IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO UNDERWATER MINING

摘要

The extractor is for undersea mining to collect nodules of manganese on the bed and raise them to them to the surface. It consists of a manoeuvrable self propelled submarine to collect nodules and a boat on the surface to store them. There is lifting equipment between the submarine and the boat, consisting of fairly rigid pipes. The ends of these are slightly above the sea bed. There is a flexible connection between the submarine and the lower pipe ends. These allow the submarine to cover a certain area around the pipe ends.