GB2166112A - Apparatus for use in transferring mineral face support frames - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to transfer mineral face support frames (4) from a road (1) into a face (3) and vice versa a frame (10) is guided positively lengthwise of the road (1). A carriage (18) is so mounted on the frame (10) as to be movable transversely of the road length. A stage (24) is so mounted on the carriage (18) as to be rotatable about a vertical axis (25). A platform (36) for securing the support frames (4) is tiltingly mounted on the stage (24). The various components can be moved, pivoted and tilted so that a support frame (4) can readily be transferred even in conditions of reduced space from the road (1) into the face (3) and vice versa. The platform (36) is tilted by means of cylinders (39). Link systems may be received between the platform (36) and the stage (24). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for use in transferring support frames for use in a mineral face THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for use in transferring support frames for use in a mineral face, particularly support frames of the shield type.

An apparatus is described in DE-PS-3 046 570 which comprises a frame secured to the road floor and a frame-receiving platform of variable inclination with respect to the support frame and movable along the latter in the direction of the face length. The platform is directly pivotably connected on a carriage which is positively guided along the support frame transversely of the road length. The carriage can be displaced on the frame by means of an hydraulic cylinder. The platform inclination with respect to the carriage is also variable by means of an hydraulic cylinder.This previously proposed apparatus has proved satisfactory in cases where there is a sufficiently large crosssection in the transition zone between the face and the road: in such cases the completely pre-assembled support frames can be fed to the transfer device, for example, by means of an appropriate suspended track, turned through a right-angle and deposited directly on the platform. After the frame had been clamped to the platform, the same moves along the frame lengthwise of the face and tilts so as to be aligned either lengthwise of a rail track laid in the face or at least parallel to the face floor. The support frames are then moved into the face from this position. For withdrawal of support frames, the frames are pushed onto the platform which has been moved into the face, lashed fast on the platform, then transferred to the road by the platform being displaced and tilted.In the road the withdrawn supports are taken up by the suspended track, turned through a rightangle and remaved along the mad. However, there are road-to-face transition zones whose specific circumstances make it impossible to use the known transfer facility, for instance, because of small cross-sections or because the cross-sections are further narrowed by road fitments and facilities such as conveyors, drives and so on.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to enable the provision of transfer apparatus which can be used satisfactorily in relatively restricted road-to-face transition zones.

Accordingly, the invention provides apparatus for use in transferring support frames from a road into a face or vice versa, which apparatus comprises a support frame which is movable longitudinally of a said road in use and a platform for receiving a support frame to be transferred, the platform being supported by the movable support frame so as to be movable transversely of the direction of movement of the movable support frame and pivotable about horizontal and vertical axes in use.

In a preferred aspect the invention provides apparatus for use in transferring support frames, for use in a mineral face, from a road into a face or vice versa, which apparatus comprises a frame-receiving platform which is tiltable about a horizontal axis with respect to a carriage which is positively guided along a support frame transversely of the road length in use, the platform being movable relative to the support frame transversely of the road and in the longitudinal direction of the face in use, wherein the platform is mounted on a stage for tilting about a horizontal axis, the stage is disposed in the carriage for rotation about a vertical axis, and the support frame is positively guided lengthwise of the road in use.

Thus, a support frame, usually of the shield type, is moved up on a suspended track or by a floor conveyor and aligned lengthwise of the road and placed on the platform in this position, that is, it need not be pivoted. This is advantageous, particularly in narrow roads.

The support frame can then be moved from the road into the face by longitudinal movement of the support frame, transverse movement of the carriage, rotation of the stage and tilting of the platform in consecutive or overlapping steps without any substantial outlay on labour, without the need to use miners and in a manner which satisfies safety considerations. In this operation, obstacles such as conveyors or drives can readi ly be dealt with by appropriate displacement of the various component units. Breaking down the transfer apparatus into a number of component units also ensures the stability necessary in the transfer of the frames, which can weigh 20 tonnes or more.

The apparatus of the invention renders unnecessary the chains or ropes previously needed to introduce and remove support frames and usually devised as the mine structure develops. Trouble-free and reliable operation is thus ensured. Preferably, the platform and the stage are both trough-shaped at least in the central portion thereof and hydraulic tilting cylinders are provided between the upright arms of the platform and the stage. The trough-shaped feature means that the centre of gravity of the platform is disposed relatively low. The feature also improves the location of the support frames on the platform. However, the platform pivot axis can be placed high enough to deal with substantially any face falls which may occur. The tilting cylinders are disposed, as considered lengthwise of the platform, between the arms thereof and the arms of the stage.Consequently, no space is wasted on the width necessary to receive the platform nor on the overall width of the transfer apparatus. The tilting cylinders can tilt the platform in either direction.

At least one pivoting drive can be used instead of the tilting cylinders.

Advantageously, the platform is connected to the stage via at least two link systems which are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction of the platform and via displacement cylinders provided between the link systems and the stage. The connection of the platform to the stage by means of at least two link systems, in conjunction with the displacement cylinders received between the link systems and the stage, enables the platform not only to be pivoted about a single horizontal axis, but also tilted about a plurality of pivot axes which are movable both parallel and relative to one another. This allows an even more flexible transfer of completely assembled support frames from the face to the road or vice versa.If, for example, the rear link system is stiffened, the platform can be tilted just by means of the front link system or, if the front link system is stiffened, just by means of the rear link system. Also, parallel displacement or tilting of the platform to different inclinations with respect to the front link system, on the one hand, and the rear link system, on the other hand, can be carried out with little difficulty.

Where the foregoing refers to a front or rear link system, only one longitudinal side of the platform is being considered, for the sake of simplicity. For stability reasons, front and rear link systems are advantageously provided on each side of the platform. Usually, however, just one displacement cylinder is sufficient in each case for the front and rear link systems thus provided on each side of the platform. A pivot axis then interconnects the two link systems situated on either side of the platform. The common pivot axis may be dispensed with, however, if a displacement cylinder is incorporated for each link system on each side of the platform.The link system links are so shaped that it is not only possible to accommodate the displacement cylinders in an optimum position spatially with short travels, but also the space required for the com plebe pivoting drive is minimized according to the place of use.

Preferably, each link system is pivotally connected to the stage via one pivotally connected cylinder and the links of at least one link system are interconnected by means of at least one cylinder. Thus, each link system consisting of two links is pivotally connected to the stage via just one pivotally connected displacement cylinder. Only one cylinder is provided on each side of the platform, the cylinder on one side thereof having a different direction of extension to the cylinder on the other side. The cylinders are advantageously received in the pivoting drives in a substantially horizontal position. The cylinder received between the links of the front link system is used for further stabilization of the drive. it is advantageously incorporated in a substantially vertical position.

Advantageously, the apparatus comprises front link systems consisting of one link between the platform and the stage and rear link systems each consisting of two links, a single displacement cylinder being provided for each link system. Thus, the link systems on each side of the platform are basically connected to the stage by a separate displacement cylinder.

This does away with the necessity to interconnect the two front link systems, on the one hand, and the two rear link systems, on the other hand, by means of pivots.

The stage bearing on the carriage is nontiltably mounted at the centre thereof. To this end, the carriage can have a turntable mount for the stage. According to a preferred feature, the stage is rotatable relative to the carriage by means of flexible endless tensiontransmitting means, such as a chain. The chain extends over a sprocket associated with the stage, below the carriage and over reversing wheels thereon to a drive wheel laterally of the carriage. The drive wheel is part of, for example, an hydraulic drive. A pneumatic or electric drive can be used instead of an hydraulic drive.

The drive for rotating the stage can also be a geared drive. In this case, the stage is rotated by way of a toothed ring and a geared motor having a pinion. The geared motor can be driven hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically.

The cross-rails which are preferably provided on the support frame are preferably of H-shaped cross-section. The guide rollers which preferably project on the underside of the carriage and which have vertical axes of rotation bear on the insides of the rail webs, ensuring satisfactory guidance of the carriage on the support frame, more particularly when the carriage, which is in plan substantially rectangular, has bearing rollers in all four corner regions. Runners or skids can be provided on the carriage to improve the sliding thereof on the cross-rails. According to a preferred feature, the cross-rails can be extended laterally beyond the support frame, while according to another preferred feature, the cross-rails have coupling means for connection to conveying or transport rails provided in the face. The difference in rail lengths ensures the satisfactory connection between and separation of the rails and transition or connecting rails. The preferred stop means stabilize the instantaneous operation position.

Preferably, a pin tooth gearing for a travelling drive of the carriage is provided on at least one cross-rail of the support frame. The pin tooth gearing is disposed preferably on the outside of the cross-rail, in which case the carriage has secured to it a drive having a pinion which engages in the pin tooth gearing.

The drive can be hydraulic, pneumatic or electric. Pin tooth gearings are described in West German Patent Specification No. 31 07 190, where they are used in conjunction with walking mechanisms for the displacement of transport platforms in the face.

Since the carriage usually has to cover short distances, it may be sufficient for the carriage to be moved with a relatively reduced extension by at least one hydraulic cylinder.

Preferably, the support frame is guidable positively along a duorail track which is laid lengthwise of a said road in use. The rails forming the track can be H-section rails. The track consists of discrete sections which can readily be coupled together and disconnected from one another. The rail sections can be secured to the floor at least for a limited period of time.

Advantageously, the support frame bears slidingly on the duorail track rails and is guided on one track rail by means of rolling means. This ensures reliable positive guidance of the support frame. To this end, the same has runners or skids or the like which slide on the tops of the track rails. Guide rollers rotating around the vertical axes are disposed inside and outside a rail and bear on the rail web. The rollers are associated with one another in pairs and provided in the two end portions of the support frame.

According to a preferred feature, the support frame can be moved along the rail track by means of a pin tooth gearing on one rail in accordance with the displacement of the carriage relative to the support frame. Conveniently in this case, the pin tooth gearing is disposed on the inside of the corresponding rail. The support frame has a travelling drive with a driving pinion engaging in the pin tooth gearing. This drive can be hydraulic, pneumatic or electric.

Alternatively, the support frame can be moved along the track by at least one hydraulic cylinder. Chain or rope drives can be used and hoisting tackles can be used.

According to a further preferred feature, lifting tackle is installed at one end face of the platform and enables support frames to be pulled on to the platform and secured thereon.

The apparatus described can be course readily be used to transfer support frames from a face into a road and the support frames can be supplied and removed by a floor conveyor facility instead of being suspended.

A considerable advantage of the invention is that it is now possible relatively easily fully to automate the transfer of support frames from a road to a face and vice versa. All that is required for this is electronically to program the first transfer operation so that all the subsequent transfer operations can take place automatically.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the transition zone between a road and a face and a side view of a support frame transfer apparatus in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a detailed view of the apparatus of Figure 1 viewed from the other side, FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line lV-lV of Figure 2, FIGURE 5 corresponds to Figure 4 and illustrates an alternative embodiment of pivoting drive, FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of another apparatus for transferring face support frames from a road to a face and vice versa in accordance with the invention, FIGURES 7 and 8 are simplified views of the apparatus of Figure 6 in different positions, and FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of another apparatus for transferring face support frames in accordance with the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, multi-element support frames 2 keep open the road 1 of an underground mine. A face 3 extends from the road 1 transversely thereof and it is required to support the face 3, for example, by means of shield type support f rames 4. The chaindotted lines 3' denote the cross-section of another face.

The frames 4 can be brought up fully preassembled into the road-to-face transition zone on a suspended track or the like 5 or by a floor conveyor (not shown). The frames thus supplied are aligned lengthwise of the road 1 and must be turned through 90" if they are to be moved into the face 3. However circumstances in the transition zone make this pivoting movement difficult because of obstructions therein such as face conveyors, drives, ventilating equipment and so on (indicated by way of example by the reference numeral 6).

In order that the obstacles 6 may readily be moved over even in narrow road cross-sections and the shield type support frames 4 moved into the face 3, a duorail track 7 consisting of H-section rails 8, 9 is first laid lengthwise of the road, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 6. A support frame 10 is positively guided on the track 7, slides by way of runners or skids or the like 11 on the rails 8, 9 and bears by way of a pair of rollers 12 on the inside and outside of the web of the rail 8. The guide rollers 12 have a vertical axis of rotation. The frame 10 is moved lengthwise by means of a pin tooth gearing 13 disposed on the inside of the other rail 9 and by means of a travelling drive 14 which is secured to the frame 10 and which engages by way of a pinion 15 in the pin tooth gearing 13.

The support frame 10 has cross-rails 16, 17 which are also of H-section. A carriage 18 depending downwardly between the crossrails 16, 17 is positively guided thereon, as can be seen in Figures 2 and 4 to 6. The carriage 18 has runners or skids or the like 19 via which it bears on the cross rails 16, 17. Also, the carriage 18 has bearing rollers 20 which engage with the insides of the webs of the cross-rails. Disposed on the outside of one cross-rail 17 is a pin tooth gearing 21 which is engaged by a pinion 22 of a travelling drive 23 secured to the carriage 18, as can be seen in Figures 1 to 3 and 6.

A pivoting stage 24 which is trough-shaped in cross-section is mounted centrally on the carriage 18. The stage 24 is rotatable about a vertical axis 25. The rotation can be produced, as can be seen from Figures 3, 4 and 6, by means of a chain drive 26 comprising a sprocket wheel 27 disposed below the carriage 18 of the stage 24, two reversing wheels 28, a chain drive 29 secured laterally to the carriage 18 and comprising a pinion 30, and a chain 31 running over the sprocket wheel 27, wheels 28 and pinion 30.

Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5, the stage 24 can be rotated about the axis 25 by means of a toothed ring 32 and a geared motor 33 which has a pinion 34.

Neaar the centre of its length the stage 24 in Figures 1 to 5 has uprights 35 on which a platform 36, which has raised arms or uprights 37 and is also substantially troughshaped over its entire length, is pivotally mounted. A pair of arms 37 of the platform 36 extend over each arm or upright 35 of the stage 24. The arms or upright pairs 37 are interconnected by cross-webs 38, as can be seen in Figure 2.

Substantially horizontal hydraulic tilting cylinders 39 are received between the upwardly directed extensions of the stage uprights 35 and of the platform uprights 37. The platform 36 can be tilted around the horizontal axis 40 by appropriate actuation of the cylinders 39.

When in the initial position the platform 36 is aligned, as shown in solid lines in Figures 2 to 5, lengthwise of the track 7. An hydraulic or pneumatic chain hoist 42 installed at the end face 41 of the platform 36 can now draw a frame 4 onto the platform 36 and secure it in position, optionally with additional push pins. When the frame 4 is supplied by means of a suspension track 5, the frame 4 can be placed directly on the platform 36.

Once the frame 4 has been positioned on the platform 36, the frame 10, carriage 18, stage 24 and platform 36 can be moved individually-or the various displacement, pivoting and tilting movements can be superimposed upon one another-to move the frame 4 from the road 1 into the face 3, the obstacles 6 in the face-to-road transition zone being bypassed.

Accordingly, and as can be gathered from Figures 1 and 3, a further connecting rail 43 can be laid in the road-to-face transition zone, then locked to the cross-rails 16, 17, the same then being of different lengths, of the support frame 10. Conveniently, the rail 43 also has a pin tooth gearing 21 to enable the carriage 18 to be moved from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1.

As will be apparent from Figures 6 to 8 (the stage 24 is only shown diagrammatically in Figures 7 and 8), pivot brackets 50, 51 are secured to the stage 24 of the apparatus 58 in an alternative embodiment. The brackets are in each case disposed in pairs in spaced relationship on the stage 24. These are used to mount link pairs 52, 53 each comprising two links 54, 55 and 56, 57, respectively.

The link pairs 52, 53 are also pivotally secured to each side of a platform, 36 on the uprights 37.

Of the pairs 52, 53, one pair 52, 53 is provided on each side of the platform 36 and interconnected by spindles 59, 60 so as to transmit torque.

Displacement of the link pairs 52 is effected by means of an hydraulic displacement cylinder 61, the piston rod 62 of which is pivotally connected to one limb 63 of the link 54 and the casing 64 of which (see Figures 6 and 8) is pivotally connected to an abutment 65 forming part of the stage 24. The cylinder 61 is disposed on the rear longitudinal side of the platform 36 as viewed in the Figures. For the sake of simplicity the hydraulic connections are not shown. The link 54 of the pair 52 disposed on the front of the platform 36 does not have a limb 63. Both links 54, 55 of the pairs 52 otherwise have a slightly bent configuration.

The link pairs 53 are displaced by means of a cylinder 66 (Figures 6 and 7), the piston rod 67 of which is pivotally connected to one limb 68 of the link 56 of the pair 53 and the casing 69 of which is pivotally connected to an abutment 70 which also forms part of the stage 24.

The cylinders 61, 66 are incorporated into the pivot drive 71 in a substantially horizontal position.

The cylinder 66 is disposed on the front side of the platform 36 as viewed in the Figures. Here the hydraulic connections have also been omitted. The link 56 of the pair 53 at the rear does not have a limb 68. While the links 57 are slightly bent, the links 56 extend substantially rectilinearly.

Hydraulic stabilizing cylinders 72 are received between the links 54 and 55 of the pairs 52. The piston rods 73 of the cylinders 72 are disposed substantially centrally of the links 55 and the casings 54 substantially cen trally of the links 54. The hydraulic connections of the stabilizing cylinders 72 are again not shown, for the sake of clarity.

Figure 6 illustrates a position of the pivot drive 71 in which the displacement cylinder 66 is extended and cylinder 61 retracted. The stabilizing cylinders 72 are extended. The platform 36 thus has an inclination in which the front part of the shield support frame 4 points towards the roof. To enable the frame 4 to be transferred without difficulty from the face to the road or vice versa over facilities disposed in the face-to-road transition zone such as road conveyors, drives, ventilating equipment, and so on, it is possible when necessary, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, to retract and extend the cylinders 61, 66, and the stabilizing cylinder 72, in order to move the links 54, 55 and 56, 57 of the pairs 52, 53 to specific angles to one another so that the platform 36 extends horizontally (see Figure 7) or, unlike the arrangement of Figure 6, to tilt it in the opposite direction (see Figure 8).

Also, as shown in Figure 7, the platform 36 can be displaced in parallel.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the platform 36 is connected to the stage 24 by a pivot drive 75 in which the two front link systems 76 comprise just one rigid link 77 on each side of the platform 36. The rigid link 77 thus connects the platform 36 directly to the bracket 50. The two links 77 are displaced by means of cylinders 78 each pivotally connected to the bend of the bent links 77, on the one hand, and to the brackets 50, on the other.

The link systems 79 on the goaf side, like the link systems 53 in the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 8, consist of two pivotally interconnected links 80, 81, the links 81 being connected to a bracket 50 by a hydraulic cylinder 82 on each side of the platform 36.

In this embodiment, neither the front link systems 76 nor the rear link systems 77 are interconnected.

Claims (26)

1. Apparatus for use in transferring support frames from a road into a face or vice versa, which apparatus comprises a support frame which is movable longitudinally of a said road in use and a platform for receiving a support frame to be transferred, the platform being supported by the movable support frame so as to be movable transversely of the direction of movement of the movable support frame and pivotable about horizontal and vertical axes in use.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, comprising means for guiding movement of the movable support frame.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the platform is pivotable about a horizontal axis with respect to a carriage which is movable relative to the movable support frame transversely of the direction of movement of the movable support frame.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the platform is mounted on a stage with respect to which the platform is pivotable about a horizontal axis and the stage is mounted on the carriage, with respect to which the stage is pivotable about a vertical axis.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the platform and the stage are both troughshaped at least in the central portion thereof and hydraulic tilting cylinders are provided between the upright arms of the platform and the stage.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the platform is connected to the stage via at least two link systems which are offset from one another in the longitudinal direction of the platform and via displacement cylinders provided between the link systems and the stage.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein each link system is pivotally connected to the stage via one pivotally connected cylinder and the links of at least one link system are interconnected by means of at least one cylinder.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 6, comprising front link systems consisting of one link between the platform and the stage and rear link systems each consisting of two links, a single displacement cylinder being provided for each link system.

9. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the stage is rotatable relative to the carriage by means of flexible endless tension-transmitting means.

10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 4 to 9, wherein the stage is rotatable by means of a geared drive.

11. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the carriage slides on cross-rails of the support frame and bears by means of rolling means on the insides of the rails.

12. Apparatus according to Claim 11, wherein the cross-rails are of different lengths.

13. Apparatus according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein stop means are provided at the ends of the cross-rails.

14. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 4 to 13, wherein a pin tooth gearing for a travelling drive of the carriage is provided on at least one cross-rail of the support frame.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein hoisting tackle is installed on one end face of the platform.

16. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame is guidable positively along a duorail track which is laid lengthwise of a said road in use.

17. Apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the support frame bears slidingly on the duorail track rails and is guided on one track rail by means of rolling means.

18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, wherein a pin tooth gearing for a travelling drive of the support frame is provided on the other rail of the track.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support frame is movable by means of hydraulic cylinders.

20. Apparatus for use in transferring support frames, for use in a mineral face, from a road into a face or vice versa, which apparatus comprises a frame-receiving platform which is tiltable about a horizontal axis with respect to a carriage which is positively guided along a support frame transversely of the road length in use, the platform being movable relative to the support frame transversely of the road and in the longitudinal direction of the face in use, wherein the platform is mounted on a stage for tilting about a horizontal axis, the stage is disposed in the carriage for rotation about a vertical axis, and the support frame is positively guided lengthwise of the road in use.

21. Apparatus for use in transferring support frames, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. Apparatus for use in transferring support frames, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 to 3 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

23. Apparatus for use in transferring support frames, substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

24. Apparatus for use in transferring support frames, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A method of transferring a support frame, which method comprises using apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

26. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.