AU2014101047A4

AU2014101047A4 - A vehicle for locating a load in rough terrain

Info

Publication number: AU2014101047A4
Application number: AU2014101047A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard ANNETTS
Original assignee: BEETLE BODIES AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BEETLE BODIES AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-06-05
Filing date: 2014-08-31
Publication date: 2014-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 2020-06-05
Also published as: AU2012203301A1; AU2013242868A1

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: a protective cage for bearing the load; an axle fastened to the protective cage; wheel support members journaled to opposite ends of the axle for independent rotation thereon; and three rollers for ground contact mounted to each of the wheel support members each roller comprising a wheel and a tyre.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION A VEHICLE FOR LOCATING A LOAD IN ROUGH TERRAIN The invention is described in the following statement: 1 A VEHICLE FOR LOCATING A LOAD IN ROUGH TERRAIN TECHNICAL FIELD [01] The present invention relates to a vehicle for traversing rough terrains. A particular embodiment of the invention is concerned with a vehicle for transporting a pump over a mining pit highwall into a pit or dam. BACKGROUND [02] The discussion of any prior art documents, techniques, methods or apparatus is not to be taken to constitute any admission or evidence that such prior art forms, or ever formed, part of the common general knowledge. [03] In the context of the mining industry but also in other fields such as construction and military engineering, the need will arise for equipment to be transported over rough terrain. To provide a specific example, in the context of mining it may be necessary to locate a water pumping module at a desired position that is surrounded by steeply sloping ground which is rough and undulating. [04] In order to either install or remove the pumping module to or from the desired location it is usually necessary that it be dragged, with the aid of a conventional wheel and axle assembly over rough ground and up and over a mining pit high wall. However, it has been observed that due to the highly undulating and rough terrain involved, pumping modules are often damaged. In some instances the pumping module has been completely torn away from its hydraulic lifting hose which may result in a complete loss of the pump unit and incur costs of tens of thousands of dollars. [05] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which addresses the above identified problem.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [06] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: a protective cage for bearing the load; wheel support members journaled to axle ends extending from the protective cage for independent rotation thereon; and a number of rollers for ground contact disposed about the wheel support members. [07] The load may comprise a pump fastened to the protective cage for pumping water from a pit or dam and the rough terrain may include a high wall of the pit or dam. [08] Preferably the protective cage comprises two portions separable from each other for access to the load. [09] In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes at least one roller protruding outwardly from a lower portion of the protective cage for preventing snagging of the apparatus during use. [10] Preferably at least one skid plate is fastened to the protective cage. [11] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the axle ends comprise ends of opposed stub axles extending from opposite sides of the cage. [12] Preferably the rollers comprise three rollers for each wheel support member. [13] Preferably each of the rollers comprises a pneumatic tire coupled to an associated wheel.

3 [14] Preferably each pneumatic tire is coupled to said wheel support member by a stub axle. [15] Preferably the wheel bearing members are formed as plates having a general outline of an equilateral triangle with each roller mounted toward an angle of said triangular outline. [16] Preferably a bearing is fastened to each plate which receives an end of the axle. [17] Preferably the cage comprises a number of arcuate members forming a protective cage about the load. [18] In one embodiment of the invention the load comprises a pump which is fastened to the support assembly. [19] The apparatus may include a towing assembly for assisting in coupling the apparatus to a towing vehicle. [20] In the preferred embodiment of the invention the at least one axle comprises a single elongate member fastened to the support assembly by means of brackets. [21] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: a protective cage for bearing the load; an axle fastened to the protective cage; wheel support members journaled to opposite ends of the axle for independent rotation thereon; and three rollers for ground contact mounted to each of the wheel support members each roller comprising a wheel and a tyre. [22] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: 4 a protective cage for bearing the load; independently rotatable wheel supports at opposite sides of the protective cage; and a number of rollers for ground contact mounted to each of the wheel supports. In a preferred embodiment of the invention each of the rollers comprises a wheel fitted with a tyre. [23] According to a further embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for pumping water from a dam or pit including towing or dragging an apparatus as previously described over rough terrain to a location of water to be pumped in said dam or pit. [24] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus comprising two or more sub-assemblies, each said sub-assembly being as previously described, wherein the sub-assemblies are interconnected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [25] The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: [26] Figure 1 is a first view of an apparatus being a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [27] Figure 2 is a second view of the vehicle of Figure 1. [28] Figure 3 is a close up of a portion of Figure 2. [29] Figure 4 is a view of the wheel side of the wheel support plate and stub axles of the vehicle. [30] Figure 5 depicts the vehicle in use being towed. [31] Figure 6 depicts a further embodiment of the invention wherein two of the previously described vehicles have been joined together to produce a multi-axle variation.

5 [32] Figures 7 to 12 are views of an apparatus according to a further and preferred embodiment of the present invention. [33] Figure 13 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of Figures 7 to 12. [34] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [35] Referring now to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a first embodiment of the invention in the form of an apparatus being a vehicle 1. Apparatus 1 includes a support assembly in the form of a frame or cage 2 comprising a number of linear and arcuate members 4. [36] Attached to the frame by means of a pair of brackets 6 is an axle 8 comprising an elongate member. At opposite ends of the axle 8 there are journaled wheel supports comprising members in the form of opposed equilateral triangular plates 10. Opposed ends of the axle 8 are journaled to the wheel support members 10 by means of corresponding bearing assemblies 12. Toward an apex of each of the triangular plates there outwardly extends a stub axle 14, best seen in Figure 4, to each of which there is rotatably mounted a roller comprising a wheel 16 and pneumatic tire 18. [37] In the presently described embodiment of the invention the load comprises a pump 20 which is fastened to the support assembly 4. [38] A hitching point is provided in the form of a towing assembly 22, which is attached to the frame for assisting in coupling the vehicle 1 to a towing vehicle such as a mobile crane for example. [39] Referring now to Figure 5, in use a towing member or line 24 is attached to the towing assembly 22 to draw the apparatus up rough terrain 26. It will be observed that as leading wheel 25, which has been rotating in the direction 6 indicated by arrow 28, makes contact with the rough terrain 26, the wheel support plate 10 is caused to rotate, as indicated by arrow 30 so that trailing wheel 32 is rotated up from the ground and the uppermost wheel 36 begins to descend as indicated by arrow 34 so that it will make contact with the rough terrain 26 forward of wheel 25. It will therefore be realised that by a combination of rotations of each of the wheels about their own stub axles, and rotation of the wheel support plate about axle 8 the apparatus is able to make stable progress over the rough terrain while carrying its payload, in this case the pump 20. [40] Figure 6, shows a further variation of the present invention wherein a multi axle vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention is produced by connecting two of the previously described apparatus together with members interconnected by a universal joint 38 or other suitable linkage. Depending on requirements such a vehicle may be made automotive. For example an engine may be mounted to one of the support frames and arranged to propel the vehicle. In one embodiment the engine may drive a winch that is mounted to the vehicle to haul in a line that has a free end connected at a remote point to thereby pull the vehicle over rough terrain between it and the remote point. The engine and/or the winch may be hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, internal combustion or any other suitable type of motor or winch assembly. For example, the motor may be a diesel combustion engine that drives a hydraulic winch. [41] Referring now to Figures 7 to 12, there is depicted a further, and preferred, embodiment of the invention in the form of rough terrain vehicle 40. The rough terrain vehicle 40 includes a cage 39 which comprises a lower portion 45 and an upper portion 43. The upper and lower portions 43 and 45 are interconnected by a number of straps 47 that may be disconnected from either the top or bottom portion of the cage in order that the two halves can be separated or pivoted apart as shown in Figure 1 0a. Separation of the two halves of the cage allows access to the equipment located therein which in the presently described embodiment comprises a pumping module 20.

7 [42] A roller 44 is provided on the lower forward end of the lower portion 45 of the cage 39. In other embodiments a multiplicity of rollers may be provided. The roller prevents the stub axles 42 and/or the cage 39 from becoming snagged on a protruding rock outcrop or the like as the apparatus 40 is lowered into position or retracted therefrom. [43] Skid plates 48 are disposed on the underside of the lower portion 45 of the cage 39. The skid plates 48 are arcuate and and assist the rough terrain vehicle 40 to slide over any protruding rock faces as it travels along the pit floor. [44] The wheel hubs 50 (identified in Figure 10) are fixed and are of a bearing less design to eliminated bearing seizure. Bearing seizure may be a problem given the time that the bearings are exposed to silt and dirty and corrosive water during the use of the vehicle 40. [45] The vehicle 40 is installed and removed into a water pit by means of a hose or flexible pipe that is coupled to a hydraulically operated reel or other retracting means sitting on top of the highwall's natural ground. [46] In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of" is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. [47] It is to be realised that further embodiments of the present invention may include features from one of the embodiments described herein combined with features of another embodiment of the invention. [48] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: a protective cage for bearing the load; an axle fastened to the protective cage; wheel support members journaled to opposite ends of the axle for independent rotation thereon; and three rollers for ground contact mounted to each of the wheel support members each roller comprising a wheel and a tyre.

2. An apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: a protective cage for bearing the load; wheel support members journaled to axle ends extending from the protective cage for independent rotation thereon; and a number of rollers for ground contact disposed about the wheel support members.

3. An apparatus for locating a load in a rough terrain area including: a protective cage for bearing the load; independently rotatable wheel supports at opposite sides of the protective cage; and a number of rollers for ground contact mounted to each of the wheel supports.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the load comprises a pump fastened to the protective cage.

5. An apparatus according claim 3 or claim 4 wherein the wheel supports have a general outline of an equilateral triangle with each roller mounted toward an angle of said triangular outline.