US3177815A - Overhead haulage system for mine tunnel or mine passage installations - Google Patents

Description

Apnl 13, 1965 H. v. HENDERSON 3,

OVERHEAD HAULAGE SYSTEM FOR MINE TUNNEL OR MINE PASSAGE INSTALLATIONS Filed May 14, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6 FIG 1 T IuvE-NToE.

HERBEKT Wcrog HENDEK 5'00/ Apnl 13, 1965 H. v. HENDERSON 3,177,815

OVERHEAD HAULAGE SYSTEM FOR MINE TUNNEL OR MINE PASSAGE INSTALLATIONS Filed May 14, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN NTME Hens-11' \/IcT0 HEA/nmzsm/ 9%M/JMm United States Patent 3,177,815 OVERHEAD HAULAGE SYSTEM FOR MINE TUN- NEL OR MINE PASSAGE WSTALLA'IIONS Herbert V. Henderson, Germiston, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa, assignor to Anglo-Transvaal Consolidated Investment Qompany Limited, Johannesburg, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa Filed May 14, 1963, Ser. No. 280,203 Claims priority, application Republic of South Africa,

a Sept. 25, 1962, 62/4346 4 (Ilaims. (Cl. 104-91) This invention relates to an overhead haulage system particularly for moving material along underground mine haulage-ways, stopes and including development ends, tunnels and the like in which tubs must travel to the working face and return therefrom, suitably loaded.

Ideally in a haulage system of this type the tubs car rying the ore should be able to travel in a general clockwise or anti-clockwise direction on a forward and return track, thus obviating reversing operations on a single track and branch track to manoeuvre tubs away from and into position adjacent the Working face. While this presents no problem in wide passageways, it does represent a problem in narrow passageways such as normal de velopment ends and an object of this invention is to provide a haulage system which will enable forward and return travel of tubs without reversing and in narrow passageways.

In accordance with this invention there is provided for a haulage system comprising a terminal section consisting of parallel forward and return overhead tracks connected by a substantially semi-circular track section, a train of haulage tubs adapted to be suspended from said tracks, characterised in that each tub suspension means comprises two longitudinally spaced running wheel assemblies mounted on the tub, each assembly carried by a mounting which is rotatable about a vertical axis, the wheel assemblies on each tub and the adjacent wheel assemblies on adjacent tubs, all being spaced along the length of the track distances less than the diameter of theysemi-circular track section.

According to a further feature of the invention adjacent tubs are connected together by rigid links connecting adjacent wheel mountings.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a train of four tubs traversing a semi-circular track section,

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of a pair of laterally adjacent tubs on a forward and reverse track respectively,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a pair of connected tubs,

FIG. 4 is a sectional end elevation on an enlarged scale showing the method of suspending the track, and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of FIG. 4.

The drawings illustrate the application of the invention to a portion of a haulage system in a development end of normal width, for example, nine feet.

In this application the tracks may be in the form of I beams 1 indicated in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and secured to the hanging or foot Walls in any suitable manner but which are preferably secured to the hanging wall 2 in the manner described below and illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The terminal portion of the track installation which is the portion extending into the development end comprises a forward and return track 3, 4 each spaced 2' 2" from the centre line of the development end and connected at the inner end of the development end by a semicircular or substantially semi-circular track section 5 as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1.

The main portion of the track installation outside the 3,l77,3l5 Patented Apr. 13, 1965 ice development end may consist of parallel forward and reverse tracks connected to the corresponding forward and reverse tracks in the development end. Alternatively the main portion of the track installation may consist of a single track with the terminal portion forming a looped extension thereof. In the latter case the loop of the terminal section must be sufliciently long to carry a complete train length of tubs 6.

. In order to enable tubs, running in line and having adequate capacity without excessive depth, to traverse the curve withoutfouling each other or the sidewalls, it is necessary that both the suspension and the tubs 6 be carefully designed.

The tubs 6 are each of generally rectangular shape in plan, with the corners rounded on a large radius. The side 7 of each tub facing the centre line of the development end is substantially vertical, and the side 8 of each tub 6 facing the sidewall is sloped upwardly and outwardly at an appreciable angle as shownin FIG. 2. The side 8 of each tub 6 is the discharge side and if desired the slope of the side 8 may be made sufliciently great so that a miner may avoid contact with the tubs 6 by crouching-against the sidewall 9 even though'the discharge lip Ill of each tub 6 runs very closely adjacent the sidewall. p

The ends'of each tub 6 are pivotally attached to the arms of an inverted channel shaped mounting 11 and in the form of a horizontal beam 12 with downwardly extending arms 13. The pivots 14 are located above the centre of gravity of the corresponding tub 6 when empty, and below and to the side of the centre of gravity opposite the discharge side 8 of the fully loaded tubs. By positioning the pivots in this manner the tubs 6 are selftipping and will return to the upright position when the load has been discharged. The tubs 6 are held in the upright position by a latch.

By positioning the pivots 14 and shaping the tubs as described above, the tubs will project a lesser distance towards the centre of the development end than towards the sidewall-s 9 thus ensuring that there will be no fouling by laterally adjacent tubs as shown clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The latch 15 for each tub 6 is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3 and comprises a vertically movable bolt 16 attached at its upper end to a lever 17 pivoted to the beam 12. Arms 18 project laterally from the free end of the lever 17 and the ends of the arm carry rollers 19 or the like. Normally the weight of the latch assembly holds the bolt 16 in the lower position where it bears against a stop 20 on the tub 6 thus preventing tipping of the latter. The latch is released to allow for discharge by the rollers 19 hearing on a ramp or guide rail (not shown) which lifts the arm 18, lever 17 and bolt 16 so that the latter is clear of the stop 20. The inner side of the stop 20 is bevelled so that the return swing of the tub 6 will lift the bolt 16 and then allow it to fall and bear against the outer side of the stop 20.

On the top of each beam 12 is a pair of wheel mountings 21 each rotatable about a vertical axis. On top of each wheel mounting is a running wheel assembly comprising a bifurcated bracket 22 and carrying a pair of inwardly facing running wheels 23 each of which runs on the bottom flange of the I beam tracks 3, 4 or 5.

The wheel mountings 21 of each tub 6 and consequently the pairs of running wheels 23 are equi-distantly spaced on each side of the centre of the tub and the distance between the wheel mountings 21 on each tub is less than the diameter of the track section 5. This enables each tub to traverse the semi-circular track section 5.

It is apparent that the semi-circular track section 5 detines a diameter which is actually the distance between the track portions 3 and 4. The spacing between the wheel mountings 21 must be less than the diameter of this semi-circular track section in order to negotiate this arcuate track section. It will be apparent that if the wheel mountings are spaced apart a distance which is substantially the same or greater than the diameter of the track section, the wheels will jam on the track section and it will be impossible to move the tubs around this curved portion of track. In order to clearly visualize this mode of operation the portion 12 of the .inverted channel shaped mountings forthe tubs which extends between the wheel mountings may be thought of as a chord which moves along the surface, of a circle defined by the diameter of track section 5. It is apparent that'this chord should be of less length than the diameter of such a circle in order, to enable the chord to movealong the circle with the opposite ends thereof in contact with the circle. It is believed that this explanation clearly indicates the reason why the wheel mountings must be spaced.

a distance less than the diameter of the track section 5.

The adjacent wheel mountings 21 of adjacent tubs 6 are also spaced substantially the same distance apart as the wheel mountings on any single tub and are held at this spacing by rigid links 24 connecting them, the inner ends of links 24 being rotatable about the vertical axes of rotation of the corresponding wheel mountings 21. This enables. a train of tubs to traverse the semi-circular track sections, regardless as to whether they are being pushed or pulled as shown clearly in FIG. 1, which also 7 7 shows the shaping of the tubs necessary to enable them to traverse thesmall radius section 5 without jamming or fouling. V

If it is desired only to pull the tubs 6 then it is not necessary that rigid links 24 beused, and these may be substituted by chains, for example. Where the links 24 are used they are in the form of half links connected together by pins with the connected ends shaped to maintain half links in axial alignment. 2

Where the tubs are pushed by hand they may be moved into position along one of the straight track sections 3 or 4 for loading adjacent the semi-circular track 5 and withdrawn along the other straight track.. If a locomotive is-used for haulage the same system is not used due to the difficulty of designing a locomotive which will traverse the small radius semi-circular track whilemaintaining driving engagement with the track. In this case the train of tubs is backed into the development end along one straight track 3 or 4 so that they run around the curved track section 5 and onto the other straight track until the tub next to the locomotive is on or ad'- jacent the curved section 5 which is the loading zone. The locomotive is then driven to pull the tubs 6 in turn out of the development end and on the same track on which they entered. The tubs may be loaded from either end of the train of tubs.

Since it is desirable that tubs 6 used be of the maximum size in relation to'the width of the development end it is preferable not to support the track by any posts on the sidewalls 9 which would reduce the eifective Width of the development end. For this reason the tracks are preferably supported by the hanging wall 2.

A method of doing this is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown an inverted channel 25 is supported from the hanging wall 2 by roof bolts 26 and hassecured to it a pair of angle brackets 27, 28 the one bracket 28 being rigidly secured to the channel 25 and the other bracket 27 being pivotally attached. The lower flanges of the brackets 27, 28 engage under the top flange 29 of the I beam 1 and are held in position by bolt 30. Wooden or other wedges 31, 32 are driven in between the hanging wall 1 and web of the channel 25 and also between the bolt and lower edges of the flanges of channel 25.

It will be seen that the whole structure is easily erected and dismantled except possibly for the roof bolts 26 depending on the type used. The structure also allows for changes in inclination of the track.

All dimensions given in this specification are illustrative and not limitative, however, for maximum effectiveness certain size ratios are important. Thus the maximum allowable diameter of the semi-circulartrack section is dependant on the width of the tunnel. The maximum distance between the adjacent mountings 21 on the same and adjacent tubs 6 is dependant in tum on the diameter of the semi-circular track section or the distance between tracks 3, 4 but the distances between mountings 21 must not exceed this diameter. On the other hand the greater the distance the mountings 21 can be spaced apart the greater the possible length and accordingly the capacity of the'tubs, but Where the distances between mountings very closely approximates the diameter of the semi-circular track section jamming will occur. In general it is found that best results are obtainable if firstly, the distances between adjacent mountings 21 on the same and adjacent tubs 6 are made equal, and secondly, if these distances are more than sixty percent and preferably more than eighty percentof the diameter of the semicircular track'section 5. Thus in the specific examples given the diameter of the semi-circular track section is fifty-two inches and the distance between mountings Zl is forty-five inches or approximately eighty six percent of the track diameter. 7 Y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A haulage system comprising a terminal track section consisting of parallel forward and return overhead tracks and a substantially semi-circular track connecting said forward and return tracks, said semi-circular track including a diameter which substantially represents the distance between the adjacent portions of the forward and return overhead tracks, a train of haulage tubs suspended from said tracks, two longitudinally spaced running wheel assemblies for. each tub and running on said terminal track section, a beam located over each tub and extending in a longitudinal direction relative thereto, arms projecting downwardly from the ends of the beam and being pivotally connected to the corresponding end of an associated tub to allow for tipping of the latter, apair of mountings supported on each of said beams, said mountings being longitudinally spaced from one another and being rotatable about a vertical axis, one of said running wheel assemblies being supported on each of said mountings, link means connecting adjacent mounttings on adjacent beams, the pair of mountings on each tub and the adjacent mountings on adjacent tubs being Reterences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,601 1/92 Drew 154 X 870,363 11/07 Henning 105M2 917,331 4/09 Magdiel 104-91 1,033,395 7/12 Harrington 1041 11 1,131,748 3/15 Stuebner 294-73 1,725,264 8/29 Garnett 105-156 1,794,089 2/31 Muller 104--91 2,824,913 2/58 Taylor.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

JAMES S. SHANK, LEO QUACKENBUSH, EUGENE G. BOTZ, Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. A HAULAGE SYSTEM COMPRISING A TERMINAL TRACK SECTION CONSISTING OF PARALLEL FORWARD AND RETURN OVERHEAD TRACKS AND A SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR TRACK CONNECTING SAID FORWARD AND RETURN TRACKS, SAID SEMI-CIRCULAR TRACK INCLUDING A DIAMETER WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY REPRESENTS THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF THE FORWARD AND RETURN OVERHEAD TRACKS, A TRAIN OF HAULAGE TUBS SUSPENDED FROM SAID TRACKS, TWO LONGITUDINALLY SPACED RUNNING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES FOR EACH TUB AND RUNNING ON SAID TERMINAL TRACK SECTION, A BEAM LOCATED OVER EACH TUB AND EXTENDING IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION RELATIVE THERETO, ARMS PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE ENDS OF THE BEAM AND BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE CORRESPONDING END OF AN ASSOCIATED TUB TO ALLOW FOR TIPPING OF THE LATTER, A PAIR OF MOUNTINGS SUPPORTED ON EACH OF SAID BEAMS, SAID MOUNTINGS BEING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER AND BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, ON OF SAID RUNNING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES BEING SUPPORTED ON EACH OF SAID MOUNTINGS, LINK MEANS CONNECTING ADJACENT MOUNTINGS ON ADJACENT BEAMS, THE PAIR OF MOUNTINGS ON EACH TUB AND THE ADJACENT MOUNTINGS ON ADJACENT TUBS BEING SPACED APART DISTANCES WHICH ARE LESS THAN THE SAID DIAMETER OF THE SUBSTANTIALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR TRACK SECTION.

Images