Patent Application
20140286713
The present disclosure generally relates to a prop head bearing device configured to be disposed between a shield canopy and a hydraulic prop of a shield-type support frame for underground use, and to securely receive a prop head of the hydraulic prop, and more particularly to a prop head bearing device including a separate securing element for locking a securing pin configured to secure the prop head to the prop head bearing.
In mining it is conventional to use a ball joint to connect the prop head of a hydraulic prop and the shield canopy of a shield-type support frame, for instance, a so-called shield support. In known shield-supports, use is made of a prop head bearing which forms the socket, wherein the securing element is mounted so as to be pivotably around a swivel axis. A movable locking bolt, releasably connected to the prop head receiving portion, extends parallel to and at a distance from the swivel axis. When in the secured position, the side of the securing element remote from the prop head of the hydraulic prop abuts the locking bolt, so that the securing element cannot accidentally be twisted out of the secured position.
GB 2 098 255 A discloses a mechanical connection device between head or foot of a prop and the canopy or base of roof supports. The device disclosed therein comprises a pivot pin which extends trough the head of the prop and has at each end a flat which is adapted to bear against a plane surface of a holding member integral with a canopy or base. The pivot pin is locked by means of two stirrups fixed by pin elements in holes to the holding member.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,541 B2 discloses a prop head bearing between the roof bar and the prop of a shield-type support frame, comprising a ball-joint socket on the roof bar and opened towards the prop for receiving a ball-joint head on the prop, with at least one movable securing pin. When in a secured position, the securing pin engages in a recess in the joint head to prevent accidental lifting of the joint head out of the socket, and with a locking pin which locks the securing pin in the secured position.
The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving or overcoming one or more aspects of prior systems.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a prop head bearing device configured to be attached to a shield canopy of a shield support in underground mining applications and to receive a prop head of a hydraulic prop may comprise a prop head bearing main body and a first securing element. The prop head bearing main body may include a prop head receiving portion, a first flange, which is disposed adjacent to the prop head receiving portion and includes a first flange bore for supporting a first securing pin configured to engage the prop head in the mounted state, and a first receiving portion disposed adjacent to the first flange remote from the prop head receiving portion. The prop head bearing device may further comprise a first securing element including a first securing element bore and being adapted in shape to the first receiving portion, such that in the mounted state the first securing element is locked with respect to the bore direction of the first flange bore and that the first securing element bore is aligned to the first flange bore.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a shield support used in underground mining applications for supporting a roof may comprise a shield canopy including an outer surface configured to support the roof, and an inner surface configured to face towards a floor. The shield canopy may further comprise a prop head bearing device according to the present disclosure, which may be disposed at the inner surface of the shield canopy, and a hydraulic prop including a prop head configured to be pivotably received in the prop head receiving portion.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for securing a prop head of a hydraulic prop to a prop head bearing main body attached to a shield canopy of a shield support in underground mining applications is disclosed. The prop head bearing main body may include a prop head receiving portion, a first flange, which is disposed adjacent to the prop head receiving portion and includes a first flange bore for supporting a first securing pin configured to engage the prop head, and a first receiving portion disposed adjacent to the first flange remote from the prop head receiving portion. The disclosed method may comprise positioning a first securing element including a first securing element bore and being adapted in shape to the first receiving portion, such that the first securing element is locked with respect to the bore direction of the first flange bore and that the first securing element bore is aligned to the first flange bore. The method may further comprise inserting the first securing pin through the first securing element bore and the first flange bore, such that the prop head can be positioned in the prop head receiving portion, positioning the prop head including a first recess in the prop head receiving portion, and inserting the first securing pin into the first recess for securing the prop head to the prop head bearing main body.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a U-like shaped securing element configured to support a securing pin for locking a prop head of a hydraulic prop to a prop head bearing main body, and to be securely received at a receiving portion of the prop head bearing main body is disclosed. The U-like shaped securing element may comprise a base portion configured to contact and match with the receiving portion, a first post extending substantially perpendicular away from the base portion, a second post spaced apart the first post and extending substantially perpendicular away from the base portion and parallel to the first post, an open end disposed opposite from the base portion and being defined by ends of the first post and the second post, and a securing element bore surrounded by the base portion, the first post, the second post, and the open end.
Although a prop head bearing device for securing a prop head to the shield canopy of a shield support is disclosed, the exemplary disclosed principle of the prop head bearing device may also apply to the prop foot configured to be secured to skids of the shield support.
In some embodiments, the prop head bearing main body may further include a second flange disposed adjacent to the prop head receiving portion and opposite to the first flange. The second flange may include a second flange bore for supporting a second securing pin configured to engage the prop head in the mounted state. The prop head bearing main body may further include a second receiving portion with a second flange bore and being disposed adjacent to the second flange remote from the prop head receiving portion. The prop head bearing device may further comprise a second securing element including a second securing element bore and being adapted in shape to the second receiving portion, such that in the mounted state the second securing element is locked with respect to the bore direction of the second flange bore and that the second securing element bore is aligned to the second flange bore.
Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments described therein and illustrated in the drawings are intended to teach the principles of the present disclosure, enabling those of ordinary skill in the art to implement and use the present disclosure in many different environments and for many different applications. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not intended to be, and should not be considered as, a limiting description of the scope of patent protection. Rather, the scope of patent protection shall be defined by the appended claims.
The present disclosure may be based in part on the realization that providing a prop head bearing device with loosely received securing elements for supporting a securing pin may improve manufacturing of the prop head bearing main body and may facilitate, for example, the molding process of the prop head bearing main body.
The present disclosure may be further based in part on the realization that providing the prop head bearing main body in a trough-like shape may displace the weld seams configured to fixedly attach the prop head bearing main body to the shield support out of the area of high tensile stress. In such case, by providing the prop head bearing main body in the trough-like shape, the prop head bearing device may be only welded to web plates of the shield support and not by a circumferential weld seam encompassing the prop head bearing at the shield canopy. Thus, the prop head bearing may loosely contact the shield support with its shield canopy contacting surface. Particularly, the weld seam may circumferentially pass around the entire circumference of the side surface of the prop head bearing main body, which contacts a web plate.
The present disclosure may be further based in part on the realization that providing a prop head bearing device having at least one flange with a flange bore and a receiving portion configured to securely receive a securing element with a securing element bore may lead, when inserting a securing pin into the flange bore and the securing pin receiving bore, to a self-locking arrangement for locking the securing pin in a predetermined position. In particular, the securing pin may protrude into a recess disposed within a prop head for fixing the prop head to the prop head bearing device and, thus, for example, to the shield canopy. Specifically, the securing element may comprise a locking pin receiving bore for accommodating a locking pin configured to engage the securing pin having a groove circumferentially passing around the periphery of the securing pin.
Referring to
The distance between the skids 12 and the shield canopy 14 can be adjusted by retraction or extension of the hydraulic prop 20. A link mechanism 30 ensures by means of the gob shield 16, as well as by means of a corner cylinder 32, that the skids 12 and the shield canopy 14, in each state of extension of the hydraulic prop 20, stand substantially plane-parallel to each other. The link mechanism 30 is exemplary configured as a lemniscate link mechanism. The link mechanism 30 has a front link 34 and a rear link 36, both being supported at a distance apart against two bolt receptacles 38 and 39 as well as against the skid 12.
The bolt receptacles 38, 39 are respectively configured on a side plate 37 of the gob shield 16, and the shield canopy 14 is connected to the gob shield 16 in an articulated manner by a hinge bolt. The corner cylinder 32, which is attached by its one end to a supporting bracket on the gob shield 16 and with its other end against the shield canopy 14, serves for the additional bracing of the articulated connection between the gob shield 16 and the shield canopy 14 and can be hydraulically loaded or unloaded as desired. Additionally, a shield canopy tip 18 may be connected to the shield canopy 14 in an articulated manner.
Referring to
The plane contact surface 44 is configured to loosely contact the shield canopy 40 from a lower side thereof (see, for example,
As shown in
The first flange 46 has a first flange bore 47, and the second flange 48 has a second flange bore 49 aligned to the first flange bore 47, as indicated in
The first flange 46 is spaced apart the second flange 48 thereby defining a prop head receiving portion 50 therebetween. The prop head receiving portion 50 is configured to loosely receive and pivotably accommodate the prop head 22 of the hydraulic prop 20. The specific connection of the prop head 22 to the prop head bearing device 40 is described in greater detail with reference to
Further, as shown in
Similarly, a second receiving portion 54 may be disposed outwardly of the second flange 48 with respect to the prop head receiving portion 50. Specifically, the second receiving portion 54 may be disposed between the second flange 48 and the lateral side of the prop head bearing main body 42 next to the second flange 48. The second receiving portion 54 may also be provided in a concave shape, for example, as at least a partial groove extending perpendicular to the axis C. However, in some embodiments, the second receiving portion 54 may be provided in a convex shape, for example, as a rib extending perpendicular to the axis C.
The first and second receiving portions 52, 54 provided may have a straight shape or a non-straight shape with respect to the longitudinal direction, as indicated in
The first receiving portion 52 and the second receiving portion 54 are configured to loosely receive a first securing element 60 and a second securing element 70, respectively (see
Turning now to
When being positioned at the first receiving portion 52, the first securing element 60 is axially secured with respect to the extension direction of the axis C, as the base portion 65 matches with the receiving portion 52, which may be provided, for example, as a groove. Similarly, a second securing element 70 (see
As illustrated in
The first securing element 60 further comprises a first securing element bore 66 surrounded by the base portion 65, the first post 61, the second post 63, and the open end 64. When being assembled to the prop head bearing main body 42, the first securing element bore 66 is configured to be aligned with the first flange bore 47 of the first flange 46.
As additionally indicated in
In the following, an exemplary method for mounting the prop head 22 to the prop head bearing device 40 is described with respect to
For example, a first weld seam 56 may be provided to attach the prop head bearing main body 42 to the first web plate 13, and a second weld seam 58 may be provided to attach the prop head bearing main body 42 to the second web plate 15. The first and second weld seams 56, 58 may each pass around the circumference of the side surfaces of the prop head bearing main body 42 (see, for example,
In a first step, the first securing element 60 and a second securing element 70 are positioned in the first receiving portion 52 and the second receiving portion 54, respectively. As indicated in the cross-sectional view of
When the first and second securing elements 60, 70 are positioned at the first and second receiving portions 52, 54, respectively, in a next step, first and second securing pins 90, 94 are inserted into the first and second flange bores 47, 49 and the first and second securing element bores 66, 76, respectively. As the prop head bearing is welded to the first and second web plates 13, 15, the first and second securing pins 90, 94 are inserted into the first and second flange bores 47, 49 and the first and second securing element bores 66, 76 from the prop head receiving portion 50 and are then pushed outwardly in the direction of the first and second securing elements 60, 70, such that the first and second securing pins 90, 94 do not protrude into the prop head receiving portion 50 defined by the first and second flanges 46, 48. This assembly position is shown at the right side of
Subsequently, the prop head 22 is positioned in the prop head receiving portion 50 in a pivotable manner. The longitudinal axis C of the first and second securing pins 90, 94 is configured to coincide with the swivel axis of the hydraulic prop 20. Thus, a pivotable motion of the prop head 22 secured to the prop head bearing device 40 is possible.
After having the prop head 22 positioned in the prop head receiving portion 50, the first securing pin 90 is pushed back in the direction of the prop head receiving portion 50, such that an end 91 of the first securing pin 90 facing the prop head 22 engages in a first recess 24 of the prop head 22 for securing the prop head 22 to the prop head bearing device 40. Similarly, although not explicitly shown in
As indicated in
As further illustrated in
After the first and second securing pins 90, 94 engaged the first and second recesses 24, 26, respectively, locking pins 80 are inserted into the respective locking pin receiving bores 68, 78 engage with the grooves 92, 96, respectively, thereby locking the first and second securing pins 90, 94 against axial motion. The locking pins 80 may itself be secured by spring clips (not shown) against axial displacement. This locking position is shown in
As also shown in
Although the preferred embodiments of this invention have been described herein, improvements and modifications may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13160211.2 | Mar 2013 | EP | regional |
