GB2092257A

GB2092257A - Chain Sling

Info

Publication number: GB2092257A
Application number: GB8103311A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-03
Filing date: 1981-02-03
Publication date: 1982-08-11
Also published as: GB2092257B

Abstract

An apparatus for use in suspending equipment within a tunnel, for example a pipe 2 in an underground mine, by means of a chain sling. The apparatus comprises a pivotal plate 5 having two slots 67 into one of which one end of a carrying chain 8 is captivated. The other slot is capable of accepting any available link of the chain thus forming a sling of adjustable length. The pivotal plate 5 may be attached directly, or by means of a clamp 3, to a tunnel support beam 1 which may be in the horizontal, vertical, or any intermediate plane. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chain Sling This invention relates to an apparatus for suspending equipment within a tunnel, for example, a roadway in an underground mine such as a coal mine.

In an underground mine strata movement may cause upheaval of a roadway floor. For this reason equipment such as pipe ranges and conveyor structure may be suspended from the roadway supports, rather than laid or mounted upon the floor of the roadway, even though the roadway supports themselves may suffer some distortion due to the said strata movement. In these circumstances it is desirable for supporting slings to have adjustment facilities to accommodate variations in alignment and height of the roadway supports which are also used as anchorage for the slings.

Where slings of a chain type are used, the present methods of accommodating variations in the height and alignment of the anchorage points impose limitations on their versatility or require comparitively expensive methods of manufacture.

Existing slings may have detachable chains which may be lost or inadvertantly replaced by weaker chains. Existing slings may have one end of the chain welded to the bracket or clip which clamps onto the roadway support girder, which could necessitate further heat treatment. Existing slings may rely on a single strand of chain for their carrying capacity, that is, when the carrying end of the chain is fitted with a hook which is hooked around the chain after embracing the equipment being supported. Existing slings may have chain anchorages which are only suitable when the roadway support girder, is in or near to, the vertical plane, or, is in or near to the horizontal plane.

According to the present invention there is provided a chain type sling for suspending and supporting equipment in a mine roadway.

The apparatus comprises a clamp which is attachable to a roadway supporting girder and which incorporates a profiled plate having a profiled slot into which one end of a length of chain is captivated by the closure of the slot after the insertion of the chain, and a further profiled open slot into which any available link of the chain can be engaged. The profiled plate is pivotally mounted in the clamp, and the two chain slots are so profiled that the force exerted by the weight of the equipment being suspended tends to force the encaptivated end of the chain into firmer engagement with the profiled plate.

The apparatus provides a double strand chain sling, which is readily adjustable within the specified chain length range. It is equally suitable for attachment to a girder which may be in the horizontal, vertical, or any intermediate plane and it is relatively simple to manufacture.

Reference is made to the drawing, Figure 1, which shows an embodiment of the chain sling supporting a pipe range, and in which 1 is part of an arch shaped tunnel support girder, and 2 is a pipe in a pipe range. 3 is a girder clamp in two halves with securing bolt 4 which also passes through a hole in the profiled plate 5, and which forms the pivot about which plate 5 can rotate.

Plate 5 has a profiled slot 6 into which the link at one end of chain 8 is engaged and captivated by closure of the slot entry; and slot 7 into which any available link of the chain may be engaged, thus forming a double strand chain sling of adjustable length.

Claims

1. A supporting device for use in suspending equipment such as a pipe range from a beam or other fixed support in an underground mine tunnel, said device having a pivotal plate member which has two slots, into one of which, one end of a length of chain is captivated by closure of the slot entrance after the insertion of an end link of the chain, the other slot remaining open and being capable of accepting any available link of the chain, thus forming a sling of adjustable length.

2. A supporting device according to Claim 1 where the pivotal plate member is incorporated into any clamp or other anchorage attaching to, or forming a part of, a beam or other fixed support.

3. A supporting device according to Claims 1 or 2 in which the pivot of the pivotal plate member is the, or a, clamping bolt of a girder clamp.

4. A supporting device substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawing.