GB2188897A - Method of operating a mobile machine and apparatus comprising a mobile machine and a stationary power source - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile machine (16) used in an underground mine working is connected with a stationary power source (17) by a flexible power line (18). A major part of the length of the power line rests on an elongated support (19) which extends along a roadway and a further part of the power line passes via a guide (20) to the machine. The guide runs along a track (11) which also extends along the roadway and an arm of the guide extends to a position over the support. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of operating a mobile machine and apparatus comprising a mobile machine and a stationary power source Description of invention The present invention relates to a mobile machine which is connected with a stationary power source by a flexible power line. The machine may be powered electrically, in which case the power line would comprise electrical conductors. Alternatively, the machine may be powered hydraulically or pneumatically, the power line being a flexible hose for conveying compressed air or hydraulicfluid.

Apparatus comprising a mobile machine, a stationary power source and a flexible power line connecting the machine with the power source is referred to hereinafter as apparatus of the kind specified.

In use of apparatus of the kind specified,the power line may be trailed behind the machine on the floor.

This arrangement gives rise to considerable risk of damage being caused to the power line, particularly in cases where the direction of movement of the machine is changed from timeto time orwhere other machines are used in close proximity to the power line. The risk is particularly great in underground mine workings, where conditions of visibility are often poor and the room for manoeuvre ofthe machines is restricted.

It is common to provide in an underground mine working, atleastalong the roadwaythereof, afixed track along which machines for the transport of personnel and materials and along which other machines can be moved. In an underground mine working,the mobile machine of apparatus of the kind specified will commonly run on a track, which may be an overhead track. Arrangements have been devised two supportthe flexible power line from the overhead track, in order to avoid the power line lying on the floor. A number of bogies is provided on the trackfor supporting the power line, these bogies being connected to one another by a chain or like element which is substantially inextensible, when subjected to tension.When the mobile machine moves away from the stationary power source, the bogies are pulled apart and the power line is supported well above the floor, but is protected from excessive tension by the chains or other connections between the bogies.

The use of a number of bogies for supporting the power line of apparatus of the kind specified is common in underground mine workings, although this arrangement is well known to have a number of substantial disadvantages. If the track is not horizontal, the bogies will tend to bunch together downhill and theflexible power line will hang down from closely adjacent bogies to or nearly to the floor.

The power line thus constitutes an obstruction in the roadway. Even when the track is horizontal, such bunching will occurwhen the direction of travel of the mobile machine along the track is reversed. In this case, the power line will hang down in a vulnerable position adjacent to the machine and towards which position the machine is travelling. A further disadvantage is attachment of the power line to each ofthe bogies. This increase the time required to free the power line, in the event of replacement of the power line being necessary.

According to afirstaspectofthe present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a mobile machine, a stationary power source, a flexible power line connecting the machine with the source, a track, aguideforthepowerline,theguidebeing mounted on the track and being coupled to the machine for movement along the track by the machine, and a stationary, elongated supportforthe power line, the support being arranged with its length extending generally along the track and the guide being arranged for guiding along the support, when the machine and the guide move along the track, a portion ofthe power line which is immediately adjacent to the guide.

The support can be positioned above the floor in a region where itwill not constitute a serious obstruction to the movement of personnel and machinery and where both the support and the power line thereon will be relatively unlikely to be damaged.

In apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, that part of the power line which extends from the power source to the guide would normally rest on the support but not be attached to the support orto any other structure. Thus, in the event of replacement of the power line being necessary, itwould be necessaryto disengage only one end portion ofthe power line from the power source and the opposite end portion from the guide and machine.

The mobile machine of apparatus in accordance with the first aspect of the invention may run on the track or rest on a floor surface. In either case, the machine is preferably coupled to the guide by an inextensible coupler.

According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a mobile machine wherein there is provided an elongated track, there is mounted on the track a guide, the guide is coupled to the machine, a flexible power line is connected at its ends with the machine and with a stationary power source respectively, there is provided an elongated power line support arranged with its length extending generally along the track, the power line is arranged to extend from the power source along the support and then via the guideto the machine and wherein, during movement ofthe machine longitudinally ofthe support, power is supplied via the power line from the power source to the machine, the major part ofthe power length is supported by said support and a part of the power line adjacent to the guide is drawn along the support by the guide.

An example of apparatus embodying the first aspect of the invention and which is used in a method according to the second aspect ofthe invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:- Figure 1 represents diagrammatically apparatus according to the invention installed in a mine roadway; Figure 2 illustrates certain details ofthe apparatus on a larger scale; and Figure 3 is a view similarto figure 2 illustrating a modification of the apparatus.

The roadway illustrated in the accompanying drawing is provided with a number of arches 10 spaced from each other along the roadway and supporting an overhead monorail track 11. The construction and arrangementofthe arches and track may be those of arches and monorail commonly provided in underground mine workings.

For the purpose of illustration,the arches 10 are shown in the drawing as having vertical legs 12 spanned by a rectilinear, horizontal beam 14. The track 11 is suspended from the beams 14 and is spaced sufficiently far above a floor 15 ofthe roadwaytopermitvehiclesto besuspendedfrom the track 11 and travel freely along the roadway.

A mobile machine 16 is present in the roadway. For the purpose of illustration, this machine as shown as running on the floor 15. However, the machine could alternatively run on the track 11. Powerfor propulsion ofthe machine 16 and for any other operation ofthe machine is obtained from a stationary power source 17 in the roadway. This may be a source of electrical power connected by fixed cables (not shown) with a mains supply or outlets for fluid under pressure, these outlets being supplied from a remote source via fixed pipework (also not shown). For conveying power from the source 17 to the machine 16, there is provided aflexible power line 18.

One end portion ofthe power line 18 is releasably connected with the power source 17 buy a known electrical connector or by a known fluid coupler. An intermediate portion of the power line rests on a stationary support 19 provided in the roadway.A further end portion ofthe power line extends through a guide 20 and along a coupler 21 tothe machine 16. The guide 20 is arranged to run on the track 11 and is provided with running wheels 22 engaged with the track. The guide may befurther provided with guide wheels for engaging the track.

Alternatively, both the guiding and supporting functions may be performed by the running wheels 22.

The coupler 21 is a substantially rigid bar pivotally connected at one of its ends with the guide 20 and at the other of its ends with the machine 16. The coupler thus provides an inextensible connection between the machine and the guide.

In the example of apparatus illustrated in figures 1 and 2, the support 19 has the form of a trough and is mounted on the legs 12 of the arches to occupy a position spaced well above the floor 15 and at one side of the roadway. The trough has an open mouth which faces generally upwardly and the intermediate part of the power line 18 rests in the trough, generally on a bottom ofthetrough. The guide 20 includes an arm 23 which extends away from the track 11 to a position above the trough and nearto the mouth thereof. The power line 18 extends from the trough along the arm 23, through the bodyofthe guide 20 and along the coupler 21 to the machine 16.

This end portion of the power line is preferably attached to the coupler 21 and to the guide to restrain movement of the end portion of the power line relative the coupler and guide. The arm 23 may be in the form of a tube with the power line extending along the interior of the tube.

When the guide 20 is drawn along the track 11 by the machine 16, a portion ofthe power line 18 immediately adjacent to the arm 23 is drawn along the trough 19, either laying down a run of the power line in the trough ordrawing a run ofthe power line along the trough, depending upon the direction of movement. The trough may accommodate several runs of the power line and bends of the power line between successive runs. Itwill be noted that, in the arrangement illustrated in figure 2,the arm 23 is arranged to maintain the immediately adjacent part ofthe power line clear of surfaces of the trough 19.

The trough 19 may be fabricated of metal or plastics or of a combination ofthese materials and may incorporate substantially rigid components which are spaced apart and the gaps between which are spanned by less rigid material, for example mesh.

Figure 3 illustrates an alternative arrangement of supportwhich may be used with the guide 20 or with a guide having a somewhat differently shaped and/or positioned arm. The support 24 illustrated in figure 3 has the form of a tray, the bottom of which is sufficiently wide to accommodate a number of runs of the power line 18 side-by-side. The arm 23 extends to a position above the bottom of the tray and spaced somewhat from the sides ofthe tray. The tray 24 is conveniently suspended from the beams 14 and is preferably attached to each beam at two positions spaced aparttransverselyofthe length ofthetrack 11. One ofthese positions may be directly above the track. Alternatively, the tray may be supported at one position indirectly from the beam, via the track.

Alongthatmargin of that tray 24 which isnearerto the track 11 ,there may be provided resiliently flexible or otherwise movable retaining means 25 for preventing runs ofthe power line 18failing inadvertently from the tray. The retaining means may extend along substantially the entire length of the tray. Alternatively, elongated retaining elements may be provided at respective positions along the tray which are spaced apart longitudinally of the tray, the length of each retaining element being transverse to the length of the tray. Thus, the retaining means may have the form of a row of fingers which usually project upwardly from a margin ofthetray but which can be bent over by the arm 23 as the latter moves along the tray. The fingers spring up behind the arm when they are disengaged from the arm.

Relatively fixed retaining means 26 may be provided at the margin ofthetray 24 remote from the retaining means 25. The retaining means 26 may be incorporated in brackets by means of which the tray is suspended from the beams 14. The tray 24 may be formed of a mesh material and the mesh may be stiffened and supported by relatively inflexible members incorporated in the tray.

Whilst supports in the form of a horizontal tray and a generally upright trough have been illustrated to exemplify the invention, it will be understood that arrangements intermediate these specific arrangements may be used.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or anycombination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (10)

1. Apparatus comprising a mobile machine, a stationary power source, a flexible power line connecting the machine with the source, a track, a guide forthe power line, the guide being mounted on the track and being coupled to the machine for movement along the track by the machine, and a stationary, elongated supportforthe power line, the support being arranged with its length extending generally along the track and the guide being arranged for guiding along the supportwhen the machine and the guide movelongitudinallyofthe track a portion of the power line which is immediately adjacent to the guide.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the guide is coupled to the machine by an inextensible coupler.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the power line is attached to the coupler.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the coupler is substantially rigid and is pivotally connected at its ends with the guide and with the machine respectively.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim wherein that part of the power line which extends from the power source to the guide rests on the support but is not attached to the support orto any other structure.

6. Apparatus according to Claim wherein the support includes relatively movable retaining elements for retaining the power line on the support.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein the support is a trough.

8. A method of operating a mobile machine wherein there is provided an elongated track, there is mounted on the track a guide, the guide is coupled to the machine, a flexible power line is connected at its ends with the machine and with a stationary power source, there is provided an elongated power line support arranged with its length extending generally along the track, the power line is arranged to extend from the power source along the support and then via the guide to the machine and wherein, during movement ofthe machine longitudinally of the support, power is supplied via the power line from the power source to the machine, the major part of the length ofthe power line is supported by said support and a part ofthe power line adjacent to the guide is drawn along the support by the guide.

9. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.