GB2115366A - Cable handling system - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable-handler system for use with a face conveyor and a coal cutting machine 10 comprises a line 16 which conveys power to the machine 10 and which is connected at one end to a fixed point 17 and at its opposite end 18 to a machine 10. A line-storage trough extends alongside the conveyor and a line guide 21 engages with the cable 16 and moves along the trough to guide the insertion into, or removal from, the trough of portions of the cable 16. Relative movement of the machine 10 in a direction away from the fixed point 17 is accompanied by movement of the guide 21 in the same direction and by guidance of the cable 16 into the storage trough and relative movement of the machine 10 in a direction towards the point 17 is accompanied by movement of the guide 21 in the same direction and by progressive withdrawal of the cable 16 from the storage trough. Preferably, the line guide comprises a pulley block 21 which is drawn along the line storage trough in a direction away from the fixed point 17 by a haulage cable 20, and in the opposite direction by the cable 16. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Flexible-line handler system This invention relates to a flexible-line handler system for use with a conveyor having an associated power-operated machine which is relatively movable along the length of the conveyor and which receives its power via one or more lines of the handler system.

The invention has been developed primarily, though not exclusively, with a view to provide a flexible-line handler system for use in coal mining, and particularly for an armoured face conveyor (AFC) having an associated coal-cutting machine which is relatively moveable along the length of the conveyor. However, it should be understood that the flexible-line handler system of the invention is not restricted to such use, and has general application to any type of conveyor having an associated power operated machine which is relatively moveable along the length of the conveyor and which receives its power via one or more lines of the handler system.

The flexible-lines with which the invention is primarily concerned are electrical cables and flexible hoses for supplying pneumatic or hydraulic pressure.

Conventionally, an armoured face conveyor is chain-operated, and a coal cutting machine moves along the length of the conveyor as it is cutting coal, and delivers coal laterally to the conveyor which then conveys the coal away from the coal face. The cables which supply power to the coal cutting machine are taken from supply points to the machine, and necessarily must have sufficient length to accommodate the range of movements of the coal cutting machine along the conveyor.Therefore, when the machine is closest to the power supply points in its range of movement, there will be excess portions of cable (beyond that required to stretch between the machine in this position and the power supply), and a considerable problem is encountered in the handling and storage of these excess portions of the lengths of cable, so as to avoid any subsequent entanglement with the conveyor and the machine when the machine moves away from this position.

Current attempts to store the excess lengths of cable are less than satisfactory, and involve overhead storage of the cable in loops above the conveyor and the machine. It is a matter of practical experience with these systems that the cables tend to become entangled in service, which is undesirable both from an obvious safety aspect, when electrical power supply cables are involved, and also in time wasted in disentangling the system which reduces the operating efficiency of the installation.

Accordingly, there has developed the need to provide an improved handler system for flexible lines which supply power to power operated machines which move relatively along the length of the conveyor, and particularly in coal-cutting and gathering installations.

According to the invention there is provided a flexible-line handler system arranged to supply powerto a power operated machine which is associated with a conveyor and which is relatively moveable along the length of the conveyor, in which the handler system comprises: at least one flexible line connected at one end to a first fixed point (preferably on the conveyor) and at the opposite end to the machine; a line-storage member extending alongside the conveyor for receiving and storing portions of the length of the line; a line guide engageable with said line and moveable along said storage member in order to guide the insertion into, or removal from, the storage member of portions of the line; and means connected to the line guide and operable to move the latter along the line storage member whenever the machine carries out relative movement along the length of the conveyor;; in which the arrangement is such that relative movement of the machine in a direction away from the first fixed point is accompanied by movement of the line guide in the same direction and by guidance of further portions of the line into the line storage member, and relative movement of the machine in a direction towards the first fixed point is accompanied by movement of the line guide in the same direction and by progressive withdrawal of portions of the line from the storage member.

Therefore, as the machine carries out relative travel along the conveyor, the power supply line to the machine (which extends between the first fixed point and the machine via the line guide) is either inserted in, or removed from the storage member as necessary, in order to allow the machine to travel, while maintaining tension in the line so as to minimise the risk of entanglement of the line with the conveyor or the machine.

Preferably, said means connected to the line guide comprises a tensile connection extending between the machine and a second fixed point (preferably on the conveyor), and also engaging with the line guide.

However, if desired, other means may be provided to cause the line guide to move in the same direction as the machine, in response to movement of the machine.

It is preferred that the line guide comprises a block which is moveable in a generally channel shaped trough which forms the line storage member. Conveniently, the moveable block comprises a pulley block which has two pulleys, one of which is engaged by the flexible line and the other of which is engaged by the tensile connection, when the latter comprises a flexible elongate element.

The tensile connection may take any convenient form, such as a rope or cable, and preferably, as it extends between the machine and the second fixed point via the line guide, it is taken around a first pulley arranged near the limit of relative movement of the machine towards the first fixed point, along the length of the path of movement of the machine alongside the conveyor, around a second pulley arranged near the limit of relative movement of the machine towards the second fixed point and back along the conveyor towards the pulley block, around a respective pulley which reverses its direction and finally onto the second fixed point.

The flexible line extends from the first fixed point and along the line storage member to the pulley block, around its respective pulley, and then back towards its connection with the machine.

During the relative movement of the machine, the flexible line will always be maintained under tension, so as to minimise the risk of loops of line being formed which could become entangled with parts of the installation.

Thus, the flexible line is positively "laid-in" and "taken-out" at one point only, i.e. at the mobile pulley block, thereby minimising the risk of overlapping near the machine, giving better control and subsequently less danger of line damage.

In the preferred arrangement of pulley block, flexible line, rope and first and second pulleys referred to above, there is in effect a speed reduction of 2:1 from the machine to the pulley block, which therefore means that the pulley block is relatively slow-moving, thereby facilitating smooth transfer of line to and from the storage trough.

One embodiment of flexible-line handler system according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an armoured face conveyor installation provided with a coal cutting machine, having a flexible-line handler system according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the installation shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the flexible-line handler system; Figure 4 is a detail view of a line-storage member ofthe handler system; and Figure 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modified arrangement of the flexible-line handler system.

Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of flexible-line handler system will be described, by way of example only, with reference to an armoured face conveyor for use in coal mining. However, it should be understood that the flexible line handler system according to the invention may be applied in other types of installation of conveyor and related power operated machines which move relatively along the length of the conveyor.

The flexible-line handler system comprises one or more flexible power supply lines for supplying power to a coal cutting machine 10 of an armoured face conveyor 11. The flexible lines may comprise electrical supply cables and/or flexible hoses for supplying pneumatic or hydraulic power. For convenience only, the further description will assume that the flexible-line handler system comprises electrical power supply cables. The armoured face conveyor 11 and coal cutting machine 10, as illustrated in the drawings, may take any conventional form and, as is well known, the coal cutting machine 10 can move relatively along the length of the conveyor 11, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1, during coal cutting and gathering operations.The armoured face conveyor 11 is chain-operated, having a driving chain 12 which is taken around a drive sprocket 13 at the drive end of the conveyor 11, and around a sprocket 14 at the return end of the conveyor. The sprocket 13 is driven by a conventional motor-gearbox arrangement 15.

Referring now to Figure 3, the cable handler system is shown diagrammatically, and its mode of operation will now be described. The arrangement of the cable handler system is such that the power supply lines to the machine can always be maintained in tension, during relative movement of the machine 10 along the conveyor 11, so as to minimise the risks of loops being formed in the cables which would otherwise be liable to become entangled with parts of the installation. As illustrated in Figure 3, the cable handler system comprises a cable 16 which is connected at one end to a first fixed point 17, preferably provided on the conveyor 11, and which is connected at its opposite end 18 to any convenient power input location on the machine 10.There is also connected to the machine 10 a tensile connection which extends between the machine 10 and a second fixed point 19, preferably provided on the conveyor 11, the tensile connection comprising any convenient flexible elongate element such as a rope or cable 20.

As it extends from the first fixed point 17 to the machine 10, the cable 16 is engaged by a line guide which takes the form of a moveable pulley block 21.

As will be seen from Figure 3, the cable 16 is taken around a pulley 22 of the pulley block 21, which reverses the direction of the cable 16so that it can extend towards its connection 18 with the machine 10. In addition, the rope 20 also engages the pulley block 21, in that it is taken around a pulley 23 which reverses its direction so that it can extend towards the second fixed point 19.

Further, as the cable 20 extends from the machine 10 to the second fixed point 19 via pulley block 21, it is taken around a first pulley 24 arranged near the left hand limit to the path of movement of the machine 10, along the path of movement of the machine 10 relative to the conveyor 11, around a second pulley 25 arranged near the right-hand end of the limit of movement of the machine 10, and then back along the conveyor to the pulley block 21 where it is reversed to extend back to the second fixed point 19.

Bearing in mind that the first and second pulleys 24 and 25 are fixed, and also the points 17 and 19, and that the cable 16 is fixed to the machine 10 at its end 18, it will be evident that movement of the machine 10 in either direction along the conveyor 11 will be accompanied by movement of the pulley block 21 in the same direction, though at half its speed. Thus, if the machine 10 moves to the left in Figure 3, buy a distance X, the cable end 18 will also move to the left by the distance X. However, since the cable 16 is looped around pulley 22, this movement of the cable end 18 through distance X will be accompanied by movement of the pulley block 21 in the same direction, but through a distance of X/2, and at half the speed of the machine 10. Further movement of the machine 10 to the left by distance X will allow a portion of cable 20 equal to distance X to move in the direction from the pulley 24 to pulley 25 and, by virtue of the looped arrangement of cable 20 around pulley 23, pulley block 21 will be allowed by the cable 20 to move to the leftthrough distanceX/2. Accordingly, tension will be maintained in the cable 16 (and also in cable 20) during this movement of the machine 10 and the pulley block 21 to the left.

Similarly, when machine 10 moves to the right by distance X, rope 20 will haul the pulley block 21 to the right through distance X/2, and this movement of the pulley block 21 will be allowed by the cable 16, in that cable end 18 will also be moved to the right through disance X by virtue of its connection to the machine 10.

Accordingly, as will be evident from the above description with reference to Figure 3, the machine 10 can carry out relative travel along the conveyor 11 substantially without risk of any entanglement of the power supply lines which lead to the machine 10.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the cable handler system is provided with a line storage member which extends alongside the conveyor 11 for receiving and storing portions of the length of cable 16. The line storage member comprises a channel shaped trough 26 which extends throughout the path of movement of the machine 10 along conveyor 11. The pulley block 21, which comprises a line guide engageable with cable 16, is mounted for slideable movement along the length of trough 26 in orderto guide the insertion of portions of cable 16 into the trough 26, and the removal of portions from the trough 26 depending upon the direction of movement of the pulley block 21 along the trough 26.Evidently, movement of pulley block 21 to the left from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be accompanied by removal of portions of cable 16 from the trough 26, whereas movement to the right will be accompanied by guidance of portions of the cable 16 into the trough 26. The manner in which pulley block 21 is slideably mounted in trough 26 may be seen more clearly from the detail view of Figure 4.

The arrangement of positive loop cable handler system described above provides a simple means for controlling power supply cables and hoses in mobile situations. The system utilises the motion of the moveable machine e.g. coal cutting machine 10, to control a loop in power supply cable/cables and/or hose/hoses (represented diagrammatically by 16 in Figure 3) by means of a towing rope (20) suitably reversed around pulleys 24,25 and connected to a mobile pulley box 21 which forms a single loop point for the cables and hoses.

The mobile machine (coal cutting machine 10) can operate in its normal manner. The towing rope 20 is reeved around pulleys into cable trough 26 in which the mobile pulley box 21 slides. (The trough 26 also serves to accommodate rope 20, under tension and free of loops, in addition to accommodating the power supply lines to the machine). The single looped connection of cable 16 to the pulley box 21 ensures that the loop, and the pulley box 21, move at half the speed of the machine 10 so that, for this reason, the rope 20 to the pulley box 21 is brought back to an anchor point (19) at the end of the cable trough 26 to give a 2:1 movement ratio between the machine and the pulley box in the cable trough.

The system provides the advantage that the power supply cables and/or hoses are positively laid-in and taken-out at one point only i.e. the slow moving mobile pulley box, thus eliminating overlapping near the machine, giving better control and subsequently less danger of cable damage.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown the cable handler system in schematic and project outline, coupled with an arrangement for the remote drive system for moving a shearer machine.

It is envisaged that the cable handler system will be particularly advantageous for use in coal mining, and especially the following National Coal Board working applications: 1. Roadway Strata Bunkers 2. Single Entry Coal Faces 3. Short Retreat Faces 4. Retreat Roadway Cable Systems.

If remote haulage is to be used with the installation shown in the drawings, cable handler rope 20 may be atttached at connection point 27 (see Figure 2) to the return run of the haulage chain 12.

In the arrangement described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the cable 16 is coupled at one end to fixed point 17, and at its other end to fixed location 18 on the machine 10. Accordingly, the cable 16 will be subjected to tensile load as the machine 10 moves along the length of the conveyor.

Accordingly, there is a risk that the cable 16 (which is shown only schematically to represent one or more electrical supply lines and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic lines) may be subjected to unintentional and unacceptably high tensile loadings. While it is considered that the risk of unacceptably high tensile loadings being imparted to the cable 16 should not normally be an appreciable problem with the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, even this small risk can be overcome by a modification to the cable-handler system as shown in detail in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to Figure 5, parts corresponding with those already described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numrals, and will not be described in detail again. In order to prevent any undue tensile loading being applied to the power supply lines for machine 10, the cable 16 includes an elongate tensile member which is intended to bear substantially all of any tensile loadings imparted to the cable 16 during the travel of the machine 10 along the conveyor. As shown in Figure 5, the cable 16 is composed of power supply lines 16b, and a steel wire rope 16a which runs alongside the lines 16b, taking the same route from the first fixed point 17 to the machine 10 via the line guide (pulley block 21).By appropriate pretensioning of the wire rope 16a, and not the power supply line 16b, tensile forces are borne by the rope 1 6a and not the power supply line 16b.

When the cable 16 is first installed, the wire rope 16a can be anchored at one end, conveniently to a fixed location on the conveyor, by any convenient means, such as a clamping hoop which fits over the rope and draws it downwardly into clamping engagement with a fixed part of the conveyor. The clamping will be such that there is substantially no tension in the power supply line 16b.

The cable 20, which extends from fixed point 19 and around the pulleys 23,25 and 24to a fixed location on the machine 10, is preferably coupled to the fixed point 19 via a cable tension arrangement.

Although not shown in the drawings, the cable tensioner may comprise a simple mechanically operated tensioner, or may comprise a hydraulically operated tensioner arrangement if desired.

In order to guard against the risk of cable failure, it is preferred that automatically operated safety devices be provided in the cable-handler system, in order to cause immediate and automatic termination of the operation of the machine 10 and/or the conveyor 11 in the event of any unduly high tensile load occurring anywhere in the cable handler system. The safety devices may comprise, for example, load cells arranged at any convenient points in the cabler handler system, so as to stop operation whenever an incipient overload situation occurs.

Claims (12)

1. Aflexible-line handler system arranged to supply power to a power operated machine which is associated with a conveyor and which is relatively moveable along the length of the conveyor, in which the handler system comprises: at least one flexible line connected at one end to a first fixed point and at the opposite end to the machine; a line-storage member extending alongside the conveyor for receiving and storing portions of the length of the line; a line guide engageable with said line and moveable along said storage member in order to guide the insertion into, or removal from, the storage member of portions of the line; and means connected to the line guide and operable to move the latter along the line storage member whenever the machine carries out relative movement along the length of the conveyor;; in which the arrangement is such that relative movement of the machine in a direction away from the first fixed point is accompanied by movement of the line guide in the same direction and by guidance of further portions of the line into the line storage member, and relative movement of the machine in a direction towards the first fixed point is accompa nied by movement of the line guide in the same direction and by progressive withdrawal of portions of the line from the storage member.

2. A handler system according to claim 1, in which said first fixed point is provided on the conveyor.

3. A handler system according to claim 1 or 2, in which said means connected to the line guide comprises a tensile connection extending between the machine and a second fixed point, and also engaging with the line guide.

4. A handler system according to claim 3, in which the second fixed point is provided on the conveyor.

5. A handler system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the line guide comprises a block which is moveable in a generally channelshaped trough which forms the line storage member.

6. A handler system according to claim 5 when appendantto claim 2, in which the movable block comprises a pulley block which has two pulleys, one of which is engaged by the flexible line and the other of which is engaged by the tensile connection, when the latter comprises a flexible elongate element.

7. A handler system according to claim 6, in which the tensile connection comprises a rope or cable extending between the machine and the second fixed point via the line guide, being taken around a first pulley arranged near the limit of relative movement of the machine towards the first fixed point, along the length of the path of movement of the machine alongside the conveyor, around a second pulley arranged near the limit of relative movement of the machine towards the second fixed point and back along the conveyor towards the pulley block, around a respective pulley which reverses its direction and finally on to the second fixed point.

8. A handler system according to claim 6 or 7, in which the arrangement of the pulley blocks, flexible lines, rope or cable and the first and second pulleys is such that there is a speed reduction of 2:1 from the machine to the pulley block.

9. A handler system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible line includes one or more power supply lines for supplying power to the machine, and an elongate tensile member which runs alongside the power supply line and is arranged to bear the major part of any tensile load applied to the flexible line.

10. A handler system according to any one of the preceding claims, including an overload safety device arranged in the handler system to cause automatic stoppage of the operation of the machine and/or the conveyor whenever an excessive tensile load is generated in the handler system.

11. A handler system according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. An armoured face conveyor including a handler system according to any one of the preceding claims.