GB2072111A - An electric current collector line, particularly for use in mines - Google Patents
An electric current collector line, particularly for use in mines Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2072111A GB2072111A GB8106553A GB8106553A GB2072111A GB 2072111 A GB2072111 A GB 2072111A GB 8106553 A GB8106553 A GB 8106553A GB 8106553 A GB8106553 A GB 8106553A GB 2072111 A GB2072111 A GB 2072111A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- duct
- current collector
- electric current
- tubular
- collector line
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 4
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 abstract description 6
- 238000005253 cladding Methods 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 5
- 230000002000 scavenging effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 description 2
- 241001274197 Scatophagus argus Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000005422 blasting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
- E21F17/00—Methods or devices for use in mines or tunnels, not covered elsewhere
- E21F17/04—Distributing means for power supply in mines
- E21F17/06—Distributing electric power; Cable networks; Conduits for cables
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60M—POWER SUPPLY LINES, AND DEVICES ALONG RAILS, FOR ELECTRICALLY- PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60M1/00—Power supply lines for contact with collector on vehicle
- B60M1/30—Power rails
- B60M1/34—Power rails in slotted conduits
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Current-Collector Devices For Electrically Propelled Vehicles (AREA)
- Rigid Pipes And Flexible Pipes (AREA)
Abstract
The line comprises a tubular duct (1) of rubber or plastics material with a longitudinal slit between pairs of sealing lips (6,6 and 7,7), through which slit can pass a current collector arm of a carriage (5) with shoes engaging conductors (3) located in recesses (2). The tubular duct (1) is formed as a continuous extrusion and can be opened out to lie flat so that it can be rolled onto a drum for transport to the place of installation. Short lengths of steel cladding (9) with hanging straps (10) surround the duct and overlap with one another like scales. The interior of the tubular duct (1) can be pressurized with inert gas if desired. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
An electric current collector line, particularly for use in mines where there is a danger of fire-damp
The invention relates to an electric current collector line, particularly for use in mines where there is a danger of fire-damp.
In previously proposed current collector lines of this kind, known for example from Published German Applications Nos. 2522 319, 25 22 320 and 2522 321, the duct comprises a square steel profile, which is covered by inflatable tubes or resilient sealing lips in the region of a longitudinal slot. In currentcollec- tor lines of the above-mentioned kind, the points of contact between the current collector and the conductors have an inert scavenging gas permanently flowing round them. The sealing lips prevent explosive gas mixtures (fire-damp) from entering the duct from outside.
The disadvantage of current collector lines of this kind is that the square steel profiles forming the duct can only be transported in relatively short lengths, due to the space restrictions of mines and mine cages, so a long line has to be pieced together from short lengths. This creates difficulties, because a seal which will exclude sparks and as far as possible also gas must be formed at each of the joints between the lengths, in addition to which the current conductors in the duct also have to be connected. The laying of such lines is consequently a laborious process, and is also a source of considerable potential danger, owing to the possibility of error in assembling the individual lengths.
In a current collector line proposed in German
Published Application No. 15 15 340, the duct comprises a sailcloth sheath, tightened by a supporting construction comprising a tube and bracing yokes.
This line has a relatively complex construction, is difficult to assemble and lay and, chiefly because of the susceptible sailcloth sheath, is unsuitable for rough use in underground mining.
According to the invention there is provided an electric current collector line, particularly for use in mines where there is a danger of fire-damp, comprising an elongate duct accommodating electrical conductors, the duct being of tubular form with a longitudinally extending slit, closed by a resilient seal, through which slit an arm of a current collector movable longitudinally with respect to the duct can extend, with a possibility of pressurisation of the interior of the tubular duct with a protective gas, in which the duct is formed by continuous extrusion of a rubber or plastics material, can be opened out to lie flat such that a considerable length thereof can be wound onto a drum for transport and can be rolled to its tubular configuration at the place of installation.
Such a line can easily be transported and laid in portions of any desired length while meeting the strict safety regulations of the mining authorities, in respect of mechanical strength, safe contact and safety from fire-damp.
The tubular rubber or plastics duct, which already contains the electrical conductors, may be transported, wound onto drums in pieces of virtually any desired length, and can be rolled into the tubular configuration when it is unwound from the drum at the place of installation. In a particularly advantageous manner, the duct also forms the insulation carrying the conductors and a protective envelope for the conductors, which envelope is airtight and can be filled with a circulating scavenging gas over its whole length. The tubular duct only needs to be hung up by a suitable suspension means.
Preferably the tubular duct in use is clad with resilient, slotted lengths of steel ducting which leave free the longitudinal slit so that the arm of the current collector can engage therein.
Thus a suspension means, which both stiffens the current collector line and gives it substantial mechanical protection may appropriately be formed by the slotted lengths of steel ducting.
To protect the duct from external mechanical damage over its whole length without any gaps, the lengths of steel ducting preferably overlap one another like scales. To enable the current collector line nevertheless to follow any bends in the route, the lengths of steel ducting can move with respect to one another through small angles in any direction.
The slotted lengths of steel ducting are provided with hanging straps for suspension purposes.
Advantageously the rubber or plastics material of the duct is so pre-stressed during manufacture that it rolls itself into its tubular configuration on being unwound from the transport drum.
To prevent gas from passing through the seal at the longitudinal slit either when the external pressure is higher, for example when pressure waves are set up during blasting, or when the internal pressure is higher, the resilient seal of the longitudinal slit comprises an outwardly directed pair of cooperating lips and an inwardly directed pair of cooperating lips. The inwardly directed pair of lips prevents gas from passing out from inside. The outwardly directed pair prevents gas from passing in from outside.
The lip seals are preferably each in the form of slit seals. Seals of this kind, with a relatively long slit extending in the direction of the drop in pressure, have a better self-sealing action than those with only linear contact.
Advantageously, adjacent the two-lip seals the duct has profiled portions which have approximately the same resistance to bending about their longitudinal axes in all directions. The profiled portions are provided to minimise the shifting of the lips of the two-lip seals when the duct extends in a curve.
Preferably the electrical conductors are flexible and the tubular rubber or plastics material duct has, in its inner face, elongate recesses to accommodate and secure the flexible electrical conductors.
The tubular rubber or plastics material duct can be formed to present rails to guide andlor support a
current collecting carriage coupled to the arm of the current collector and to travel inside the duct.
Advantageously, a network of protective conductors is embedded in the outer face of the tubular
rubber or plastics material duct to automatically disconnect the current in the electrical conductors if the tubular duct is mechanically damaged.
The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure lisa cross-section through part of a rubber or plastics material duct, shown in an opened out flat configuration, of an electric current collector line according to the invention;
Figure 1a is a plan view of an electric conductor for the duct of Figure 1;
Figure 2 is a cross-section through a clad duct of an electric current collector line showing cooperation of sealing lips of the duct with a current collector arm;
Figure 3 is a cross-section through a fully installed electric current collector line according to the invention with a current collecting carriage shown therein; and
Figure 4 is a side view of a fully installed electric current collector line according to the invention.
Referring to the drawings a rubber or plastics material duct 1 can be manufactured by continuous extrusion and then be cut to any length. In its flat, opened out configuration shown in Figure 1, the rubber or plastics duct 1 may be wound onto a drum or the like for transport. After transport in that form it can be shaped into a tubular duct at the place where it is to be installed, as will be explained below.
The duct 1 contains recesses 2 to receive flexible electric conductors 3, which are desirably in the form of a wire bent in an undulating zig-zag (see Figure la). The duct 1 also has two protuberances which act as rails 4 for a current collecting carriage 5 to travel along.
Pairs of lips 6 and 7 are provided adjacent the two side edges of the duct, to form therebetween and seal a longitudinal slit when the profile 1 is shaped into its tubular duct configuration shown in Figures 2 and 3. Thus, in the tubular configuration, the inwardly directed lips 6 lie against one another and form a first two-lip seal 6, 6. Similarly the outwardly directed lips 7,7 lie against one another and form a second two-lip seal 7, 7. The contact surfaces of the seals 6,6 and 7,7 form a relatively long slit transversely to the longitudinal direction, and thus have a good self-sealing action. The seal 6, 6 is particularly effective when there is over pressure inside and the seal 7,7 when there is over pressure outside.
Profiled portions 8 are provided adjacent the lips 6 and 7 and are constructed so that they have approx
imately the same resistance to bending about their
longitudinal axis in all directions. A circular crosssection, an example of a shape with such bending
properties, has been chosen in this embodiment.
The rubber or plastics duct 1 may have a network
of protective conductors (not shown) in the region
of its outer wall; this network can disconnect the
current in the conductors 3 if the duct suffers
mechanical damage.
When the line is being laid the rubber or plastics duct, shaped into its tubular configuration, may be clad by slotted, resilient lengths of steel ducting 9 which are provided with suspending straps 10 atthe upper end, i.e. opposite the slit. The successive lengths of steel ducting 9 overlap one another like scates so that the line can be swung through a small angle in any direction with the lengths of ducting 9 moving relative to one another (see Figure 4). The lengths 9 provide a reinforcement for the tubular duct 1 and at the same time shield it from mechanical damage.
For installation purposes the rubber or plastics duct 1 is unwound from a transport drum, rolled into its tubular configuration and pressed into the resilient lengths of steel tubing 9, which may be bent upwards and resiliently deformed for this purpose.
The lengths of steel ducting 9 are then suspended from suitable carrying rails 11 by means of the straps 10.
To facilitate the shaping of the duct 1 as a tubular duct, the material on the inside and outside of the profile 1 could be appropriately pre-stressed upon manufacture, so that the duct automatically takes on its tubular configuration when it is unwound from the transporting drum.
The interior of the tubular duct, which is sealed off from the outside by the two-lip seals 6,6 and 7, 7, can be permanently pressurized by an inert scavenging gas. A current collecting arm 12 fixed to the current collecting carriage 5 may engage through the slit closed by the two-lip seals 6,6 and 7,7. The arm 12 preferably tapers to a fine edge both at its leading edge and at its trailing edge, in the manner of a sword blade, so that the resilient seal at the slit need only be slightly deformed.
Claims (13)
1. An electric current collector line, particularly for use in mines where there is a dangeroffiredamp, comprising an elongate duct accommodating electrical conductors, the duct being of tubular form with a longitudinally extending slit closed buy a resilient seal, through which slit an arm of a current collector movable longitudinally with respect to the duct can extend, with a possibility of pressurisation of the interior of the tubular duct with a protective gas, in which the duct is formed by continuous extrusion of a rubber or plastics material, can be opened out to lie flat such that a considerable length thereof can be wound onto a drum fortransportand can be rolled to its tubular configuration atthe place of installation.
2. An electric current collector line according to claim 1, in which the tubular duct in use is clad with resilient, slotted lengths of steel ducting which leave free the longitudinal slit so that the arm of the cur
rent collector can engage therein.
3. An electric current collector line according to claim 2, in which the lengths of steel ducting partially overlap one another like scales whereby the clad
duct is flexible in all directions.
4. An electric current collector line according to claim 2 or claim 3, in which the lengths of steel duct
ing are provided with suspending straps at a side
away from the position at which the slit is located.
5. An electric current collector line according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the rubber or plastics material of the duct is so pre-stressed during manufacture that it rolls itself into its tubular configuration on being unwound from the transport drum.
6. An electric current collector line according to any of claims 1 to 5, in which the resilient seal of the longitudinal slit comprises an outwardly directed pair of co-operating lips and an inwardly directed pair of co-operating lips.
7. An electric current collector line according to claim 6, in which the two-lip seals, in the region where the lips of the pairs of lips are applied to one another, are each in the form of slit seals, to form a long slit in the direction of the pressure drop.
8. An electric current collector line according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which adjacent the two-lip seals the duct has profiled portions which have approximately the same resistance to bending about their longitudinal axes in all directions.
9. An electric current collector line according to claim 8, in which the profiled portions are each of tubular, circular cross-section.
10. An electric current collector line according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the electrical conductors are flexible and the tubular rubber or plastics material duct has, in its inner face, elongate recesses to accommodate and secure the flexible electrical conductors.
11. An electric current collector line according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the tubular rubber or plastics material duct is formed to present rails to guide andlor support a current collecting carriage coupled to the arm of the current collector and to travel inside the duct.
12. An electric current collector line according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which a network of protective conductors is embedded in the outer face of the tubular rubber or plastics material duct to automatically disconnect the current in the electrical conductors if the tubular duct is mechanically damaged.
13. An electric current collector line substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3009054A DE3009054C2 (en) | 1980-03-08 | 1980-03-08 | Electric conductor lines, in particular for use in mine rooms at risk of firedamp |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2072111A true GB2072111A (en) | 1981-09-30 |
| GB2072111B GB2072111B (en) | 1984-10-03 |
Family
ID=6096700
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8106553A Expired GB2072111B (en) | 1980-03-08 | 1981-03-02 | Electric current collector line particularly for use in mines |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE3009054C2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2072111B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA811362B (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3208734C2 (en) * | 1982-03-11 | 1983-12-22 | Klöckner-Becorit GmbH, 4620 Castrop-Rauxel | Electric conductor rail with current collector, in particular for use in mine rooms at risk of firedamp |
| DE3407222A1 (en) * | 1984-02-28 | 1985-09-05 | Maschinenfabrik Stromag Gmbh, 4750 Unna | FLASH WEATHER PROOF GUIDE RAIL |
| DE3903950A1 (en) * | 1989-02-10 | 1990-08-16 | Wampfler Gmbh | POWER RAIL AND ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE HERE |
| DE19701987C1 (en) * | 1997-01-22 | 1998-05-28 | Vahle Paul Kg | Suspendable multipole electrical contact line |
| DE102007051410A1 (en) * | 2007-10-25 | 2009-05-07 | Airbus Deutschland Gmbh | Support tube for ceiling elements |
| DE102008004104A1 (en) * | 2008-01-11 | 2009-07-16 | Paul Vahle Gmbh & Co. Kg | Flexible conductor rail, in particular for tongue or limb points |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1515340A1 (en) * | 1966-02-08 | 1969-07-31 | Th Steinfurth Gmbh Dipl Ing | Contact line for firedamp-endangered mine rooms |
| GB1508786A (en) * | 1974-05-21 | 1978-04-26 | Pitcraft Ltd | Electric power supply tracks particularly for mine equipment |
| GB1508785A (en) * | 1974-08-06 | 1978-04-26 | Pitcraft Ltd | Electric power supply tracks particularly for mine equipment |
| GB1508788A (en) * | 1975-05-03 | 1978-04-26 | Pitcraft Ltd | Electric power supply track |
-
1980
- 1980-03-08 DE DE3009054A patent/DE3009054C2/en not_active Expired
-
1981
- 1981-03-02 GB GB8106553A patent/GB2072111B/en not_active Expired
- 1981-03-02 ZA ZA00811362A patent/ZA811362B/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE3009054A1 (en) | 1981-09-17 |
| DE3009054C2 (en) | 1982-06-16 |
| GB2072111B (en) | 1984-10-03 |
| ZA811362B (en) | 1982-12-29 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |