EP3330441B1 - Underwater excavation device and method for excavation - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an underwater mining device with a submersible working platform, which is deductible on a bottom of a body of water, a removal device for removing soil material from the bottom of the water body, an adjusting device for adjusting and introducing the removal device in the bottom of the body of water and a delivery line for discharging ablated soil material from the ablation device, according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention further relates to a method for the degradation of soil material at the bottom of a body of water with an underwater mining device, wherein the underwater mining device is lowered to the bottom of the water, a removal device introduced by means of an adjustment in the bottom of the water and soil material is removed and the removed soil material is conveyed away by means of a conveying line, according to the preamble of claim 14.

From the EP 2 562 346 A1 goes out an underwater drilling assembly with a lowerable work platform. On the work platform, a drilling tool is arranged, which is drivable by means of a drill drive for creating a borehole in the river bottom. The drilling device is used to create foundation elements under water. The drill cuttings produced during the drilling process are discharged upwards and discharged via an exit orifice into the surrounding water, where they are transported away and distributed by the stream of water.

From the WO 2015/178854 A1 and the WO 2015/178853 A1 Underwater mining systems emerge. In this system, a plurality of mobile mining units are used, from which mined soil material is discharged to floating containers, which are arranged under water between the mining units and a supply ship.

The invention has for its object to provide an underwater mining device and a method for the degradation of soil at the bottom of a body of water, with which soil material under water can be degraded particularly efficiently.

The object is achieved according to the invention by an underwater mining device with the features of claim 1 and a method for the degradation of soil material at the bottom of a body of water with the features of claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The underwater extraction device according to the invention is characterized in that on the working platform a receptacle for a delivery container is formed, that the delivery container is detachably mounted and held in the receptacle, and that the delivery line opens into the delivery container, wherein ablated soil material is receivable in the delivery container.

A basic idea of the invention is to take up mined soil directly on the work platform and to temporarily store it. The mined soil material is therefore not forwarded to the environment or a receptacle removed from the working platform. By picking up and storing the mined soil material this is easy to promote.

Another aspect of the invention is to receive the mined soil material in a delivery container which is detachably mounted on the working platform of the underwater mining device. The delivery container can be solved on reaching a predetermined level of the work platform and transported to a removal or emptying. Subsequently, an empty conveyor container can be set down again on the work platform. This way can be reliable and taken up without significant pollution of the environment degraded soil material and preferably be transported to the water surface.

The removal device can basically be a drill or any other suitable removal device. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is particularly preferred for the removal device to be a milling cutter which has at least one cutting wheel which is driven to rotate about an approximately horizontal axis of rotation. The milling cutter can preferably have two pairs of cutting wheels driven in rotation. Preferably, the Fräsradpaare are driven so that they promote milled soil material towards a center, from where they are conveyed away via a suction pump from the milling slot. The mill may be constructed substantially similar to a known trench cutter.

Another embodiment of the invention is that the adjusting device has a guide along which the removal device is guided vertically adjustable. The adjusting device may in particular be a mast with one or more guideways. Preferably, the guide may also be a frame or a tubular structure in which the removal device is guided vertically movable.

A sinking of the mill can basically be done by gravity. A preferred embodiment of the underwater extraction device according to the invention further consists in that the adjusting device has a propulsion device for lifting and / or lowering the ablation device. In this way, propulsion or restoring forces can be applied selectively.

It is particularly advantageous that the propulsion device has at least one actuating cylinder or a winch. The actuating cylinder is preferably a hydraulic cylinder for lifting and / or lowering. In the same way, a propulsion or lifting can also be realized by a winch arrangement with one or more winch cables with corresponding deflection devices.

A particularly expedient embodiment of the invention is achieved in that the guide is designed as a guide frame, at the upper end of which the receptacle for the delivery container is provided. The guide frame can be formed like a tube with an inner space in which the removal device is guided vertically movable. At an upper side of the guide frame, the delivery container can be deposited and positioned.

It is particularly advantageous in this case that the receptacle has a funnel-shaped centering section and that the delivery container comprises on its underside a conical insertion section which is designed to be suitable for insertion of the delivery container into the centering section of the receptacle. The receptacle is funnel-shaped, wherein a correspondingly matching conical insertion section on the underside of the delivery container can be easily absorbed and centered by lowering. When receiving the delivery container can be made at the same time a connection with the delivery line for introducing the degraded soil material.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention consists in that a first coupling element of the delivery line is provided on the receptacle for the delivery container and that a second coupling element is arranged on an underside of the delivery container, which is connectable to the first coupling element for establishing a line connection. The two coupling elements can also be suitably funnel-shaped or conical designed to make a lighter connection. In this way, the mined soil material can be introduced via the feed line from below into the delivery container.

In this case, a preferred development of the invention is that within the delivery container, a riser is arranged, which extends from the second coupling means through the delivery container up to an orifice through which the subsidized ablated soil material is introduced from above into the delivery container. Thus, the mined soil material first flows through the same through the riser in the delivery container and is issued only at the top of the delivery container. By this introduction of the degraded soil material, which is usually mixed with the surrounding water, it is possible that a sedimentation process takes place within the delivery container. The solid soil material may sediment to the bottom portion of the production container while the correspondingly clarified water may exit at an upper surface of the production container. As a result, the filling of the conveyor container is improved with the removed soil material as the actual payload.

A particularly environmentally friendly decoupling of the delivery container from the working platform is achieved according to a development of the invention in that a check valve is arranged on the first coupling device and / or the second coupling device, which is open for filling the delivery container, the check valve and that the check valve is closed, when the delivery container is removed from the receptacle. The check valve or the check valves can be actuated by a corresponding control. The valve can also be designed as an automatic valve with mechanical elements, so that it is automatically opened when placing the conveyor tank and automatically closed when removing the conveyor tank.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is also advantageous that a locking device is arranged on the receptacle, which locks a recorded delivery container in its position and fixed. This ensures that the delivery tank remains reliably in position even with strong currents. In addition, so the delivery container can also be used to transport the underwater mining device. In this case, the delivery container is preferably connected to a lifting device, in particular a hoisting rope. With the hoist rope, the delivery container can be moved to an emptying position, in particular a watercraft, in particular a ship. If in this case the delivery container is firmly locked to the work platform, then the underwater removal device as a whole can be transported with the delivery container through the lifting device.

Preferably, a pumping device is provided for conveying the removed soil material from the removal device to the delivery container. The pumping device can be integrated in the removal device or arranged as a separate component on the working platform.

For an exact adjustment of the underwater mining device on a body of water, it is expedient that are provided on the working platform adjustable feet for aligning the working platform on the bottom of the water. The support legs can be provided with adjusting cylinders or other adjusting devices to compensate for a height offset each other. This allows the work platform to be aligned horizontally even on uneven terrain. Preferably a total of three support legs are arranged distributed around the circumference of the work platform.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the removed soil material is conveyed to a delivery container, which is detachably mounted on a receptacle of the underwater removal device, and that upon reaching a filling level, the filled delivery container is released from the receptacle and transported away.

The method according to the invention can preferably be carried out with the underwater mining device described above. It can be achieved while the advantages that have been described above.

A preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is that the delivery container is detachably attached to an upper side of the underwater removal device, that a lifting device acts on an upper side of the delivery container and that the delivery container is locked in the receptacle for transporting the underwater removal device. The lifting device can thus serve for the separate removal of the soil material with the delivery container when the delivery container is unlocked and released from the underwater removal device. If the delivery container is locked in the receptacle on the work platform, the underwater removal device can be conveyed and moved as a whole by means of the lifting device.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Unterwasserabbauvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Seitenansicht eines Förderbehälters für die Unterwasserabbauvorrichtung; und

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Detailansicht der Aufnahme eines Förderbehälters in der Unterwasserabbauvorrichtung.

The invention will be further explained with reference to a preferred embodiment, which is shown schematically in the drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a side view of a Unterwasserabbauvorrichtung invention;

Fig. 2

an enlarged side view of a delivery container for the underwater mining device; and

Fig. 3

an enlarged detail of the inclusion of a delivery container in the underwater mining device.

In an underwater mining device 10 according to the invention Fig. 1 a frame-like work platform 12 is provided of carriers, which can be placed on a total of three vertically adjustable support feet 28 at the bottom of a body of watercraft, especially a ship, with a hoist. With the support legs 28, the working platform 12 can be aligned horizontally.

On the work platform 12, a mast-like guide frame 14 is arranged to form an adjusting device 13. Within the guide frame 14, a removal device 30 is mounted vertically adjustable along a vertical guide 16. The removal device 30 is designed as a milling cutter, in particular a trench wall cutter with two lower pairs of cutting wheels 32. The cutting wheels 32 are rotationally driven about horizontal axes of rotation, with the cutting wheels 32 rotating to excavate and convey ground material into a central region between the two pairs of cutting wheels 32.

For vertical adjustment of the removal device 30, a propulsion device 20 is provided with lateral adjusting cylinders 22. With the adjusting cylinders 22, the removal device 30 can be gradually raised or lowered. In this case, the removal device 30 is guided with an elongated guide frame along the vertical guide 16 in the guide frame 14. The displacement of the removal device 30 may be limited to the height of the guide frame 14, so that the removal device 30 is always guided within the guide frame 14. Alternatively, the removal device 30 can be extended as a whole from the guide frame 13, in which case a further guide along the elongated guide frame of the removal device 30 takes place.

The soil material removed by the cutting wheels 32 is conveyed upwards via a central delivery line 18 and by means of a pump device 24 to a delivery container 50, which is mounted in a receptacle 40 on the upper side of the guide frame 14.

The receptacle 40 has a funnel-shaped centering section 42 for centrally receiving a lower end of the delivery container 50. On the work platform 12 is still a drive module 26 with various units and resources detachably arranged. The drive module 26 is connected via a supply line not shown with a supply vessel at the top of the water. Via the supply line, a corresponding control of the underwater mining device 10 can take place.

The delivery container 50 for the underwater extraction device 10 according to the invention is closer in Fig. 2 shown. The delivery container 50 has a substantially cylindrical base body 52, at the lower end of a conical insertion portion 54 is provided, to which a locking shoulder 55 connects. Within the hollow conveyor container 50, a riser 58 extends from the bottom 53 to beyond the upper end of the cylindrical base body 52 addition. From the delivery line 18 of the underwater mining device 10, the removed soil material is transferred at the bottom 53 to the riser 58 in the delivery container 50, wherein in the upper region the riser 58 is diverted via arcuate manifold to the interior of the delivery container 50. The manifolds open in an upper region of the cylindrical base body 52, so that the removed soil material is introduced with sucked water from above into the delivery container 50. In this way, the solid constituents of the excavated soil material may sediment into the lower region of the delivery container 50, while liquid may exit at the top of the delivery container 50.

On the upper side of the delivery container 50 further fastening elements 57 are arranged, to which a lifting device, not shown, in particular hooks of a crane rope, is attached.

The delivery container 50 is releasably secured by a locking device 70 to the receptacle 40 of the guide frame 14, as described in more detail in FIG Fig. 3 is shown. The representation of Fig. 3 It can be seen that the conical insertion portion 54 of the conveyor container 50 is formed to match the funnel-shaped centering portion 42 of the receptacle 40. In the inserted position, a wedge-shaped holding member 72 by means of an actuating mechanism 74 which is actuated by a control cylinder, not shown, are moved from a release position to a locking position, which in Fig. 3 is shown. In the locking position, the radially retracted holding element 72 engages behind the larger diameter Locking paragraph 55 at a cylindrical end portion of the delivery container 50. In the locked position, the delivery container 50 is fixedly connected to the guide frame 14 and thus the working platform 12, so that the underwater removal device 10 can now be pulled up with the delivery container 50.

The Fig. 3 is also the connection between the delivery line 18 and the delivery container 50 hinted to take. At a top end of the delivery line 18, a first coupling element 46 is formed, which fits into a funnel-shaped second coupling element 56 on the delivery container 50. In the coupling position between the first coupling element 46 and the second coupling element 56, a line connection between the delivery line 18 and the riser 58 is made within the delivery container 50. When the delivery container 50 is separated from the receptacle 40, the openings on the first coupling element 46 and the second coupling element 56 are closed by means of a schematically indicated blocking valve 60. The check valve 60 is preferably actuated mechanically when placing or releasing the delivery container 50.

The underwater mining device 10 according to the invention is intended for removing soil material from a body of water, in particular for sampling or for mining near-surface mineral resources.

Claims (15)

1. Underwater mining device having

   - a submersible working platform (12) which can be placed onto a bed of a body of water,

   - a stripping means (30) for stripping ground material from the bed of the body of water,

   - an adjustment means (13) for adjusting and introducing the stripping means (30) into the bed of the body of water and

   - a conveying line (18) for conveying stripped ground material away from the stripping means (30),

   characterized in

   - that on the working platform (12) a receiving part (40) for a conveying container (50) is designed,

   - that the conveying container (50) is supported and retained in a releasable manner in the receiving part (40), and

   - that the conveying line (18) leads into the conveying container (50), wherein stripped ground material can be received in the conveying container (50).
2. Underwater mining device according to claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the stripping means (30) is a cutter having at least one cutting wheel (32) which is driven in a rotating manner about an approximately horizontal axis of rotation.
3. Underwater mining device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in
   that the adjustment means (13) has a guide (16), along which the stripping means (30) is guided in a vertically adjustable manner.
4. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in
   that the adjustment means (13) has an advancing means (20) for lifting and/or lowering the stripping means (30).
5. Underwater mining device according to claim 4,
   characterized in
   that the advancing means (20) has at least one positioning cylinder (22) or a winch.
6. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
   characterized in
   that the guide (16) is designed as a guide framework (14), at the upper end of which the receiving part (40) for the conveying container (50) is provided.
7. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in
   that the receiving part (40) has a funnel-shaped centering section (42) and that on its underside the conveying container (50) has a conical inserting section (54) which is designed to fit for insertion of the conveying container (50) into the centering section (42) of the receiving part (40).
8. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
   characterized in
   that on the receiving part (40) for the conveying container (50) a first coupling element (46) of the conveying line (18) is provided and
   that on an underside (53) of the conveying container (50) a second coupling element (56) is arranged which can be connected to the first coupling element (46) to establish a line connection.
9. Underwater mining device according to claim 8,
   characterized in
   that inside the conveying container (50) a riser (58) is arranged which extends from the second coupling means (56) through the conveying container (50) in the upward direction to an outlet, through which the conveyed stripped ground material is fed from above into the conveying container (50).
10. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
    characterized in
    that on the first coupling means (46) and/or the second coupling means (56) a stop valve (60) is arranged,
    that for the filling of the conveying container (50) the stop valve (60) is open and that the stop valve (60) is closed when the conveying container (50) is removed from the receiving part (40).
11. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
    characterized in
    that on the receving part (40) a locking means (70) is arranged which locks and fixes a received conveying container (50) in its position.
12. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
    characterized in
    that a pump means (24) is provided for conveying the stripped ground material from the stripping means (30) to the conveying container (50).
13. Underwater mining device according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
    characterized in
    that on the working platform (12) adjustable support feet (28) are provided for aligning the working platform (12) on the bed of the body of water.
14. Method for mining ground material on the bed of a body of water with an underwater mining device (10), in particular according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which

    - the underwater mining device (10) is lowered onto the bed of the body of water,

    - a stripping means (30) is introduced into the bed of the body of water by means of an adjustment means (13) and in doing so ground material is stripped and

    - the stripped ground material is conveyed away by means of a conveying line (18), characterized in

    - that the stripped ground material is conveyed to a conveying container (50) which is supported in a releasable manner on a receiving part (40) of the underwater mining device (10), and

    - that on reaching a filling level the filled conveying container (50) is released from the receiving part (40) and transported away.
15. Method according to claim 14,
    characterized in
    that the conveying container (50) is fastened in a releasable manner on an upper side of the underwater mining device (10),
    that a lifting means engages on an upper side of the conveying container (50) and for the transport of the underwater mining device (10) the conveying container (50) is locked in the receiving part (40).

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