GB2040856A

GB2040856A - Cable handling systems

Info

Publication number: GB2040856A
Application number: GB7902400A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: RICH SERVICES Inc ROY
Current assignee: RICH SERVICES Inc ROY
Priority date: 1979-01-23
Filing date: 1979-01-23
Publication date: 1980-09-03

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a cable handling system for the supply of (e.g.) fluid under pressure, and/or electricity, to a mobile machine. The system comprises a length of fixed conduit (8) extending alongside the path of travel of a machine to which power is to be supplied, the conduit defining an elongate channel (12), a slot (14) being provided in the conduit and which extends lengthwise thereof. A supporting device (18) is mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the channel, and is connected to the machine by a telescopic arm (24). Flexible conduit (30) carrying the power and extending from the machine is supported by the arm (24) and is conducted by means of the supporting device (18) into the channel (12). Thus, as the machine travels lengthwise in relation to the fixed conduit, the flexible conduit (30) within the channel (12) will be looped back and forth, to accommodate the travel of the machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to cable handling This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to cable handling. The invention has been particularly devised for use in underground mining, but it will be appreciated that the invention may be applied with advantage to other fields where similar or analogous problems in the supply of services to a machine are encountered.

In a development heading in an underground mine working, it is necessary to take machines up to the face being developed, and for this it is necessary to provide power to the machines by means of one or more cables. Since the heading is usually continuously being extended forwardly, difficulty is encountered in providing services, (which may be fluid under pressure, or electricity) to such machines and present methods of handling such service cables are generally inadequate.

According to the present invention there is provided a cable handling system for the supply of a service to a machine, comprising the use of an elongated fixed conduit extending alongside the path of travel of a machine to be serviced, and defining an elongate channel, a slot being provided in the conduit which extends lengthwise thereof, and a supprting device mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the channel and which is adapted to be connected to the machine. The construction and arrangement being such that a service cable lying in the channel passes by way of the supporting device to the machine.

In this manner, as the machine travels alongside the conduit, extra cable which may be needed may be pulled along the conduit, or space cable may be laid back in the conduit, by the supporting device.

Preferably, the supporting device comprises a member mounted for sliding movement on the conduit, and a bracket secured to the sliding membey which defines an aperture through which the cable extends.

Most advantageously the bracket is mounted on the sliding member by means of a swivel coupling, and a telescopic arm extends from the bracket to the machine.

Alternatively however, the bracket may be fixed to the sliding member, the telescopic arm extending from the machine and being connected to the bracket by means of a swivel coupling.

In both cases, preferably the telescopic arm is connected to the machine by means of a swivel coupling.

Preferably at least the bottom of the conduit is of open work construction, to allow debris as may fall into the channel to fall therefrom, rather than to accumulate therein. Advantageously the slot is closed by resiliently deformable means, such as by rubber flaps, in a manner such that the section of the cable lying adjacent to the supporting device and extending into the channel may nontheless travel lengthwise of the conduit.

Advantageously the conduit comprises a number of prefabricated sections connected together, prefer abiy for limited articulation. In this manner, where the path of travel of the machine is other than in a straight line the conduit may be laid accordingly.

Where the invention is used in the development heading of an underground mine working, preferably the conduit is provided with means to enable it to be supported in an out-of-the-way position on an overhead rail.

This invention also provides a cable handling system for the supply of a service to a machine, comprising an elongate conduit, extending alongside the path of travel of the machine to be serviced, and defining an elongate channel, a slot being provided in the conduit which extends lengthwise thereof, a supporting device mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the channel, and an elongate telescopic arm extending from the machine and being connected to the supporting device by at least one swivel coupling, the construction and arrangement being such that a service cable lying in the channel passes by way of the supporting device to the machine.

There will now be given a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which has been selected to illustrate the invention by way of example.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, illustrating the use of the preferred embodiment in the supply of electricity to an overhead machine in a development heading of an underground mine working; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 3 is a front sectional view.

The cable handling system which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises an elongate, fixed conduit, formed in sections 8 which may be fitted together in a manner which permits limited relative articulation between adjacent sections, each section comprising supporting brackets 10, affording means whereby the sections may be supported on an overhead rail such as the rail 11 illustrated in the drawings.

The conduit sections are of generally C-shape in cross-section, affording an elongate channel 12, the conduit also providing a slot 14 extending lengthwise of the conduit, affording access to the elongate channel 12. The upper of the longitudinal edges of the conduit sections 8 are thickened, being afforded either by length of tube 16 welded thereto, or being afforded by a curling of the longitudinal edge margin of the conduit section. Slidably mounted on the thickened portion 16, lengthwise of the conduit section 8, is a supporting device in the form of a member 18 of C-shaped cross-section. It will be appreciated that when adjacent conduit sections are secured together, the sliding member 18 may move from the thickened portion 16 of one conduit section to another.

The supporting device also comprises a bracket 20 secured to the sliding member 18, which is provided with an aperture through which a cable providing a service to the machine extends. Connected to the bracket by means of a swivel coupling 22 is an elongate, telescopic arm 24, the opposite end of the telescopic arm 24 being connected to the machine 26 also by means of a telescopic coupling.

In the preferred embodiment, the machine 26 is adapted to travel along a path defined by a pair of overhead rails 28,28 alongside which path of travel the fixed conduit extends. Thus, as the machine 26 travels along said path, the sliding member 18 is caused to travel along the fixed conduit 8 by the telescopic arm.

The service cable 30, which in the preferred embodiment supplies electricity to the machine 26, extends from the machine 26, and through the aperture provided by the bracket 20 into the channel 12, the cable 30 being supported at intervals on the telescopic arm 24.

As the machine 26, and thus the sliding member 18, travels in a forward direction, further cable is drawn along the channel 12 by the bracket 20.

Conversely, as the machine 26 and the sliding member 18 travel rearwardly, surplus cable is laid in a loop within the channel 12.

The sections 8 of fixed conduit is at the lower side and bottom of openwork construction, whereby any debris which may fall into the channel may fall therefrom, rather than to accumulate therein. Advantageously the slot 14 is closed by resiliently deformable means, such as by rubber flaps 32, 32, in a manner such that the section of the cable 30 lying adjacent to the sliding member 18 may nontheless travel within the slot 14 lengthwise of the conduit.

Whereas in the preferred embodiment, the path of travel of the machine 26 is rigidly defined by the overhead rails 28,28, by the use of the telescopic arm 24, and its swivel coupling between the machine and the bracket 20, the preferred embodiment may nontheless function satisfactorily, where there is some divergence between the path of travel of the machine and the position of the fixed conduit 8. In such circumstances, during sideways separation between the machine and the conduit 8, further cable as may be necessary in view of the extension of the telescopic arm 24 will be drawn from the channel 12 through the aperture in the bracket 20.

Alternatively, to avoid this happening, the length of cable 30 between the bracket 20 and the machine 26 may be formed as an extensible coil, in the manner utilized in telephone hand sets.

The invention has been particularly devised for the supply of an electric service to a crane, by the use of which materials are conveyed along the development heading of an underground mine working, towards the leading end, said materials including further sections of overhead rails, and means whereby such rails may be secured to the roof of the heading, and further sections of conduit 8. It will however, be appreciated that the principles of the invention may be utilized in other fields, where similar or analogous problems in the supply of services to a machine are encountered.

Thus, above the ground, the provision of a length of fixed conduit 8 will permit an electric or hydraulic service to be provided to a machine, whose path of travel extends generally alongside the fixed conduit, some degree of travel of the machine in front of the forward-most conduit section being permitted by virtue of the swivel coupling between the telescopic arm 24 and the bracket 20. Thus, the supply system may be utilized to provide a service to (for example) a power loader loading coal onto lorries from a mound.

It will of course be appreciated that whereas in the preferred embodiment the telescopic arm is connected to the bracket 20 by means of a swivel coupling, the leading end of the telescopic arm may be fixed to the bracket 20, which is itself connected to the sliding member 18 by means of a swivel coupling.

Claims

1. A cable handling system for the supply of a service to a machine, comprising an elongate fixed conduit which extends alongside the path of travel of a machine to be serviced and which defines an elongate channel, a slot being provided in the conduit which extends lengthwise thereof, and a supporting device mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the channel and which is adapted to be connected to the machine, the construction and arrangement being such that a service cable lying in the channel passes by way of the supporting device to the machine.

2. A cable handling system according to Claim 1 wherein the supporting device comprises a member mounted for sliding movement on the conduit, and a bracket secured to the housing and defining an aperture through which the cable extends.

3. A cable handling system according to Claim 2 wherein said bracket is mounted on the housing by means of a swivel coupling.

4. A cable handling system according to Claim 2 wherein a telescopic arm extends from the bracket to the machine.

5. A cable handling system according to Claim 2 wherein the bracket is fixed to the housing, and a telescopic arm extending from the machine is connected to the bracket by means of a swivel coupling.

6. A cable handling system according to one of Claims 4 and 5 wherein the telescopic arm is connected to the machine by means of a swivel coupling.

7. A cabling handling system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein at least the bottom of the conduit is of open work construction.

8. Acable handling system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the slot is closed by resiliently deformable means.

9. A cable handling system according to any of the preceding claims wherein the conduit comprises a number of prefabricated sections connected together for limited relative articulation.

10. A cable handling system according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the conduit is provided with means to enable it to be supported on an overhead rail.

11. A cable handling system for the supply of a service to a machine, comprising an elongate con duitextending alongside the path of travel of the machine to be serviced and which defines an elongate channel, a slot being provided in the conduit which extends lengthwise thereof a support ing device mounted for sliding movement lengthwise of the channel, and an elongate telescopic arm extending from the machine and being connected to the supporting device by at least one swivel coupling, the construction and arrangement being such that a service cable lying in the channel passes by way of the supporting device to the machine.