A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

A material handling apparatus may be employed to transfer discrete loads of excavated waste from an excavator or other excavation equipment to a dumping location beyond the reach of the excavator. The material handling apparatus may include a mobile bridge supported by two or more crawlers that enable movement of the mobile bridge. The material handling apparatus may further include a conveyance mechanism that transfers material between first and second ends of the mobile bridge. The conveyance mechanism may transfer material to haul trucks at the second end of the mobile bridge, which may be disposed above the first end of the mobile bridge. The conveyance mechanism may receive material from an intermediate transfer mechanism at the first end of the mobile bridge.

A material handling apparatus may be employed to transfer discrete loads of excavated waste from an excavator or other excavation equipment to a dumping location beyond the reach of the excavator. The material handling apparatus may include a mobile bridge supported by two or more crawlers that enable movement of the mobile bridge. The material handling apparatus may further include a conveyance mechanism that transfers material between first and second ends of the mobile bridge. The conveyance mechanism may transfer material to haul trucks at the second end of the mobile bridge, which may be disposed above the first end of the mobile bridge. The conveyance mechanism may receive material from an intermediate transfer mechanism at the first end of the mobile bridge.

A method for renewing a placement area may include one or more of the following steps. A dredge barge may be disposed inside a placement area containing materials dredged from one or more other locations and disposed within the placement area. Material may be dredged from the placement area. The dredged material may be processed. Water may be added to the placement area to maintain a flotation level of the dredge barge. The dredge barge may be removed from the placement area. The water may be removed from the placement area. This process may allow a placement area to be continually renewed and may allow useful materials to be recovered from a placement area.

A multi-stage seafloor mining system that has at least concentration stage, a reclamation stage, and a haulage stage. The system includes a concentrating system (50) that processes seafloor materials, a reclaimer machine (300) that collects the processed seafloor materials, and a mechanical haulage system (40) that receives the processed seafloor materials collected by the reclaimer machine (300) and conveys discrete parcels of the processed seafloor materials to a surface vessel (100).

A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

A system for generating and updating an electronic map of paths travelled by vehicles in a geographical area, the system comprising: a plurality of vehicles located in the geographical area and each fitted with a position tracker and a vehicle communications system to transmit a series of chronological position reports in respect of the vehicle; a data communications network in data communication with the vehicle communications system of each of the plurality of vehicles; a map generation assembly (MGA) including a processing assembly and an electronic memory assembly, the map generation assembly being in data communication with the data communications network and arranged to receive the position reports, the MGA being configured to; generate batches of points from the position reports, the points corresponding to vehicle positions for respective vehicles at respective times, in the electronic memory assembly; operating the processing assembly to make batch-by-batch comparisons of points of a batch with positions of the clusters of the map; based upon the comparisons, operating the processing assembly to update the map by performing a cluster update procedure; operate the processing assembly to update the connections between the clusters subsequent to the cluster update to thereby produce an updated map; and transmit the updated map via the data network to a remote user.

A system for generating and updating an electronic map of paths travelled by vehicles in a geographical area, the system comprising: a plurality of vehicles located in the geographical area and each fitted with a position tracker and a vehicle communications system to transmit a series of chronological position reports in respect of the vehicle; a data communications network in data communication with the vehicle communications system of each of the plurality of vehicles; a map generation assembly (MGA) including a processing assembly and an electronic memory assembly, the map generation assembly being in data communication with the data communications network and arranged to receive the position reports, the MGA being configured to; generate batches of points from the position reports, the points corresponding to vehicle positions for respective vehicles at respective times, in the electronic memory assembly; operating the processing assembly to make batch-by-batch comparisons of points of a batch with positions of the clusters of the map; based upon the comparisons, operating the processing assembly to update the map by performing a cluster update procedure; operate the processing assembly to update the connections between the clusters subsequent to the cluster update to thereby produce an updated map; and transmit the updated map via the data network to a remote user.