Equipment for extracting ores from sea beds
US4685742A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 1985 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21C50/00
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Apparatus for extracting ores from the sea bed, comprising a surface ship (1) supplying the power required for the operation of the under-water assembly and for storing the ore, a relay unit (30) connected to the ship (1) by a conduit (3, 4) for raising the ore and including ore storage, sorting and intermediate washing facilities and means for raising the ore, and vehicles (50) for travelling along the sea bottom (2) and each comprising a propulsion system and an ore pick up, washing and treating system. The apparatus also comprises an intermediate under-water station (20) interposed between the surface ship (1) and the relay unit (30) and immersed at a predetermined depth below the level of the water, so as to be always unaffected by the swell. The invention is applicable to the picking up of polymetallic nodules at great depth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.