EP 1000202 A1 20000517 - UNDERWATER MINING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Title (en)
UNDERWATER MINING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Title (de)
UNTERWASSER-GEWINNUNGSGERÄT UND -VERFAHREN
Title (fr)
APPAREIL ET PROCEDE D'EXPLOITATION SOUS-MARINE DE MINERAIS
Publication
Application
Priority
- GB 9802403 W 19980810
- GB 9716873 A 19970808
- GB 9717456 A 19970818
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO9907949A1] An underwater mining vehicle (28) is provided with a suction boom (22) carrying a tooth cutter (9) at its forward tip and having an array of nozzles (20) disposed about its periphery. In use, the boom is oriented vertically and applies a downward force of 5 to 20 tones (49 to 196 kN) on a layer of sandstone drape covering a diamondiferous gravel layer. This breaks the drape and enables the mouth of the suction boom to access the diamondiferous gravel. The two lower/rearward nozzles (20) generate high velocity jets which form a fluidised region in the gravel and suspend particles up to 200 mm in diameter which are then sucked up in suspension via the suction boom and lifted to the surface where diamonds are extracted.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
E02F 3/88 (2006.01); E02F 3/92 (2006.01); E02F 5/00 (2006.01); E02F 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
E02F 3/8858 (2013.01); E02F 3/92 (2013.01); E02F 5/006 (2013.01); E02F 7/005 (2013.01); E21C 50/00 (2013.01)
Citation (search report)
See references of WO 9907949A1
Designated contracting state (EPC)
BE DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT NL SE
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 9907949 A1 19990218; AU 8738498 A 19990301; EP 1000202 A1 20000517
DOCDB simple family (application)
GB 9802403 W 19980810; AU 8738498 A 19980810; EP 98938779 A 19980810