Ore lifting device

Abstract

To provide an ore lifting device that can prevent a problem of an eccentricity or an inclination of a capsule.SOLUTION: An ore lifting device comprises: a pipe line having a descent pipe reached from sea to a sea bottom, a riser pipe reached from the sea bottom to the sea, and a first connection pipe connecting a lower end of the descent pipe and a lower end of the riser pipe; a carrier substance filled within the pipe line and sent in the pipe line from an upper end of the descent pipe up to an upper end of the riser pipe; and capsules mixed in the carrier substance and capable of storing a sea bottom substance or a disused substance in its inside. The capsule has: a cylindrical capsule body; and one or more spacer members provided at an outer peripheral surface of the capsule body and protruded toward an inner surface of the pipe line.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting device capable of lifting undersea substances by hydraulic mining.

Background Art

[0002] A lifting device and a lifting method for lifting valuable minerals on the seabed have been disclosed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In this lifting device and lifting method, a carrier substance, which is a viscous flowing substance, is circulated in an annular pipeline including a downcomer and a riser, and valuable minerals on the seabed are recovered by capsules mixed in the carrier substance.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Disclosure of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above conventional lifting device and lifting method, the diameter of the capsule needs to be smaller than the inner diameter of the pipeline. However, this may cause problems of eccentricity where the position of the capsule deviates from the center of the pipeline and inclination where the axis of the capsule tilts with respect to the flow direction of the carrier substance.

[0005] There are also needs to improve the transport efficiency of the capsules or, when the pump stops for some reason, to minimize the loss due to the sedimentation of the capsules. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lifting device capable of preventing problems of eccentricity and inclination of the capsules.

[0006] Another secondary object of the present invention is to provide a lifting mining device that can improve the transportation efficiency of capsules and can prevent losses due to the sedimentation of capsules as much as possible when the pump stops.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The above problems are solved by the following present invention. That is, the lifting mining device of the present invention (1) includes a pipeline having a downcomer reaching from the sea to the seabed, a riser reaching from the seabed to the sea, and a first connecting pipe connecting the lower end of the downcomer and the lower end of the riser, a carrier substance filled in the pipeline and sent through the pipeline from the upper end of the downcomer to the upper end of the riser, capsules mixed in the carrier substance and capable of accommodating undersea substances or unnecessary substances inside, and is provided with The capsule includes a cylindrical capsule body, one or more spacer members provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body and protruding toward the inner surface of the pipeline, and has

[0008] Moreover, the lifting mining device of the present invention (2) is the lifting mining device described in (1), each of the one or more spacer members is plate-shaped and extends along the axial direction of the capsule.

[0009] Moreover, the lifting mining device of the present invention (3) is the lifting mining device described in (1), each of the one or more spacer members is a roller rotatable with respect to the inner surface of the pipeline.

[0010] Moreover, the lifting mining device of the present invention (4) is the lifting mining device described in (1), each of the one or more spacer members extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule.

[0011] Moreover, the lifting mining device of the present invention (5) is the lifting mining device described in (4), Each of the one or more spacer members is rotatable between a deployed position that extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule and a folded position that is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body.

[0012] Further, the ore lifting device of the present invention (6) is the ore lifting device according to (1), Each of the one or more spacer members extends in a discontinuous annular shape in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule.

[0013] Further, the ore lifting device of the present invention (7) is the ore lifting device according to (6), Each of the one or more spacer members is rotatable between a deployed position that extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule and a folded position that is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body.

[0014] Further, the ore lifting device of the present invention (8) is a pipeline having a downcomer reaching from the sea to the seabed, a riser reaching from the seabed to the sea, and a first connecting pipe connecting the lower end of the downcomer and the lower end of the riser, a carrier substance that is filled in the pipeline and sent through the pipeline from the upper end of the downcomer to the upper end of the riser, a capsule that is mixed in the carrier substance and can accommodate undersea substances or unwanted substances inside, and the capsule includes a capsule body, a pressure receiving member that is deployed in a parachute shape from the capsule body toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance, and

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ore lifting device that can prevent problems such as eccentricity and inclination of the capsule.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the ore lifting device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The ore lifting device of the present invention can recover submarine substances (valuable substances) into a capsule at the seabed and pump them to the sea surface. Further, the ore lifting device of the present invention can return, via a capsule, unnecessary substances, which are residues after sorting valuable substances from the submarine substances pumped to the sea surface, to a disposal site on the seabed again. [Embodiment]

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the ore lifting device 11 of the embodiment will be described. The ore lifting device 11 includes a mother ship 12, a transport ship 15 for transporting valuable substances 14 selected from undersea substances 13 on the mother ship 12, a pipeline 17 that is put into the sea 16 from the mother ship 12 and installed in a loop shape, a carrier substance 21 filled in the pipeline 17, a plurality of capsules 22 mixed in the carrier substance 21, a pump 23 for circulating the carrier substance 21 in the pipeline 17, and an adjustment tank 24 for adjusting the carrier substance 21 to be added to the pipeline 17. Each of the pump 23 and the adjustment tank 24 is provided, for example, in the middle of a branch pipe 17A provided on the mother ship 12 so as to branch from the pipeline 17 on the sea 33. The installation position of the pump 23 is not limited to the mother ship 12, and it may be located at any position as long as a branch pipe 17A is provided at any location within the pipeline 17 system. In FIG. 1, the capsule 22 is schematically shown and does not reflect the actual shape of the capsule 22 as described later.

[0019] Each part of the pipeline 17 is constituted by, for example, a cylindrical pipe made of steel material. The pipeline 17 forms a loop shape, for example, reaching from the sea 33 to the seabed 34 and then returning from the seabed 34 to the sea 33 again. Alternatively, the pipeline 17 may form a "U" shape reaching from the sea 33 to the seabed 34 and then returning from the seabed 34 to the sea 33 again.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pipeline 17 includes a downcomer 35 reaching from the sea 33 to the seabed 34, a riser 36 reaching from the seabed 34 to the sea 33, a first connecting pipe 25 connecting the lower end 35B of the downcomer 35 and the lower end 36B of the riser 36, and a second connecting pipe 37 connecting the upper end of the riser 36 and the upper end of the downcomer 35. Most of the downcomer 35 and most of the riser 36 are provided in the sea 16.

[0021] The first connecting pipe 25 is provided on the seabed 34. The diameter of the first connecting pipe 25 is formed to be smaller than, for example, the diameter of the capsule 22. For this reason, the capsule 22 is transferred from the downcomer 35 to the riser 36 by the first revolver section 28 described later, rather than by the first connecting pipe 25. Note that making the diameter of the first connecting pipe 25 smaller than the diameter of the capsule 22 is just an example. Alternatively, morphological devising can be done for the branching of the pipeline 17 (such as making the angle at which the first connecting pipe 25 branches with respect to the traveling direction of the capsule 22 in the downcomer 35 be 90° or more), or a mesh screen or the like can be installed. By such reasonable methods, the capsule 22 can be prevented from entering the first connecting pipe 25. The second connecting pipe 37 is provided on the sea 33. The pipeline 17 may have flexibility as a whole.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ore lifting device 11 includes a first revolver section 28 provided across the lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35 and the lower end portion 36B of the riser 36, a first input section 32 provided on the first surface 56 side of the first revolver section 28 described later, a first camera 46 provided in the vicinity of the first revolver section 28 for checking whether the capsule 22 is clogged with respect to the first revolver section 28, and a first sensor 44 for detecting that the capsule 22 is correctly stored in the chamber 55 of the first revolver section 28.

[0023] The first revolver section 28 is rotatable around the first rotation axis 54. The lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35 is connected to the first revolver section 28 in a liquid-tight manner via, for example, packing or the like, and is structured such that the carrier substance 21 in the pipeline 17 does not leak out of the pipe as much as possible when the first revolver section 28 rotates. Similarly, the lower end portion 36B of the riser 36 is connected to the first revolver section 28 in a liquid-tight manner via, for example, packing or the like, and is structured such that the carrier substance 21 in the pipeline 17 does not leak out of the pipe as much as possible when the first revolver section 28 rotates.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first revolver unit 28 includes a cylindrical revolver unit main body 53, a first rotating shaft 54 provided so as to penetrate the revolver unit main body 53, a plurality of chambers 55 penetrating the revolver unit main body 53 in the vertical direction around the first rotating shaft 54, and a motor (not shown) for rotating the revolver unit main body 53. Each of the plurality of chambers 55 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape with an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the capsule 22 so that the capsule 22 can be received inside. In the present embodiment, the plurality of chambers 55 are configured by, for example, four, but may be five or more, or may be three.

[0025] The revolver unit main body 53 has a first surface 56 that is liquid-tightly connected to the downcomer 35 and the riser 36 and faces the downcomer 35 and the riser 36, a second surface 57 opposite to the first surface 56, and an engaging portion 58 provided in the vicinity of the second surface 57 and engageable with the capsule 22. The engaging portion 58 is formed in an annular shape so as to protrude from the inner surface of the chamber 55 toward the center of the chamber 55. The chamber 55 has a first communication port 61 provided so as to communicate with the first surface 56, and a second communication port 62 provided so as to communicate with the second surface 57 inside the engaging portion 58.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 55 can rotate between a first position P1, a second position P2 rotated 90° counterclockwise, for example, from the first position P1, a third position P3 rotated 90° counterclockwise, for example, from the second position P2, and a fourth position P4 rotated 90° counterclockwise, for example, from the third position P3 by the rotation of the first revolver unit 28. The chamber 55 rotated 90° counterclockwise, for example, from the fourth position P4 can return to the first position P1 again.

[0027] At the first position P1, the chamber 55 communicates with the lower end 35B of the downcomer 35 and can receive the capsule 22 descending from the downcomer 35. At the second position P2, the capsule 22 in the chamber 55 can discharge the internal unnecessary substances 18. At the third position P3, the capsule 22 in the chamber 55 can receive the seabed substances 13 into the emptied interior after discharging the unnecessary substances 18. At the fourth position P4, the chamber 55 communicates with the lower end 36B of the riser 36 and can release the capsule 22 toward the riser 36. In the first revolver section 28, when taking in and out the seabed substances 13 and unnecessary substances 18 from and into the capsule 22, there is an advantage that it is not necessary to take out the capsule 22 from the chamber 55 deliberately, and the work can be carried out efficiently.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the ore lifting device 11 includes a first operation unit 71 provided at a position corresponding to the first position P1, a second operation unit 72 provided at a position corresponding to the second position P2, a third operation unit 73 provided at a position corresponding to the third position P3, a fourth operation unit 74 provided at a position corresponding to the fourth position P4, and a first control unit 42 that controls the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 and controls the rotation of the first revolver section 28. Each of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 is configured by a robot that can be operated by receiving power supply from a power source such as a large-capacity battery or a generator installed on the mother ship 12 on the sea 33 or on the seabed 34 through the power supply circuit of the first control unit 42.

[0029] Each of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 is configured by, for example, a general robot arm and includes, for example, an arm portion (not shown) including a plurality of joints, a finger portion 75 provided at the tip of the arm portion, and a plurality of motors (not shown) for rotating each joint of the arm portion. The structures of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 are substantially the same as each other. Each of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 may have a camera for visually recognizing the capsule 22.

[0030] The first operation unit 71 is provided, for example, above the first revolver unit 28 and can assist the movement of the capsule 22 from the lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35 into the chamber 55. Further, when clogging of the capsule 22 occurs near the first revolver unit 28, the first operation unit 71 can appropriately move the capsule 22 to eliminate the clogging of the capsule 22. The first operation unit 71 is movable, for example, in the vertical direction and also in the radial direction of the first revolver unit 28. The first operation unit 71 may be configured to be retractable outside the pipeline 17 so as not to interfere with the movement of the capsule 22 when the capsule 22 passes through the lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35.

[0031] The second operation unit 72 is provided, for example, facing the second surface 57 below the first revolver unit 28 and can move the lid 27 on the second surface 57 side of the capsule 22 from the closed position S1 to the open position S2 at the second position P2. Thereby, the unnecessary substance 18 can be discharged from the capsule 22 toward the sea (the disposal site on the seabed 34). The second operation unit 72 can also move the lid 27 on the second surface 57 side from the open position S2 to the closed position S1 again after the discharge of the unnecessary substance 18. The second operation unit 72 is movable, for example, in the vertical direction and also in the radial direction of the first revolver unit 28.

[0032] The third operation unit 73 is provided, for example, facing the first surface 56 above the first revolver unit 28 and can move the lid 27 on the first surface 56 side of the capsule 22 from the closed position S1 to the open position S2 at the third position P3. Thereby, the seabed substance 13 introduced from the first input unit 32 into the capsule 22 can be received. The third operation unit 73 can also move the lid 27 on the first surface 56 side from the open position S2 to the closed position S1 again after the introduction of the seabed substance 13 into the capsule 22. The third operation unit 73 is movable, for example, in the vertical direction and also in the radial direction of the first revolver unit 28.

[0033] The fourth operation unit 74 is provided, for example, below the first revolver unit 28 and facing the second surface 57, and can move the capsule 22 from inside the chamber 55 to the lower end 36B of the riser pipe 36. The fourth operation unit 74 is, for example, movable in the vertical direction. The fourth operation unit 74 may also be movable, for example, in the radial direction of the first revolver unit 28.

[0034] Note that each of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 is not limited to being configured by a robot arm, and may be realized by other structures and mechanisms. For example, instead of the first operation unit 71, a guide structure for guiding the capsule 22 into the chamber 55 may be provided on the inner wall of the lower end 35B of the downcomer 35 to reliably guide the capsule 22 into the chamber 55. Alternatively, by an electromagnetic method, for example, a permanent magnet may be provided on the capsule 22, an electromagnet may be provided in the chamber 55, and the capsule 22 may be guided into the chamber 55 by magnetic attraction. Similarly, for example, instead of the fourth operation unit 74, a guide structure for guiding the capsule 22 into the riser pipe 36 may be provided on the inner wall of the lower end 36B of the riser pipe 36 to reliably guide the capsule 22 into the riser pipe 36. Alternatively, by an electromagnetic method, for example, a permanent magnet may be provided on the capsule 22, an electromagnet may be provided in the chamber 55, and the capsule 22 may be pushed into the riser pipe 36 by the repulsive force of magnetic force. Further, instead of the second operation unit 72 and the third operation unit 73, an actuator such as a solenoid or a cylinder may be used to simply open and close the lid 27 of the capsule 22.

[0035] The first control unit 42 is configured by, for example, a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other storage media. Software (programs) for controlling the movement of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 and software (programs) for controlling the rotation of the first revolver unit 28 are installed in the first control unit 42. The first control unit 42 further includes a power supply circuit that supplies power to the motors of the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74 and the motor of the first revolver unit 28.

[0036] The first sensor 44 can use any sensor that can sense that the capsule 22 is correctly housed in the chamber 55 and send that information to the first control unit 42. The first sensor 44 is, for example, composed of a proximity sensor that can be used underwater. Alternatively, the first sensor 44 may be composed of a physical switch provided in the chamber, and the first control unit 42 may sense that the capsule 22 is correctly housed in the chamber when the capsule 22 presses the switch. The first sensor 44 is provided outside the pipeline 17, but may also be provided inside the pipeline 17.

[0037] The first camera 46 is composed of an underwater camera that can be used under high pressure in the deep sea. The first camera 46 can send the acquired image information to the first control unit 42. The first camera 46 is not essential, and the first sensor 44 (proximity sensor, physical switch, etc.) may detect whether there is a clogging of the capsule 22 in the first revolver unit 28. In this case, the first camera 46 can be omitted.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the first input unit 32 includes a funnel-shaped first input unit main body 47 that stores the seabed material 13 inside, and a first shutter valve 48 that can put the lower end of the first input unit main body 47 and the inside of the capsule 22 in a communicating state or cut off the communicating state. The first shutter valve 48 is composed of, for example, an electromagnetic valve, and can move between a state where the inside of the capsule 22 and the surrounding environment (sea, first input unit main body 47) are blocked and a state where the inside of the capsule 22 and the surrounding environment are in communication under the control from the first control unit 42. In this embodiment, the first input unit 32 has the first shutter valve 48, but may also have a shutter as a physical partition wall.

[0039] The first input unit 32 is provided above the first revolver unit 28. Therefore, by putting the first shutter valve 48 in a state where the inside of the capsule 22 and the surrounding environment are in communication, the seabed material 13 in the first input unit main body 47 can be input into the capsule 22 by the action of gravity.

[0040] The ore lifting device 11 further has a heavy machine (not shown) that can be used on the seabed 34. Under the control of the first control unit 42, the heavy machine can feed a predetermined amount of the seabed material 13 existing on the seabed 34 into the first charging unit main body 47.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the ore lifting device 11 includes a second revolver unit 81 provided on the mother ship 12 in the middle of the second connecting pipe 37, a second charging unit 82 provided in the vicinity of the second revolver unit 81, a second camera 83 provided in the vicinity of the second revolver unit 81 for checking whether the capsule 22 is clogged with respect to the second revolver unit 81, a second sensor 84 for detecting that the capsule 22 is correctly stored in the chamber 55 of the second revolver unit 81, a fifth operation unit 85 provided on the mother ship 12 in the vicinity of the second revolver unit 81, a second control unit 86 for controlling the rotation of the second revolver unit 81 and the movement of the fifth operation unit 85, and a third camera (not shown) provided on the fifth operation unit 85.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second revolver unit 81 includes a casing 87 having a hollow cylindrical shape, a second rotating shaft 91, a rotating body 88 with a protruding wall configured to be rotatable around the second rotating shaft 91 within the casing 87, an ascending pipe connection portion 36A on the side of the ascending pipe 36, and a descending pipe connection portion 35A on the side of the descending pipe 35. A through hole through which the second rotating shaft 91 passes is provided at the center of the second revolver unit 81. The casing 87 has an opening 92 for opening to the atmosphere at the upper part. Through this opening 92, the capsule 22 can be taken out from the second revolver unit 81 or returned to the second revolver unit 81. The second revolver unit 81 has a motor (not shown) for rotating the rotating body 88 with a protruding wall.

[0043] The rotating body 88 with protruding walls has a rotating body central portion 93 having a shaft hole into which the second rotating shaft 91 is fitted, and four protruding walls 94 radially extending from the rotating body central portion 93. The four protruding walls 94 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 5, three sealed chambers are formed within the casing 87. By rotating the rotating body 88 with protruding walls, the sealed chamber can move to a position communicating with the downpipe connecting portion 35A and the riser pipe connecting portion 36A. Further, when the rotating body 88 with protruding walls continues to rotate, the sealed chamber can move to a position facing the opening 92 and is opened to the atmosphere.

[0044] The rotating body 88 with protruding walls may have, for example, a pedestal (not shown) that supports the capsule 22. This pedestal can support the capsule 22 at the same height as the downpipe connecting portion 35A so that the capsule 22 can move smoothly with respect to the downpipe connecting portion 35A when the sealed chamber containing the capsule 22 communicates with the downpipe connecting portion 35A. In the second revolver portion 81, when taking in and out the seabed material 13 and the unnecessary material 18 from the capsule 22, the capsule 22 will be taken out from within the second revolver portion 81. In the present embodiment, by adopting such a form for the second revolver portion 81, it is made easy to adjust the increase or decrease in the number of capsules 22 in the sea area 33, or to collect and re-introduce the capsules 22 for maintenance management of the capsules 22. For the improvement of work efficiency, it is of course possible to make the second revolver portion 81 have the same structure as the first revolver portion 28 and adopt a form in which the capsule 22 is not taken out from the second revolver portion 81.

[0045] The second control unit 86 is composed of, for example, a computer including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and other storage media. Installed in the second control unit 86 are software (programs) for controlling the movement of the fifth operation unit 85 and software (programs) for controlling the rotation of the second revolver portion 81. The second control unit 86 further includes a power supply circuit that supplies power to the respective motors of the fifth operation unit 85 and the motor of the second revolver portion 81.

[0046] The fifth operating unit 85 can visually recognize the capsule 22 within the opening 92 via the third camera. In the state visually recognized by the third camera, the fifth operating unit 85 can take out the capsule 22 within the casing 87 through the opening 92 with its tip gripping portion 85A, or open the lid 27 of the taken-out capsule 22 from the closed position S1 to the open position S2 to take out the seafloor material 13 from inside the capsule 22. The fifth operating unit 85 can move the capsule 22 that has been emptied after taking out the seafloor material 13 to the vicinity of the second input unit 82, and can receive the unwanted material 18 dropped from the second input unit 82 into the capsule 22. Further, the fifth operating unit 85 can then move the lid 27 from the open position S2 to the closed position S1, or return the capsule 22 into which the unwanted material 18 has been introduced into the casing 87 through the opening 92. The fifth operating unit 85 is configured by a robot, for example, that can be operated by receiving power supply from a power source such as a large-capacity battery or a generator installed on the mother ship 12 on the sea 33 through the power supply circuit of the second control unit 86.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 4, the fifth operating unit 85 is configured by, for example, a general robotic arm, and has a tip gripping portion 85A and a finger-shaped auxiliary arm 85B that can operate independently of the tip gripping portion 85A. The lid 27 of the capsule 22 gripped by the fifth operating unit 85 can be opened and closed by the auxiliary arm 85B.

[0048] The second sensor 84 can be any sensor that can sense that the capsule 22 has been correctly stored within the second revolver unit 81 and send that information to the second control unit 86. The second sensor 84 is configured by, for example, a proximity sensor. Alternatively, the second sensor 84 may be configured by a physical switch provided within the second revolver unit 81, and the second control unit 86 may sense that the capsule 22 has been correctly stored within the second revolver unit 81 when the capsule 22 presses the switch. The second sensor 84 is fixed to the second connecting pipe 37.

[0049] The second camera 83 is composed of a general camera that can be used in the atmosphere. The second camera 83 can send the acquired image information to the second control unit 86. The second camera 83 is not essential, and the second sensor 84 (proximity sensor, physical switch, etc.) may detect whether the capsule 22 is clogged in the second revolver unit 81. In this case, the second camera 83 can be omitted.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the second input unit 82 includes a funnel-shaped second input unit main body 95 that stores the unwanted substance 18 inside, and a second shutter valve 96 that can connect or disconnect the lower end of the second input unit main body 95 and the inside of the capsule 22. The second shutter valve 96 is composed of, for example, an electromagnetic valve, and can move between a state where the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second input unit main body 95 are blocked and a state where the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second input unit main body 95 are in communication under the control of the second control unit 86. In this embodiment, the second input unit 82 has the second shutter valve 96, but may have a shutter as a physical partition.

[0051] The second input unit 82 is provided above the fifth operation unit 85 (the capsule 22 supported by the fifth operation unit 85). Therefore, by putting the second shutter valve 96 in a state where the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second input unit main body 95 are in communication, the unwanted substance 18 in the second input unit main body 95 can be put into the capsule 22 by the action of gravity.

[0052] The ore lifting device 11 further has a second crane (not shown) that can be used on the mother ship 12. The second crane can input a predetermined amount of the unwanted substance 18 after the valuable substance 14 is separated from the seabed substance 13 to the second input unit main body 95 under the control of the second control unit 86.

[0053] Each of the plurality of capsules 22 is formed of, for example, a metallic material. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the capsule 22 includes, for example, a hollow capsule body 51 having a cylindrical shape, one or more spacer members 59 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body, a pair of openings 52 provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction L of the capsule body 51, a pair of lid bodies 27 movable relative to the capsule body 51 so as to close or open the pair of openings 52, a pair of support shafts 101 rotatably supporting each of the pair of lid bodies, a pair of springs 102 provided around each of the pair of support shafts 101 and biasing the lid body 27 in the opening direction, a pair of latches 103 capable of holding each of the pair of lid bodies 27 at a closed position S1 closing the opening 52, a fixing shaft portion 104 provided on each of the pair of lid bodies 27 and held by the pair of latches 103, and a pair of packings 105 interposed at the connection portion between the capsule body 51 and the lid body 27.

[0054] In the present embodiment, since the capsule 22 has a cylindrical shape, the volume (capacity) of the capsule 22 can be made as large as possible. Therefore, the loading amount of the transported object (submarine substance 13 or unnecessary substance 18) can be increased as much as possible.

[0055] In the present embodiment, a total of three spacer members 59 are provided. The spacer members 59 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51 at an equal pitch. Specifically, the spacer members 59 are provided at positions of 0°, 120°, and 240° on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51, respectively. The spacer members 59 extend along the axial direction (central axis A direction) of the capsule 22. The spacer members 59 are formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the axial direction of the capsule 22. The spacer members 59 are provided so as to protrude from the center of the capsule body 51 toward the inner surface of the outer conduit 17.

[0056] The opening 52 is circular. Through the opening 52, the submarine material 13 or the unnecessary material 18 can be stored in the capsule 22, or the submarine material 13 or the unnecessary material 18 can be taken out from the capsule 22. Note that the shape of the opening 52 is not limited to a circle, and other shapes (quadrilateral, polygon) may also be acceptable. Also, the lid 27 has a structure that opens and closes like a so-called single-opening door, but it is not limited to this, and a structure that opens and closes like a so-called double-opening door may also be acceptable. Furthermore, the lid 27 may have a structure that opens and closes like a single-opening sliding door or a structure that opens and closes like a double-opening sliding door.

[0057] Each of the pair of lids 27 is formed in a disk shape so as to cover the circular opening 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the lid 27 can rotate between a closed position S1 where the opening 52 is closed and an open position S2 where the opening 52 is open about the support shaft 101. Each of the pair of springs 102 is composed of a torsion coil spring.

[0058] Each of the pair of fixing shaft portions 104 has a spherical portion 104A at its tip. Each of the pair of latches 103 is composed of a general push latch with a built-in spring 106. By pushing the latch shaft portion 107 inward by the spherical portion 104A of the fixing shaft portion 104, the pin on the inner side of the latch shaft portion 107 engages with the groove portion of the latch case, and the spherical portion 104A can be held by the latch 103. By pushing the latch shaft portion 107 inward again by the spherical portion 104A of the fixing shaft portion 104, the pin on the inner side of the latch shaft portion 107 drops out of the groove portion of the latch case, and the spherical portion 104A can be released from the latch 103.

[0059] Each of the pair of packings 105 is provided near the opening 52 of the capsule body 51. The packing 105 is provided at the boundary between the capsule body 51 and the lid body 27 and can hold the inside of the capsule 22 in a liquid-tight manner. The packing 105 may be fixed to the inner surface of the lid body 27, for example, or may be fixed to the capsule body 51 side. The packing 105 may be composed of an O-ring fixed to the inner surface of the lid body 27 or the capsule body 51 side.

[0060] Examples of the undersea substance 13 (valuable substance 14) include granular or powdered ores collected from manganese crusts, manganese nodules, cobalt-rich crusts, sulfide deposits (hydrothermal deposits), rare earth muds, or methane hydrates existing on the seabed at a depth of several hundred to several thousand meters. The granular or powdered ore may be coarse grains of 0.75 mm or more, and may have a particle density of 3 g / cm 3 or more and a high density. The ore may be any mineral, for example, it may be a manganese crust or a manganese nodule.

[0061] The carrier substance 21 of the present embodiment is used for lifting the undersea substance 13 and is a viscous fluid. As the viscous fluid, the viscous fluid described in Japanese Patent No. 6570000 can be used. That is, the viscous fluid has a viscosity at 5°C (JIS Z8803; Method for Measuring Viscosity of Liquids) of 1000 mPa·s or more, preferably 1300 mPa·s or more, particularly preferably 2000 mPa·s or more, and more preferably 3000 mPa·s or more. Also, the plastic viscosity at 5°C is 100 Pa·s or less, and the yield stress at 5°C is 5 Pa or more. The yield stress and the plastic viscosity can be measured by using a rotational and vibrational viscometer in accordance with the method specified in JIS Z8803. The reason for setting the viscosity at 5°C is that the seawater temperature is generally stable at about 5°C at a depth of several tens of meters or more from the sea surface, and most of the downcomer and riser are exposed to an environment of 5°C. Note that the upper limit value of the viscosity of the viscous fluid at 5°C is 100,000 mPa·s. If the viscosity is higher than this, it will be close to a solid and it will be difficult to pump in practice.

[0062] The viscous fluid may be an aqueous system, an oil system, or an emulsion system, but an aqueous system and an emulsion system are preferred. In particular, an aqueous system such as a polymer solution is preferred because it is inexpensive and convenient to handle. The polymer solution includes a suspension. As the polymer in the polymer solution, either a natural product or a synthetic product can be used, but using a synthetic product is preferred in that a fluidized product can be obtained with a small blending amount. Further, as the emulsion system, mayonnaise, which is a mixture of oil or water and an emulsifier, can be mentioned.

[0063] As the polymer in the polymer solution, those generally referred to as thickeners, thickening materials, and water absorbents can be used. For example, bentonite, methyl cellulose (MC), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyethylene oxide (PEO), sodium hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylamide (PAAM), sodium polyacrylate, starch, gums, pectin, metal alginates, alginate esters, etc. can be mentioned. Examples of gums include guar gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, diutan gum, etc. Further, examples of metal alginates include sodium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, etc. These compounds can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the viscous fluid may contain granular materials. As the granular materials, those described in Japanese Patent No. 657000 can be used. The granular materials are other than submarine valuable substances and are contained in the viscous fluid in advance before use. As the granular materials, the average particle size is 0.01 to 10 mm, preferably 0.1 to 8 mm, and the true density is 0.01 to 8 g / cm 3It is so. The average particle size is calculated using a known calculation method obtained from the particle size distribution. Such granular materials may be any of rock-derived, plant / bio-derived, resin materials, and fiber materials, or a mixture thereof. Specifically, examples include expanded beads, glass beads, sands such as silica sand, silt / gravel, wood, and metal powders such as iron powder. The blending amount of the granular material is 0.1 to 80 parts by weight, preferably 0.3 to 60 parts by weight, and more preferably 0.5 to 50 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the viscous fluid.

[0065] As the acting forces by which the carrier material 21 of the present invention suppresses the settlement of the submarine valuable substance or the capsule 22 carrying the submarine valuable substance, there are viscous resistance, buoyancy, and effective supporting force. Among these, the buoyancy and the viscous resistance are borne by the viscous fluid, and the effective supporting force is borne by the granular material. During transportation, the viscous resistance is the main factor, and at the time of stoppage, the effective supporting force compensates for the shortage of the viscous resistance. The time of stoppage refers to the case of a stoppage state due to various reasons during the operation of the ore lifting device. Usually, for a return within 1 hour, the valuable substance or the capsule 22 carrying the valuable substance will settle several tens of meters. However, with this degree of settlement, most of the valuable substances or the capsules 22 carrying the valuable substances can ride on the upward flow during the next return.

[0066] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, an ore lifting method using the ore lifting device 11 of the present embodiment will be described. First, an installation step of installing the pipeline 17 from the sea 33 to the seabed 34 where ore lifting is to be performed is carried out.

[0067] The pipeline 17 is sequentially assembled and lowered from the support ship 12 on the sea 33 towards the seabed 34. At this time, the first revolver unit 28, the first to fourth operation units 71 to 74, the first and second charging units 32 and 82, the second revolver unit 81, and the fifth operation unit 85 are pre-assembled at appropriate positions of the pipeline 17. Further, a branch pipe 17A is installed on the support ship 12 in the pipeline 17, and the adjustment tank 24 and the pump 23 are interposed with respect to the branch pipe 17A. The assembled pipeline 17 may be pre-filled with the carrier substance 21, and in this state, the pipeline 17 may be gradually lowered towards the seabed 34. Alternatively, the assembled pipeline 17 may be pre-filled with seawater, and in this state, the pipeline 17 may be gradually lowered towards the seabed 34, and after the completion of the pipeline 17, the seawater in the pipeline 17 may be replaced with the carrier substance 21. Thereby, the risk that the carrier substance 21 leaks outside the pipeline 17 during the assembly and installation of the pipeline 17 can be prevented. When the pipeline 17 is completed and the first revolver unit 28 of the pipeline 17 reaches near the seabed 34, the installation of the pipeline 17 is completed. Heavy machinery used at the seabed 34, a power source connected to the power circuit of the first control unit 42, etc. are dropped from the support ship 12 towards a desired location on the seabed 34 using a rope or the like.

[0068] Subsequently, the pump 23 is driven to circulate the carrier substance 21 in the pipeline 17. Also, the adjustment of the carrier substance 21 is started in the adjustment tank 24, and the newly adjusted carrier substance 21 is appropriately added to the pipeline 17 during operation. Thereby, the concentration or composition is adjusted so that the viscosity of the carrier substance 21 falls within a certain range.

[0069] Subsequently, the process of taking in the unnecessary substance 18 at the sea 33 and the process of discarding the unnecessary substance 18 at the seabed 34 will be described.

[0070] The capsule 22 is stored on the base ship 12 with the pair of lid bodies 27 in the closed position S1. Nothing is stored inside the capsule 22 yet, and the inside is filled with air. As shown in FIG. 4, the second control unit 86 drives the fifth operation unit 85 to grip and lift the capsule 22 with an empty interior. The second control unit 86 drives the fifth operation unit 85 to push the lid body 27 of the capsule 22 by the auxiliary arm 85B of the fifth operation unit 85, and moves one lid body 27 of the capsule 22 from the closed position S1 to the open position S2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, when the auxiliary arm 85B pushes the lid body 27 into the capsule 22, the fixing shaft portion 104 pushes the latch shaft portion 107 deeper, and the latch 103 (push latch) releases the fixing shaft portion 104. As a result, the lid body 27 moves to the open position S2 by the action of the spring 102.

[0071] Furthermore, the second control unit 86 drives the fifth operation unit 85 to position the opening 52 of the capsule 22 with the lid body 27 in the open position S2 below the second charging unit 82. At this time, the capsule 22 is gripped by the fifth operation unit 85 in a posture with its longitudinal direction L along the vertical direction. The second control unit 86 drives the second shutter valve 96 of the second charging unit 82 to move the second shutter valve 96 from a state of blocking the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second charging unit main body 95 to a state of communicating the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second charging unit main body 95. Thereby, the unnecessary substance 18 is charged from the second charging unit 82 into the capsule 22. At the same time, the air inside the capsule 22 is discharged into the atmosphere. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the second control unit 86 drives the second shutter valve 96 to move the second shutter valve 96 from a state of communicating the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second charging unit main body 95 to a state of blocking the inside of the capsule 22 and the inside of the second charging unit main body 95. The second control unit 86 drives the auxiliary arm 85B of the fifth operation unit 85 to move one lid body 27 of the capsule 22 from the open position S2 to the closed position S1.

[0072] In addition, when the unnecessary substance 18 is introduced into the capsule 22, the unnecessary substance 18 will decrease from the second input unit main body 95. However, the second control unit 86 operates the second heavy machine installed on the pontoon 12 at regular time intervals to replenish the unnecessary substance 18 into the second input unit main body 95.

[0073] The second control unit 86 drives the fifth operation unit 85 to store the capsule 22 into the second revolver unit 81 through the opening 92. At this time, the capsule 22 may be placed on a pedestal (not shown) provided on the rotating body 88 with a protruding wall. The second control unit 86 rotates the rotating body 88 with a protruding wall of the second revolver unit 81 and moves the capsule 22 to a position communicating with the downpipe connection part 35A and the riser pipe connection part 36A.

[0074] When the capsule 22 (sealed chamber in the casing 87) moves to a position communicating with the downpipe connection part 35A and the riser pipe connection part 36A, the capsule 22 is pressure-fed through the second connecting pipe 37 toward the downpipe 35 along the flow of the carrier substance 21.

[0075] The capsule 22 sent through the downpipe 35 (pipe line 17) is always arranged at the center of the pipe line 17 when the spacer member 59 appropriately contacts the inner surface of the pipe line 17. Thereby, the problem of eccentricity where the capsule 22 is arranged at a position deviated from the center of the downpipe 35 can be prevented. The reasons for the decrease in the transport efficiency due to eccentricity are as follows. The first reason is that when the capsule 22 is eccentric, it deviates from the central part where the flow velocity in the pipe line 17 is fast. The flow velocity distribution in the pipe is fast at the center of the pipe line 17, slow at the part near the pipe wall of the pipe line 17, and almost zero near the pipe wall of the pipe line 17. Therefore, if the position of the capsule 22 is maintained at the center of the pipe line 17 without eccentricity, the capsule 22 can ride on the fast flow, so the transport efficiency increases. Conversely, when the capsule 22 is located (eccentric) at the edge of the pipe wall of the pipe line 17, the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 decreases. The second reason is that when the capsule 22 is eccentric, the capsule 22 is likely to contact the pipe wall of the pipe line 17, and the capsule 22 itself receives frictional resistance. Therefore, when the capsule 22 is eccentric, the expected transport efficiency cannot be achieved.

[0076] Similarly, when the spacer member 59 appropriately contacts the inner surface of the downcomer 35 (pipe line 17), it is possible to prevent the problem of inclination in which the axial direction (direction of the central axis A) of the capsule 22 is inclined with respect to the feeding direction of the carrier substance 21 in the downcomer 35. When the capsule 22 inclines in the downcomer 35, the capsule 22 is likely to get caught in the downcomer 35, and in the worst case, a problem occurs in which the capsule 22 blocks the downcomer 35.

[0077] Also, since each of the one or more spacer members 59 is plate-shaped and extends along the axial direction (direction of the central axis A) of the capsule 22, the posture of the capsule 22 is stabilized.

[0078] The capsule 22 that has reached the downcomer 35 is sent toward the first revolver portion 28 located at the lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35. The capsule 22 is stored in the chamber 55 of the first revolver portion 28. At this time, the first operation unit 71 may assist the movement of the capsule 22 into the chamber 55 by pushing or gripping the capsule 22. At this time, the chamber 55 communicating with the lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35 is in the first position P1 and is in a position capable of receiving the capsule 22.

[0079] If clogging of the capsule 22 occurs near the first surface 56 of the first revolver portion 28 and the clogging of the capsule 22 is detected by the first sensor 44 or the first camera 46, the first control unit 42 operates the first operation unit 71 to appropriately eliminate the clogging. The revolver portion main body 53 can engage with the capsule 22 housed in the chamber 55 via the engaging portion 58. On the other hand, the carrier substance 21 is sent from the lower end portion 35B of the downcomer 35 to the lower end portion 36B of the riser 36 through the first connecting pipe 25 shown in FIG. 2.

[0080] When the capsule 22 is correctly stored in the chamber 55 of the first revolver unit 28, this is detected by the first sensor 44. After the first control unit 42 detects through the first sensor 44 that the capsule 22 is correctly stored in the chamber 55 of the first revolver unit 28, the first revolver unit 28 is rotated, for example, 90° around the first rotation axis 54. As a result, the chamber 55 moves to the second position P2.

[0081] At the second position P2, the first control unit 42 operates the second operation unit 72 provided on the second surface 57 side to move the lid 27 on the second surface 57 side of the capsule 22 from the closed position S1 to the open position S2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the finger portion 75 of the second operation unit 72 pushes the lid 27 into the capsule 22, so that the fixing shaft portion 104 pushes the latch shaft portion 107 inward, and the latch 103 (push latch) releases the fixing shaft portion 104, and the lid 27 moves to the open position S2.

[0082] The unnecessary substance 18 is discharged from the second surface 57 side of the capsule 22 with the lid 27 opened. The unnecessary substance 18 is discharged to the seabed 34 (disposal site) through the second communication port 62 of the chamber 55. At the same time, the surrounding seawater is taken into the capsule 22. At this time, the second operation unit 72 retreats from the vicinity of the second communication port 62 so as not to cover the unnecessary substance 18. The unnecessary substance 18 discharged to the seabed 34 is landfilled at the disposal site by a heavy machine or the like.

[0083] After the discharge of the unnecessary substance 18 from the capsule 22 is completed after a predetermined time has elapsed, the first control unit 42 operates the second operation unit 72 to move the lid 27 on the second surface 57 side of the capsule 22 from the open position S2 to the closed position S1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, by pushing the lid 27 inward with the finger portion 75 of the second operation unit 72, the fixing shaft portion 104 pushes the latch shaft portion 107 inward, and the fixing shaft portion 104 is held by the latch 103 (push latch). As a result, the lid 27 is held at the closed position S1.

[0084] The first control unit 42 rotates the first revolver unit 28, for example, 90° around the first rotation axis 54. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 55 moves to the third position P3. The first control unit 42 operates the third operation unit 73 provided on the first surface 56 side to move the lid 27 on the first surface 56 side from the closed position S1 to the open position S2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the finger portion 75 of the third operation unit 73 pushes the lid 27 toward the inside of the capsule 22, so that the fixing shaft portion 104 pushes the latch shaft portion 107 inward, and the latch 103 (push latch) releases the fixing shaft portion 104, and the lid 27 moves to the open position S2 by the action of the spring 102.

[0085] The first control unit 42 operates the first shutter valve 48 of the first charging unit 32 to move from a state where the inside of the capsule 22 is blocked from the surrounding environment (sea) to a state where the inside of the capsule 22 communicates with the surrounding environment. Thereby, the seafloor material 13 is charged into the capsule 22. At the same time, the seawater taken into the capsule 22 is discharged to the surroundings. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the first control unit 42 operates the first shutter valve 48 to move from a state where the inside of the capsule 22 communicates with the surrounding environment to a state where the inside of the capsule 22 is blocked from the surrounding environment. Further, the first control unit 42 operates the third operation unit 73 to move the lid 27 on the first surface 56 side from the open position S2 to the closed position S1. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the finger portion 75 of the third operation unit 73 pushes the lid 27 toward the inside of the capsule 22, so that the fixing shaft portion 104 pushes the latch shaft portion 107 inward. As a result, the latch 103 (push latch) holds the fixing shaft portion 104 and holds the lid 27 in the closed position S1.

[0086] When the seafloor material 13 is charged into the capsule 22, the seafloor material 13 decreases from the first charging unit main body 47. However, the first control unit 42 operates the heavy machine installed on the seafloor 34 at regular time intervals, or operates a heavy machine independent of the ore lifting device 11 to replenish the seafloor material 13 into the first charging unit main body 47.

[0087] The first control unit 42 rotates the first revolver unit 28, for example, 90° around the first rotation axis 54. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 55 moves to the fourth position P4. The first control unit 42 activates the fourth operation unit 74 on the second surface 57 side, and causes the finger portion 75 of the fourth operation unit 74 to push in the vicinity of the support shaft 101 of the lid 27 of the capsule 22, for example. In this way, by pushing in the vicinity of the support shaft 101 of the lid 27 with the fourth operation unit 74, the capsule 22 can be pushed out from the chamber 55 without accidentally moving the lid 27 to the open position S2. As a result, the capsule 22 is discharged from the chamber 55 toward the ascending pipe 36.

[0088] Also in the ascending pipe 36, similar to the descending pipe 35, the spacer member 59 prevents the problems of eccentricity and inclination of the capsule 22.

[0089] The capsule 22 that has reached the ascending pipe 36 is pumped so as to reach the second connecting pipe 37 of the sea 33. The capsule 22 that has reached the second connecting pipe 37 is introduced into the casing 87 from the ascending pipe connection portion 36A of the second revolver unit 81. By rotating the rotating body 88 with a protruding wall of the second revolver unit 81 under the control of the second control unit 86, the capsule 22 is moved to the opening 92. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second control unit 86 activates the fifth operation unit 85 to grip the capsule 22 exposed to the atmosphere at the opening 92. The fifth operation unit 85 grips the capsule 22 so that the longitudinal direction L thereof is along the vertical direction. In that state, as shown in FIG. 4, the second control unit 86 further activates the auxiliary arm 85B of the fifth operation unit 85 to move the lid 27 located below the capsule 22 from the closed position S1 to the open position S2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the auxiliary arm 85B pushes the lid 27 into the capsule 22, so that the fixing shaft portion 104 pushes the latch shaft portion 107 to the back side, and the latch 103 (push latch) releases the fixing shaft portion 104. As a result, the lid 27 moves to the open position S2 by the action of the spring 102.

[0090] In this way, the submarine material 13 is discharged from inside the lid body 27 to a predetermined position on the pontoon 12. At the same time, the surrounding air is taken into the capsule 22. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the second control unit 86 drives the fifth operation unit 85 to position the opening 52 of the capsule 22 in a state where the lid body 27 is in the open position S2 below the second charging unit 82. Thereafter, in the same manner as the above-described "process of taking in the unnecessary substance 18 at sea 33 and the process of discarding the unnecessary substance 18 at the seabed 34", the second charging unit 82 receives the input of the unnecessary substance 18 into the capsule 22.

[0091] On the pontoon 12, the valuable substance 14 is sorted from the submarine material 13. The valuable substance 14 is transported by the transport ship 15. The unnecessary substance 18, which is the residue after sorting the valuable substance 14 from the submarine material 13, is pumped toward the seabed 34 by the capsule 22 as described above.

[0092] Thereafter, it is a repetition of the above-described "process of taking in the unnecessary substance 18 at sea 33 and the process of discarding the unnecessary substance 18 at the seabed 34".

[0093] According to the present embodiment, the following can be said. The ore lifting device 11 includes a downcomer 35 reaching from the sea 33 to the seabed 34, a riser 36 reaching from the seabed 34 to the sea 33, a first connecting pipe 25 connecting the lower end of the downcomer 35 and the lower end of the riser 36, a pipeline 17 having the same, a carrier substance 21 filled in the pipeline 17 and sent through the pipeline 17 from the upper end of the downcomer 35 to the upper end of the riser 36, and a capsule 22 that can be mixed into the carrier substance 21 and accommodate the submarine material 13 or the unnecessary substance 18 inside. The capsule 22 has a cylindrical capsule body 51 and one or more spacer members 59 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51 and protruding toward the inner surface of the pipeline 17.

[0094] According to this configuration, it is possible to prevent the problem of eccentricity and inclination from occurring in the capsule 22. That is, by eliminating the problem of eccentricity of the capsule 22, the capsule 22 can be arranged at the central part in the pipeline 17, and it is possible to prevent the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 from decreasing. Further, by eliminating the problem of inclination of the capsule 22, it is possible to prevent a problem that the capsule 22 gets caught in the middle of the pipeline 17 and the capsule 22 blocks the pipeline 17.

[0095] Each of the one or more spacer members 59 is plate-shaped and extends along the axial direction of the capsule 22. According to this configuration, by preventing the problems of eccentricity and inclination, the posture of the capsule 22 can be stabilized.

[0096] Subsequently, a modified example of the capsule 22 included in the ore lifting device 11 of the present embodiment will be described. In the following modified examples, mainly the parts different from the above embodiment will be described, and the description of the parts common to the above embodiment will be omitted.

[0097] FIG. 8 shows the capsule 22 of the first modified example. The capsule 22 of the first modified example is configured by replacing the plate-shaped spacer member 59 of the embodiment with a pair of rollers 59A. When the roller 59A contacts the inner surface of the pipeline 17, it rotates at that position to reduce the frictional force acting between the capsule 22 and the pipeline 17. The structure of the capsule 22 other than the above is the same as that of the above embodiment.

[0098] Also with the capsule 22 of this modified example, when the capsule 22 is sent in the pipeline 17, the problems of eccentricity and inclination of the capsule 22 are avoided. Further, compared with the capsule 22 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, since the frictional force between the pipeline 17 and the spacer member 59 is reduced, the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 is improved.

[0099] According to this modification example, each of the one or more spacer members 59 is a roller 59A rotatable with respect to the inner surface of the pipeline 17. According to this configuration, when the capsule 22 is sent through the pipeline 17, it is possible to prevent problems of eccentricity and inclination of the capsule 22. Further, even when the spacer member 59 comes into contact with the inner surface of the pipeline 17, it is possible to prevent the spacer member 59 from becoming a resistance. Thereby, even when the spacer member 59 is provided, it is possible to prevent the problem that the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 is reduced.

[0100] FIG. 9 shows the capsule 22 of the second modification example. In the capsule 22 of the second modification example, the spacer member 59 is constituted by one piece. The spacer member 59 extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction (the direction of the central axis A) of the capsule 22. For example, the spacer member 59 has a skirt shape fixed so as to wrap around the outer peripheral surface of the capsule main body 51. The spacer member 59 may have a frustum shape or a flange shape so as to expand as it goes upstream or downstream in the feeding direction in the pipeline 17. That is, the angle at which the spacer member 59 stands up from the outer peripheral surface of the capsule main body 51 may be any angle from 0 to 90°. When the spacer member 59 has a flange shape, the angle at which the spacer member 59 stands up from the outer peripheral surface of the capsule main body 51 is 90°. Further, in this modification example, the spacer member 59 is fixedly provided with respect to the capsule main body 51, and the spacer member 59 does not move like the capsule 22 described later. The structure of the capsule 22 other than the above is the same as that of the above embodiment.

[0101] According to this modification example, each of the one or more spacer members 59 extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule 22. Therefore, also in the capsule 22 of this modification example, since the spacer member 59 positions the capsule 22 at the central portion within the conduit 17, when the capsule 22 is sent through the conduit 17, the problem of eccentricity of the capsule 22 is avoided. Further, the pressure receiving area of the capsule 22 receiving pressure from the carrier substance is increased by the spacer member 59. For this reason, the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 is improved. Also, even when the feeding of the carrier substance stops for some reason, since the spacer member 59 serves as a resistance, the amount of sedimentation of the capsule 22 within the riser pipe 36 can be reduced.

[0102] FIG. 10 shows the capsule 22 of the third modification example. The capsule 22 of the third modification example has a shape similar to that of the second modification example, but is different from the second modification example in that the spacer member 59 is movable. That is, in this modification example, as shown in FIG. 10, the spacer member 59 can operate between a deployed position where it expands annularly toward the inner wall of the conduit 17 and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51. In this modification example, it has a plurality of rotatable pieces constituting one spacer member 59. In this modification example, for example, when the capsule 22 is within the riser pipe 36, the spacer member 59 is set to the deployed position, and when the capsule 22 is within the downcomer pipe 35, the spacer member 58 is set to the folded position.

[0103] In the deployed position, the spacer member 59 extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction (central axis A direction) of the capsule 22. For example, the spacer member 59 has a skirt shape that wraps around the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51. The spacer member 59 may have a frustoconical shape or a flange shape so as to expand as it goes upstream or downstream in the feeding direction within the conduit 17. That is, the angle at which the spacer member 59 stands up from the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51 may be any angle from 0 to 90°. When the spacer member 59 has a flange shape, the angle at which the spacer member 59 stands up from the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51 is 90°.

[0104] The operation of the spacer member 59 may be performed by the driving force from a motor built in the capsule 22. In this case, the capsule 22 incorporates a battery that supplies power to this motor and a control circuit that controls the motor. The switching of the spacer member 59 from the folded position to the deployed position may be performed by pushing in a physical switch provided on the surface of the capsule 22. In this case, when the switch is pushed in by the finger portion 75 of the fourth robot arm 74, under the control of the control circuit, the motor rotates for a predetermined time (rotates in the forward direction), one or more gears for power transmission rotate, and the spacer member 59 that meshes with the gear moves from the folded position to the deployed position.

[0105] Also, the switching of the spacer member 59 from the deployed position to the folded position may be performed by releasing the pushing in of a physical switch provided on the surface of the capsule 22. In this case, when the release of the pushing in of the switch is performed by the auxiliary arm 85B, under the control of the control circuit, the motor rotates for a predetermined time (rotates in the reverse direction), the gear for power transmission rotates in the direction opposite to that during deployment, and the spacer member 59 that meshes with the gear moves from the deployed position to the folded position.

[0106] According to this modification, each of the one or more spacer members 59 is rotatable between a deployed position where it expands annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule 22 and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51. According to this configuration, when the spacer member 59 is in the deployed position, the pressure receiving area of the capsule 22 receiving pressure from the carrier substance 21 increases. Therefore, the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 is improved. Also, even when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops for some reason, the spacer member 59 in the deployed position resists the sinking of the capsule 22. Therefore, particularly when the capsule 22 is in the riser pipe 36, by setting the spacer member 59 to the deployed position, the amount of sinking of the capsule 22 can be reduced when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops.

[0107] FIG. 11 shows the capsule 22 of the fourth modification. The capsule 22 of the fourth modification has a shape similar to that of the third modification, but is different from the third modification in that the spacer member 59 extends in a discontinuous annular shape.

[0108] In this modification, as shown in FIG. 11, the spacer member 59 can operate between a deployed position where it expands annularly toward the inner wall of the conduit 17 and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51.

[0109] In the deployed position, the spacer member 59 extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction (central axis A direction) of the capsule 22. For example, the spacer member 59 forms a skirt-like shape that wraps around the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51, but is formed discontinuously. Further, the spacer member 59 may form a frustoconical shape or a flange shape so as to expand as it goes upstream or downstream in the feeding direction in the conduit 17, but is formed discontinuously. That is, the angle at which the spacer member 59 stands up from the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51 may be any angle between 0 and 90°. When the spacer member 59 forms a flange shape, the angle at which the spacer member 59 stands up from the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51 is 90°.

[0110] In this modification, as shown in FIG. 11, the spacer member 59 can operate between a deployed position where it expands annularly toward the inner wall of the conduit 17 and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body 51. The switching between this deployed position and the folded position can be realized by the same method as in the third modification.

[0111] According to this modification example, each of the one or more spacer members 59 extends in a discontinuous annular shape in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule 22. According to this configuration, the pressure receiving area of the pressure received from the carrier substance 21 in the capsule 22 is increased by the spacer member 59. For this reason, the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 is improved when the spacer member 59 is in the deployed position. Further, even when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops for some reason, the spacer member 59 in the deployed position resists the sedimentation of the capsule 22. For this reason, particularly when the capsule 22 is in the riser pipe 36, by setting the spacer member 59 to the deployed position, when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops, the amount of sedimentation of the capsule 22 can be reduced. Further, when the spacer member 59 is made discontinuous and movable as in this modification example, the following additional effects are obtained. That is, when the spacer member 59 is made discontinuous and movable, the area of the pressure receiving surface can be arbitrarily controlled according to the situation in the pipeline 17. Further, the amount of force required to operate the spacer member 59 between the deployed position and the folded position can be reduced, so that the capacity of the motor incorporated in the capsule 22 can be reduced, or the power required for the operation of the spacer member 59 can be reduced. Further, in order to operate the continuous spacer member 59 between the deployed position and the folded position, it is necessary to use a film-like material that is easy to expand in the circumferential direction (soft and easy to stretch), but by using a discontinuous spacer member divided into a plurality of pieces in the circumferential direction, it becomes possible to use a plate-like material that is difficult to expand (hard and difficult to stretch).

[0112] FIG. 12 shows the capsule 22 of the fifth modification example. The capsule 22 of the fifth modification example has a shape similar to that of the fourth modification example, but spacer members 59 are provided at positions separated from each other in the axial direction (the direction of the central axis A) of the capsule 22. That is, in this modification example, the spacer members 59 are arranged in two rows in the axial direction of the capsule. Note that the number of arrangements of the spacer members 59 is not limited to two rows, and it is naturally acceptable to arrange them in three or more rows in the axial direction of the capsule 22.

[0113] In this modification example, as shown in FIG. 12, the spacer member 59 can operate between a deployed position where it expands annularly toward the inner wall of the pipeline 17 and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule main body 51. The switching between this deployed position and the folded position can be realized by the same method as in the third modification example.

[0114] In the deployed position, the spacer member 59 extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction (central axis A direction) of the capsule 22. The spacer member 59 has a skirt shape that wraps around the outer peripheral surface of the capsule main body 51, but is formed discontinuously. Further, the spacer member 59 has a frustoconical shape so as to expand as it goes upstream in the feeding direction within the pipeline 17, but is formed discontinuously.

[0115] According to this modification example, the pressure receiving area of the capsule 22 receiving the pressure from the carrier substance 21 is increased by the spacer member 59. Therefore, the transport efficiency of the capsule 22 is improved when the spacer member 59 is in the deployed position. Also, even when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops for some reason, the spacer member 59 in the deployed position resists the sedimentation of the capsule 22. Therefore, particularly when the capsule 22 is in the riser pipe 36, by setting the spacer member 59 to the deployed position, the amount of sedimentation of the capsule 22 can be reduced when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops.

[0116] FIG. 13 shows the capsule 22 of the sixth modification example. In this modification example, the capsule 22 has a capsule main body 51 and a pressure receiving member 111 deployed from the capsule main body 51. The pressure receiving member 111 is deployed toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance 21. The pressure receiving member 111 may be deployed in a parachute shape toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance 21.

[0117] The pressure-receiving member 111 may remain deployed toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance 21, or may be configured to be deployable or foldable by the driving force of the motor, similar to the spacer member 59 of the third modification example. In that case, when the capsule 22 is in the riser pipe 36, the pressure-receiving member 111 may be deployed in a parachute shape toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance 21, and when the capsule 22 is in the downcomer pipe 35, the pressure-receiving member 111 may be folded.

[0118] According to this modification example, the following can be said. The ore lifting device 11 includes a pipeline 17 having a downcomer pipe 35 reaching from the sea surface 33 to the seabed 34, a riser pipe 36 reaching from the seabed 34 to the sea surface 33, and a first connecting pipe 25 connecting the lower end of the downcomer pipe 35 and the lower end of the riser pipe 36, a carrier substance 21 filled in the pipeline 17 and sent through the pipeline 17 from the upper end of the downcomer pipe 35 to the upper end of the riser pipe 36, and a capsule 22 that can be mixed into the carrier substance 21 and accommodate the seabed substance 13 or the unnecessary substance 18 inside. The capsule 22 has a capsule main body 51 and a pressure-receiving member 111 deployed in a parachute shape from the capsule main body 51 toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance 21.

[0119] According to this configuration, the pressure-receiving area of the pressure received by the capsule 22 from the carrier substance 21 can be increased by the pressure-receiving member 111. Thereby, the capsule 22 can be efficiently transported. Also, even when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops for some reason, the deployed pressure-receiving member 111 resists the sinking of the capsule 22. For this reason, in particular, when the capsule 22 is in the riser pipe 36, by setting the spacer member 59 to the deployed position, the amount of sinking of the capsule 22 can be reduced when the feeding of the carrier substance 21 stops.

[0120] The above-described embodiments can be implemented with various replacements and modifications. For example, in this embodiment, the capsule 22 is taken out from the pipeline 17 via the first revolver part 28 and the second revolver part 81. However, while the capsule 22 is held in the pipeline 17, the undersea substance 13 and the unnecessary substance 18 may be put in and taken out of the capsule 22. Further, for example, although the lid bodies 27 of the capsule 22 are all structured to open outward with respect to the capsule 22, by rotating the lid bodies 27 inside the capsule 22, the undersea substance 13 and the unnecessary substance 18 may be put in and taken out of the capsule 22. In particular, the lid body 27 on the side where the undersea substance 13 is input may be structured such that the lid body 27 is rotated inside the capsule 22, whereby the undersea substance 13 is input into the capsule 22. In addition, it goes without saying that the invention can also be configured by appropriately combining any of the above-described embodiments and the above-described modification examples.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0121] 11 Mining device 13 Undersea substance 14 Valuable substance 17 Pipeline 18 Unnecessary substance 21 Carrier substance 22 Capsule 25 First connecting pipe 33 Sea surface 34 Seabed 35 Downcomer 36 Riser 51 Capsule body 59 Spacer member 59A Roller 111 Pressure-receiving member

Claims

1. A pipeline having a downcomer reaching from the sea to the seabed, a riser reaching from the seabed to the sea, and a first connecting pipe connecting the lower end of the downcomer and the lower end of the riser; A carrier substance filled in the pipeline and sent through the pipeline from the upper end of the downcomer to the upper end of the riser; Capsules mixed in the carrier substance and capable of accommodating undersea substances or unwanted substances therein; Comprising: The capsule: A cylindrical capsule body; One or more spacer members provided on the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body and protruding toward the inner surface of the pipeline; A lifting mining device having the same.

2. The lifting mining device according to Claim 1, wherein each of the one or more spacer members is plate-shaped and extends along the axial direction of the capsule.

3. The lifting mining device according to Claim 1, wherein each of the one or more spacer members is a roller rotatable with respect to the inner surface of the pipeline.

4. The lifting mining device according to Claim 1, wherein each of the one or more spacer members extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule.

5. The lifting mining device according to Claim 4, wherein each of the one or more spacer members is rotatable between a deployed position where it extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body.

6. The lifting mining device according to Claim 1, wherein each of the one or more spacer members extends annularly and discontinuously in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule.

7. The lifting mining device according to Claim 6, wherein each of the one or more spacer members is rotatable between a deployed position where it extends annularly in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the capsule and a folded position where it is folded along the outer peripheral surface of the capsule body.

8. A pipeline having a downcomer reaching from the sea to the seabed, a riser reaching from the seabed to the sea, and a first connecting pipe connecting the lower end of the downcomer and the lower end of the riser; A carrier substance filled in the pipeline and sent through the pipeline from the upper end of the downcomer to the upper end of the riser; Capsules mixed in the carrier substance and capable of accommodating undersea substances or unwanted substances therein; Comprising: The capsule: A capsule body; A pressure-receiving member deployed in a parachute shape from the capsule body toward the downstream side in the feeding direction of the carrier substance; A lifting mining device having the same.

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