Ihc Holland Ie B.v.

Global Sea Mineral Resources (gsr) N.v.

Deeptech Nv

Kris De Bruyne

Pieter Abraham Lucieer

Johan Heiler

Harmen Derk Stoffers

Stéphane Flamen

Hendrik De Beuf

Harm Stoffers

A subsurface mining vehicle and a method are used for collecting mineral deposits from a sea bed at great depths and transporting the deposits to a floating vessel. The vehicle has a load-bearing structure having an arrangement for advancing the vehicle on the sea bed, and a pick-up unit for the deposits. A lifting frame is also provided and at one end equipped with a connector to connect to a suspension cable provided between the floating vessel and the vehicle. The lifting frame is at another end connected to the load-bearing structure by a hinged connection, that is actuated by an actuator such that the angular position of the load-bearing structure can be fixed in a number of different angular positions relative to the lifting frame while the vehicle is suspended. The lifting frame allows to launch and position the submarine vehicle in a controlled manner.

Subsurface mining vehicle and method for collecting mineral deposits from a sea bed at great depths and transporting said deposits to a floating vessel

A device for launching subsurface mining vehicle into a water mass from a docking well of a floating vessel, and/or recovering said vehicle from the water mass is disclosed. The device comprises a docking frame that is hinge mounted to the vessel, and that comprises first mining vehicle engaging means for guiding the mining vehicle along a longitudinal direction of the frame into the water. The docking frame operatively engages with drive means for tilting the frame in a vertical plane between a substantially horizontal mining vehicle docking position and a substantially vertical mining vehicle launching or recovery position. The device further comprises third engaging means for guiding the mining vehicle when the vehicle extends at least partly underneath a base of the vessel. The device allows lowering or recovering subsurface mining vehicle in a controlled manner.

Device for launching a subsurface mining vehicle into a water mass and recovering the same from the water mass

Growing community of inventors

Deurne, Belgium

Kris De Bruyne