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US3889403A - Method and apparatus for continuous underwater mining using plural ships - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for continuous underwater mining using plural ships Download PDF

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Publication number
US3889403A
US3889403A US360594A US36059473A US3889403A US 3889403 A US3889403 A US 3889403A US 360594 A US360594 A US 360594A US 36059473 A US36059473 A US 36059473A US 3889403 A US3889403 A US 3889403A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
line
ship
dredging
sea bed
ships
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Expired - Lifetime
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US360594A
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English (en)
Inventor
Michel Gauthier
Marcel Tessier
Daniel Fleruy
Michel Jegousse
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.)
Centre National Pour lExploitation des Oceans CNEXO
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Centre National Pour lExploitation des Oceans CNEXO
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C50/00—Obtaining minerals from underwater, not otherwise provided for

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for continuously extracting solid products which lie on an underwater floor (hereinafter. referred to as the sea bed).
  • the invention is particularly applicable to the continuous extraction, by dredging or harvesting, of deep sea polymetallic modules which, as is known, are of great interest in the recovery of the various metallic values that they contain.
  • Such polymetallic nodules generally lie at very great depths, of the order of 3000 to 6000 metres, and it is difficult to recover them economically using conventional dredgers.
  • apparatus has already been proposed for effecting such dredging, for example in British Pat. No. 1,239,178.
  • This apparatus comprises an endless line provided at regular intervals with buckets, the line extending downwards towards the sea bed from the bow of a ship and upwards again to the stern of the same ship.
  • the ship has to move laterally or crabwise, to make the sweep of the sea bed as wide as possible.
  • the lateral movement is achieved by means of auxiliary propellers which are mounted along the sides of the ship.
  • This known system suffers from a number of drawbacks, among which might be mentioned the small quantity of sedimentary material raised by the buckets. Further, it is difficult to control dredging depth for a given length of the endless line. Furthermore, this system necessitates lateral movement of the ship which is a difficult navigational operation.
  • a method for the continuous extraction of solid products, especially polymetallic nodules, which lie on the sea bed, by means of at least one endless dredging line provided with buckets characterized in that said endless line is fed down to the sea bed from a first ship or other vessel and is passed upwardly to a second ship or other vessel after dredging the surface of the sea bed, and is returned to the first ship along a return path which is at least partially submerged, and in that the two ships travel along generally parallel courses.
  • an apparatus for the continuous extraction of solid products, especially polymetallic nodules, which lie on the sea bed comprising at least two ships, at least one dredging line equipped with buckets, means for lowering said line from one of said ships to the sea bed,-
  • Use can also be made of a plurality of endless lines fitted with buckets. For instance two lines may each be lowered towards the sea bed from separate laying ships and, after the dredging has been completed, both lines are raised towards the same extractor ship where the buckets can be emptied of nodules. It would also be possible to provide three or more dredging lines and three or more ships, each ship acting as a laying ship for one line and an extractor ship for another line.
  • the method according to the invention enables the dredging depth and/or the length of dredging line resting on the underwater bed to be controlled in an extremely simple manner. This control is obtained by varying the curvature in the partially submerged return path, and it is not necessary to move the ships relatively to each other to effect such variation. Conversely, if it is required to alter the positions of the two ships, for example for reasons of navigation, without changing the dredging parameters, it likewise suffices to vary the curvature in the return portion of the line.
  • the method according to the invention raises few navigational problems. In fact, it is a simple matter to move the two ships parallel to each other, using what is sometimes known as yoked oxen navigation, one of the ships being the mother ship and the other navigating by reference to the first. Furthermore, the return portion of the line is not an obstacle for other ships, as it is submerged.
  • the apparatus defined above preferably also comprises means for controlling the curvature in said return position.
  • the means for lowering the dredging line to the sea bed and the means for raising the line comprise winches controlled by the mechanical tension in said return portion.
  • the apparatus may comprise two ships and a single dredging line.
  • the apparatus may comprise three ships and two dredging lines.
  • the two lines are raised from the sea bed after having dredged, and are brought aboard a common extractor ship to be passed back one to each of two laying ships which are located one on each side of the common extractor ship.
  • Apart from this arrangement enabling the extraction capacity to be doubled by the addition of one ship, it offers the advantage of symmetry of the two dredging lines in relation to the extractor ship, and this facilitates the navigation of the latter ship.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic pictorial view illustrating one method of carrying out the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating another method of carrying out the invention.
  • the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a laying ship 1, an extractor ship 2, and an endless dredging line 3 fitted with buckets (not shown).
  • the line passes over the two ships and over the sea bed surface F that is to be dredged.
  • the two ships 1 and 2 move at a speed V, for example, parallel to each other in yoked oxen formation, and into the prevailing wind and current.
  • the two ships are, however, free to shift off their courses in order to make better use of the thrust from their propellers.
  • the distance between the ships may be of the order of 800 metres whereas the depth below water level of the surface to be dredged is of the order of 6000 metres.
  • the speed of travel of a point along the line 3, at a given moment is composed of two components, viz., the speed at which the line is being fed, and the displacement speed resulting from the movement of the ships.
  • the endless line 3 fitted with buckets and used for dredging the surface F may comprise a cable, a chain, a rope, a length of strip material which may be jointed, or a combination of such elements. It is made up of various sections or portions which will now be described in more detail.
  • the laying ship 1 pays out the line which forms a descending portion 4, the direction of movement of which is indicated by the arrow 5; the buckets of this descending portion 4 are, of course, empty.
  • the next portion 6 of theline rests on the sea bed surface F, and preferably carries a row of buckets ready for filling.
  • the line 3 continues through dredging portion proper 7 which dredges the sea bed surface F over an area 8 of great width, and the length of this area is, of course, equal to the distance over which the ships 1 and 2 move. It will be appreciated that the dredging portion 7 of the line is simultaneously pulledv transversely and forwardly in relation to the portion 6 carrying the waiting buckets.
  • the number of buckets actually involved in dredging the underwater surface will depend mainly upon the lateral distance between the ships 1 and 2, and the overall load on the ascending portion 9 of the line. It'is thus possible to control the number of such buckets and so vary the extraction rate.
  • the return line portion 11 enables the two ships to move relatively to each other, and this permits the geometry of the line and the dredging parameters to be controlled, particularly as regards the dredging loop proper. It also enables the same length of line to be used for different dredging depths by varying the curvature of the line.
  • FIG. 2 the elements identical to or performing the same function as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by like reference numerals.
  • the line 3a is laid from a laying ship 1a and, after having performed the dredging operation, the line is raised and brought aboard an extractor ship 2 and is then passed to the laying ship la by way of a return portion.
  • the line 3b is lowered from a second laying ship 1b and, after having performed its dredging operation, is raised and brought aboard the same extractor vessel 2 as is the line 3a.
  • the line 3b is then passed to its laying vessel 1b,.in the direction indicated by the arrow in this drawing.
  • FIG. 2 enables the quantity of sediment extracted to be doubled by the use of only one additional ship and, as mentioned above, facilitates navigation of the extractor ship 2.
  • the number of lines could of course be further increased by applying the same principles.
  • a method for the continuous extraction of solid products from a sea bed using at least one endless dredging line having buckets attached thereto comprising lowering said endless line down to the sea bed from a first ship, causing said buckets to dredge the surface of said sea bed, raising said line upwardly to a second ship traveling along a generally parallel course to said first ship after dredging the surface of said sea bed, returning said line from said second ship to said first ship along a return path which is at least partially submerged and varying the curvature of said line returning to said first ship to control a dredging parameter.
  • the method of claim 1 including the step of using a second endless dredging line, lowering said second endless dredging line down to said sea bed from a third ship, raising said second line to said second ship and returning said second line to said third ship along a return path which is at least partially submerged, and causing said third ship to travel along a generally parallel course with respect to said first and second ships.
  • An apparatus for the continuous extraction of solid products from a sea bed comprising at least two ships,
  • At least one endless dredging line having buckets at tached thereto, means for lowering said line from one of said ships down to the sea bed for dredging the surface of said sea bed, means for raising said line upwardly from the sea bed to the other of said ships after the dredging of the surface of said sea bed, means for returning said line to said one ship along a return path which is at least partially submerged, and means for controlling the curvature of said line along said return path to control a dredging parameter, said ships being adapted to travel along generally parallel courses during said continuous extraction.
  • said apparatus comprises three ships and two dredging lines, one of said ships having means for raising both of said dredging lines at the same time, the two other of said ships being located one on each side of said first ship and each having means for lowering one of said lines toward the surface of said sea bed.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
  • Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
US360594A 1972-05-25 1973-05-15 Method and apparatus for continuous underwater mining using plural ships Expired - Lifetime US3889403A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7218636A FR2185747B1 (de) 1972-05-25 1972-05-25

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3889403A true US3889403A (en) 1975-06-17

Family

ID=9099081

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US360594A Expired - Lifetime US3889403A (en) 1972-05-25 1973-05-15 Method and apparatus for continuous underwater mining using plural ships

Country Status (11)

Country Link
US (1) US3889403A (de)
JP (1) JPS4942502A (de)
AU (1) AU475337B2 (de)
BE (1) BE799621A (de)
CA (1) CA970399A (de)
DE (1) DE2326036C3 (de)
ES (1) ES415168A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2185747B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1373890A (de)
NL (1) NL158583B (de)
NO (1) NO134125C (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4184583A (en) * 1976-12-17 1980-01-22 Centre National Pour L'exploitation Des Oceans Device for use in the emptying of dredging buckets
US4185404A (en) * 1976-09-21 1980-01-29 Centre National Pour L'exploitation Des Oceans (Cnexo) Nodule dredging bucket
US4316804A (en) * 1979-06-29 1982-02-23 Institut Francais Du Petrole Method and system for the continuous cleaning of underwater beds
US4937956A (en) * 1987-08-07 1990-07-03 Manaco International Ocean floor dredging
US20230193589A1 (en) * 2020-05-25 2023-06-22 Wing Marine Llc Material handling systems and methods

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US775686A (en) * 1903-11-16 1904-11-22 Rosell Smith Chain sand-dredge.
US983301A (en) * 1909-06-23 1911-02-07 Joseph F Murdock Freight-transhipping apparatus.
US2832168A (en) * 1956-02-10 1958-04-29 Joseph T Pemberton Method and apparatus for luring and catching fish
US3672079A (en) * 1967-02-14 1972-06-27 Yoshio Masuda Method and apparatus for mining manganese nodules from the deep sea-bottom
US3675348A (en) * 1971-06-01 1972-07-11 Ernest Blaney Dane Jr Scraper bucket apparatus for deep sea mining systems

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US775686A (en) * 1903-11-16 1904-11-22 Rosell Smith Chain sand-dredge.
US983301A (en) * 1909-06-23 1911-02-07 Joseph F Murdock Freight-transhipping apparatus.
US2832168A (en) * 1956-02-10 1958-04-29 Joseph T Pemberton Method and apparatus for luring and catching fish
US3672079A (en) * 1967-02-14 1972-06-27 Yoshio Masuda Method and apparatus for mining manganese nodules from the deep sea-bottom
US3675348A (en) * 1971-06-01 1972-07-11 Ernest Blaney Dane Jr Scraper bucket apparatus for deep sea mining systems

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4185404A (en) * 1976-09-21 1980-01-29 Centre National Pour L'exploitation Des Oceans (Cnexo) Nodule dredging bucket
US4184583A (en) * 1976-12-17 1980-01-22 Centre National Pour L'exploitation Des Oceans Device for use in the emptying of dredging buckets
US4316804A (en) * 1979-06-29 1982-02-23 Institut Francais Du Petrole Method and system for the continuous cleaning of underwater beds
US4937956A (en) * 1987-08-07 1990-07-03 Manaco International Ocean floor dredging
US20230193589A1 (en) * 2020-05-25 2023-06-22 Wing Marine Llc Material handling systems and methods
US11828042B2 (en) * 2020-05-25 2023-11-28 Wing Marine Llc Material handling systems and methods
US20240084549A1 (en) * 2020-05-25 2024-03-14 Wing Marine Llc Material handling systems and methods
US12077935B2 (en) * 2020-05-25 2024-09-03 Wing Marine Llc Material handling systems and methods

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL158583B (nl) 1978-11-15
DE2326036A1 (de) 1973-12-06
ES415168A1 (es) 1976-02-16
BE799621A (fr) 1973-09-17
GB1373890A (en) 1974-11-13
NO134125B (de) 1976-05-10
AU5575573A (en) 1974-11-21
NL7307148A (de) 1973-11-27
JPS4942502A (de) 1974-04-22
FR2185747B1 (de) 1974-12-27
FR2185747A1 (de) 1974-01-04
DE2326036B2 (de) 1978-11-09
DE2326036C3 (de) 1979-07-19
NO134125C (de) 1976-08-18
CA970399A (en) 1975-07-01
AU475337B2 (en) 1976-08-19

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