IP Library Granted Patent US 8,960,808
Granted Patent B2
US 8,960,808 · App. 13/635,492 · Granted Feb 24, 2015

Underwater miner cutter head, underwater miner, and underwater mining system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,960,808
App. No.
13/635,492
Granted
Feb 24, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is an underwater miner cutter head ( 20 ) attached to an underwater miner disposed on a seabed and configured to excavate the seabed, the cutter head including cylindrical cutter drums ( 21 ) disposed on respective sides defining a regular polygon in plan view, having bits ( 26 ) on the outer circumferential surfaces thereof, and configured to rotate around corresponding first rotational axes by first driving sources; and an intake ( 28 ) disposed at a center part of the regular polygon and configured to receive muck excavated with the bits ( 26 ), wherein rotating directions of the cutter drums ( 21 ) are set such that the bits ( 26 ) sequentially move toward the intake ( 28 ).

Claims (8)

1. An underwater miner cutter head attached to an underwater miner disposed on a seabed and configured to excavate the seabed, the cutter head comprising:

cylindrical cutter drums disposed on respective sides defining a regular polygon in plan view, having bits provided on outer circumferential surfaces thereof, and configured to rotate around corresponding first rotational axes by first driving sources;

an intake disposed at a center part of the regular polygon and configured to receive muck excavated with the bits,

wherein rotating directions of the cutter drums are set such that the bits move toward the intake; and

a plate-like turning base to which the cutter drums are attached via a cutter support arm and which is rotated by a second driving source around a second rotational axis passing through the center of the regular polygon.

2. An underwater miner comprising: The underwater miner cutter head according to claim 1 .

3. An underwater mining system comprising:

the underwater miner according to claim 2 .

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2019
From: MITSUBISHI SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 050157/0398 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2018
From: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
To: MITSUBISHI SHIPBUILDING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 046718/0352 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2012
From: WAKITA, NORIHIDE; SAMESHIMA, FUTOSHI; ODAKA, HIROYUKI
To: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
Reel/Frame 029175/0724 →