EP3805465A1 - Underwater stripping device and method for removing soil material under water - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an underwater removal device with a base frame which can be set down on a body of water, at least one removal unit which is mounted vertically adjustable on the base frame and is designed to remove soil material from the body of water at a first removal position, and at least one transport container which can accommodate is formed by removed soil material and is arranged on the base frame for the removal of removed soil material. According to the invention it is provided that the at least one removal unit on the base frame is adjustably guided in a first horizontal direction to at least one second removal position, which is different from the first removal position and in which further removal of soil material can be carried out. The invention also relates to a method for removing soil material with the underwater removal device.

Description

The invention relates to an underwater removal device, in particular for the excavation of raw materials, with a base frame which can be set down on a body of water, at least one removal unit which is mounted vertically adjustable on the base frame and is designed to remove soil material from the body of water at a first removal position, and at least one transport container, which is designed to receive removed soil material and is arranged on the base frame for transporting removed soil material, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for removing soil material under water, in particular for mining raw materials, with an underwater removal device, in which a base frame of the underwater removal device is set down on a water bed, at least one removal unit which is adjustably mounted on the base frame , move vertically into the bottom of the water in a first removal position and soil material is removed in the process, and removed soil material is conveyed to a transport container on the base frame, in which removed soil material is received for removal, according to the preamble of claim 12.

From the EP 2 562 346 A1 shows an underwater drilling assembly with a lowerable work platform. A drilling tool is arranged on the work platform, which can be driven into the bottom of the water by means of a drill drive to create a borehole. The drilling jig is used to create foundation elements under water. The cuttings that occur during the drilling process are carried off upwards and discharged via an outlet into the surrounding water, where they are carried away and distributed by the water current.

From the WO 2015/178854 A1 and the WO 2015/178853 A1 emerge underwater mining systems. In these systems, several mobile mining units are used, from which excavated soil material is discharged to floating containers which are arranged underwater between the mining units and a supply ship.

A generic underwater removal device and a generic method are based on the EP 3 330 441 B1 emerged. In a tower-like base frame, a removal unit is mounted so that it can be adjusted vertically, through which soil material can be removed under water and transported into a conveying container. For the excavation of soil material over a larger area, it is necessary with this known device to adjust it after each vertical removal step. This can be necessary under water, especially at greater depths, with an increased expenditure of time and effort.

The invention is based on the object of specifying an underwater removal device and a method for removing soil material with which it is also possible to efficiently remove larger quantities of soil material from a water bed.

The object is achieved according to the invention on the one hand by an underwater removal device with the features of claim 1 and on the other hand by a method for removing soil material under water with the features of claim 12. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the respective dependent claims.

The underwater removal device according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one removal unit on the base frame in a first horizontal Direction to at least one second removal position is adjustable, which is different from the first removal position and in which a further removal of soil material can be carried out.

A basic idea of the invention can be seen in providing an underwater removal device with a base frame, which can be set down on a body of water and along which the removal unit is adjustably mounted in a horizontal direction. The underwater removal device can thus be parked at the bottom of a body of water and several vertical removal processes can then be carried out, the removal unit being moved horizontally along the base frame between a single vertical removal process, a so-called stitch. In the context of the invention, horizontal is to be understood as a transverse direction to the vertical gravitational direction, with an adjustment essentially taking place along a surface of the water bed. Overall, an efficient and precise removal of even larger soil areas can be carried out in several passes without or with a reduced number of adjustments of the base frame.

A preferred embodiment of the invention consists in that a separating device is arranged on the base frame, to which the removed soil material can be conveyed and which is designed to separate raw material-containing constituents and forward them to the at least one transport container. The separating device, which can have a sieve, a decanter, a centrifuge and / or some other separating device, reduces the soil material to be picked up by the transport container. In particular, as far as possible, only constituents containing raw materials are to be received by the transport container, while constituents that are free of raw materials or those that are poor in raw materials are separated out by the separation device. The at least one removal device is preferably connected to the separation device via a flexible line, in particular a hose line.

According to a development of the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the separation device is arranged above the transport container in a loading station. The transport container can be moved into the loading station, in which it is then located below the separation device. The separated raw material-containing Components can be efficiently conducted from the separating device into the transport container, in particular under the action of gravity. The separation device can be mounted in a stationary or adjustable manner on the base frame.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention can be seen in the fact that a receiving and displacing device for the at least one transport container is provided on the base frame, the receiving and displacing device being designed to receive at least one transport container and at least to a loading station for receiving removed items To move floor material. The base frame can preferably be designed to accommodate several transport containers at the same time. A corresponding intermediate storage area can be provided on the base frame for this purpose. Furthermore, a receiving station can be formed on the base frame, in which transport containers can be set down from the surface of the water, in particular a transport ship, onto the base frame. The transport container received in this way can be moved via the displacement device to an intermediate storage area or directly to the separation device. The displacement device can have guide rails for the transport container and at least one displacement element, for example an adjusting cylinder or a transport chain with a chain drive.

After the transport container has been filled, the transport container can be moved on to a return station on the base frame via the displacement device. The transport container can be picked up by the return station, for example by a transport rope, and brought back to the surface of the water by a ship. The receiving station and the return station can be designed separately from one another or at the same location, so that the receiving station simultaneously forms the return station.

A compact construction of the underwater removal device can in particular be achieved in that the at least one removal unit is mounted vertically adjustable on a guide frame, which is mounted horizontally displaceably on the base frame. The vertically directed guide frame can be attached to a slide, which is mounted horizontally displaceably along a guide on the base frame. In principle, several removal units can also be provided on the underwater removal device, which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally independently of one another or can be adjusted together.

In principle, the at least one removal unit can be adjusted vertically by a linear drive. According to a further development of the invention, a particularly compact arrangement is achieved in that the at least one removal unit is suspended from a support cable. In particular, the support cable can be guided over a pulley on an upper side of the guide frame. A lowering of the removal unit can be adjusted with force solely by the action of gravity or by a further pull rope, which is guided around a lower pulley on a lower area of the guide frame, or an adjusting cylinder in the direction of the ground. The support cable and / or the pull cable can be operated via a cable winch by means of a winch motor.

According to a further development of the underwater removal device according to the invention, an efficient and as large-area removal of soil material as possible can be achieved in that a movement device is arranged on the base frame with which the underwater removal device can be adjusted on the water bottom. The movement device can in principle have any design, in particular it can have a walking mechanism.

In principle, the removal unit can be a drilling device in which a drilling tool is driven to rotate about a preferably vertical drilling axis. A particularly efficient removal of soil material is achieved according to an embodiment variant of the invention in that at least one removal unit is designed as a milling unit. In the milling unit, in particular milling teeth are provided which revolve around essentially horizontal milling axes. The milling unit can have milling wheels and / or milling chains.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is that the milling unit comprises a box-shaped frame with at least two pairs of milling wheels, the milling wheels of a pair having a common milling wheel axis and the milling wheel axes of the pairs being parallel and axially offset to one another. The milling units can be designed essentially like conventional trench wall milling machines. The box-shaped frame can in particular be designed as a guide frame, the frame cross section being adapted to a milling cross section which is produced by the milling wheels. With such a box-shaped guide frame, the milling unit can guide itself in the milling slot. The parallel to each other oriented milling wheel axes can be parallel to the horizontal displacement direction on the base frame or transversely to this, in particular at a right angle to it.

According to a development of the invention, particularly efficient removal of soil material can be achieved in that several milling units are arranged next to one another and combined to form a common support device. In particular, several milling units, each with two pairs of milling wheels, can be arranged next to one another and combined. The arrangement can take place in the axial direction of the milling wheels or at right angles to the axial direction of the milling wheels.

In principle, the underwater removal device can be supplied with energy by means of a supply line, a so-called umbilical, from a supply ship. The energy supply can be a pressure fluid, in particular hydraulic fluid, and / or electrical current. As an alternative or in addition, a further development according to the invention can provide that at least one electrical power supply unit, in particular an accumulator, is arranged on the base frame. The energy supply can comprise an energy conversion unit which, for example, converts electrical energy into hydraulic energy or extracts thermal energy from the environment and transforms it into electrical energy or hydraulic energy. The energy supply unit represents a so-called power pack. The energy supply unit can also have an accumulator with a high energy density. In particular, several energy supply units can be arranged so that an independent energy supply of the underwater removal device is ensured even over several hours of operation.

A preferred embodiment of the underwater removal device according to the invention consists in that the underwater removal device consists of at least two modules which can be put together during or after being set down on the water bed. In particular, the base frame can also be composed of different modules. The modules can be the individual removal units, the removal device, the guide frame, the transport container or others Be components of the underwater removal device. The modules are provided with quick-connect devices so that they can be put together in a relatively simple manner during or after being set down on the water bed.

The method according to the invention for removing soil material under water is characterized in that after the removal of soil material in the first removal position, the at least one removal unit is adjusted along a guide on the base frame in a horizontal direction from the first removal position into at least one second removal position, which is different to the first removal position, and that further soil material is removed in the second removal position by moving the at least one removal unit vertically.

The method according to the invention can in particular be carried out by an underwater removal device according to the invention, as has been described above.

A preferred embodiment variant of the invention consists in that a first mining slot is created along the first horizontal direction, initially several vertical primary stitches are created which are spaced apart in a defined manner along the first horizontal direction, with at least one remaining soil section remaining between the primary stitches, and after creating the primary stitches in the horizontal direction removes each remaining soil section with at least one secondary stitch to form a continuous mining slit in the horizontal direction. In this way, continuous mining slots can be created efficiently, ensuring that the same pressure or environmental conditions as possible exist on two opposite sides of the overall box-shaped removal unit, so that the removal unit is sunk as vertically as possible and running is avoided.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention can be seen in the fact that, after a first mining slot has been created, the at least one removal unit is adjusted by a defined offset amount in a second horizontal direction, which is directed transversely, in particular perpendicular to the first horizontal direction, and at least one second mining slot approximately parallel to the first Primary mining slot is created. The second mining slot can directly adjoin the first mining slot. Further mining slits can be created next to each other so that the water bed is removed over a large area.

Alternatively, the offset amount can be selected so large that a residual soil area remains between two adjacent primary mining slots, and that the remaining soil area between two primary mining slots is then removed with the introduction of a secondary mining slot. According to this variant of the method, the soil is not only removed in the area of a single slit, but a planned areal dismantling of the water floor can take place. First of all, two or more primary mining slots, which are spaced apart from one another and in particular parallel, are created, as described above. The distance between two primary excavation slots is designed in particular so that the remaining floor area between them has a wall thickness in the horizontal direction which corresponds to the excavation width of an excavation unit. The remaining soil area can thus be completely removed through a secondary mining slot with the removal units, which means a good yield of removed soil material.

According to a further development of the method according to the invention, it is preferred that removed soil material is conveyed to a separation device, that constituents containing raw materials are separated from constituents that are low in raw materials in the separation device and conveyed to the at least one transport container, and that the constituents poor in raw materials are conveyed from the separation device to a floor area of the Can be returned to the water bed. The constituents that are poor in raw materials are preferably returned to the excavated slots so that they are at least partially filled again. This protects the bottom of the water and reduces the amount of soil material to be transported to an area above water.

In principle, the underwater removal device can be set down as a complete system on the bottom of the water. A simplification of the transport is achieved according to a further development of the invention in that an underwater removal device is composed of at least two modules which are connected to one another during or after the modules have been lowered onto the water bed.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten erfindungsgemäßen Unterwasser -Abtragsvorrichtu ng;

Fig. 2

eine Vorderansicht der Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung von Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht der Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung von Fig. 1 und Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf die Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 3;

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Abtragseinheiten der Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 4;

Fig. 6

eine Vorderansicht der Abtragseinheiten von Fig. 5;

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht der Abtragseinheiten gemäß den Figuren 5 und 6;

Fig. 8

eine vergrößerte perspektivische Darstellung des Transportbehälters der Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 4;

Fig. 9

eine vergrößerte perspektivische Darstellung einer Abscheideeinrichtung der Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 4;

Fig. 10

eine Seitenansicht der Abscheideeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 9 mit geöffneter Bodenklappe;

Fig. 11

eine Seitenansicht der Abscheideeinrichtung gemäß Fig. 9 mit geschlossener Bodenklappe;

Figs. 12-19

Draufsichten auf eine Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung gemäß Figuren 1 bis 4 in verkleinerter Darstellung in verschiedenen Verfahrensschritten beim Abtrag von Boden;

Fig. 20

eine perspektivische Aussicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung;

Fig. 21

eine Draufsicht auf die Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung von Fig. 20; und

Figs. 22-29

Draufsichten auf die Unterwasser-Abtragsvorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 20 und 21 in verkleinerter Darstellung in verschiedenen Verfahrensschritten beim Abtrag von Boden.

The invention is described further below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments which are shown schematically in the drawings. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a first underwater removal device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

FIG. 3 is a front view of the underwater removal device of FIG Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a side view of the underwater removal device of FIG Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

a plan view of the underwater removal device according to Figures 1 to 3;

Fig. 5

a perspective view of the removal units of the underwater removal device according to FIG Figures 1 to 4 ;

Fig. 6

a front view of the removal units of Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

a side view of the removal units according to FIG Figures 5 and 6 ;

Fig. 8

an enlarged perspective view of the transport container of the underwater removal device according to FIG Figures 1 to 4 ;

Fig. 9

an enlarged perspective illustration of a separation device of the underwater removal device according to FIG Figures 1 to 4 ;

Fig. 10

a side view of the separation device according to Fig. 9 with open bottom flap;

Fig. 11

a side view of the separation device according to Fig. 9 with closed bottom flap;

Figs. 12-19

Top views of an underwater removal device according to FIG Figures 1 to 4 in a reduced representation in different process steps when removing soil;

Fig. 20

a perspective view of a further embodiment of an underwater removal device according to the invention;

Fig. 21

a plan view of the underwater removal device of FIG Fig. 20 ; and

Figs. 22-29

Top views of the underwater removal device according to FIGS Figures 20 and 21 in a reduced representation in different process steps during the removal of soil.

A first underwater removal device 10 according to the invention with a scaffold-like base frame 12 is shown in FIG Figures 1 to 4 shown. The base frame 12 has a horizontal floor section 14 and two wall sections 16 attached to it and spaced apart from one another. In the approximately U-shaped base frame 12 formed in this way, a receiving space 18 for box-shaped transport containers 14 is provided between the spaced-apart wall sections 16. To align the underwater removal device 10 on a body of water, vertically extendable support feet 15 are provided on the underside of the base frame 12. The support feet 15 can be provided with removal teeth, wherein the support feet 15 can be rotatably driven and introduced into the water bed.

The in Fig. 1 right-side wall section 16 three power supply units 70 detachably attached. The energy supply units 70 can in particular be designed as so-called power packs, ie energy conversion units, e.g. B. as electro-hydraulic units which convert electrical energy supplied from the surface of the water into hydraulic energy via an umbilical cord, a so-called umbilical, from a supply ship (not shown). Alternatively or in addition, they can also be designed as accumulators, which are used to store z. B. electrical energy are formed. In addition, the underwater removal device 10 according to the invention can work largely independently of a supply ship after it has been set down on the water bed. After the work has been completed, the underwater removal device 10 can be raised again in a basically known manner.

At the in Fig. 1 A linear guide 19 is arranged on the left-hand wall section 16, along which a guide frame 20 is guided horizontally adjustable along the outside of the wall section 16.

The guide frame 20 has a vertical guide wall 21 which interacts with the guide 19 on the base frame 12 for the horizontal movement. At A frame-like guide box 22 is formed on the guide wall 21, in which a block-like removal device 38 is received, which in the illustrated embodiment is composed of several removal units 30.

A yoke-like mast arrangement 23 with a mast head 24 is provided on the guide frame 20. Deflection rollers 25 for supply hoses 26 and conveying hoses 29 for the three removal units 30 of the removal device 38 are rotatably mounted on the mast head 24. The block-like removal device 38 is mounted vertically adjustable on the mast head 24 via a suspension 39 and a support cable 28, the block-like removal device 38 being guided vertically and linearly in the guide box 22 of the guide frame 20.

The supply hoses 26 are designed for supplying hydraulic and / or electrical energy, while the delivery hoses 29 are designed for pumping out and conveying away the removed soil material. The conveying hoses 29 are guided over a bulkhead plate 27 on which they are combined in a conveying line 52 on the base frame 12, through which the removed soil material is conveyed to a separating device 50. The separating device 50 is detachably inserted into a holder 17 on the upper side of the base frame 12. The separation device 50 is arranged approximately in a central region of the base frame 12 above the receiving space 18. As a result, a loading station 48 is formed in which raw material-containing constituents of the removed soil material can be discharged from the separating device 50 down to a transport container 40 arranged below. The raw material-containing constituents of the removed soil material are separated from constituents that are low in or free of raw materials in the separating device 50, which may have a centrifuge, for example. These constituents with few or no raw materials can be fed back from the separation device 50 via return lines 51 back into a bottom region of the water bed.

How vividly in Fig. 3 is shown, a total of three transport containers 40 are arranged on the base frame 12. To form a receiving station 47, the horizontal floor section 14 projects at least on one end face relative to the wall sections 16, so that new transport containers 40 from a supply ship are deposited on the underwater removal device 10 at this receiving station 47 can be. The transport container 40 is then pushed on from the receiving station 47 via a receiving and moving device (not shown in detail) to the loading station 48 below the separating device 50. At the same time, filled transport containers 40 can be transported from the loading station 48 along the receiving space 18 to a return station 49 ( Figure 4 ) are further promoted at the bottom section 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the return station 49 lies opposite the receiving station 47 on the base frame 12. From the return station 49, the filled transport container 40 can be grasped by a basically known crane device and fetched back to a supply ship.

In the Figures 5 to 7 the block-like removal device 38 described above is shown in more detail. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the removal device 38 is constructed from three removal units 30 each of the same design. Each removal unit 30 is designed as a milling unit which has a box-shaped frame 32. On the underside of each frame 32, milling plates 35 are arranged in the center, on each of which a milling wheel 34 with a common milling wheel axis are rotatably mounted on both sides. On each removal unit 30, two pairs of milling wheels 34 are mounted so as to be driven in rotation. The two pairs of milling wheels 34 produce a rectangular milling cross section through each removal unit 30, which corresponds to the cross section of the box-shaped frame 32. As is known from so-called trench wall milling machines, the removal unit 30 can guide itself in the milled slot.

In the case of the removal device 38, three removal units 30 are arranged next to one another in the direction of the cutting wheel axes, so that the respective front cutting wheel pairs and the respective rear cutting wheel pairs are aligned coaxially with one another. The individual frames 32 thereby form an overall frame of the removal device 38, the overall cross section of which corresponds to an opening cross section of the box-shaped guide frame 20 on the base frame 12. Thus, the guide frame 20 can serve as an initial guide for initially guiding the removal device 38 at the beginning of a milling step. The ablation units 30 directly adjoining one another jointly mill off an ablation cross section which corresponds to the cross section of the overall frame of the ablation device 38.

On the upper side of the middle removal unit 30, a bracket-like suspension 39 is formed from support plates, whereby the removal device 38 as a whole can be detachably attached to the support cable 28 of the underwater removal device 10 by means of the suspension 39.

An embodiment of a transport container 40 for the underwater removal device 10 according to the invention is shown in more detail in FIG Fig. 8 shown. The transport container 40 has a box-shaped base body 42 which, on its top side, has an insertion funnel 43 that opens upwards approximately in the center. Loop-like connecting elements 44 are attached to the corner areas on the upper side of the base body 42. The connecting elements 44 serve to connect to a hoist, in particular hooks of a crane rope, so that the transport container 40 can be lowered with the hoist from a supply ship, for example, and can be raised again after filling.

According to the Figures 9 to 11 An exemplary embodiment of the separating device 50 is shown, which has a housing 54 with a cylinder section 55 and a cone section 56. A radially projecting attachment ring 57 is formed between the upper cylinder section 55 and the lower conical section 56, with which the separating device 50 can be releasably placed from above on the frame-like holder 17 on the base frame 12.

An outlet opening 58 is provided on the underside of the conical section 56. This can be opened by means of a hinged bottom 59 ( Fig. 10 ) and closed ( Fig. 11 ) become. On the upper side of the housing 54 there are connecting eyelets 53 with which the separating device 50 can be raised to a supply ship and lowered again, for example for maintenance purposes, using a generally known hoist. A suitable separating device is provided within the separating device 50, with which, for example, raw material-containing constituents of the removed soil material can be separated from dead material.

The use of the underwater removal device 10 according to the invention according to FIGS Figures 1 to 4 when carrying out a method according to the invention in more detail in connection with the Figures 12 to 19 explained.

The underwater removal device 10 is set down on a water bed 1, which in particular can be a sea bed at a depth of up to a few thousand meters. The underwater removal device 10 has a movement device 60 with two parallel rails 62 on the water bed 1. The movement device 60 can comprise a drive unit, not shown in detail, with which the base frame 12 can be moved linearly along the rails 62.

In the initial state according to Fig. 12 three transport containers 40 are arranged on the base frame 12, one transport container 40 being located directly below the separating device 50 in the loading station 48. The guide frame 20 with the removal device 38 is moved into a starting or starting position along the base frame 12. In this position, the removal device 38 with the removal units 30, which are arranged next to one another at a right angle to the side surface of the base frame 12, is sunk vertically into the ground, soil material being removed and conveyed to the separation device 50. At least part of the removed soil material is conveyed further from the separating device 50 into the transport container 40 located below in the loading station 48.

After the first transport container 40 has been filled, it is in accordance with FIG Fig. 13 pushed on from the loading station 48 into the return station 49, the second transport container 40 being moved into the loading station 48 at the same time.

After a first primary stitch 3 has been created, the removal device 38 with the guide frame 20 is pushed along the base frame 12 in a first horizontal direction by a defined offset amount, a second primary stitch 3 then being created. At the base of each individual primary slot 3, due to the opposing pairs of milling wheels, two semi-cylindrical grooves are formed, between which a web 8, which is only indicated schematically, is formed.

How vividly in Fig. 14 is shown, the first and the second primary stitch 3 are arranged parallel and at a distance from one another, so that a residual bottom section 4 remains between the adjacent primary stitches 3. In the meantime, the filled transport container 40 can be lifted in the return station 49 and fetched back to a supply ship.

After a desired number of primary stitches 3 for forming a first mining slit 2 have been created along the base frame 12 in the first direction, the removal device 38 according to FIG Fig. 15 moved back again along the base frame 12 in order to remove the first remaining soil section 4 between the first and second primary stitch 3 with a secondary stitch 5. By repeating this process, the remaining floor sections 4 between the primary stitches 3 can be removed by secondary stitches 5, so that the continuous first mining slit 2 is created, which in FIG Fig. 17 is shown. As a result of the milling wheel pairs, a channel-shaped contouring of the base of the first mining slot 2 with intervening ridges or webs 8 results.

During the dismantling process, transport containers 40 are further filled and forwarded to the return station 49 to the removal port. At the same time, empty transport containers 40 can be fed to the receiving station 47 so that they are available for filling.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, filled transport containers 40 can also be transported away at the receiving station 47, while at the same time empty transport containers 40 can also be placed at the return station 49 for filling.

After completion of the first mining slot 2, which runs parallel to the rectangular base frame 12 in the first direction, the base frame 12 is moved along the rails 62 with the movement device 60 approximately at right angles to the first mining slot 2 in a horizontal second direction around the removal width of the removal device 38, in order to create a second mining slot 6 parallel and immediately adjacent to the first mining slot 2.

As in the Figures 18 and 19 is shown schematically, in order to create the second mining slot 6, primary stitches 3 initially spaced apart from one another can be created in a first direction of travel of the removal device 38 in a corresponding manner. Subsequently, remaining floor sections 4 between the primary stitches 3 are removed by secondary stitches 5.

Overall, a planned, areal removal of soil material on a body of water 1 can be carried out with great positional accuracy. Only then does the entire underwater removal device 10 have to be moved in order to remove a further soil area.

Another embodiment of an underwater removal device 10 according to the invention is shown in FIG Figures 20 and 21 shown. The structure of this underwater removal device 10 corresponds to the underwater removal device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 with a few exceptions, which will be discussed.

The structure of the base frame 12, the guide frame 20, the removal units 30, the transport container 40, the separation device 50, the movement device 60 and the power supply unit 70 are largely the same as in the first embodiment.

In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the removal device 38, which is also made up of three removal units 30, is directed along the guide 19 of the base frame 12. The axes of the milling wheels of the removal units 30 are parallel to the horizontal first direction, that is to say the direction of displacement of the guide frame 20 along the base frame 12.

Furthermore, the separating device 50 is arranged in a holder 17 which is itself mounted so as to be displaceable along the base frame 12. For this purpose, corresponding rails can be provided on the upper side of the base frame 12 for the holder 17.

The use of this second underwater removal device 10 according to the invention according to FIGS Figures 20 and 21 when carrying out a method according to the invention in more detail in connection with the Figures 22 to 29 explained.

The underwater removal device 10 is also set down on a body of water 1. The underwater removal device 10 has a movement device 60 with two parallel rails 62 on the water bed 1.

In the initial state according to Fig. 22 three transport containers 40 are arranged on the base frame 12, the separating device 50 being on a holder 17 is located, which is mounted displaceably along the base frame 12. In the initial state according to Fig. 22 the separation device 50 is together with the guide frame 20 with the removal device 38 with the three removal units 30 in a lateral starting position. The separation device 50 is located above a first transport container 40 on a side area of the base frame 12.

In this position, the removal device 38 with the removal units 30, which are arranged next to one another parallel to the side surface of the base frame 12, is sunk vertically into the ground, with soil material being removed and conveyed to the separating device 50 located next to it. At least part of the removed soil material is conveyed by the separating device 50 into the transport container 40 located below.

The transport container 40 is designed, in particular, to receive the removal material or at least the valuable material-containing part of the removal material of a first primary stitch 3.

After creating the first primary stitch 3, according to Fig. 23 the removal device 38 with the guide frame 20 is pushed further along the base frame 12 in a first horizontal direction by a defined offset amount which corresponds to the length of the first primary stitch 3. Simultaneously with the guide frame 20, the separating device 50 with the holding frame 17 is displaced along the base frame 12 over the next, central transport container 40. In this position, a second primary pass 3 is carried out, while the removed soil material is transported on to the adjusted separation device 50 via the conveying line 52. At the same time, the first transport container 40 can now be returned from its original position directly to a supply ship via a hoist.

The guide frame 20 with the removal device 38 and the separation device 50 with the holder 17 are then moved by a further conveying step along the base frame 12 to a third removal position, which is illustrated in FIG Fig. 24 is shown. The separation device 50 is located above the third transport container 40 on a side area of the base frame 12, which opposite the initial page area. While the third primary stitch 3 is being carried out to create the first mining slot 2, the second filled transport container 40 can also be lifted directly by a hoist from its central position on the base frame 12 upwards to a supply ship. Due to the milling wheel geometries, a web 8 extends centrally along the base of the primary stitch 3.

After the first mining slit 2 has been closed by the directly adjoining primary stitches 3, the guide frame 20 with the removal device 38 is returned to the starting position. At the same time, the base frame 12 is moved along the rails 62 with the movement device 60 in a second direction, which is directed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mining slot 2, by an offset amount which corresponds to the width of the first mining slot 2.

Previously, two empty transport containers 40 were placed back on the base frame 12 from the supply ship. Then the degradation steps according to the Figures 22 to 24 to form a second mining slot 6, as illustrated in FIGS Figures 25 to 27 is shown. Due to the channel-shaped contouring of the bottom of the dismantling slots 2 and 6, indicated webs 8 result.

As in the Figures 28 and 29 is indicated, the guide frame 20 with the removal device 38 including the separation device 50 with the holder 17 can then be reset again, the base frame 12 also being moved along the rails 62 by a further offset amount, as illustrated in FIG Fig. 28 is shown. A third mining slot 7 can then be carried out by a further sequence of the known method steps, such as Fig. 29 can be found.

Subsequently, the underwater removal device 10 can be moved to the bottom 1 in order to remove a further soil area on the bottom 1 by repeating the steps described above.

Claims (17)

Underwater removal device, in particular for the mining of raw materials, with - A base frame (12) which can be set down on a body of water (1), - At least one removal unit (30) which is mounted vertically adjustable on the base frame (12) and is designed to remove soil material from the bed of water (1) at a first removal position, and - At least one transport container (40) which is designed to receive removed soil material and is arranged on the base frame (12) for transporting removed soil material, characterized, - That the at least one removal unit (30) on the base frame (12) is adjustable in a first horizontal direction to at least one second removal position, which is different from the first removal position and in which further removal of soil material can be carried out. Underwater removal device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that a separation device (50) is arranged on the base frame (12), to which the removed soil material can be conveyed and which is designed to separate raw material-containing constituents and to forward them to the at least one transport container (40). Underwater removal device according to claim 2,
characterized,
that the separation device (50) is arranged above the transport container (40) in a loading station (48). Underwater removal device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that a receiving and shifting device for the at least one transport container (40) is provided on the base frame (12), wherein the receiving and shifting device is designed to receive at least one transport container (40) and at least to a loading station (48) for receiving to move removed soil material. Underwater removal device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the at least one removal unit (30) is mounted vertically adjustable on a guide frame (20) which is mounted horizontally displaceably on the base frame (12). Underwater removal device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that the at least one removal unit (30) is suspended from a support cable (28). Underwater removal device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that a movement device (60) is arranged on the base frame (12), with which the underwater removal device (10) can be adjusted on the water bed (1). Underwater removal device according to one of claims 1 to 7,
characterized,
that at least one removal unit (30) is designed as a milling unit. Underwater removal device according to claim 8,
characterized,
that the milling unit comprises a box-shaped frame (32) and at least two pairs of milling wheels (34), the milling wheels (34) of a pair having a common milling wheel axis and the milling wheel axes of the pairs being parallel and radially offset to one another. Underwater removal device according to claim 8 or 9,
characterized,.
that several milling units are arranged side by side and combined to form a common removal device (38). Underwater removal device according to one of claims 1 to 10,
characterized,
that at least one energy supply unit (70), in particular a power pack, in particular an accumulator, is arranged on the base frame (12). Underwater removal device according to one of Claims 1 to 11,
characterized,
that the underwater removal device (10) consists of at least two modules which can be put together during or after being set down on the water bed (1). Method for removing soil material under water, in particular for mining raw materials, with an underwater removal device (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 12, in which - A base frame (12) of the underwater removal device (10) is deposited on a body of water (1), - At least one removal unit (30), which is adjustably mounted on the base frame (12), is moved vertically into the water bed (1) in a first removal position and soil material is removed in the process, and - removed soil material is conveyed to a transport container (40) on the base frame (12), in which removed soil material is received for removal, characterized, - That after the removal of soil material in the first removal position, the at least one removal unit (30) is adjusted along a guide (19) on the base frame (12) in a horizontal direction from the first removal position into at least one second removal position, which is different from the first Removal position is, and - That further soil material is removed in the second removal position by moving the at least one removal unit (30) vertically. Method according to claim 13,
characterized,
that a first mining slit (2) is created along the first horizontal direction, initially several vertical primary stitches (3) are created which are spaced apart in a defined manner along the first horizontal direction, with at least one remaining soil section (4) remaining between the primary stitches (3) , and that after the creation of the primary stitches (3) in the horizontal direction, each remaining soil section (4) is removed with at least one secondary stitch (5) for forming a continuous mining slot (2) in the first horizontal direction. Method according to claim 14,
characterized,
that after a first mining slot (2) has been created, the at least one removal unit (30) is adjusted by a defined offset amount in a second horizontal direction, which is directed transversely, in particular perpendicular, to the first horizontal direction, and at least one second mining slot (6) is approximately parallel to the first mining slot (2) is created. Method according to one of Claims 13 to 15,
characterized,
that removed soil material is conveyed to a separation device (50),
that in the separation device (50) constituents containing raw materials are separated from constituents that are low in raw materials and / or free of raw materials and are conveyed to the at least one transport container (40), and
that the raw material-poor and / or raw-material-free constituents are returned from the separation device (50) to a bottom area of the water bed (1). Method according to one of Claims 13 to 16,
characterized,
that an underwater removal device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12 is composed of at least two modules which are connected to one another during or after the modules have been lowered onto the water bed (1).

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