GB2136378A - Mine conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

A mine conveyor comprises a series of pans connected together by linkages which allow pivoting in a horizontal plane to permit snaking-over of the conveyor, said linkages consisting of a single ball-joint 2 between adjacent pans on one side and at least one loose joint 3 on the other side which permits substantially greater freedom of movement than the ball-joint. In another embodiment the mine conveyor comprises a series of line pans connected together on one side by hinge joints which permit pivoting between adjacent pans about a vertical axis but only limited movement about a horizontal axis and a trapped joint on the other side enabling the joint to be connected by hooking a male end projecting from one pan into a recess in the other. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mine conveyors This invention relates to mine conveyors of the kind comprising a number of pans or troughs which are connected together at their ends and provide a surface along which coal is conveyed by scrapers operated by chains. The joints between such conveyors must be capable of permitting relative movement between the adjacent pans in order to permit the conveyor to be snaked-over in the manner conventional in long wall mining to enable the conveyor to take up a new alignment alongside the coal face. The standard coal face conveyor of this type also provides a track for the coal-winning machine and accordingly the conveyor frequently incorporates a guide rail or rack bars upon which the shearer or other mining machine is guided or hauled along the coal face.

For reasons associated with the satisfactory operation of the coal-winning machine, it is highly desirable to maintain the conveyor pans alinged in a horizontal plane, while providing joints between conveyors which are capable of transmitting loads applied lengthwise to the conveyor along its entire length, so that an individual pan is not subject to overloading.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mine conveyor comprising pans connected together by linkages which allow pivoting in a horizontal plane to permit snaking-over of the conveyor to a new alignment, said linkages comprising a single ball joint between adjacent pans on one side of the conveyor and at least one loose joint on the other side permits substantially greater freedom of movement than the ball joint.

By the term "loose joint" we mean joints which will permit a significant degree of freedom of movement both for movement around a horizontal axis and one around a vertical axis. Such linkages can include bolts and nuts or studs loosely received in holes or joints of the dog-bone kind similarly loosely received in corresponding shaped holes.

The ball joint preferably comprises a knuckle portion attached to one pan and carrying a spigot extending transversely to the axis of the pin of the joint, said spigot being engaged in a hole or slot in the adjacent pan. Such an arrangement prevents one pan rising horizontally with respect to the adjacent pan and also assists in transmitting loads between adjacent pans.

Normally the ball joint would be located on the same side of the conveyor as the rack or guide bar for the coal-winning machine so that the horizontal alignment of the rack or guide bar for the coal-winning machine is maintained.

Preferably the horizontal plane passing through the centre-line of the ball-joint iies between the plane of the deck plate of the associated pan and a similar plane passing through the upper flange of the corresponding sigma side section member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a mine conveyor which comprises a series of line pans connected together on one side by a hinged joint comprising a pair of knuckles and a pin which permits pivoting between adjacent pans about a vertical axis but only limited movement about a horizontal axis and a trapped joint on the other side enabling the joint to be connected by hooking a male end projecting from one pan into a recess in the other.

Thus, in connecting together adjacent line pans, the trapped joint is first of all engaged by pivoting of the pan in such a way that the male end engages in the female recess in the adjacent pan.

Once this joint is made, the pan can be swung into a position where it is aligned with the adjacent pan and the ball joint connected by inserting the pin between alinged pairs of knuckles. This arrangement has the advantage but it is only necessary to insert one pin in order to connect a pair of pans together.

Both aspects of the present invention are particularly applicable to heavy duty flexible conveyors comprising cast sigma side sections linked by a welded deck plate. In such arrangements the knuckles of the ball or hinge joints may be cast integrally with the side section members.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a mine conveyor according to the invention; Figure 2 is an elevation of the conveyor shown in Figure 1 seen from the goaf side in the direction of the arrow C; Figure 3 is a section taken on the line A-A in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a side elevation seen from the face side in the direction of the arrow B in Figures 1 and 3; Figure 5 is a section taken along the line D-D in Figure 2; Figure 6 is a section taken along the line E-E in Figure 5; and Figures 7a, 7b and 7c are plan views of the conveyor shown in Figure 1 showing the sequence of operations in connecting two conveyor pans together.

Referring to the drawings, and in particuiar Figures 1 to 6, the heavy duty scraper conveyor in accordance with the invention comprises a series of individual line pans of similar construction connected at their ends by ball joints 2 on the goaf side of the conveyor and a loose joint 3 on the face side. Each line pan comprises a face side sigma side section 4 and a goaf side sigma side section 5, both of which are cast members and are connected together by deck plates 6 welded to the central flanges of the side section members and enclosed at the bottom by plates 7 which are similarly welded to the bottom flanges of the cast side section members. The face side section member 4 carries an integrally cast toe plate 8 and the goaf side carries an integral or welded-on bracket 9 for connection to the conveyor advancing ram.Secured to the top of each of the side section members 5 is a track member 10 which incorporates a rack and trapping rail for track-reactive haulage and guidance of a shearer.

As best seen in Figure 2, the ball joints 2 comprise a single knuckle 11, integrally cast with one side section member 5A and a double knuckle 12 integrally cast with the adjacent goaf side section member 5B. Knuckles 11 and 12 are formed with holes which when aligned receive the pin 13 of the ball joint 2. As best seen in figure 5, pin 13 is conventionally formed with arcuate surfaces to permit a limited amount of rotation of pin 13 within the single knuckle 11. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, knuckle 11 carries an integral spigot portion 14 which engages in a corresponding shaped slot 1 5 in the side section member 5B of the adjacent line pan.Spigot 14, in conjunction with ball joint 2 ensures that when loads are applied to the conveyor, adjacent line pans will not be displaced in a vertical direction relatively to each other. In general, they will ensure that the side section members of the goaf side of the conveyor will remain substantially aligned and that there will be no discontinuities between adjacent rack bars 1 0. Also, the nature of the ball joint will prevent the sigma side section members 5 from being displaced relatively to each other in the direction of the lengthwise extent of the conveyor. Thus, the pitch of the rack bar relatively to the next rack bar will remain substantially constant.

The joint, on the face side of the conveyor, is formed in a different manner. As can be seen best in Figure 4, the joints 3 between adjacent side section members 4A and 4B each comprise a stud member 16 which is attached to the sigma side section member 4B by a nut 1 7. It is intended that this connection will be permanent once the conveyor pans have left the factory. The end of stud remote from the nut 17 is formed with a hook portion 18 which engages around the end of an appropriately shaped recess in the face side of sigma side section member 4A. Stud member 16 also embodies an enlarged portion 19 which is a sliding fit in a slot 20 provided in side section member 4A. Thus, as shown in Figure 4, relative movement of side section members 4A and 4B in a vertical plane takes place about an axis passing through enlarged portion 19.

The method of connecting together line pans constructed according to the invention is shown clearly in Figures 7A, 7B and 7C. These Figures show a sequence of steps involved in connecting two line pans together. Figure 7A shows the first step when attaching a conveyor line pan 1 A to ine pan TB. The first step is to pivot the line pan I A into a position where the join 3 can be made and this involves manipulating the stud 1 6 into a position where the projecting hook portion 18 can be engaged around the end of the recess 20 in the side section member 4B of the adjacent pan 1 B. In order to facilitate this operation, the forward parts of the side section members 4A and 4B as chamferred as shown at 21 and 22.

Once the stud 1 6 has been manoeuvred into a position where it is engaged in the recess 20 as shown in Figure 7B, the line pan 1A can then be rotated into a position where the knuckles 11 and 12 of the side section members 5A and 5B on the goaf side of the conveyor are positioned so that their pin-receiving holes 23 and 24 are aligned.

This situation is shown in Figure 7C; whereupon the pin 1 3 is inserted and the joint completed.

Once the pin 13 is inserted, the joint 3 cannot be disconnected and is therefore impossible for any of the connecting elements of the joint on the face side to become lost. Removal of an individual pan is achieved in the reverse manner.

Claims (3)

1. A mine conveyor comprising pans connected together by linkages which allow pivoting in a horizontal plane to permit snaking-over of the conveyor, said linakges consisting of a single balljoint between adjacent pans on one side and at least one loose joint on the other side which permits substantially greater freedom of movement than the ball-joint.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the ball-joint comprises a knuckle portion attached to one pan and carrying a spigot extending transversely to the axis of the pin, said spigot being engaged in a hole or slot in the adjacent pan.

3. A mine conveyor which comprises a series of line pans connected together on one side by hinge joints which permit pivoting between adjacent pans about a vertical axis but only limited movement about a horizontal axis and a trapped joint on the other side enabling the joint to be connected by hooking a male end projecting from one pan into a recess in the other.