GB2121749A

GB2121749A - Transporting machine line of variable length and method for varying its length

Info

Publication number: GB2121749A
Application number: GB08313598A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miklos Petrassy; Istvan Noll; Tamas Kovacs; Jozsef Krupanszky; Otto Likonits
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-05-18
Filing date: 1983-05-17
Publication date: 1984-01-04
Also published as: GB8313598D0; DE3317759A1

Abstract

A transporting machine-line of variable length, mainly for the transportation of bulk materials, e.g. from the mining of short- and longwall faces includes endless conveyors connected to each other, one of these conveyors (1) being of constant length. At the transfer between the constant and non- constant length conveyors, (1, 22) there is a common underframe (4) and a track (3) connected to the latter. A displaceably mounted fixable hydraulic control unit (11) is arranged on the track (3). Between the unit (11) and the underframe (4) a displacing unit (10) e.g. piston and cylinder is located. The material handling equipment of non- constant length is equipped with conveying- element storage means. During a length alteration the underframe (4) and optionally also the track (3) will be intermittently displaced, while the conveying element (22) of non-constant length is held taut. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transporting machine line of variable length and method for varying its length The invention concerns a transporting machine-line of variable length, mainly for the transportation of bulky materials, e.g. of products or rock mineral mining at narrow workings or longwall faces, as well as a method of varying the length of the machineline.

In rock mining the overall length of the material handling equipments installed in the haulage road of the face - in accordance with the advance of the face itself- must be continuously varied. In a retreating system, this length must be reduced, which in the case of advancing faces, the length is to be increased.

The conventional method of variation of length consists usually of shortening or lengthening one of the transporting elements, generally the scrapers or chain conveyor. But this can be done only with high labour input while the transportation is shut down.

In consequence, the production must be also stopped which of course lowers the productivity of the longwall face.

The above disadvantage can be partially eliminated by means of a method using two chain conveyors partly overlapping each other. With the alteration of the overlapping length the advance of the face can be followed for about 25-30 metres. But after this a new starting position must be produced by the full relocation of the chain conveyors. This needs a significant amount of labour and must always be carried out with a total suspension of production. A further considerable disadvantage of this solution is that it necessitates the simultaneous use and operation of two heavy and expensive chain conveyors causing a considerable extra energy consumption.

An aim of the invention is to eliminate or reduce the disadvantages of the known solutions to the problem of length variation by means of a transporting machine-line shortening or lengthening of which can be carried out simply and reliably by means of a mechanised operation without hindering production. After certain preparatory works which do not disturb production, the alteration of the length can be realised in practice within the time that is in any case needed for the displacement and advance of the other equipments used in the production, hauling and supporting operations. The machine-line is of simple construction, composed of the usual units and apparatuses; its energy and labour requirements are essentially lower than that of the conventional solutions.The operation and maintenance of the machine-line do not require any special qualification exceeding the expertise otherwise available in such working places.

The transporting machine-line according to the present invention in one of its preferred embodiments comprises material handling equipments of the endless conveying-element type connected to each other, wherein at least one of said equipments is of constant length.

The transporting machine-line has at the transfer from the material handling equipment of constant length to the adjacent one a common underframe and a track joining to the same, equipped with securing and displacing equipment. On the track a displaceablyjournalled, fixable port or gate unit is arranged. The displacing equipment is connected between the underframe and the port or hydraulic control unit. The material handling equipment of non-constant length has a conveying element sotrage or buffer means.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the track is constructed of track elements, expediently hinged track elements.

In its further preferred forms the track is fixed by means of a hydraulic prop and the displacing apparatus is a hydraulic ram or piston and cylinder unit.

In another preferred embodiment, the conveyingelement storage means of the material handling equipment of non-constant length has a reversing drum, a carriage supporting the drum and a winch connected to the carriage. The carriage and the winch are connected to a track; the track is preferably made up of a plurality of track elements.

According to the method of length variation of a transporting machine-line according to the present invention, the underframe, and optionally also the track, is intermittently displaced in the direction of the length alteration, while the conveying element of the material handling equipment of non-constant length is held taut.

According to an advantageous variant of the method, the track is fixed with respect to the surroundings then the underframe is displaced on the track, with the port unit fixed, by operating the moving apparatus. Thereafter, the underframe is fixed with respect to the surroundings, the fixing of the port unit is released and the port is then moved along the track by means of the displacing apparatus. Finally, the port is fixed with respect to the track.

In another possible realisation of the method, the underframe is fixed relative to the surroundings, followed by releasing the fixing of the track. After this, the track together with the fixed port unit will be displaced by means of the moving apparatus and fixed with respect to the environment.

The invention will be further explained, by way of example only, with reference to an embodiment suitable for mining a rocky mineral, wherein: Figure lisa side view of the face-side section or end station of a transporting machine-line according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a side view of the other end station of the belt conveyor of the transporting machineline.

A preferred embodiment consists of a chain conveyor 1 and of a belt conveyor 22 as the main parts of the machine-line. The chain conveyor 1 is of constant length; the belt conveyor 22 is of nonconstant length.

The drive 2 of the chain conveyor 1 is arranged on the underframe 4which also carries the reversing drum 14 of the belt convey or 22. The return head of 24 of the chain conveyor 1 is located in the face end shield 6 or in the single prop supporting system of the face end expediently on a common base with the driving head of the chain face conveyor 9.

The breaker 5 may form one unit with the chain conveyor 1 so as to be displaced together with it.

The drive 15 of the belt conveyor 22 and the conveying element storage means as a main component of the belt conveyor is composed of the carriage 18, the reversing drum 19 and the winch 21, all located at the other end-station of the belt conveyor 22, (see Figure 3). The moving carriage 18 is supported on the track 17 mounted in the haulage road, as is the winch-base 20. The track 17, expediently composed of segments is fixed to the floor of the road by means of anchor bolts 16.

The transfer between the chain conveyor 1 and the belt conveyor 22 is arranged on the underframe 4.

When transporting the underframe 4 is fixed relative to the road or drift. Between the floor and the underframe 4 a track 3 composed of expediently articulated track-elements is located. The underframe 4 is displaceable on the track 3 in the sense of the length alteration. A hydraulic displacing apparatus 10 is connected to the belt conveyor 22 side of the underframe 4. The hydraulic displacing apparatus 10 is composed of piston-cylinder pairs, the cylinder of which is connected to the underframe 4 while its piston is supported by the port unit 11.

The port unit 11 is adjustably fixed on the track 3 by means of pins.

Hydraulic props 12 are connected to the track 3 on the side of the hydraulic apparatus 10 and bear against the roof of the drift to fix the position of the track 3. Next to the props 12 a support 23, expediently a spring assembly is applied. An adjustable track-element 13 is interposed between the underframe 4 and the conveyor 22, for connecting them to each other.

We have discovered that the desired length alteration can be effected by displacement of certain groups of the transporting machine line according to our invention as follows: (a) The underframe 4, end-stations of the material handling equipments of constant and nonconstant length connected to the underframe 4 are to be moved together, stepwise, on the track which is fixed with respect to its surroundings.

(b) The conveying element storage side endstation of the material handling equipment of nonconstant length is moved on the track 17 which is fixed with respect to its environment. This movement corresponds to the actuai length alteration of the material handling equipment. In this way, the necessary length of the material handling equipment can always be assured and the conveying element will be kept suitably taut.

(c) The track 3 is moved, preferably in successive steps, relative to the underframe 4 which has a fixed position relative to the environment.

The length alteration of the transporting machineline, shown as an example, based on the discovery detailed above can be effected as follows: In the position shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the transporting machine-line is in a fixed position with respect to the environment, because the track 3 is fixed in the drift by means of the hydraulic props 12.

The underframe 4togetherwith the chain conveyor 1, the breaker 5 and the face-side end-station of the belt conveyor 22 are fixed on the track 3 by means of the port unit 11 via the hydraulic displacement apparatus 10. The underframe 4 is also separately fixed, by means not shown, in the drift primarily for safety reasons.

After the actual pull or lift has been won from the longwall face, and the face shield units 8 and the face end shield 7 have been advanced, the fixing of the underframe 4 relative to its environment is released to enable it, together with shield 6 which has been in the meantime raised, to be displaced by means of a coordinated operation of the hydraulic moving apparatus 10 and that of a non-illustrated hydraulic advancing ram of the face end shield 6. In the course of the movement of the underframe 4, the chain conveyor 1 and the breaker 5 will be displaced on the track 3 by one step. After the advance, the underframe 4 is refixed with respect to the drift.

In accordance with the magnitude of displacement, the length of the track-element 13 is at the same time also adjusted between the underframe 4 and the end-station of the belt conveyor 22. Furthermore, the carriage 18 is moved in the appropriate direction by operating the winch 21. In this way, by adjusting the belt conveyor 22 to the appropriate length, a suitable tautness of the conveying element of the belt conveyor 22 is assured at the same time.

At the end of the above steps, the necessary length alteration of the transporting machine-line has been achieved in accordance with the advance of the supporting apparatus and of the cutting machine.

For the preparation of the next length alteration, the fixing of the port unit 11 is released on the track 3, thereafter the port unit 11 is displaced in the appropriate direction by a distance corresponding to one pull or lift. The displacement on the track 3 is carried out by means of the moving apparatus 10.

After this the port unit 11 is fixed in its new position.

Should the underframe 4 in the course of length alteration approach the end of the track 3 the further length alterations will be ensured as follows: The hydraulic props 12 are released to come to lie on the supports 23. Since the underframe 4 is fixed relative to the drift, the track 3 together with the hydraulic props 12 can be displaced between the underframe 4 and the floor of the drift. The displacement - in Figure 1 and Figure 2 from right to left - will be effected by means of the repeated operation (if necessary) of the displacement apparatus 10 and of the co-ordinated fixing and releasing of the port unit 11, respectively. Having advanced the track 3 by the required distance the hydraulic props 12 are lifted from the supports 23 and reset, whereby the position of the track 3 will be fixed in the drift.

Should the carriage 18 approach the end of the track 17, the latter has to be extended, expediently by relocating the elements singly or in groups in the appropriate direction. After clamping the new track section in the drift by means of anchor bolts, 16, the winch-base 20 together with the winch 21 will be relocated and fixed.

In case of advancing faces the transporting machine-line must be lengthened in accordance with the advance of the face which can be effected by the relocation of the individual parts in a reverse direction.

The main advantages of the preferred embodiment may be summarized as follows: (a) An up-to-date transportation is realized more simply and with less equipment than in conventional solutions, resulting in considerable investment-cost reduction and in significant energy saving.

(b) The forward movement of equipments of large size and weigh can be reliably mechanise when altering the length ofthetraporting machine-line.

The labour input needed for the movement is negligible.

(c) In rock mineral mining, the length alteration of the transporting machine-line will be co-ordinated and simultaneously effected with the advance of the face end support. A length alteration does not require the transportation to be stopped. Thus the otherwise inevitable suspension of the production does not occur.

(d) A single once and for all installation of the belt conveyor and the short (15-20 m long) chain conveyor enables continuous operation practically during the full run-out or advance of the face.

(e) The transportation machine-line can be supplemented with additional equipments, for example with a breaker working together with the chain conveyor, if necessary. The displacement of the chain conveyor together with the breaker, which represents a considerable extra weight, can be done simply and with opertional safety during the length alternations.

(f) The transporting machine-line can easily be adapted to any type of face end supports.

(g) The operation and maintenance of the machine-line as well as the length alterations do not require any special experience and expertise exceeding the usual one.

Claims

1. Transporting machine-line of variable length, mainly for the transportation of bulk materials, comprising material handling equipments of the endless conveying-element type connected to each other, wherein at least one of said equipments is of constant length, and wherein the transporting machine-line has at the place of transfer from the material handling equipment of constant length to be adjacent one of a common underframe and a track coupled to the underframe, the underframe and the track are fitted with fixing apparatus and displacing equipment, the machine-line having a fixable hydraulic control unit or port unit displaceably journalled on the track, the moving equipment is connected between the underframe and the said unit, and the material handling equipment of nonconstant length has a conveying-element storage or buffer means.

2. The transporting machine-line according to claim 1 wherein the track is constructed of elements, expediently hinged elements.

3. The transporting machine-line according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the track is fixed by means of a hydraulic prop.

4. The transporting machine-line according to any preceding claim, wherein the hyraulic displacing equipment is a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit.

5. The transporting machine-line according to any preceding claim, wherein the conveying element storage means includes a carriage supporting a reversing drum, a winch connected to the carriage, the winch and the carriage being connected to a track which is expediently composed of track elements.

6. A method of varying the length of a transporting machine-line according to any preceding claim, wherein the underframe, and optionally also the track, is/are intermittently displaced in the direction of the desired length alteration, while the conveying element of the material handling equipment of non-constant length is held taut.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the track is fixed relative to the environment, the underframe is displaced on the track by means of the displacing equipment with the bridge unit fixed then the underframe is fixed relative to the environment, finally after releasing the fixing of the said unit, the latter is displaced by operating the displacing equipment on the track and then fixed with respect to the track.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the track is fixed relative to the environment, the underframe is displaced on the track by means of the displacing equipment with the port unit fixed then the underframe is fixed relative to the environment, finally after releasing the fixing of the said unit, the latter is displaced by operating the displacing equipment on the track and then fixed with respect to the track.

8. A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein in the fixed position of the underframe relative to the environment the fixing of the track is released, then the track with the said unit fixed is displaced relative to the environment by operating the displacing equipment and finally fixed with respect to the environment.

9. Transporting machine line substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A method according to claim 6 with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 6 Sept. 83 Superseded claims 1 and 7 New or amended claims:

1. Transporting machine-line of variable length, mainlyforthetransportation of bulk materials, comprising material handling equipments of the endless conveying-element type connected to each other, wherein at least one of said equipments is of constant length, and wherein the transporting machine-line has at the place of transfer from the material handling equipment of constant length to be adjacent one of a common underframe and a track coupled to the underframe, the underframe and the track are fitted with fixing apparatus and displacing equipment, the machine-line having a fixable bridge unit displaceablyjournalled on the track, the moving equipment is connected between the underframe and the said unit, and the material handling equipment of non-constant length has a conveying-element storage or buffer means.