GB1601767A

GB1601767A - Variable length connecting device for shaft hauling rigs

Info

Publication number: GB1601767A
Application number: GB22796/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HEUER HAMMER
Current assignee: HEUER HAMMER
Priority date: 1977-06-15
Filing date: 1978-05-25
Publication date: 1981-11-04
Also published as: DE2726932A1; FR2394487B1; ES470019A1; SE421903B; SE7805673L; ZA783045B; FR2394487A1

Description

(54) VARIABLE LENGTH CONNECNNG DEVICE FOR SM HAULING RIGS (71) We, HEUER-HAMMER, of 5860 Iserlohn-Grtine, Federal Republic of Germany, a company organised under the Laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, 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 be particularly described in and by the following statement :: This invention relates to a variable length connecting device for shaft haulage rigs, including a central link and an outboard link disposed on each side of the central link and being shiftable relative thereto, said outboard links and said central link being pivotally connectable on the one hand to a haulage carrier or a counterweight and on the other hand to a rope splice, the position of the outboard links relative to the central link being variable by means of a piston-and-cylinder unit acting between the central link and the outboard links, the length of the connecting device being selectable by means of adaptors which are removable from a magazine defined by the outboard links.

Such connecting devices are adapted to compensate for the elongation of the haulage ropes, arising from their being continuously stretched.

It is, however, required, irrespective of the extent of the desired alteration in position of the outboard links relative to the central link, to extend the piston rod of the piston-and-cylinder unit so far as to engage a traverse. The stroke of the said unit thus does not agree with the required alteration in position and must constantly be varied. In particular in respect of excessive variations in the length of the connecting device, this results in substantial difficulties which require the provision of additional stroke and extension members which, being loose parts, are easily mislaid (and may cause damage should they fall down the shaft). The time required for carrying out a compensation operation may thus be undesirably long.

The present invention is intended to provide an improved variable length connecting device in which the time required for selecting any desired compensation length is reduced and the need for additional stroke extension means is avoided, inde pendentry of the stroke length of the pistonand-cylinder.

According to the present invention there is provided a variable length connecting device for shaft hauling rigs, including a central link, and an outboard link disposed on each side of the central link and being shiftable relative thereto, said outboard links ana said central link being pivotally connectable on the one hand to a haulage carrier or a counterweight and on the other hand to a rope splice, the position of the outboard links relative to the central link being variable by means of a piston-andcylinder unit acting between the central link and the outboard links, the length of the connecting device being selectable by means of adaptors which are removable from a magazine defined by the outboard links, the connecting device comprising, in combination, the following features:: (i) all the links have corresponding longitudinal slots for the releasable insertion of the piston-and-cylinder unit: (ii) the piston-and-cylinder unit, upon being pressurized, is directly supported by its cylinder on the central link, and is supported by its piston rod, in dependence upon the relative positions of the links, either directly by a traverse connected to the outboard links and being shiftable in the longitudinal slot of the central link, or by substantially U-shaped adaptors insertable between the traverse and the piston rod into the longitudinal slots of the links; (iii) upon the piston-and-cylinder unit being relieved, the traverse rests on, or the substantially U-shaped adaptors rest on, thrust strips supported by the central link and laterally encompassing the piston-andcylinder unit in the longitudinal slots;; (iiii) the substantially U-shaped adaptors have limbs which are L-shaped as seen in cross section perpendicularly to their length, which limbs are connected to one another by a strap.

The space defined by the longitudinal slots of the central and outboard links for instance, permits the installation of the piston-and-cylinder unit in the device either temporarily or permanently, as required.

The piston rod of the piston-and-cylinder unit need be extended only so far as is actually required by the compensation length. The duration of the compensation operation can accordingly be substantially reduced mainly in respect of greater compensation lengths. Also, very fine adjustment of the compensation length can be achieved by the use of adaptors of different heights.

The incorporation of the thrust strips into the longitudinal slots of the links at both sides of the piston-and-cylinder unit permits the use of the thrust strips for positioning said unit in the longitudinal slot of the central link. For this purpose, it can be advantageous according to a preferred embodiment, to secure the thrust strips to two guide plates, which guide plates encompass the lower transverse web of the central link and are located thereat, preferably releasably. Such location may for instance be effected by means of bolts which pass through both the guide plates and the transverse web, nuts then being screwed onto the free end sections of the bolts.

The length of the guide plates generally corresponds to the width of the longitudinal slot of the central link. The attachment of the thrust strips to the guide plates is e.g.

effected by welding. The guide plates are provided with abutments for laterally positioning the cylinder of the piston-andcylinder unit. In this way, it is readily possible to insert the said unit when required, and subsequently to remove it following the compensation operation.

When the piston-and-cylinder unit is to stay in the connecting device permanently or at least for an extended period of time, a further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for the thrust strips and the piston-and-cylinder unit to be retained by releasable transverse links slidable outboard of the outboard links in the longitudinal slots thereof. In this embodiment, the transverse links are likewise connected by bolts to the thrust Strips, preferably in the upper and lower longitudinal regions thereof. Laterally projecting portions of the transverse links are provided for preventing both the thrust strips and the pistonand-cylinder unit from dropping out of the longitudinal slots.

In order on the one hand to prevent the adaptors positioned in the magazine of the outboard links, and on the other hand to prevent the adaptors which are inserted between the traverse and the thrust strips, from dropping out of the connecting device, all the adaptors are preferably retained in their respective positions by means of a latch strip the length of which generally corresponds to the length of the outboard links. The latch strip is positioned outboard of one of the outboard links and extends parallel thereto, so as to be engageable with the straps connecting the limbs of the adaptors, to prevent them from dropping out of the connecting device in one direction. The adaptors cannot fall out in the opposite direction since the straps of the adaptors project laterally beyond the outboard links.

For retaining it in position, the latch strip is preferably capable of being pushed onto an extension connecting the traverse to one of the outboard links, and also onto an extension of a pin connecting the outboard links to the haulage carrier or the counterweight. For releasably securing the latch strip on the extensions, cotter pins may be passed through these extensions outboard of the latch strip.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a foreshortened vertical sectional view, on the line I-I of Fig. 2, of a variable length connecting device for shaft hauling rigs; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a horizontal eross-sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a partial elevational view of a variable length connecting device according to a further embodiment taken on the line Vl-VI of Fig. 7; ; Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the device of Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the device of Figure 6 taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6.

The variable length connecting device 1 or 1' illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, or 6 to 8 and provided for shaft hauling rigs, is generally connected directly to a rope splice, e.g. a guy thimble, through the intermediary of a bore 2 in the upper transverse web 3 of a central link 4 as well as a pin not illustrated. In Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7, the central link 4 is illustrated as being interrupted a short distance below the bore 2.

The width of the central link 4 is dimensioned relative to the thickness thereof in the ratio of about 4.5:1.

The central link 4 has a central longitudinal slot 5 which is defined by the upper transverse web 3 as well as by a lower transverse web 6 and lateral vertical webs 7.

At both faces of the central link 4, there are arranged outboard links 8 and 9 extending parallel thereto and being slightly spaced therefrom. The width of the outboard links generally corresponds to the width of the central link. The ratio of the thickness of the outboard links to the width thereof is about 1:9. The respective outboard links also have a central longitudinal slot 10 which substantially corresponds to the width of the longitudinal slot 5 of the central link. The longitudinal slots of the outboard links are likewise defined by upper transverse webs 11 and lower trans- verse webs 12 as well as lateral vertical webs 13.

The upper transverse webs 11 of the outboard links 8 and 9 are pushed onto lateral cylindrical extensions 14 and 15 of a plateshaped traverse 16 (see Figure 3) which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction in the longitudinal slot 5 of the central link 4.

The thickness of the traverse 16 generally corresponds to the thickness of the central link 4, while its width is dimensioned so as to be about twice its height. The retention of the outboard links on the cylindrical extensions 14 and 15 is effected by strip-like latch elements 17 which engage in transverse grooves of the extensions 14 and 15 from the top and are secured at the outboard links by means of bolts.

In the lower transverse webs 12, both outboard links 8 and 9 respectively, have a bore 18 which bores-as will be noted from Fig. 2-receive a pin 19 which as well as spacing the outboard links from one another, also serves for connection to a haulage carrier, e.g. a hauling cage or the like, not illustrated, or to a counterweight.

The haulage carrier or the counterweight may be connected directly or through the intermediary of a suitable intermediate member, e.g. a universal joint.

For varying length of the connecting device 1 or 1', a hydraulically pressurizable piston-and-cylinder unit 20 is respectively provided which is capable of being supplied with hydraulic liquid via a fitting 21 (Fig.

2) by means of a pump not illustrated. The cylinder 22 of the unit 20 is supported on the lower transverse web 6 of the central link 4. Its diameter is smaller than the thickness x of the connecting device 1 or 1'.

It is also smaller than the internal width of the longitudinal slot 5 of the central link 4 and the longitudinal slots 10 of the out board links 8 and 9i. Thereby, in the region between the cylinder 22 and the vertical webs 7 and 13 thrust strips 23 may be arranged which are likewise supported by the lower transverse web 6 of the central link 4 and have a length which is a little greater than the length of the cylinder 22.

The width of the thrust strips 23 (Fig. 5) generally corresponds to the overall width x of the connecting device. The bottom surfaces of the thrust strips 23 are welded to two guide plates 24 extending parallel to one another. The spacing of the guide plates 24 from one another generally corresponds to the thickness of the central link 4. The width of the guide plates is substantially equal to the internal width of the longitudinal slot 5 of the central link 4.

The attachment of the guide plates 24 to the lower transverse web 6 of the central link 4 is effected by means of bolts 25 and nuts 26 so that the thrust strips 23 have a defined, but releasable, position in the longitudinal slot 5 of the central link 4 and in the longitudinal slots 10 of the outboard links 8 and 9.

A stroke plate 28 is releasably connected to the piston rod 27 which is upwardly extensible from the cylinder 22 of the piston-and-cylinder unit 20. The length of the stroke plate (Fig. 4) is a little smaller than the thickness x of the connecting device. Its width substantially corresponds to the internal width between the thrust strips 23.

In the event that the piston-and-cylinder unit 20 is releasably associated with the device 1, abuttments 29 are provided on the guide plates 24, which abuttments ensure lateral positioning of the cylinder 22 of the unit 20, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

When, however, the piston-and-cylinder unit 20 is to remain in the connecting device 1' permanently or at least for an extended period of time, narrow transverse links 30 are secured by rneans of screws 31 to the narrow faces of the thrust strips 23 in the upper and lower longitudinal sections of the thrust strips 23 (Figs. 6 and 7). The length of the transverse links 30 is such that they project laterally beyond the vertical webs 13 of the outboard links 8 and 9 and are slidable relative thereto. In conjunction with the guide plates 24, it is thus ensured that both the thrust strips and the piston-and-cylinder unit 20 cannot drop out of the longitudinal slots 5 and 10 of the links 4, 8 and 9.

It will be noted from Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7 that the longitudinal sections of the outboard links 8 and 9 extending downwardly beyond the central link 4, are formed as magazines for substantially U-shaped adaptors 32 in respect of their longitudinal slots 10 (see also Fig. 4). These adaptors respectively have two limbs 33 parallel to one another, the external surfaces of which are positioned at a distance from one another which substantially corresponds to the internal width of the longitudinal slots 10 of the outboard links 8 and 9. The length of the limbs substantially corresponds to the thickness x of the connecting device.

At one face, the limbs 33 are interconnected by straps 34 substantially centrally of their height. The straps 34 project laterally beyond the vertical webs of the outboard links. The limbs 33 are substantially L-shaped as seen in cross section, their horizontal portions being directed towards one another. The height of the limbs may differ for the various adaptors.

In the starting position of the variable length connecting device, all the adaptors 32 are positioned in the magazine of the outboard links 8 and 9 underneath the central link 4. The stroke plate 28 is then removed. When the connecting device 1' is to be shortened by an amount which corresponds substantially to the height of two adaptors 32' and 32" shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and disposed between the traverse 16 and the thrust strips 23, after a previous removal of these adaptors from the magazine, the piston-and-cylinder unit 20 is pressurized so that its piston rod 27 lifts the traverse 16, only by that amount which corresponds substantially to the height of the two adaptors 32' and 32". Thereafter, these adaptors are placed in the space between the traverse and the thrust strips, and the piston-and-cylinder unit is relieved again.Thereby, the traverse is lowered to such an extent that it engages with the upper of the two adaptors, while the lower one of the adaptors then is supported by the thrust strips 23.

The piston-and-cylinder unit may subsequently be removed. However, it may also remain in position in the connecting device according to the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7.

If it is found necessary to shorten the connecting device again as a result of further rope elongation, by means of stroke plate 28 which is now engaged in the angle regions of the L-shaped limbs 33 of the adaptors the traverse 16 may be lifted by the required amount after the adaptor or the adaptors which are required have been removed from the magazine. Subsequently, by then relieving the unit 20 the traverse may be lowered, so that the stroke plate can readily be removed from the space between the adaptors.

For locating the adaptors 32 in position in the magazine and in the compensation space between 'the traverse 16 and the thrust strips 23, a latch strip 35 is provided which capable of being pushed on the one hand onto the extension 15 of the traverse 16 and on the other hand onto an extension 36 of the lower connecting pin 19 and retained e.g. by means of cotter pins 37.

The latch strip 35 is engageable by the straps 34 of the adaptors 32 (see in particular Fig. 4) to prevent them dropping out from the magazine. The adaptors can- not fall out from the other side because the straps 34 project laterally beyond the vertical webs 13 of the outboard links 8 and 9.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A variable length connecting device for shaft hauling rigs, including a central link, and an outboard link disposed on each side of the central link and being shiftable relative thereto, said outboard links and said central link being pivotally connectable on the one hand to a haulage carrier or a counterweight and on the other hand to a rope splice, the position of the outboard links relative to the central link being variable by means of a piston-andcylinder unit acting between the central link and the outboard links, the length of the connecting device being selectable by means of adaptors which are removable from a magazine defined by the outboard links, the connecting device comprising, in combination, the following features:: (i) all the links have corresponding longitudinal slots for the releasable insertion of the piston-and-cylinder unit; ( the piston-and-cylinder unit upon being pressurized is directly supported by its cylinder on the central link, and is supported by its piston rod, in dependence upon the relative positions of the links, either directly by a traverse connected to the outboard links and being shiftable in the longitudinal slot of the central link, or by substantially U-shaped adaptors insertable between the traverse and the piston rod into the longitudinal slots of the links; (iii) upon the piston-and-cylinder unit being relieved, the traverse rests on, or the substantially U-shaped adaptors rest on, thrust strips supported by the central link and laterally encompassing the piston-andcylinder unit in the longitudinal slots; ; (iiii) the substantially U-shaped adaptors have limbs which are L-shaped as seen in cross section perpendicularly to their length, which limbs are connected to one another by a strap.

2. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thrust strips are secured to two guide plates which encompass the lower transverse web of the central link and are located thereat.

3. A connecting device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the thrust strips and the piston-and-cylinder unit are retained in the longitudinal slots of the links by releasable transverse links slidable outboard of the outboard links.

4. A connecting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein all the adaptors are retainable in their respective positions by a latch strip the length of

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. length of the limbs substantially corresponds to the thickness x of the connecting device. At one face, the limbs 33 are interconnected by straps 34 substantially centrally of their height. The straps 34 project laterally beyond the vertical webs of the outboard links. The limbs 33 are substantially L-shaped as seen in cross section, their horizontal portions being directed towards one another. The height of the limbs may differ for the various adaptors. In the starting position of the variable length connecting device, all the adaptors 32 are positioned in the magazine of the outboard links 8 and 9 underneath the central link 4. The stroke plate 28 is then removed. When the connecting device 1' is to be shortened by an amount which corresponds substantially to the height of two adaptors 32' and 32" shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and disposed between the traverse 16 and the thrust strips 23, after a previous removal of these adaptors from the magazine, the piston-and-cylinder unit 20 is pressurized so that its piston rod 27 lifts the traverse 16, only by that amount which corresponds substantially to the height of the two adaptors 32' and 32". Thereafter, these adaptors are placed in the space between the traverse and the thrust strips, and the piston-and-cylinder unit is relieved again.Thereby, the traverse is lowered to such an extent that it engages with the upper of the two adaptors, while the lower one of the adaptors then is supported by the thrust strips 23. The piston-and-cylinder unit may subsequently be removed. However, it may also remain in position in the connecting device according to the embodiment of Figs. 6 and 7. If it is found necessary to shorten the connecting device again as a result of further rope elongation, by means of stroke plate 28 which is now engaged in the angle regions of the L-shaped limbs 33 of the adaptors the traverse 16 may be lifted by the required amount after the adaptor or the adaptors which are required have been removed from the magazine. Subsequently, by then relieving the unit 20 the traverse may be lowered, so that the stroke plate can readily be removed from the space between the adaptors. For locating the adaptors 32 in position in the magazine and in the compensation space between 'the traverse 16 and the thrust strips 23, a latch strip 35 is provided which capable of being pushed on the one hand onto the extension 15 of the traverse 16 and on the other hand onto an extension 36 of the lower connecting pin 19 and retained e.g. by means of cotter pins 37. The latch strip 35 is engageable by the straps 34 of the adaptors 32 (see in particular Fig. 4) to prevent them dropping out from the magazine. The adaptors can- not fall out from the other side because the straps 34 project laterally beyond the vertical webs 13 of the outboard links 8 and 9. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A variable length connecting device for shaft hauling rigs, including a central link, and an outboard link disposed on each side of the central link and being shiftable relative thereto, said outboard links and said central link being pivotally connectable on the one hand to a haulage carrier or a counterweight and on the other hand to a rope splice, the position of the outboard links relative to the central link being variable by means of a piston-andcylinder unit acting between the central link and the outboard links, the length of the connecting device being selectable by means of adaptors which are removable from a magazine defined by the outboard links, the connecting device comprising, in combination, the following features:: (i) all the links have corresponding longitudinal slots for the releasable insertion of the piston-and-cylinder unit; ( the piston-and-cylinder unit upon being pressurized is directly supported by its cylinder on the central link, and is supported by its piston rod, in dependence upon the relative positions of the links, either directly by a traverse connected to the outboard links and being shiftable in the longitudinal slot of the central link, or by substantially U-shaped adaptors insertable between the traverse and the piston rod into the longitudinal slots of the links; (iii) upon the piston-and-cylinder unit being relieved, the traverse rests on, or the substantially U-shaped adaptors rest on, thrust strips supported by the central link and laterally encompassing the piston-andcylinder unit in the longitudinal slots;; (iiii) the substantially U-shaped adaptors have limbs which are L-shaped as seen in cross section perpendicularly to their length, which limbs are connected to one another by a strap.

which generally corresponds to the length of the outboard links.

5. A connecting device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the latch strip is capable of being pushed onto, and retained at, on the one hand an extension connecting the traverse to one of the outboard links, and on the other hand an extension of a pin connecting the outboard links to the haulage carrier or the counterweight.

6. A connecting device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the piston rod of the piston-and-cylinder unit engages the traverse or the adaptors through the intermediary of a stroke plate.

7. A variable length connecting device for shaft hauling rigs, as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.