FR2527579A1 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING MINE CAGE DOOR INFORMATION AND MINE INSTALLATION USING THE SAME AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION ON THE CONDITION OF THE DOORS OF A MINE CAGE AND A MINE INSTALLATION USING THIS APPARATUS AND THIS PROCESS. THE APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE STATE OF THE DOORS OF A CAGE 60 COMPLIES WITH MEANS 18 TO 24; 16; 26; 28 SERVING TO PRODUCE FOR EACH DOOR A SIGNAL IDENTIFYING THE DOOR AND ITS CONDITION, A RECEIVER 32 LOCATED AT A DISTANCE FROM THE CAGE AND A TRANSMITTING DEVICE 10 JOINTLY WITH THE CAGE AND SERVING TO SEND SIGNALS TOWARDS THE RECEIVER. APPLICATION ESPECIALLY TO THE SAFETY CONTROL OF CAGE DOORS WITH MULTIPLE STAGES OF MINING WELLS.

Description

The invention relates generally

  a cage system in a mine or similar facility

  in which the cage comprises several stages or levels and more particularly the indication of the state of a door at each level of the cage In the case where a multistage cage stops at a station in a well, the doors located at one or more floors of the cage may

  be open or closed independently of other doors.

  The insurer, that is, the person who transmits

  to the operator dealing with the return system, must be informed of the state of each door, that is to say

  other words, that he must know if the door is open-

  or closed before being able to report to the opera-

  that the cage can be moved from the station.

  Modern cages can have at least four floors, and in practice or encounter cases where different floors can stop at different levels in the station. For example, a four-storey cage can stop at a four-level station. so that each floor corresponds directly to one of the levels in the station or else, if not, the lower floor

  possibly aligned with the higher level, the

  cond level or the third level in the station In these conditions, it is difficult for the cager to be informed at any time of the state of each door of the cage, and all the more if we remember that people in the cage or on one of the levels can operate the doors without notifying the cager, at any time

  To the problem of keeping the infor-

  In addition to the condition of each door, there is the fact that the cage is generally not connected directly to a source.

  energy supply and that, therefore, there is no

  no convenient way available To power the mechanism for transmitting information from the state

from the door to the caster -

  An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for delivering information from

  the condition of the doors under the conditions described.

  The invention provides a method for providing information on the condition of the doors of a cage

  multistage, which includes the operating phases

  to produce for each door a signal which identifies

  the door and its state, and to transmit the signals to

a receiver remote from the cage.

  The signals can be produced by means of an interrogator device provided at each door and which provides an indication of the state of the door.

  devices can be interrogated successively and cyclically

cally.

  Signals can be relayed to anyone

  how often, but preferably at a frequency

  quence located in the field of infrared.

  Infrared transmission is directed

  preferably down from the cage.

  The transmitted signals may be reflected or otherwise directed upward toward the receiver. The state of each door can be indicated by means of an optical or acoustic warning device responding to the receiver. The invention also provides an apparatus for delivering information of the state of the doors of a cage to

  several storeys, which includes a device to pro-

  for each door a signal that identifies the door and its state, a receiver at a distance from the cage and a

  transmitting device sending the signals to the receiver.

  The transmitter device preferably operates

this in the infrared domain.

  The invention is furthermore applicable to a system or installation, in which the transmitter device is mounted on the cage and is aligned in such a way that

  the infrared emission is directed downwards.

  The installation may comprise means for sensing and directing the transmitted signal towards the receiver.

  These means may comprise at least one reflector constituting

  killed in a suitable material, for example stainless steel

corn.

  The receiver can be aligned to

  receive signals pointing upwards.

  The device used to produce the signals

  can be sensitive to a switch that can be action-

  each of the respective gates Each of the signals can be uniquely encoded so as to identify the respective gate Other features and advantages of the

  present invention will emerge from the description given

  hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, on the

what:

  FIG. 1 schematically represents an apparatus

according to the invention; and

  Figure 2 shows the manner in which the

Figure 1 is used.

  Figure 1 shows the device according to

  the invention, comprising a transmission unit 10, a unit

  recording tee 12 and a display unit 14.

  The transmission unit has four separate inputs

  signed as a whole by reference 16 and which are

  respectively responsive to switches 18, 20, 22 and 24.

  The inputs are connected to a scanning device 26 which, in turn, is connected to a transmitter

  multi-channel infrared 28 The transmitting unit

  tonome is supplied with energy by means of a battery 30 si-

  in a box of this unit The battery is normal-

a dry cell.

  The reception unit 12 is powered by a low-voltage AC power supply line 32 and has a power supply unit.

  energy 34 for delivering the current voltage

  required for its operation. The receiver unit

  There is an infrared receiver 36 which is connected to

  dice to a multi-channel decoder 38 The decoder is

  in turn connected to a holding circuit 40.

  The output lines 42 from the holding circuit 40 are connected to a display logic circuit 44 located in the display unit 14. The logic circuit is powered by a power supply unit 46 connected to the line 32 power supply

  The logic circuit has lines of output

  connected to red light-emitting diode pairs

  and 48, 50, 52 and 54, and a relay 56 Contacts

  relays are accessible at output terminals 58.

  Figure 2 shows a cage 60 to several

  floors, stopped at an underground station 62.

  In this example, the cage 60 comprises four stages 64, 66, 68 and 70, each of which has a separate door that can

  be operated independently.

  According to the invention, the switches

  18 to 24 are mounted on the cage so that they can

  The emission unit 10 is mounted on the cage near the roof of the upper stage 64, the transmitter 28

  (see Figure 1) being directed downwards.

  10 has an exit opening 72 and is

  green and sealed tightly by a window which is transparent to the frequency of the infrared radiation, emitted by the transmitter Further, as shown in Figure 2, the window is oriented inside a tube 74 so that that it is effectively protected from the point

  from all directions, except

  forward direction, which is the direction

general issue.

  The reception unit 12 and the display unit

  14 are mounted in station 62 in the manner

  The receiving unit 12 with the receiver 36 (see FIG. 1) is mounted at a lower level in the station 62 and is directed downwards. The receiving unit also has a window 76 transparent to the infrared radiation. as shown in Fig. 2, has a tube 78 directed downwardly and protecting the window. The display unit 14 is mounted at a location

  station 62, where it is easily

  for the ranger working in the station.

  A reflector 80 made of stainless steel is

  below the receiving unit 12.

  Figure 2 also shows, in a way a little

  schematic, different levels 82 to 88 of a portico,

the calf from which the cage stops.

  The transmitter 28 is designed to

  to emit sufficient energy to ensure that the uni-

  receiving station 12 receives a signal of adequate intensity

  when the cage is in the position shown on the

  FIG. 2 and also when the lower stage 70 is

  Level 82 It should be mentioned from now on that the stage 70 can be, in practice, aligned with any of the levels 82 to 88 In the first case,

  the transmitter is at its largest distance from the receiver.

  The transmitter is the most receiver of the receiver when the floor

64 is aligned with level 88.

  The transmitter 74 is located on the cage close to

  Well-side tee where the receiver is installed So it is at all times more or less aligned with the receiver,

  so that its radiation beam

  frarouge falls on the reflector 80.

  When the cage stops at the gantry

  so that any of the stages of the cage is

  the different levels of the gantry, the unit of

  Therefore, the beam transmits a beam of radiation at a frequency of the infrared range, which encounters the reflector 80 and is reflected in the receiver 12. The scanning unit 26 interrogates

  continuously and successively switches 18 to 24,

  cycle, and provides information from the switches, indicating whether the respective gates are

  or not open or closed Depending on the state of the

  te, the scanning unit 26 produces a suitable signal.

  For example, if a door is closed, the exploration unit

  produces a coded signal that uniquely identifies the

  If the door is open, the exploration unit will not

  This is a safe operating characteristic in all circumstances The four signals or codes are subject to multiplexing performed by the unit

  and are used to modulate the signal

  transmitter or the output signal of the transmitter.

  emitted infrared signal, which is directed at the reflector 80, conveys information that uniquely identifies

  doors and the state of each.

  The signal, which falls on the reflector 80, is directed upwards into the reception unit 12 where it is received by the receiver 36 and is demodulated, whereupon the demodulated signal is decoded in the decoding device 38. signals, which correspond to the input signals sent to the exploration unit, are then applied to the

  maintaining circuit 40 qu delivers, in its lines of output

  42, permanent signals indicating the state of the doors.

  Since each line 42 corresponds to one of the

  18 to 24 and therefore to one of the doors of floors 64 to 70, these doors are also identified

unique way.

  The signals present in line 42 are

  referred to the logic circuit 44 and, depending on the state of a door, the pairs of diodes 48 to 54 are appropriately energized. For example, if the door on the floor 64 is

  open, the corresponding red diode of the pair 48 is excited

  while the door is closed, the green LED of the

  indicated couple is excited A similar situation is

  for other pairs of diodes 50 to 54, in relation to

with the doors of the other floors.

  When all doors are closed, the cir-

  cooked logic 44 ddbook additionally a signal that excites

  relay 56 and this causes, via its terminals

  58, closing a contact which is connected to a cir-

  This circuit guarantees for example that the

  brakes can not be loosened by the operator

  pant of the lift before all the doors of the cage are closed If any of the doors is open the relay 56 is de-energized and the locking circuit is disabled. It must be indicated that the transmission unit 10 and the reception unit 12 are installed while being directed

  downwards so as to ensure that a minimal amount

  dust accumulates on the windows 72 and 76, that the latter are well protected vis-à-vis any object falling in the well and therefore the effectiveness of the

  system is conserved Reflector 80 is located near

  receiver and this has the advantage that

  even when dust or other foreign substances

  res are deposited on the reflector, there is a diffusion

  infrared signal received by foreign substances, this

  the dispersion of the signal deviating from the residual reflection

  the direct by the reflector 80, which causes the return of the signal in the receiver As the unit of emission and the unit of

  reception are directed downwards with their windows

  killed on the lower faces, it is possible to render

  these units are watertight and dustproof and

  they are perfectly capable of withstanding mechanical shocks.

  Using an infra-red broadcast signal

  red results in special advantages It has been found that the infrared transmitter consumes very little energy and can therefore be powered by means of a battery

  boarded for a considerable period of time.

  Secondly, as indicated, the signal at the frequency of the infrared radiation is not affected in an excessively detrimental way by the presence of dust or foreign substance between the transmitter and the receiver, for example on the reflector surface The signal is

  also not sensitive to electromagnetic disturbances

  Another point to consider is that the

  the amount of infrared radiation emitted is not significantly

  recessive and therefore falls on the reflector, inde-

  from the position of the cage, when the latter

  re is stopped at item 62 With respect to this

  last point, it should be mentioned that the physical positioning

  of the transmitter and receiver contributes significantly

  to ensure that an appropriate signal is received by the uni-

12.

  The number of channels used in the device

  according to the invention is determined by the number of

  However, additional channels can be used for transmitting other data, for example the state of the stack 30 located in the control unit.

transmission 10.

Claims (15)

  1 Method for providing relative information   the condition of the doors of a cage (60) with multiple stages,   characterized by the operating phases of producing   re, for each door, a signal that identifies the door and its state, and to transmit the signals to a receiver (32) located at a distance from the cage.   Process according to claim 1, characterized   in that the signals are produced by an interrogation device (18 to 24) located at each door   and that delivers information of the state of the door.   3. Process according to claim 2, characterized   in that said devices (18 to 24) are interrogated successively -   Process according to any one of the claims   1 to 3, characterized in that the signals are transmitted   at a frequency in the field of infrared radiation   red. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the signals are transmitted   down from the cage (60).   Process according to claim 5, characterized   se by the operating phase of heading upwards,   in the direction of the receiver (32), the signals transmitted down.   Process according to any one of the claims   1 to 6, characterized by the operating phase of indicating the state of each door by means of a device appropriate alarm (14).   8 Method for providing information relating to   the condition of the doors of a multi-stage cage (60),   characterized in that it includes the operating phases   both to produce, for each gate, a signal that identifies the gate, and to transmit the signal to a receiver (32) if the door is closed.   9 Method for providing information relating to   the condition of the doors of a multi-stage cage (60),   characterized in that it includes the operating phases con-   to produce, for each door, a first signal   which identifies the door and its state, to modulate a signal   using the first signals, sending the carrier signal to a receiver (32), demodulating the carrier signal to   derive for each door a second signal corresponding to   to the first signal, and to apply the second   signals to a warning device (14) so as to indicate state the condition of each door.   Process according to claim 9, characterized   rised in that the carrier signal is in the domain infrared radiation.   11 Apparatus for providing information relating to   the condition of the multi-storey cage doors (60),   characterized in that it comprises means (18 to 24; 16; 26; 28) for producing, for each door, a signal which identifies the door and its state, a receiver (32) located at   distance from the box (60) and a device (10) for transmitting   be the signals towards the receiver (32).   Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized   in that the transmitting device (10) operates in the field of infrared.   Apparatus according to any of the claims   11 and 12, characterized in that the device transmits   carrier (10) produces a carrier signal and that said signals   are used to modulate the carrier signal.   Apparatus according to any one of the   11 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a   positive (82) used to intercept and direct the signal   transmitted to the receiver (32).   Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized   characterized in that the device for intercepting and directing the transmitted signal comprises at least one reflector (80). he   Apparatus according to any one of the   11 to 15, characterized in that the transmitter device (10) is aligned so that the signal issued is directed down.   Apparatus according to any one of the   11 to 16, characterized in that the device   said signals is sensitive to switches (18 to   24) which can be actuated by the different doors   pectives. 18 Installation, of the type comprising a cage   (60) multi-storey, with several doors,   in that it also includes several   (18 to 24) that can be operated by the doors   respective, a transmitter (28) which transmits data   by means of the respective switches, at each door, if the door is closed, and a receiver (12) who receives the data sent.   19 Installation, of the type comprising a cage   (60) multi-storey, equipped with several doors,   it has several switches (18   to 24) which can be operated: through the respective doors   a transmitter (28) delivering a carrier signal   in the field of infrared radiation and which is   by the data produced by the switches, and a receiver (12) which receives the transmitted carrier signal, and a   receiver-responsive device (14) to indi- state the state of each of the Kinds.   Installation according to claim 19, characterized in that it comprises a reflector (80) arranged to reflect the transmitted carrier signal, towards the receiver (32).