GB2034650A - Monorail suspensions system - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspension system comprising a rail 11 made up of one or more elongate tubular members joined in an end to end fashion, one or more suspension devices 18 housed within the rail for movement therealong, the rail having a longitudinally extending slot 15 through which part of each suspension device projects. The tubular members may be joined so as to permit relative hingeing of adjacent members. The rail 11 is supported, e.g. at two locations per member, by means allowing adjustment of height. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Suspension system The present invention relates to a suspension system for movably suspending articles from a support structure. The invention is particularly suitable for suspending articles such as flexible ventilation ducting or supply cables from the roof supports present in mines.

According to the present invention there is provided a suspension system comprising a rail made up of one or more elongate tubular members joined in an end to end fashion, one or more suspension devices housed within the rail for movement therealong, the rail having a longitudinally extending slot through which part of each suspension device projects.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a part longitudinal section through a first embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line II - II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a part longitudinal section through a second embodiment according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV - IV in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a view of the suspension bracket shown in Figure 3 when viewed in the direction of arrow A.

Figure 6 is a part section view taken along line VI VI in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 with one coupling half removed.

Figures 8a and8b are respectively side and end views of a suspension system according to the present invention illustrating its use for suspending flexible ventilation ducting.

Figures 9a and 9b are respectively side and end views of a suspension system according to the present invention illustrating its use for suspending cables/hoses.

Referring initially to Figures 8a to 9b there is shown a suspension system 10 according to the present invention which includes an elongate rail 11 which is suspended from roof supports 12 in the roadway of a coal mine.a The rail 11 is made up of individual lengths of tubing 14 (e.g. made of mild steel) which are joined by joint means 14' in an end to end fashion to form a continuous length. As shown in Figures 8a, 9a each length of tubing 14 is preferably suspended from the roof supports 12 by means of two attachments devices 40.

Suspension devices 18 are provided which are slidably received within the rail 11. As shown in Figures 8a, 8b flexible ventilation ducting 19 is attached to the suspension devices 18 are provided which are slidably received within the rail 11. As shown in Figures 8a, 8b flexible ventilation ducting 19 is attached to the suspension devides 18. In Figures 9a, 9b, cradles 20 form part of the suspension devices 18, the cradles 20 in turn supporting cables/hoses 21.

As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4 each length of tubing 14 has a longitudinal slot 15 which in use is downwardly facing. In the illustrated embodiments the slot 15 is defined by depending flage portions 16 but it will be appreciated that the slot 15 may be formed in other ways, e.g. by merely forming a longitudinal opening in the side wall of the tubing.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the rail 11 is suspended from the roof support 12 by means of attachment devices 40'. The attachment device 40' which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 includes a suspension plate 41 having a shaped recess 42 which receives the tubing 14. The recess 42 possesses a slot 44 which lie adjacent to the outer faces of flange portions 16. Consequently, the tubing cannot rotate within recess 42 and the plate 41 may be used to ensure that the slot 15 is downwardly facing in use. Since the tubing 14 is slidably received in recess 42 the spacing between adjacent plates 41 is determined by the spacing of the roof supports 12 is not critical. Therefore, the rail 11 may be sus pendedfrom roof supports 12 which are irregularly spaced.

The plate 41 is secured to a roof support 12 by means of a hook bolt 45 and co-operating seating member 50. The plate 41 is provided with an elongate opening 51 one side of which is provided with a saw-tooth formation 52 to define a series of bolt accommodating recesses 53. Thus, in use, the bolt 45 passes through the opening 51 to be received in one of the recesses 53. If it is desired to alter the height of the rail 11 relative to the roof support 12, the bolt nut 45a is slackened and the plate 41 is manouvered so that the bolt 45 is moved out of its recess 53 and moved into another recess. Accordingly the height of the rail 11 may be adjusted without the removal of nut 45a from bolt 45. A washer plate 54 is provided for covering part of the opening 51.

The seating member 50 as seen in Figure 1 is basically of 'U' shape, one arm 50a having a terminal edge which directly abuts against the underside of the roof support, the other arm 50a having a terminal edge which directly abuts against the underside of the roof support, the other arm 50b having a lip formation 50c which overlaps an edge of the roof support.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the jointing means 14a for joining the lengths of tubing 14 in end to end fashion comprises a sleeve member 30 which is secured to one end of a length of tubing. The sleeve member 30 may be made from similar tubing to that of the rail 11 but which has been suitably widened. The sleeve member 30 is preferably fixedly secured in position by a rivet 30a, although if desired it could be welded in position, so as to extend beyond the end of the length of tubing to which it is secured to define a socket to receive the opposite end of an adjacent length of tubing 14.

The adjacent length of tubing is preferably received within the socket with clearance to enable the connected lengths of tubing to angularly deflect slightly relative to one another. Axial separation of the connected lengths of tubing is restrained by virtue of a detent 33 which comprises a projection 34 which locates in an aperture 35 formed in the adjacent length of tubing. The projection 34 is carried by a tongue 36. The tonge 36 has a raised central portion 36a to enable an implement such as a screwdriver to be located underneath it in order to raise the tongue so as to withdraw the projection 34 from aperture 35 and thereby enable axial separation of the connected length of tubing.

The suspension devices 18 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 have a body 19 which is slidingly received within the tubing 14 and from which depends support means including a shaft 20a having a hook formation 20c so as to define a hook member, the shaft 20a passing through the slot 15. The body 19 has a spherical surface 19a which enables it to easily glide within the rail. The upper end portion of shaft 20a passes through a bore 19b formed in the body 19 and is provided with an enlarged head 20b which prevents the shaft 20a from being withdrawn from the body 19. Thus the shaft 20a is rotatable relative to the body 29.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 parts similar to those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 have been designated by similar reference numerals.

The attachment device 40" illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 includes a suspension plate 41' having a shaped recess 42 which receives tubing 14. The suspension plate 41' has an aperture 60 in which is received an end chain link 61 of a chain 62 which defines a flexible connection between the plate 41' and the roof support 12. The chain 62 is secured at its other end to the hook bolt 45 by virtue of chain link 61a being sandwiched between seating member 50 and a hook shaped chain cradle 65. The cradle 65 is capable of supporting individual chain links, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, so as to vary the effective length of chain 62 and thereby adjustthe height of the rail 11 relative to the roof supports 12. The cradle 65 has a pair of spaced fingers 66 which are spaced apart to define a slot 67 capable of receiving a first chain link.A recess 68 is provided for receiving the bottom portion of the adjacent link so that when the first link is under load, the adjacent link is firmly seated in the recess. It will be appreciated therefore that the height of the rail can be easily and quickly adjusted. The use of a chain for suspending the rail is particularly advantageous in mines where the roof supports have become badly twisted.

The jointing means 14a illustrated in Figures 3,6 and 7 provides a joint which permits adjacent lengths of tubing to hinge relative to one another and also provides a joint which is capable of withstanding heavier working loads than the jointing means illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The jointing means 14a shown in Figures 3,6 and 7 comprises two coupling halves 70,71. Coupling half 70 includes a pair of co-axial stub shafts 72 located either side of the slot 15. The stub shafts 72 are mounted on a pair of arms 73 which project beyond the end face of the length of rail tubing 14 to which they are connected. The other coupling half 71 has a pair of hook shaped seating members 74 located either side of slot 15 and which, in use, are seated on the stub shafts 72 as shown in Figures 3 to provide a hinge connection. Vertical separation of the coupling halves is restrained by virtue of a curved projection 76 located above the rail which is slidingly received in an aperture 78 formed in plate 79 which extends upwardly from seating members 74.To separate the joint, the coupled lengths of tubing have to be hinged until the projection is withdrawn form aperture 78 thereby enabling the seating members 74to be lifted off the stub shafts 72.

The suspension device 18 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 differs from that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in that shaft 20a is rotatably supported in a trolley 80.

The trolley 80 includes an elongate body portion 81 to which shaft 20a is connected and a pair of wheels 83 located at both ends of the body portion 81. Each pair of wheels 83 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 84 which is rotatably received in a bush bearing (not shown) formed in the body portion. As seen in Figure 4 each wheel of each pair of wheels 83 is substantially hemp-spherical in shape. Use of a trolley 80 enables a greater loading to be carried by shaft 20a than when using body portion 19 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that the cross-sectional shape of the rail need not necessarily be substantially circular as shown in the drawings but that it may be differently shaped if desired.

The above described system is particularly useful for suspending flexible ducting, as used for ventilation purposes in mines, since it enables the ducting to be supported at closely spaced intervals when expanded yet enables the ducting to be fully collapsed into its concertinered state. Furthermore, it supports the flexible ducting in a linearfashion avoiding disadvantages attributable to the ducting bowing. Additionally, since the system is closely spaced to the roof supports, the ducting is less likely to be damaged by being struck by machinery in the roadways than when suspended by conventional systems.

Claims (24)

1. A suspension system comprising a rail made up of one or more elongate tubular members joined in an end to end fashion, one or more suspension devices housed within the rail for movement therealong, the rail having a longitudinally extending slot through which part of each suspension device projects.

2. A suspension system according to Claim 1 wherein the or each tubular member includes a pair of longitudinally extending flange portions spaced apart so as to define said slot.

3. A suspension system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the or each tubular member is substantially circular in cross-section.

4. A suspension device according to Claim 1,2 or 3 wherein a plurality of elongate tubular members is provided, each tubular member including jointing means to enable the tubular members to be releasably connected to one another in end to end fashion.

5. A suspension system according to Claim 4 wherein the jointing means includes a socket projecting form one end of the tubular member, the socket being capable of receiving the opposite end of an adjacent tubular member and detent means being provided to releasably restrain axial removal of said adjacent tubular member from said socket.

6. A suspension system according to Claim 5 wherein the detent means is defined by a projection carried by a deflectable arm, the projection projecting radially inwardly of the socket, the opposite end of the tubular member being provided with an aperture into which the projection extends when said opposite end is received in the socket of an adjacent tubular member.

7. A suspension system according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein the socket is defined by a sleeve which partially extends about the periphery of the tubular member so as not to cover said slot, the sleeve being fixedly located so as to extend beyong the end of the tubular member.

8. A suspension system according to Claim 4 wherein the jointing means is constructed so as to enable adjacent tubular members to be hingably connected to one another so that they can hinge relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail.

9. A suspension system according to Claim 8 wherein the jointing means includes a pair of axially aligned stub shafts located at one end of the tubular member and spaced either side of said slot and a pair of seat members located at the other end of the tubular member and spaced either side of the slot, the seat members and stub shaft being arranged so tbat the seat members of one tubular member may be seated on the stub shafts of an adjacent tubular member to provide said hingable connection, restraining means being provided to restrain separation of said seat members form said stub shafts.

10. A suspension system according to Claim 9 wherein said restraining means includes a curved projection located on one tubular member, the curved projection co-operating with a complemen taryformation on the adjacent tubular member in order to prevent separation of said seat members and stub shafts.

11. A suspension system according to any preceding Claim wherein each suspension device includes a body movably received within the rail, and support means depending from the body and passing through the slot, the support means being arranged to carry the articles to be suspensed by the suspension system.

12. A suspension system according to Claim 11 wherein the body is in sliding contact with the rail.

13. A suspension system according to Claim 12 wherein the body has spherical surface in sliding contact with the rail.

14. A suspension system according to Claim 11 wherein the body is in the form of a trolley having wheels in contact with the rail.

15. Asuspension system according to Claim 14 wherein the trolley has an elongate body portion to which a pair of wheels is rotatably mounted at each end.

16. A suspension system acording to any of Claims 11 to 15 wherein the support means includes a shaft which is rotatably supported in the body and passes through the slot.

17. A suspension system according to any preceding Claim including attachment devices located at spaced locations along the rail for attaching the rail to a support structure, the attachment devices including a suspension member which is slidably connected to the rail, the suspension member being attached to the support structure.

18. A suspension system according to Claim 17 wherein the suspension member is fixedly secured directly to the support structure.

19. Asuspension system according to Claim 18 wherein the suspension member is a plate having a shaped recess for receiving the rail and an aperture for receiving a bolt for attachment to the support structure.

20. A suspension system according to Claim 19 wherein said aperture is in the form of an elongate opening one side of which is provided with a series of bolt accomodating recesses.

21. Asuspension system according to Claim 17 wherein the suspension member is secured to the support structure via flexible connection means.

22. A suspension system according to Claim 21 wherein the flexible connection means is a chain.

23. A suspension system according to Claim 22 wherein a chain cradle is fixedly secured to the support structure, the chain cradle being constructed to receive individual links of the chain so that the effective length of the chain between the cradle and the support member can be adjusted.

24. A suspension system substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.