Patent Application
20100201180
The present invention relates generally to shoveling apparatuses with multi-positional shovels, suitable for use in underground coal mines, and designed and configured for specific use in corridors that house coal conveyor belt lines.
Coal conveyor belt lines transport coal from the mine face to a tipple or other location, and generally run the length(s) of a mine, through narrow corridors. These corridors are separate from, and generally parallel to, transportation routes within the mine. A plurality of panels run perpendicular to the transportation routes, to provide access to the belt line corridors.
From time to time coal falls from the belt line, onto the corridor floor. Furthermore, the walls of these corridors deteriorate over time, so that loose rock gathers with the fallen coal on the corridor floor. The accumulating coal and rock in the belt line corridor causes a fire hazard and creates a potentially explosive environment. Therefore, for mine safety, loose coal and rock debris must be periodically removed from the belt line corridor floor. Presently, this accumulating debris is removed by manually shoveling it onto the belt line, which is generally hazardous, costly, and time consuming. The belt line may be over four feet above the ground, making the manual task of cleaning belt line corridors even more demanding. However, there exists no known vehicle or other mechanical device suitable for removing coal and rock debris from the corridor floor and moving it to the belt line.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical apparatus to shovel coal and other debris from the belt line corridor floor (including under the belt line), moving it to the belt line, for removal from the mine. Other objects and purposes of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, wherein there is shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention.
The shoveling apparatus of the present invention comprises a low profile vehicle, a boom assembly, and a shovel assembly, wherein the boom assembly is capable of positioning the shovel assembly into a belt line corridor so that coal and debris therein may be collected and transported to the belt line for further conveyance by the belt line out of the mine.
The low profile vehicle generally comprises a cab portion, at least one motive support, and an advanceable support. The cab portion provides a workspace in the vehicle for an operator of the shoveling apparatus; the motive support (e.g., continuous tracks, wheels) mobilizes the low profile vehicle; and the advanceable support supports and advances the boom assembly from the cab portion.
The boom assembly generally comprises a rotary actuator, a linear actuator, and an elongated support structure, wherein the rotary actuator laterally rotates this elongated support structure 90, in each direction, with respect to the advanceable support of the low profile vehicle; the linear actuator vertically rotates the structure relative to the advanceable support; and the elongated support structure supports and positions the shovel assembly with respect to a ground surface (the elongated support structure may further contain tubing, wires, and/or other power and communication components). The boom assembly is affixed to and supported by the advanceable support.
The shovel assembly generally comprises a shovel assembly rotary actuator, a shovel, and in some embodiments a tilting mechanism, wherein this rotary actuator laterally rotates the shovel up to 90°, in each direction, with respect to the elongated support structure of the boom assembly; the shovel facilitates shoveling and moving of a material; and the tilting mechanism vertically tilts the shovel with respect to the shovel assembly rotary actuator. The shovel assembly may further comprise an advanceable plate that facilitates removal of the material from the shovel. The shovel assembly is affixed to and supported by the boom assembly.
The present invention thereby moves the shovel to multiple positions by one or more of: the advancement or retraction of the boom assembly by the advanceable support; the lateral rotation of the boom assembly elongated support structure by the boom assembly rotary actuator; the vertical rotation of the boom assembly elongated support structure by the boom assembly linear actuator; the lateral rotation of the shovel by the shovel assembly rotary actuator; and the vertical tilting of the shovel by the tilting mechanism, so as to facilitate shoveling, carrying, and dumping of the material by the shoveling apparatus, in belt corridors and similar difficult to reach areas in locations such as underground coal mines.
The following detailed description of specific embodiments can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and are not intended to be limiting of the embodiments defined by the claims. Moreover, individual aspects of the drawings and the embodiments will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.
Referring initially to
As shown in
The motive supports 20 mobilize the low profile vehicle 12 and generally provide sufficient ground clearance for the vehicle to travel over rocky and/or uneven terrain. For example, in one embodiment, the motive supports provide a ground clearance of about 12″. The motive support(s) 20 may be configured as one or more continuous tracks, wheels, or other supportive devices, or combinations thereof, causing, or having potential to cause, motion of the low profile vehicle 12.
The advanceable support 22 of the low profile vehicle 12 supports the boom assembly 14, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in the embodiment of
The longitudinal advancement and retraction of the advanceable support 22 may be performed by any conventional devices, such as, but not limited to, linear actuators, gears, chains, actuators, belts, and/or other mechanical and/or electrical devices, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, as depicted in
The boom assembly 14, an embodiment of which is shown in
The boom assembly rotary actuator 24 laterally rotates the boom assembly elongated support structure with respect to the advanceable support 22, up to 180° (90° in each direction). As shown in
As shown in
Each of the positioning arm 26 and the leveling arm 44 also rotate in the vertical plane, relative to the low profile vehicle, and about their affixation point 24C to the rotary actuator 24, to lift and lower the shovel assembly (see
In one embodiment, the positioning arm 26 and leveling arm 44 are about 8′ in length, thereby vertically positioning the shovel assembly 16 a variable distance between in contact with the ground surface 28 and about 5′3″ above the ground surface. Preferably, the positioning arm has a length of between 6′ and 10′, and positions the shovel to a maximum height of 4′ to 7′ above the ground surface 28.
The positioning arm is preferably a 6″×6″, 31 lb, boxed-in beam. As shown in
The shovel assembly 16, shown in
As shown in
Tilting of the shovel with respect to the shovel assembly rotary actuator is controlled by one or more linear actuators, preferably hydraulic cylinder systems 46, each engaged on opposite sides with the top half of the back side of the shovel 32 and the bottom half of the supporting structure 31. When the rods extend from the barrels of these systems, the shovel tilts downwards; when they are retracted the shovel resumes its normal position (lateral to the surface, or tilted upwards). Thus the shovel 32 can tilt to assist in the capturing and holding coal therein, and removal of coal therefrom.
By virtue of the shovel's depth dimension and side and back walls, the shovel 32 generally comprises a cavity 48 in which the material may be held until its removal from the shovel 32. Generally, the material is dumped from the shovel 32 through a downward tilting of the shovel via the tilting mechanism 34, as described above. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the material may be pushed from the cavity 48 of the shovel 32 by an advanceable plate 50, as depicted in
The shovel 32 may comprise any variety of dimensions suitable for shoveling, carrying, and/or dumping the material in the limited space of a belt line corridor. For example, the shovel 32 comprises a length and width of between 2′-4′, respectively, and a depth of between 0.5′ and 2′. More preferably, the width and height range from 2.5′-3.5′, and the depth is about 1′.
By the present invention, the shovel 32 is positionable in multiple positions with respect to the cab portion 18 of the low profile vehicle (and therefore capable of reaching into and working within the belt line corridors, to mechanically collect fallen coal and rock debris, and deliver the same to the belt line). More particularly, the shovel 32 is positionable via one or more of the lateral advancement and/or retraction of the boom assembly 14 by the advanceable support 22, the bi-directional lateral rotation of the positioning and leveling arms 26 and 44 by the boom assembly rotary actuator 24, the bi-directional vertical positioning of the shovel assembly 16 by the boom assembly linear actuator 42, the bi-directional lateral rotation of the shovel 32 by the shovel assembly rotary actuator 30, and the bi-directional vertical tilting of the shovel 32 by the tilting mechanism 34. This variability in the positioning of the shovel 32 enhances operational capabilities of the shoveling apparatus 10 in reaching difficult to reach areas, and facilitates shoveling, carrying, and/or dumping of material by the shoveling apparatus 10.
While hydraulic cylinders and actuators are preferred in the apparatus of the present invention, other structures such as pneumatic pumps, or other linearly or rotary motive devices may be suitable for use in the present invention. Specifically suitable for use in the present invention is a helical, hydraulic rotary actuator from Helac Corporation (series L30).
It is noted that recitations herein of a component of an embodiment being “configured” in a particular way or to embody a particular property, or function in a particular manner, are structural recitations as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component.
It is noted that terms like “generally,” when utilized herein, are not utilized to limit the scope of the claimed embodiments or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed embodiments. Rather, these terms are merely intended to identify particular aspects of an embodiment or to emphasize alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment.
For the purposes of describing and defining embodiments herein it is noted that the term “substantially” and “partially” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The terms “substantially” and “partially” are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue.
Having described embodiments of the present invention in detail, and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the embodiments defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of embodiments of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to these preferred aspects.
