CA1221419A - Cage door status indication - Google Patents

Cage door status indication

Info

Publication number
CA1221419A
CA1221419A CA000429370A CA429370A CA1221419A CA 1221419 A CA1221419 A CA 1221419A CA 000429370 A CA000429370 A CA 000429370A CA 429370 A CA429370 A CA 429370A CA 1221419 A CA1221419 A CA 1221419A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
door
signal
receiver
status
doors
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000429370A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Peter C. Vickers
Bernardus J. Bout
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Original Assignee
Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd filed Critical Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1221419A publication Critical patent/CA1221419A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66BELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
    • B66B19/00Mining-hoist operation
    • B66B19/06Applications of signalling devices

Landscapes

  • Optical Communication System (AREA)
  • Indicating And Signalling Devices For Elevators (AREA)
  • Elevator Door Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Geophysics And Detection Of Objects (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
  • Power-Operated Mechanisms For Wings (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

In a multi-deck underground cage each door has a switch fitted to it to provide a door-open or door-closed signal.
The signals identify the respective door and are used to modulate an infrared carrier signal which is transmitted downwardly and reflected to a receiver. Information decoded from the carrier signal is displayed to indicate the status of each door at a location remote from the cage.

Description

2 ., BACKGROUND OF _ E INVENrION

This invention relates generally to a cage system in a mine or similar installation wherein the cage has a plurality of decks or levels, and more particularly to the indication of the status of a door on each of the decks of the cage.

When a multi-deck cage docks at a s~ation in a shaft the doors at one or more decks of the cage may be opened or closed independently of the other doors. The onsetter, that is the person who transmits signals to the driver of the winding system, must be aware of the status of each door, in other words know whether it is open or closed, before he is in a position to signal the driver that the cage can be moved away from the station.

Modern cages can have at least four decks and in practice the situation is encountered that different decks can dock at different levels at the station. For example a four deck cage can dock at a four level - - 1-5 - station with each deck corresponding directly with one of the levels at the station or possibly with the bottom deck otherwise being aligned with the top, second or third level on the station. Under these circumstances it is difficult for the onsetter at all times to be-aware of the status of each door on the cage the more so when one bears_in mind that persons on the cage or on one of the levels-can operate the - doors independently o~ advtsing the onsetter thereof and at any~time. -The problem of keeping the onsetter informed of the status of each ~ ~ door is compounded by the fact that the cage is not generally connected ,' ~k
- 3 -directly to a power supply and thus there is no ready means available For powering some mechanism which makes the door status information available to the onsetter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method o-F providing door status information under the circumstances described.

The invention provides a method of providing information on the status of doorsof a multi-deck cage which includes the steps oF
generating for each door a signal which identifies the door and its status, and transmitting the signals to a receiver remote from the cage.

The signals may be generated by interrogating means at each door which provides an indication of the status of the door. These means may be interrogated in succession, and cyclically.

The signals may be transmitted at any suitable frequency but preferably at a frequency in the infrared region.

The infrared transmission preferably is directed downwardly o from the cage.

~ - 4 -The transrnitted siynals may be reflected or otherwise directed upwardly to the receiver.

The status of each door may be indicated by means of a visual or audible enunciator responsive to the receiver.

The invention also provides apparatus for providing information of the status of doors of a multi-deck cage which comprises means for generating for each door a signal which identifies the door and its status, a receiver remote from the cage, and means for transmitting the signals to the receiver.

- lO ~ -~ The transmitting means--preferably operates in the infrared region.

The invention further extends to a system wherein the transmitting means is installed on the cage and so aligned that the infrared transmission is downwardly directed.

The system may include means for intercepting and directing the transmitted signal ~o the receiver. This means may include at least one reflector of a suitable material e.g. stainless steel.

The receiver~-may-be--aligned-to receive-upwardly directed signals.

The signal generating means may be responsive to switch means operab'e by each of the respective doors. Each of the signals may be uniquely coded to identify the respective door.

- 5 ,, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~IE DRAWINGS
, The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates apparatus according to the invention, and Figure 2 illustrates the manner in which the apparatus of Figure 1 is employed.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 illustrates apparatus according to the invention which includes a transmitter 10, a receiving unit 12 and a display unit 14.

The transmitter has four inputs collectively designated by the numeral 16 which are respectively responsive to switches 18, 20, 22 and 24 respectively. The inputs are connected to a scanner 26 which in turn is connected to a multi-channel infrared transmitter - 28. The transmitting unit is self-contained and is powered hy means of a battery 30 located in a housing of the transmitter unit.
The battery is normally a dry cell battery.

The receiving unit 12 is powered from a low voltage alternating supply line 32 and includes a power unlt 34 to provide the , ~ - 6 -requlrecl d.c. voltaye for its operation. The receiver unit includes an inFrared receiver 36 which is connected to a mul-ti-channel decoder 38. The decoder in turn is connected to a hold circuit 40.

Output lines 42 from the hold circuit 40 are connected to display logic circuitry 44 in the display unit 14. The logic circuitry is powered by means of a power unit 46 connected to the a.c. supply line 32. The logic circuitry has output lines connected to red and green light emitting diode pairs 48, 509 52 and 54, and a relay 56. The contacts of the relay are accessible at output terminals 58.

~ Figure 2 illustrates a multi-deck cage 60 docked at an underground station ~2. In this example the cage 60 has four decks 64, 66, 68 and 70 respectively and each deck has a separate and independently operabie door.

In accordance with the invention the switches 18 to 24 are installed on the cage so that they are operable by the action of the doors on the decks 64 to 70 respectively. The transmitter unit 10 is installed on the cage near the roof of the upper deck 64 with the transmitter 28, see F;gure 1, being directed downwardly. The transmitter 10 has an output aperture 72, and this is covered and sealed by means of a window which is transparent to the infrared frequency emitted by the transmitter. In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the window is - directed into a tube 74 so that it is effectively mechanically shielded - 7 - b in all clirections save from t:he underneath which is the general transmitting direction.

The receiving unit 12 and the display unit 14 are installed at the station 62 in the manner schematically illustrated. The receiving unit 12 with the receiver 36, see Figure 1, is installed at a lower level at the station 62 and is directed downardly.
The receiving unit also has an infrared transparent window 76 and, as shown in Figure 2, has a downwardly directed tube 78 shielding the window. The display unit 14 is installed at a suitable location on the station 62 where it is easily visible to the onsetter working at the station.

A stainless steel reflector B0 is positioned below the receiving unit 12.

Figure 2 also illustrates, somewhat schematically, different levels 82 to 88 respectively of a gantry at which the cage docks.

The transmitter unit 28 is designed to emit sufficient power to ensure that the receiving unit 12 receives a signal of adequate strength when the cage is at the position shown in Figure 2 and also when the lower most deck 70 is aligned with the level 82.
It should be mentioned at this stage that the deck 70 can in practice be aligned with any one of the levels 82 to 88. In the first case the transmitter is at its furthest distance from the b3 b - 8 -receiver. The transmitter is clos~stto -the receiver when the deck fi4 is aligned with the level 88.

The transmitter 74 is located on the cage near the side of the shaft where the receiver is installed. Thus it is at all times aligned more or less with the receiver in that its emitted infrared beam impinges on the reflector 80.

When the cage docks at the gantry with any of the decks of the cage being aligned with the different levels of the gantry the transmitter unit therefore transmits a beam of radiation at an infrared frequency which impinges on the reflector 80 and which is redirected into the receiver lZ. The scanning unit 26 continuously and successively ~interrogates the switches 18 to 24 on a cyclical basis and obtains information from the switches indicating whether or not the respective doors are open or closed. Depending on the status of the door the scanning unit 26 generates an appropriate signal. For example if a door is closed the scanning unit generates a coded signal which uniquely identifies the door and if the door is open it does not generate the code. This is a Fail-safe feature. The four signals ~r codes are multiplexed by the scanning unit and used to modulate thecarrier or output signal of the transm~tter 28. Thus the infrared transmitted signal which is directed to the reflector 80 conveys information which uniquely identifies the doors and indicates the status of each door.

The signal which impinges on the reflector 80 is directed upwardly into the receiver unit 12 where it is received by the receiver 36 and ~27~ ¢3 g ~ ~
demodulated whereupon -the demodula-ted siynal is decoded in the decoding device 38. Four signals which correspond to the input signals to the scanning unit are then applied to the hold circuit 40 which provides on its output lines 42 steady signals indicative of the status of the doors. Since each of the lines 42 corresponds to one of the switches 18 to 24 and hence to one of the doors on the decks 64 to 70 the doors are uniquely identified as well.

The signals on the lines 42 are applied to the logic circuitry 44 and depending on the status of a door the diode pairs 48 to 54 are appropriately energized. For example if the door on deck 64 is open the corresponding red diode in the pair 48 is energized whereas if the door is closed the green diode in the indicated pair is energized. A similar situation prevails in respect of the other diode pairs 50 to 54 with regard to the doors on the other decks.

When all of the doors are closed the logic circuitry 44 additionally provides a signal which energizes the relay 56 and this provides a closed contact via the terminals 58 which is connected to an interlock circuit. This contact for example ensures that the brakes cannot be released by the driver of the winder until such time as all the doors of the cage are_cl~sed. -If any--of--the- -doors are opened the relay 56 is de-energized and the interlock circuitry is disabled.

It should be pointecl out that the transmitter 10 and the receiver 12 , are 1nstalled directed downwardly to ensure that minimal dirt,collects on the windows 72 and 76 respect-ively..that they are well protected against objects falling down the shaft, and thus that the efficiency of S the system is maintained. The, reflector 80 is located close to the receiver and this carries with it the advantage that even when dust or other foreign matter settles on the rèFlector there is a scattering oF the received infrared signal by the foreign matter, apart from the residual direct reflection by the reflector 80, which causes the signal to be redirected into the receiver. Since the transmitter and receiver are directed downwardly with their windows on the undersides it is possible to make the units water and dustproof and to ensure that they are adequately able to withstand mechanical shocks.

Particular advantagesarise from the use of an in-Frared transmitting signal. It is found that the infrared transmitter consumes very little power and thus can be powered by means of an onboard battery 30 for a considerable period of time. Secondly the signal, at an infrared frequency is, as has been pointed out, not unduly adversely affected by the presence of dirt or foreign matter between the transmitter ar,d receiver, for example on the reflector surface. The signal is also not suscept~lble to electromagnetic interference. Another point is-that-~the---emitted~~~nf~are-d-bea~-is--not-highly di-rectiona-l---and thus -impinges on the reFlector irrespective of the position of the cage when it is docked at the station 62. With regard to this last 2~ mentioned point it should be mentioned that the correct physical siting of the transmitter and receiver greatly assists in ensuring that an adequate signal is received by the unit 12.

The number of channels used in the apparatus of the invention is determined by the number of doors to be monitored. Additional channels may however be used for transmitting other data e.g. the status of the battery 30 in the transmitting unit 10.

Claims (20)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method of providing information on the status of doors of a multi-deck cage which includes the steps of generating for each door a signal which identifies the door and its status, and transmitting the signals to a receiver remote from the cage.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the signals are generated by interrogating means at each door which provides an indication of the status of the door.
3. A method according to claim 2 in which the said means are interrogated in succession.
4. A method according to claim 1 in which the signals are transmitted at a frequency in the infrared region.
5. A method according to claim 4 in which the signals are transmitted downwardly from the cage.
6. A method according to claim 5 which includes the step of directing the downwardly transmitted signals upwardly to the receiver.
7. A method according to claim 6 which includes the step of indicating the status of each door by means of a suitable enunciator.
8. A method of providing information on the status of doors of a multi-deck cage which includes the steps of generating for each door a signal which identifies the door, and transmitting the signal to a receiver if the door is closed.
9. A method of providing information on the status of doors of a multi-deck cage which includes the steps of generating for each door a first signal which identifies the door and its status, modulating a carrier signal with the first signals, transmitting the carrier to a receiver, demodulating the carrier to derive for each door a second signal which corresponds to the respective first signal, and applying the second signals to an enunciator to indicate the status of each door.
10. A method according to claim 9 in which the carrier signal is in the infrared region.
11. Apparatus for providing information on the status of doors of a multi-deck cage which comprises means for generating for each door a signal which identifies the door and its status, a receiver remote from the cage, and means for transmitting the signals to the receiver.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the transmitting means operates in the infrared region.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the transmitting means generates a carrier signal and the said signals are used to modulate the carrier signal.
14. Apparatus according to claim 11 which includes means for intercepting and directing the transmitted signal to the receiver.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 in which the intercepting and directing means includes at least one reflector.
16. Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the transmitting means is so aligned that the transmitted signal is directed downwardly.
17. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the signal generating means is responsive to switch means operable by each of the respective doors.
18. A system which includes a multi-deck cage with a plurality of doors, a plurality of switches which are operable by the respective doors, a transmitter which transmits data, generated by means of the respective switches, on each door if the door is closed, and a receiver which receives the transmitted data.
19. A system which includes a multi-deck cage with a plurality of doors, a plurality of switches which are operable by the respective doors, a transmitter with a carrier in the infrared region which is modulated with data generated by the switches, a receiver which receives the transmitted carrier, and means responsive to the receiver for indicating the status of each of the doors.
20. A system according to claim 19 which includes a reflector arranged to reflect the transmitted carrier to the receiver.
CA000429370A 1982-06-01 1983-05-31 Cage door status indication Expired CA1221419A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA82/3817 1982-06-01
ZA823817 1982-06-01

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1221419A true CA1221419A (en) 1987-05-05

Family

ID=25576102

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000429370A Expired CA1221419A (en) 1982-06-01 1983-05-31 Cage door status indication

Country Status (10)

Country Link
AU (1) AU556151B2 (en)
BR (1) BR8302930A (en)
CA (1) CA1221419A (en)
DE (1) DE3319631A1 (en)
FI (1) FI77209C (en)
FR (1) FR2527579B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2122573B (en)
SE (1) SE458359B (en)
ZM (1) ZM4683A1 (en)
ZW (1) ZW11983A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102807148B (en) * 2012-07-24 2014-01-22 中国矿业大学 Mine cage system with traveling cable and lifting control method for system
CN105259862B (en) * 2015-10-27 2018-03-30 神华集团有限责任公司 A kind of vertical operation-control system and its control method
CN114314281A (en) * 2022-01-21 2022-04-12 吴春松 Underground mine pit each middle section well head door interlocking protection device

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
BE398091A (en) *
GB221219A (en) * 1923-08-31 1924-11-27 Rheinische Metallwaaren- Und Maschinenfabrik
US2853158A (en) * 1956-07-13 1958-09-23 Elevator Construction & Servic Closure control mechanism
FR1206297A (en) * 1958-07-09 1960-02-09 Forderanlagen Ernst Heckel M B Checking the emptying of a transport bucket used in an extraction well
GB955616A (en) * 1961-08-16 1964-04-15 Ace Machinery Ltd Improved means for communicating between the cage of a lift and its tower or shaft
US3743056A (en) * 1971-05-19 1973-07-03 Westinghouse Electric Corp Fail-safe detector
DE2236424C3 (en) * 1971-08-11 1982-07-22 Oehler-, Wyhlen-Lagertechnik AG, Aarau Device for controlling and monitoring the movements of the platform of a storage and retrieval vehicle
CA1080307A (en) * 1976-01-29 1980-06-24 Andrew E. Deczky Optical telemetry for aluminium reduction plant bridge cranes
DE2733441A1 (en) * 1977-07-25 1979-02-08 Guenter Grigoleit Wire-free lift control system - transmits signals by radiant energy via microprocessors to central control unit in machine room
GB2073434B (en) * 1980-03-28 1984-03-14 Plessey Co Ltd Remote switch monitoring circuit for mining

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FI831852A0 (en) 1983-05-24
FR2527579B1 (en) 1988-08-19
AU1504783A (en) 1983-12-08
SE8302944D0 (en) 1983-05-25
GB2122573B (en) 1985-11-13
BR8302930A (en) 1984-02-07
ZW11983A1 (en) 1983-08-10
FI77209C (en) 1989-02-10
AU556151B2 (en) 1986-10-23
GB2122573A (en) 1984-01-18
FI77209B (en) 1988-10-31
FR2527579A1 (en) 1983-12-02
FI831852L (en) 1983-12-02
ZM4683A1 (en) 1984-02-21
SE458359B (en) 1989-03-20
DE3319631A1 (en) 1984-01-12
GB8314326D0 (en) 1983-06-29
SE8302944L (en) 1983-12-02

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