US3802740A - Concentration of minerals - Google Patents

Concentration of minerals Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3802740A
US3802740A US00317166A US31716672A US3802740A US 3802740 A US3802740 A US 3802740A US 00317166 A US00317166 A US 00317166A US 31716672 A US31716672 A US 31716672A US 3802740 A US3802740 A US 3802740A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
vehicle
aggregates
duct
mineral
silt
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US00317166A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
A Sullivan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Huntington Alloys Corp
Original Assignee
International Nickel Co Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Nickel Co Inc filed Critical International Nickel Co Inc
Priority to US00317166A priority Critical patent/US3802740A/en
Priority to CA183,300A priority patent/CA994819A/en
Priority to GB5625273A priority patent/GB1405997A/en
Priority to DE2363048A priority patent/DE2363048A1/de
Priority to FR7345847A priority patent/FR2211587B1/fr
Priority to JP14337473A priority patent/JPS572879B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3802740A publication Critical patent/US3802740A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
    • E02F3/00—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines
    • E02F3/04—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven
    • E02F3/88—Dredgers; Soil-shifting machines mechanically-driven with arrangements acting by a sucking or forcing effect, e.g. suction dredgers
    • E02F3/90—Component parts, e.g. arrangement or adaptation of pumps
    • E02F3/92—Digging elements, e.g. suction heads
    • E02F3/9243—Passive suction heads with no mechanical cutting means
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C50/00—Obtaining minerals from underwater, not otherwise provided for

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to obtaining minerals from thedeep sea and particularly relates to concentrating, e.g gathering and separating, solid minerals located on the ocean floor or at the bottoms of other bodies of water.
  • a Q a It is well known that manganese nodules are found in varying quantities in or on the abyssal silt of the worlds oceans. Collectively these nodules are a thinly distributed mineral ore resource of large areal extent. Utilization of undersea ores, including manganese nodules and other metallic or nonmetallic solid aggregates, requires special apparatus and methods for gathering solid bodies from floorsof deep seas, such as depths of 5,000 to 15,000 or more feet.
  • manganese nodules may be visualized as somewhat spheroidal or ellipsoidal concretions of solid material lying buried to about half their diameters in fine clay silt. Although the precise physical nature and behavior of the undisturbed nodule-silt matrix is not well understood at this time, some ocean floor areas where nodules are found are typified by a soft, adhesive, cohesive bed of fine clay silt mostly composed of silt particles of sizes of about 1 or 2 microns.
  • conveying means such as fluid transport by pumping and/or suction or by. mechanical hoisting have been devisedfor conveying minerals from the deep sea floor to a ship. or platform floating at the sea surface.
  • conveying undersea minerals to the surface there are needs for efficiently gatheringor collecting undersea minerals into a concentration at the in-take or entrance of undersea transport apparatus for carrying the minerals to the surface.
  • a mining vehicle that can sweep an undersea mineral bed efficiently without need for a human to go to the sea bottom.
  • the present invention has discovered an apparatus and a method whereby undersea mineral aggregates that are located over arelatively wide spread area of the sea floor can be concentrated into a relatively small'space for transport to the sea surface.
  • the invention also provides a process for concentrating mineral aggregates. 7
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the mineral concentrator of the invention
  • FIG. 2 illustratesa side view, with a vertical section taken on line 2 2 of FIG. I, of the mineral concentrator of FIG. 1 on the sea floor.
  • FIG. 3 shows a detail view, on a larger scale, in longitudinal cross-section, of a portion of the entrance to'the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of the concentrator of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of a vertical section taken on line 5 5 of FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a side view of a vertical section taken on line 6 6of FIG. 4; and s FIG. 7 is a perspective view depicting an embodiment of the mineral concentrator of the invention on the sea floor in combination with apparatus for conveying minerals up to a vessel on the sea surface.
  • manganese nodules or other ore aggregates located at a silt floor of an ocean or other water body having a floor comprising a soft silt are pressed downward into the silt, and the ore and silt are compacted together to produce an ore-silt matrix with a substantially flat upper surface.
  • a portion'of the ore-silt. matrix is sheared, or similarly horizontally separated, from the lower portion of the sea floor and is moved upwardly a short distance above the sea floor into a partially enclosed compartment where at least some of the silt is separated from the ore and rejected from the concentrator, advantageously by washing silt from the ore with moving water, while a major portion of the ore is retained in the compartment.
  • the invention provides an undersea mineral concentrating vehicle which is especially satisfactory for sweeping a path through an ore-bearing undersea floor and gathering and concentrating ore for conveyance to the sea surface.
  • the invention provides a mineral concentrator vehicle comprising a vehicle body having a substantially flat underside surface extending the width of the path that is desired to be swept, a forlike, duct having between the entrance and exit thereof.
  • - concentrator also has a water impeller and a conduit adapted for leading a flow of water to the impeller and then directing a flow of water from the impeller to the wash zone in the duct.
  • the sloping front surface (which may be a smooth curve inasmuch as a curve is a continuously varying slope) and the flat bottom surface of the concentrator vehicle function together to depress and restrain aggregates and irregularities at the silt surface and thereby form a compacted surface zone or matrix of aggregates and silt with a smooth, flat, upper surface.
  • nodules and other ore aggregates that are naturally dispersed at varying heights are, by action of the vehicle, positioned and concentrated in a shallow surface zone, e.g., depths down to about -2 or 4 inches below the compacted surface.
  • the pressure of the vehicle i can fluidize the silt and thus aid in separation of mineralaggregates from silt.
  • the weight and bottom surface area of the vehicle are desirably proportioned to provide an average downward pressure of about A to 1 psi (pounds per'square inch) on the sea floor. Fluidization of the silt may also be enhanced by open orifices, pressurized water jets, directed downwardly through the vehicle body.
  • the center of gravity of the vehicle is aft of the center of horizontal area of the body, e.g., about above or aft of the leading edge of the plow.
  • the plow blade on the concentrator vehicle serves to shear a desired portion of the ore-silt matrix from the sea floor and, accordingly, the distance of the blade below the bottom of the vehicle body is set to be sufficiently large for permitting passage of desired sizes of mineral aggregates while rejecting excessively large aggregates.
  • the plow blade is advantageously about 2% inches below the underside of the vehicle body.
  • Location of the plow blade below and'aft (at or near the rear of the body and any event behind the center of gravity 'of the vehicle) ' is particularly important for achieving good directional stability and is beneficial for regularly consistent and efficient sweeping of large areas of irregularly-surfaced sea floors to collect desired sizes of mineral aggregates.
  • the aft-located plow and the special lower and front (or bow) surfaces on the vehicle inhibit disadvantageous creation of a traveling bow wave of silt in front of. the vehicle.
  • outboard portions of the plow can be angled forwardly in order to aid sweeping material inward toward the centerline of the vehicle.
  • the concentrator vehicle of the invention can be towed by a sea going vessel with a cable or conduit connected from the towing vessel (or an undersea extension thereof) to a forward portion of the vehicle and then the minerals concentrated by the vehicle can be transported to the towing vessel by an upward flow of water through a conduit from the concentrator duct to the towing vehicle.
  • independent towing and ore carrying vehicles can be used, or the concentrator can have its own motive power, e.g., electrically powered tracks. Even further, it would not be beyond the invention if it is desired to deposit the concentrated nodules on the sea floor and later pick them up with another vehicle.
  • the concentrator vehicle has means for cleaning solid matter from the passageabove the plow and means for closing the passage to prevent entrance of additional solids.
  • a crusher may be incorporated with the vehicle to reduce the sizes of the gathered aggregates.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show concentrator vehicle comprising body 11, upwardly sloping leading face'12, plow 13, screen 14, duct and hollow ball joint 16.
  • Blade 17 of the plow is held below the body by gussets 18 which are attached to vehicle bottom (underside) face 19 and to the plow blade and serve to hold the plow blade at a controlled distance below the bottom face of the body.
  • the blade and the bottom face form the lower and upper surfaces of entrance 20 and the gussets form entrance sides.
  • the passage, 21, behind the entrance has a rearwardlyincreasing vertical cross-section, which is obtained with the gradual upward sweep 22 at a short portion of the body behind the leading edge of the plow.
  • the gussets restrict the entrance opening, functioning like a grizzly, and thus the horizontal spacing of the gussets serves as an aid for controlling the maximum size of aggregate that is gathered into the concentrator.
  • Horizontal spacing of the gussets is desirably about 3 inches, or 2 or 4 inches, apart.
  • the downwardly rearward slant, e.g., 20 or 30, of the gusset leading edges, 23 results in oversize aggregates or accumulations of silt, mud, debris, etc., being pushed downward and also helps the concentrator body to ride over rigid obstacles and prevents snagging on solid plate-like formations, e.g., manganese concretions or undersea pavement.
  • Trailing or guide portion 24 of the plow has a rearward and upward curvature for directing upwardly a flow of fluid and solid 'matter from the entrance. Accordingly, inasmuch as the screen extends upward from the trailing portion of the plow, material dislodged from the ocean floor by the plow blade is directed upwardly in front of the screen and toward the duct. j
  • the illustrated concentrator also comprises header 25 having injector nozzles 26 directed toward the screen.
  • the injector nozzles are disposed forward of the screen and are orientedand adapted to direct water flow from the header rearwardly and upwardly toward the screen, which is preferably a wedge-wire screen or deck or a wedge-bar gratingNozzle 26A which is specially directed downwardly above the plow blade aids in fluidizing the silt.
  • the sides of the header, duct and plow are'closed sufficiently to prevent desired aggregates from escaping by sideward flow.
  • the outside gussets, 18A, one at each side of vehicle 10, extend back to the header.
  • the interior gussets, which are between the sides, can have a relatively short cross-section in the rearward direction, e.g., bars, as in a grizzly.
  • Water for washing material between the header and the screen is brought in at suction inlet 27, transmitted through conduit 28, impelled at increased velocity by water fan 29 and guided to the header by impeller discharge conduit 30. Water flow direction is indicated by. arrows on the drawing.
  • the suction inlet is disposed over the forward portion of the concentrator body and substantially above, e.g., 2 or 4 or more feet above, the vehicle body and thus is in position to takein clean water for washing.
  • the wash water conduit which includes the impeller discharge duct, provides for intake of water and for directing a flow of water to the header and thence to the screen.
  • the concentrator can be towed along the floor of the sea by a riser pipe attached to the hollow ball joint or by a tow cable attached near the bow of the vehicle.
  • the leading face of the concentrator which curves (or slopes) forwardly and upwardly, is particularly important as a means for depressing and compacting material in the path being swept by the vehicle.
  • the leading face depresses nodules 31 and other irregularities of sea floor 32 and somewhat compacts silt 33 to form a compacted concentrated subsurface zone as depicted at 34.
  • the plow blade passes below nodules and compacted silt at the entrance under the collector body and then the trailing portion of the plow directs silt and nodules in an upward flow between the header nozzles and the screen. Water flow from the nozzles washes much of the silt rearward out through screen 14 at the stern while nodules are retained and funneled forward in duct 15, where some remaining silt can be exhausted through forward screen 35.
  • the vertical depth of the entrance opening to the collector is maintained by the gussets in combination with the plow blade and the underside of the vehicle body.
  • the entrance opening size can be adjusted by replacing the gussets with different sized gussets or supplementing the gussets with spacers.
  • a remotely controlled power driven support can be usedto hold the plow and vary the plow depth,thereby providing remotely variable control of the maximum size .of nodule, or other solid aggregate, that will be accepted by the concentrator.
  • the size of aggregate that will be rejected from the concentrator is controlled by the openings in the screen.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a concentrator wherein the entire plow extends'perpendicular to the centerline
  • modifications of the depicted concentrator can be built with the outboard portions of the plow disposed at angles forward of the perpendicular, such as with the outer half or two-thirds of each arm of the plow angled up to about 30 or 45 forward of a perpendicular to the centerline of the vehicle.
  • FIG. 3 shows shut-off gate 36 attached to shaft 37 with both gate and shaft nested in the lower portion of body 11, between a pair of gussets.
  • Theshut'off gate is movable from the open position (as illustrated to the closed position (depicted with broken Jet 26A is specially directed over the'plow in orderto beneficiate fluidization of material in the entrance.
  • concentrator vehicle 41 hasbody 42 with upward sloping leading face 43 and forwardly angled plow 44 attached to the body with gussets 45 which have leading edges 46 extending forwardly and sloping forwardly and upwardly from the plow blade.
  • the plow comprises blade 47 and rearwardly upward sloping guide 48.
  • Duct 49 extends upward from the plow guide and leads to hollow ball joint 50 which joins the duct to riser pipe 51 for conveying material to a collecting station.
  • Inlet orifices 52 and 53 enable local water to be drawn into the duct, e.g., when water is being moved from the duct to the riser pipe.
  • the duct has a fenestrated portion made of wedge-wire screen, comprising wedge-wires 54 and bands 55, that extends upward from the forwardly swept outboard portions of the plow and provides openings for outflow of silt while retaining desired aggregates.
  • the forward angle A of the plow arms directs aggregates toward the center of the vehicle, where the aggregates can be drawn up in the duct. Sizes and locations of the inlet orward out through the wedge-wire screen in the fenes.-
  • Body plate orifices 56 disposed forwardly of the plow enable a flow of water to be induced downward through the orifice openings and under the body when movement of the body over softsilt results in a low pressure area at the body-silt interface, and are thereby advantageous for fluidizing the silt. Also, flow of water through orifice 52 is beneficial for fluidization at the central portion of the plow.
  • FIG. 7 is aperspective view, partially enlarged, illustrating concentrator 10 towed with cable 60 from powered floating vessel 61.
  • Riser pipe 62 which is rotatably connected to the ball joint on duct 15 of the collector provides a closed passage for flow of desired minerals up from the duct to the surface vessel while silt is exhausted through aft screen 14 and forward screen 35.
  • Upward flow of nodules is assisted by pump means 63 and by the pressure differential between the ocean floor depth at the concentrator and the exit of the riser at the surface vessel. Electricalpower is transmitted down to the concentrator by cable 64 from the surface ship.
  • I v is aperspective view, partially enlarged, illustrating concentrator 10 towed with cable 60 from powered floating vessel 61.
  • Riser pipe 62 which is rotatably connected to the ball joint on duct 15 of the collector provides a closed passage for flow of desired minerals up from the duct to the surface vessel while silt is exhausted through aft screen 14 and forward screen 35.
  • the present invention is particularly applicable to undersea mining of manganese nodules that are naturally scattered on the ocean floor.
  • the utility of the invention is not limited to obtaining manganese nodules and in view of the foregoing description it will beevident that the invention is applicable to undersea mining, concentrating, gathering, collecting, etc., other desired materials that are present at or near the surface 6 lfices and the openings in the fenestrated portion are designed to enable drawing water and aggregates through the duct while some water and silt flow rearof marine floors.
  • the invention can be used for obtaining phosphate concretions from the sea floor.
  • the invention gives consideration to the important matter of conservation of the natural environment.
  • the invention enables concentrating valuable mineral aggregates and discharging a substantial proportion, e.g., a major proportion of one-half or more, or essentially all, of the disturbed silt out of the concentrator while the concentrator is 'on the ocean floor, thereby restricting the amount of silt or other undesired fine material that otherwise might be transportedto the upper levels of the ocean.
  • the invention enables avoiding disturbing the ocean floor in'areas outside the path that the vehicle sweeps to obtain desired materials.
  • Apparatus for concentrating desired mineral aggregates lying dispersed in a preselected path over a mineral bed on an undersea floor in order to facilitate transport of the desired mineral aggregates to the sea surface comprising:
  • compacting means for forcing mineral aggregates and sea floor silt in front of the vehicle body down- 7 wardly into the sea floor when said body is moved forwardly on the sea floor in the preselected path and for thereby forming a concentration of mineral aggregates in a subsurface silt zone in the preselected path;
  • shearing means for shearing loose from the sea floor at least a portion of the aforesaid mineral aggregat'e concentration when the aft portion of the vehicle body moves over the concentration;
  • guide means for imparting an upward movement to at least a portion of the mineral aggregate concentration that'is sheared loose by the shear means and also for-guiding desired aggregates in'the upwardly moving portion to a preselected location where the desired aggregates can be transported to the sea surface;
  • separation and discharge means for separating un- I desired silt from desired aggregates in said upwardly moved portion and for discharging silt from the apparatus while the apparatus is on the ocean floor;
  • Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which also comprises water guide and power-driven impeller means for directing a flow'of substantially silt-free water through the separation and discharge means to forcibly wash silt from the upwardly moved portion and assist in discharging silt from the apparatus while on the sea floor.
  • 3.-Apparatus adapted for being assembled to provide a vehicle forundersea mining of solid mineral aggregates comprising:
  • a body having a flat bottom surface and adapted to be moved in a forward direction on the undersea b. a leading-face member at the front of the body and having a forwardly and upwardly sloping forward surface;
  • a plow having a blade and a sloping guide surface and disposed under the rear portion of the body with the blade at a preselected distance below the bottom surface of the body and with the guide surface extending rearward and-upward from the plow blade;
  • a vehicle for sweeping a preselected path in an undersea bed of desired mineral aggregates dispersed over an area of the undersea floor and for concentrating desired mineral aggregates lying in said path in order to facilitate transport of the minerals to the sea surface comprising:
  • a plow attached to the body, said plow having a blade extending forwardly and transversely in relation to the body and having a rearwardly and upwardly sloping guide surface and being disposed with the plow blade below the bottom surface of 8 the body at a distance sufficient to provide an entry and a passage between the blade and the body of sizes sufficient for enabling entry and passage of desired aggregates and for preventing entry of undesirably large aggregates;
  • a partially enclosed mineral carrier duct mounted on the body, said duct having a duct entrance extending from an upper portion of the guide surface of the plow and having a duct exit remote from the duct entrance and also having openings in the duct between the entrance and the exit, said openings being of sizes sufficiently small to enable retaining desired aggregates in the duct and sufficiently large to enable discharging particles of sizes smaller than the desired aggregates out of the duct while the vehicle is on the ocean floor.
  • a vehicle as set forth in claim 4 having:
  • a wash water conduit with a water entrance above the vehicle body and leading into the mineral carrier duct of thevehicle;
  • an impeller for forcing a flow of water through the wash water conduit
  • wash water conduit and impeller being adaptedin combination with the mineral carrier duct to direct a flow of water into and out of the duct at a location between the 'duct entrance and exit and to wash undesired particles away from desired aggregates and thence out ofthe duct and thereby enhance the discharging of small particles out of the duct while the vehicle is on the ocean floor.
  • I 6 A vehicle as set forth in claim 4.having orifice means for directing a flow of water downward under the body to enhance fluidization of the silt.
  • a vehicle as set forth in claim 4 having means for forcing material outward from the entry to the passage.
  • a vehicle as set forth in claim 4 having a means for shutting-off flow of material into the passage.
  • a vehicle as set forth in claim 4 having the weight of the vehicle and the bottom surface area of the body proportioned to provide an average downwardpressure of about 41 to 1 pound per square inch on the undersea floor.
  • a vehicle'as set forth in claim 4 having gusset plates at the entrance between the plow blade and the body and spaced apart sufficiently for enabling entry of desired aggregates and for assisting prevention of entry of undesirably large aggregates.
  • a vehicle as set forth in claim 4 having the outboard portions of the plow disposed at angles forward of a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body.
  • a vehicle as set forth in claim 4 having the body and the plow extending transversely the horizontal width of the preselected path.
  • a process for providing a concentration of mineral aggregates, initially dispersed on an undersea floor, for transportation to the sea surface comprising:

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
  • Separation Of Solids By Using Liquids Or Pneumatic Power (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
US00317166A 1972-12-21 1972-12-21 Concentration of minerals Expired - Lifetime US3802740A (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00317166A US3802740A (en) 1972-12-21 1972-12-21 Concentration of minerals
CA183,300A CA994819A (en) 1972-12-21 1973-10-12 Concentration of minerals
GB5625273A GB1405997A (en) 1972-12-21 1973-12-05 Method and apparatus for collecting mineral aggregates from sea beds
DE2363048A DE2363048A1 (de) 1972-12-21 1973-12-19 Vorrichtung zum foerdern von am meeresgrund befindlichen mineralien
FR7345847A FR2211587B1 (de) 1972-12-21 1973-12-20
JP14337473A JPS572879B2 (de) 1972-12-21 1973-12-21

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00317166A US3802740A (en) 1972-12-21 1972-12-21 Concentration of minerals

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3802740A true US3802740A (en) 1974-04-09

Family

ID=23232412

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00317166A Expired - Lifetime US3802740A (en) 1972-12-21 1972-12-21 Concentration of minerals

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3802740A (de)
JP (1) JPS572879B2 (de)
CA (1) CA994819A (de)
DE (1) DE2363048A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2211587B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1405997A (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USB531753I5 (de) * 1974-12-11 1976-03-02
DE2555294A1 (de) * 1974-12-11 1976-06-16 Int Nickel Ltd Vorrichtung zum sammeln und foerdern von meeresmineralien
US4042279A (en) * 1975-10-02 1977-08-16 Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Limited Apparatus for recovering minerals, in particular manganese nodules, from the bottom of the water
US4070061A (en) * 1976-07-09 1978-01-24 Union Miniere Method and apparatus for collecting mineral aggregates from sea beds
US4147390A (en) * 1975-08-06 1979-04-03 Union Miniere S.A. Nodule dredging apparatus and process
US20100299972A1 (en) * 2007-11-29 2010-12-02 Bruno Tack Drag head of a trailing suction hopper dredger and method for dredging using this drag head
CN106869211A (zh) * 2017-04-06 2017-06-20 中交天津航道局有限公司 一种绞吸船开挖珊瑚浅区的施工方法
US10208454B2 (en) 2014-05-12 2019-02-19 Barrnon Ltd. Apparatus for the removal of sludge
US20220178108A1 (en) * 2019-02-20 2022-06-09 Deep Reach Technology, Inc. Methods for Reducing Sediment Plume in Deepsea Nodule Mining

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS53100101A (en) * 1977-02-15 1978-09-01 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Sea bottom mineral collecting device
JPS56119095A (en) * 1980-02-22 1981-09-18 Kogyo Gijutsuin Device for collecting mineral nodule distributing on surface of deposit layer of sea bottom
GB0623450D0 (en) 2006-11-24 2007-01-03 Drabble Ray Faunal friendly dredging system
CN109026007B (zh) * 2018-08-30 2023-12-01 中南大学 一种适用于稀软底质的海底行走机构

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3588174A (en) * 1969-08-01 1971-06-28 Tetra Tech Collector assembly for deep sea mining
US3740098A (en) * 1970-04-03 1973-06-19 Babcock & Wilcox Ag Multi-wheel underwater excavation machine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3588174A (en) * 1969-08-01 1971-06-28 Tetra Tech Collector assembly for deep sea mining
US3740098A (en) * 1970-04-03 1973-06-19 Babcock & Wilcox Ag Multi-wheel underwater excavation machine

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USB531753I5 (de) * 1974-12-11 1976-03-02
DE2555294A1 (de) * 1974-12-11 1976-06-16 Int Nickel Ltd Vorrichtung zum sammeln und foerdern von meeresmineralien
US3975054A (en) * 1974-12-11 1976-08-17 The International Nickel Company, Inc. Undersea mining and separating vehicle having motor-powered water jet
US3988843A (en) * 1974-12-11 1976-11-02 The International Nickel Company, Inc. Mining transition chamber
US4147390A (en) * 1975-08-06 1979-04-03 Union Miniere S.A. Nodule dredging apparatus and process
US4042279A (en) * 1975-10-02 1977-08-16 Sumitomo Metal Mining Company Limited Apparatus for recovering minerals, in particular manganese nodules, from the bottom of the water
US4070061A (en) * 1976-07-09 1978-01-24 Union Miniere Method and apparatus for collecting mineral aggregates from sea beds
US20100299972A1 (en) * 2007-11-29 2010-12-02 Bruno Tack Drag head of a trailing suction hopper dredger and method for dredging using this drag head
US8286375B2 (en) * 2007-11-29 2012-10-16 Dredging International N.V. Drag head of a trailing suction hopper dredger and method for dredging using this drag head
US10208454B2 (en) 2014-05-12 2019-02-19 Barrnon Ltd. Apparatus for the removal of sludge
CN106869211A (zh) * 2017-04-06 2017-06-20 中交天津航道局有限公司 一种绞吸船开挖珊瑚浅区的施工方法
US20220178108A1 (en) * 2019-02-20 2022-06-09 Deep Reach Technology, Inc. Methods for Reducing Sediment Plume in Deepsea Nodule Mining
US11920471B2 (en) * 2019-02-20 2024-03-05 Deep Reach Technoloy, Inc. Methods for reducing sediment plume in deepsea nodule mining

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS572879B2 (de) 1982-01-19
DE2363048A1 (de) 1974-07-04
GB1405997A (en) 1975-09-10
JPS49101202A (de) 1974-09-25
FR2211587B1 (de) 1981-04-30
FR2211587A1 (de) 1974-07-19
CA994819A (en) 1976-08-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3802740A (en) Concentration of minerals
US3672725A (en) Deep sea mining method and apparatus
US3248812A (en) Collector and hoist for aggregates
US3975054A (en) Undersea mining and separating vehicle having motor-powered water jet
JP5890403B2 (ja) 補助海底採掘のための方法および装置
JP2557376B2 (ja) 水底の沈でん物の移動装置及び移動方法
US4312762A (en) Method and apparatus for removing sediment or other flowable solid material from a bed underlying a body of water
US9309642B2 (en) Subsea mining tool including a suction mouth
US3314174A (en) Underwater mining apparatus and method
CN103781968A (zh) 耙头及耙吸式挖掘船
US4368923A (en) Nodule collector
US5659983A (en) Device for filling in a trench dug in the sea bed in order to cover a pipe laid down in the trench
US6129520A (en) Mobile pumping station
US3310894A (en) Dredging method
US4497519A (en) Metal particle recovery at sub-surface locations
CN203158840U (zh) 一种移动破碎装车机
US4585274A (en) Mineral and metal particle recovery apparatus and method
US3973575A (en) Mining concentrator
US5328250A (en) Self-propelled undersea nodule mining system
CN113187483B (zh) 一种水下采矿车
US3988843A (en) Mining transition chamber
US3855807A (en) Pipe transporting and laying vehicle and method
US3761132A (en) Apparatus and method for repositioning earthen material
US3161438A (en) Underwater dredge with separating means
US1011321A (en) Placer-mining apparatus.