Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16G—BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
  • F16G13/00—Chains
  • F16G13/12—Hauling- or hoisting-chains so called ornamental chains
  • F16G13/16—Hauling- or hoisting-chains so called ornamental chains with arrangements for holding electric cables, hoses, or the like
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02G—INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES
  • H02G11/00—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts
  • H02G11/006—Arrangements of electric cables or lines between relatively-movable parts using extensible carrier for the cable, e.g. self-coiling spring

Definitions

• This invention relates to apparatus for protecting cables, service lines and the like (hereinafter referred to as "lines”), particularly but not exclusively in under ⁇ ground workings.
• apparatus for protecting lines as hereinbefore defined, said apparatus comprising means defining at least one open topped channel in which a line can locate, each side of the channel having a substantially planar inwardly facing surface, and having a substantially planar outer surface which has a width towards a base of the channel and substantially the same width towards the entrance thereof to enable the line to locate in the channel substantially over the width of the channel sides, at least a first of the channel sides having means projecting inwardly of, and extending linearly substantially over the width of said first side to define with the opposed side of the channel an entrance to the channel of a width less than that of the channel, and less than the respective dimension of the line, and one channel side being resiliently movable, whereby to enable the line to be inserted through the channel entrance by outward movement of said one channel side, and to be retained in the channel by the projecting means on return inward movement thereafter of said one channel side, connection means being provided whereby the apparatus is connectable to adjacent apparatus to form an articulated arrangement.
• the inwardly projecting means comprises a formation formed on the free end of the first or each chan ⁇ nel side.
• the or each formation may be formed separately from the remainder of the or each respective channel side but is fixedly secured thereto, for example by ultrasonic welding, hot plate welding or adhesive.
• each formation is formed integrally with the or each respective channel side.
• the apparatus may be formed from a plastics material which is desirably annealed.
• the material may be BS10VN.
• the apparatus includes two of the open topped channels on respective sides of a common web which thereby forms a common channel base.
• the web has a connection at each end to effectively form a link which is connectable to adjacent links and thereby forms the articulated arrangement.
• the web may be moulded around an insert, and one end of the web, together with the respe ⁇ ctive end of the insert, may be forked, the inner end faces of the insert fork preferably being coined or chamfered.
• a suspension lug may be provided externally on the apparatus, may have a through aperture, and may be formed integrally with the channel defining means.
• the present invention also provides an arrangement for handling lines as hereinbefore defined, the arrangement comprising a plurality of line protecting apparatus linked together, said plurality including one or more line protec ⁇ ting apparatus according to any of the five preceding para ⁇ graphs for retaining the or each line in the arrangement.
• Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus of the invention
• Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• Fig. 2a is a plan view of an insert used in the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2;
• Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a modified apparatus;
• Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an arrange ⁇ ment showing one use of the apparatus.
• Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the articul ⁇ ation in such an arrangement.
• a line protecting apparatus adapted to form a link of an articulated chain as hereinafter described is preferably formed from a plastics material such as BS10VN.
• the latter nylon material is suitable for use, in that, relative to other types of otherwise suitable nylon material, it has more flexibility and greater resistance to impact.
• the apparatus has the form of a web 10 extending in use substantially vertically between upper and lower sides 12, 14, thereby defining laterally open channels 16, 18 on respective sides of a common base formed by the web 10.
• the sides 12, 14 form opposed legs 20, 22 of the channel 16 and opposed legs 24, 26 of the channel 18.
• Each of the legs 20-26 has a formation in the form of a rounded bulge 28 formed to extend inwardly of the respective leg, thereby defining channel entrances 30, 32 of less width than the width of the respective channels 16, 18.
• the bulges 28 may be formed with the legs 20-26 as a one-piece moulding.
• the section of each of the legs 20-26 is such that a smooth, substantially planar surface 29 is presented inwar ⁇ dly of the link and has the effect of enhancing the line retention concept of the link as hereinafter described.
• a line e.g. a cable or service line
• the line is inserted into the channel entrance 30 (32) and, having a dimension greater than the width of the channel entrance, the line deflects the channel legs 20, 22 (24, 26) apart to locate in the respective channel 16 (18).
• the channel legs 20, 22 (24, 26) regain their original position and prevent the line from moving inadvertently out of the channel 16 (18) through the channel entrance 30 (32).
• the line can be used to forcibly flex the channel legs 20, 22 (24, 26) outwardly and pass through the channel entrance 30 (32).
• the bulges 28 being rounded prevent snagging of the lines.
• the web 10 is formed at one end as a projecting lug 36, which has a thickness less than that of the web 10 and is formed centrally thereof, with resultant end shoulders 37 having an arcuate profile in the direction of the web 10.
• the lug 36 has a through aperture 38 therein, while at the other end the web 10 is formed with a fork 40, the legs of which have respective aligned apertures 42.
• the base of the fork 40 is defined by faces 43, 44 which are angled inwardly from their outer edges towards the web 10 to meet at a common point 45.
• the link can thereby be connected to adjacent links when the lug of an adjacent link is located in the fork 40 and the lug 36 is located correspondingly in the fork of an adjacent link.
• suitable coupling pins can be used to connect the links together in an articulated manner, with links being interchangeable.
• the web 10 is moulded around an insert 56, preferably of steel, as shown in Fig. 2a.
• the moulding process requires the need for good adhesion between the nylon material and the steel insert 56.
• the fork end of the insert is coined or chamfered on inner faces 58, 60, thus restraining the nylon material from pulling away from the steel insert 56.
• the steel inserts may be cadmium plated, and to prevent delaminating , each of the metal inserts may be chamfered around its periphery to allow the plastic of the web 10 to overlie the periphery and lock the insert in the plastic. Further the steel inserts may be provided with through holes to allow the plastics material to extend therethrough during moulding. As well as assisting location of the inserts, this helps annealing of the material. It is envisaged that in a chain formed by the connected links, each alternate link will require to be provided with bulges 28 on the channel legs, the bulges not requiring to be applied to each link of the chain. It should be appreciated however that the bulges 28 may be provided on links at different intervals if required and indeed it may be preferable for the chain, near to the location of a coal cutter, to have a number of adjacent links provided with the bulges 28.
• an exten ⁇ ding lug 50 which is provided with a through aperture 52.
• the lug "50 may be moulded integrally with the link.
• the link of the invention is shown for use with a cable 34a and a hose 34b in respective channels in Fig. 2, but it is to be appreciated that different arrangements of cable or hose may be protected.
• a web 10a forms the base of a laterally open channel 16a on one side only thereof, the height of the channel legs 20a, 20b being such as to be able to accommodate two cables or hoses side-by-side .
• a chain 54 formed by articulated links including the links described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 (but shown omitting the suspension lugs 50) is particularly suitable for use in protecting cables and the like required to be connected to a coal cutter 46 (Fig. 4) operating along a coal face in longwall face mining.
• a coal cutter 46 has an associated armoured face conveyor providing a spill plate trough 48 for locating the cables and the like.
• the lugs 50 can be utilised for suspending the arti ⁇ culated chain from overhead, for example by chain or rope.
• Each channel 20-26 has a constant width over the height thereof from the web 10 to the respective channel entrance whereby to provide sufficient stability when the chain is looped back upon itself. With insufficient stability, the combination of the power from the coal cutter through the chain as it is towed, and the weight of the cables and the like, takes over the planned alignment such that the chain can twist and control will be lost with the consequence that the lines can disengage themselves from the chain.
• the link design has to be sufficiently robust to be able to retain the large sizes of cables and the like used in underground situations, and the bulges require to be designed such as to avoid damaging the cables and the like themselves.
• the section of the legs, together with the described nylon material, is such that the link has not only increased resistance to breakages from impact, but also increased flexibility to improve the insertion of cables and hoses.
• the leg section also mitigates the number of sharp edges which could otherwise be detrimental to the cables and hoses.
• the invention thus provides an arrangement which can protect cables and service lines in underground workings and is particularly useful at the coal face for use with the coal cutter.
• the invention may have uses in other applications. Moulding of the chain links in a plastics material such as nylon can provide for both protection and retention of the service lines in the chain using the inherent flexing of sections of the moulding, thereby avoiding any latching components and loose pieces.
• inwardly projecting formations may be formed on only one leg of each channel provided the channel entrance width is as required.
• the actual configuration of the links and the construction of the web may differ from that described and shown.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Supports For Pipes And Cables (AREA)
• Electric Cable Arrangement Between Relatively Moving Parts (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=10750992

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (6)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-02-26 GB GB9403744A patent/GB9403744D0/en active Pending
• 1995
  • 1995-02-23 ZA ZA951519A patent/ZA951519B/xx unknown
  • 1995-02-24 RU RU96119786/06A patent/RU2157476C2/ru active
  • 1995-02-24 AU AU17147/95A patent/AU1714795A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-02-24 WO PCT/GB1995/000384 patent/WO1995023310A1/en active Application Filing
  • 1995-02-24 CN CN95192603A patent/CN1065606C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-02-24 PL PL95315967A patent/PL176170B1/pl unknown

Patent Citations (4)

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