GB2318780A

GB2318780A - Skip

Info

Publication number: GB2318780A
Application number: GB9722417A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Montaque Joubert
Original assignee: Rotaque Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Rotaque Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1996-11-04
Filing date: 1997-10-23
Publication date: 1998-05-06
Also published as: GB9722417D0; AU3749497A; AP9701081A0; CA2215812A1; ZA969260B

Abstract

A skip 10 includes a hollow body 12. A discharge opening 20 leads from the body 12 at a low level. A door 22 is mounted on the body 12 for displacement between a closed position in which it closes the discharge opening 20 and an open position. A discharge chute 46 is mounted on the body 12 such that it is inclined downwardly from the discharge opening 20. The chute 46 is mounted for displacement relative to the body 12 between a rest position and a displaced position. Preferably, displacement of the chute 46 between its rest and displaced positions is effected simultaneously with displacement of the door 22 between its closed and open positions. The skip 10 may have door locking means in the form of a latch 38 and shaft 34. Cam followers 32, 44 are situated one above the other to facilitate displacement of the door 22 and latch 38 in a discharge station.

Description

SKIP The present invention relates to a skip.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a skip comprising; a hollow body; a discharge opening leading from the body at a low level; a door mounted on the body for displacement between a closed position in which it closes the discharge opening and an open position; and a discharge chute mounted on the body such that it is inclined downwardly from the discharge opening, at least part of the chute being mounted for displacement relative to the body between a rest position and a displaced position.

In its displaced position a lower edge of the discharge chute may be displaced outwardly relative to the position of the lower edge when the discharge chute is in its rest position.

Hence, in use, when the skip is displaced vertically in a mine shaft, the discharge chute will normally be in its rest or retracted position. This reduces the risk that the chute will snag on rocks, steelwork or the like which protrude into the mine shaft. In particular, when the skip enters a discharge station the discharge chute can pass a dead plate with clearance. When it is desired to discharge matter from the skip the discharge chute is displaced to its displaced or protruding position in which at least a lower portion of the chute protrudes over the dead plate. When the door is opened matter will be discharged from the skip through the discharge opening along the discharge chute and onto the dead plate.

The fact that the discharge chute protrudes over the dead plate reduces the risk that matter will be discharged between the dead plate and the discharge chute into the mine shaft.

Displacement of the chute between its rest and displaced positions may be effected simultaneously with displacement of the door between its closed and open positions.

Both the door and the chute may be pivotally mounted on the body with complementary displacement formations being provided on the door and on the discharge chute and being configured such that as the door is displaced from its closed to its open position, the discharge chute is displaced from its rest to its displaced position and when the door is returned to its closed position, the discharge chute is simultaneously returned to its rest position.

The complementary displacement formations may include a track on one of the discharge chute and the door and a complementary runner which runs in or on the track and is mounted on the other of the discharge chute and the door.

Preferably, the complementary displacement formations may include a track on the discharge chute and a complementary runner which is mounted on the door and runs in the track.

The skip may include door locking means operable for displacement between a locked condition in which it retains the door releasably in its closed position and a released condition in which it permits displacement of the door.

The skip may further include a first cam follower connected to the door whereby the door is displaceable; and a second cam follower whereby the door locking means is displaceable between its locked and released conditions, the first and second cam followers being positioned such that they are operable, in use, by a common cam positioned in a discharge station.

In a preferred embodiment when the door is in its closed position and the door locking means is in its locked condition, the first and second cam followers are vertically aligned, with the second cam follower being positioned above the first cam follower.

The door may be biassed towards its closed position under the influence of gravity.

The door locking means may include a latch which is pivotally mounted on the body and a complementary catch on the door which, in the locked condition, engage to retain the door releasably in its closed position.

The latch may be elongate and pivotally connected adjacent its operatively upper end to the body such that it hangs therefrom pendulum-fashion and is biassed towards its locked condition under the influence of gravity.

At least a lower end portion of the latch may be generally hookshaped having a mouth which opens in a direction which is generally opposite to the direction in which the catch moves when the door is displaced from its closed position towards its open position.

Preferably, a latch and complementary catch is provided on each side of the body.

According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a mine which includes at least one mine shaft in which a skip as described above is displaceable; and a discharge station positioned in the mine shaft and having a cam arrangement configured to cooperate with the first and second cam followers of the skip to displace the door locking means between its locked and released conditions and to displace the door between its open and closed positions.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side view of a skip; Figure 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, a latch and complementary catch of the skip of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a side view of a cam at a discharge station in a mine shaft; Figure 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of another skip entering a discharge station in a mine shaft; Figure 5 shows, on an enlarged scale, a latch and complementary catch of another skip; Figure 6 shows a side view of part of yet another skip; and Figure 7 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of the latch and complementary catch of the skip of Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a skip.

The skip 10 includes a hollow body 12 comprising a front wall 14, a rear wall 16 and a pair of side walls 1 8 extending between the front and rear walls 14, 16.

A discharge opening 20 opens out of the body 12 at a low level, the discharge opening 20 being defined by adjacent edges of the front, rear and side walls 14, 16, 18.

The skip 10 includes a door 22 which comprises a closure member 24 and a pair of side members 26. The side members 26 are positioned on opposite sides of the body 1 2 and are pivotally connected to the body 1 2 for pivotal displacement about a pivot axis 28. Hence, the door 22 is pivotally displaceable between a closed position (shown in solid lines in Figure 1 of the drawings) in which the door 22 closes off the discharge opening 20 and an open position (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings) in which the door 22 clear of the discharge opening 20. The pivot axis 28 is positioned such that the door 22 is biassed, under the influence of gravity, towards its closed position.

Further, the closure member 24 of the door 22 is curved. As a result, when the skip is being filled with ore, initially the ore which is introduced to the skip from above will make contact with the closure member 24 and, by virtue of its curvature, will urge the door downwardly thereby assisting to retain the door in its closed position.

In addition, the door 22 is pivotally mounted on the body 12 by means of trunnions 96. Each trunnion 96 includes bearings to reduce friction and facilitate displacement of the door 22 between its closed and open positions. The skip 80 includes supports 98 which serve to support the trunnions 96 and reduce the transmission of shock loads due to filling of the skip 81 to the bearings.

A first cam follower 30 protrudes outwardly from each of the side members 26. Each cam follower 30 includes a roller 32 mounted on a shaft 34 connected to and protruding outwardly from the associated side member 26.

The skip 10 includes door locking means, generally indicated by reference numeral 36 for locking the door 22 releasably in its closed position.

The door locking means 36 includes a pair of elongate latches 38 one of which is pivotally mounted adjacent its operatively upper end to each of the side walls 18. Each latch 38 includes a hook-like formation 40 adjacent its operatively lower end. The hook-like formation 40 has a mouth 42 which opens in a direction generally opposite to the direction in which the first cam follower 30 is displaced when the door 22 is displaced from its closed position towards its open position.

The skip 10 includes a second cam follower 44 connected to and protruding outwardly from each of the latches 38.

The hook-like formation 40 is configured snugly to engage with a complementary catch which, in the embodiment shown, is the shaft 34 of the associated first cam follower 30 to retain the door 22 releasably in its closed position as described in more detail herebelow.

The door locking means 36 is displaceable between a locked condition (shown in solid lines in Figure 1) in which it retains the door releasably in its closed position and a released condition (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) in which the door is displaceable between its closed and open positions.

Each latch 38 hangs from its pivotal connection 39 to the body 1 2 in the manner of a pendulum so that it is biased towards its locked condition under the influence of gravity. As can best be seen in Figure 2 of the drawings, each latch 38 and the shaft 34 are provided with complementary flat surfaces 82, 84 which abut when the door locking means is in its locked condition. The provision of the flat surfaces 82, 84 facilitates displacement of the latch 38 from its locked condition towards its released condition thereby reducing the risk that the latch 38 will jam in its locked condition.

Further, stops 85 are attached to the body 1 2 to inhibit displacement of the latch 38 beyond its locked and released conditions.

As can best be seen in Figure 1 of the drawings, when the door is in its closed position and the latches 38 are in their locked condition, the second cam follower 44 is positioned directly above the first cam follower 30. This facilitates the displacement of the cam followers and the opening of the door in a discharge station as described in more detail herebelow.

The skip 10 includes a guide or discharge chute 46 connected to the body and extending downwardly from the discharge opening 20 to guide matter discharged from the discharge opening 20. The discharge chute 46 is connected to the body by a pivotal connection 86 which permits pivotal displacement of the discharge chute 46 between a rest position (shown in solid lines in Figure 1 of the drawings) and a displaced position (shown in broken lines in Figure 1 of the drawings) .

The chute 46 includes a floor 88 which is generally rectangular in shape and a pair of sides 90 which protrude upwardly from opposed sides of the floor 88.

Complementary displacement formations are provided on the discharge chute 46 and the door 22 so that displacement of the discharge chute 46 between its rest and displaced positions is effected simultaneously with displacement of the door 22 between its closed and open positions. In the embodiment shown, the complementary displacement formations are in the form of a track 92 provided on the inner surface of each of the sides 90 and complementary runners 94 which are mounted on and protrude outwardly from the sides 26 of the door 22 and which run in the tracks 92.

Further, the skip 10 includes mounting formations 48 whereby the skip is pivotally mountable in a Job's bridle 50 for displacement in a mine shaft in a conventional fashion. In addition, the Job's bridle 50 and the skip 10 are provided with a locking arrangement 52 configured to inhibit swinging of the skip 10 within the Job's bridle 50.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 56 refers generally to a cam forming part of a discharge station in a mine for use together with the skip 10. A pair of cams 56 is provided in the discharge station the cams being positioned on opposite sides of the mine shaft.

As can best be seen in Figure 3 of the drawings, the cam 56 defines a guide path 58 within which the first and second cam followers are receivable.

In use, the skip 10 is mounted in a Job's bridle 50 for displacement in a mine shaft in a conventional fashion.

With the door 22 in its closed position, the discharge chute 46 in its rest position and the latches 38 in the locked condition (shown in Figures 1 and 4) in which they lock the door releasably in its closed position ore which is to be transported is loaded into the skip 12, typically from a measuring flask.

The skip 10 is then displaced upwardly into a discharge station, generally indicated by reference numeral 61 in Figure 4 of the drawings, where the second cam follower 44 enters the lower end of the guide path 58 and is displaced from its locked condition (shown in solid lines in Figure 1) to its released condition (shown in broken lines in Figure 1 of the drawings). Subsequently, the roller 32 of the first cam follower 30 enters the guide path 58 and the door is displaced from its closed position to its open position. As the door 22 is displaced from its closed position towards its open position, the runners 94 are displaced along the track 92 which serves to displace the discharge chute 46 from its rest position to its displaced position. Ore discharged through the discharge opening 20 is guided along the discharge chute 46 and discharged onto a dead plate 96 from where it is conveyed to a desired location for further processing. As can be seen in Figure 4, the dead plate 96 and the cams 56 are positioned such that when the door is displaced to its open position and the discharge chute 46 is displaced to its displaced or protruding position (shown in broken lines in Figure 4), the lower edge of the discharge chute 46 is positioned at an elevation which is above the elevation of the dead plate 96. Further, whereas when the discharge chute 46 is in its rest position there is provided a lateral clearance between the discharge chute 46 and the dead plate 96 permitting the discharge chute to pass the dead plate when the skip is displaced vertically, when the discharge chute 46 is displaced to its displaced or protruding position, the lower edge of the discharge chute 46 protrudes over the dead plate 96. This arrangement reduces the risk that matter being discharged from the discharge chute will fall between the discharge chute and the dead plate into the mine shaft. Once the skip 10 has been fully discharged, it is displaced downwardly which results initially in the door being returned to its closed position both as a result of the shape of the guide path 58 and under the influence of gravity. Simultaneously, the discharge chute 46 is returned to its rest position. Subsequently, the latch 38 is returned to its locked - > ondition once again both as a result of the shape of the guide path 58 and under the influence of gravity in which it engages with the shaft 34 of the associated roller 32 to lock the door releasably in its closed position.

Reference is now made to Figure 5 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 100 refers generally to part of yet another skip.

The skip 100 is similar to the skip 10 and unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.

The skip 100 includes a cover 102 mounted on the body 12 such that it encloses the upper portion of the latch 38. In particular, the connection of the latch 38 to the body 1 2 is enclosed so as to reduce the risk that foreign matter may wedge between the latch and body and hence adversely affect the operation of the latch 38. The cover 102 serves as a stop to restrict displacement o'f the latch 38 beyond its locked condition.

In addition, the support 98 includes a wedge element 104 which is mounted on the trunnion 96 for displacement together with the door. The wedge 104 is configured to abut the support 98 when the door is in its closed position and thereby provide support to the trunnion 96 and hence the bearings when the skip 100 is being loaded. The wedge 104 also serves to reduce impact loads on the bearings when the door is displaced from its open to its closed position.

Reference is now made to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, in which reference numeral 110 refers generally to still yet another skip and, unless otherwise indicated, the same reference numerals used above are used to designate similar parts.

In this embodiment, instead of making use of the shaft 34 as a catch, a separate catch 112 protrudes from each side 26 of the door 22. The catch 11 2 is spaced inwardly relative to the first cam follower 32 and to the pivotal axis 114 of the latch 38. The geometry of the latch 38 is configured couch that as the latch 38 is displaced from its locked condition towards its released condition the surface 82 of the latch 38 is displaced away from the surface 84 of the catch 11 2 thereby facilitating displacement of the latch 38 from its locked towards its released condition and reducing the risk that foreign matter may prevent operation of the latch 38.

Further, the configuration of the track 92 and the runners 94 has been selected such that they serve to retain the door 22 in its closed position. In other words they serve a self-locking function. Further, the pivotal connection 86 of the discharge chute 46 to the body 12 has been displaced upwardly relative to the track 92 and runner 94 such that the torque which can be applied to the discharge chute via the runner 94 and track 92 is increased thereby facilitating displacement of the discharge chute 46 between its rest and displaced positions.

The invention extends to a mine shaft having a discharge station at which a skip 10, 100, 110 can be discharged in the manner described above.

The Inventor believes that a skip 10, 1 00, 110. as described above will be relatively simple and hence cost effective to construct. In addition, the skip 10, 100, 110 has relatively few moving parts thereby improving reliability. Further, the fact that the door 22 and door locking means 36 return automatically, under the influence of gravity, to a position which serves to retain the door 22 releasably in its closed position will reduce the risk that the door will be opened inadvertently in a mine shaft which could lead to injury to personnel and damage to equipment. Further, the particular arrangement of the hook-like formation 40 ensures that any attempt to displace the door 22 towards its open position prior to displacing the latch 38 serves to position the shaft 34 more securely in the hook-like formation.

In addition, the provision of a discharge chute which is pivotally displaceable between its rest position and displaced position has the advantage that when the skip is in a discharge station, the discharge chute extends over the dead plate reducing the risk that ore will be discharged between the discharge chute and the dead plate into the mine shaft. Further, with the discharge chute in its rest position, the risk that the discharge chute will snag on rocks, steelwork or the like which protrudes into the mine shaft is reduced.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

The text of the abstract filed herewith is repeated below as part of the specification.

A skip 10 includes a hollow body 12. A discharge opening 20 leads from the body 12 at a low level. A door 22 is mounted on the body 12 for displacement between a closed position in which it closes the discharge opening 20 and an open position. A discharge chute 46 is mounted on the body 12 such that it is inclined downwardly from the discharge opening 20. The chute 46 is mounted for displacement relative to the body 12 between a rest position and a displaced poSition.

Preferably, displacement of the chute 46 between its rest and displaced positions is effected simultaneously with displacement of the door 22 between its closed and open positions.

Claims

' AIMS:

1. A skip comprising: a hollow body; a discharge opening leading from the body at a low level; a door mounted on the body for displacement between a closed position in which it closes the discharge opening and an open position; and a discharge chute mounted on the body such that it is inclined downwardly from the discharge opening, at least part of the chute being mounted for displacement relative to the body between a rest position and a displaced position.

2. A skip as claimed in claim 1, in which in its displaced position a lower edge of the discharge chute is displaced outwardly relative to the position of the lower edge when the discharge chute is in its rest position.

3. A skip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which displacement of the chute between its rest and displaced positions is effected simultaneously with displacement of the door between its closed and open positions.

4. A skip as claimed in any of the preceding claims, in which both the door and the chute are pivotally mounted on the body with complementary displacement formations being provided on the door and on the discharge chute and being configured such that as the door is displaced from its closed to its open position, the discharge chute is displaced from its rest to its displaced position and when the door is returned to its closed position, the discharge chute is simultaneously returned to its rest position.

5. A skip as claimed in claim 4, in which the complementary displacement formations include a track on one of the discharge chute and the door and a complementary runner which runs in the track and is mounted on the other of the discharge chute and the door.

A A skip as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which includes door locking means operable for displacement between a locked condition in which it retains the door releasably in its closed position and a released condition in which it permits displacement of the door.

7. A skip as claimed in claim 6, which includes a first cam follower connected to the door whereby the door is displaceable; and a second cam follower whereby the door locking means is displaceable between its locked and released conditions, the first and second cam followers being positioned such that they are operable, in use, by a common cam positioned in a discharge station.

8. A skip as claimed in claim 7, in which, when the door is in its closed position and the door locking means is in its locked condition, the first and second cam followers are vertically aligned, with the second cam follower being positioned above the first cam follower.

9. A skip as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, inclusive, in which the door is biassed towards its closed position under the influence of gravity.

10. A skip as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, inclusive, in which the door locking means includes a latch which is pivotally mounted on the body and a complementary catch on the door which, in the locked condition, engage to retain the door releasably in its closed position.

11. A skip as claimed in claim 10, in which the latch is elongate and pivotally connected adjacent its operatively upper end to the body such that it hangs therefrom and is biassed towards its locked condition under the influence of gravity.

1 2. A skip as claimed in claim 11, in which at least a lower end portion of the latch is generally hook-shaped having a mouth which opens in a direction hich is generally opposite to the direction in which the catch moves when the door is displaced from its closed position towards its open position.

13. A mine which includes at least one mine shaft in which a skip as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 is displaceable; and a discharge station positioned in the mine shaft and having a cam arrangement configured to cooperate with the first and second cam followers of the skip to displace the door locking means between its locked and released conditions and to displace the door between its open and closed positions.

14. A skip substantially as described and illustrated herein.

15. A mine substantially as described and illustrated herein.