Deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with stock bin

Abstract

The utility model discloses a deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with bins, which is connected with a mother ship through a cable and comprises a platform base, a plurality of independently arranged bin limiting grooves, a clutch mechanism, conveying branch pipes corresponding to the bin limiting grooves, a platform beacon and a propeller. The propeller enables the relay platform and the mining vehicle to move synchronously; a pipeline switching assembly is arranged on the relay platform, one end of the conveying main pipe is connected with a mineral aggregate outlet of the mining vehicle, and the other end is communicated with the pipeline switching assembly; the conveying branch pipes selectively communicate with the conveying main pipe through the pipeline switching assembly. A clutch mechanism is arranged on the stock bin, the clutch mechanism comprises a rotatable clamping plate, and mechanical locking or separation of the stock bin and the limiting groove is achieved through hydraulic driving; each stock bin is provided with an independent buoyancy adjusting assembly and a self-propelling device; the mining vehicle is dynamically connected with the different stock bin conveying branch pipes through the short-distance conveying main pipe, and a multi-stock-bin parallel filling operation mode is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of deep-sea mineral resource development technology, specifically a deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper. Background Technology

[0002] As an important strategic mineral resource, the efficient mining technology of deep-sea polymetallic nodules has become a research hotspot in the field of international marine resource development. The current mainstream deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining system adopts a serial architecture of "mining machine - underwater ore hoisting system - surface vessel". After the tracked or floating mining machine collects the nodule ore, it is transported to a fixed underwater relay station through a hose, and then transported to the surface vessel through a multi-stage hoisting pump and rigid pipe serial system.

[0003] The existing series pipeline transportation mode achieves vertical lifting of mineral materials through long-distance series of rigid pipes. Its advantage lies in the ability to achieve continuous transportation. However, its core design concept originates from pipeline technology in the shallow sea oil and gas industry and has not yet been adapted and optimized for the complex environment of the deep sea.

[0004] Meanwhile, fixed underwater relay stations connect mining machines and hoisting pipelines at a fixed height above the seabed, which can reduce the direct impact of mining machine movement on the conveying system. However, this architecture lacks dynamic response capability to changes in the hydrodynamic environment.

[0005] Therefore, although existing technical solutions have made some progress in shallow-sea trials, they still face the following technical bottlenecks in actual deep-sea commercial exploitation:

[0006] 1. The system has low deployment and recovery efficiency. The rigid pipes and lifting pumps need to be bolted together step by step, and a single deployment and recovery can take tens of hours in deep-sea operations at depths of thousands of meters. 2. The system has poor responsiveness to sudden severe weather at sea. If the lifting system cannot be recovered before the arrival of typhoons, strong cyclones, or other safety risks, the unrecovered portion must be discarded, resulting in significant economic losses.

[0007] 2. In deep-sea environments, ultra-long rigid pipes are prone to vortex-induced vibration under complex loads such as internal wave currents, resulting in significant skewing, deformation, and even cavitation failure of the booster pump. The stress on the rigid pipes becomes even more severe when the vessel needs to move in conjunction with a seabed mining system. Increasing the pipe wall thickness to ensure connection strength would significantly increase the weight, placing higher demands on the vessel's support capabilities.

[0008] 3. The existing system adopts a single-channel series mode of "mining machine - hoisting system - ship". Failure at any node (such as failure of the hoisting pump seal or buckling and breakage of the rigid pipe) may cause the entire system to shut down, which is not easy to meet the continuity requirements of commercial mining. Utility Model Content

[0009] The purpose of this invention is to provide a deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper that does not require serial operation and has a short deployment and retrieval time.

[0010] This utility model provides a deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with silos, connected to a mother ship via cables. The relay platform includes a platform base, multiple independently configured silo limiting slots, a clutch mechanism, conveying branches corresponding to each silo limiting slot, a platform beacon, and a propeller. The propeller enables the relay platform to move synchronously with the mining vehicle. The relay platform is equipped with a pipeline switching assembly, with one end of the main conveying pipe connected to the ore outlet of the mining vehicle and the other end connected to the pipeline switching assembly. The conveying branches are selectively connected to the main conveying pipe through the pipeline switching assembly. The silos are equipped with a clutch mechanism, which includes a rotatable locking plate and uses hydraulic drive to mechanically lock or disengage the silos from the limiting slots. Each silo is equipped with an independent buoyancy adjustment assembly and a self-propulsion device. The mining vehicle is dynamically connected to the conveying branches of different silos via a short-distance conveying main pipe, forming a multi-silo parallel filling operation mode.

[0011] In one embodiment of the aforementioned relay platform, the mother ship is equipped with a winch, an A-frame, cables, and buoyancy material; the winch is connected to one end of the cable via the A-frame, and the other end of the cable is connected to the relay platform; the buoyancy material is evenly distributed on the cable.

[0012] In one embodiment of the above-mentioned relay platform, the platform base is a rigid frame structure, the hopper limiting groove is a groove-type positioning mechanism; each groove has a clutch component on its inner wall and a ore conveying branch pipe interface at the bottom.

[0013] In one embodiment of the aforementioned relay platform, the pipeline switching component is a rotary indexing disc-shaped pipeline distributor, driven by a motor to rotate, with main and auxiliary conveying channels of different diameters, which can automatically switch the conveying path according to the filling status of the silo.

[0014] In one embodiment of the aforementioned relay platform, the silo includes a storage silo, a buoyancy body, and a discharge gate; the storage silo is a lightweight alloy storage container, with a feed protection pipe and an automatic opening and closing cover at the bottom that connects to the conveying branch pipe; the top of the storage silo is equipped with a beacon, a camera, and a light; the side of the storage silo has a discharge gate, which is a mesh plate; the buoyancy body covers the outer wall of the storage silo, and a propeller is installed at the bottom of the buoyancy body.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows:

[0016] 1. The "mining machine - floating silo platform - ship" scheme achieves parallel material conveying through multiple independent floating silos, replacing the traditional serial pipeline conveying system; the failure of any silo does not affect the operation of the overall system, significantly improving reliability and continuity;

[0017] 2. The platform moves in real time following the mining vehicle through buoyancy adjustment and propulsion control, and is directly connected to the mining machine through a short-distance transport main pipe, avoiding the structural risks caused by ultra-long rigid pipes; at the same time, the mother ship is connected to the mining machine only through a cable, which greatly reduces the weight of the underwater system and shortens the deployment and retrieval time significantly.

[0018] 3. A quick-clutch assembly is set up, using a reciprocating hydraulic cylinder to drive the clamping plate, so as to realize the rapid separation and locking of the hopper and the platform, which greatly shortens the system deployment and recovery time; at the same time, through the rotary disc indexing control of the pipeline switching assembly, the connection sequence of the main / auxiliary feed pipe and different hoppers is dynamically allocated, so as to realize the parallel filling of multiple hoppers. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the usage state of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Isometric view of the central silo and relay platform.

[0021] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Axonometric view of the relay platform.

[0022] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Side view of the relay platform.

[0023] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Top view of the middle limiting groove.

[0024] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Vertical cross-section at point AA.

[0025] Figure 7 for Figure 2 Isometric view of the intermediate hopper. (Unloading gate not shown)

[0026] Figure 8 for Figure 8 Front view of the central silo.

[0027] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Side view sectional view of the intermediate silo. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The relevant technical solutions will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0029] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the deep-sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a silo disclosed in this embodiment includes a mother ship 1, a relay platform 2, a silo 3, and a mining vehicle 4.

[0030] The mother ship 1 is equipped with a winch 11, an A-frame 12, a cable 13, and buoyancy material 14.

[0031] The winch 11 is connected to one end of the cable 13 via the A-frame 12, and the other end of the cable is connected to the relay platform 2.

[0032] The buoyancy material 14 is evenly distributed on the cable 13 to adjust the buoyancy of the cable and ensure that the relay platform 2 maintains a state of zero buoyancy to positive buoyancy in the water.

[0033] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the relay platform 2 includes a platform base 21, a hopper limiting groove 22, a clutch assembly 23, a main conveying pipe 24, a branch conveying pipe 25, a pipeline switching assembly 26, a platform beacon 27, and a thruster 28.

[0034] The platform base 21 is a rigid frame structure, with multiple independent hopper limiting grooves 22 on the upper surface. The hopper limiting grooves are groove structures, and a clutch component 23 is set inside to fix or release the hopper 3.

[0035] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the clutch assembly 23 drives the hinged clamping plate through a reciprocating hydraulic cylinder. The clamping plate is set on both sides of the hopper limiting groove 22. The hopper 3 is locked or disengaged from the hopper limiting groove by the rotation of the clamping plate.

[0036] One end of the conveying main pipe 24 is connected to the ore outlet of the mining vehicle 4, and the other end is connected to the pipeline switching component 26; the conveying branch pipes 25 are respectively set at the bottom of the limiting grooves 22 of each hopper, and are selectively connected to the conveying main pipe through the pipeline switching component.

[0037] The pipeline switching component 26 is a rotary indexing disc-shaped pipeline distributor, driven by a motor to rotate. The disc is equipped with a main feed pipe with a large inner diameter and an auxiliary feed pipe with a small inner diameter; when multiple hoppers are fed at the same time, the hoppers are filled in sequence.

[0038] The main feed pipe prioritizes filling the designated silo with ore, while the auxiliary feed pipe assists in partially filling other silos. When the silo corresponding to the main feed pipe is full, the disc rotates and indexes, causing the main feed pipe to switch to the next silo, and the silo corresponding to the original auxiliary feed pipe is promoted to the main feed target.

[0039] Platform beacon 27 is used to establish positioning guidance with mother ship 1, mining vehicle 4 and silo 3.

[0040] The thruster 28 is installed at the bottom of the platform base 21, and the relay platform 2 and the mining car 4 can be moved synchronously by adjusting the thrust direction.

[0041] like Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the hopper 3 includes a storage hopper 31, a buoyancy body 32, a feed protection pipe 33, a cover plate 34, a discharge door 35, a propeller 36, a beacon 37, a camera 38, and a light 39.

[0042] The storage bin 31 is made of lightweight alloy, and a feed protection pipe 33 is installed at the bottom of the inner cavity. The feed protection pipe is sleeved on the outside of the conveying branch pipe 25, and a cover plate 34 is hinged to the top. After feeding is completed, the cover plate 34 is closed to prevent the ore from flowing back.

[0043] The buoyancy body 32 covers the outer wall of the storage bin 31, and the storage bin 3 can be suspended underwater or floated by adjusting the buoyancy.

[0044] The storage silo 31 has a discharge door 35 on its side. The discharge door is a grid-like plate that connects to seawater to ensure pressure balance inside and outside the silo.

[0045] A propeller 36 is installed at the bottom of the buoyancy body 32; a beacon 37, a camera 38 and a light 39 are installed at the top of the storage bin 31.

[0046] The method for using this mining system is as follows:

[0047] 1. The relay platform dynamically follows the mining vehicle.

[0048] The mother ship lays cables via a winch and an A-frame, with the lower end of the cables connected to the relay platform. The tension of the cables is adjusted using buoyancy materials to ensure that the relay platform is in a state of zero buoyancy to positive buoyancy. The relay platform adjusts its course using thrusters to keep pace with the mining vehicle. The platform beacon communicates in real time with the positioning system of the mining vehicle, ensuring that the platform is always suspended directly above the mining vehicle. The ore outlet of the mining vehicle is connected to the pipeline switching component of the relay platform via a short-distance conveying main pipe.

[0049] 2. Parallel ore conveying and multi-compartment filling

[0050] The disc indexing structure of the pipeline switching component aligns the main feed pipe with the conveying branch pipe of the No. 1 silo and the auxiliary feed pipe with the conveying branch pipe of the No. 2 silo; when the main conveying pipe is opened, the ore collected by the mining vehicle flows to the main feed pipe through the main conveying pipe and fills the No. 1 silo first.

[0051] When the No. 1 silo is full of ore, the No. 2 silo corresponding to the auxiliary feed pipe is only filled to 1 / 3 capacity; the disc of the pipeline switching component rotates, causing the main feed pipe to switch to the No. 2 silo and the auxiliary feed pipe to switch to the No. 3 silo; after the ore conveying channel is switched, the main feed pipe fills the No. 2 silo first, and the auxiliary feed pipe simultaneously fills the No. 3 silo partially.

[0052] 3. Fully loaded silo detachment and recovery

[0053] When the hopper corresponding to the main feed pipe, such as hopper number one, is full, the clutch component of the relay platform is triggered; the reciprocating hydraulic cylinder drives the articulated plate to retract, releasing the locking constraint between hopper number one and the hopper limit groove.

[0054] The thrusters at the bottom of the full silo are activated, and guided by the beacon, the silo moves toward the mother ship; cameras and lights on the top of the silo monitor the navigation path and the external environment.

[0055] After the full silo arrives at the mother ship, the ore is discharged through the unloading gate. The grid structure of the unloading gate ensures that the pressure inside and outside the silo is balanced during unloading. After unloading is completed, the mother ship will put the empty silo back into the sea.

[0056] 4. Empty hopper return to position and system reset

[0057] The empty hopper moves toward the relay platform via thrusters, and the beacon establishes a navigation connection with the platform beacon.

[0058] After the empty hopper enters the hopper limit slot of the relay platform, the reciprocating hydraulic cylinder of the clutch component drives the plate to extend and fix the hopper to the platform base.

[0059] The disc indexing of the pipeline switching component rotates again, switching the main feed pipe to the currently idle hopper and restoring it to the parallel filling state.

[0060] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the utility model. Although detailed descriptions have been provided with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper, connected to a mother ship by a cable, characterised in that: The relay platform includes a platform base, multiple independently set hopper limit slots, a clutch mechanism, conveying pipes corresponding to each hopper limit slot, a platform beacon, and a thruster. The thruster enables the relay platform to move synchronously with the mining vehicle. The relay platform is equipped with a pipeline switching component. One end of the main conveying pipe is connected to the ore outlet of the mining car, and the other end is connected to the pipeline switching component. The branch conveying pipes are selectively connected to the main conveying pipe through the pipeline switching component. The hopper is equipped with a clutch mechanism, which includes a rotatable locking plate. The clutch mechanism is hydraulically driven to mechanically lock or disengage the hopper from the limiting groove. Each hopper is equipped with an independent buoyancy adjustment component and a self-propulsion device. The mining truck is dynamically connected to the conveying branches of different material bins through a short-distance conveying main pipe, forming a multi-bin parallel filling operation mode.

2. A deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The mother ship is equipped with a winch, an A-frame, cables, and buoyancy material; the winch is connected to one end of the cable via the A-frame, and the other end of the cable is connected to the relay platform; the buoyancy material is evenly distributed on the cable.

3. A deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The platform base is a rigid frame structure, and the hopper limiting groove is a groove-type positioning mechanism; each groove has a clutch component on its inner wall and a ore conveying branch pipe interface at the bottom.

4. A deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The pipeline switching component is a rotary indexing disc-shaped pipeline distributor, driven by a motor to rotate, with main and auxiliary conveying channels of different diameters, which can automatically switch the conveying path according to the filling status of the silo.

5. A deep sea polymetallic nodule mining relay platform with a hopper as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The silo includes a storage bin, a buoyancy body, and a discharge gate; The storage silo is a lightweight alloy storage container with a feed protection pipe at the bottom that connects to the conveying branch pipe and an automatic opening and closing cover. The top of the storage silo is equipped with a beacon, a camera, and a light. The side of the storage silo has a discharge door, which is a mesh plate. A buoyancy body covers the outer wall of the storage silo, and a propeller is installed at the bottom of the buoyancy body.

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