GB1578488A

GB1578488A - Conveyor-frame-mounted vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB1578488A
Application number: GB5309977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PERARD ENG Ltd
Current assignee: PERARD ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1977-12-20
Filing date: 1977-12-20
Publication date: 1980-11-05

Description

(54) CONVEYOR-FRAME-MOUNTED VEHICLE (71) We, PERARD ENGINEERING LIMITED, a British Company of Brittain Drive, Codnor Gate Industrial Estate, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3QB, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to the particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a conveyorframe-mounted vehicle and is particularly concerned with such a vehicle which is adapted for excavation for use in mines for extending gates and for removing obstructive material in a gate, for example, where there is damage caused by pressure of surrounding rubble.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a conveyor frame and a vehicle mounted thereon the conveyor frame having guide means for supporting and guiding the vehicle for movement along the conveyor frame, cooperable drive means on the conveyor frame and the vehicle for driving the vehicle along the conveyor frame, captivating means for captivating the vehicle on the conveyor frame, extensible and retractable legs on the vehicle, and operating means for extending and retracting the legs, whereby on extension the vehicle is raised with accompanying lifting of the conveyor frame through the agency of the captivating means, and whereby operation of the drive means then moves the conveyor frame relative to the vehicle.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a part of a captivating device, shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a part of the apparatus showing operating pistoncylinder units; and Figures 5 to 7 are diagrammatic views, illustrating how the apparatus can be shifted laterally.

Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus shown comprises a conveyor frame 11, having pans which mount a vehicle 12 which carries a drilling device 13 and a loading device 14.

The conveyor frame 11 (see also Figure 2) comprises a series of pans or sections joined together, each section comprising a bottom plate 20 having rolled ends 21, 22 providing reinforcement, and spaced upright plates 23, 23 defining sides of the conveyor pan. A partition plate 25 extends between the upright plates and in use a continuous conveying device, such as a conveying chain (not shown) is mounted with its upper run on top of the partition plate 25 and its lower run below the plate 25. The upper ends of the upright plates are rolled and define rails 28, 29.

Reinforcement plates define box-section arrangements 30, 31 secured at both opposite sides of each conveyor pan to the upright plates and between the latter. One boxsection arrangement 31 has a flat horizontal upper surface 32 mounting a rack of teeth 33.

The teeth of the rack are shaped so as to receive links of a round-link chain.

The vehicle 12 has wheels 38, which support the machine on the rails 28, 29. The vehicle includes an electric motor and hydraulic motors (not shown) and the machine is fed by an external electric cable 39. Such an arrangement is conventional, for example, for driving a winning machine along a mineral face. The vehicle drive means effects rotary drive of a continuous round-link chain 35 (Figure 2). A portion of the chain is urged into engagement with the rack of teeth 33 by a deflection device 40. The teeth are shaped so as to grip the peripheries of alternate links held in contact with the rack. Rotation of the chain, therefore, produces movement of the vehicle along the rails 28, 29.The rack and chain device is well known in association with winning machines and is fully described in patent specifications nos. 1500905 (application no. 23851/77) and 1500904 (application no. 4927/74).

The deflecting device 40 also mounts plough members 41 (only one shown) at opposite ends for cleaning the rack as the vehicle moves along the rails. The plough member is also disclosed in these two specifications.

Other drive means may be used, such as sprockets engageable with a rack or more conventional forms of rack and chain drive.

The vehicle is held captive on the conveyor frame by means of captivating devices 50 at both opposite sides of the vehicle. Each captivating device comprises a support plate 51 bolted to the machine and having dependent portion 52, which extends downwardly to a position below and to the outside of a corresponding rail 28, 29. This plate mounts a threaded shaft 53 on which is rotatably mounted a flanged roller 54 (Figures 2 and 3) which engages with the underside of the cylindrical rolled portion 28a of the rail 28 (or 29). The plate is reinforced by gussets 55.

The vehicle is provided, in this example, with two forward and two rearward support legs 60, 61 and 62 respectively. Only one of the rearward support legs 62 is shown, in Figure 1, the other leg being laterally opposite to that illustrated. Each rearward leg 62 comprises a rectangular-section tubular member 64 fixed to the vehicle to extend vertically and a retractable member 65 telescopically engaged in the tubular member.

The retractable member mounts a foot 66 through a pivotal joint (not shown). Each leg houses a piston-cylinder unit (not shown) which is hydraulically operable to extend and retract the leg 62 by action between the vehicle body and the retractable member 65. The foot 66 is frecly pivotally movable according to the contours of the support surface.

Extension of the legs 62 causes raising of the vehicle on the legs and the legs can be retracted sufficiently to be out of contact with the support surface for free running of the vehicle along the conveyor frame.

The forward legs 60, 61 are similar to the rear legs 62 and can similarly be extended and retracted. Each forward leg comprises a tubular member 68 a retractable member 69 and a universally pivoted foot 70.

With all four legs extended, the conveyor frame is raised off the ground, being supported by the captivating devices 50.

Depcnding on the length of the conveyor frame, a rearward portion of the conveyor frame, at a distance from the vehicle. may lie on the ground, articulation between the pans permitting the conveyor frame to snake ver tically. In this raised position, operation of the chain 35 drive causes the conveyor frame to be moved relative to the vehicle, so that the conveyor frame can be advanced relative to the vehicle. On retraction of the legs, the vehicle is again supported on the conveyor frame and the chain drive can be operated to advance the vehicle along the conveyor frame, so that the whole conveyor frame, conveying device and vehicle have been advanced.

Unlike the rear legs 62, the forward legs 60, 61 are not fixed to the vehicle body, but are pivotally mounted in housings 73, 74 about axes parallel to the length of the conveyor frame. The housings serve as stops locating the forward legs in vertical orientations, but piston-cylinder units are provided to effect pivotal movement of the legs out of the housings, outwardly of the conveyor frame. Figures 4 diagrammatically shows one of the forward legs 61. The tubular member 68 is shown pivoted in the housing 74 by a shaft 80. A vertical piston-cylinder unit 81 has its cylinder pivotally mounted on the shaft 80 by a lug 82. The piston rod 83 of the unit extends into the retractable member 69, which is hollow, and is mounted on a crosspiece 85 fixed transversely across the retractable member.The retractable member terminates in lugs 86 (only one shown) between which a boss 87 of the foot 70 extends. A spindle 88 pivots the foot to the retractable member, extending through the lugs 86 and the boss 87.

The tubular member carries a boss 89 to which is pivoted the piston rod 90 of a horizontal piston-cylinder unit 91 by a spindle 92. The cylinder is pivotally mounted by a spindle 93 on the body of the vehicle.

It will be seen that extension of the vehicle piston-cylinder unit 81 raises the vehicle on the leg 61 and extension of the horizontal piston-cylinder inclines the leg 61 relative to the body of the vehicle.

The other forward leg 60 is constructed in the same manner as leg 61 also with a horizontal piston-cylinder unit. The units are operated hydraulically.

The horizontal piston-cylinder units permit sideways movement of the whole apparatus for accurate location. The operation is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 5 to 7. In Figure 5, the legs 60, 61 are shown retracted and the conveyor frame 11 seats on the ground with the vehicle 12 supported on the conveyor frame. In Figure 6, the legs have been extended and the vehicle is shown supported on its legs 60, 61 with the conveyor frame held in a raised position by the captivating devices 50. The rear legs 62 would similarly be extended. In Figure 7, one of the forward legs 60 has been inclined, so that the vehicle 12 and the part of the conveyor frame supported between the legs 60, 61 has been moved to one side. This permits accurate positioning of the vehicle and the conveyor frame for ease of clearance of debris.

The front of the conveyor frame is provided with a skirt 100 which has inclined ramp faces. In use, the conveyor frame can be rammed into debris, by movement of the conveyor frame with the vehicle in a raised position supported on its legs. This causes some of the debris to be picked up automatically by the conveying device. Other debris can be tipped onto the conveying device by the loading device, which is a conventional shovel-type loading device mounted on an arm 101 about a vertical pivot 102. The loading device is carried by a carriage 103 mounted for lateral movement on a lateral guide 104.

The drilling device 13 can be advanced relative to the body of the vehicle 12, so that the tool-holder 106 can be advanced forwardly of the vehicle. The device is mounted on a carriage 108 which is mounted in longitudinal guides on the vehicle. The carriage can be advanced by desirable means, such as a chain drive or a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit.

It is envisaged that the drilling device may be used to drill holes in a wall for planting of explosive charges, the loading device being used to clear the resulting debris.

Scoop arms may be provided, if desired, on the forward part of the conveyor frame for scooping debris in front of the conveyor frame onto the conveying device.

During drilling or loading, the legs may be extended so as to stabilise the apparatus, the vehicle being at least partly supported by the legs.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus comprising a conveyor frame and a vehicle mounted thereon, the conveyor frame having guide means for supporting and guiding the vehicle for movement along the conveyor frame, co-operable drive means on the conveyor frame and the vehicle for driving the vehicle along the conveyor frame, captivating means for captivating the vehicle on the conveyor frame, extensible and retractable legs on the vehicle, and operating means for extending and retracting the legs, whereby on extension the vehicle is raised with accompanying lifting of the conveyor frame through the agency of the captivating means, and whereby operation of the drive means then moves the conveyor frame relative to the vehicle.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the operating means comprises a hydraulic pressure supply and pistoncylinder units.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 including a pair of said legs, one at each side of the vehicle, each of which is mounted on the vehicle body for outward lateral movement, and power means for effecting such movement of the legs whereby sideways movement of the vehicle and the conveyor frame can be effected.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, including a further pair of legs spaced lengthwise of the apparatus from the other pair of legs.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein each of the further pair of legs is fixed to the vehicle body in an upright position.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the drive means comprising a rack of teeth on the conveyor frame and rotatably driven means on the vehicle and engageable with the rack.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the rotatably driven means is a chain.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the rotatably driven means is a sprocket.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the conveyor frame comprises a series of pans connected together and each having a pair of upright side members mounting rails, the rails defining the guide means for the vehicle.

10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the captivating means comprises members dependent from the vehicle body and each having a part engaging with underside surfaces of the rails.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein each part engaging with the underside surface of a rail is a roller pivoted on the corresponding member and having a peripheral surface engaged with the rail.

12. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including a skirt at the forward end of the conveyor frame having ramp surfaces for directing material onto conveying means mounted in the frame as the latter is forwardly advanced.

13. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the vehicle mounts a powered manoeuvrable shovel near a forward end of the conveyor frame.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, including a drilling device on the vehicle.

15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the drilling device is mounted on a carriage movable lengthwise of the apparatus, and power means is provided for driving the carriage.

16. Apparatus comprising a conveyor frame and a vehicle mounted thereon and constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. Apparatus for use in a mine gate and comprising a conveyor frame and an excavat

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Claims

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61 has been moved to one side. This permits accurate positioning of the vehicle and the conveyor frame for ease of clearance of debris.

The front of the conveyor frame is provided with a skirt 100 which has inclined ramp faces. In use, the conveyor frame can be rammed into debris, by movement of the conveyor frame with the vehicle in a raised position supported on its legs. This causes some of the debris to be picked up automatically by the conveying device. Other debris can be tipped onto the conveying device by the loading device, which is a conventional shovel-type loading device mounted on an arm 101 about a vertical pivot 102. The loading device is carried by a carriage 103 mounted for lateral movement on a lateral guide 104.

The drilling device 13 can be advanced relative to the body of the vehicle 12, so that the tool-holder 106 can be advanced forwardly of the vehicle. The device is mounted on a carriage 108 which is mounted in longitudinal guides on the vehicle. The carriage can be advanced by desirable means, such as a chain drive or a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit.

It is envisaged that the drilling device may be used to drill holes in a wall for planting of explosive charges, the loading device being used to clear the resulting debris.

Scoop arms may be provided, if desired, on the forward part of the conveyor frame for scooping debris in front of the conveyor frame onto the conveying device.

During drilling or loading, the legs may be extended so as to stabilise the apparatus, the vehicle being at least partly supported by the legs.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus comprising a conveyor frame and a vehicle mounted thereon, the conveyor frame having guide means for supporting and guiding the vehicle for movement along the conveyor frame, co-operable drive means on the conveyor frame and the vehicle for driving the vehicle along the conveyor frame, captivating means for captivating the vehicle on the conveyor frame, extensible and retractable legs on the vehicle, and operating means for extending and retracting the legs, whereby on extension the vehicle is raised with accompanying lifting of the conveyor frame through the agency of the captivating means, and whereby operation of the drive means then moves the conveyor frame relative to the vehicle.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the operating means comprises a hydraulic pressure supply and pistoncylinder units.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2 including a pair of said legs, one at each side of the vehicle, each of which is mounted on the vehicle body for outward lateral movement, and power means for effecting such movement of the legs whereby sideways movement of the vehicle and the conveyor frame can be effected.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, including a further pair of legs spaced lengthwise of the apparatus from the other pair of legs.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein each of the further pair of legs is fixed to the vehicle body in an upright position.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the drive means comprising a rack of teeth on the conveyor frame and rotatably driven means on the vehicle and engageable with the rack.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the rotatably driven means is a chain.
8. Apparatus according to Claim 6 wherein the rotatably driven means is a sprocket.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the conveyor frame comprises a series of pans connected together and each having a pair of upright side members mounting rails, the rails defining the guide means for the vehicle.
10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the captivating means comprises members dependent from the vehicle body and each having a part engaging with underside surfaces of the rails.
11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, wherein each part engaging with the underside surface of a rail is a roller pivoted on the corresponding member and having a peripheral surface engaged with the rail.
12. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including a skirt at the forward end of the conveyor frame having ramp surfaces for directing material onto conveying means mounted in the frame as the latter is forwardly advanced.
13. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, wherein the vehicle mounts a powered manoeuvrable shovel near a forward end of the conveyor frame.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, including a drilling device on the vehicle.
15. Apparatus according to Claim 14, wherein the drilling device is mounted on a carriage movable lengthwise of the apparatus, and power means is provided for driving the carriage.
16. Apparatus comprising a conveyor frame and a vehicle mounted thereon and constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. Apparatus for use in a mine gate and comprising a conveyor frame and an excavat

ing vehicle mounted thereon; the conveyor frame having upright side members provided at their upper ends with rails, conveying means mounted in the frame between the side members, one end of the conveyor frame being provided with a ramp surface, the vehicle being movable along the rails and having captivating means captivating the vehicle on the rails, drive means including a rack mounted on the conveyor frame and rotatable means mounted on the vehicle for engaging the rack, extensible and retractable legs on the vehicle, and operating means for extending and retracting the legs whereby on extension the vehicle is raised with accompanying lifting of the conveyor frame through the agency of the captivating means, the drive means being operable to move the conveyor frame relative to the vehicle in this raised position, whereby the conveyor frame can be driven into debris so that debris rises up the ramp surface to be picked up by the conveyor.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the excavating means includes a hydraulically operated shovel mounted on an arm, the arm being carried by a carriage, the carriage being movable along lateral guide means on the vehicle.
19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, wherein at least two longitudinally spaced pairs of said legs are provided on the vehicle, the legs of each pair being mounted at laterally opposite sides of the vehicle, at least one pair of legs being movable laterally relative to the vehicle body so as to permit sideways movement of the vehicle and conveyor frame for steering the conveyor frame.
20. Apparatus according to claim 17,18, or 19, wherein the captivating means comprises a plurality of captivating devices at opposite sides of the vehicle, each captivating device including a pivoted roller engaged with the underside of one of the rails.