Patent US3697134A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3697134A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nodule collector
Assignee: Bethlehem Steel Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-25
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1991-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical nodule collector is lowered to the ocean floor and towed along by a floating towing vessel. The towing means may be either a hoisting rope or a pipe through which collected nodules may be continuously pumped to a floating transport vessel. If the towing means is a pipe, the pipe is connected directly to a buoyant vessel, or pod, which is connected to the floating towing vessel and the floating transport vessel. The collector can be readily raised or lowered by varying the buoyancy. The collector comprises a framework having a rotating paddle wheel attached thereto which penetrates the ocean bottom and sweeps nodules up a grating where they fall into a basket. The peripheral speed of the paddle wheel equals the peripheral speed of treads supporting the framework so that there is little or no relative motion between the tread and the ocean bottom, thereby minimizing disturbance of the bottom soil during the traversal thereof by the collector.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H Murray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 03:41
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/88; E02F3/8858; E02F3/8875; E02F3/90; E02F3/92; E02F3/9212; E21; E21C; E21C50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In apparatus for mining solid material from the floor of a body of water, a device for collecting said solid material comprising: a. a framework; b. at least two treads adapted to support said framework on said bottom; c. a basket rotatably attached to said framework; d. means, rotatably attached to said framework and concentric with the axis of rotation of said basket, comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the inner edges of said blades being spaced from said axis by a distance slightly exceeding the maximum width of said basket, the outer edges of said blades being adapted to penetrate said floor of said body of water during rotation of said blades about said axis; e. means interconnecting means (d) with said treads whereby the peripheral speed of said blades and the peripheral speed of said treads are substantially equal; and f. means, concentric with said axis and having a radius slightly larger than the outer radius of said plurality of blades, comprising a grillwork extending from a point substantially directly under said axis to a point at least slightly higher than said axis and rearwadly thereof relative to the direction of framework advance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In apparatus for mining solid material from the floor of a body of water, a device for collecting said solid material comprising: a. a framework; b. at least two treads adapted to support said framework on said bottom; c. a basket rotatably attached to said framework; d. means, rotatably attached to said framework and concentric with the axis of rotation of said basket, comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the inner edges of said blades being spaced from said axis by a distance slightly exceeding the maximum width of said basket, the outer edges of said blades being adapted to penetrate said floor of said body of water during rotation of said blades about said axis; e. means interconnecting means (d) with said treads whereby the peripheral speed of said blades and the peripheral speed of said treads are substantially equal; and f. means, concentric with said axis and having a radius slightly larger than the outer radius of said plurality of blades, comprising a grillwork extending from a point substantially directly under said axis to a point at least slightly higher than said axis and rearwadly thereof relative to the direction of framework advance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device as recited in claim 1, in which said basket comprises:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
a pair of inclined planes disposed so that solid material falling in said basket is directed toward said outlets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
a pair of inclined planes disposed so that solid material falling in said basket is directed toward said outlets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
the center of gravity of said device is between said axis and said apex.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
the center of gravity of said device is between said axis and said apex.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
A device as recited in claim 1, in which:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |