GB2164987A

GB2164987A - Mine roof supports

Info

Publication number: GB2164987A
Application number: GB08424334A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Norman Bevan
Original assignee: Dowty Mining Equipment Ltd
Current assignee: Dowty Mining Equipment Ltd
Priority date: 1984-09-26
Filing date: 1984-09-26
Publication date: 1986-04-03
Also published as: DE3533659A1; GB8424334D0

Abstract

A mine roof support including a manifold device, connected to an appropriate part of the support, comprising a plate 1 having at least one aperture 8, 9, 10, 11 within which is held a double-ended socket member 12, Fig. 5 adapted to receive and retain, in each end portion thereof, a corresponding plug connected to a hydraulic pipe. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mine roof supports This invention relates to mine roof supports.

A mine roof support usually includes hydraulically-operated props by the extension or contraction of which a roof-engageable member can be moved away from or towards a floor-engaging member.

A mine roof support usually includes a hydraulically-operated jack which, in use, is connected to a conveyorforthe purposes of moving the roof support up to the conveyor and, after a coalface has been cut, moving the conveyor away from the roof support towards the newly-cut face.

The hydraulic operations of the props and the jack are controlled by a selector valve. The selector valve may be mounted on the mine roof support whose props and jack are to be hydraulically-operated.

However, more usually the selector valve is mounted on a mine roof support close to that whose props and jack are to by hydraulically-operated.

Thus, a miner operating the selector valve can shelter under a non-moving mine roof support whilst a neighbouring support is operating under his control.

The position of the selector valve determines which hydraulic operation shall occur.

The selector valve has several output ports each of which is suitably connected by a pipe to a respective inlet port in a manifold block carried by an appropriate part of the mine roof support. Each port in the manifold block is connected to a respective outlet port in the manifold block and from there by way of a pipe to the appropriate props or jack (which may be the props and jack of another mine roof support) to cause the props of jack to operate in a desired manner.

Each inlet port and outlet port of the manifold block is in the form of a socket and each socket is capable of receiving a plug member fitted to an end of a pipe leading from the control valve. Each plug may be connected to each socket by way of, say, a staple-lock coupling or a screw connection.

The manufacture of such a manifold block is timeconsuming and expensive. It involves the machining of a through hole for each interconnected inlet port and outlet port. Further holes have to be provided to accommodate the staple of each staple-lock coupling where these are used or, if a screwed connection is used, the end portion of each through hole must be suitably tapped. Yet further holes have to be provided to permit the block to be attached, by bolts, to the roof support.

In addition to the expenditure of time and to cost, if a through hole should be damaged in use, or become corroded, it is necessary to replace the whole manifold block.

According to this invention a mine roof support includes a manifold device, connected to an appropriate part of the support, comprising a plate having at least one aperture within which is held a double-ended socket member adapted to receive and retain, in each end portion thereof, a corresponding plug connected to a hydraulic pipe.

Also according to the invention there is provided a manifold device suitable for a mine roof support comprising a plate, at least one aperture in the plate, holding a double-ended socket member which is adapted to receive and retain, in each end thereof, a corresponding plug connected to a hydraulic p;pe, and means for securing the plate to the mine roof support.

The manifold device may be a rectangular plate which has been bent along a line parallel to its longitudinal axis so that one part is at right angles to the other part. The aperture or apertures for receiving the double-ended socket member(s) may be in one of the parts and holes, by which the device may be screwed or bolted to a mine roof support, can be in the other of the parts.

A manifold device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is an elevational view of part of the manifold device, Figure 2 is a plan view of the part shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a side view of the part shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of a double-ended socket member, and Figure 5 is a sectional view of the double-ended socket member.

Referring to the drawings, the manifold device includes a rectangular metal plate 1 which has been bent along a line running parallel to its longitudinal axis. This provides a part 2 which is at right-angles two a part3.

In the part 2 are two holes, 4 and 5, spaced apart the one from the other. By way of the holes the plate can be secured, e.g. by screws 6 and 7, to an appropriate part (say, the canopy) of a mine roof support (not shown).

In the part 3 are four apertures 8, 9, 10 and 11, spaced apart the one from the other. Each of the apertures is capable of holding a double-ended socket member 12 (see Figure 4). Each such socket member is held in its aperture by means of (i) a shoulder, 13, which abuts against one surface of the part 3 of the plate, and (ii) a circlip (not shown) which fits in a groove 14 in the outer surface of the double-ended socket member and which abuts against the opposite surface of the part 3.

Each end portion of the double-ended socket member 12 can securely receive a plug member at the end of an hydraulic hose. If the connection between the socket member and a plug member is by means of a so-called staple-lock, the appropriate end portion of the double-ended socket member 12 will have two holes, 15, 16, into which the limbs of a staple can be inserted.

The part 3 may have, associated with each aperture, a pair of small holes, 17, 18, which permit a small panel containing information to be secured to the part 3.

The internal size and shape of each double-ended socket member may vary from socket member to socket member in accordance with the sizes and shapes of plugs to be received by them. However the external shape and size of each double-ended socket member will be the same so that it can readily be fitted and held in an aperture in the part 3 ofthe plate 1.

In another embodiment the plate of the manifold device may be cast to the shape shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings. However if it is a casting it need not have the pairs of small holes 17, 18 in Figure 2 of the drawings. Instead the casting may have a small recess, associated with each aperture, into which a small panel containing information may be placed and secured to the casting.

Claims

1. A mine roof support including a manifold device, connected to an appropriate part of the support, comprising a plate having at least one aperture within which is held a double-ended socket member adapted to receive and retain, in each end portion thereof, a corresponding plug connected to a hydraulic pipe.

2. A manifold device, suitable for a mine roof support, comprising a plate, at least one aperture in the plate, holding a double-ended socket member which is adapted to receive and retain, in each end portion thereof, a corresponding plug connected to a hydraulic pipe, and means for securing the plate to the mine roof support.

3. A manifold device as claimed in claim 2, which comprises a plate of rectangularform which has been bent along a line parallel to its longitudinal axis so that one part is at right angles to the other part.

4. A manifold device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said aperture or apertures for receiving the double-ended socket member(s) are in one of said parts, and holes, by which the device may be screwed or bolted to a mine roof support, are in the other of said parts.

5. A manifold device as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4, wherein each double-ended socket member is held in its aperture by means of a shoulder, which abuts against one surface of said one part of the plate, and a circlip which fits in a groove in the outer surface of said socket member and which abuts against the opposite surface of said one part.

6. A manifold device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a connection between a socket member and a plug is by means of a respective staple-lock, the appropriate end portion of said socket member having two holes into which the limbs of a staple can be inserted.

7. A manifold device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said one part has, associated with each aperture, a plurality of small holes which permit a panel containing information to be secured to said one part.

8. A manifold device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein said plate comprises a casting and is provided with a small recess, associated with each of the apertures, into which a panel containing information may be placed and secured to said casting.

9. A mine roof support including a manifold device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8.

10. A manifold device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A mine roof support including a manifold device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.