GB2053119A - Removal of rock and the like from a conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

A face conveyor segment (12), for a face conveyor comprising pivotally interconnected segments (11) each having a respective mining machine track segment (13) secured thereto, has a track segment (13) pivotally mounted thereon by means of a linkage (19), the linkage (19) passing through an over. centre position between operative and retracted positions. In the retracted position access is provided to a support surface (14) of the conveyor segment (11) for removal of spoil therefrom by a spade (24) of an inclined transfer conveyor (21) slidably mounted in a channel shaped body part (23) thereof. The spade (24) is reciprocated longitudinally relative to the body (23) by a pressure fluid piston and cylinder (25). A gate (30) having pivotal tines (31), attached to the body (23), prevents reverse movement of the spoil. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Removal of rock and the like from a conveyor The invention concerns conveyors, and has more particular reference to conveyors of the kind-used in mine workings for the two-fold purpose of providing means for effecting transportation of mined materials along the working face ofthe mine and a track forthe controlled translational motion of a mineral winning or rock breaking machine operating at the work face.

In present day mining procedures, for example in gold mining, it is now established practice to advance a work face by way of successive passes from one side to the other of a wide, and probably inclined, seam of limited vertical extent, the mining machine being progressed across the face in stepwise manner along a track provided at that side of a conveyor extending parallel and close to the face remote from the face and the material removed being transported along the conveyor by pivotal flights provided thereon.

In orderto provide for the movement of the mining machine along the full length of the work face it is necessary that the conveyor, and also the track be continuous and coextensive with the face.

However, mining techniques require that the material on the conveyor be moved away from the work face at intervals along the length of such work face thus to make available waste materials for back-packing the previously mined space remote from the work face. In circumstances where the height of the seam or mined materials is limited, as in gold mines where heights of such as one metre may be involved, difficulty is experience in providing forthe removal of minded materials from the face conveyor, the problem being compounded by the presence of the mining machine track adjacent that edge of the conveyor remote from the face and the fact that such track is at a higher level than the support surface of the conveyor.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means for facilitating removal of mined materials from the face conveyor within the dimensioned limitations imposed by the mining techniques employed.

According to the present invention a face conveyor comprising a multiplicity of individual conveyor-segments pivotally connected together in end-to-end relationship and each having a corresponding and respective mining machine track segment secured thereto is characterised in that at least one track segment is adjustably mounted on the conveyor segment to which it relates and is movable between an operational position in alignment with the corresponding track segments of adjacent conveyor segments and a retracted position in which it provides access to the support surface of the safd conveyor segment from a position at that side of the track segment remote from such support surface for the removal of mined materials therefrom.

According to a preferred feature the adjustably mounted track segment is pivotally mounted relative to the track segment.

According to a further preferred feature, the pivotally mounted track segment is supported on a linkage and inthe retracted position thereof the said segment Hessubstantially coplanar with the support surface of the conveyor segment.

According to a further development, the face conveyor is further characterised by a transfer conveyor in register with the adjustably mounted track segment and operable to remove spoil from the face conveyor and transversely thereof. Prefer ably the transfer conveyor is angled in relation to the face conveyor and includes parts reciprocable rela tive thereto.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only, with reference to the accom - panying drawings illustrating several embodiments thereof, and in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an adjustable track segment constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the segment shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the adjustable track segment of Figure 1 in conjunction with a transfer conveyor, the latter being shown in a position remote from the face conveyor; Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, and shows the transfer conveyor in an operative, and advance, position; Figure 5 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Figures 3 and 4; and Figure 6 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure 4, and shows an alternative form oftransfer conveyor.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2 thereof, selected segments 11 of a face conveyor 12, which conveyor comprises a plurality of conveyor segments pivotally connected together in edge-to-edge disposition and each of which carries a respective track segment co operable with the corresponding track segments of adjacent conveyor segments to provide a con tinuous track whereby a mining machine is adv anced longitudinally of the face conveyor and across the mine face, are provided with displaceable track segments 13 to provide ready access to the spoil support surface 14 of the conveyor at locations corresponding to such displaceable segments for the removal of spoil therefrom and transversely thereof.

The displaceable track segment 13 comprises a plate 15 having a castellated outer edge 16 defining engageable teeth 17 of the conveyorforco- operation with corresponding formations on the -mining machine (not shown) for advancement of "such machine longitudinally of the track and is pivotally supported relative to the conveyor segment 11 for motion about a remote axis 18 between a retracted position (as shown in full lines in Figures 1 and 2) and an operative position (as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 ) by link members 19 extending between the track segment 13 and conveyor seg ment 11 and pivotally attached to each such seg ment 13, 11.

As can be seen by reference to Figure 1, in moving from its retracted to its operative position the link members 19 (and thus the track segment 13) move through an overcentre position thus ensuring that such segment 13 remains in its operative position when adjusted to such position.

The width of the plate 15 and the length of the link members 19, and also the extent of angular movement of the latter, are such that, in its retracted position, the track segment 13 forms an extension to the spoil support surface 14 of the face conveyor 12 at that edge 20 thereof remote from the work face.

Figures 3 to 5 illustrate the combination of a transfer conveyor 21 with a face conveyor 12 in the area of an adjustable track segment 13, Figure 3 showing the track segment 13 in its operative position and the transfer conveyor 21 in an inoperative position remote from the face conveyor and Figures 4 and 5 showing the track segment 13 retracted and the transfer conveyor 21 advanced into an operative position whereat, on reciprocation, spoil is removed from the face conveyor 12 by the transfer conveyor and delivered to a position remote from the face conveyor 12 for suitable disposal.

Referring now to Figure 3, the track segment 13 is in an elevated position relative to the spoil support surface 14 of the face conveyor and such segment 13, together with a cable channel 22 located outwardlythereof, denies access to the said support surface 14forthe removal of spoil therefrom.

The transfer conveyor 21 is arranged transversely of the iongitudinal axis of the face conveyor 12, being inclined to such longitudinal axis is clearly apparent from Figure 5, and essentially comprises a body part 23 of channel-shaped transverse crosssection having a similarly cross-sectional spade 24 telescopingly slidable therein under the control of a pressure fluid piston and cylinder arrangement 25 extending therebetween and operatively connected thereto.

The body part 23 has a shoe 26 at the underside ofthe forward end thereof, and the side walls 27 of such body part 23, which side walls 27 have outwardly extending flanges 28 thereto, extend forwardly to define ears 29 which, in the operative position of the transfer conveyor 21, overlie the face conveyor 12 in spaced disposition relative thereto.

At its upper edge the body part 23 supports two pivotal tine arrangements 30 extending transversely of the body part 23 and spaced longitudinally thereof, the tine arrangements 30 including tine elements 31 extending downwards towards and into the channel 32 defined by the body part and being pivotal in anti-clockwise direction (as seen in Figures 3 and 4) on a transverse bar 33 for displacement to allow free passage therebelow of spoil carried by the spade 24 on retraction thereof relative to the body part 23 but being restrained against pivotal motion in a clockwise direction from the disposition shown in Figures 3 and 4 thereby to effect discharge of spoil from the spade (as will hereinafter be explained).

The transverse bars 33 of the respective tine arrangements are themselves pivotally supported on the sides of the body part 23 such that the said arrangements 30 can be swung away from their operative position.

The spade 24 is a close but free sliding fit within the body part 23, being of similar channel section to the said body part and the forward end of the side walls 34 being upwardly and rearwardly inclined to give a wedge-shaped configuration to the front of the spade.

If desired, the floor of the body part and spade may be formed with part-cylindrical casing (not shown) to house the pressure fluid piston and cylinder arrangement 25, and protect the same against damage and/or contamination from the spoil.

In use, in removing spoil from the face conveyor 12, the transfer conveyor 21 is positioned relative to the face conveyor 12, after having first removed the cable channel 22 and repositioned the track segment 13 such that the same forms a forward extension to the spoil supporting surface of the face conveyor, the transfer conveyor being in inclined disposition and the forward end of the body part 23, which forward end is supported by the shoe 26, lying closely adjacent the outer edge of the retracted track segment.

Forward movement of the spade 24 under the control of the piston and cylinder arrangement 25 relative to the body part 23 will cause such spade 24 to move across the spoil supporting surface 14to lift spoil therefrom, The inclined disposition of the transfer conveyor 21 in relation to the longitudinal axis of the face conveyor 12, being towards the upstream end of such latter conveyor, facilitating pick-up of spoil by the spade.

On retraction of the spade 24 relative to the body part 23, the tine elements 31 lift to allow passage therebelow of the spoil carried by the spade under the control of such spoil, and accordingly the spoil is moved in relation to such tine elements.

On subsequent advance of the spade, movement with the spade of spoil carried thereby is prevented by the tine elements 31, which elements revert to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, and in consequence spoil is discharged from the back of the spade 24 for disposal as required.

Reciprocation of the spade 24 of the transfer conveyor in timed relationship to the advance of spoil on the face conveyor will enable effective removal of spoil from such face conveyor.

An alternative to the transfer conveyor shown in Figures 3 to 5 is illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 6, the construction and operation being analogous to that of the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5 and further description and explanation not being thought necessary.

Claims (18)

1. A face conveyor segment, for a face conveyor comprising a plurality of individual conveyor segments pivotally connected together in end to end relationship and each having a respective mining machine track segment secured thereto, said face conveyor segment having the respective track segment adjustably mounted thereon so as to be movable between an operational position in alignment with the track segment of adjacent conveyor segments and a retracted position in which it provides ready access to a support surface of said conveyor segment from a position at that side of the track segment remote from such support surface for removal of mined materials therefrom.

2. A conveyor segment according to claim 1, wherein said track segment is pivotally mounted on said conveyor segment.

3. A conveyor segment according to claim 2, wherein said track segment is supported on said conveyor segment by means of a linkage.

4. A conveyor segment according to claim 3, wherein said linkage moves through an overcentre position as said track segment moves between said operational and said retracted position.

5. A conveyor segment according to claim 3, or claim 4 wherein said track segment in the retracted position thereof lies substantially coplanar with said support surface.

6. A conveyor segment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a transfer conveyor is in register with said adjustable track segment and operable to remove spoil from said face conveyor and deliver such spoil for disposai.

7. A conveyor segment according to claim 6, wherein said transfer conveyor is disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said face conveyor.

8. A conveyor segment according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein at least a part of said transfer conveyor is reciprocable relative to said conveyor segment.

9. A conveyor segment according to claim 8 wherein said transfer conveyor comprises a channel shaped body part.

10. A conveyor segment according to claim 9 wherein said transfer conveyor comprises a channel shaped spade slidably mounted in said body part.

11. A conveyor segment according to claim 10 wherein said transfer conveyor further comprises pressure fluid operating means operably connected with and adapted to effect upon actuation relative motion between said body part and said spade.

12. A conveyor segment according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein said body part has a gate arrangement provided thereon.

13. A conveyor segment according to claim 12 wherein said gate arrangement is pivotally mounted on said body part.

14. A conveyor segment according to claim 13 wherein said gate arrangement comprises a plurality of tines depending from a pivot spindle.

15. A conveyor segment according to any one of claims 6 to 14wherein said transfer conveyor is downwardly inclined towards said face conveyor.

16. A conveyor segment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

17. Aface conveyor having a face conveyor segment according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. A face conveyor and a cooperating transfer conveyor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.