EQUIPMENT AND APPLICATION METHOD FOR SINKAGE DETECTION AND ACTIVE ESCAPE OF DEEP-SEA MINING VEHICLE

Abstract

An equipment and application method for sinkage detection and active escape of deep-sea mining vehicle, comprising: the sinkage detection and warning devices and the self-escape equipment. The sinkage detection and warning devices are installed on the left and right sides of each track of the deep-sea mining vehicle, and it monitors the contact conditions between the tracks and the sediment, and the distance from the bottom of the track to the device is measured. The self-escape equipment comprises the active interactive grouting system, which connects to intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads. The intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads are also located on the left and right sides of each track. This invention can detect the complex driving environment of the seafloor automatically and combine the existing grouting technology and materials to achieve active grouting escape in case of excessive sinkage.

Claims

1. A crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of a deep-sea mining vehicle, comprising: step 1: sinkage detection and warning devices are activated when the deep-sea mining vehicle is driving and operating on a seafloor sediment, and the sinkage detection and warning devices monitor contact conditions between tracks and a sediment actively, and a distance from a bottom of the track to the sinkage detection and warning device is measured; step 2: when the deep-sea mining vehicle is trapped in the sediment or low-lying places, which means that the tracks are sunk and inclined, then a data measured by the sinkage detection and warning devices will change abnormally and an alarm signal will be sent to a control system of a mining vessel; step 3: when the sinkage detection and warning device alarms that the deep-sea mining vehicle is inclined and trapped in the sediment or the low-lying places, an active interactive grouting system begins to operate: a A-slurry tank and a B-slurry tank which are located on both sides of the track, transfer two slurries to a conveyor of a A-B mixed slurry via a pumping device, and the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry is responsible for mixing a A-slurry with a B-slurry, and the A-B mixed slurry is then transferred to a connection pipeline of a mixed slurry; step 4: when the sinkage detection and warning device alarms that the deep-sea mining vehicle is inclined and trapped in the sediment or the low-lying places, the active interactive grouting system begins to operate, an intelligent steering and retractable grouting head also begins to operate: a distance between a drop point of the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head and a underside of the track is adjusted by a horizontal telescopic mechanism, which steers and extends to the sediment or the low-lying places within a rotation range under a walking track, and it comes to a grouting waiting period; step 5: when the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry in the active interactive grouting system completes mixing of the A-slurry and the B-slurry, the mixed slurry is grouted into the sediment underneath the tracks through the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head along the connection pipeline of the mixed slurry, then a bearing capacity of the sediment has been enhanced, an incline of the deep-sea mining vehicle has been corrected and it can get out of trouble or go through the low-lying places safely, increase an adaptive driving ability of the deep-sea mining vehicle on a thin and soft substrate of a sea floor; step 6: when a grouting has been finished, the A-slurry and the B-slurry do not interact, a built-in valve of a water-supply line opens and a water transfer pump machine delivers a water from a water-supply box to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head, which cleans the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry and the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head by the water flushing to prevent blocking a pipe and facilitate a recycle of the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head, and it is ready for any situation that may arise again that requires grouting.

2. An equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 1, comprising: the sinkage detection and warning device and a self-escape equipment.

3. An equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the sinkage detection and warning device is installed on both sides of each of the tracks of the deep-sea mining vehicle, the sinkage detection and warning device measures the distance from the bottom of the track to the sinkage detection and warning device and monitors the contact condition of between the tracks and the sediment actively.

4. An equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a self-escape equipment, comprising: the active interactive grouting system, which connects to a plurality of the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads, and the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads are located on both left and right sides of each of the tracks of the deep-sea mining vehicle.

5. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads have a rotation device, which connects to the horizontal telescopic mechanism, and the horizontal telescopic mechanism connects to a vertical telescopic mechanism.

6. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the active interactive grouting system, comprising: the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry, the A-slurry tank and the B-slurry tank connect to a slurry inlet of the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry, and the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads connect to a slurry outlet of the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry.

7. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein there are many conveyors of the A-B mixed slurry, each of the conveyors of the A-B mixed slurry connects to one of the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads.

8. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the A-slurry tank and the B-slurry tank are inside a left of the tracks and a right of the tracks of the deep-sea mining vehicle respectively, and a plurality of the conveyors of the A-B mixed slurry are installed on a left side and a right side of each of the A-slurry tank and the B-slurry tank.

9. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a top of the A-slurry tank connects to a A-slurry mixing and transfer pump, wherein a left side and a right side of the A-slurry tank connect to a plurality of A-slurry transfer pumps, and each of the A-slurry transfer pumps connects to a A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device.

10. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a top of the B-slurry tank connects to a B-slurry mixing and transfer pump, wherein a left side and a right side of the B-slurry tank connect to a plurality of B-slurry transfer pumps, and each of the B-slurry transfer pump connects to a B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device.

11. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a A-slurry mixing and transfer pump connects to a B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device, and a B-slurry mixing and transfer pump connects to a A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device.

12. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the active interactive grouting system also comprises the water-supply box, which connects to the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry.

13. The equipment corresponding to the crawler driving method for sinkage detection and active escape of the deep-sea mining vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the built-in valve of the water-supply line has been installed between the water-supply box and the conveyor of the A-B mixed slurry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] In order to state the technical solution proposal more clearly in this application embodiment or in the prior art, the embodiment or Figures are introduced below briefly. The drawings are used in the technical description. Obviously, the drawings in the description below are just some embodiments in this present, for ordinary technical personnel in this field, other drawings are obtained from the inspirations of these drawings under the conditions of no creative labor.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows the schematic diagram of the overall structure of the invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows the schematic diagram of grouting escape of the invention.

[0034] FIG. 3 shows the front view of the whole structure of the invention.

[0035] FIG. 4 shows the front view of the grouting escape of the invention.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows the front view of the active interactive grouting system.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows the top view of the active interactive grouting system.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows the three-dimensional diagram of active interactive grouting system.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows the schematic diagram of conveyor of A-B mixed slurry.

[0040] FIG. 9 shows the schematic diagram of rotating structure of intelligent steering and retractable grouting head.

[0041] FIG. 10 shows the schematic diagram of the retractable structure of intelligent steering and retractable grouting head.

[0042] FIG. 11 shows the structure diagram of sinkage detection and warning device.

[0043] In Figures, 1 represents track of deep-sea mining vehicle, 2 represents drive gear, 3 represents sinkage detection and warning device, 4 represents intelligent steering and retractable grouting head, 5 represents active interactive grouting system, 6 represents the connection pipeline of mixed slurry, 7 represents support beam, 8 represents A-slurry tank, 9 represents B-slurry tank, represents A-slurry transfer pump, 11 represents B-slurry transfer pump, 12 represents connection and conveyance hose, 13 represents U-shaped transmission pipeline, 14 represents water pump, 15 represents water-supply line, 16 represents water-supply box, 17 represents A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device, 18 represents built-in valve of the water-supply line, 19 represents A-slurry mixing and transfer pump, 20 represents B-slurry mixing and transfer pump, 21 represents B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device.

[0044] In Figures, {circle around (1)} is the B-slurry, {circle around (2)} is the A-slurry, {circle around (3)} is the A-B mixed slurry.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0045] This invention will be further described below in conjunction with the Figures of examples, obviously, the described examples are only one part of this invention, but they are not all the examples. Based on embodiments of this invention, all other implementability examples acquired by ordinary skilled persons in the field without creative labor are within the protection scope of this invention.

[0046] Additionally, in this invention, it should be understood that the terms of “structure”, “proportion”, “size”, etc. are used only to match the content disclosed in the specification, especially for the understanding and reading of people who are familiar with the technology, and the implementability condition of this invention is not limited, therefore, they are not significant meaning of all the techniques. Without departing from the above-mentioned technical idea of this invention, various replacements and changes are made according to common technical knowledge and conventional means shall be included in the protection scope of this invention in this field. At the same time, as quoted terms of “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “medium” and “one” in this specification, they are indicating orientations or positions based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only convenient for describing this invention and simplifying the description, and they do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, the change of relative relationship or size adjustment can be regarded as the scope of this invention if there is not significant change of technical content.

[0047] FIGS. 1 and 3 show the equipment for sinkage detection and active escape of deep-sea mining vehicle, comprising: track bracket, track of deep-sea mining vehicle (1), sinkage detection and warning device (3) and the active grouting escape equipment. The track of deep-sea mining vehicle (1) is provided with several grousers, each of which is perpendicular to the ground and it has an acute angle with the forward direction.

[0048] The sinkage detection and warning device (3) is a high precision laser detecting sensor. The intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4), the active interactive grouting system (5) and the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) constitute the active grouting escape equipment.

[0049] The sinkage detection and warning device (high-precision laser detecting sensor) (3) is arranged on the support beam (7) of the crawler support and there are five on each side. The intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads (4) are arranged on the support beam (7), which is arranged at intervals with the sinkage detection and warning device (3). The support beam (7) has circular drilling holes. The connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) connects to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) through the circular drilling hole, there are four on each side. The relationship between the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) and the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) is in one-to-one correspondence.

[0050] FIGS. 2 and 4 show the operation condition of the sinkage detection and active escape equipment. The sinkage detection and warning devices (3) are activated when the deep-sea crawler mining vehicle is operating on the seafloor sediment, and the devices monitor the contact conditions between the tracks and the sediment actively, and the distance from the bottom of the track to the device is measured. When a deep-sea mining vehicle is trapped in sediment or in low-lying places, which means that the tracks are sinking and inclined, then the data measured by the sinkage detection and warning devices (3) will be sent to the control system of mining vessel.

[0051] When the alarm signal from the sinkage detection and warning devices (high-precision laser ranging sensor) (3) have been sent to the mining vessel, the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads (4) steer, and then extend into the sediment, as shown in FIG. 4. The active interactive grouting system (5) works and the mixing of the A-slurry with the B-slurry has been completed. Then the mixed slurry is grouted into the sediment underneath track of deep-sea mining vehicle (1) along the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) via the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads (4). The bearing capacity has been improved and the incline of the deep-sea mining vehicle has been corrected, which completes the escape of mining vehicle or through low-lying places safely.

[0052] FIGS. 5-7 show the active interactive grouting system (5), comprising: A-slurry tank (8), B-slurry tank (9), A-slurry transfer pump (10), B-slurry transfer pump (11), connection and conveyance hose (12), U-shaped transmission pipeline (13), water pump (14), water-supply line (15), water-supply box (16), A-box side slurry mixing device (17), built-in valve of the water-supply line (18), A-slurry mixing and transfer pump (19), B-slurry mixing and transfer pump (20), B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (21).

[0053] A-slurry tank (8) and B-slurry tank (9) are placed in the left and right sides corresponding two track systems respectively. The connection and conveyance hose (12) connects to the A-slurry tank (8) and B-slurry tank (9) on both sides. There are two water-supply boxes (16), which are placed on A-slurry tank (8) and B-slurry tank (9) respectively. The left and right sides of A-slurry tank (8) connect to four A-slurry transfer pumps (10), and the slurry outlet of each A-slurry transfer pump (10) connects to A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (17). A-box side slurry mixing device and transfer (17) connects to the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6). The connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) connects to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) through the circular drilling hole of the support beam (7). FIG. 8 shows A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (17) is a device with two feeding ports, one of which connects to the A-slurry transfer pump (10), and the other connects to the U-shaped transmission pipeline (13). U-shaped transmission pipeline (13) connects to the B-slurry mixing and transfer pump (20), which is installed on the top of B-slurry tank (9). B-slurry {circle around (1)} in B-slurry tank (9) is transported to the A-box side slurry mixing device and transfer (17) through B-slurry mixing and transfer pump (20) and U-shaped transmission pipeline (13). Then the B-slurry {circle around (1)} and the A-slurry {circle around (2)} from A-slurry transfer pump (10) have been mixed in the A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (17). The A-B mixed slurry {circle around (3)} is transported to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) through the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6).

[0054] The left and right sides of B-slurry tank (9) connect to four B-slurry transfer pump (11), and the slurry outlet of each B-slurry transfer pump (11) connects to B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (21). B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (21) connects to the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6). The connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) connects to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) through the circular drilling hole of the support beam (7). B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (21) is a device with two feeding ports, one of which connects to the B-slurry transfer pump (11), and the other connects to the U-shaped transmission pipeline (13). U-shaped transmission pipeline (13) connects to the A-slurry mixing and transfer pump (19), which is installed on the top of A-slurry tank (8). A-slurry {circle around (2)} in A-slurry tank (8) is transported to the B-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (21) through A-slurry mixing and transfer pump (19) and U-shaped transmission pipeline (13). Then, the A-slurry {circle around (2)} and the B-slurry {circle around (1)} from B-slurry transfer pump (11) have been mixed in the B-box side slurry mixing device (21). The A-B mixed slurry {circle around (3)} is transported to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) through the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6).

[0055] The water pump (14) connects to water-supply box (16). The water-supply line (15) contains the built-in valve of the water-supply line (18), which connects to the water-supply box (16) and U-shaped transmission pipeline (13).

[0056] A-slurry tank (8) and B-slurry tank (9) on both sides communicate with the connection and conveyance hose (12) through their respective slurry mixing conveying pumps (A-slurry mixing pump (19) or B-slurry mixing pump (20)). Then mixed slurry is delivered to the conveyor of A-B mixed slurry on the other side through U-shaped transmission pipeline (13). Any conveyor of A-B mixed slurry is responsible for the mixing of A-slurry and B-slurry. After the mixing is completed, it is transported to the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) and the slurry was grouted into the sediment underneath the track of deep-sea mining vehicle (1) through the intelligent steering and retractable grouting heads (4).

[0057] When the grouting has been finished, the built-in valve of the water-supply line (18) of water-supply line (15) is opened and the water pump (14) delivers the water from the water-supply box (16) to the U-shaped transmission pipeline (13). The intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4), U-shaped transmission pipeline (13), the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) and conveyor of A-B mixed slurry have been washed and cleaned to prevent blocking the pipe and facilitate the recovery of the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4), which is ready for any situation that may arise again that requires grouting.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows the work diagram of A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (17). The A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (17) receives the B-slurry {circle around (1)} from the B-slurry tank (9) brought by the U-shaped transmission pipeline (13), and the A-slurry {circle around (2)} brought by the A-slurry transfer pump (10) is received. Mixing is carried out in the A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device (17) to generate A-B mixed slurry {circle around (3)}, which is transported to the connection pipeline of mixed slurry (6) and it is used for grouting with the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4).

[0059] FIGS. 9 and 10 show the work schematic diagram of the retractable structure of intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4). The intelligent steering and retractable grouting head (4) can be installed in the plane within the rotation range of 0-150°, and it can indicate the stretch in the arrow horizontal and vertical directions, and it is used to complete a certain range of grouting tasks.

Application Example 1

[0060] The sinkage detection and warning device is activated when the deep-sea crawler mining vehicle is operating on the seafloor sediment, and the sensors of device monitor the contact conditions between the tracks and the sediment actively, and the distance from the bottom of the track to the device is measured. When a left track system (one side of A-slurry tank) is trapped in sediment or in low-lying places, compared with the data measured by the high-precision laser ranging sensor on the right track, abnormal changes will occur in the data measured by the high-precision laser ranging sensor on the left track. The high-precision laser ranging sensor on the left track system will send an alarm signal to the control system of the mining vessel.

[0061] At this time, the active interactive grouting system begins to operate, the B-slurry stored by the B-slurry tank on the right side (B-slurry tank side) enters the U-shaped conveying pipe in the left caterpillar system (A-slurry tank side) through the connect and transport hose by the B-slurry mixing and transfer pump and then it is transmitted to the A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device in the left. At the same time, A-slurry carried by A-slurry tank on the left side (A-slurry tank side) is transported to the A-box side slurry mixing and transfer device through the A-slurry mixing and transfer pump, and then the A-B mixed slurry is formed, which is transported to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head through the connection pipeline of mixed slurry.

[0062] While the active interactive grouting system is working, one or several pairs of intelligent steering and retractable grouting head enters to the operation conditions, to rotate into position and extend into the sediment below the track. After the mixed slurry is transported into the connection pipeline of mixed slurry, and then the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head will grout the AB-mixed-slurry into the sediment.

[0063] After the grouting, the bearing capacity of the sediment below is improved, the incline of deep-sea mining vehicle has been corrected and make it can get out of trouble safely, or through low-lying places.

[0064] When the grouting had been finished, the slurry A and slurry B do not interact, the built-in valve of the water-supply line opens and the water transfer pump machine delivers the water from the water-supply box to the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head, which cleans the conveyor of A-B mixed slurry and the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head by water flushing to prevent blocking the pipe and facilitate the recovery of the intelligent steering and retractable grouting head, and it is ready for any situation that may arise again that requires grouting.

[0065] The above claims are only preferred embodiments of this present application, and it is not intended to limit this present application. For the technical staff in this field, this invention can be changed variously. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement, etc. within the spirit and principles of this invention shall be within the protection scopes of this invention.