A method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters, which is composed of an airbag, a seabed airbag station and a steel frame constraining the airbag. The present invention can transport the ore below the seabed rock layer to a sealed seabed airbag station by a robot, then load the airbag, open the various constraints of the airbag, drain water under the airbag to increase the initial power, and slowly transport the airbag to the sea level through buoyancy, tension and the constraints of the frame, and then take out the ore and transport it away by a sea vessel. Then the airbag is deflated and sealed, and pulled back to the seabed airbag station through the device of the seabed airbag station, and then the airbag station is sealed, and the airbag is inflated while pumping water. This method can avoid water pressure and realize the inflation of the airbag on the seabed. The inflated airbag waits for the next ore filling. The present invention solves the problem of low efficiency and high cost of traditional transportation to mining ships through pipelines using hydraulic transportation equipment, and at the same time realizes the inflation of the airbag without water pressure. It increases feasibility.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention belongs to the field of marine mining, and in particular relates to a method for transporting seabed ore using air bags in shallow seas. Background Art

[0002] As we all know, the global ocean area accounts for three quarters of the entire earth's surface, and the mineral resources contained in the vast ocean are very rich. After more than 500 years of efforts, my country has become a major mining country in the world. With the advancement of science and technology and the increasing reduction and exhaustion of land mineral resources, people will inevitably turn their attention to the vast depths of the sea. It can be said that the seabed is still an unknown world so far. At present, the key technologies for the exploitation of seabed resources mainly include two aspects: one is the mining of seabed ore bodies; the other is the underwater lifting and transportation of ore. The core of these is the seabed mining equipment and ore lifting equipment with relatively high technical difficulty. At present, the feasible mining and transportation system is still to transport the slurry mixed with nodules and seawater through pipelines to the ore collection ship at sea. This paper proposes a method for underwater ore transportation relative to shallow seas, using the buoyancy of seawater to transport air bags, which are filled with ore. The air bags are transported to the sea level in a specified steel frame channel, and then the ore is recovered by sea vessels.

[0003] In summary, the present invention provides a method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters to solve the above problems. Summary of the invention

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and provide a method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is:

[0006] A method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters. The method is implemented based on a device for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters, comprising a mine tunnel located below a rock layer, a base cast above the mine tunnel, a protective steel frame connected to the top of the base, a sealing mechanism provided inside the base, an airbag slidably fitted in the vertical direction of the protective steel frame, a pumping and draining port and an inflation tube connected to the airbag air inlet are provided at the lower double-layer sealing valve, and an airbag pulling device is provided below the lower double-layer sealing valve and connected to the airbag.

[0007] Optionally, the sealing mechanism includes a lower double-layer sealing valve and an upper double-layer sealing valve, and the lower double-layer sealing valve and the upper double-layer sealing valve are combined to form a sealed space for placing the airbag.

[0008] Optionally, a through groove is opened through the middle part of the airbag, and a lower sealing cover and an upper sealing cover are respectively provided at both ends of the through groove. A plurality of inflation sealing interfaces connected to the inflation tube are opened below the airbag, and a plurality of exhaust holes are provided above the airbag.

[0009] Optionally, a drainage pipe and an air inlet pipe are provided on the peripheral side of the protective steel frame, and both the drainage pipe and the air inlet pipe are connected to the sealed space, and the water inlet pipe and the air charging pipe are connected to each other.

[0010] Optionally, the upper double-layer sealing valve and the lower double-layer sealing valve are both divided into a mesh baffle and a sealing baffle, and the mesh baffle is close to the airbag.

[0011] Optionally, the protective steel frame includes a plurality of vertical pipes, an arc rod is connected between every two adjacent vertical pipes, and the space formed by the plurality of vertical pipes is the same as the diameter of the airbag, and the gap between the plurality of arc rods is smaller than the diameter of the airbag.

[0012] Optionally, the pulling device includes four chains connected under the airbag and a motor located in a sealed space, the output end of the motor is connected to a winding reel, the winding reel and the chain are wrapped and connected, a through hole for the chain to slide is opened at the lower double-layer sealing valve, and the through hole and the chain are sealed.

[0013] A method for transporting seabed ore using air bags in shallow waters comprises the following steps:

[0014] Step S1, transporting the ore to the seabed airbag station by a mine car;

[0015] Step S2, opening the lower sealing cover of the airbag and lifting it to the airbag warehouse;

[0016] Step S3, closing the sealing cover under the airbag and closing the double-layer sealing valve under the airbag station;

[0017] Step S4, disconnecting the connection between the inflation tube and the inflation sealing interface, and closing the airbag pulling device;

[0018] Step S5, opening the upper double-layer sealing valve to release the constraint of the upper double-layer sealing valve on the airbag, and then opening the drain pipe, which will draw out the seawater in the sealed space to increase the power of the airbag;

[0019] Step S6, due to the restraint of the protective steel frame, the airbag will rise to the water surface due to the buoyancy of the water;

[0020] Step S7, after reaching the water surface, open the upper sealing cover of the airbag to take out the ore from the airbag compartment, and then close the upper sealing cover;

[0021] Step S8, taking out the ore, closing the upper sealing cover, and opening the exhaust hole to exhaust the airbag;

[0022] Step S9, after exhausting, close the exhaust hole, use the airbag pulling device to pull the airbag back to the airbag compartment, and then roughly align the inflation sealing interface with the inflation tube;

[0023] Step S10, closing the double-layer sealing valve on the airbag station;

[0024] Step S11, inflate the airbag through the inflation pipe, and drain the water in the airbag compartment through the drain pipe;

[0025] Step S12, accurately aligning the sealing interface of the airbag with the sealing interface of the airbag compartment;

[0026] Step S13, open the lower double-layer sealing valve, and then open the lower sealing cover of the airbag to fill the ore.

[0027] After adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art. Of course, any product implementing the present invention does not necessarily need to achieve all the advantages described below at the same time:

[0028] The present invention can use robots to transport the ore under the seabed rock formation to a sealed seabed airbag station, then load the airbag, open the various constraints of the airbag, drain water under the airbag to increase the initial power, and the airbag will be slowly transported to the sea level through buoyancy and the constraints of the frame, and then the ore will be taken out and transported away by a sea vessel. The airbag is then deflated and sealed, and pulled back to the seabed airbag station through the device of the seabed airbag station. The airbag station is then sealed, and the airbag is inflated while pumping water. This method can avoid water pressure and realize the inflation of the airbag on the seabed. The inflated airbag waits for the next ore filling. The present invention solves the problem of low efficiency and high cost of traditional transportation to mining ships through pipelines using hydraulic transportation equipment, and at the same time realizes the inflation of the airbag without water pressure. It increases feasibility.

[0029] The specific implementation modes of the present invention are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The drawings described below are only some embodiments. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work. In the drawings:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a three-dimensional structure of a seabed ore transportation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a second schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the seabed ore transportation equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal three-dimensional structure of a seabed ore transportation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the structure at A in the middle;

[0035] In the accompanying drawings, the components represented by the reference numerals are listed as follows:

[0036] 1. Base; 2. Protective steel frame; 3. Sealing mechanism; 4. Airbag; 5. Inflating tube; 6. Lower double-layer sealing valve; 7. Upper double-layer sealing valve; 8. Through groove; 9. Lower sealing cover; 10. Upper sealing cover; 11. Inflating sealing interface; 12. Exhaust hole; 13. Drain pipe; 14. Inlet pipe; 15. Grid baffle; 16. Sealing baffle; 17. Vertical pipe; 18. Arc rod; 19. Chain; 20. Motor; 21. Reel.

[0037] It should be noted that these drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the conceptual scope of the present invention in any way, but are intended to illustrate the concept of the present invention for those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] See also Figure 1-4 As shown, in this embodiment, a method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters is provided, including that the method is implemented based on a device for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters, including a mine tunnel located below the rock layer, the ore in the mine tunnel can be loaded into the airbag 4 by a robot from the tunnel through a seabed airbag 4 station, a base 1 is cast above the mine tunnel, a protective steel frame 2 is connected above the base 1, the protective steel frame 2 is used to prevent the airbag 4 from being affected by other factors during transportation and to constrain the airbag 4, a sealing mechanism 3 is provided inside the base 1, the airbag 4 is slidably matched with the protective steel frame 2 in the vertical direction, a pumping and draining port and an inflation pipe 5 connected to the air inlet of the airbag 4 are provided at the lower double-layer sealing valve 6, and there is also an airbag 4 pulling device located below the lower double-layer sealing valve 6 and connected to the airbag 4, due to the high seabed water pressure, this airbag 4 transportation method is only suitable for shallow waters, and the material of the airbag 4 needs to be wear-resistant and high-pressure resistant.

[0040] In this embodiment, the sealing mechanism 3 includes a lower double-layer sealing valve 6 and an upper double-layer sealing valve 7. The lower double-layer sealing valve 6 and the upper double-layer sealing valve 7 are combined to form a sealed space for placing the airbag 4. The setting of the sealed space prevents subsequent seawater from entering the mine tunnel.

[0041] In the present embodiment, a through groove 8 is provided through the middle part of the airbag 4, and a sealing interface of the airbag 4 is provided on the peripheral side of the inner wall of the through groove 8. A sealing interface of the airbag 4 corresponding to the sealing interface of the airbag 4 is provided above the lower double-layer sealing valve 6. A lower sealing cover 9 and an upper sealing cover 10 are provided at both ends of the through groove 8 respectively. In order to cover the ore placement bin, a plurality of inflation sealing interfaces 11 connected to the inflation tube 5 are provided below the airbag 4, and a plurality of exhaust holes 12 are provided above the airbag 4. The upper part of the airbag 4 is provided with exhaust holes 12, and the lower part is provided with inflation holes. The overall operating mechanism of "bottom filling and top discharge" is implemented, and electromagnetic docking control can be used to ensure the sealing of the airbag 4, the inflation tube 5 and the inflation sealing interface 11.

[0042] In this embodiment, a drain pipe 13 and an air intake pipe 14 are provided on the peripheral side of the protective steel frame 2, and both the drain pipe 13 and the air intake pipe 14 are connected to the protective steel frame 2. The specific connection method can be installed on the peripheral side of the protective steel frame 2 by welding or wire winding, and the drain pipe 13 and the air intake pipe 14 are connected to the sealed space, wherein the drain pipe 13 is used to evacuate the seawater from the outlet of the air bag 4, and the seawater can be stored inside the pipeline at the same time. After the air bag 4 is inflated and filled, the sealing valve and the grid baffle 15 on the air bag 4 are opened, and the seawater is discharged, thereby providing the original power for the transportation of the air bag 4.

[0043] In this embodiment, the upper double-layer sealing valve 7 and the lower double-layer sealing valve 6 are both divided into a mesh baffle 15 and a sealing baffle 16, and the mesh baffle 15 is close to the airbag 4, the mesh baffle 15 is used to block the airbag 4, and the sealing baffle 16 is used to block seawater to ensure the sealing work of the airbag 4 after entering the airbag 4 station, and the upper double-layer sealing valve 7 and the lower double-layer sealing valve 6 are both driven by an electric push rod. Specifically, the electric push rod adopts the patent document with publication number CN114825752A.

[0044] In this embodiment, the protective steel frame 2 includes a plurality of vertical pipes 17, and an arc rod 18 is connected between every two adjacent vertical pipes 17. The vertical pipes 17 and the arc rods 18 are connected by welding. The space formed by the plurality of vertical pipes 17 has the same diameter as the airbag 4, and the gap between the plurality of arc rods 18 is smaller than the diameter of the airbag 4. The above method prevents the airbag 4 from being affected by other factors during transportation, and plays a role in guiding the sliding of the airbag 4.

[0045] In this embodiment, the pulling device includes four chains 19 connected to the bottom of the airbag 4 and a motor 20 located in a sealed space. The output end of the motor 20 is connected to a winding drum 21. The winding drum 21 and the chain 19 are wound and connected. A through hole for the chain 19 to slide is provided at the lower double-layer sealing valve 6. The through hole and the chain 19 are sealed. The motor 20 is a shallow sea motor 20. A rubber sleeve is provided on the peripheral side of the chain 19. The rubber sleeve is provided to improve the sealing of the chain 19, and the winding drum is used to pull the airbag 4 into the sealed space.

[0046] A method for transporting seabed ore using an airbag 4 in shallow waters comprises the following steps:

[0047] Step S1, transporting the ore to the seabed airbag 4 station by a mine car;

[0048] Step S2, opening the lower sealing cover 9 of the airbag 4 and lifting it to the airbag 4 chamber;

[0049] Step S3, closing the sealing cover under the airbag 4, and closing the double-layer sealing valve 6 under the airbag 4;

[0050] Step S4, disconnecting the connection between the inflation tube 5 and the inflation sealing interface 11, and closing the pulling device of the airbag 4;

[0051] Step S5, open the upper double-layer sealing valve 7 to release the constraint of the upper double-layer sealing valve 7 on the airbag 4, and then open the drain pipe 13, which will draw out the seawater in the sealed space to increase the power of the airbag 4;

[0052] Step S6, due to the restraint of the protective steel frame 2, the airbag 4 will rise to the water surface due to the buoyancy of the water;

[0053] Step S7, after reaching the water surface, open the upper sealing cover 10 of the airbag 4 to take out the ore from the airbag 4, and then close the upper sealing cover 10;

[0054] Step S8, taking out the ore and then closing the upper sealing cover 10, opening the exhaust hole 12 to exhaust the airbag 4;

[0055] Step S9, after exhausting, close the exhaust hole 12, use the airbag 4 pulling device to pull the airbag 4 back to the airbag 4 compartment, and then roughly align the inflation sealing interface 11 with the inflation tube 5;

[0056] Step S10, close the double-layer sealing valve 7 on the airbag 4 station;

[0057] Step S11, inflate the airbag 4 from the inflation tube 5, and at the same time drain the water in the airbag 4 from the drain pipe 13;

[0058] Step S12, accurately aligning the sealing interface of the airbag 4 with the sealing interface of the airbag 4 chamber;

[0059] Step S13, open the lower double-layer sealing valve 6, and then open the lower sealing cover 9 of the airbag 4 to fill the ore.

[0060] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Anyone should be aware that any structural changes made under the enlightenment of the present invention, and any technical solutions that are the same or similar to the present invention, fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The technology, shape, and structural parts not described in detail in the present invention are all well-known technologies.

Claims

1. A method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters, the method is implemented based on a device for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters, and is characterized in that: The invention comprises a mine tunnel located below a rock layer, a base (1) is cast above the mine tunnel, a protective steel frame (2) is connected above the base (1), a sealing mechanism (3) is arranged inside the base (1), an air bag (4) is slidably matched in the vertical direction of the protective steel frame (2), the sealing mechanism (3) comprises a lower double-layer sealing valve (6) and an upper double-layer sealing valve (7), and the lower double-layer sealing valve (6) and the upper double-layer sealing valve (7) are combined to form a sealed space for placing the air bag (4); A plurality of inflation sealing interfaces (11) are provided below the airbag (4); a water pumping and drainage port and an inflation tube (5) connected to the inflation sealing interface (11) of the airbag (4) are provided at the lower double-layer sealing valve (6); and an airbag pulling device is provided above the lower double-layer sealing valve (6) and connected to the airbag (4); a through groove (8) is provided through the middle portion of the airbag (4); a lower sealing cover (9) and an upper sealing cover (10) are provided at both ends of the through groove (8); and a plurality of exhaust holes (12) are provided above the airbag (4).

2. The method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A drainage pipe (13) and an air intake pipe (14) are arranged on the peripheral side of the protective steel frame (2), and both the drainage pipe (13) and the air intake pipe (14) are connected to the sealed space, and the air intake pipe (14) is connected to the inflation pipe (5), and the drainage pipe (13) is connected to the water pumping and drainage outlets.

3. The method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The upper double-layer sealing valve (7) and the lower double-layer sealing valve (6) both include a mesh baffle (15) and a sealing baffle (16), and the mesh baffle (15) is close to the airbag (4).

4. The method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The protective steel frame (2) comprises a plurality of vertical pipes (17), wherein an arc-shaped rod (18) is connected between every two adjacent vertical pipes (17), and the space formed by the plurality of vertical pipes (17) has the same diameter as the airbag (4), and the gap between the plurality of arc-shaped rods (18) is smaller than the diameter of the airbag (4).

5. The method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The pulling device comprises four chains (19) connected below the airbag (4), and a motor (20) located in a sealed space. The output end of the motor (20) is connected to a winding disk (21), and the winding disk (21) and the chain (19) are wound and connected.

6. The method for transporting seabed ore using airbags in shallow waters according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The steps include: Step S1, transporting the ore to the seabed airbag station by a mine car; Step S2, opening the lower sealing cover (9) of the airbag (4) and sending it to the airbag (4) warehouse by lifting method; Step S3, closing the lower sealing cover of the airbag (4), and closing the double-layer sealing valve (6) under the airbag (4); Step S4, disconnecting the connection between the inflation tube (5) and the inflation sealing interface (11), and closing the pulling device of the airbag (4); Step S5, opening the upper double-layer sealing valve (7), releasing the constraint of the upper double-layer sealing valve (7) on the airbag (4), and then opening the drain pipe (13), which will discharge the seawater into the sealed space, thereby increasing the power of the airbag (4); Step S6, due to the restraint of the protective steel frame (2), the airbag (4) will rise to the water surface due to the buoyancy of the water; Step S7, after reaching the water surface, open the upper sealing cover (10) of the airbag (4) to take out the ore from the airbag (4) compartment, and then close the upper sealing cover (10); Step S8, opening the exhaust hole (12) to exhaust the airbag (4); Step S9, after exhausting, close the exhaust hole (12), use the airbag pulling device to pull the airbag (4) back to the airbag (4) compartment, and then roughly align the inflation sealing interface (11) with the inflation tube (5); Step S10, closing the double-layer sealing valve (7) on the airbag station; Step S11, accurately aligning the sealing interface of the airbag with the inflation sealing interface (11); Step S12, inflating the airbag (4) through the inflation pipe (5), and draining the water in the airbag (4) through the drainage pipe (13); Step S13, open the lower double-layer sealing valve (6), and then open the lower sealing cover (9) of the air bag (4) to fill the ore.

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