US2545170A - Mine skip - Google Patents

Description

March 1951 G. 1.. SAUNDERS 2,545,170

MINE SKIP Filed Sept. 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 glo 5 6 Q 0 B 00 a I INVENTOR 1 GUY SAUNDERS ATTORNEY March 13, 1951 G. SAUNDERS 2,545,170

MINE SKIP Filed Sept. 11, 1948 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR GUY SAU NDERS ATTORNEY March 13, 1951 G, SAUNDERS 2,545,170

MINE SKIP Filed Sept. 11, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l-NVE NTOR GUY L. SAUNDERS BY I ATTORNEY as the skip is raised to the surface.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MINE SKIP Guy Lefanu Saunders, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application September 11, 1948, Serial No. 48,843

'7 Claims. (Cl. 214'--120) 1 This invention relates to a mine skip for use particularly in raising ore from a mine to the ground surface.

Mine skips or buckets are used in raising ore from the various levels of a mine to the surface.

The skips ordinarily are in the form of elongated buckets adapted to be carried on bails which form a frame within which the bucket is carried and which slide on guides or on relatively heavy timbers provided for this purpose in the mine shaft. The skips are raised from and lowered into the mine shaft by a cable.

The conventional skips have several important disadvantages. The skips'are as large as possible in order to raise maximum loads, within the limits of the mine shaft and the cable hoist apparatus of course, and they must be strongly reinforced to withstand the shocks and stresses to which they are subjected in loading and raising.

upside down to dump the load into a chute which usually leads to a storage bin. The conventional skips thus involve costly head frame structures and dumping equipment.

Buckets which empty through the bottom have been proposed but difficulties are found in their use. For example, the bottom of the bucket must'be capable of withstanding the shock of the bulk load of heavy ore dropped into it, and it must carry the load safely without danger of leakage of ore or of the bottom swingin open Also, at the dumping position, the skip must be swung clear of the mine shaft before any of the load is discharged.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a mine skip which empties through the bottom and which is devised with shock absorbers which absorb the shock of the bulk load as it is dumped into the skip at the loading point. I A further important object of the invention is a .it has reached its dumping position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple arrangement of sealing the joint between thewalls and the bottom Oi th bucket to prevent leakage of material during loading and raising.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple arrangement of guides for swinging the lower end of the bucket away from the mine shaft and clear of the bottom supporting member as the skip reaches its dumping position.

The skip of the present invention comprises, in general, a frame-adapted .to fit and move within guides, an elongated bucket resiliently suspended .from the top of said frame, a bottom hingedly attached to said bucket, resiliently mounted means carried by said frame adapted to support said bottom in the loading and raising of said bucket, means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower end of said bucket out of the frame and away from the bottom supporting member, and means for closing the joint between the. lower end of the bucket walls and the hinged bottom member.

An understanding of the manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are attained may be had from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: a

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mine skip embodying the features of the present invention in a raising or lowering osition;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the skip in a dumping position;

Figure 3 is a detail view in section taken along the line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a detail view in section taken along the. line 4-4, Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail view partly in along the line 5-5, Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed View in section of the lower end of the skip.

Referring to the drawings, the mine skip of the present invention includes, in general, a frame comprised of bails Ill having atransverse draw bar H, an elongated bucket I2 and associated parts, and a door supporting apparatus, all of which are described in detail hereinafter.

The bails l 0 are in the form of relatively heavy channel beams or other structural shapes adapted to fit around three sides of the mine timbers IS on which they slide. Usually a wearing shoe is interposed between the opposing faces of the timbers and the bails. The bails l0 and the draw bar H form a frame within which the bucket I 2 is suspended.

The draw bar ll extends transversely section taken of the upper. end of the bails l and is provided with centrally disposed hanging bars Hi to which the mine cable I6 may be firmly secured, such as by bolts H. The ends of the draw bar are secured in the enlarged upper ends 18 of the bails Ill, described hereinafter.

The manner in which the bucket is resiliently suspended from the draw head is illustrated in detail in- Figure- 3; Hangers 2t! in the form of relatively heavy ininhers are formed by upward extensions of two opposing sides of the upper end of the bucket. These hangers 26 are de= signed to withstand the loads to which they are exposed. A shaft 2| is extended through housings 23 provided in hangers to secured to opposing sides of the bucket. Rubber shock absorbers 22 are inserted between the hoiising 23' and the hanger 20. The shaft is journalled in resiliently mounted bearings 24 provided in the draw head l8. The hearings 24 are mounted arrangement of th'e'shaft 2i provid s in effect resiliently mounted pivotal connection between the draw head and the upper end of the bucket.

The bucket 12 ordinarily is of rectangular s ape and is forinedof i'elatiyelfy heavy side plates capable-of withstanding the loads to which it is subjected. A pair of rollers or wheels are rotatably mount'eoeo'js'ee t the edges o the lower ends of the sides of the bucket. These ifollers' or whe ls are adapted to engage tracks 39' provide at the dumping" position f the shaft to swingthe' lower e ho of the bucket out of the theme. The wheels 30 aie rotetehly' mounted on: short shafts" joiifrialled housings 4-1 se- Qtiied td tl'i Sides" or the bucket, illustratd in Figiire 5. t t

Tfi bucket i pidvi dd With a safety latch to hold it firmly within the bails IB during raising an lowering. a AlfieferredfOnn of safety'latch comprises a latch" catch 3] in the: form of a stud extending from each side of the blicket about midway of its length and positioned adjac'ent to a bail. This latch catch is hoiiiielly' engag'ed by the hooked end 32 ofen' l -shap'd latch sewhioh is pivota y secured to the bracket 35 on the side of each bail remote from the mating stud 3|.

The latch is proyided with an a m 3 which carries an outwardly extending roller 37. This roll r 31 is adapted to engage a track 38 posi tio'ned near the dumping position of the shaft which. as the bucket motes u wardly. raises the latch from the stud 3| immediately prior to the engag ment of the wheels 30 with the dump track 39. I u

v Stop b ocks are pifovided on the sides of the skin normally to aid in holding" the skip in alignm nt with the bails".

The base or bottom 56 of the bucket is hingedly seei eo to the lower r arward ed e of the uck t. Preferably, "as illustrated in detail in Figures 1, 2 and 4, the hiiig'es are is the form of heavy straps which are pivota ly secured to the bucket a .ace'nt to but slightlyjsliov'e the lower end and are fir in y secured thereto. This arran einent of hii gelily securing" the bottom to the Bucket permits the bottom to open the full area or t e lower end of the bucket without any restriction would interfere with the discharge of the load when the bucket is in its dumping position, as illustrated by Figure 2.

The bottom of the bucket is in the form of a heavy casting of a type suitable to carry safely the loads to which it is subjected. The bottom is resiliently and pivotally secured to the rearward face of the bucket adjacent to but spaced apart from the lower edge thereof by a shaft which is journalled in roller bearings Bl mounted in bearing housings 62 which are carriedby castings 85 secured to each side of the skip bucket. The housings 6 2 are spaced from the hinges 63 by rubber or other suitable shock absorbing blocks 64, as illustrated by Figure 4.

The bottom is supported resiliently and firmly during loading, raising and lowering by a cam track; and roller arrangement illustrated by Figure 6. In this arrangement, a shaft i9 is journall'ed inan" outwardly extending housing H securedto or otherwise carried by each bail I0 below the bucket. A rubber or other suitable shock absorbing block 15 is interposed between the ends of the shaft and the housing H.- A wheel or roller E2 is mounted" at eachendof the shaft between the housings H Preferably, roller bearings 13 are interposed between the rollers and the shaft and rubber or' other shitable shock absorber blocks 14 are interposed between the bearin housing 11 and the rollers.-

The rollers 12 move on cam tracks; 16' which are" secured to the underside of the bottom 50, the tracks being designed so that when the bucket is in alignment with the bails the bottom is held firmly in a closed position, as illustrated by Figure 1, and as the lower end of the bucket is swung outof the balls, the curvature" of the cam tracks permits the bottom to open to its fu lest ext nt. as illustrated 15y Figure 2 The joiht between the bottom so and the lower edges of the bucket" are sealed by relatively heavy rubber stripe at which are secured to the lower edges of the bucket by bolts 81. Preferably paral el strips are employed which extend downward y to contact the depot surface of the bottom 50 and are of sufficient length to provide a sea between-the edges of the bucket and the bottom.

The bottom at of the bucket is provided with a li earin'g irate R5 nd a so is preferably provided with a shock absorb r 86', such as a thick block of wood, between t e wearing plate and the bottom. the ass mbly being detachably secured toget r by bolts 81.

In th use f the skin, the bucket is locked in ali nment with the bails durin loading, raising to its rll' 'mnin posit on and lowering from its dum ing position. As the skip is raised to the dumping position, the end of the safety latch es ate's the track 38 and is released. following which the roller 3'] n ages" the dump track 39 and the lower end of the bucket swung outw'atdli from the bails and the bottom is o'erfn tted to open. Preferably. the cam track 16 is desi n d so that the bottom is held firmly in its closed position until it is over the unloading chute, clear of the shaft. After dumping its load, the skip is lowered, into the mine shaft and as it is lowered the bucket is returned to its position in alignment with the tails and locked in position by the safety latch. 1

The skip of the present invention possesses a number of important advantages. The mine shaft head frame may be built substantially lower than with conventional skips and the relatively costly dumping arrangements are eliminated with attendant important savings in construction costs. The bucket empties instantaneouny as soon as it is'clear of themine shaft which increases the amount of ore-"which can be raised in as'pecified time. The arrangement of the shock absorbers for theparts subjected to the shock of the bulk load dumped into the bucket at the loading levels'minimizes the wearing effect of the load and eliminatesthe difficulties which heretofore have offset the advantages of bottom dump bu ts:

-It will-'be understood, of' course, that modifications may be made in the preferred embodiment of the invention described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A mine skip comprising a frame adapted to fit and slide within guides, an elongated bucket resiliently suspended from the top ofsaid frame, a bottom for said bucket, means for hingedly attaching said bottom to said bucket comprising a shaft journalled in spaced bearings mounted in housings carried by said bucket adjacent to but spaced from the lower edge of the rearward face of said bucket, a hinge strap carried by said shaft and secured to the undersurface of said bottom, a shock' absorber between each bearing housing and the adjacent hinge strap, means adapted to support said bottom in the loading and load carrying positions of the bucket, means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower ,end of said bucket out of the frame away from; the bottom supporting means and means for closing the joint between the bucket walls and the hinged bottom member;

2. A mine skip comprising a frame adapted to fit and slide within guides, means for suspending a bucket in said frame which comprises a transverse member extending between opposing sides of said frame and firmly secured thereto, a transverse ,shaft journalled in spaced bearings mounted in housings carried by said frame below said transverse member, shockabsorbers between said bearing housings and said transverse memher, a hanger mounted at each end of said shaft between said bearings and secured to the upper end of the bucket, a shock absorber between the shaft and each hanger, a bottom hingedly attached to said bucket, resiliently mounted means adapted to support said bottom in the loading and load carrying positions of the bucket, means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower end of said bucket out of the frame away from the bottom supporting means, and means for closing the joint between the bucket walls and the hinged bottom member.

3. A mine skip adapted to fit and slide within guides-,an elongated bucket resiliently suspended from the top of said frame, a bottom hingedly attached to said bucket, resiliently mounted means adapted to support said bottom in the loading, raising and lowering positions of the bucket which comprises a shaft journalled in spaced'housings carried by saids frame below said bucket, shock absorbers between said housing and said frame, at least one cam track carried by the undersurface of said bottom, and a resiliently mounted roller mounted on said shaft adapted to engage each cam track, means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower end of said bucket out of the frame away from the bottom supporting member, and means for closing the joint between the bucket walls and the hinged bottom member. 4. A mine skip comprising a frame adapted to fit and slide within guides, an elongated bucket pivotally suspended from the top of said frame, a bottom for said bucket, means for hingedly attaching said bottom to said bucket comprising a shaft journalled in spaced bearings mounted in housings carried by said bucket adjacent to but spaced from the lower edge of the rearward wall of the bucket, a hinge strap carried by said shaft and secured to the under-surface of said bottom, means adapted to support said bottom in the loading and load carrying positions of the bucket, means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower end of said bucket out of the frame away from the bottom supporting means, and means for closing the joint between the bucket walls and the bottom member.

5. A mine skip comprising a frame adapted to fit and slide within guides, an elongated bucket pivotally suspended from the top of the frame, a bottom for said bucket, means for hingedly attaching said bottom to said bucket comprising a shaft journalled in spaced bearings mounted in housings adjacent to but spaced from the lower edge of the rearward wall of said bucket, means adapted to support said bottom in the loading and load carrying positions of the bucket, compressible means adapted to close the joint between the lower edges of the bucket walls and the bottom member, and means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower end of the bucket out of the frame and away from the bottom supporting means.

6. A mine skip comprising a frame adapted to fit and slide within guides, an elongated bucket pivotally suspended from the top of said frame, a bottom for said bucket, means for hingedly attachingsaid bottom to said bucket comprising a shaft journalled in spaced bearings mounted in housings adjacent to but spaced from the lower edge of the rearward face of said bucket, compressible means secured to the lower edges of said bucket and adapted to close the joint between the lower edgs of the bucket walls and the bottom member, means for supporting said bottom member in a closed position in the loading and load carrying positions of the bucket, means for latching said bucket in alignment with said frame, means carried by said bucket adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides for swinging the lower end of the bucket out of the frame away from the bottom supporting means and means for releasing said latch to permit the lower end of the bucket to swing out of its alignment with said frame.

'7. A mine skip comprising a frame adapted to fit and slide within guides, an elongated bucket pivotally suspended from the top of said frame, a

'bottom for said bucket comprising a relatively heavy casting having a wearing plate secured to the load carrying surface thereof and shock absorbing means between said wearing plate and said casting, means for hingedly attaching said bottom to said bucket comprising a shaft journalled in spaced bearings mounted in housings adjacent to but spaced from the lower edge of the rearward face of said bucket, means adapted to support said bottom in the loading and load carrying positions of the bucket, compressible means adapted to close the joint between the lower edges of the bucket walls and the bot- 7 tom member, and means carried by said bucket UNITED STATES PATENTS adapted to engage tracks spaced from said guides um Name e for swinging the lower end at the bucket out 172-0 383 Alexander Mu July 1929 of the frame and. away from the bottom sup- Watson fig-film Apr" 1941 wrung means- 5 2,335,352 Murtaughi mam--- Nov. so, 1943 LEFANU SAUNDERS 2,345,328 Conway efl a1.- .36. Mar. '28, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS REFERENCES CITED Number Country Date Th' foll'o'wing references are of. record in the 10 2 G at Brita-111 u 31 1 2 file of" this patent: 360,745 Great Britain 3-6 Nov. 1-2; 1 931

Images