US 3,955,294 A · Elevator apparatus for towed deep-sea particle harvester

Abstract

An elevator apparatus for emptying a towed deep-sea particle harvesting sled is disclosed. The sled is towed over the bottom surface of a deep-sea ocean bed by a strip. The strip is connected at its lower end to the sled, at its upper end to the vessel, and is under tension between the sled and the vessel as the sled is towed over the ocean floor. The strip includes a first railway for passing downwardly sequentially conveyed buckets on an endless belt from the surface vessel to the sled, and a second railway for passing upwardly sequentially conveyed buckets from the sled to the vessel. At the sled, the buckets are reversed on a wheel. The buckets pass through an area wherein collected particles are accumulated with the result that the buckets capture the particles and elevate them along the strip to the surface. At the surface on the vessel a similar wheel reverses the path of the conveyed buckets, as well as emptying the buckets into a surface collection area which is preferably on the vessel. The strip includes spaced apart cable members which are clamped between discrete sections of neutrally buoyant track. These sections of neutrally buoyant track provide an enclosed path for a cable drawing the buckets. This enclosed path is penetrated by a grip fastening the buckets to the moving endless belt. Thus, the cable not only moves the individual buckets, but additionally assures that the buckets are held to their railways on the towing strip.

Claims12

Dependent claims

An elevator apparatus for elevating harvested deepsea particles from an ocean bottom collection point to a surface vessel comprising:

a strip extending between said surface vessel and said ocean bottom collection point angularly down to the ocean floor;
means for maintaining said strip under tension between said collection point and said surface vessel;
said strip including and defining thereon a first and a second railway;
a series of sequentially conveyed buckets for movement to said collection point from said vessel along said first railway and movement from said collection point to said vessel along said second railway;
means for confining said sequentially conveyed buckets to ride on said first or second railways;
means for loading said sequentially conveyed buckets at said collection point;
and, means for emptying said sequentially conveyed buckets at said vessel.

4 more elements

In the combination of a towing vessel on the surface of the sea, a towed vehicle at the bottom of the ocean for the collection of mineral particles, and means for towing said vehicle extending between said towed vehicle and said towing vessel and an elevator for raising mineral particles from said towed vehicle to the surface vessel, the improvement in said elevator and towing means comprising:

at least one towing cable extending between said towed vehicle and said towing vessel;
means for defining first and second tracks fastened over said towing cable to define said first track on one side of said cable and said second track on another side of said cable;
a series of buckets for movement over said first and second track means;
means for confining said buckets to said first and second tracks on said buckets extending to said tracks;
and, means for sequentially conveying said buckets from said vessel to said towed vehicle along said first track and for sequentially conveying said buckets from said vehicle to said vessel along said second track.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Elevator apparatus for towed deep-sea particle harvester

Life of this patent

Elevator apparatus for towed deep-sea particle harvester

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12