49results about "Extraterrestrail material mining" patented technology

A lunar regolith reduction reactor system includes a housing, a crucible, and a pair of electrodes. The housing includes a base structure and a cover structure detachably connected to the base structure, a gas input port to permit input of hydrogen gas into the housing, and a gas output port to permit outgassing of water vapor and gases. The crucible is designed to hold an amount of lunar regolith in the housing. The electrodes are disposed apart from one another and adjacent the crucible, wherein the electrodes are connectable to a power source to generate an electric arc to heat lunar regolith in the crucible and initiate a reduction reaction to separate oxygen gas and reduce separated material into a molten state.

Systems and methods for autonomous extraction of volatile minerals from extraterrestrial regolith are disclosed. A rover tows a mineral-collection wagon that mechanically prepares surface regolith and positions a detachable collector shield over a target area. When lowered, the shield rim seals against the regolith to define a localized, low-leakage environment. A radiant heating element raises the regolith to vaporization temperature; released species migrate to the shield's inner surface, which is cryogenically or ambiently cooled to condense solids as a removable film. After a heating / collection cycle, the shield is decoupled for retrieval and processing while the wagon immediately accepts a replacement shield, enabling continuous, modular operation. Embodiments support guided alignment, power coupling, optional daisy-chained wagons, and reciprocating or continuous motion to increase throughput on lunar or similar vacuum surfaces.

Described herein are embodiments directed to collecting vaporize gas via a CPC arrangement. The CPC arrangement generally comprises a transporter that carries around a cover with one or more cryogenically cooled plates (or some other cryogenically cooled surface) therein. A plurality of CPCs dispersed on the transporter each have a concave reflective bowl that captures and directs sunlight through a fiberoptic cable where the sunlight is focused on regolith in an internal environment defined within the cover when resting atop the regolith. The focused sunlight heats the regolith and liberates the gas from the regolith, which is trapped in the internal environment. The gas in the internal environment condenses on the cooled plates where it can be collected and processed.

Described herein are embodiments directed to a heat recovery arrangement for collecting vaporized gas trapped in regolith. The heat recovery arrangement generally comprising a rover that carries heat recovery elements that cooperate with a primary heat source. The heat recovery elements include a preheat contact element that preheats a region of regolith before the region is brought to high heat by the primary heat source. As the rover moves forward, the preheat contact element receives heat collected from the high heat region via a heat recovery sled that moves in contact with the high heat region. Heat is transferred between the heat recovery sled and the preheat contact element via a heat transfer medium that circulates through the heat recovery sled and preheat contact element.

The present disclosure relates to a coring assembly for extraterrestrial drilling and a preparation method of the coring assembly for extraterrestrial drilling. The coring assembly for extraterrestrial drilling includes: a limit locking mechanism, a flexible coring rotary body, a variable-diameter cone, an equal-tension bundled rope, and an end cap. One end of the flexible coring rotary body is connected to the limit locking mechanism, and the other end of the flexible coring rotary body is connected to one end of the variable-diameter cone. The flexible coring rotary body and the variable-diameter cone form a flexible coring structure. A storage structure is connected within the variable-diameter cone; and the other end of the variable-diameter cone is connected to the end cap via the equal-tension bundled rope.

The invention discloses an array type penetrometer and a moon polar region water ice temperature control mining and in-situ hydrogen production method, and relates to the technical field of moon water ice resource mining and in-situ utilization. The array type penetrometer is composed of a plurality of simple temperature control penetrometers, an in-situ exploitation hydrogen production penetrometer and a control system. An end heating and side wall heating module is arranged in the simple temperature control penetrometer, and the penetrometers are evenly distributed along the circumference. The in-situ mining hydrogen production penetrometer is located in the center of the circumference and is composed of a thick-wall cylinder body structure, a dense hole ventilation grid, a conical head heating module, a side wall heating module and a microwave plasma module. Temperature difference, air pressure difference and pore conductance difference are generated in a water-ice reservoir through the array type temperature control penetrometer, water-ice phase change is driven, directional migration and enrichment towards a central area are achieved, then part of rarefied water vapor is cracked in situ through a microwave plasma generating device arranged in the central penetrometer, and co-production of water, oxygen and hydrogen is achieved.

Systems and methods for the in situ extraction of materials, for example lunar regolith, from a celestial body. The systems and methods described herein can be used in outer space or on Earth. A high pressure gas is delivered to loosen up the material and form a borehole. A deployable mast deploys from a stowed, coiled configuration to a linear, deployed configuration into the borehole. A deployable tube may deploy to assist with delivering the gas and / or collecting the loosened material. One or more jets emit the gas. The jets may be supported at a free end of the tube or mast. The jets may direct loosened material through the tube and / or mast toward a collection reservoir. A flow separator may filter the loosened material from the gasses.

The invention discloses a device and a method for improving the microwave mining efficiency of moon water ice, and belongs to the technical field of in-situ mining of extraterrestrial water ice. The device comprises a multifunctional drilling unit, an air pressure reconstruction unit, a multifunctional heating unit and a moisture collection and storage unit, the multifunctional drilling unit is used for drilling frozen lunar soil, and the multifunctional drilling unit is further used for providing a sealed environment for the frozen lunar soil extracted through drilling; the air pressure reconstruction unit is used for setting a pressure environment for frozen lunar soil in the multifunctional drilling unit according to preset requirements; the multifunctional heating unit is used for heating the frozen lunar soil in the multifunctional drilling unit in a pressure environment set by the air pressure reconstruction unit, so that the frozen lunar soil in the multifunctional drilling unit generates liquid water, and ice in the frozen lunar soil is melted and vaporized by taking the liquid water as a microwave absorption and heat conduction carrier; and the water collection and storage unit is used for collecting and storing water vapor generated by melting and vaporizing ice in the frozen lunar soil in the multifunctional drilling unit.

A gaseous substance collection system that can be used on extraterrestrial celestial bodies is envisaged for collecting target gaseous atoms and molecules that float in a shielded environment at a pressure equal to or less than 1 * 10-5 bar. The shielded environment is defined within a cover placed on top of the granular soil, and in one embodiment, the granular soil is a weathered layer. The cover includes a cover body extending from an edge to a top of the cover. The shielding environment is not communicated with the external environment through the cover body. The mining device further comprises a blade, a heat source and a gas collecting face. A blade extends from the edge and is configured to penetrate particulate soil. A heat source disposed in the cover is configured to heat particulate soil. The gas collection face is disposed in the shielded environment and is configured to maintain a temperature below 100 DEG Kelvin.

Systems and methods for the in situ extraction of materials, for example lunar regolith, from a celestial body. The systems and methods described herein can be used in outer space or on Earth. A high pressure gas is delivered to loosen up the material and form a borehole. A deployable mast deploys from a stowed, coiled configuration to a linear, deployed configuration into the borehole. A deployable tube may deploy to assist with delivering the gas and / or collecting the loosened material. One or more jets emit the gas. The jets may be supported at a free end of the tube or mast. The jets may direct loosened material through the tube and / or mast toward a collection reservoir. A flow separator may filter the loosened material from the gasses.

The invention discloses a comprehensive disaster prevention and control system and method for rock breaking engineering of lunar mineral resource exploitation. A shielding protective cover is used for preventing rock debris and dust in a rock breaking working area from escaping out of the shielding protective cover; the dust monitoring device is used for monitoring the dust concentration at different positions of the rock breaking working area; the distributed optical fiber strain sensing device is used for monitoring the strain of the surface of the shielding protective cover; the control center is used for receiving a signal fed back by the distributed optical fiber strain sensing device, evaluating the damage degree of the shielding protective cover and repairing the position, needing to be repaired, of the shielding protective cover through a magnetic field or a temperature field excited by the repairing device; the vacuum adsorption pipeline conveys rock debris and dust generated in the rock breaking working area to the collection cabin by generating negative pressure, and the control center regulates and controls the negative pressure value of the vacuum adsorption pipeline by receiving the dust concentration condition, so that controllable expansion of cracks in the moon rock breaking process is achieved, the generated debris and dust are collected, and the rock breaking efficiency is improved. And the construction safety is effectively ensured.

The invention discloses a vacuum microgravity environment asteroid solid mineral mining device and mining method, and belongs to the technical field of asteroid resource utilization. The problems that an existing asteroid sampling device is extremely small in sampling amount, large-scale mineral collection cannot be achieved, and hard rock mass cannot be treated are solved. A flexible closed skirt is installed at the end of the rigid closed barrel, the side face of the rigid closed barrel communicates with the solid mineral collecting mechanism, and the rotating mechanism is installed on the inner wall of the rigid closed barrel in the radial direction. The microgravity mechanical mining mechanism, the laser hole forming mechanism and the high-pressure gas blowing-out mechanism are fixedly connected to one side of the rotating mechanism. Mineral is reversely crushed through the microgravity mechanical mining mechanism, continuous and stable crushing of solid mineral is achieved, airflow is directionally jetted to a preset area through the high-pressure gas blowing-out mechanism, and efficient and large-scale collection of irregularly moving particles is achieved.

The application discloses a lunar permanent shadow area permanent water resource exploitation base system, wherein a concentrator, a concentrator support, a focal point catcher, a light energy focusing collimator, a universal light path transceiver and a light energy distributor form a sunlight energy collection and transmission system; through a water resource thermal exploitation pile and a water resource thermal exploitation system, water resource exploitation is carried out by using sunlight energy, and by-products, i.e., bricks and thin waists, are produced to provide building materials for building permanent structures on the moon surface; the application can be used in water resource exploitation engineering in the lunar permanent shadow area and can be used in water resource exploitation engineering in the weak sunlight irradiation area on the moon surface; water molecules released in the process of heating the moon soil can be effectively captured by using water absorption medicine bags formed by using montmorillonite and porous quicklime; the application greatly reduces the requirement of the earth-moon rocket carrying capacity, reduces the difficulty of construction, operation and maintenance of the lunar permanent water resource exploitation base, and prolongs the service life of the water resource exploitation base.

The invention relates to a biological mining method and system device suitable for space resource development. The system device comprises a front-end crushing and grinding device, a microorganism reaction box, a microorganism culture box, a useful element extraction device, a material flow direction control device, a multifunctional mechanical arm, a rear-end useful element storage box and the like. The biological mining method comprises the following steps: crushing extraterrestrial celestial body minerals to a proper particle size, feeding the crushed extraterrestrial celestial body minerals into a microbial reaction box for leaching reaction, and then separating out tailing slag and liquid; the liquid enters a material flow direction control device, microorganisms are isolated for cyclic utilization, and synchronously filtered residual liquid enters a useful element extraction device to separate out target elements; the residual liquid is subjected to water purification treatment and then returns to the microbial incubator to form circulation. The device adopts a modularized and lightweight structure, has the advantages of low energy consumption, high efficiency, strong adaptability, cyclic utilization and the like, is highly unmanned, automatic and intelligent, and can realize efficient extraction and sustainable utilization of space mineral resources.

The invention discloses a Mars CO2 dynamic adaptation type underground water-ice melting cavity system and a water-ice melting method, and belongs to the field of planet in-situ resource utilization. The problems that an existing Mars water ice mining scheme mostly adopts a simple heating or sealing strategy, and the pressure intensity and temperature management problem caused by the dynamic characteristic of Mars atmosphere CO2 and the violent day and night temperature difference cannot be effectively solved are solved. According to the system, a heating element is arranged in an ice melting cavity and used for melting water and ice in a controlled environment; the expandable sealing unit is arranged at the wellhead of the ice melting cavity and is used for carrying out airtight isolation; the intelligent CO2 gas management unit is connected with the ice melting cavity; the intelligent heat management unit is connected with an internal heating element of the ice melting cavity and is used for dynamically scheduling heat energy under the day and night temperature difference change of Mars; the central control unit is used for receiving sensor data and outputting a control instruction, and the working modes of the intelligent CO2 gas management unit and the intelligent heat management unit are dynamically optimized. The method is mainly used in the energy efficiency optimization field.

The present invention discloses a bionic tunneling robot, comprising a body, a head mechanism connected to the body, and a forelimb mechanism and a hindlimb mechanism respectively connected to the front and rear ends of the body and used for moving and discharging soil. The head mechanism comprises an incisor assembly for biting and digging soil, a flexible cervical vertebra, and a first drive device. One end of the flexible cervical vertebra is fixed to the incisor assembly, and the other end of the flexible cervical vertebra is fixed to an end of the body close to the forelimb mechanism. The first drive device is installed at an end of the body close to the flexible cervical vertebra. The first drive device is used to drive the flexible cervical vertebra to bend so that the incisor assembly deflects. The present invention can drive the incisor assembly to deflect in all directions under the support of the flexible cervical vertebra through the first drive device, thereby increasing the dynamism of the head mechanism and improving tunneling efficiency.

Techniques and systems extract water from lunar regolith using microwave radiation and may also produce fuel from the extracted water. The system can distill the extracted water to remove impurities before electrolyzing the purified water into oxygen and hydrogen gases, which may then be cooled to form liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. A portion of the system may reside on a lunar landing module. Another portion of the system may be affixed to a robotic arm that is extendable from the lunar landing module. This portion of the system includes a water extraction unit, comprising a cone used as a cold trap. The cone may include cooling channels to keep the temperature of the smooth inner surface of the cone cold enough to trap particles of frost that attach to the inner surface. The frost is then scraped from the inner surface and collected.

The invention discloses a planetary solid-liquid-gas mineral in-situ mining system and method based on plasma thermal damage. The system is characterized in that a bearing cross arm is supported above a chassis armor by two pairs of bearing hydraulic props; the walking mechanism comprises a triangular crawler belt mechanism; the positioning and supporting mechanism comprises edge telescopic supporting legs and middle telescopic supporting legs which are mounted at the lower end of the chassis armor; the multiphase mining unit comprises a gas-liquid phase resource mining mechanism and a solid phase resource mining mechanism; the gas-liquid phase resource mining mechanism comprises a drilling machine support, a drilling machine, a drill rod connector, a rope winding device, a drill rod grabbing device, a synchronous sealing device and a resource sorting and purifying device. The solid-phase resource mining mechanism comprises a rock breaking device and a shoveling and conveying device; the plasma generation unit comprises a plasma generation device, a plasma emitter and a plasma emission plate; the resource detection and monitoring unit is mounted on the protective cover; the method includes storing electric energy; the ore body and the environment are dynamically and accurately monitored; and mining operation is carried out under the cooperation of plasma. According to the invention, integrated mining operation of multi-phase state resources can be realized.

Described is a particle filtration system that protects a gas segregation region from lunar regolith dust by using, among other filtration elements, an integrated electromagnetic and electrostatic dust repelling system. The system includes a particle intake chamber with a particle repelling screen comprising a planar array of conductive wires energized with phase-shifted alternating current to generate a time-varying magnetic field. This field repels iron-rich dust particles laterally. An ionizing element located between the particle repelling screen and the gas segregation region. The ionizing element generates one or more electron curtains that charge neutral dust particles, which are then drawn to paired conductive plates via electrostatic attraction. A final-stage ULPA mesh filter captures any remaining particles, ensuring only gas enters the gas segregation region. This design enhances dust mitigation, improves gas collection efficiency, and protects sensitive components in harsh extraterrestrial environments.

The invention provides an extraterrestrial celestial body drilling tool system linkage type pressing device. The extraterrestrial celestial body drilling tool system linkage type pressing device comprises a guide rail drilling tool combination pressing assembly, a guide rail supporting and drilling rod limiting assembly and a linkage rope. The guide rail and drilling tool combined pressing assembly is located at one end of a drill rod of the percussion drill and used for pressing and releasing the drill rod, a guide rail and a detector, the guide rail and drilling tool combined pressing assembly is connected with the guide rail supporting and drill rod limiting assembly located at the other end of the drill rod through a linkage rope, and the linkage rope is released while the percussion drill and the guide rail are unlocked; the release of the guide rail support and the drill rod limiting assembly is realized; the guide rail supporting and drill rod limiting assembly is used for guide rail supporting and drill rod limiting. According to the invention, the multi-point pressing and reliable releasing effects on the drilling tool are realized.

The present application envisages a vapor collection system usable on extraterrestrial celestial bodies for collecting target gaseous atoms and molecules (species) floating in a shielded environment having a pressure equal to or less than 1 bar. In one embodiment, a shielded environment is defined within a cover and skirt arrangement that lies over granular soil, in one embodiment, the granular soil is a topsoil layer. Advantageously, the topsoil layer beneath the cover is substantially free of loose rocks that can reduce mining efficiency and / or obstruct sealing of the cover from the surface of the topsoil layer. Thus, certain embodiments contemplate the use of a zero tailing device to exploit a topsoil layer that utilizes a front plough to clear loose rock at a location on the topsoil layer where a cover is to rest, and uses a redeposition blade to collect and redeposit the cleared loose rock behind the cover.

A gaseous substance collection system that can be used on extraterrestrial celestial bodies is envisaged for collecting target gaseous atoms and molecules (materials) that float in a shielded environment at a pressure equal to or less than 1 bar. A shielded environment is defined within a cover and skirt arrangement placed on top of granular soil, in one embodiment, the granular soil is a weathered layer. The cap and skirt device generally include a skirt extending from the cap that is substantially sealed over the weathered layer surface to create a shielded environment that prevents gaseous material from escaping into the space. The skirt may be lowered or dragged across the weathered layer surface, even made into a conforming surface. The gaseous material may be mined by a blade or digging tool and a heat source that releases the gaseous material from the weathered layer.

A regolith oxygen extraction system that extracts oxygen and produces molten regolith by processing and heating a continuous regolith feed. The system feeds regolith through a vertical hopper to a reaction chamber, the regolith itself sealing the inlet to the reaction chamber while maintaining continuous flow. The heated regolith reacts within the reaction chamber to produce oxygen and processed regolith. The processed regolith is removed from the reactor chamber through an extrusion nozzle, the processed regolith itself sealing the produced gases within the reactor chamber while maintaining continuous flow of processed regolith. The system employs non-contact reaction temperature measurement and rapid oxygen content measurement in the regolith upstream and downstream of the reaction zone, and may be integrated with multiple oxygen extraction methods.

A mobile mining platform for operation on a lunar surface can excavate and deposit regolith into a mill. The mill can agitate at least a portion of the excavated regolith to release volatile gases from the portion of the excavated regolith, without heat being applied to the portion of the excavated regolith. A refinery can perform molecular separation of the released volatile gases. In some embodiments, pressure in the mill can be increased through introduction of a diluent gas into the mill, to improve the efficiency of pumping the released volatile gases from the mill to the refinery. In some embodiments, volatile liquids stored on the platform and / or generated by the refinery can be used to cool the released volatile gases prior to molecular separation of the released volatile gases. In some embodiments, the mill can separate and collect regolith material of different sizes for different uses.

The present application contemplates a vapor collection system that can be used on extraterrestrial bodies for collecting target gaseous atoms and molecules (matter) that are floating in a shielded environment at a pressure equal to or less than 1 bar. The shielded environment is confined within a cover and skirt arrangement that is positioned above a granular soil, which in one embodiment is a regolith layer. Advantageously, the regolith layer beneath the cover is substantially free of loose rock that would reduce the efficiency of the mining operation and / or interfere with the sealing of the cover to the surface of the regolith layer. Accordingly, certain embodiments contemplate the use of a zero-tailings arrangement to mine the regolith layer that utilizes a front plow to clear loose rock at the location on the regolith layer where the cover is to be deposited and uses a re-deposition blade to collect and re-deposit the cleared loose rock behind the cover.

A process for extracting volatile constituents from a mass of regolith, particularly of lunar or Martian origin, comprising the following steps: progressive heating of the regolith leading to selective degassing of the various volatile constituents over time, according to the temperature reached by said regolith, with those having the highest vapor pressures degassing before those having lower vapor pressures; selection of at least a first temperature range (T1, T2) during which a gaseous mixture enriched in at least one valuable constituent and depleted in at least one undesirable constituent is collected, notably by degassing the regolith, relative to the initial concentrations of these constituents in the regolith. (Simplified figure: Fig. 2)

A large-movement-stroke light-weight 3D printing space guide rail is of a long and thin structure and is of a skin lattice structure, namely, a bone structure bionic structure. The section of the space guide rail is in an I shape, the upper half portion of the space guide rail is a first-stage feeding working face, and the drilling tool assembly achieves drilling and drill lifting actions through the first-stage feeding working face. And the lower half part is a secondary feeding working surface which is matched with the unfolding bracket to solve the suspension distance with the surface of an extraterrestrial celestial body. The first-stage feeding working face and the second-stage feeding working face are combined through an I-shaped structure, and the movement stroke of the drilling tool assembly is increased. By means of the I-shaped double-working-face large-motion-stroke design, the overall rigidity of the assembly and the space guide rail can be effectively improved, and the motion stroke of the drilling tool assembly is increased; through the structural lightweight design and the I-shaped double-working-face large movement stroke design, the weight of the space guide rail can be effectively reduced; and the skin dot matrix lightweight design is adopted for the long and thin space guide rail, the SLM additive manufacturing production process is selected, and the production period is effectively shortened.

Disclosed is a segregating gas arrangement that generally comprises a gas segregation chamber, at least one cooling plate in the gas segregation chamber, and a carbon adsorber in an adsorption gas capturing chamber. The gas segregation chamber has a rim that when resting atop regolith defines a first interior environment. The cooling plates are in the gas segregation chamber, wherein the cooling plates are maintained at a first temperature above 5° K, which is a condensation temperature that higher temperature condensing gases will condense. The adsorption gas capturing chamber defines a second interior environment that is in communication with the first interior environment. The carbon adsorber is in the second interior environment and is maintained at a second temperature below 3° K. The carbon adsorber is configured to capture the low temperature condensing gas.

The present invention discloses a mole-like excavation robot for excavating and discharging soil, comprising a head mechanism, forelimb mechanisms, hindlimb mechanisms, a trunk mechanism, and a control panel. The head mechanism is rotatably connected to one end of the trunk mechanism and is used to break up soil and guide the removal of soil debris. The forelimb mechanisms are located at the end of the trunk mechanism near the head mechanism and reciprocate in both directions to excavate and scrape loose soil debris in the forward direction. The hindlimb mechanisms are located at the end of the trunk mechanism away from the head mechanism and reciprocate in the forward direction to excavate and displace soil debris scraped by the forelimb mechanisms. The control panel is electrically connected to the head mechanism, forelimb mechanisms, and hindlimb mechanisms, respectively, for controlling the coordinated movements of the head mechanism, forelimb mechanisms, and hindlimb mechanisms. The present invention has a compact overall structure, and the coordinated movements of the various mechanisms are controlled by the control panel, enabling efficient excavation of shallow-layer excavated soil on the surface of a star.

The present application relates to the technical field of extraterrestrial resource development, in particular to a microwave-mechanical self-adaptive anchoring device for asteroid resource mining. The device comprises a mechanical arm, a microwave generator, an anchoring drill and an anchoring shell. The mechanical arm is internally provided with a microwave transmission channel, and the microwave generator guides the microwave to the anchoring shell through the channel; the anchoring shell is made of microwave absorbing material and can absorb microwave to heat and assist in melting the surrounding asteroid soil. The anchoring drill is driven by a conical structure and a ring-shaped push plate to drive the anchoring shell to drill down synchronously, and the mechanical lower arm is separated after anchoring is completed through a disengaging plate, a disengaging block and a limiting groove. The system identifies the dielectric properties of the asteroid soil through a dielectric detection device, self-adaptively adjusts the microwave working parameters, and realizes closed-loop control of the melting temperature by using a thermocouple. Through microwave melting anchoring, a fused anchoring body is formed in situ, which has the advantages of high anchoring strength, small disturbance to the asteroid, strong environmental adaptability, safe detachment and the like.