GB2201441A

GB2201441A - Rack for a mining conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2201441A
Application number: GB08704497A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Stokes
Original assignee: WINSTER ENGR Ltd
Current assignee: WINSTER ENGR Ltd
Priority date: 1987-02-26
Filing date: 1987-02-26
Publication date: 1988-09-01
Also published as: GB8704497D0

Abstract

A mining conveyor comprising a plurality of conveyor sections connected together in a manner such as to permit limited articulation between adjacent sections is provided with an elongate rack comprising a plurality of rack members, the rack being engaged by the sprocket (38) of a drive motor of a cutting machine whereby the machine may pull itself across the face being worked on the conveyor. The rack sections are mounted in line in a channel (30) in the conveyor to constrain the rack members against movement in one conveyor section in directions extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, adjacent rack members being secured together in a manner such as to permit limited articulation between adjacent rack members at least in the vertical plane. Each rack member comprises two elongate side members (6, 8) of generally rectangular cross-section, and ovoid bridging members (10) secured to and between the side members. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to mining conveyors" Description of Invention This invention is concerned with improvements relating to mining conveyors, particularly the means secured to sections of a mining conveyor (conventionally herein referred to as "pans") by which a machine (such as a cutting machine) mounted on the conveyor may be driven along the conveyor? Conventionally where the conveyor is laid alongside a coal face being worked, a chain is stretched from one end of the coal face to the other along the conveyor, the chain being held at its ends under tension, the chain being engaged by the sprocket of a drive motor of the machine, whereby the machine may pull itself across the face on the conveyor.

Alternatively the conveyor sections may be provided with a fixed rack, which may be engaged by the sprocket for driving the machine.

Previously available systems are to varying extents unsatisfactory, and it is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide an improved means by which the purposes above described may be achieved.

According to this invention there is provided a rack member comprising two elongate side members and a plurality of bridging members secured between the side members at spaced intervals, the bridging members providing surfaces which in the use of the rack member are engaged by the teeth of a sprocket.

Thus preferably the bridging members each comprise curved surfaces presented in the longitudinal direction: preferably the bridging members are circular or ovoid in longitudinal cross-section.

Preferably the rack member comprises at each end thereof means by which it can be connected to the end of a similar rack member. Such means may be such as to enable the rack members to be connected together directly one end to another, or may be afforded by a connector member arranged to hold the rack members separated.

Preferably the connection means is such as to enable relative articulation to take place between adjacent rack members, preferably in at least one plane containing the longitudinal axis of the member, desirably in the vertical plane, and preferably also in the horizontal plane at least to a limited extent.

According to this invention there is also provided a mining conveyor comprising a plurality of conveyor sections connected together in a manner such as to permit limited articulation between adjacent conveyors sections, and-an elongate rack mounted on the conveyor, the rack comprising a plurality of rack members, each of which is constrained against movement relative to one conveyor section in directions extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, adjacent rack members being secured together in a manner such as to permit at least limitation articulation between adjacent rack members at least in the vertical plane.

Preferably the rack members are each mounted on the conveyor sections in a manner such as to permit at least limited longitudinal movement between some at least of the rack members and their associated conveyor sections.

Preferably each conveyor section provides a channel within which a rack member is located, the channel limiting movement of the rack members at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, but permitting at least limited relative longitudinal movement.

Thus a rack may be mounted on the full length of the conveyor, being fixed to the conveyor at the end regions only of the conveyor, and the sprocket of a mining machine may engage with the rack to permit movement of the machine lengthwise of the conveyor in a conventional manner.

Preferably each rack member comprises two elongate side members and a plurality of bridging members secured between the side members at spaced intervals, the bridging members providing surfaces which in the use of the rack member are engaged by the teeth of a sprocket.

Thus, the space between adjacent bridging members provides a gap into which a sprocket tooth may enter.

Preferably each rack member comprises at least three bridging members and desirably a sufficient number (e.g. five) that, with a conventionally-sized drive sprocket, the length of the rack member is only slightly shorter than the length of a conventional conveyor section, e.g. being so shorter by the length of a connector member.

Preferably the channel is provided by two inwardly-facing channel sections provided in the spill plate each conveyor section, a gap being provided between the channel sections, and into which channel section the side members of the rack members are located, whereby limiting movement of the rack member in directions other than the longitudinal direction, the bridging members extending into the space between the channels, whereby they may be engaged by the machine sprocket.

Whilst desirably the relative cross-section dimensions of the channel sections and the rack members are such as to limit movement of the rack members in directions at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, desirably sufficient clearance is included such as to permit at least limited articulation of the rack members within the channel sections in the vertical plane, and optionally to a lesser extent in the horizontal plane.

Thus where the rack members are of a length less than the length of a conventional conveyor section, articulation between adjacent rack members may take place at spaced intervals throughout the length of the conveyor section, permitting a desired articulation between the adjacent conveyor sections, whilst providing a "smoother" line of rack to be engaged by the drive sprocket of the machine.

There will now be given a detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of a rack member which is the preferred embodiment of this invention, having been selected for the purposes of illustrating the invention by way of example.

In the accompanying drawings: FIGURE I is a side elevational view of the rack member which is the preferred embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a plane view of the rack member; FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; FIGURE 4 is a plane view of a connector member for use with the rack member in the provision of a rack section; and FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of part of a mining conveyor to which a rack in accordance with this invention has been installed.

The rack member which is the preferred embodiment of this invention comprises two elongate side members 6, 8, of generally rectangular crosssection, and a plurality of generally ovoid bridging members 10 secured to and between the side members, gaps 12 being provided between adjacent bridging members and the side members.

The distance between adjacent side members is equal to the pitch of the drive sprocket of a conventional shearing machine, typically 232 mm.

The end most bridging members I Oa, I Ob protrude in respective opposite directions from the ends of the side members, and each is provided with a through bore 16, to which an access slot 18 extends, the access slots on the two bridging members I 0a and I Ob extending in opposite directions.

The rack member which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is intended for use, in the provision of an elongate rack, in conjunction with a plurality of connector members 20, (Figure 4) each connector member comprising spaced side members 22, also rectangular in cross-section, connected together in spaced relationship by cylindrical pins 24.

By the use of the connector member, the rack member above described may be connected to a similar rack member, one of the pins 24 being entered through the access slot 18 into the cross bore 16, conveniently being prevented from escape by the use of a locking member inserted into the locking formation 19. It will be appreciated that the length of the connector member is such that, when two rack members are connected together, the distance between adjacent bridging members I 0a and lOb of the two rack members will be the pitch given above.

The rack member which is the preferred embodiment of this invention is specifically for use in conjunction with a mining conveyor, part of which is shown in Figure 5, which is provided with a channel 30, afforded by channel sections 30a and 30b in the spill plate 32 and body 34 of the conveyor section respectively, a gap 36 being provided between the channel sections in which the sprocket 38 of a machine extends.

In use a plurality of rack members,-connected together by connector members, are inserted into the channel 30 of the conveyor sections, to provide a rack extending substantially the whole of the length of the conveyor, the rack being secured to the conveyor at its end regions.

As will be seen from Figure 5, the cross-sectional dimensions of the rack member in relation to the cross-sectional dimensions of the channel 30 are such as to permit limited movement of each rack member within its conveyor section both in the horizontal plane and the vertical plone, permitting the rack members to lie in the channel in a manner which will accommodate for articulation between adjacent conveyor sections.

In addition, articulation in a vertical plane may take place between adjacent racks at the ends thereof where these correspond positionally to the ends of the pans.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

I. A rack member comprising two elongate side members and a plurality of bridging members secured between the side members at spaced intervals, the bridging members providing surfaces which in the use of the rack member are engaged by the teeth of a sprocket.
2. A rack member according to Claim I wherein the bridging members each comprise curved surfaces presented in the longitudinal direction.
3. A rack member according to Claim 2 wherein the bridging members are circular in longitudinal cross-section.
4. A rack member according to any one of the preceding claims comprising at each end thereof means by which it may be connected to the end of a similar rack member.
5. A rack member according to Claim 4 wherein such means is such as to enable the rack members to be connected together directly one end to another.
6. A rack member according to Claim 4 wherein said means is afforded by a connector member arranged to hold the rock members separated.
7. A rack member according to any one of Claims 4, 5 and 6 wherein the connection means is such as to enable relative articulation to take place between adjacent rack members.
8. A mining conveyor comprising a plurality of conveyor sections each connected together in a manner such as to permit limited articulation between adjacent conveyors sections, and an elongate rack mounted on the conveyor, the rack comprising a plurality of rack members, each of which is constrained against movement relative to one conveyor section in directions extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, adjacent rack members being secured together in a manner such as to permit at least.

limited articulation between adjacent rack members at least in the vertical plane.
9. A mining conveyor according to Claim 8 wherein the rack members are each mounted on the conveyor sections in a manner such as to permit limited longitudinal movement between some at least of the rack members and their associated conveyor sections.
10. A mining conveyor according to one of Claims 8 and 9 wherein each conveyor section is provided with a channel within which a rack member is located, 'the channel limiting movement of the rack members at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, but permitting limited relative longitudinal movement.
II. A mining conveyor according to any one of Claims 8, 9 and 10 wherein each rack member comprises two elongate side members and a plurality of bridging members secured between the side members at spaced intervals, the bridging members providing surfaces which in the use of the rack member are engaged by the teeth of a sprocket.
12. A mining conveyor according to Claim 11 wherein each rack member comprises at least three bridging members.
13. A mining conveyor according to Claim 10 wherein the channel is provided by two inwardly-facing channel sections provided in the spill plate of each conveyor section, a gap being provided between the channel sections, and into which channel section the side members of the rack members are located, thereby limiting movement of the rack members in directions other than the longitudinal direction, the bridging members extending into the space between the channels, whereby they may be engaged by the machine sprocket.
14. A mining conveyor according to Claim 13 wherein the re!ative crosssectional dimensions of the channel sections and the rack members are such as to limit movement of the rack members in directions at right angles to the longitudinal axis thereof, but providing sufficient clearance to permit at least limited articulation of the rack members within the channel sections in the vertical plane.
15. A rack constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the drawings.
16. A conveyor constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the drawings.
17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features as herein described, with reference to the drawings.