GB2125361A

GB2125361A - Improvements in or relating to handling equipment for supply lines

Info

Publication number: GB2125361A
Application number: GB8215705A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William John Williams
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1982-05-28
Filing date: 1982-05-28
Publication date: 1984-03-07

Abstract

Handling equipment for supply lines includes a spill plate (2) having a bar (4) attached thereto. The bar (4) carries hinge brackets (10) to which is secured a plate (12), defining an area beneath it for the location of static cables and hoses (14). In its operational position, the plate (12) assumes a downwardly inclined plane away from the spill plate (2) to deflect, in use, any debris away from the cable-handling channel defined between pillars (8) and the spill plate (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to handling equipment for supply lines This invention concerns improvements in or relating to handling equipment for supply lines, for example cables or hoses. In particular, the present invention has reference to such equipment for use on a mineral face, for example a coal face, in underground mining.

It is common practice in coal mining to instal a mineral mining machine within a seam adjacent the coal face, the machine being mounted on a conveyor for reciprocal movement therealong. The machine requires power and water supplies and for this purpose, trailing cables extend from appropriate sources located at a convenient position on the coal face. In order to prevent the trailing cable and hose from impeding progress of the machine by becoming snagged on other equipment normally sited on the face, a guide channel or trough is provided adjacent the conveyor to restrain the cable and hose so that their movement is confined within a set path.

One of the major problems attendant upon the use of a trough is that of the build-up of debris which tends to make the operation of the cablehandling arrangement difficult because of blockage. A proprietary type of cable-handling equipment includes a plurality of pillars spaced apart lengthwise of the conveyor each bearing a resiliently mounted gate extending across the mouth of the cable-handling channel formed between the pillar and a spill plate affixed to the side of the conveyor. Static cables or hoses providing utilities to equipment on the face are either strung between the pillars along the length of the face or disposed at the base of the cablehandling channel. In either case, these cables and hoses are prone to damage from falling debris and this can cause a safety hazard.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved cable handling equipment which will overcome or mitigate at least some of the difficulties associated with conventional equipment. According to the invention, handling equipment for supply lines includes in combination a spill plate attachable to a conveyor, a bar extending out of the plane of the spill plate substantially perpendicularly thereto and at the relatively lower end thereof, the bar defining a base for the equipment, at least one pillar attached to the bar, and a plate hinged to the bar and in an operational position capable of assuming an inclined mode to define an area therebeneath for static supply lines the free edge of the plate being adapted to abut the spill plate at a higher level than that at which the plate is hinged.Conveniently the plate is hinged to the bar, which may be flat and provided with bolt holes, at the edge of the bar remote from the spill plate. The plate may be so hinged through the agency of brackets bolted to the bar, the plate in its operational position constituting a downward sloping ramp away from the spill plate.

The or each pillar is provided as a means of mounting a mobile cable restraining device. By way of example, one form of handling equipment for supply lines according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective front elevation; and Figure 2 is an end view on the arrow A.

Referring to the drawings, handling equipment for supply lines employed along a coal face is indicated generally at 1 and includes a spill plate 2 attachable to the side of a conveyor (not shown).

The spill plate 2 carries a relay bar 4 towards its lower end and the bar 4 is provided with bolt holes 6. A pillar 8 is bolted to the bar 4 and is upstanding therefrom to define a channel between the pillar and the spill plate 2. It will be appreciated that a plurality of spill plates and pillars will be utilised on a coal face installation.

Hinge brackets 10 are bolted to the bar 4 along its free edge at spaced intervals either side of this pillar 8. A plate 12 is attached to the hinge brackets 10 and extends along the length of the spill plate 2, the width of the plate 12 being greater than the width of the channel between the pillar and the spill plate.

In its operational position, the plate 12 is hinged down such that its free edge rests on the spill plate 2 to give a downwardly sloping plane away from the spill plate 2, and to define an area in which static cables and hoses 14 can be accommodated. The cables and hoses 14 are supported by the bar 4 and are fully protected by the plate 12. Additionally, any debris which in use may fall down onto the plate 12 is directed away from the spill plate 2 and cannot become lodged in the channel formed between the spill plate and the pillar 8.

When access to the cables and hoses 14 or to the bolt holes which are used for the attachment of other face equipment is necessary, the plate 12 is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The invention thus provides a means of protecting static cables and also of preventing build up of debris in the cable handling channel.

1. Handling equipment for supply lines including in combination a spill plate attachable to a conveyor, a bar extending out of the place of the spill plate substantially perpendicularly thereto and at or towards the lower end thereof, the bar defining a ban for the equipment, at least one pillar attached to the bar, and a plate hinged to the bar and in an operational position capable of assuming an inclined mode to define an area there beneath for static supply lines, the free edge of the plate being adapted to abut the spill plate at a higher level than that at which the plate is hinged.

2. Handling equipment according to claim 1 in which the plate is hinged to the bar at the edge of the bar remote from the spill plate.

3. Handling equipment according to claim 1 or 2 in which the plate is hinged to the bar through

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to handling equipment for supply lines This invention concerns improvements in or relating to handling equipment for supply lines, for example cables or hoses. In particular, the present invention has reference to such equipment for use on a mineral face, for example a coal face, in underground mining. It is common practice in coal mining to instal a mineral mining machine within a seam adjacent the coal face, the machine being mounted on a conveyor for reciprocal movement therealong. The machine requires power and water supplies and for this purpose, trailing cables extend from appropriate sources located at a convenient position on the coal face. In order to prevent the trailing cable and hose from impeding progress of the machine by becoming snagged on other equipment normally sited on the face, a guide channel or trough is provided adjacent the conveyor to restrain the cable and hose so that their movement is confined within a set path. One of the major problems attendant upon the use of a trough is that of the build-up of debris which tends to make the operation of the cablehandling arrangement difficult because of blockage. A proprietary type of cable-handling equipment includes a plurality of pillars spaced apart lengthwise of the conveyor each bearing a resiliently mounted gate extending across the mouth of the cable-handling channel formed between the pillar and a spill plate affixed to the side of the conveyor. Static cables or hoses providing utilities to equipment on the face are either strung between the pillars along the length of the face or disposed at the base of the cablehandling channel. In either case, these cables and hoses are prone to damage from falling debris and this can cause a safety hazard. An object of the present invention is to provide improved cable handling equipment which will overcome or mitigate at least some of the difficulties associated with conventional equipment. According to the invention, handling equipment for supply lines includes in combination a spill plate attachable to a conveyor, a bar extending out of the plane of the spill plate substantially perpendicularly thereto and at the relatively lower end thereof, the bar defining a base for the equipment, at least one pillar attached to the bar, and a plate hinged to the bar and in an operational position capable of assuming an inclined mode to define an area therebeneath for static supply lines the free edge of the plate being adapted to abut the spill plate at a higher level than that at which the plate is hinged.Conveniently the plate is hinged to the bar, which may be flat and provided with bolt holes, at the edge of the bar remote from the spill plate. The plate may be so hinged through the agency of brackets bolted to the bar, the plate in its operational position constituting a downward sloping ramp away from the spill plate. The or each pillar is provided as a means of mounting a mobile cable restraining device. By way of example, one form of handling equipment for supply lines according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective front elevation; and Figure 2 is an end view on the arrow A. Referring to the drawings, handling equipment for supply lines employed along a coal face is indicated generally at 1 and includes a spill plate 2 attachable to the side of a conveyor (not shown). The spill plate 2 carries a relay bar 4 towards its lower end and the bar 4 is provided with bolt holes 6. A pillar 8 is bolted to the bar 4 and is upstanding therefrom to define a channel between the pillar and the spill plate 2. It will be appreciated that a plurality of spill plates and pillars will be utilised on a coal face installation. Hinge brackets 10 are bolted to the bar 4 along its free edge at spaced intervals either side of this pillar 8. A plate 12 is attached to the hinge brackets 10 and extends along the length of the spill plate 2, the width of the plate 12 being greater than the width of the channel between the pillar and the spill plate. In its operational position, the plate 12 is hinged down such that its free edge rests on the spill plate 2 to give a downwardly sloping plane away from the spill plate 2, and to define an area in which static cables and hoses 14 can be accommodated. The cables and hoses 14 are supported by the bar 4 and are fully protected by the plate 12. Additionally, any debris which in use may fall down onto the plate 12 is directed away from the spill plate 2 and cannot become lodged in the channel formed between the spill plate and the pillar 8. When access to the cables and hoses 14 or to the bolt holes which are used for the attachment of other face equipment is necessary, the plate 12 is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The invention thus provides a means of protecting static cables and also of preventing build up of debris in the cable handling channel. CLAIMS

3. Handling equipment according to claim 1 or 2 in which the plate is hinged to the bar through the agency of hinge brackets.

4. Handling equipment according to any one of the preceding claims in which the or each pillar is provided as a means for mounting a mobile cable handling device.

5. Handling equipment for supply lines substantially as previously described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.