AU2005201689A1

AU2005201689A1 - Survey trolley and method

Info

Publication number: AU2005201689A1
Application number: AU2005201689A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Knights
Original assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BHP Innovation Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-21
Filing date: 2005-04-21
Publication date: 2006-11-09

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): BHP BILLITON INNOVATION PTY LTD A.C.N. 008 457 157 Invention Title: SURVEY TROLLEY AND METHOD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 SSURVEY TROLLEY AND METHOD Field of the Invention This invention relates to a survey trolley for obtaining data relating to a cavity such as an open stope or tunnel.

OO The invention has particular application, but not ND exclusive application, to obtaining the volume and O dimensions of the cavity.

Vm SBackground of the Invention To obtain the volume and dimensions of an open stope, it is usual to survey the stope by placing an instrument such as an Optech "Cavity Monitoring System" (CMS) instrument out into the stope to perform the task. The instrument is held in the stope by an eight metre boom. The boom can be held in place by various methods. One typical method is to attach the boom to the top of a tripod. The back tripod is weighed down and the boom, with the CMS instrument attached, is fed out into the stope.

This method of stope surveying can be done from various levels, that is, from the top, middle or bottom of the stope. The CMS head is pushed out into the open stope by the operator standing close to the stope brow (that is the edge of the stope). The instrument will typically protrude about three metres into the stope.

This method is suitable for the use at the top and middle of the stope, but can be hazardous when done at the bottom of the stope (the so-called stope draw point).

This is because the operator, typically a surveyor, must work very close to the stope brow when surveying from the draw point. This is hazardous for the surveyor due to rocks and possible collapse of the brow of the stope, and also when working close to any unsupported ground.

H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Method.doc 20/04/05 3 SAny rocks that fall from the stope wall or crown (roof of the stope) will either land on the stope floor and roll in any direction or can fall onto a rill within the stope and be directed towards the stope draw point. Standing close to the brow increases the hazards for the surveyor, 00 especially as the brow area may not be fully supported.

00 O Furtherstill, the instrument is only supported within a V 10 few metres inside the stope and therefore, in some instances, the instrument may not be located as far into the stope as is desired.

Summary of the Invention The object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks.

The present invention provides a survey trolley comprising: a chassis; a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis for enabling the trolley to roll on the wheels; a motor for driving at least one of the wheels; and an instrument support for supporting an instrument for collecting data relating to a cavity by the trolley rolling out into the cavity on the wheels to position the instrument when supported by the support in a desired position within the cavity.

Thus, by providing a trolley which supports the instrument and rolling the trolley out into the cavity, a surveyor need not stand close to the stope when the cavity is surveyed from the draw point. Thus, the surveyor can be well away from any danger in the event that rocks or other rubble should fall into a stope, or a roof of a tunnel or the like collapse.

H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Method.doc 20/04/05 4 SPreferably the support comprises a post having a support bracket to which the instrument is connectable.

Preferably the motor comprises an electric motor and a battery is supplied for supplying power to the electric Smotor.

00 O Preferably the trolley includes a receiver for receiving a V 10 remote control signal over the air to operate the motor so that the trolley can roll out into the stope by remote control operation of the motor.

Preferably at least one of the wheels includes a brake for stopping the trolley.

Preferably the chassis also supports a cable for connection to the instrument for forwarding data relating to the cavity to a controller at a remote location.

Preferably the chassis supports an aerial for receiving the remote control signal to operate the motor.

The invention also provides a method of obtaining data relating to a cavity, comprising: providing an instrument on a trolley; rolling the trolley into the cavity; operating the instrument to collect data relating to the cavity; and communicating the data from the trolley to a remote location to provide information relating to the cavity.

Preferably the step of rolling the trolley comprises supplying a remote control signal over the air to operate the motor so that the trolley can roll out into the stope by remote control operation of the motor.

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SPreferably the trolley is stoped by a remote control signal to operate a brake.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, 00 by way of example, with reference to the accompanying 00 Idrawings in which: Figure 1 is a view of a trolley according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows the trolley of Figure 1 in a deployed position within a stope; and Figure 3 is a block diagram showing operation of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment With reference to Figure 1, a survey trolley 5 is shown which comprises a chassis 12. The chassis 12 may be of any suitable form and typically, in the preferred embodiment, is formed from frame members 12a to 12d which form a generally rectangular frame, and cross frame members 12e.

The chassis 12 supports four axles 14 on which bicycle wheels 16 are arranged. The bicycle wheels may be provided with sealed bearings so as to prevent the ingress of dirt and other material which may prevent proper rolling movement of the wheels 16.

A motor 40 and battery 20 are supported by the chassis 12.

The motor 40 is preferably a motorised golf bag motor.

The motor is connected to battery 20 by cables 44 and preferably drives the front wheels 16 of the trolley. A support post 30 is mounted on the chassis 12 via a plate 32 and has a bracket 34 for supporting an instrument which is intended to collect data relating to a cavity into which the trolley is rolled. The instrument I can be H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Hethod.doc 20/04/05

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6 Ssupported either in a vertical or horizontal orientation Son the post _In one embodiment, the instrument is a CMS instrument. In other embodiments, the instrument may be a laser scanner or other data collecting instrument for collecting data 00 relating to a stope.

00 O The chassis 12 also supports an aerial 36 which may be V 10 moved via a pivotal coupling 38 connected to the chassis 12 from a storage position as shown in Figure 1 to an upright operative position shown in Figure 2.

A brake mechanism schematically shown at 50 is also supplied for braking one of the wheels 16 and therefore stopping the trolley at a desired position within a stope.

Typically a cable 51 (not shown in Figure 1) is connected to the instrument I for supplying command signals if required or data back to a remote location.

The motor 40 is operated by remote control by an operator from a remote location so the operator does not have to stand near the draw point of a stope or move within an unsupported tunnel, etc. A receiver 70 (Figure 3) is provided for receiving over-the-air control signals via antenna 36 from a remote control transmitter 80, to control movement of the trolley into the stope.

A motor or solenoid 71 is mounted next to battery 20. The motor 40 is controlled by the remote control signals received from remote controller 80 and antenna 36 to drive the front wheels 16. When the remote control is stopped, brake 50 comes on to stop the trolley at the desired position. The solenoid 71 operates the brake 50 each time the remote control from controller 80 stops operating the motor 40. The battery 20 is connected to the motor 40 by H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Method.doc 20/04/05

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7 power supply cables 55. The trolley 5 may therefore roll Sout on the wheels 16 into the stope under the control of the operator from a remote location so that the trolley can be positioned at the bottom of the stope whilst the operator is well away from the draw point of the stope.

00 The motor 40 may have a speed adjustment switch which 00 N allows the motor 40 to be set to provide a desired speed.

Typically the speed is not altered once set and the speed V 10 is set at initial installation to suit the particular environment in which the trolley is to be used.

Figure 2 shows the trolley 5 which has been rolled out into a stope S. The aerial 36 has been pivoted from the stowed position shown in Figure 1 to the operative position in which it is vertical and the instrument I is shown mounted on the support post 30. Cable 51 connects to the instrument I so that data can be fed back from the instrument to a controller 90 (Figure 3) at the remote location.

When the stope S has been surveyed, the instrument is rolled out of the stope by reversing the motor 18 or the motor 18 can simply be switched off and the trolley dragged out of the stope by a rope 52 tied to the trolley or by a catenary wire attached to cable 51.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the control system of the trolley 5. The transmitter 80 produces control signals which are transmitted over-the-air to the receiver mounted on the trolley 5. Typically the transmitter has dials or controls which are intended to be manually moved by an operator to either activate motor 18 or to activate the brake 50. The receiver 70 outputs a control signal on line 73 to operate the motor 40 to drive the wheels 16. When remote control of the motor 40 stops, solenoid 71 is operated to the brake 50 by pushing the H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Method.doc 20/04/05 8 brake The trolley 5 also supports the controller 40 which is connected via cable 51 to controller 90 at the remote location.

00 In the claims which follow and in the preceding Sdescription of the invention, except where the context o requires otherwise due to express language or necessary V 10 implication, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.

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Claims

2. The trolley of claim 1 wherein the support comprises a post having a support bracket to which the instrument is connectable.
3. The trolley of claim 1 or 2 wherein the motor comprises an electric motor and a battery is supplied for supplying power to the electric motor.
4. The trolley of claim 1 wherein the trolley includes a receiver for receiving a remote control signal over the air to operate the motor so that the trolley can roll out into the stope by remote control operation of the motor. The trolley of claim 1 wherein at least one of the wheels includes a brake for stopping the trolley.
6. The trolley of claim 1 wherein the chassis also supports a cable for connection to the instrument for forwarding data relating to the cavity to a controller at a remote location. H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Method.doc 20/04/05 I 10 O 7. The trolley of claim 1 wherein the chassis Ssupports an aerial for receiving the remote control signal to operate the motor.
8. A method of obtaining data relating to a cavity, comprising: OO providing an instrument on a trolley; 00 I rolling the trolley into the cavity; O operating the instrument to collect data relating V) 10 to the cavity; and Scommunicating the data from the trolley to a remote location to provide information relating to the cavity.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of rolling the trolley comprises supplying a remote control signal over the air to operate the motor so that the trolley can roll out into the stope by remote control operation of the motor. The method of claim 8 wherein the trolley is stoped by a remote control signal over the air to operate a brake. H:\Luisa\Keep\Speci\BHP Prov Survey Trolley and Method.doc 20/04/05