Patent US3889403A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3889403A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for continuous underwater mining using plural ships
Assignee: Centre National Pour lExploitation des Oceans CNEXO
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Filing: 1973-05-15
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-05-15
Abstract
Abstract Continuous extraction of solid products from the bottom of the sea by means of at least one endless dredging line provided with buckets. The endless line is lowered to the sea bed from a first ship, the buckets are caused to dredge the surface of the sea bed and the line is then raised to a second ship traveling along a generally parallel course to the first ship after the dredging operation is completed. The line is returned to the first ship along a return path which is at least partially submerged.
Inventors
- 👤 Michel Gauthier
- 👤 Marcel Tessier
- 👤 Daniel Fleruy
- 👤 Michel Jegousse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:39
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21C; E21C50/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 in which said curvature of said line returning to said first ship is varied as a function of the dredging depth and to control the length of the dredging portion of said line which lies on the surface of said sea bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 in which said curvature of said line returning to said first ship is varied as a function of the relative position of said first and second ships to avoid changing the area of the surface of said sea bed being dredged.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of causing said buckets to lie on the surface of said sea bed in a ready position before commencing the dredging operations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
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.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
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 attached 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.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
128 words
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 attached 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.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which said apparatus comprises two ships and a single dredging line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which 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.
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) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |