US3123240A

US3123240A - macalpine

Info

Publication number: US3123240A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-03

Description

R. T. M ALPlNE PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY 5 Sheets- Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

RODE T MACALPINE Attorney March 3, 1964 Filed Feb. 4, 1963 4 w. M 0 v 5 March 1964 R. T. M ALPINE 3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor RODERICK T. MACA PINE Attorney March 3, 1964 R MacA PI E 3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor RODERIyZ MACALPINE Attorney March 3, 1964 MMALPINE 3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor CK T. MACALPINE RODERI Attorney March 3, 1964 R. T. M ALPlNE 3,123,240

PORTABLE SHAFT SINKING ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 4, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 68 n n T I A FIG. 8

' I I/ I, u=- .--m in 1 m I 170 720 I I 1/709 707 W: i 70% Y I I I :14

Inventor RODERICK T MACALPINE ttorne y United States Patent 3,123,249 PURTAELE gHAFT fiiNKmG ASSEMBLY Roderick Thompson MacAlpine, RR. 3, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada Filed Feb. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 255,934 8 Claims. ((11. 214-709) This invention relates to a portable machine which can be used for excavation work in general but which is particularly adapted for sinking mining shafts, caissons and the like.

Machines for excavating mine shafts, caissons and the like are well known and are widely used in the earth and rock moving industries. There has been developed, in the past few years, a machine of the telescopic boom type comprised of a fixed boom section mounted at one end to a fixed member for universal movement in respect thereto, and having a telescopic section slidably mounted therein and adapted to be extended from and retracted into the free end of the fixed boom section. Material collecting, carrying and discharging means, such as a bucket, is carried on the free end of the telescopic section. This type of excavating machine is fully disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,666,679, 2,781,- 140 and 2,949,201. This machine is ideally suited for use as a mucking machine in sinking mine shafts.

I have found that the principles embodied in this type of machine can be employed with a portable frame assembly which includes a novel skip hoisting system for such purposes as the sinking of shallow mine shafts, wells, trenches, caissons and the like.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the instant invention to provide a portable machine for sinking mine shafts, caissons and the like which is in the form of an integrated headframe, mucking machine and skip hoisting system which can be readily transported by a drawn or a self-propelled vehicle which, when in place, serves as a mounting for the headframe, mucking machine and skip hoisting system, the muckin machine being adapted to be lowered into and raised out of its operative positions within the shaft and the skip hoisting system being operative within the headframe and shaft with a minimum of ancillary aids.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable shaft sinking machine which can be easily transported from place to place and which eliminates the necessity of erecting a permanent headframe structure the sinking of shallow mining shafts, wells, trenches, caissons and the like.

Essentially, the invention is achieved by the provision of an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of width less than that of said elongated frame and positioned at one side of said elongated frame, a space between said second frame and the other side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine carried by said second frame and extending 1ongitudinally thereof and adapted for universal movement in relation thereto, means for moving said movable frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said other side of said elongated frame, a crosshead releasably securable to cross members carried by the lower end of said second frame and extending therefrom into said space, a skip carried below said crosshead by said skip hoistingmeans, means for releasably securing said skip to said crosshead means in the upper part of said elongated frame for upsetting said skip and discharging the corn tents thereof, and means for pivotally connecting said elongated frame to a movable carrier. 7 I

An understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the portable shaft sinking machine of this invention erected in its operative position; g g

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, in more detail, of the mucking machine illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3' is a perspective view, partly out awa of the main hoisting and ancillary equipment located in the head'frame;

FIGURE 4' is a perspective view of the skip and crosshead assembly in an operative position;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the crosshead in its operative position illustrated in FIGURE 4 showing the spaced relation of the crosshead and frame 19;

FIGURE 6 is a side View of the crosshead, partially cut away, showing, in greater detail, the arrangement and disposition of the various parts of the latching mechanism with the crosshead in a stationary supported position;

FIGURE 7 is a side view of the crosshead, partially cut away, showing the arrangement and disposition of the various parts of the latching mechanism with crosshead and skip locked together for travel in a vertical plane up or down the frame;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken on lines 88 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a bottom view of the crosshead with crosshead and skip' in the engaged position; and

FIGURE 10 is a section taken on lines 1d1l of FIG- URE 7.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, the numeral l6 generally designates the headfr'ame structure of the invention, which is in the form of an elongated frame having'side members 11, cross members 12 and longitudinal frame members 13'. Headframe 10 is held in a vertical position by support members 14- and I5, which are removable to permit the headframe It to be pivoted about axis X-X defined by pivots l6 and 17 to dispose headframe' 10 in a horizontal position on carrier 18 for trans port purposes.

Mounted in frame 10 is a movable frame structure 19 which is movable longitudinally within frame iii. A mucldng machine 2%, as shown in more detail by FIG- URE 2, is carried by the frame 19 and is adapted for universal movement in respect thereto. The mucking machine 26 is of the telescopic boom type and comprises a fixed boom section 25 which is secured, at one end, to frame 19 for controlled universal movement in respect thereto by means of

cylinders

26, 27 and 28. A telescopic boom section 29 is slidably connected to the free end of section 25 for retraction thereinto and extension therefrom. Telescopic section 29 carries bucket means 3d at its free end and may, for purposes of example, have two

mating half sections

31 and 32 pivotally connected at 33 controlled by

cylinders

34 and 35. The various movements of the boom sections and Z9 and bucket means 36 are achieved by the selective introduction of air or hydraulic fluid under pressure into the piston and cylinder assemblies indicated above. Lever members in the operators compartment 36 in movable frame 19 are adapted to permit manual control of the various movements of the boom and bucket. The structure and operation of the telescopic boom type mucking machine is fully disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,781,140.

In order to raise and lower frame 19' for working within a mine shaft, a drum hoist 41 driven by motor .2 is mounted on platform 46 at the top of headframe 1t). Hoisting cable 44 wound on drum hoist 41 is secured at its lower end to a reinforcing member 4-5 at the top of frame 19, as is illustrated by FIGURE 5. Hoist 41 can, of course, be locked to position frame 19 vertically at any desired level within the shaft by means of disc or drum brakes or the like locking mechanisms well known in the art.

Frame 19 is adapted to accommodate, for travel substantially parallel with and independently of frame 19, a skip 47. The skip hoisting and controlling apparatus comprises a pair of guide cables 48 and 49' which are provided to prevent rotation or swinging of skip 47 in its vertical travel within the shaft. As illustrated by FIGURES 3 and 4, drum hoists 513 and 51, driven by motor 52 through differential 53 at the top of the headframe provide equal tension to guide

cables

48 and 49 which are anchored to

cross beams

54 and 55 projecting from frame .19.

Cables

53 and 49 are thus adapted to support a portion of the weight of movable frame 19 which carries mucking machine 29 and in so doing are maintained under tension to function as guide wires for the travel of the skip.

Main hoisting cable 56, controlled by hoist 57 and driving motor 58 positioned at the top of headframe 10- on platform 43, is secured at its lower end to bridle 59 by connector 60. A pair of guide sleeves 61-62 is formed in the opposite ends of bridle 59 for slidable travel on guide cables 48-49.

Crosshead '63 is disposed below bridle 59' and carried in the same vertical plane as said bridle by' means of guide sleeves 64-55 formed in the opposite ends of the crosshead for slidable travel on guide cables 48-49. The crosshead is connected to the bridle by means of a pair of hoisting cables 66-67 secured at their upper ends to a member 68 of crosshead 63 as designated by numerals 69-76 and passing over pulleys 71-72 pivotally secured below bridle 59 to pass downwardly through guide sleeves 73-74 formed integral with the crosshead and detent mechanism described in detail hereinbelow. The lower ends 75-76 of cables as-a7 connected to arms 77-78 of skip 47 as indicated, thus permitting a varying spaced relationship between bridle 59, crosshead 63 and skip 47, as will also be described hereinbelow.

Shoulders 80-81 formed integral with the opposite ends of crosshead 63 are adapted to abut cross beams 54-55 as the skip-crosshead assembly is lowered in the shaft. A latching mechanism contained by the crosshead is actuated by its abutment with the cross beams 54-55 to extend latches 82-83 laterally below cross beams 54-55 to lock the cross beam from vertical movement of the shaft. Concurrent with the extension of latches 82-33, a second latching mechanism for engaging torpedo stops 84-35 carried by cables 66-67 and pin 86 carried by member &7 is released allowing the skip to be disengaged from the crosshead for lowering to the bottom of the shaft for loading.

In more detail, as illustrated by FIGURE 4 and FIG- URES 6 through 10, the crosshead 63 comprises an elongated rectangular housing 38 which carries shoulders 80-81 at each end adapted to engage lateral support members 54-55. In its shoulder engaging position,

crosshead 63 is restrained from vertical movement in either direction by means of upper support shoulders 39-81 of housing 88, which bear upon members 54-55, and by means of retractable latches til-d3 which, in their extended position, underlie support members 5 55, as shown. Support members 54-55 are preferably extensions of frame 19 as described hereinabove.

In the particular crosshead embodiment herein described, a main pivotal member 89 is rotatably mounted in housing 8 8 intermediate the ends thereof. As shown in FIGURES 6, 7 and 9, wheel 89 is provided with a claw member 99, rigidly mounted thereon, the purpose of which will become apparent as the description proceeds. Also mounted on wheel 89 is a pin 91 which projects through, and is adapted to travel in, arcuate slot 92 formed in sidewall 93 of housing 88.

A pair of L-shaped

trip arms

94 and 95 are mounted on sidewall 93, the outer ends of which are substantially co-extensive with support shoulders Sit-81 of housing 88. Adjacent their outer ends, trip arms 94-95 are each pivotally mounted in a pair of rollers 96-97. The inner L-shaped ends of

arms

94 and 95 overlie one another and are provided with elongated slots 98 which are aligned with slot 92 and are adapted to accommodate pin 91 for slidable travel therein.

The outer ends of

trip arms

94 and 95, as shown in more detail in FIGURE 6, are undercut to define inwardly and upwardly inclined support-engaging surfaces 99-1116, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

Retractable latches 82-83 are mounted on wheels 1%1-192 for travel along rails 103-1114. Latches 82- 83 are also provided, at their outer, upper corners, with rollers 1115-10 6 which facilitate travel of the latches along the undersurfaces of members 54-55. Latches 82-83 are connected to wheel *89 by means of connecting links 107-1118 which are pivotally secured to latches 82-83 at 189-111 and to wheel 89' at substantially diametrically opposed points 111-112 adjacent the periphery thereof.

Referring to FIGURE 9, latches 32-33 are provided with openings 113-114- which permit the passage of cable 66 67 therethrough. The width of openings 113-114 is a maximum at the inner ends of latches 82-83 and gradually tapers to a minimum width, as shown, towards the centre of the latches. The purpose of this configuration is desrcibed hereinbelow.

An actuating lever for the crosshead mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral 115, is mounted on the lower part of housing 88 and comprises a pair of elongated members 116-117 pivotally mounted on the sidewalls of housing 88 at 118-119. A shaft 125) extending between the free ends of members 116-117 is adapted to rotatably support a roller 129a between the side walls of housing 88. A link 12.1 is pivotally mounted at one end on shaft 121) and at its other end on wheel 89 at 122. The operation of actuating mechanism is also described in detail hereinbelow.

Referring again to FIGURE 4, a conventional skip 47, preferably of rectangular conformation, as shown, is suspended from crosshead 63 by means of a pair of cables 66-67, which are rigidly anchored at one end to member 68 of crosshead 63 as at 69-7-11. Cables 66-67 pass over pulleys 71-72 carried by bridle 59, through guideways 73-74 in crosshead 63 and apertures 113- 114 in latches 82-83, and are rigidly secured, at their lower ends, to pivotal connections 123-124 on skip sup port arms 77-78.

Cables 66-67 are provided with torpedo stops i l-S5 rigidly mounted thereon adjacent pivotal connections 123-124. As shown in FIGURE 7, housing 63 embodies a pair of torpedo cavities 127-128 aligned with guideways 73-74 and located intermediate of latches 82-83 and guideways 73-74. Cavities 127 -12 5 are of a size and conformation adapted to accommodate torpedo stops 84-85 and to restrain them from further upward movement relative to crosshead as.

Referring to FIGURE 4, a crossmember 87 is rigidly mounted, at its ends, adjacent the upper ends of skip support arms '77-'78 and at a sufficient height above skip 79 to permit the skip to be freely pivoted about axis YY on pivotal mountings 129. A stud $6 carried on crossmember 87 substantially centrally thereof has a locking pin 13% slidably mounted on the tip thereof. Locking pin 130 may, if desired, be spring loaded, as shown, to urge the pin into its normally extended position.

Referring to FIGURES 7 and 8, a socket 131 is formed within housing 83, with which stud 86 on member $57 is aligned. Socket 131 is adapted to receive locking pin 13% when the skip is raised to abut the underside of crosshead 63. With particular reference to FEGURE 7, locking pin 130 and torpedo stops 53 -35 are mounted in a spaced relationship such that when locking pin 13% has reached its position of accommodation within socket 131, stops 34-85 will have passed through apertures 113-114 of latches 82-83 and have been accommodated within torpedo cavities 127-128.

In operation, the raising and lowering of skip 4'7 beneath lateral support member 54-55 is achieved by main hoisting cable 56 raising or lowering bridle 59 and thereby acting through pulleys 71-72 and cables 66-67 while crosshead 63 is being held stationary on support members 3-55 between support shoulders ti l-S1 and extended retractable latches 82-83. Crosshead 63 is held in this position until skip 47 is raised from a position below the crosshead to the point where cros'srnember 87 contacts roller 129a. As the upward movement of skip 47 proceeds, crosshead 63 being held stationary, roller 120a and shaft 12% approach housing 38, causing wheel 89 to be rotatably displaced in the direction of the arrow X in response to the motion imparted to it by link 121 mounted on shaft 124 while pin 91 on wheel 89 travels upwardly in slot 92. Approximately halfway through its travel in slot 92, pin fi l engages the upper ends of elongated slots 98 in trip arms 94-?5 carrying the inner ends of said trip arms in an upward direction causing them to rotate about rollers 96-97 adjacent their respective outer ends until they have reached a' substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIGURE 7. As trip arms 94-95 are being thus urged to a horizontal position, retractable latches (Q-$3 are retracted in response to the motion imparted to them through connecting linkage 157-108 until they are clear of supports 54-55, thereby releasing crosshead 63 for upward travel.

Simultaneous with the release of crosshead 63 from engagement with crosshead supports 54-55, the skip is engaged with the crosshead, as shown in FIGURES 7 and 9. That is, when locking pin 13d has reached its position of accommodation within socket 13 torpedo stops lid-$5 will have cleared latches 82-83 and have been received within torpedo cavities 127-128. Meanwhile, latches 82-83 will have been retracted to a position where the reduced diameter of tapered openings 113-114 effectively locks torpedo stops 84-85 in place and claw member 9% on wheel 89 will have been rotatably displaced to a position underlying locking pin 130, thereby effectively locking the crosshead and skip together at three points, such that the skip and crosshead are positively coupled together for travel in an upward direction in the shaft above supports 54-55.

As mentioned hereinbefore with reference to FIG- URE 3, guide cables 48-4? tensioned by motor 52 through differential mechanism 53 and wound on drum hoists 50-51 provide a stabilizing and guiding influence on the bridle and crosshead to prevent rotation or swinging of the skip as it travels in the shaft. Ratchet control mechanisms 133 are provided on drum hoists Ell-51 to prevent slippage of cables 48-459 and to ensure that the tension in said cables is substantially equalized.

Upon reaching the headframe, bridle 59 and crosshead 63 are received in the upper portion of the headframe. Guide shoes 134 carried by skip 47 are engaged by guide rails carried by the headframe to maintain skip arms 77-78 and the guide shoes 134 in vertical alignment. Followers 135-136 are adapted to engage curved channels 137-138 of scroll plates 139 such that as the skip is raised past the scroll plates, the upper portion of the skip is deflected outwardly by the scroll plates causing the skip to pivot about axis Y-Y at the base thereof upsetting its contents into a discharge chute. The skip is then lowered to the base of the shaft for reloading of the skip by the mucking machine.

Upon reaching the lowermost timber set, trip arms 9&- come into contact with supports 54-55 and, by virtue of the upwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 94a, trip arms 94-95 are caused to pivot about rollers 96-97 urging the inner ends of said trip arms in a downward direction causing pin 91', in turn, to be forced downwardly in slot 532, thereby causing wheel 89 to be rotatably displaced in the direction of the arrow Y. At the same time, latches 82-83, by virtue of linkages ltl'T-llbd, are moved to their extended positions underlying supports 54-55, engaging the crosshead therewith and simultaneously freeing torpedo stops id-"S for downward travel through openings 113-114. Also, claw member 9% on wheel 39 is rotatably displaced with the wheel, freeing locking pin 13% on stud 86 for downward travel.

Skip l7 may then be lowered to the base of the mine shaft for loading and the hoisting operation is then repeated.

The portable headframe can be quickly and readily moved from location to location. For transportation, the mucking machine and skip assembly are each hoisted into the main headframe iii and anchored in place. Support arms 14-15 are disengaged from the bed of the support vehicle and the headframe pivoted about axis X-X until it lies horizontally on the vehicle bed.

The present invention possesses a number of important advantages. The portable headframe can be quickly and readily set up or taken down and moved from shaft site to shaft site. The undesirable time consumption and the costs of preparing the site for a headframe and erecting a headframe thereon are substantially obviated. The speed at which a shaft is sunk is further increased over conventional methods in that the mucking and hoisting equipment is continually advanced to the working face and expeditiously employed regardless of the presence or absence of shaft timbering. The apparatus is positive and substantially trouble-free in operation, enhancing safety considerations in shaft sinking operations.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can 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 portable excavating machine comprising an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a width less than that of said elongated frame defining a space between said second frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame and adapted for universal movement in relation thereto, means for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said side of said elongated frame, a crosshead releasably securable to a cross member of said elongated frame, a skip carried by said skip hoisting means below said crosshead, means forreleasabiy securing said skip to said crosshead, means-in the upper part of said elongated frame are-sass for upsetting said skip, and means for pivotally connecting said elongated frame to a transportable carrier.

2. The portable excavating machine claimed in claim 1 in which said mucking machine comprises a telescopic boom having a first section connected at one end to said second frame and capable of universal movement in respect thereto, a telescopic section slidably carried by said first section and mounted for retraction into and extension from said first section, bucket means carried by the free end of said telescopic section and operator controlled fluid means for retracting and extending said telescopic section and for ctuating said bucket means.

3. The portable excavating machine claimed in claim 1 in which said means for upsetting said skip comprise a scroll plate having guide channels thereton, said channels being adapted to accommodate follower members on said skip for slidable travel therealong.

4. A portable excavating machine for use in a shaft comprising an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a width less than that of said elongated frame defining a space between said second frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame and adapted for universal movement in relation thereto, means for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said side of said elongated frame, cross members carried by said second frame adapted to project into said space, a crosshead having latching means so constructed and arranged as to permit positive, automatic locked engagement of the crosshead with the projecting cross members, a skip disposed below said crosshead, means for automatically coupling said skip to said crosshead for travel together in the shaft above said projecting cross members and for releasing said latch means from engagement with said cross members on contact of the skip with said crosshead in raising the skip, and means for automatically releasing said skip from engagement with said crosshead and for engagement of said latch means with said support means when the crosshead contacts said support means in its downward travel.

5. A portable excavating machine for use in a shaft comprising an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a width less than that of said elongated frame defining a space between said second frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame and adapted for universal movement in relation thereto, means for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said side of said elongated frame, cross members carried by said second frame adapted to project into said space, a skip, a crosshead, guiding means extending from the upper extremity of said shaft to said second frame projecting cross members for guiding and stabilizing the travel of the crosshead within the shaft, means carried by the crosshead for engaging said projecting cross members in positive locked engagement and for simultaneously disengaging the skip from the crosshead when the crosshead contacts said cross members in its downward travel, means for lowerin the skip to the bottom of the shaft and for raising the skip to the crosshead, and means actuable by the contact of the skip with the crosshead on the upward motion of the skip for disengaging the crosshead from its locked engagement with the cross members while simultaneously positively coupling the skip with the crosshead for travel together in the shaft.

6. A portable excavating machine for use in a shaft comprising an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a width less than that of said elongated frame defining a space between said second frame and side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame and adapted for universal movement in relation thereto, 1621113 for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said side of said elongated frame, a pair of support members carried by said second frame adapted to project into said space, a cable anchored to each support member and extending therefrom to the top of said shaft, means for tensioning said cables, a bridle having guide sleeves formed at opposite ends thereof adapted to slidably receive said cables, cans for securing said hoisting cable to said bridle, a crosshead disposed below said bridle, guide sleeves formed in the opposite ends of said crosshead for slidably receiving said guide cables, a pair of pulleys mounted on said bridle, a pair of cables secured at one end to said crosshead extending over said pulleys and through said pair of guide sleeves, a skip disposed below said crosshead, means for connecting said skip to the lower ends of the pair of cables, means for positively engaging the skip with the crosshead in locked engagement for travel together in the guided portions of the shaft, locking means carried by the crosshead actuable by abutment of the crosshead in its downward travel with the support members for engaging said support members in positive locked engagement and for simultaneously disengaging the skip from the crosshead for lowering and raising of the skip to and from the bottom of the shaft, means actuable by the upward motion of the skip relative to the crosshead for releasing said locking means from engagement with said support members while simultaneously positively coupling the skip with the crosshead in locked engagement for travel in the shaft opening above said support members.

7. A portable excavating machine for use in sinking a shaft comprising an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a Width less than that of said elongated frame defining a space between said second frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame, said mucking machine having a first sec tion connected to one end of said second frame capable of universal movement in respect thereto and a second telescopic section slidably carried by said first section mounted for retraction into and extension from said first section, bucket means carried by the free end of said telescopic section and operator controlled fiuid means for retracting and extending said telescopic section and for actuating said bucket means, means for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said side of said elongated frame, a pair of support members carried by said second frame adapted to project into said space, a cable anchored to each support member and extending therefrom to the top of said shaft, means for tensioning said cables, a bridle having guide sleeves formed at opposite ends thereof adapted to slidably receive said cables, means for securing said hoisting cable to said bridle, a crosshead disposed below said bridle, guide sleeves formed in the opposite ends of said crosshead for slidably receiving said guide cables, a pair of pulleys mounted on said bridle, a pair of cables secured at one end to said crosshead extending over said pulleys and through said pair of guide sleeves, a skip disposed below said crosshead, means for connecting said skip to the lower ends of the pair of cables, means for positively engaging the skip with the crosshead in locked engagement for travel together in the guided portions of the shaft, locking means carried by the crosshead actuable by abutment of the crosshead in its downward travel with the support members for engaging said support members in positive locked engagement and for simultaneously disengaging the skip from the crosshead for lowering and raising of the skip to and from the bottom of the shaft, means actuable by the upward motion of the skip relative to the crosshead for releasing said locking means from engagement with said support members while simultaneously positively coupling the skip with the crosshead in locked engagement for travel in the shaft opening above said support members.

8. A portable excavating machine for use in sinking a shaft comprising an elongated frame having side members and cross members, a second frame mounted for longitudinal movement within said elongated frame of a width less than that of said elongated frame defining a space between said second frame and a side of said elongated frame, a mucking machine mounted on said second frame, means for moving said second frame longitudinally with respect to said elongated frame, skip hoisting means extending longitudinally through said space between said second frame and said side of said elongated frame, and means for upsetting said skip having a scroll plate with guide channels thereon, said channels being adapted to accommodate follower members on said skip for slidable travel therealong.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 659,970 Horst Oct. 16, 1900 1,272,354 Baker July 16, 1918 1,829,587 Fisher Oct. 27, 1931 2,214,288 Starr Sept. 10, 1940 2,316,976 Sahlin Apr. 20, 1943 2,587,844 Harrison Mar. 4, 1952 2,781,140 Cryderman Feb. 12, 1957 2,937,773 Pierce et a1. May 24, 1960

Claims

1. A PORTABLE EXCAVATING MACHINE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME HAVING SIDE MEMBERS AND CROSS MEMBERS, A SECOND FRAME MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITHIN SAID ELONGATED FRAME OF A WIDTH LESS THAN THAT OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME DEFINING A SPACE BETWEEN SAID SECOND FRAME AND A SIDE OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME, A MUCKING MACHINE MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND FRAME AND ADAPTED FOR UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT IN RELATION THERETO, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SECOND FRAME LONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELONGATED FRAME, SKIP HOISTING MEANS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID SECOND FRAME AND SAID SIDE OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME, A CROSSHEAD RELEASABLY SECURABLE TO A CROSS MEMBER OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME, A SKIP CARRIED BY SAID SKIP HOISTING MEANS BELOW SAID CROSSHEAD, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID SKIP TO SAID CROSSHEAD, MEANS IN THE UPPER PART OF SAID ELONGATED FRAME FOR UPSETTING SAID SKIP, AND MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID ELONGATED FRAME TO A TRANSPORTABLE CARRIER.