GB2059375A - Variable speed transport equipment - Google Patents
Variable speed transport equipment Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2059375A GB2059375A GB7932780A GB7932780A GB2059375A GB 2059375 A GB2059375 A GB 2059375A GB 7932780 A GB7932780 A GB 7932780A GB 7932780 A GB7932780 A GB 7932780A GB 2059375 A GB2059375 A GB 2059375A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- equipment
- propelling means
- path
- along
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66B—ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS
- B66B21/00—Kinds or types of escalators or moving walkways
- B66B21/10—Moving walkways
- B66B21/12—Moving walkways of variable speed type
Landscapes
- Intermediate Stations On Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
Transport equipment e.g. for conveying passengers at relatively fast speeds in both directions of travel along an underground mine roadway, comprises a vehicle propelling system defining an effectively endless vehicle path and having a first vehicle propelling means 2 along which the vehicles 1 are propelled at relatively fast speed and second and third vehicle propelling means 3 and 4 arranged at the ends of the first propelling means, respectively, to either accelerate a relatively low speed vehicle to the relatively fast speed or vice versa, the second and third propelling means being arranged to feed vehicles onto and to receive vehicles from the first propelling means. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Transport equipment
This invention relates to transport equipment.
In particularly, although not exclusively, the present invention relates to manriding transport equipment for use in underground mines.
It is practice in underground mines to have relatively slow speed endless manriding belt conveyors for conveying miners to or from the working faces and for stationary platforms to be stationed along the conveyor side at desired mounting and/or dis-mounting stations. However, as the working faces become progressively more remote from the mine shafts it is desired to have relatively fast speed conveyors in order to reduce the required travelling time.
Unfortunately, at such relatively fast speeds it becomes difficult and potentially dangerous for miners to transfer from the stationary platform to the moving belt conveyor or vice versa.
An object of the present invention is to provide improved manriding transport equipment which tends to eliminate the above mentioned problem.
According to the present invention transport equipment comprises a propelled vehicle system having an effectively endless vehicle path, at least one vehicle movable along the vehicle path, a first vehicle propelling means for propelling the vehicles at relatively fast speed along at least a portion of the vehicle path, second vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicle along at least another portion of the vehicle path at speeds varying from a relatively low speed to substantially the relatively fast speed of the first propelling means, and third vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicle along at least a further portion of the vehicle path at speeds varying from the relatively fast speed of the first propelling means to a relatively low speed.
Advantageously, the first vehicle propelling means is adapted to urge the vehicle along at least two portions of the vehicle path.
Conveniently, the vehicle is urged to travel in opposite directions along the two portions associated with the first vehicle propelling means.
Preferably, the second and third vehicle propelling means are each adapted to urge the vehicle to accelerate over a portion of the vehicle path from the relatively low speed to substantially the relatively fast speed of the first vehicle propelling means and to urge the vehicle to decelerate over another portion of the vehicle path from the relatively fast speed of the first vehicle propelling means to the relatively low speed.
Conveniently, the second vehicle propelling means is adapted to feed the vehicle onto a section of the first vehicle propelling means associated with one portion of the vehicle path and the third vehicle propelling means is adapted to receive the vehicle from said section of the first vehicle propelling means.
Conveniently, the third vehicle propelling means is adapted to feed the vehicle onto a further section of the first vehicle propelling means associated with another portion of the vehicle path and the second vehicle propelling means is adapted to receive the vehicle from said further section of the first vehicle propelling means.
Preferably, the second and third vehicle propelling means comprise transfer means for transferring the vehicle between vehicle feed and receiving sections.
Preferably, the vehicle propelling system comprises a plurality of vehicles independently movable around the vehicle path in series.
Preferably, the first vehicle propelling means comprises at least one driven effectively endless member.
Preferably, the driven effectively endless members supports the or each vehicle.
Preferably, the second and third vehicle propelling means comprises a plurality of driven rollers arrangeable to drivably engage the or each vehicle.
Preferably, the plurality of driven rollers are arranged at spaced intervals along at least a substantial portion of the vehicle path associated with the respective vehicle propelling means.
Preferably, idler rollers are mounted between at least some of the driven rollers.
Preferably, the or each vehicle comprises a platform supported on at least some of the rollers.
Advantageously, the drive rollers guidably engage the platform for movement along the associated portion of the vehicle path.
Preferably, each driven roller is provided with independent drive means.
Alternatively, a plurality of driven rollers are provided with a common drive means.
Conveniently, the or each vehicle is rail mounted.
Advantageously, the or each vehicle is suspended from the mounting rail.
By may of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an incomplete diagrammatic side view of transport equipment constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is an incomplete diagrammatic plan of
Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view along line Ill-Ill of
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a sectional view along line IV-lV of
Figure 2.
The drawings show manriding transport equipment comprising a propelled vehicle system having an effectively endless vehicle path and a plurality of vehicles 1 (not shown in Figure 2) independently movable in series along the vehicle path. The propelled vehicle system comprises a central, elongated first vehicle propelling means 2 adapted to convey the vehicles at a relatively fast constant speed and second and third vehicle propelling means 3 and 4 each adapted to feed vehicles onto a section of the first propelling means and to receive vehicles from another section of the first vehicle propelling means.Both the second and third vehicle propelling means 3 and 4 are adapted to urge vehicles to accelerate along a portion of the vehicle path from a relatively low speed to substantially the relatively fast speed associated with the first vehicle propelling means 1 and to urge the vehicles to decelerate along another portion of the vehicle path from substantially the relatively fast speed associated with the first vehicle propelling means to the relatively low speed. The relatively low speed is sufficiently slow to permit passengers to safely mount on or dis-mount from the transport equipment.
The first vehicle propelling means comprises two effectively endless flexible rope or cable members 10 each drivably engaged around a drive wheel arrangement 11 including a drive motor 12 and a driven wheel 13, and each engaged around an idler return wheel arrangement 14 including an idler return wheel 1 5. The flexible members 10 are guided from and towards the wheel arrangements 11 and 14 by guide wheels 1 7 (not shown in
Figure 1). As seen in Figure 4 the two flexible members 10 are supportably and guidably carried in idler wheels 1 6 arranged at spaced intervals along the length of the upper and lower sections of the first vehicle propelling means.The outer rims of the wheels 1 6 are grooved to accept the flexible
Figure 4 diagrammatically shows each vehicle 1 to comprise a trough shaped platform 20 having a horizontal deck upon which a passenger is carried and vertical side walls 21 provided with outwardly extending flanges 22 for engagement by the flexible members 10, respectively.
Downwardly projecting lips 23 are provided on the outermost ends of the flanges 22 to guidably captivate the vehicle 1 to the first vehicle propelling weans 2. The weight of the vehicle is sufficient to retain the vehicle in drivable engagement with the relatively fast moving flexible members 10. It will be appreciated that the vehicles on the upper section of the first propelling means 2 are conveyed towards the left as indicated by arrow X in Figure 1, and the vehicles on the lower section are conveyed
towards the right as indicated by arrow Y in
Figure 1.
The second vehicle propelling means 3 comprises a plurality of rollers 30 at least some of which are driven by drive means only a drive gear wheel 31 of which is shown in Figure 3. The roller drive means may comprise an independent drive assembly for each driven roller, for example, an internally mounted roller. Alternatively, the drive means may comprise a drive mechanism arrangement 1 drive simultaneously a plurality of drive rollers, the drive mechanism engaging the drive wheel 31. Preferably the gear wheels 31 on each driven roller 30 is of a different gear ratio to the other drive wheels in order to achieve the different speeds urging the vehicle over the second propelling means 3.
The roller drive means is arranged to drive the driven rollers at different speeds such that a vehicle entering the upper section at the righthand end as seen in Figure 1 is urged to move along the associated portion of the vehicle at the relatively low speed permitting a passenger to safely mount the vehicle from a stationary elevated platform 34.
As the vehicle is urged towards the left as seen in
Figure 1 the driven rollers 30 are driven at a progressively faster speed so that the vehicle is accelerated until by the time the vehicle is fed from the second vehicle propelling means 3 to the first vehicle propelling means 2 it is travelling at substantially the speed of the first propelling means 2.
The driven rollers 30 on the lower section of the second propelling means 3 are driven at different speeds so that a vehicle just received from the lower section of the first propelling means 2 is urged to move at substantially the same relatively fast speed associated with first propelling means.
However, as the vehicle progresses along the second propelling means towards the right as seen in Figure 1, the driven rollers urge the vehicle to decelerate such that by the time the vehicle approaches transfer means 35 it is moving at the relatively low speed permitting the passenger to safely dis-mount from the vehicle.
The transfer means 35 comprises a lifting mechanism adapted to collect the vehicles arriving at the extreme righthand end cf the lower section of the second propelling means 3 and to transfer the vehicles onto the extreme righthand end of the upper section of the second propelling means.
Thus, the vehicle is ready to recommence its journey around the vehicle path.
A somewhat similar procedure is performed by the third vehicle propelling means 4 which is of a similar construction to the second vehicle propelling means except that the transfer means 35 is replaced by transfer means 36 comprising a rail tipper section for transferring vehicles from the upper section to the lower section. Thus, in use vehicles are received from the upper section of the first propelling means 2 by the righthand end of the upper section of the third propelling means 4 (as seen in Figure 1) the received vehicle travelling at the relatively fast speed associated with the first propelling means. During its travel over the upper section of the third propelling means the associated drive rollers decelerate the received vehicle so that by the time the vehicle arrives at the transfer means 36 it is travelling at a relatively low speed enabling a passenger to safely dis- mount. Upon fully reaching the rail tippler means the loaded rail section tips as indicated by arrow z in Figure 1 transferring the vehicle from the upper section to the lower section of the third propelling means where the associated drive rollers urge the vehicle to accelerate from the relatively low speed at which a passenger may safely mount the vehicle to the relatively fast speed associated with the first propelling means.By the time the vehicle reaches the righthand end of the lower section of the third propelling means it is travelling substantially at the same speed as the first propelling means and is fed onto the adjacent end of the lower section of the first propelling means.
Upon arriving at the righthand end of the first propelling means (as seen in Figure 1) the vehicle is fed onto the second propelling means as previously discussed and is decelerated as it travels over the lower section of the second propelling means from the relatively fast speed to the relatively low speed at which the passenger can safely dis-mount. As previously explained the vehicle then is fed to the transfer means 35 which raises the vehicle to the upper section of the second propelling means ready to re-start another journey along the effectively endless vehicle path.
As indicated in Figure 1 a plurality of vehicles 1 are provided, the vehicle continuously travelling in series around the effectively endless vehicle path.
Additional drive rollers 40 and 41 are provided adjacent to the extreme ends of the vehicle propelling system enabling further vehicles to be stored until they are required. These further vehicles may be in addition to passenger carrying vehicles or they may be material carrying vehicles designed to carry supplies towards the working face.
The first vehicle propelling means 2 is designed such that if necessary it can negotiate relatively shallow bends in the mine roadway along which it is installed, the first propelling means being of a considerable length, for example several miles.
From the above description it will be seen that the present invention provides a vehicle propelling system intended for safety conveying passengers along underground mine roadways at a relatively fast speed.
In other embodiments of the invention the vehicles may comprise rail mounted vehicles which may be suspended from rail section. With these embodiments the vehicles may be associated only with the second and third propelling means, the first conveying means being constituted by an endless belt conveyor with the passengers being required to dismount from the vehicles onto the relatively fast speed belt conveyor at the start of the journey and to mount a relatively fast speed vehicle from the belt conveyor at the end of the journey. The vehicles are accelerated and decelerated in similar manner to that previously described with reference to the second and third vehicle propelling means.
In other embodiments of the present invention the drive means for the second and third vehicle propelling means may comprise linear motor drives.
In still further embodiments of the present invention the transfer means may comprise a gravity roller section where the vehicles could be parked and only used when required, i.e. the vehicles would not be automatically recirculated.
Claims (1)
1. Transport equipment comprising a propelled vehicle system having an effectively endless vehicle path, at least one vehicle movable along the vehicle path, a first vehicle propelling means for propelling the vehicles at relatively fast speed along at least a portion of the vehicle path, second vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicle along at least another portion of the vehicle path at speeds varying from a relatively low speed to substantially the relatively fast speed of the first propelling means, and third vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicle along at least a further portion of the vehicle path at speeds varying from the relatively fast speed of the first propelling means to a relatively low speed.
2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, in which the first vehicle propelling means is adapted to urge the vehicle along at least two portions of the vehicle path.
3. Equipment as claimed in claim 2, in which the vehicle is urged to travel in opposite directions along the two portions associated with the first vehicle propelling means.
4. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second and third vehicle propelling means are each adapted to urge the vehicle to accelerate over a portion of the vehicle path from the relatively low speed to substantially the relatively fast speed of the first vehicle propelling means and to urge the vehicle to decelerate over another portion of the vehicle path from the relatively fast speed of the first vehicle propelling means to the relatively low speed.
5. Equipment as claimed in claim 4, in which the second vehicle propelling means is adapted to feed the vehicle onto a section of the first vehicle propelling means associated with one portion of the vehicle path and the third vehicle propelling means is adapted to receive the vehicle from said section of the first vehicle propelling means.
6. Equipment as claimed in claim 5, in which the third vehicle propelling means is adapted to feed the vehicle onto a further section of the first vehicle propelling means associated with another portion of the vehicle path and the second vehicle propelling means is adapted to receive the vehicle from said further section of the first vehicle propelling means.
7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, in which the second and third vehicle propelling means comprise transfer means for transfering the vehicle between vehicle feed and receiving sections.
8. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle propelling system comprises a plurality of vehicles independently movable around the vehicle path in series.
9. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first vehicle propelling means comprises at least one driven effectively endless member.
10. Equipment as claimed in claim 9, in which the drive effectively endless members supports the or each vehicle.
11. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second and third vehicle propelling means comprises a plurality of driven rollers arrangeable to drivably engage the or each vehicle.
12. Equipment as claimed in claim 1 in which the plurality of driven rollers are arranged at spaced intervals along at least a substantial portion of the vehicle path associated with the respective vehicle propelling means.
13. Equipment as claimed in claim 12, in which idler rollers are mounted between at least some of the driven rollers.
14. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 11 to 13, in which the or each vehicle comprises a platform supported on at least some of the rollers.
1 5. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 11 to 14, in which the drive rollers guidably engage the platform for movement along the associated portion of the vehicle path.
16. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 11 to 15, in which each driven roller is provided with independent drive means.
1 7. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 11 to 15, in which a plurality of driven rollers are provided with a common drive means.
18. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the or each vehicle is rail mounted.
19. Equipment as claimed in claim 18, in which the or each vehicle is suspended from the mounting rail.
20. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising vehicle parking means.
21. Transport equipment for assisting the loading or unloading of moving transport means, for example, for assisting passengers mounting on or dis-mounting from a moving conveyor, comprising a propelled vehicle system having a vehicle path at least a portion of which extends adjacent to the transport means, a plurality of vehicles movable in series along the path, and vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicles along the path at varying speeds, the speed of
each vehicle depending upon its position along the
path, and the speed of a vehicle approaching the speed of the transport means when travelling
along said at least portion of the path.
22. Equipment as claimed in claim 21, in which the vehicle propelling means comprises a plurality of driven rollers arrangeable to drivably engage the vehicles.
23. Equipment as claimed in claim 22, in which the plurality of driven rollers are arranged at spaced intervals along at least a substantial portion of the vehicle path.
24. Equipment as claimed in claim 23, in which idler rollers are mounted between at least some of the driven rollers.
25. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 22 to 24 in which the vehicles comprise a platform supported on at least some of the rollers.
26. Equipment as claimed in claim 25, in which the drive rollers guidably engage the platform for movement along the vehicle path.
27. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 22 to 26, in which each driven roller is provided with independent drive means.
28. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 22 to 27, in which a plurality of driven rollers are provided with a common drive means.
29. Equipment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 22 to 28, in which the vehicles are rail mounted.
30. Equipment as claimed in claim 29, in which the vehicles are suspended from the mounting rail.
31. Transport equipment substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.
New claims or amendments to claims filed on 6/6/80.
Superseded claims 1
New or amended claims:
1. Transport equipment comprising a propelled vehicle system having an effectively endless vehicle path, at least one vehicle movable along the vehicle path, a first vehicle propelling means for propelling the vehicles at relatively fast speed along at least a portion of the vehicle path, second vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicle along at least another portion of the vehicle path at speeds varying from a relatively low speed to substantially the relatively fast speed of the first propelling means, and third vehicle propelling means for urging the vehicle along at least a further portion of the vehicle path at speeds varying from the relatively fast speed of the first propelling means to a relatively low speed, the first, second and third propelling means providing guide means for engagement by co-operating guide means provided on the or each vehicle.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7932780A GB2059375A (en) | 1979-09-21 | 1979-09-21 | Variable speed transport equipment |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7932780A GB2059375A (en) | 1979-09-21 | 1979-09-21 | Variable speed transport equipment |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2059375A true GB2059375A (en) | 1981-04-23 |
Family
ID=10507981
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7932780A Withdrawn GB2059375A (en) | 1979-09-21 | 1979-09-21 | Variable speed transport equipment |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2059375A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2132154A (en) * | 1982-12-01 | 1984-07-04 | Dubuit Mach | Transfer apparatus for conveying work holder supports along a closed pathway |
| EP0237299A1 (en) * | 1986-03-12 | 1987-09-16 | Cambridge Consultants (Systems Engineering) Limited | Feed apparatus |
-
1979
- 1979-09-21 GB GB7932780A patent/GB2059375A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2132154A (en) * | 1982-12-01 | 1984-07-04 | Dubuit Mach | Transfer apparatus for conveying work holder supports along a closed pathway |
| US4667804A (en) * | 1982-12-01 | 1987-05-26 | Societe D'exploitation Des Machines Dubuit | Transfer apparatus for conveying work holder supports along a closed pathway |
| EP0237299A1 (en) * | 1986-03-12 | 1987-09-16 | Cambridge Consultants (Systems Engineering) Limited | Feed apparatus |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |