GB2185511A - Dust-laying vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A dust-laying vehicle for use in mines has a wheeled chassis 10, 16 and a tank 18 mounted upon the chassis for holding an appropriate liquid dust palliative. A pump 24 is associated with the tank and is arranged selectively either to distribute the liquid through nozzles 36A, 36B and hoses 40 by opening valves 38 and closing a valve 44, or to recirculate the liquid to the tank 18 through a pipe 42, in order to agitate the contents of the tank, by opening the valve 44 and closing the valves 38. By partially opening both the valve 44 and the valves 38, the liquid can be kept agitated in the tank 18 while it is being sprayed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dust-laying vehicle Background to the invention This invention relates to dust laying for example in mines.

At present, dust is laid in some mines by manually pouring used engine oil onto the surface which is to be treated, and then spreading the oil using handheld brushes or brooms. Besides being timeconsuming and labour intensive, the process is dirty and malodorous and results in a dangerous, slippery surface.

The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle which is useful in the laying of dust in mines.

Summary of the invention According to this invention, there is provided a dust-laying vehicle which comprises a wheeled chassis, a tank mounted on the chassis for holding an appropriate dust palliative, a pump associated with thetank, and means operable selectively to causethe pump to spray the dust palliative onto a desired surfacethrough one or more outlets and/or toagitatethe palliative inthetank.

In a preferred form of the invention, the wheeled chassis is adapted to be drawn by a tractive vehicle on rail tracks and the pump is driven mechanically off a wheel of the vehicle. In other versions ofthe invention, there may be an independent drive forthe pump, and the chassis may be self-propelled.

The selectively operable means may comprise a pipe network fitted with valves appropriate opening or closing of which results in the dust palliative being pumped by the pump to spray nozzle(s) orotheroutlets and/or being recirculatedthroughthetankto cause agitation of the tank's contents.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings Figure 1 shows a plan view of a vehicle according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the vehicle; and Figure 3 shows a rear elevation of the vehicle.

Description ofa preferred embodiment The illustrated vehicle has wheels 10 which run on rail tracks 12 and which support a chassis made up of longitudinal beams 14 and transverse beams 16.

Mounted on the chassis is a tank 18 hving an access hatch 20 in its roof 22. Also mounted on the chassis is a centrifugal pump 24. The shaftofthe pump 24is driven off one of the rear wheels 26 by an appropriate system of sprockets and chains (not shown in the Figures), so that as the vehicle is pulled along the rails by a tractive vehicle, the pump's impeller is rotated.

An inlet pipe 28 extends from a low level in thetank to the pump casing and a rising main 30 extends from the pump casing to a cross-piece 32 where it meets a transverse pipe 34 serving a number of spray nozzles 36. Each nozzle has its own valve 38. In Figure 3, it will be seen that two of the nozzles 36A and 36B are aimed downwardly andtothe sidewhile the remaining two nozzles are connected to the ends of flexible hoses 40 which are situated at a low level aiming downwardly. A return pipe 42 extends from the cross-piece 32 to a high level in the tank 18, the pipe 42 including a valve 44.

In useofthe illustrated vehicle,thetank 18 isfilled with an appropriate dust palliative, in this case that sold underthetrade mark Ac tion 2 M by the Applicant.

When dust is to belayed in a mine, the valve 44 is closed, and the appropriate valve or valves 38 is or are opened. With the vehicle in motion and the pump operating, the palliative is pumped from the tank through the pipe 34 and outwardly through the spray nozzles which spray it onto the desired surface.

When dust laying activities cease, the valves 38 are closed and the valve 44 is opened with the resultthat the palliative drawn from the tank by the pump is recirculated to the tank to agitate the palliative in the tank and keep it in a fluid state ready for application to a desired surface in another part of the mine.

The illustrated embodiment has a pump which is only driven when the vehicle is in motion. It is, of course, possible to have a pump with its own motor to enable dust-laying to be carried outwhen the vehicle is stationary. The vehicle itself can be self propelled and hence be without the need for a tractive vehicle.

By partly opening the valve 44 and the valves 38, the dust palliative liquid can be sprayed and also kept agitated in the tank 18 at the same time.

Although the vehcile is especially intended for laying dust in mines, it can, of course, also be used for laying dust elsewhere, especially in surface installations around mines.

1. A dust-laying vehicle comprising a wheeled chassis, a tank mounted on the chassis for holding an appropriate dust palliative, a pump associated with the tank, and means operable selectively to cause the pump to spray the dust palliative onto a desired surfacethrough one or more outlets and/or to agitate the palliative inthetank.

2. The dust-laying vehicle of claim 1 wherein the chassis is adapted to be drawn by a tractivevehicle on rail tracks and the pump is driven mechanically off a wheel of the vehicle.

3. The dust-laying vehicle of claim 1 wherein the pump has an independent drive.

4. The dust-laying vehoile of claim 1 or claim 3 wherein the chassis is self-propelled.

5. The dust-laying vehicle of any one of the preceding claims wherein the selectively operable means comprises a pipe network fitted with valves appropriate opening or closing of which results in the dust palliative being pumpedbythepumpto spray nozzle(s) or other outlets and/or being recirculated through the tank to cause agitation of the tank's contents.

6. The dust-laying vehicle of any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the spray nozzles are directed downwardly and to the side of the vehicle.

7. The dust-laying vehicle of any one of the pre

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

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Dust-laying vehicle Background to the invention This invention relates to dust laying for example in mines. At present, dust is laid in some mines by manually pouring used engine oil onto the surface which is to be treated, and then spreading the oil using handheld brushes or brooms. Besides being timeconsuming and labour intensive, the process is dirty and malodorous and results in a dangerous, slippery surface. The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle which is useful in the laying of dust in mines. Summary of the invention According to this invention, there is provided a dust-laying vehicle which comprises a wheeled chassis, a tank mounted on the chassis for holding an appropriate dust palliative, a pump associated with thetank, and means operable selectively to causethe pump to spray the dust palliative onto a desired surfacethrough one or more outlets and/or toagitatethe palliative inthetank. In a preferred form of the invention, the wheeled chassis is adapted to be drawn by a tractive vehicle on rail tracks and the pump is driven mechanically off a wheel of the vehicle. In other versions ofthe invention, there may be an independent drive forthe pump, and the chassis may be self-propelled. The selectively operable means may comprise a pipe network fitted with valves appropriate opening or closing of which results in the dust palliative being pumped by the pump to spray nozzle(s) orotheroutlets and/or being recirculatedthroughthetankto cause agitation of the tank's contents. Briefdescription ofthe drawings Figure 1 shows a plan view of a vehicle according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the vehicle; and Figure 3 shows a rear elevation of the vehicle. Description ofa preferred embodiment The illustrated vehicle has wheels 10 which run on rail tracks 12 and which support a chassis made up of longitudinal beams 14 and transverse beams 16. Mounted on the chassis is a tank 18 hving an access hatch 20 in its roof 22. Also mounted on the chassis is a centrifugal pump 24. The shaftofthe pump 24is driven off one of the rear wheels 26 by an appropriate system of sprockets and chains (not shown in the Figures), so that as the vehicle is pulled along the rails by a tractive vehicle, the pump's impeller is rotated. An inlet pipe 28 extends from a low level in thetank to the pump casing and a rising main 30 extends from the pump casing to a cross-piece 32 where it meets a transverse pipe 34 serving a number of spray nozzles 36. Each nozzle has its own valve 38. In Figure 3, it will be seen that two of the nozzles 36A and 36B are aimed downwardly andtothe sidewhile the remaining two nozzles are connected to the ends of flexible hoses 40 which are situated at a low level aiming downwardly. A return pipe 42 extends from the cross-piece 32 to a high level in the tank 18, the pipe 42 including a valve 44. In useofthe illustrated vehicle,thetank 18 isfilled with an appropriate dust palliative, in this case that sold underthetrade mark Ac tion 2 M by the Applicant. When dust is to belayed in a mine, the valve 44 is closed, and the appropriate valve or valves 38 is or are opened. With the vehicle in motion and the pump operating, the palliative is pumped from the tank through the pipe 34 and outwardly through the spray nozzles which spray it onto the desired surface. When dust laying activities cease, the valves 38 are closed and the valve 44 is opened with the resultthat the palliative drawn from the tank by the pump is recirculated to the tank to agitate the palliative in the tank and keep it in a fluid state ready for application to a desired surface in another part of the mine. The illustrated embodiment has a pump which is only driven when the vehicle is in motion. It is, of course, possible to have a pump with its own motor to enable dust-laying to be carried outwhen the vehicle is stationary. The vehicle itself can be self propelled and hence be without the need for a tractive vehicle. By partly opening the valve 44 and the valves 38, the dust palliative liquid can be sprayed and also kept agitated in the tank 18 at the same time. Although the vehcile is especially intended for laying dust in mines, it can, of course, also be used for laying dust elsewhere, especially in surface installations around mines. CLAIMS

1. A dust-laying vehicle comprising a wheeled chassis, a tank mounted on the chassis for holding an appropriate dust palliative, a pump associated with the tank, and means operable selectively to cause the pump to spray the dust palliative onto a desired surfacethrough one or more outlets and/or to agitate the palliative inthetank.

2. The dust-laying vehicle of claim 1 wherein the chassis is adapted to be drawn by a tractivevehicle on rail tracks and the pump is driven mechanically off a wheel of the vehicle.

3. The dust-laying vehicle of claim 1 wherein the pump has an independent drive.

4. The dust-laying vehoile of claim 1 or claim 3 wherein the chassis is self-propelled.

5. The dust-laying vehicle of any one of the preceding claims wherein the selectively operable means comprises a pipe network fitted with valves appropriate opening or closing of which results in the dust palliative being pumpedbythepumpto spray nozzle(s) or other outlets and/or being recirculated through the tank to cause agitation of the tank's contents.

6. The dust-laying vehicle of any one of the preceding claims wherein one or more of the spray nozzles are directed downwardly and to the side of the vehicle.

7. The dust-laying vehicle of any one of the pre ceding claims wherein the pump is a centrifugal pump.

8. Adust-laying vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.