公开(公告)号：US11760453B1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-19

申请号：US18177538

申请日：2023-03-02

申请人： Roger P. McNamara ,  Charles Rash ,  Richard J. McNamara ,  Stephen Rash

发明人： Roger P. McNamara ,  Charles Rash ,  Richard J. McNamara ,  Stephen Rash

IPC分类号： B63G8/00 ,  B63G8/04 ,  B63G8/08 ,  B65G15/00 ,  B63G8/14

CPC分类号： B63G8/001 ,  B63G8/04 ,  B63G8/08 ,  B63G8/14 ,  B65G15/00 ,  B63G2008/002

摘要： A deep-ocean polymetallic nodule collector is an apparatus that is used to harvest polymetallic nodules and other natural resources from the ocean floor. To do so, the apparatus includes a support frame and a collection mechanism. The support frame is a durable structure designed to withstand the harsh deep-ocean conditions. The support frame keeps the collection mechanism adjacent to the ocean floor for the mining of polymetallic nodules without damage to the underwater ecosystem. In addition, the support frame allows for attachment of mining support vehicles that support the operation of the apparatus. The mining support vehicles can include, but are not limited to, cabled vehicles which are connected to the surface for power, monitoring, and control, wireless submersible vehicles, or ocean-bottom based vehicles that can operate autonomously, semi-autonomously, or by remote control. The collection mechanism enables the collection of polymetallic nodules while minimizing the damage to the underwater ecosystem.

公开(公告)号：US20230278684A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-07

申请号：US18177538

申请日：2023-03-02

申请人： Roger P. McNamara ,  Charles Rash ,  Richard J. McNamara ,  Stephen Rash

发明人： Roger P. McNamara ,  Charles Rash ,  Richard J. McNamara ,  Stephen Rash

IPC分类号： B63G8/00 ,  B63G8/04 ,  B63G8/14 ,  B63G8/08 ,  B65G15/00

CPC分类号： B63G8/001 ,  B63G8/04 ,  B63G8/14 ,  B63G8/08 ,  B65G15/00 ,  B63G2008/002

摘要： A deep-ocean polymetallic nodule collector is an apparatus that is used to harvest polymetallic nodules and other natural resources from the ocean floor. To do so, the apparatus includes a support frame and a collection mechanism. The support frame is a durable structure designed to withstand the harsh deep-ocean conditions. The support frame keeps the collection mechanism adjacent to the ocean floor for the mining of polymetallic nodules without damage to the underwater ecosystem. In addition, the support frame allows for attachment of mining support vehicles that support the operation of the apparatus. The mining support vehicles can include, but are not limited to, cabled vehicles which are connected to the surface for power, monitoring, and control, wireless submersible vehicles, or ocean-bottom based vehicles that can operate autonomously, semi-autonomously, or by remote control. The collection mechanism enables the collection of polymetallic nodules while minimizing the damage to the underwater ecosystem.