DE2555294

Vehicle constructed for being towed along undersea floor area where desired mineral aggregates, such as manganese nodules, are dispersed on ocean bottom carries apparatus utilizing power from towed motion, hydraulic suction and vehicle-borne motor for acquiring, concentrating and transmitting desired aggregates to conduit for upward transport. Vehicle has motor-powered water impeller, ducting and nozzle for directing pressurized sheet-jet of water rearwardly downward near undersea floor, enclosed ramp inclined rearwardly upward with entrance behind sheet-jet to receive solids dislodged from sea floor by jet, hopper and trough to receive solids moved up ramp by flow of water up ramp when vehicle is towed forward, and separating screens and ducting to direct desired sizes of solids into conduit for delivery to surface ship. Operationally effective path can be widened with horizontally fenestrated sweeps disposed in rearwardly diverging and converging V-patterns.