METHOD FOR EXTRACTION OF FERROMANGANESE NODULES FROM OCEAN BOTTOM FROM DEPTHS OF UP TO 5 km AND MORE AND DEVICE FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION Russian patent published in 2020 - IPC E21C50/00 

FIELD: extraction of minerals.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to underwater extraction of minerals and concerns extraction of ferromanganese nodules (FMN) from ocean bottom from depths of up to 5 km and more. Proposed device comprises carrier vessel. Extracting unit in the form of self-propelled controlled chassis of rhombocar type with controlled motor-wheels. Screw device with separator is mounted in lower part of chassis, diagonally, perpendicular to direction of unit movement. Ejector elevators are installed at the ends of the screw device. Chassis accommodates winches with drive ropes and manipulators. Lifting device in the form of lifting platform, storage platforms and containers. Hydrodynamic brake and navigation system with insurmountable obstacle detection function. In the upper part of the production unit there is a docking assembly for receiving descent containers with a system of their horizontal orientation. In order to implement FMN production method, FMN is separated from bottom sediments directly at ocean bottom by loosening and soil layer displacement by screw device. Collected and separated FMN are lifted to surface by elevators. Collected material is loaded into containers. By means of crane-beams installed on a lifting platform fixed at a certain depth, containers on ropes are lifted separately from the production unit. Containers are placed in appropriate cells of sections of storage platforms, which are alternately supplied under load lifting platform.

EFFECT: high efficiency of the FMN production process owing to its continuity, high reliability of operation of the equipment and reduced negative impact of the production process on the environment.

7 cl, 7 dwg