GB2270258A

GB2270258A - Safety Equipment for use in mines

Info

Publication number: GB2270258A
Application number: GB9216981A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Smith
Original assignee: Mastabar Mining Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mastabar Mining Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-11
Filing date: 1992-08-11
Publication date: 1994-03-09
Also published as: GB9216981D0

Abstract

A support for a passive water trough for use in mines comprises a frame for receiving a water trough, the frame being adapted to receive removable suspension means (28) which latter are arranged to engage with a support (14) such that the frame in use is suspended from the said support (14) by said suspension means (28). The support may be telescopic at either end thereof and can be fitted to a supporting tunnel (12) by means of a fitting at either end (16), (18) adapted to engage with the said supporting arch. The arrangement can be adapted for use in mines supported by roof bolts and not by the aforesaid arches by way of a bracket for supporting the passive water trough support, which is adapted to be connected to such a roof bolt. <IMAGE>

Description

SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR USE IN NINES This invention relates generally to,mining equipment and more specifically it relates to safety equipment for use in mines.

In mines, and in particular coal mines, there is often a danger of explosions. For many years mining engineers have developed devices to detect explosive gases and to extinguish naked flames so as to avoid the risk of explosions. However, no matter how highly developed safety equipment is, there is always a risk that a piece of mining equipment will strike a spark- and ignite a pocket of gas thereby causing an explosion.

Passive water troughs were developed in order to minimise the effect of explosions. Troughs of water are suspended in tunnels, or areas being mined, and arranged to shatter in a shock wave of an explosion. Passive water troughs are intended to minimise the effects of explosion by dowsing flames, blanketing pockets of burning gas and absorbing energy of the shock wave.

Sometimes the water troughs were filled with stone dust.

However, it is readily appreciated that water is preferable to stone dust as it had a dowsing and cooling effect upon any flames present. Also water was easily atomised.

Passive water troughs generally have relatively soft undersides so as to shatter readily when impacted either by a shock wave or debris. Passive water troughs are suspended from tunnel ceilings in relatively rigid frames. These frames are usually formed from steel and define a generally rectangular support in which the troughs are placed. A lip, integrally formed in the troughs, engaged with the aforementioned rectangular frame.

A problem with the aforementioned type of passive water trough was that the troughs were sometimes difficult to install and in certain environments were extremely difficult to maintain and replace when damaged. Installation was sometimes difficult because several troughs were often placed adjacent one another across a tunnel leaving very little access space.

Removal of a single trough from a group of several troughs was therefore difficult and time consuming as the frame supporting all the troughs had to be dismantled simply to gain access to one trough which may have been damaged.

As the troughs were also prone to vandalism or accidental puncturing removal and replacement was often required quite frequently. Failure to replace or maintain damaged troughs resulted in a lowering of the efficiency of the passive water trough safety system and was therefore considered dangerous.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a support for a passive water trough comprising: a frame for receiving a water trough, the frame adapted to receive a hanger which hanger is arranged to engage with a support such that the frame in use is suspended therefrom.

The frame is generally rectangular in cross section so as to receive conventional shaped passive water troughs. The frame preferably comprises two end support struts and two side support struts. The frame may have slotted regions along at least one of its end support struts so as to permit pivotal movement of the hanger with respect to that end support strut, thereby enabling a hooked end of the hanger to be relatively easily unhooked from the frame. Preferably however, the frame has two holes formed in each end strut.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a passive water trough having slots formed therein.

Slots are preferably provided in an end rim of a water trough. The position of these slots corresponds to holes formed in end struts against which the rim of the water trough abuts when the water trough is supported by the frame. The positioning of these slots in the end rims of the water trough facilitates easy removal of the hanger by pivotal movement of the hanger, as described above.

Preferably the frame has two hangers and is also able to pivot on the second hanger. It will be appreciated that relatively simple removal of a single frame supporting a single passive water trough, is therefore possible and easier than has previously been the case.

Previously because existing passive water troughs were bolted on frames close to a roof of a tunnel or working area, it was extremely difficult to remove individual passive water troughs for maintenance or for filling. Now because of the pivoting hanger arrangement it is possible to remove the frames individually, and thereby the water troughs, thus permitting easy and selective access to whichever trough requires maintenance or topping-up.

As mentioned above it was often desirable to suspend water troughs from a position as close as possible to a tunnel's ceiling so as to maximise the amount of space thereunder. Clearly the higher the troughs were suspended the more difficult it became to maintain and replace them. This problem has been overcome by a further aspect of the invention, which when used with the first aspect permits not only easy access to passive water troughs but also provides for greater working space below said troughs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a telescopic support from which a frame for receiving a passive water trough may be suspended.

Preferably suspension is by way of the aforementioned hanger. However, any suitable pivot assembly may be used and it will be appreciated that in an emergency even wire or rope could be used to support a passive water trough in a swing-like arrangement.

Telescopic supports preferably have a fitting at either end adapted to engage with a supporting arch as used in many tunnels. Preferably engagement means are able to pivot with respect to a longitudinal axis of the support. Because of the telescopic nature of the support; and because engagement means are provided at either end thereof; and because the engagement means may pivot relative to the axis of the support; it will be appreciated that the support may be raised or lowered with respect to an existing arch.

This enables as many water troughs as possible to be placed adjacent one another in a given space within a tunnel and for the support to be positioned as high as possible within a tunnel.

Hangers which are preferably generally V-shaped permit troughs to slide backwards and forwards on the support. Thus it will be appreciated a further feature of the present invention is that use of the aforementioned hanger and support enables easy removal of water troughs which are damaged and temporary respacing of a existing water troughs on a support so as to maximise their effect. Should an explosion occur before the damaged trough is replaced.

Preferably the telescopic support has pincer type brackets at either end for engaging struts forming existing arch ways in tunnels.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a frame for receiving a passive water trough comprising two sets of frame members, the members in one set having orifices formed therein for demountably receiving a hanger.

Preferably means are provided for demountably connecting the members together so as to form a frame.

The frame may be formed from members welded together.

The means for demountably connecting the members together may comprise nuts and bolts, clips or other suitable demountable connection means.

Preferably however the frame comprises a first pair of relatively long frame members and a second pair of relatively short frame members. The four frame members have slots formed at predetermined positions. The slots are dimensioned and arranged so as to permit the frame members to be assembled so as to form a generally rectangular frame for receiving a passive water trough.

It will be understood that in this preferred embodiment the means for demountably connecting frame members together in order to form a frame, may comprise sympathetic slots formed in- the frame members per se. The said arrangement being held together by one frame member abutting another when slotted together.

An advantage with this aspect of the invention is that the frames for receiving passive water troughs may be placed in the bottom of a water trough and thereby take up less space during storage or whilst being transported. Although not particularly heavy the water troughs are relatively bulky as indeed are their support frames. It is therefore seen as a particular advantage of this aspect of the present invention that the support frames may be dismantled and stowed in the bottom of water troughs. Such stowing of dismantled frames is considered not to be risk damage to the fabric of the water troughs as the frame members may be wrapped in protective packaging.Similarly the water troughs are arranged to be stacked inside one another in a nested arrangement such that the lip disposed around the rim of one water trough engages with the lip of an adjacent water trough and therefore only one frame assembly (and possibly associated hangers) will be stored in any one passive water trough.

In some mines, and in particular newer mines, ceiling of tunnels are supported by roof bolts. These roof bolts pass into the rock in the tunnel ceiling and plates are thrust against the surface of the rock by nuts which are threaded onto portions of the roof bolt extending outside the face of the rock. In this type of tunnel there is no arch onto which a telescopic support may be connected.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a bracket for supporting a device therefrom and which is adapted to be connected to a roof bolt.

Preferably the bracket comprises a tubular member arranged to pass around a portion of the roof bolt. A nut may be fitted onto the bolt so as to entrap the tubular member thereto. Means may be cpnnected to said tubular member onto which clamps or supports may be connected. Alternatively split pins may pass through suitable orifices in the roof bolt so as to permit fixing of the bracket thereto.

An optional extendible support piece may be provided on which a hanger or a telescopic support may be engaged.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1A shows an overall view of a treble water trough; Figure 1B shows an overall view of part of an existing mounting bracket (PRIOR ART); Figure 2 shows a side elevational view of three water troughs suspended in a tunnel by a telescopic support; Figure 3 shows a side elevational view of an end of the telescopic support and shows a pivotal arch clamp in detail; Figure 4 shows a section along the line A-A of figure 2; Figure 5 shows a section on the line B-B of figure 2; Figure 6 shows a plan view of a supporting frame; Figure 7 shows a side elevational view of a side member of the frame of figure 6; Figure 8 shows an end elevational view of an end member of the frame of figure 6;; Figure 9 shows a side elevational view of a trough and diagramatically (in ghost lines) its method of removal from the telescopic support; Figure 10 shows an overall view of the supporting frame with hangers in place; Figure 11 shows a side elevational view of a rock bolt and a bracket; and Figure 12 shows an end elevational view of the rock bolt and the bracket of figure 11.

Figures 1A, 1B and figure 2 show passive water troughs 10. A passive water trough 10 has a lip 11 extending around its upper peripheral rim.

Conventionally a support frame has been used to suspend a trough 10 from a tunnel support arch 12. An example of a such hanger is shown in figure 1B and marked PRIOR ART.

Figure 2 shows three such passive water troughs 10 suspended from a telescopic support 14 from within a tunnel support arch 12. The telescopic support 14 has end clamps 16 and 18. The manner in which the telescopic support 14 is connected to the tunnel support arch 12 is shown in detail in figure 3.

The telescopic support 14 is able to move in the direction of double headed arrow XX. Such movement permits lowering or raising of the support within the tunnel. Clamp 18 is shown in detail in figure 4. The clamp 18 comprises two clasped portions 20 and 22 which are pincer like engagement means and which grasp fillets of the tunnel support arch 12. A bolt 24 passes through each clasp 20 and 22 connecting the clasps to a shaft 26 which projects from the telescopic support 14. The shaft 26 is permanently connected to an end portion of the telescopic support-14.

Passive water troughs 10 are suspended on hangers 28 which pass over the telescopic support 14. This arrangement tends to prevent the troughs from moving to and fro. Because support 14 is in the form of a right angle and hangers 28 rest on the support 60, the hangers 28 tend to be entrapped and therefore the arrangement does not rock. This ability could be considered to be an advantage as it ensures the troughs are not displaced by any shockwave; that they remain supported in a substantially rigid support and thus ensure that the troughs will shatter on impact.

Figures 6 to 10 inclusive show the assembly of a support frame 30 and its relationship with a hanger 28.

The support frame 30 shown in figure 6 is generally rectangular. The support frame 30 comprises two side support frame members 32 and 33 and two end frame members 34 and 35. The end frame members are in the form of L-shaped angled struts. An example of a side support 32 is shown in elevation in figure 7. An example of an end support frame member 34 is shown in figure 8. The frame members have notches 36 formed in them towards their end regions. These notches permit the frame members to inter-engage so as to form the support frame 30.

Figure 9 shows two passive water troughs 10 supported from a telescopic support 14. One of the troughs is shown in ghost lines. The hanger shown at 28B is the position of hanger 28A when the trough 10 is tipped upwards in the direction of arrow P so as to facilitate its removal from the support frame. Hanger 28B is tipped in the direction of arrow Q. Hooks 38A and 38B at the end of the hanger are tilted accordingly and on reaching the correct orientation pass through holes 40A and 40B respectively, thus permitting hanger 28 to be disconnected from the frame 30. The removal of the hangers 28 from the frame 30 is shown in diagrammatic detail in figure 10. The support frame members 32, 33, 34 and 35 are formed from mild steel.

Figures 11 and 12 show a bracket 42 for supporting a support frame. The bracket 42 is connected to a roof bolt 43. Roof bolt 43 has a roof bolt washer 44 which abuts the ceiling of the tunnel and is held in position by a nut 45. The bracket 42 comprises a tubular section 46 which is welded to an L-shaped angle 48. Two shafts 50 and 52 pass through holes in the L-shaped angle 48 and are held in position by locking nuts 54, 55, 56 and 57. Each shaft 50 and 52 have hooked end regions 58.

These are arranged to catch an angle 14 from which a hanger 28 (not shown) is suspended. It will be appreciated that the angle 14 may move backwards and forwards between adjacent brackets. It will also be appreciated that several such brackets my be arranged in a linear manner and a telescopic support may be supported by two or more of said brackets.

An advantage of this type of bracket is that it permits suspension of passive water troughs in other devices such as lamps in tunnels which use the roof bolt structure. Some tunnels have this structure instead of the tunnel support arch. Previously suspension of water troughs in tunnels having roof bolts was difficult and time consuming to erect. Furthermore maintenance and replacement of water troughs is greatly eased as the L-shaped angle 14 may be easily moved backwards and forwards within the hooked end regions 58 of the shafts 50 and 52 so as to permit the removal of a hanger therefrom. Similarly L-shaped angle 14 may be stacked on one another and thereby enable a telescopic type support to be obtained.

It will be appreciated that variation to the aforementioned embodiments may be made without departure from the scope of the invention. For example, the frame for receiving a passive water trough does not have to be able to be dismantled.

The frame structure adapted to receive a passive water trough is adapted to receive a water trough and receive a hanger, such that the hanger does not impinge against the water trough. This may be achieved by having an enlarged fillet around one or more of the edges of the frame such that holes in the frame are sufficiently spaced from the lip of the trough when the trough is placed within the frame.

Similarly it will be appreciated that variation to the hanger may also be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example the hanger may comprise threaded end portions for receiving locking nuts or wing nuts for enabling the hanger to be disengaged from the frame, from below.

Claims

Claims.

1. A support for a passive water trough comprising: a frame for receiving a water trough, the frame adapted to receive removeable suspension means which suspension means are arranged to engage with a support such that the frame in use is suspended from the said support by said suspension means.

2. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 in which the frame is generally rectangular in cross section so as to receive conventional shaped passive water troughs.

3. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 2 wherein the frame comprises two end support struts and two side support struts.

4. A support for a passive water trough according to claim wherein the frame has slotted regions along at least one of its end support struts so as to permit pivotal movement of the suspension means with respect to that end support strut, thereby enabling a hooked end of the suspension means to be relatively easily unhooked from the frame.

5. A support for a passive water trough according to claim wherein the frame has two holes formed in each end strut.

6. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 5 wherein the suspension means is a hanger.

7. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the passive water troughs to be received by said frame has slots formed therein which slots cooperate with said slotted regions on the frame thereby continuing to facilitate the ease of removal of the suspension means.

8. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 7 wherein slots are provided in an end rim of a water trough.

9. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 8 wherein the position of the slots corresponds to holes formed in end struts against which the rim of the water trough abuts when the water trough is supported by the frame.

10. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 wherein the suspension means is a hanger and the frame has two such hangers and is able to pivot on either of the said two hangers.

11. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 wherein the suspension means in chosen from a hanger or wire or rope or other suitable suspension means.

12. A supported passive water trough comprising: a passive water trough adapted to receive suspension means and a support operable to engage with said suspension means such that in use the passive water trough is suspended from said support by said suspension means.

13. A passive water trough according to claim 12 wherein the suspension means is a hanger.

14. A passive water trough according to claim 12 wherein the suspension means is wire, rope or other suitable suspension means.

15. A passive water trough according to claim 13 wherein slots are formed in the said trough to permit pivotal movement of the suspension means with respect to the said trough, thereby enabling a hooked end of the hanger to be relatively easily unhooked from the frame.

16. A passive water trough according to claim 15 wherein the slots are provided in an end rim of a water trough.

17. A passive water trough according to claim 12 wherein the suspension means is a hanger and the water trough has two such hangers and is able to pivot on either of the said two hangers.

18. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 wherein the support is a telescopic support from which the frame for receiving a passive water trough may be suspended.

19. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 18 wherein the suspension means is the aforementioned hanger.

20. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 18 wherein -the suspension means is any suitable pivot assembly, such as wire or rope, which will allow a passive water trough to be supported in a swing-like arrangement.

21. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 19 wherein the telescopic supports have a fitting at either end adapted to engage with a supporting arch as used in many tunnels.

22. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 21 wherein the engagement means are able to pivot with respect to the longitudinal axis of the support.

23. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 in which a plurality of water troughs are received by said frame.

24. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 or a passive water trough according to claim 12 in which the hangers are generally V-shaped as to permit troughs to slide backwards and forwards on the support, thereby enabling easy removal of water troughs which are damaged and temporary respacing of existing water troughs on a support so as to maximise their effect.

25. A support for a passive water trough according to claim 1 wherein the support is a telescopic support from which the frame for receiving a passive water trough may be suspended and wherein the telescopic support has pincer type brackets at either end for engaging struts forming existing arch ways in tunnels.

26. A frame for receiving a passive water trough comprising two sets of frame members, the members in one set having orifices formed therein for demountably receiving a hanger.

27. A frame for receiving a passive water trough according to claim 26 wherein means are provdied for demountably connecting the members together so as to form a frame.

28. A frame for receiving a passive water trough according to claim 27 in which the frame may be formed from members welded together.

29. A frame for receiving a passive water trough according to claim 27 in which means for demountably connecting the members together may comprise nuts and bolts, clips or other suitable demountable connection means.

30. A frame for receiving a passive water trough according to claim 26 in which the frame comprises a first pair of relatively short frame members, the four frame members having bolts formed at predetermined positions and the slots being dimensioned and arranged so as to permit the frame members to be assembled so as to form a generally rectangular frame for receiving a passive water trough.

31 A frame for receiving a passive water trough according to claim 30 in which the means for demountably connecting frame members together in order to form a frame, comprises sympathetic slots formed in the frame members per se.

32. A frame for receiving a passive water trough according to claim 31 in which the said arrangement is held together by one frame member abutting another when the said frame members are slotted together.

33. A passive water trough according to claim 12 in which the water troughs are designed to be stacked inside one another in a nested arrangement such that a lip disposed around the rim of one water trough engages with a lip of an adjacent water trough.

34. A bracket for supporting a device therefrom and which is adapted to be connected to a roof bolt.

35. A bracket for supporting a device according to claim 34 in which the bracket comprises a tubular member arranged to pass around a portion of the roof bolt.

36. A bracket for supoorting a device according to claim 35 in which a nut is fitted onto the bolt so as to entrap the tubular member.

37. A bracket for supporting a device according to claim 36 wherein means may be connected to said tubular member onto which clamps or supports may be connected.

38. A bracket for supporting a device according to claim 34 in which split pins pass through suitable orifices in the roof bolt so as to permit fixing of the bracket thereto.

39. A bracket for supporting a device according to claim 34 whereon an extendible support piece is fitted on which a hanger or a telescopic support may be engaged.

40. A support for a passive water trough substantially as described herein before with reference to the drawings.

41. A passive water trough substantially as described herein before with reference to the drawings.

42. A frame for receiving a passive water trough substantially as described herein before with reference to the drawings.

43. A bracket for supporting a device substantially as described herein before with reference to the drawings.