GB2165210A

GB2165210A - Conveying device for use in coal mining

Info

Publication number: GB2165210A
Application number: GB08524672A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anton Muller; Hermann Schinko
Original assignee: Eisen und Drahtwerk Erlau AG
Current assignee: Erlau AG
Priority date: 1984-10-09
Filing date: 1985-10-07
Publication date: 1986-04-09
Also published as: GB8524672D0; GB2165210B; FR2576284B1; FR2576284A1

Abstract

A conveying device is equipped with longitudinal members (2) and cross members (3,4) forming a frame and has a support (51) for the goods to be conveyed. The support (51) is detachably fastened to the conveying frame (2,3,4) and the goods to be conveyed can be fastened to the support (51) and conveyed underground, where at a mine face, the support (51) with the goods is removed from the conveying frame. The conveying frame is provided with sling points (30,32) for the attachment of lifting means. Connections are provided for lashing means, which, with respect to the outside of the conveying frame are offset towards the inside, whereby they cannot be damaged if the frame makes contact with an obstacle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveying device for use in coal mining The invention relates to a conveying device for use in coal mining having longitudinal members and cross members forming a frame, with at least one support for the goods to be conveyed, with sling points for lifting means and with connections for lashing means. The lifting means may be sling chains or the like and the lashing means may be belts or the like.

At the present time, in mining, when mining coal by complete mechanisation at the face (i.e. the coal-mining face between two galleries) and in the gallery, a high degree of rationalisation with maximum productivity is achieved. At the same time, the material handling must be increased considerably, since the handling of the supply and removal of operating products did not progress and was not mechanised and rationalised to the same extent. The result of this was that the operation of the mine was frequently no longer able to be carried out in a trouble free and continuous manner.

Conveying solutions were thus developed which are practicable, more economic and more reliable.

Bulky and unwieldy material is now collected at a so called materials site and conveyed underground in containers or the like. On account of the inadequate conveying means, a great deal of dead weight in relation to the payload is conveyed. Generally there is too much of one component and too little of the other component, which involves a great deal of manual and physical work and leads to an increased danger of accidents. Accidents also frequently occur due to the various transfer operations. Furthermore, there is also a risk that a great deal of the material prepared is forgotten on account of the ever increasing distances between mining sections.

The goods to be conveyed are deposited on the support of the conveying device of this type and attached with lashing belts. The connections for the lashing belts are provided on the outsides of the longitudinal members and are formed by rings or the like, to which the lashing belt is attached.

When using this conveying device, the goods to be conveyed must first of all be conveyed individually as regards the producers operation to the material site, collected together there and transferred to the conveying device for transport underground. The aforedescribed drawbacks thus occur.

The object of the invention is to construct a conveying device of this type so that the main material to be conveyed can be combined as a conveying unit of manageable size and can be conveyed jointly to the face underground.

The invention provides a conveying device for use in coal mining, having longitudinal members and cross members forming a conveying frame, with at least one support for the goods to be conveyed, with sling points for lifting means, and with connections for lashing means, wherein the support is detachably connected to the conveying frame.

The conveying device according to the invention is suitable for conveying all materials, which is conveyed by the most varied types of rail vehicles in the operation of a mine. The goods to be conveyed, in particular complete mining materials, such as for example rails, floor bars, timbers, belt construction parts, pipes, motors or the like, bulky and unwieldy material, as required underground, can be bundled and attached as a compact conveying unit on the support. The material can be conveyed by the support as a whole from the manufacturing operation by way of the various conveying means to the material site and stored there or reloaded. However, the conveying unit may also be produced first of all at the material site by attaching the goods to be conveyed to the support and stored there.For conveying these goods underground, it is then solely necessary for the support provided with the necessary materials to be attached to the conveying frame and then conveyed with the latter underground to the face.

This dispenses with the frequent transfer of the material to be conveyed, so that little physical work is required. Consequently the conveying operations are accident-proof and can be rationalised considerably, so that substantial labour and transportation costs can be saved. Moreover, the correct materials are always available at the face at the respective stages of construction, since the entire support with the material attached thereto is always removed from the conveying frame and deposited at the stage of construction. The empty conveying frame can then be conveyed back immediately to the surface for reuse or for storage, thus ensuring an economical return flow of the conveying frame.In the conveying device according to the invention, the conveying frame thus serves not solely for conveyance, but also for fixing the position of the support, which is provided for bundling together the goods to be conveyed.

The conveying device has the advantage that according to the material requirement at the stage of construction underground, a corresponding support, which was stored at the material site, needs solely to be attached to the conveying frame and conveyed underground, in which case it is ensured that all the necessary materials are always available at the stage of construction. The supports available can be attached simply and quickly to the conveying frame, so that the conveyance of materials is carried out speedily and also the conveying frames can be conveyed back to the material site quickly. The support which is inserted separately also ensures that the ultimate strength and fatigue strength of the conveying frame is not reduced, which would be the case for example with a base which is welded in.

The support preferably comprises stacking members, so that not solely the conveying frame, but also the complete conveying device with the conveying frame or the support and the supports themselves can be stacked with other identical devices and can easily be conveyed back to the material site.

In the conveying device according to the inven tion, the connections are preferably not located directly on the outer side of the conveying frame, but offset towards the inside. There is thus no danger that the connections may be damaged if the conveying frame should encounter obstacles during operation. The lashing means can be attached to the connections in recesses so that in the connection region they are spaced from the outside of the conveying frame, so that the lashing means also cannot be damaged if the conveying frame has a collision during operation. The recesses are preferably open towards the outside of the conveying frame and transversely with respect to the support, so that the lashing means can be attached simply to the connections and can be lashed on the goods to be conveyed.

The invention is described in detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a conveying device according to the invention in plan view, Figure 2 is a side view of the conveying device of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front view of the conveying device of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Figure 1, Figure 5 shows a second embodiment of a conveying device according to the invention with a conveying frame, on which a support is arranged as an inserted base, Figure 6 shows the conveying device of Figure 5 in side view, Figure 7 is a section on line VII-VII of Figure 6, Figure 8 shows the detail B in Figure 5 to an enlarged scale and in longitudinal section.

The conveying device according to Figures 1 to 4 has a conveying frame, which has a rectangular contour and is provided with two longitudinal members 1 and 2, which are connected to each other at their ends by cross members 3 and 4.

The longitudinal members 1, 2 are each formed by L-sections, which with a low weight have relatively high strength, so that the conveying frame is also strengthened sufficiently even with a corresponding length of the longitudinal members. The cross members 3, 4 are formed by V-shaped sectional parts, which are welded to the longitudinal members 1, 2. As shown in Figure 3, the cross members 3, 4 are welded to the longer sides 5, 6 of the longitudinal members 1, 2. Due to this they are covered on the outside by these sides 5, 6. The shorter sides 7, 8 of the longitudinal members 1, 2 extend in opposite directions towards the outside.

The cross members 3, 4 have sides 9 to 12 of the same length, which extend at right angles to each other. The sides 9 and 12 are welded to the underside 13, 14 of one side 15, 16 of an angle member 17 and 18. The side 15, 16 extends over the entire width of the conveying frame and passes in a continuously curved manner into an upwardly directed side 19 and 20, whereof the free edge 21, 22 is bent outwards at an obtuse angle. The two sides 19 and 20 lie perpendicular to the sides 15, 16 and parallel to each other. They likewise extend over the entire width of the conveying frame. The height of the bent edge 21, 22 is less than half the height of the side 19, 20.The side edges 23 to 26 of the sides 19, 20 lie parallel to each other and pass in a continously curved manner into an end face 27, 28 lying perpendicular thereto, which extends in a straight line and parallel to the sides 15, 16 of the angle members 17, 18. Provided close to the end faces 27, 28 in the corner regions of the bent edges 21, 22 are circular suspension openings 29 to 32, in which lifting means, such as chains, cables and the like can be suspended, in order to be able to lift the conveying frame.

The angle members 17, 18 rest with their sides 15, 16 over part of their length on the sides 7, 8 of the longitudinal members 1, 2 and are welded to the latter. Consequently the angle members 17, 18 are supported in a reliable manner. For strengthening the angle members 17, 18, side plates 33 to 36 are provided, which are attached, preferably welded on edge to the sides 15 and 16. The strengthening plates 33 to 36 are each constructed in an identical manner. Therefore solely the strengthening plate 33 will be described in detail hereafter. It is welded to the side of the arm 15 of the angle member 17 extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveying frame and extends from the end face 37 of the side 15 extending parallel to the end face 27 (Figure 4).Approximately half way along its length, the strengthening plate 33 is bevelled towards the inside so that its section 38, welded to the side 19 of the angle member 17, is offset towards the inside in the direction of the opposing strengthening plate 34 (Figure 1). The strengthening plate 33 extends virtually to the transition point to the bent edge 21 of the side 19. The upper edge 39 of the strengthening plate 33 extends parallel to the side 15 of the angle member 17 and at the end remote from the side 19 passes into an edge 40 extending obliquely in the direction of the longitudinal member 2, which edge extends to the height of the end face 37 of the side 15 and then passes into an edge section 41 extending perpendicular to the side 15, which lies in a common plane with the end face 37. As far as the offset 42, the strengthening plate 33 rests on the side 15 of the angle member 17.The lower edge 43 of the plate section 38 facing the side 15 extends obliquely from the side 15 to the side 19. A triangular suspension opening 44 for the suspension of lashing means is thus formed between this plate section 38 and the sides 15 and 19 of the angle member 17. The suspension opening 44 extends in the region of the side 19 of the angle member 17 approximately over half its height.

As a result of the offset strengthening plates, recesses 45 to 48 are formed at the corners of the conveying frame (Figure 1), which are defined on the underside by the sides 15 and 16 of the angle members 17 and 18 and in the longitudinal direction of the conveying frame by the offset portions of the strengthening plates 33 to 36 and the sides 19 and 20 of the angle members. Hooks (not shown) may be suspended in the triangular suspension openings, to which hooks the respective lashing means, generally a lashing belt, is at tached. The hooks surround the plate section 38 of the strengthening plates. The recesses 45 to 48 are so wide that in the suspended position, the hooks do not project beyond the longitudinal edges of the conveying frame and are thus protected from damage during transportation.

The sides 5 and 6 of the longitudinal members 1, 2 projecting downwards in the conveying position have bevelled end faces 49, 50 (Figure 2). They are bevelled so that they extend flush with the sides 9 and 12 of the cross members 3 and 4. In the embodiment, the end faces 49, 50 converge at an angle of 45" from the sides 15, 16 of the angle members 17, 18. The bevelled end faces of the longitudinal members 1, 2 provided on both longitudinal sides of the conveying frame form a protective device similar to a landing skid for the conveying frame, in conjunction with the sides 9, 12 of the cross members 3, 4 extending obliquely in a corresponding manner.If it is suspended for example on monorail overhead conveyors and conveyed with the latter and in this case encounters an obstacle, then as a result of the bevelled end faces 49, 50 and of the obliquely extending sides 9, 12 of the cross members 3, 4, the conveying frame is able to slide over the obstacle. During transportation, the conveying frame is lifted at one end by way of this protective device until it can slide over the obstacle. Since a protective device is provided at each of the two longitudinal sides of the conveying frame, the protective device is effective in both longitudinal directions of the conveying frame.

Lying as a support between the two angle members 17, 18 is a support plate 51, which bears against the end faces 37 of the sides 15 and 16 of the angle members 17, 18 and extends over the entire width of the angle members. The longitudinal sides 52, 53 of the support plate 51 lie flush with the outer sides of the strengthening plates 33 to 36. Due to this the conveying frame has no shoulders or the like on its longitudinal sides, on which the frame could get stuck during conveyance. On its longitudinal edges, the support plate 51 comprises webs 54, 55 directed vertically upwards and extending between the strengthening plates 33 to 36, which bear against the end faces 37 of the strengthening plates 33, 35, and 34, 36 lying opposite each other on the longitudinal sides of the conveying frame.The webs 54, 55 have the same height as the edge sections 41 of the strengthening plates and serve as safety stops for the goods conveyed on the conveying frame and acting at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the conveying frame. In the embodiment, the support plate 51 is formed by a perforated plate.

However, it may also be closed. In place of the support plate 51, a support grating and the like may also be provided. The support plate 51 rests at its longitudinal sides on the sides 7, 8 of the longitudinal members 1, 2. The support plate 51 projects beyond the sides 7, 8 of the longitudinal members 1, 2 at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the conveying frame.

Further cross members 56, 57 are provided between the cross members 3, 4 for supporting the support plate 51, which members 56, 57 are constructed in the same manner as the cross members 3, 4 and lie parallel thereto. The cross members 56, 57 are likewise welded to the sides 5, 6 of the longitudinal members 1, 2. In order that the support plate 51 is supported uniformly over its length, the cross members 3, 4, 56, 57 are at equal distances apart.

In order that the conveying frame can also be conveyed by fork-lift trucks, the conveying frame is provided on its underside with recesses 58 and 59 for the forks of the fork-lift truck. The recesses are defined by substantially U-shaped sectional rails 60 and 61, which are attached, preferably welded, to the cross members 3, 56 and 4, 57. The cross bar 62, 63 lies at a distance below the longitudinal members 1, 2 and the cross members 3, 4. The sides 64 to 67 lying perpendicular to the cross bars 62, 63 have ends 68 to 71 bent outwards in opposite directions (Figure 2), which are attached, preferably welded, to the opposing sides 10, 72 and 11, 73 of the cross members 3, 56 and 4, 57. As shown in Figure 2, the ends 68 to 71 of the sectional rails 60, 61 adjoin the sides of the cross members at right angles. The bent ends 68 to 71 extend below the longitudinal members 1, 2.The sectional rails 60, 61 may extend between the two longitudinal members 1, 2 and be welded to their downwardly directed sides 5, 6. However, for reasons of weight, it is advantageous to provide two sectional rails 60, 60' and 61, 61' lying opposite each other at a distance apart instead of one continuous sectional rail over the width (Figure 1). They lie parallel to each other and are each at a distance from the adjacent longitudinal members 1, 2. If the conveying frame is to be lifted by a fork-lift truck, its forks may engage in the recesses 58 and 59, due to which the conveying frame is prevented from sliding at right angles to the insertion direction by the sides 64 to 67 of the sectional rails.

The sides 64 and 67 of the sectional rails 60, 60' and 61, 61' lie at a short distance from the end faces 37 of the angle member 17, 18 (Figure 2).

Moreover, their height is slightly greater than the height of the edge section 41 of the strengthening plate 33 to 36.

In order that the goods to be conveyed deposited on the support plate 51 can be bundled together, the conveying frame is provided with mountings 74 to 79 for bundling means, which are attached to the facing inner sides of the longitudinal members 1, 2. The mountings are constructed in an identical manner, so that hereafter only the mountings 74 will be described in detail. It is formed by a U-sectional member, which is attached by its parallel sides 80 and 81 to the side 6 of the longitudinal member 1, preferably it is welded thereto. The mounting 74 is arranged so that its sides 80, 81 and its cross bar 82 bear against the underside 83 of the support plate 51.

The height of the mounting 74 is less than the length of the side 6 of the longitudinal member 1.

As shown in Figure 1, three mountings arranged at regular intervals and located opposite each other are respectively attached to each longitudinal member 1, 2. The mountings 74, 76 and 77, 79 located adjacent to the angle members 17, 18 lie between the sectional rails 60', 61' and 60, 61 and the adjacent longitudinal member 1 and 2. The distance of the sectional rails from the longitudinal members 1, 2 is only slightly greater than the width of the mountings. The U-shaped mountings 74 to 79 respectively define recesses 84 to 89, which align with openings 90 to 95 in the support plate 51.

The bundling means to be fastened to the mountings 74 to 79 each comprise hooks, which are guided through the openings 90 to 95 into the mountings 74 to 77. The hooks surround the cross bar 82 of the mountings, whereas the respective bundling means is guided upwards through the recesses 84 to 89 and the openings 90, 95. Since the mountings 74 to 79 are provided in the edge region of the conveying frame, they reduce the conveying surface area only slightly.

The conveying frame is characterised by low weight and high tortional rigidity. It comprises sling points for lifting means, such as sling chains and the like formed by the suspension openings 29 to 32 and the connections for lashing means, such as lashing belts and the like formed by the triangular suspension openings 44. The conveying frame is also provided with the mountings 74 to 79 for bundling means. The conveying frame can thus be used in many ways. The goods located on the support plate 51 can be bundled andlor lashed in a trouble free manner. The conveying frame can be lifted either by lifting means or with a fork-lift truck. The conveying frame may thus be used in conjunction with monorail overhead conveyors, undercarriages, lifting tackle and the like.Heavy goods such as transmission units, motors and the like can be lashed and conveyed in a trouble free manner on the support plate 51.

The support plate 51 can be removed for stacking conveying frames. In this case, the sectional parts 60, 60', 61,61' of the conveying frames lying one on another engage one in the other, so that the frames can be stacked close together.

The conveying device according to Figures 5 and 6 likewise consists of a conveying frame 1a and a support 2A. The conveying frame is constructed in a similar manner to the conveying frame according to Figures 1 to 4. It preferably consists of flat or sectional material.

The support 2a consists essentially of a rectangular bottom plate 29a, on which stacking members 30a to 33a are arranged and which comprises on its end faces 34a, 35a members 36a to 40a preventing sliding and members 41a, 42a preventing lifting. The bottom plate 29a is provided on its underside with a strengthening rail 44a of flat material, which serves for the longitudinal strengthening of the bottom plate 29a and for equalising the height on the conveying frame 1a.

In the region of its corners, the bottom plate 29a comprises rectangular openings 47a to 50a, which are each spanned by a stacking member 30a to 33a of approximately U-shaped cross section, the sides of which converge upwards from the bottom plate 29a. The sides 53a, 54a of the stacking members are trapezoidal in side view and arranged so that their bases 58a are respectively inclined at an acute angle with respect to the transverse central plane B of the bottom plate. This construction facilitates the stacking of several identical supports, in which case the stacking members of the respective upper support are pushed through the associated opening in the stacking members of the support located therebelow.The stacking members which are trapezoidal in plan view allow compact bundling of the goods to be conveyed, since they allow adaptation to the various dimensions of the different goods frequently conveyed with a bellshaped profile. If the goods to be conveyed are packed in sacks, then the support is smooth and possibly perforated.

Rail-like lining parts 59a bent in the shape of a partial circie with a large radius of curvature and lying for example parallel to the longitudinal central plane A may be placed on the stacking members 30a to 33a of the support 2a. Further lining materials, such as props, roof-bars, mats, chocks, wedges and fastening material for a certain section to be lined or belt construction material can be located between the lining parts 59a. However, rails, floor bars, timber or belt construction parts, such as lower stands, upper stands, rollers, chains, longitudinal supports, fastening material or material packed in sacks, such as cement, mining mortar or pipes, or material packed in drums, such as oils, soluble resins, insulating foam or even screens can be bundled together on the support and stored.

In order to keep the lining parts 59a bundled together during storage in the support 2a and to prevent them from falling out and slipping during transportation, they are fastened with lashing chains (not shown) or steel or textile belts or the like on the support 2a. Aligning pull-through openings 65a, 66a are provided for fastening the lashing means in the sides 53a, 54a of the stacking members at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the support, through which openings the lashing means are pulled. In place of the pull-through openings, rings, rails or the like (not shown) may also be provided.

In order to secure the position of the support 2a on the conveying frame 1a, on its end faces 34a, 35a the bottom plate 29a comprises members 36a to 40a preventing sliding, which consist of suspension and drop-in members.

The suspension members 36a, 37a are coverplates or angle members of L-shape in longitudinal section, which are welded by their longer sides to the underside of the bottom plate, whereas their shorter sides project downwards. For the purpose of fastening it to the conveying frame la, the support 2a is placed on the conveying frame so that with the shorter sides 37b' of its suspension members 36a, 37a it engages behind an outer side 5a' of the cross member 5a"' of the conveying frame.

The drop-in members 38a to 40a are hook members (Figure 8), which are welded by their longer side 40b' to the underside 43a of the bottom plate 29a. For fastening the support 2a to the conveying frame 1, first of all the bottom plate 29a is suspended by the drop-in members 38a to 40a in the associated cross members 5a"", in which case the support points obliquely upwards. Then the support is swung downwards until the suspension members 36a, 37a with their sides 37b' surround the side 5a' of the transverse rail 5a"', in which case the support 2a with the suspension members is snapped-into and engaged on the conveying frame la. A very reliable fastening free from sliding in the longitudinal direction of the conveying frame is thus guaranteed.

In order to prevent the support 2a from lifting in the region of its end face 35a, two securing members 41a, 42a are preferably provided (Figure 7).

They are constructed as plate-like bolts provided with a slot, which are mounted to swing on a bearing bolt 78a attached to the bottom plate 29a. The securing members are constructed so that they swing into their locking position under their own weight, as soon as they have been swung beyond a dead-centre position. In the locked position, the longitudinal members 3a, 4a project into the slots of the securing members 41 a, 42a, in which case the support 2a is prevented from lifting.

Claims

1. A conveying device for use in coal mining, having longitudinal members and cross members forming a conveying frame, with at least one support for the goods to be conveyed, with sling points for lifting means, and with connections for lashing means, wherein the support is detachably connected to the conveying frame.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein for stacking with other identical supports, the support comprises stacking members projecting upwards above the support.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein said stacking members have a U-shaped cross section with sides inclined outwardly.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the stacking members stand by the free ends of their sides on the support and span openings in the support.

5. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the support is provided with at least one engagement member preventing sliding, and at least two engagement members preventing lifting, which project beyond its end faces and engage partially below the conveying frame.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the or each engagement member preventing sliding is constructed in the shape of a hook.

7. A device according to Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the engagement members preventing lifting are constructed as bolts, which are attached to the support so that they are able to swivel.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein with respect to the outside of the conveying frame the connections are arranged to be offset towards the inside.

9. A device according to Claim 8, wherein said conveying frame in the region of the connections is provided with recesses which are opened towards the outside of the conveying frame and transversely with respect to the support.

10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the connections are formed by openings in the corners of the conveying frame.

11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein provided in the corners of the conveying frame are bracing plates arranged on edge, which plates are provided with the connections.

12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein, over part of their length, the bracing plates comprise a bevelled edge which defines the connections with edge regions on the end sides of the conveying frame.

13. A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 12, comprising at its ends on the longitudinal sides, an angle member whereof one side is directed upwards and whereof the other side is fastened to the cross members at the end sides.

14. A device according to Claim 13, wherein the bracing plates are attached to the angle members.

15. A device according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein the angle members are provided with sling points formed by openings.

16. A device according to any one of Claims 8 to 15, comprising mountings for lashing means.

17. A device according to Claim 16, wherein the mountings are attached to the longitudinal members and each comprises a recess.

18. A device according to Claim 17, wherein the mountings are each constructed in a U-shape and are attached by the end faces of their sides to the longitudinal members.

19. A device according to Claim 18, wherein the sides and cross-pieces of the mountings, together with the associated longitudinal members define the recesses.

20. A device according to any one of Claims 17 to 19, wherein the support comprises openings aligning with the recesses of the mountings.

21. A device according to any one of Claims 17 to 20, wherein the mountings are attached to facing inner sides of the longitudinal members.

22. A device according to one of Claims 8 to 21, wherein at least one protection device is provided at least a forward end in the conveying direction.

23. A device according to Claim 22, wherein the protection device is formed by sides of the cross members, which sides lie transversely with respect to the support.

24. A device according to Claim 22 or 23, wherein the end faces of the longitudinal members are bevelled so that they end flush with the oblique sides of the cross members.

25. A device according to one of Claims 8 to 24, comprising recesses adapted to receive the forks of a fork lift truck.

26. A device according to Claim 25, wherein the fork receiving recesses are defined by substantially U-shaped sectional rails and the longitudinal members.

27. A device according to Claim 26, wherein the sectional rails project downwards beyond the longitudinal members and the cross members.

28. A device according to Claim 26 or Claim 27, wherein the sectional rails are attached by their sides to the cross members.

29. A conveying device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 or Figures 5 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.