Mining collector

Abstract

Abstract A COLLECTOR STRUCTURE FOR SUBSEA MINING OPERATIONS. THE COLLECTOR IS GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL AND ROTATABLE AROUND A HORIZONTAL LONGITUDINAL AXIS. A PLURALITY OF TRAYS CYLINDRICALLY DISPOSED ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS ARE CONNECTED TO A PLURALITY OF RINGS WHICH ENGAGE THE SEA BED AND ROTATE THE TRAYS AS THE COLLECTOR IS PULLED. A PLURALITY OF TEETH, EACH TOOTH LOCATED BETWEEN RESPECTIVE RINGS AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE COLLECTOR INSURE THAT SCOOPED UP AGGREGATES ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE TRAYS, A HOPPER AT THE FRONT OF THE COLLECTOR STRUCTURE RECEIVES THE AGGREGATE MATERIAL CARRIED BY THE TRAYS WHEN THE TRAYS REVOLVE TO A POINT WHERE THE AGGREGATES MAY DROP INTO THE HOPPER. SCREENS IN FRONT OF AND BEHIND THE REVOLVING TRAYS ALLOW THE AMBIENT WATER MOVING PAST THE COLLECTOR TO SWEEP OUT UNDERSIZE AGGREGATES. THE ENDS OF THE HOPPER ARE CONNECTED TO A SUCTION SOURCE AND WHEN AGGREGATES ARE DEPOSITED INTO THE HOPPER, A BAFFLE DIRECTS THE MATERIAL TOWARD THE EDGES OF THE HOPPER, AND COLLECTION MAY TAKE PLACE. THE STRUCTURE IS SYMMETRICALLY ARRANGED SO THAT IT CAN BE OPERABLE IN CASE A TWIST SHOULD DEVELOP IN THE CONDUIT OR OTHER MEANS WHICH PLACES THE STRUCTURE ON THE SEA BOTTOM.

Inventors

• 👤 Melvin W Smith

Bibliographic Details