The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1982
Filed:
Jun. 02, 1980
John P Latimer, Newport News, VA (US);
Robert M Donaldson, Newport News, VA (US);
Ted W Christian, Newport News, VA (US);
Glenn E Miller, Newport News, VA (US);
Deepsea Ventures, Inc., Gloucester Point, VA (US);
Abstract
There is provided a dredge vehicle supporting a dredge assembly for collecting ore particles from the ocean floor. The dredge assembly includes several nozzles extending forwardly of the supports for the vehicle, pump means for developing a suction flow into and through the nozzles and a screen to separate the ore particles from most of the water before feeding the ore into, e.g., an airlift system leading to a surface vessel. Preferably, an intake of clear water from above the vehicle is used to carry the ore to and up the airlift system. Advantageously, the water flows straight through the system and exhausts from the rear of the vehicle, and mud is cleared from the ore before bringing the ore to the surface.