GB2097349A

GB2097349A - Mobile control means for an overhead monorail

Info

Publication number: GB2097349A
Application number: GB8136498A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MUCKENHAUPT GmbH
Current assignee: MUCKENHAUPT GmbH
Priority date: 1981-04-23
Filing date: 1981-12-03
Publication date: 1982-11-03
Also published as: BE890132A; GB2097349B; DE3116110C2; DE3116110A1; FR2504479A1; FR2504479B1

Abstract

To compensate for variations in the height above floor level of a monorail (1) and allow a driver to enter or leave a driver's cabin (5) of an overhead train (7), the driver's cabin (5) is connected to a supporting structure (4) which is suspended from the rail (1) by a trolley (2), by means of a telescopic arrangement (8) whereby the driver's cabin (5) can be raised or lowered relative to the structure (4). Remote control means (13, 14) for the telescopic arrangement (8) may be provided and the cabin (5) may carry a battery or pressure cylinder (11) to power the telescopic arrangement (8). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mobile control means for an overhead monorail The invention relates to mobile control means for an overhead monorail and has particular though not exclusive application to underground mining operations.

Mobile control means have been previously proposed comprising a supporting structure which mounts a driver's cabin and is suspended on the monorail by a travelling trolley and can be connected by means of a coupling to either the front end or the rear end of an overhead rail train.

In use of overhead monorail tracks underground with the previously proposed mobile control means, problems arise since the rail which is suspended from gallery timbering is at different heights above the floor of the gallery, depending on the gallery cross-section. In fact, the rail is always mounted as high as possible in order to give the maximum space therebelow for materials transported by the overhead monorail. As the gallery cross-sections, for example cross-cut, pilot drift or winning headway, through which the overhead monorail passes are of different heights, it is inevitable that in certain galleries or sections of gallery, the driver's cabin is suspended at a height above the floor of the drift such that the driver cannot readily climb in and out.

To solve this problem, drivers have used retractable or rope ladders to assist them to climb in and out of the driver's cabin. However, under the rough operating conditions underground, detachable means of this kind often become damaged or are lost. Even if present and undamaged they require a considerable amount of skill on the part of the driver when climbing into and out of the cabin. Frequently however, drivers merely clamber up on gallery timbering or build pedestal arrangements of stones or other materials, on the floor of the gallery with consequent considerable risk of accident.

According to the invention there is provided mobile control means for an overhead monorail comprising a supporting structure which mounts a driver's cabin, is suspended on the monorail by means of a travelling trolley and can be connected by a coupling to an end of an overhead rail train wherein the driver's cabin is mounted on the supporting structure by adjustment means which enable an adjustment in height of the driver's cabin relative to the supporting structure to be made between a raised travelling position and a lowered entry and exit position.

With such mobile control means, the driver's cabin can be lowered with respect to the supporting structure to allow a driver to climb into or out of the cabin without there being any need for additional means, such as ladders and with a consequent reduction in the risk of accident.

Various adjustment means can be envisaged for producing the relative adjustment in height between the supporting structure and the driving cabin. However, particular advantages, from the point of view of a strong and inexpensive construction, are achieved if the adjustment means comprises lift means, in particular in the form of a pressure fluid-actuated telescopic piston/cylinder arrangement having a lift member on which the driver's cabin is mounted.

Preferably the piston of the piston/cylinder arrangement is rigidly connected to the supporting structure and disposed vertically parallel to a rear wall of the driver's cabin and the cylinder of the piston/cylinder arrangement is rigidly connected to the lift member which is in the form of a gallows-like suspension bracket which carries the driver's cabin.

In order to ensure that the driving cabin is not lowered unintentionally, for example while moving, for example if the lift means has a defect, it is advantageous for the driver's cabin and/or the gallows-like suspension bracket to be provided at an upper part thereof with locking means by means of which the driver's cabin can be secured directly to the supporting structure in the raised travelling position. The locking means holds the driver's cabin in the raised condition even if the lift means becomes inoperative.

As the overhead rail train often does not have its own power supply, for example in the case of cable-drawn overhead rail trains, it can be further provided that associated with the lift means is a rechargeable energy storage means, for example in the form of a pressure container or a battery, for storing sufficient power for at least one lifting operation of the lift means. The energy storage means may be recharged for example while the train is travelling by means of a generator driven by a friction wheel, or it may be charged up with compressed air respectively at a loading or unloading station.

For the purposes of simple actuation of the lift means, a control lever for operating the lift means is desirably associated with the driver's cabin.

Alternatively or in addition, the lift means may be actuated by a remote control arrangement, in particular an infra-red remote control arrangement.

In orderto ensure that the overhead rail train is not moved with the driver's cabin in a lowered condition, which might result in damage to the driver's cabin, control means to control drive of the overhead rail train and control means to control the lift means can be interlocked in such a way that the drive of the overhead rail train can be operated only when the lift means is completely retracted.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a mobile control means for an overhead monorail according to the invention in a raised position; and Figure 2 shows a side view of the control means of Figure 1 in a lowered position.

Referring to the drawing, a monorail 1 has a travelling trolley or carriage 2 movable thereon in the longitudinal direction of the rail 1. A supporting structure 4 which carries a driver's cabin 5 is secured to the trolley 2 by means of a coupling arrangement 3. At the rearward end in the direction of movement, the supporting structure 4 is connected to an overhead rail train 7 (not shown in detail), by way of a further coupling arrangement 6.

The driver's cabin 5 is secured to the supporting structure 4 by a pressure fluidactuated telescopic piston/cylinder arrangement 8. The piston of the telescopic arrangement 8 is disposed so as to extend vertically substantially parallel to a rear wall of the driver's cabin 5, and is rigidly secured to the supporting structure 4. A vertically movable cylinder 8a of the telescopic arrangement 8 is rigidly connected to a gallowslike suspension bracket 9 which carries the driver's cabin 5.

Disposed at the top of the driving cabin 5 or the bracket 9 is a locking means 10 by means of which the driver's cabin 5 can be secured directly to the supporting structure 4, in the raised travelling position shown in Figure 1.

Disposed in the driver's cabin 5 is a rechargeable energy storage means 1 for example in the form of a pressure container or a battery, the stored energy of which is sufficient at least for one operating cycle of the telescopic arrangement 8.

Also disposed in the driver's cabin 5 is a control lever 12 for actuating the telescopic arrangement 8. In addition, disposed on the rear wall of the driver's cabin 5 is an infra-red receiver 1 3 which can be actuated by means of an infra-red remote control transmitter 14. The telescopic arrangement 8 can be actuated by means of the infra-red remote control arrangement 13, 14 so that the driver's cabin 5 can be lowered even if the driver is not in the cabin.

Also provided, but not shown in the drawing, is a locking circuit between control means of the drive of the overhead rail train and the control means of the lift means whereby the two control means are interlocked in such a way that the drive of the overhead rail train can be actuated only if the telescopic arrangement 8 is completely retracted.

Claims

1. Mobile control means for an overhead monorail comprising a supporting structure which mounts a driver's cabin, is suspended on the monorail by means of a travelling trolley and can be connected by a coupling to an end of an overhead rail train wherein the driver's cabin is mounted on the supporting structure by adjustment means which enable an adjustment in height of the driver's cabin relative to the supporting structure to be made between a raised travelling position and a lowered entry and exit position.

2. Mobile control means according to claim 1, in which the adjustment means comprises lift means mounted on the supporting structure.

3. Mobile control means according to claim 2, in which the lift means comprises a pressure fluidactuated telescopic piston/cylinder arrangement and is coupled to a lift member on which the driver's cabin is mounted.

4. Mobile control means according to claim 2, in which the piston of the piston/cylinder arrangement is rigidly connected to the supporting structure and disposed vertically parallel to a rear wall of the driver's cabin and the cylinder of the piston/cylinder arrangement is rigidly connected to the lift member which is in the form of a gallows-like suspension bracket which carries the driver's cabin.

5. Mobile control means according to claim 4, in which the driver's cabin and/or gallows-like bracket are provided at an upper part thereof with locking means by means of which the driver's cabin can be secured directly to the supporting structure in the raised travelling position.

6. Mobile control means according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which associated with the lift means is a rechargeable energy storage means, in particular in the form of a pressure container or a battery, for storing sufficient energy for at least one lifting operation of the lift means.

7. Mobile control means according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which a control lever for actuating the lift means is associated with the driver's cabin.

8. Mobile control means according to any one of claims 2 to 7, in which the lift means is actuable by remote control means, in particular an infra-red remote control means.

9. Mobile control means according to any one of clainis 2 to 8, in which control means to control drive of an overhead rail train and control means to control the lift means are interlocked in such a way that the drive of the overhead rail train can be actuated only if the lift means is completely retracted.

10. Mobile control means for an overhead monorail substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.