US3776593A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for recovery of magnetizable materials from the sea bottom
Assignee: Preussag AG
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Filing: 1972-03-21
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-03-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for collecting manganese or other magnetizable material from the bottom of the sea and conveying it to the sea surface comprising a rotating drum having teeth on the surface thereof to lift said material from said sea bottom, a plurality of magnets mounted inside the drum extending along the axis of the drum through an arc of between 90* and 180*, and a suction means mounted at the surface of the drum near the terminal ends of the magnets to carry the material from the drum to the surface. The magnets do not rotate with the drum surface but remain disposed at the trailing edge of the rotating drum to hold the material on the surface until it reaches the suction conveyor. In a preferred form of the invention the arcuate magnets are arranged side by side with the North and South poles alternating with each other in the axial direction of the drum.
Inventors
- 👤 Schaefer W Kuhlmann
- 👤 M Dinter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:09
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for the recovery of magnetizable raw materials, in particular, lumps of manganese, from the deep sea which comprises, in combination, a lifting system for raising the magnetizable raw material from the sea bed and a conveyor system for conveying the raised raw material from the lifting system to the surface of the sea, said lifting system further characterized as comprising a horizontal spigot, a magnetically non-conductive drum to roll over the sea bed rotatably mounted about said spigot, a magnet contained within said drum extending from the lowest zone of the drum in the direction of rotation over a part of the drum circumference in an upward direction and closely adjacent to the inner wall of the drum, said magnets adapted to collect magnetizable raw material along the surface of the drum in the range where the magnet ends or thereafter, and wherein said conveyor system is adapted to pick up the magnetizable raw material particles collected on the surface of drum by the action of the magnets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
An apparatus for the recovery of magnetizable raw materials, in particular, lumps of manganese, from the deep sea which comprises, in combination, a lifting system for raising the magnetizable raw material from the sea bed and a conveyor system for conveying the raised raw material from the lifting system to the surface of the sea, said lifting system further characterized as comprising a horizontal spigot, a magnetically non-conductive drum to roll over the sea bed rotatably mounted about said spigot, a magnet contained within said drum extending from the lowest zone of the drum in the direction of rotation over a part of the drum circumference in an upward direction and closely adjacent to the inner wall of the drum, said magnets adapted to collect magnetizable raw material along the surface of the drum in the range where the magnet ends or thereafter, and wherein said conveyor system is adapted to pick up the magnetizable raw material particles collected on the surface of drum by the action of the magnets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the magnet has a North pole and a South pole wherein the poles extend longitudinally in the direction in which the drum travels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which includes a plurality of magnets with North and South poles positioned next to one another within the drum wherein the North and South poles alternate with one another in the axial direction of drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein several drums with parallel axes are positioned behind one another in respect of the direction of travel and which includes a stir-up device positioned between at least two consecutive drums for stirring up the sea bed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that a crusher is positioned between the lifting system and the conveyor system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the drum includes means for guiding the drum at a distance above the sea bed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 characterized in that said guide means comprise lateral projections positioned on the drum surface to keep the drum at a distance above the sea bed, the diameter of said projections being greater than the diameter of the drum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 characterized in that the projections include teeth for driving the projections and for rotating the drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the conveyor system includes a conveyor tube having a suction intake, the suction intake positioned within the range of the end of magnet or thereafter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 9 characterized in that a scaper is provided in front of the suction intake of the conveyor tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 characterized in that several magnets are arranged next to one another along the axis of the drum and the suction intake of the conveyor tube is provided above each magnet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the magnet is an electric magnet with a cooled supraconductive winding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 12 which includes means for cooling the winding of the electric magnet positioned within the drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that the magnet comprises several individual permanent magnets with high coercive power, wherein equal poles are arranged at small distances from one another and face the outer wall of drum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 14 characterized in that the permanent magnets are fitted directly to the inner wall of the drum and rotate with the latter and which includes a scraper positioned in front of the suction intake of conveyor tube.
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) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |