Deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head and collecting device

Abstract

The application provides a deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head and a collecting device, which comprises a vortex generating device, a horizontal acceleration cabin, an inclined surface collecting cabin, a sliding plate device, a sliding mechanism and a traction arm; one side of the inclined surface collecting cabin is connected and communicated with the horizontal acceleration cabin, and the other side is slidably installed with the sliding plate device through the sliding mechanism; the vortex generating device is arranged at one end of the horizontal acceleration cabin away from the inclined surface collecting cabin; and the traction arm is rotatably arranged on the inclined surface collecting cabin. The application discloses a suction water power type nodule mineral collecting mode; a special vortex generating device is arranged in front of the collecting device; a suction negative pressure of a mineral outlet at the rear end of the inclined surface collecting cabin is used as a driving force to form a water flow; the water flow forms a vortex and a negative pressure area after passing through the vortex generating device to hoist and lift seabed nodule minerals; the horizontal acceleration cabin behind the vortex generating device accelerates seawater carrying the nodules to flow backward; and the seawater is collected by the inclined surface collecting cabin and then conveyed into a pipeline at the rear.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of deep-sea ore collection devices, and in particular to a deep-sea polymetallic nodule collection head and an ore collection device. Background Art

[0002] The ocean represents the largest potential resource base on Earth that has yet to be fully understood and utilized. In addition to offshore oil and gas resources and coastal mineral sands, commercially exploitable seabed mineral resources include polymetallic nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, and polymetallic sulfides. These minerals are rich in nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, gold, and silver, with total reserves ranging from tens to thousands of times greater than corresponding onshore reserves.

[0003] The current mainstream international ore collection technology is hydraulic jetting, typified by the Coanda effect. This method uses high-pressure water jets to impact the seabed and nodules, causing them to detach from the seafloor. Flow field design creates a certain ore-lifting and transporting effect, ultimately achieving nodule collection. However, this method requires strict control of seafloor disturbance caused by the jetting, which is difficult to control and results in significant sediment disturbance, significantly impacting deep-sea ecosystems.

[0004] Prior art CN110966006B discloses a hydraulic seabed polymetallic nodule ore collection mechanism, comprising an ore storage silo mounted on top of a seabed mining drive. A high-pressure water reservoir is located atop the silo, connected to a clockwise, inverted L-shaped rigid water channel at the front end of which are multiple high-pressure jet nozzles positioned along its width. A curved guide plate extending forward and downward is located at the front end of the seabed mining drive. The guide plate's end is connected to a soil disturbance wheel via a disturbance roller drive connecting rod. The soil disturbance wheel is connected to the power mechanism of the seabed mining drive via a rotating device. The width of both the rigid water channel and the soil disturbance wheel approximates the width of the ore storage silo. This collection mechanism still fails to avoid significant disturbance of the seabed by high-powered water jets, and the mechanical components introduced reduce the reliability of the entire collection head. Therefore, a collection head that does not require high-powered hydraulic jets and whose collection function requires no moving parts is needed, resulting in a collection method with less impact on deep-sea ecosystems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the defects in the prior art, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a deep-sea polymetallic nodule collection head and a mineral collection device.

[0006] According to the present invention, a deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head is provided, comprising: a vortex-making device, a horizontal acceleration chamber, an inclined collecting chamber, a slide device, a sliding mechanism, and a traction arm;

[0007] One side of the inclined collecting cabin is connected to and communicated with the horizontal acceleration cabin, and the other side is slidably installed with the slide device through the sliding mechanism. The vortex-making device is set at one end of the horizontal acceleration cabin facing away from the inclined collecting cabin, and the traction arm is rotatably installed on the inclined collecting cabin.

[0008] Preferably, the circumference of the inclined surface collecting chamber is closed, and the inclined surface collecting chamber comprises: a lower inclined surface, a mineral outlet and a blade;

[0009] The lower slope is obliquely connected to the mineral outlet;

[0010] The blades are installed along the width direction of the lower slope away from one end of the mineral outlet, and the distance between the blades is less than a given minimum diameter of the collected ore.

[0011] Preferably, the horizontal acceleration chamber comprises: an upper wall, a left wall, a right wall and a mineral inlet;

[0012] Both sides of the upper wall are connected downwardly to the left wall and the right wall, and the upper wall, the left wall and the right wall are all connected to the inclined collecting cabin;

[0013] The lower edges of the left wall surface, the right wall surface, and the upper wall surface are parallel to the seabed;

[0014] The mineral inlet is provided at one end of the horizontal acceleration cabin away from the inclined collecting cabin.

[0015] Preferably, the vortex-generating device is provided at one end of the horizontal acceleration chamber along the width direction of the upper wall surface, and the vortex-generating device forms a vortex low pressure along the upper wall surface.

[0016] Preferably, the vortex-generating device comprises: a spoiler and a spoiler mounting plate;

[0017] The spoiler mounting plate is installed on the horizontal acceleration cabin, and a plurality of spoilers are arranged in the spoiler mounting plate. The angle between the lower edge line of the spoiler's incoming flow section and the forward direction of the collection head is less than 45 degrees.

[0018] Preferably, the mineral outlet is connected to a suction pump via a suction pipe and negative pressure is formed at the mineral outlet.

[0019] Preferably, the sliding mechanism comprises: a guide rail, a slider and a telescopic actuator;

[0020] The guide rail is mounted on the lower inclined surface, the slider is slidably connected to the guide rail, and the slide device is connected to the slider;

[0021] Two ends of the telescopic actuator are respectively connected to the lower inclined surface and the slide device.

[0022] Preferably, the traction arm comprises: a traction arm main structure and a universal hinge;

[0023] The main structure of the traction arm is rotatably connected to the inclined plane collecting cabin through the universal hinge and realizes longitudinal and lateral swing freedom relative to the slide device;

[0024] The main structure of the traction arm is tilted around the universal hinge toward the forward direction of the collection head.

[0025] Preferably, a height measuring device is installed on the traction arm, and the height measuring device is located on the side of the mineral inlet facing the forward direction of the collection head.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] The present application invents a method for collecting nodule minerals in the form of suction hydraulics. A special vortex-making device is provided in front of the mineral collection device, and the suction negative pressure of the mineral outlet at the rear end of the inclined collection chamber is used as a driving force to form a water flow. After the water flow passes through the vortex-making device, a vortex and a negative pressure zone are formed to lift and turn over the nodule minerals on the seabed. The horizontal acceleration chamber immediately behind the vortex-making device accelerates the seawater carrying the nodules to flow backward, and the seawater is collected and transported to the rear pipeline through the inclined collection chamber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the following drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the collecting head collecting polymetallic nodules;

[0030] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the collection head (1);

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the collection head (II);

[0032] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the overall structure of the collection head (3);

[0033] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the vortex-making device structure;

[0034] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the horizontal acceleration cabin structure;

[0035] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the inclined collection cabin structure;

[0036] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the sliding mechanism structure;

[0037] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the traction arm structure;

[0038] As shown in the figure:

[0039]

[0040] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. The following examples will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but are not intended to limit the present invention in any form. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several changes and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. These all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this embodiment includes: a vortex-making device 1, a horizontal acceleration cabin 2, a sloped collecting cabin 3, a slide device 4, a sliding mechanism 5 and a traction arm 6. The vortex-making device 1 is arranged at the front end of the horizontal acceleration cabin 2 (the "front" in this embodiment is the forward direction of the collection head, and the "front" in this embodiment is the forward direction of the collection head). Figure 1 For example, Figure 1 The horizontal acceleration cabin 2 is connected to the front of the inclined plane collecting cabin 3, the inclined plane collecting cabin 3 is connected to the front of the slide device 4 through the sliding mechanism 5, and the traction arm 6 is rotatably connected to the upper part of the inclined plane collecting cabin 3 and tilted forward around the rotation connection point.

[0043] like Figure 6 As shown, the horizontal acceleration chamber 2 includes: an upper wall 201, a left wall 202 and a right wall 203. The lower edges of the left wall 202 and the right wall 203 and the upper wall 201 are parallel to the seabed. The front of the horizontal acceleration chamber 2 is a mineral inlet 204, and the bottom is open to the seabed.

[0044] like Figure 7 As shown, the inclined collection chamber 3 is enclosed on all sides and features a lower slope 301 that slopes rearward around its lower edge. A mineral outlet 302 is located at the rear of the inclined collection chamber 3. The horizontal acceleration chamber 2 and the inclined collection chamber 3 are internally connected, forming a mineral-water transport channel from the mineral inlet 204 to the mineral outlet 302. The mineral outlet 302 is connected to a suction pump via a suction pipe and other necessary intermediate links, creating a negative pressure at the mineral outlet 302 and allowing the mineral-water mixture to flow from the mineral inlet 204 to the mineral outlet 302. A set of blades 303 are evenly spaced along the width below the lower slope 301. The spacing between the blades is less than the minimum diameter of the ore to be collected, allowing seawater and sediment to pass through.

[0045] like Figure 5As shown, the vortex-generating device 1 is disposed along the width of the front end of the upper wall 201. The vortex-generating device 1 forms a vortex-like low pressure along the upper wall 201, assisting in lifting seabed minerals. The vortex-generating device 1 includes a plurality of spoilers 101. The lower edge of the flow-impacting cross-section of the spoiler 101 forms an angle of less than 45 degrees with the forward direction of the collection head, preferably between 5 and 20 degrees.

[0046] like Figure 8 As shown, the sliding mechanism 5 includes: a guide rail 501, a slider 502 and a telescopic actuator 503; the guide rail 501 and the slider 502 are respectively installed on the lower inclined surface 301 and the slide device 4, and the two ends of the telescopic actuator 503 are respectively installed on the lower inclined surface 301 and the slide device 4. By controlling the telescopic actuator 503, the height of the horizontal acceleration chamber 2 from the seabed can be adjusted.

[0047] like Figure 9 As shown, the traction arm 6 includes: a traction arm main structure 601 and a universal hinge 602; the universal hinge 602 is installed at one end of the traction arm main structure 601, and the universal hinge 602 is connected to the inclined collection cabin 3, so that the skateboard device 4 has longitudinal and lateral swing freedom relative to the traction arm 6.

[0048] A set of ground height measuring devices 7 is set on the traction arm 6. The height measuring device 7 is installed in front of the mineral entrance 204 and is used to measure the height of the horizontal acceleration chamber 2 from the seabed. Preferably, the height measuring device 7 is a camera to observe the distance between the left wall 202 and the right wall 203 relative to the seabed.

[0049] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on this application.

[0050] The above describes specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art may make various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the essence of the present invention. The embodiments of this application and the features in the embodiments may be combined with each other in any manner unless there is a conflict.

Claims

1. A deep-sea polymetallic nodule collection head, characterized in that: include: A vortex-generating device (1), a horizontal acceleration cabin (2), an inclined collecting cabin (3), a slide plate device (4), a sliding mechanism (5), and a traction arm (6); One side of the inclined surface collecting cabin (3) is connected to and communicates with the horizontal acceleration cabin (2), and the other side is slidably mounted with the slide plate device (4) via the sliding mechanism (5); the vortex generating device (1) is arranged at one end of the horizontal acceleration cabin (2) facing away from the inclined surface collecting cabin (3); and the traction arm (6) is rotatably mounted on the inclined surface collecting cabin (3); The vortex-generating device (1) comprises: a spoiler (101) and a spoiler mounting plate (102); The spoiler mounting plate (102) is mounted on the horizontal acceleration cabin (2), a plurality of spoilers (101) are arranged in the spoiler mounting plate (102), and the angle between the lower edge line of the flow-facing section of the spoiler (101) and the forward direction of the collection head is less than 45 degrees; The horizontal acceleration cabin (2) comprises: an upper wall surface (201); The vortex generating device (1) is arranged at one end of the horizontal acceleration chamber (2) along the width direction at the front end of the upper wall surface (201), and the vortex generating device (1) forms a vortex low pressure along the upper wall surface (201).

2. The deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slant collecting chamber (3) is closed on its periphery, and comprises: a lower slant (301), a mineral outlet (302), and a blade (303); The lower slope (301) is obliquely connected to the mineral outlet (302); The blades (303) are installed along the width direction at one end of the lower inclined surface (301) away from the mineral outlet (302), and the spacing between the blades (303) is smaller than the given minimum diameter of the collected ore.

3. The deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal acceleration chamber (2) comprises: a left wall (202), a right wall (203) and a mineral inlet (204); The upper wall (201) is connected downwardly to the left wall (202) and the right wall (203) on both sides, and the upper wall (201), the left wall (202) and the right wall (203) are all connected to the inclined collecting cabin (3); The lower edges of the left wall surface (202) and the right wall surface (203) and the upper wall surface (201) are parallel to the seabed; The mineral inlet (204) is provided at one end of the horizontal acceleration chamber (2) away from the inclined plane collecting chamber (3).

4. The deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to claim 2, characterized in that: The mineral outlet (302) is connected to a suction pump via a suction pipe and negative pressure is formed at the mineral outlet (302).

5. The deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sliding mechanism (5) comprises: a guide rail (501), a slider (502) and a telescopic actuator (503); The guide rail (501) is installed on the lower inclined surface (301), the slider (502) is slidably connected to the guide rail (501), and the slide device (4) is connected to the slider (502); Two ends of the telescopic actuator (503) are respectively connected to the lower inclined surface (301) and the slide device (4).

6. The deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The traction arm (6) comprises: a traction arm main structure (601) and a universal hinge (602); The traction arm main structure (601) is rotatably connected to the inclined plane collecting cabin (3) via the universal hinge (602) and realizes longitudinal and lateral swinging freedom relative to the slide device (4); The traction arm main structure (601) is tilted around the universal hinge (602) toward the forward direction of the collection head.

7. The deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to claim 3, characterized in that: A height measuring device (7) is installed on the traction arm (6), and the height measuring device (7) is located on the side of the mineral inlet (204) facing the forward direction of the collection head.

8. A mineral collection device, characterized in that: A deep-sea polymetallic nodule collecting head according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is used.

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