'mentioned that the conveyor belt 36 r which has a smooth'carrying surface in this example of construction, is so designed as to pass beneath the bearing surface lOa in such a manner as to increase the relative veIoc:ity of this latter with'respect to the sea floor S and to entrain water with a view to reducing .
:: .
fi76'~
friction.
The principle of opera-tion of the de.~ice in accordance wi~h the invention will be described herein-after with reference to Figs. 3, 5a and 5b. Figs. Sa and 5b have the configuration of the device in accordance with the invention respectively at the beginning and.during extraction of nodules from the sea floor S.
At the time of extraction of nodules by displace-ment of the structures A and B over the sea floor S, the structure A which ensures collection of nodules is sub-- jected only to a tractive force which is substantially parallel to the floor by virtue of the fact that it is coupled to the structure B by means of the link-arms 2 and 4 whilst the specific weigh~ of said collecting structure is practically not subject to any variation.
Preferably, the specific weight of the structure A is fixed at a value such that the pressure on the sea bed at any point of its bearing surfaces lO'a and lOa is lower than the maximum supporting capacity of the sea bed.
It is recalled that the collecting structure A
is in any case capable of following the variations in profile of the sea floor S, not only in pitching motion but also in rolling motion, ramming an~ lateral drif-t within the limits set by the structure B.
Thus it is apparent from Figs. 5a and 5b that the means MR (20, 22, 24, 25, 26) which are controlled by the feeler 11 make it possible to obtain a given angle of penetration of the extract~on blades 12 into the sea bed S
, -15-~: . , . ~ , i7~4 during a collecting operation~ this being achieved irrespective of the degree of penetration of the structure B into said sea bed.
A satisfactory result is therefore achieved at the time of displacement of the device along the sea-floor surface S in that the nodules are lifted and separated from the sediment by t,he extraction blades 12~
propelled towards the rear by the flexible blades 17 of the blade wheel 16, then engaged by the belt conveyor 36 and thus directed into the storage bin 6 of the structure B.
Moreover, it can.be -seen from Fig. 3 that, when the extraction blades 12 enco,unter an element which is either too heavy or too deeply embedded in the sea floor S, said blades are in that case subjected to a torque which causes them to withdraw to the stop 28 in opposition to the resistance of the spring 24. After withdrawal, the extraction blades 12 are thus supported and permit lifting of thè structure'A as this latter passes over said obstacle without any attendant danger of blade failure.
A further noteworthy advantage is that sticking of the extraction blades 12 in the sediment at the time of a variation in profile of the sea floor is prevented by means of the feeler 11 and/or the bearing surface lO'a upstream,of the blades. -~ -In Fig.'6, there is ~hown a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. This em~odiment comprises a high-capacity storage structure B which is so ,designed as to carry out displacement of the device and . ~ . ,.
upward transfer of collec-ted nodules to the surface, and a plurality of collecting structures A. It will at once be observed that each collecting structure A is designed and coupled to the storage structure B in much the same manner as the device shown diagrammatically in the preceding figures and that the unit constituted by these structures can be pivotally mounted on the storage structure.
In accordance with one of the distinctive features of the embodiment of the device shown in the figure now under consideration, said storage structure B is equipped with means both for supporting and propelling it along the surface S of the sea floor.
Thus in Fig. 6, the references 50 designate units which are rigidly fixed to a helical propulsion fin 52.
Said units are intended to support the structure B on the sea floor S by means of their external walls and to effect the propulsion of the structure B once they have been driven in rotation.
In accordance with another distinctive feature of this embodiment, the structure B is constituted by two s_parable modules Bl and B2 which are shown separately in Fig. 6, the upper module B2 being intended to permit upward transfer of collected nodules to the surface of the sea.
To this end, said module B2 has its own source of energy, a suitable ballast capacity at a set of propulsion units for underwater operation of the module.
It will further be noted that the module B2 is i7~
provided with a storage bin 54 into which the nodules are transferred. After being collected by each structure ~, said nodules are first transferred, as explained earlier, into a buffer sto~age space 6' provided at the front end of the structure B.
In Fig. 6, the reference numeral 56 designates screw conveyors which are intencled to transfer the nodules in the upward direction from the buffer storage space 6' into the storage bin 54.
There is also shown in dashed lines in Fig. 6 a hood 57 of the structure B which serves to protect the collecting structures A against external shocks, especially when they are raised to the surface, and which reduces hydrodynamic drag of the device as a whole.
In Figs. 7a and 7b, there are shown two forms of construction of the mechanism employed for driving the 1exible-blade wheel 16 and the belt conveyor 36 in the case of a device according to the invention which is drawn by a cable 7 from the surface of the sea~ ~
- 20 In these alternative embodiments, driving of the bIade-wheel 16 and of the belt conveyor 36 is performed by means of elements which are set in motion by reaction on the sea floor at the time of displacement of the structure A.
Thus in the alternative embodiment of Fig. 7a, the collecting structure A comprises at least one endless screw or auger 56 which engages in the sea bed S in such a manner as to be driven in rotation at the time of displace-ment of the structure. Thus the flexible-blade wheel 16 - ' I . ~ ; ~ -, ~
: ''; ~ ' fi7~4 and the belt conveyor 36 are driven in rotation from said auger by means of the shaft 58, the motion converter 60, the pulley 44' and the belts 62 and 64.
In the alternative embodiment of Fig. 7b, the structure A comprises at least one blade-wheel 66 which engages in the sea bed S and is intended to drive the flexible-blade wheel 16 and conveyor belt 36 in rotation by means of the belt 58', the pulley 44" and the belts 62' and 64'.
.
--lg--, ~ . . .,~ , ~ , . . .
Claims (15)
1. A modular dragging unit for collecting solid bodies on an underwater bed, said dragging unit comprising a plurality of collecting structures for individually collecting said solid bodies, said struc-tures being applied against said underwater bed and located side by side at a front edge of said dragging unit, a storage structure for storing said bodies as they are collected, said structure being applied against said underwater bed, means for displacing said collect-ing and storage structures along said bed in a given direction, said means being connected to the storage structure, a plurality of means for collecting said bodies along said given direction, each said means being rigidly fixed to one of said collecting structures, and a plurality of means for transferring said bodies as they are collected from each collecting means into said storage structure along said given direction, each said transferring means being rigidly fixed to one of said collecting structures, wherein coupling means are pro-vided between each collecting structure and the storage structure, said coupling means permitting an independent relative movement of each collecting structure with respect to the storage structure and maintaining each collecting structure in a predetermined distance and orientation with respect to said underwater bed at the time of collection of said bodies whatever the position of said storage structure relative to said bed and whatever the variations in profile of the underwater bed, each coupling means between one of said collecting structures and the storage structure comprising at least one link-arm connected to each structure to provide at least two degrees of freedom between said structures.
2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein each collecting structure is supported on said underwater bed by a bearing surface defining two separate bearing portions said portions being located respectively upstream and downstream of the corresponding collecting means along said given direction, a front end of each of said portions having a convex curvature with respect to said underwater bed.
3. A unit according to claim 2, wherein each collecting means comprises a plurality of parallel extraction blades pivotally mounted on an axis at right angles to said blades, tips for said blades, means for positioning said extraction blades and defining a work position for said extraction blades with respect to said underwater bed, at least one flexible-blade wheel mounted above said extraction blades on a shaft which is substantially parallel to the axis of pivotal motion of said extraction blades, and means for rotating said wheel.
4. A unit according to claim 3, wherein said portions of said bearing surface of each collecting structure are so dimensioned that said axis of pivotal motion of said extraction blades is maintained in a subs-tantially constant relative position with respect to said underwater bed during use.
5. A unit according to claim 3, wherein said unit includes means for measuring variations in slope of the sea bed between two zones located respect-ively upstream and downstream of each collecting means and means actuated by said measuring means controlling said means for positioning said extraction blades, said measuring means comprising a soft pressing pad located upstream of each collecting means.
6. A unit according to claim 3, wherein said means for positioning said extraction blades includes threshold means sensitive to a force applied to said blade tips for withdrawing said extraction blades when said force exceeds a threshold value defined by said threshold means and for restoring said extract-ion blades to said work position when said force is below said threshold value.
7. A unit according to claim 6, wherein each collecting means comprise means for defining a limiting position of blade withdrawal so that each extraction blade in this position constitutes a bearing member which supports the corresponding collecting structure on said underwater bed.
8. A unit according to claim 1, wherein each transferring means comprises a chute for discharging solid bodies into an intermediate storage space, said chute being pivotally mounted on the corresponding collecting structure, at least one conveyor for bringing the collected bodies into the chute and means for guiding and driving said conveyor.
9. A unit according to claim 8, wherein said conveyor is constituted by at least one conveyor belt.
10. A unit according to claim 8, wherein said conveyor consists of a flight conveyor.
11. A unit according to claim 4, wherein said means for rotating said flexible-blade wheel and means for driving said transferring means comprise at least one device rigidly fixed to each collecting structure, engaging said underwater bed and set in motion by reaction with said bed during propulsion of said structures and means for transmitting motion from said device to said wheel and to said means for driving said transferring means.
12. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said unit comprises means for fixing the specific weight of each collecting structure and of said storage structure.
13. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said means for displacing said structures are coupled to an underwater traction vehicle.
14. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said means for displacing said structures are constitu-ted by devices for carrying the storage structure which are capable of imparting motion to said storage struc-ture by reaction on said underwater bed.
15. A modular dragging unit for collecting solid bodies on an underwater bed, said dragging unit comprising a plurality of collecting structures for individually collecting said solid bodies, said struc-tures being applied against said underwater bed and located side by side at a front edge of said dragging unit, a storage structure for storing said bodies as they are collected, said structure being applied against said underwater bed, means for displacing said collect-ing and storage structures along said bed in a given direction, said means being rigidly fixed to the storage structure, a plurality of means for collecting said bodies along said given direction, each said means being rigidly fixed to one of said collecting structures, and a plurality of means for transferring said bodies as they are collected from each collecting means into said storage structure along said given direction, each said transferring means being rigidly fixed to one of said collecting structures, wherein said unit further comprises coupling means provided between each collecting structure and the storage structure, said coupling means permitting an independent relative movement of each collecting structure with respect to the storage struc-ture and maintaining each collecting structure in a pre-determined distance and orientation with respect to said underwater bed at the time of collection of said bodies whatever the position of said storage structure relative to said bed and whatever the variations in profile of the underwater bed, each coupling means between one of said collecting structures and the storage structure com-prising at least one link-arm connected to each struc-ture to provide at least two degrees of freedom, means for measuring variations in slope of said bed upstream of each collecting structure, means for positioning each collecting means at a predetermined level with respect to said bed, and means actuated by said measuring means controlling said means for positioning each collecting means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREN7729460 | 1977-09-30 | ||
| FR7729460A FR2404734A1 (en) | 1977-09-30 | 1977-09-30 | Undersea mining machine for mineral nodules - has collector with parallel swivelable blades whose pointed leading edges scrape over sea-bed |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1126764A true CA1126764A (en) | 1982-06-29 |
Family
ID=9195961
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA312,174A Expired CA1126764A (en) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-02-27 | Device for collecting solid bodies on an underwater bed |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5488803A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1126764A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2842599C2 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2404734A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2455162A1 (en) * | 1979-04-27 | 1980-11-21 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | SUBSEA VEHICLE FOR DREDGING AND LIFT OF LARGE DEPTH MINERALS |
| JPS6237496A (en) * | 1985-08-12 | 1987-02-18 | 有限会社 研電社 | Placer sampler |
| JPH029888U (en) * | 1988-07-04 | 1990-01-22 | ||
| NL2018071B1 (en) * | 2016-12-23 | 2018-07-02 | Carpdredging Ip B V | GROUND TRANSPORT INSTALLATION |
| FR3095803B1 (en) | 2019-05-10 | 2021-04-09 | Sas Lwnc Loctudy World Nodule Company | A dredge-type underwater machine for harvesting ore nodules from a seabed, an ore nodule harvesting assembly comprising such a machine, and a method of harvesting nodules using such a machine |
| KR102638878B1 (en) * | 2021-07-28 | 2024-02-22 | 유한회사 거성 | Fish and shellfish harvesting device using a rotary harvesting blade |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3314174A (en) * | 1963-12-31 | 1967-04-18 | Samuel E Haggard | Underwater mining apparatus and method |
| DE2111417A1 (en) * | 1971-03-10 | 1972-09-21 | Demag Ag | Device for receiving samples from goods stored on the seabed |
| FR2313547A1 (en) | 1975-06-04 | 1976-12-31 | Coflexip | Seabed solids recovery machine - has flexible hose from boat to collector truck with rotating vaned drum sweeper |
| DE2600818C3 (en) * | 1976-01-12 | 1979-07-26 | O & K Orenstein & Koppel Ag Werk Luebeck, 2400 Luebeck | Self-propelled recorder for mineral deposits on the seabed |
| DE2701393A1 (en) * | 1977-01-14 | 1978-07-20 | Richard E Diggs | Deep sea mining system - has main surface ship controlling nodule harvesting and mining machines on sea bed |
-
1977
- 1977-09-30 FR FR7729460A patent/FR2404734A1/en active Granted
-
1978
- 1978-02-27 CA CA312,174A patent/CA1126764A/en not_active Expired
- 1978-09-29 JP JP11941778A patent/JPS5488803A/en active Granted
- 1978-09-29 DE DE19782842599 patent/DE2842599C2/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6128079B2 (en) | 1986-06-28 |
| JPS5488803A (en) | 1979-07-14 |
| FR2404734B1 (en) | 1982-11-05 |
| DE2842599C2 (en) | 1987-02-26 |
| FR2404734A1 (en) | 1979-04-27 |
| DE2842599A1 (en) | 1979-04-19 |
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