There is provided a material transfer system including a reciprocating conveyor which selectively moves in a first direction of movement and a second direction of movement opposite the first direction of movement. The conveyor is configured to promote movement of material in the first direction and inhibit movement of material in the second direction.

There is further provided a material transfer system comprising a first reciprocating conveyor which selectively moves material towards a first location. The system includes a second reciprocating conveyor which overlaps with the first reciprocating conveyor. The second reciprocating conveyor selectively moves material from the first location towards a second location.

There is also provided a material transfer system comprising a passageway having an upstream inlet and a downstream outlet. The passageway may be a conduit, a siphon or chute. The system includes a reciprocating conveyor conveying fluvial material towards the inlet of the passageway.

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and method for seabed resources collection. The apparatus comprises a main module and a plurality of seabed resources collecting devices releasably attached to the main module, wherein the main module and the plurality of collecting devices are configured to be launched from a surface vessel towards a seabed; the main module includes a control module which is configured to determine a mining path for each of the collecting devices based on characteristics of the seabed, control each of the collecting devices to collect seabed resources along the determined mining path and control transfer of the seabed resources collected by the collecting devices, wherein each collecting device is configured to be released from the main module after the apparatus is launched, and to collect seabed resources along the mining path determined by the main module after being released.

The present application discloses a dredging system for a pre-paved gravel foundation bed surface in open sea deep water, including a dredging mechanism, which includes a dredging suction head, a power component and a dredging pipeline, wherein the dredging suction head is connected with the dredging pipeline; the dredging pipeline is communicated with the power component; the dredging suction head includes at least one ridge surface suction port and at least one furrow suction port; the openings of all the furrow suction ports are lower than those of all the ridge surface suction ports; a lifting mechanism, which is connected with the dredging suction head and is used for lifting the dredging suction head to the gravel foundation bed surface; a moving mechanism, which is connected with the lifting mechanism and is used for driving the dredging suction head to move within a dredging range of the gravel foundation bed surface. By the adoption of the dredging system for the pre-paved gravel foundation bed surface in the open sea deep water of the present application, the dredging suction head includes the ridge surface suction ports and the furrow suction ports, and may suck mud on the top surfaces of gravel ridges and the mud in furrows between two gravel ridges at the same time, thereby guaranteeing the dredging quality of the gravel foundation bed surface and improving the working efficiency. The dredging system is simple in structure, convenient to use and good in dredging effect.

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 piece of submarine mining equipment comprises an equipment body, a plurality of adaptive submarine mining collectors and respective mineral delivery pipes. The equipment body and the adaptive submarine mining collectors are connected through the mineral delivery pipes. The lengths, stretching out of the equipment body, of the mineral delivery pipes can be adjusted under control. The adaptive submarine mining collectors are provided with tracked traveling mechanisms and can autonomously travel under control. An underwater detector is used for detecting the submarine topography and mineral distribution in the vicinity of an operation area, and the traveling path of the submarine mining collectors and a mineral storage vehicle is reasonably planned according to detected information. The multiple adaptive submarine mining collectors simultaneously and independently work and are made light and small, thus reducing damage of mining operations to the submarine ecological environment. The equipment body can travel along flat submarine paths and avoid rough paths. Horizontal vortexes induced by the mining collectors can enhance the mining effect and improve the collecting power under unit power consumption so that fewer water pumps with smaller sizes can be configured, and the mining collectors have a smaller principle dimension, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption and being more environmentally friendly.

Systems and methods for recovering and concentrating rare earth elements from seabed sediment deposits using seabed excavators and shipboard processing systems.

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).

The present application discloses a dredging system for a pre-paved gravel foundation bed surface in open sea deep water, including a dredging mechanism, which includes a dredging suction head, a power component and a dredging pipeline, wherein the dredging suction head is connected with the dredging pipeline; the dredging pipeline is communicated with the power component; the dredging suction head includes at least one ridge surface suction port and at least one furrow suction port; the openings of all the furrow suction ports are lower than those of all the ridge surface suction ports; a lifting mechanism, which is connected with the dredging suction head and is used for lifting the dredging suction head to the gravel foundation bed surface; a moving mechanism, which is connected with the lifting mechanism and is used for driving the dredging suction head to move within a dredging range of the gravel foundation bed surface. By the adoption of the dredging system for the pre-paved gravel foundation bed surface in the open sea deep water of the present application, the dredging suction head includes the ridge surface suction ports and the furrow suction ports, and may suck mud on the top surfaces of gravel ridges and the mud in furrows between two gravel ridges at the same time, thereby guaranteeing the dredging quality of the gravel foundation bed surface and improving the working efficiency. The dredging system is simple in structure, convenient to use and good in dredging effect.

A stirring device is adapted to be used for a water storage system. The stirring device includes a tube unit and a stirring unit. The tube unit includes a rigid tube member, and a flexible tube member adapted for interconnecting the rigid tube member and an inlet of the water storage system. The stirring unit includes a center rod extending rotatably into the rigid tube member along an longitudinal direction of the rigid tube member, a support subunit positioning the center rod within the rigid tube member, a driver fan subunit mounted to the center rod and adapted to be driven by water for actuating rotation of the center rod, and a stirring member mounted co-rotatably to the center rod and adapted for stirring sediments in the water.

A deep sea mining method includes providing a deep sea mining system for mining matter from a bottom of a body of water, the mining system including: a slurry line coupled with a pump system to transport the slurry from the bottom of the body of water; and a return line in fluid communication with the slurry line and distinguishable from the slurry riser, for transporting non valuable slurry part to the bottom of the body of water, the return line having a return line outlet proximate the bottom. The deep sea mining method further includes spreading the non valuable slurry part over the bottom of the body of water in a controlled manner.