TUNNEL SUPPORT INSTALLATION APPARATUS

Abstract

An apparatus to install structural supports in a mine tunnel is conveniently mountable on a mining machine having a cutting head mounted at one end of a boom. An extendable and slewing manipulator arm of the apparatus is mounted on a support platform that is slidable in the axial forward and rearward direction and includes a grasping device to hold the structural supports in a plurality of different positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus arranged to install a structural support in a mine tunnel, the apparatus comprising: a support platform mounted on at least one guiderail and configured to slide in a forward and backward direction along the guiderail; an extendable arm having opposed ends, one end being connected to a gripping device arranged to grip at least one structural support having a support arch, the arm being mounted at the support platform; a slewing device mounting the extendable arm at the support platform to allow the arm to slew outwardly in a sideways direction from the apparatus, the arm being pivotally mounted at the slewing device to enable the gripping device to be raised and lowered relative to the support platform; at least one rail mount to slidably mount and allow the guiderail to slide in the forward and backward direction along a mining machine; and a working platform mounted at the support platform to allow personnel to stand on the apparatus at a location close to the gripping device.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a base arranged to mount the apparatus at the mining machine, the rail mount being mounted on the base.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm is telescopic and includes a head section and an extendable tail section.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pocket has an elongated form extending substantially transverse and perpendicular to a main length of the arm.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping device is fastened to the arm in a pivotable manner via a hinge.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a slewing axis of the slewing device is aligned substantially perpendicular to a pivoting axis by which the arm is pivotally mounted at the slewing device.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a movable linkage mounting the working platform at the support platform to allow the working platform to be raised and lowered relative to the support platform.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the linkage is pivotally mounted between the support platform and the working platform.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the working platform is elongate in a widthwise direction across the apparatus such that ends of the working platform extend outwardly beyond respective sides of the support platform.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the working platform includes a central region raised above a pair of end regions in a height direction, the central region being configured to sit and slide over the guiderail.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one power operated actuator coupled to the support platform to move the support platform along the guiderail in the forward and rearward direction; and at least one power operated actuator coupled to the guiderail to move the guiderail along the base in a forward and rearward direction.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance in the forward and rearward direction over which the support platform is configured to slide on the guiderail is substantially equal to a distance in the forward and rearward direction over which the guiderail is configured to slide on the rail mount.

13. A mobile mining machine comprising an apparatus configured to install structural supports within a mine tunnel, the apparatus comprising a support platform mounted on at least one guiderail and being configured to slide in a forward and backward direction along the guiderail; an extendable arm having opposed ends, one end being connected to a gripping device arranged to grip at least one structural support having a support arch, the arm being mounted at the support platform; a slewing device mounting the extendable arm at the support platform to allow the arm to slew outwardly in a sideways direction from the apparatus, the arm being pivotally mounted at the slewing device to enable the gripping device to be raised and lowered relative to the support platform; at least one rail mount to slidably mount and allow the guiderail to slide in the forward and backward direction along the mining machine; and a working platform mounted at the support platform to allow personnel to stand on the apparatus at a location close to the gripping device.

14. The machine as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a cutting boom pivotally mounted at a mainframe and configured to support and allow a raising and lowering of a rotatable cutting head provided at a forward end of the machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile mining machine comprising manipulator apparatus to install structural supports at the roof and walls of a mine tunnel according to a specific implementation of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the mining machine of FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a right side perspective view of the manipulator apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a left side perspective view of the manipulator apparatus of FIG. 2;

[0030] FIG. 5 is a further right side perspective view of the manipulator apparatus of FIG. 3 showing safety railings and access ladders according to a specific implementation of the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the mining machine of FIG. 2 with the manipulator assembly moved to a rearward position on a mining machine according to a specific implementation of the present invention;

[0032] FIG. 7 is a further perspective view of the mining machine of FIG. 6 with a manipulator arm slewed in a sideways direction to extend outwardly from the mining machine of FIG. 6;

[0033] FIG. 8 is further perspective view of the mining machine of FIG. 6 with the manipulator apparatus moved to a fully forward position such that a working platform is positioned vertically above a cutting head at a forward end of the machine;

[0034] FIG. 9 is a further perspective view of the mining machine of FIG. 8 with the working platform fitted with the safety railings and ladders of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mobile mining machine 100 comprises a mainframe 101 mounting a pair of endless tracks 107 via an undercarriage 102. A motor 106 is also carried by mainframe 101 and is positioned substantially centrally of the main body of machine 100. A rotatable cutting head indicated generally by reference 105 is positioned at a forward end of machine 100 and comprises a plurality of rotating drums that mount a plurality of cutting bits (not shown). Head 105 is mounted at mainframe 101 via an elongate boom 104 that is in turn pivotally mounted at its rearward end to mainframe 101. A gathering head 103 is also mounted at the machine forward end and is positioned below boom 104 so as to receive and gather material dislodged from the cutting face. Machine 100 further comprises a discharge conveyor 108 that extends rearwardly from gathering head 103 and projects rearwardly from the machine 100 behind motor 106.

[0036] Machine 100, typically referred to as a Roadheader is also configured for installation of mine tunnel structural support beams 111 at the tunnel roof and sidewalls as created by the action of cutting head 105. This configuration is provided by a manipulator assembly indicated generally by reference 109 that is mounted generally at the upper region of machine 100. In particular, assembly 109 comprises an extendable manipulator arm 110 having a grasping end 113 configured to hold a beam 111 as it is raised from a tunnel floor level to a mounting position at the tunnel roof. Assembly 109 further comprises a personnel working platform 112 to support a number of working personnel 200 at the region of arm grasping end 113 such that personnel 200 may manipulate and affix beam 111 at the desired elevated position.

[0037] Grasping end 113 is formed as a specifically configured grasping or engaging device to hold beam 111 from below so as to allow the beam 111 to be presented to an underside surface of the roof. In particular, the grasping device comprises an elongate holding pocket 114 in the form of semi cylindrical cupped sections that are shaped and dimensioned to correspond approximately to an underside surface of beam 111. The main body that supports or defines holding pockets 114 is hingeably mounted at arm 110 via a pivot mount 115. According to the specific implementation, mount 115 comprises a ball joint to allow the holding pockets 114 to be orientated at an almost unlimited range of orientations relative to arm 110. Such an arrangement is advantageous to grasp beam 111 at any position at the lateral sides of machine 100 and then to raise the beam 111 to the positions of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0038] FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate the assembly 109 removed from the machine 100 with various components removed for illustrative purposes. Assembly 109 comprises in particular a plate like base 300 capable of being mounted rigidly to machine mainframe 101 via a console 601 (illustrated in FIG. 6). Four rail mounts 304 project upwardly from an upward facing surface 317 of base 300. Rail mounts 304 are divided into pairs with each pair spaced apart in a widthwise direction across base 300. Two mounts are provided towards a forward end of base 300 with the remaining two mounts 304 provided towards a rearward end of base 300. The collective pairs of rail mounts 304 are configured to mount a guide rail indicated generally by reference 301 at the base 300 in a slidable manner. Elongate guiderail 301 comprises a forward end 303 and rearward end 302 and a pair of elongate channels 318 recessed or indented in the guiderail sides, the channels 318 extending the length of guiderail 301 between the forward and rearward ends 303, 302. A guide shoe 319 is supported by each mount 304 and positioned to sit at least partially within each respective channel 318 so as to allow guiderail 301 to slide linearly in a forward and rearward direction over base 300. According to the specific implementation, an axial length of guiderail 301 is greater than a corresponding axial length of base 300. In particular, guiderail 301 is at least twice the length of base 300.

[0039] A plate like support platform 305 is slidably mounted on guiderail 301 via four platform mounts 306 that project from an underside surface of platform 305. At least a part of each mount 306 is engaged within each side channel 318 so as to allow platform 305 to slide in the forward and rearward direction along guiderail 301 independently of the axial movement of guiderail 301 relative to base 300. Assembly 109 further comprises at least one power operated linear actuator 800 (referring to FIG. 8) coupled to support platform 305 to move platform 305 along guiderail 301. Additionally, assembly 109 further comprises at least one power operated linear actuator (not shown) coupled to guiderail 301 to move guiderail 301 along the base 300. As will be appreciated, the sliding axial movement of the guiderail 301 at base 300 and the corresponding axial sliding movement of support platform 305 at guiderail 301 may be supported by appropriate wheels, rollers, bushings, bearings and other movement stabilising components such that guiderail 301 and platform 305 are suspended in a substantially floating slidable configuration relative to base 300 that is rigidly mounted at mainframe 101.

[0040] Support platform 305 comprises a rearward end 410, a forward end 408 and respective sides 407. Assembly 109 further comprises a slewing device 307 comprising a conventional slew ring. A lower bracket of the slewing device 307 is rigidly mounted at an upward facing surface 320 of platform 305 whilst an upper slewing bracket provides a mount for extendable arm 110 via an upstanding arm bracket 409. Extendable arm 110 comprises a head portion 309 having a first end 312 coupled to arm bracket 409 via a pivot pin 311 and a free second end 313. An arm tail portion indicated generally by reference 310 is retractably mounted so as to be extendable from the second end 313 of head portion 309 via a telescopic mounting arrangement. Extension of tail portion 310 is actuated by at least one power operated actuator such as a hydraulic cylinder or the like. Accordingly, arm 110 is capable of being raised and lowered in the vertical direction via pivoting about pivot axis 406. Additionally, arm 110 is capable of slewing in a widthwise sideways direction about slewing axis 308 via slewing device 307. Accordingly, the arm grasping end 113 is capable of being moved to a position outwardly and downwardly relative to platform 305 so as to receive beam 111. Via the slewing and pivoting action, arm 110 is configured to bring the beam 111 into the raised upper position of FIGS. 1 and 2 for affixing to the tunnel roof and wall.

[0041] Working platform 112 is movably mounted at support platform 305 via a pivoting mechanical linkage 314 having a rearward end 400 (mounted at support platform 305) and a forward end 401 (mounted at working platform 112). Linkage 314 comprises a rearward set of pivot pins 315 and a forward set of pivot pins 316 at each respective rearward and forward end 400, 401. Accordingly, linkage 314 is capable of actuated pivoting so as to raise and lower working platform 112 in the upward and downward direction relative to support platform 305. In particular, linkage 314 may be substantially co-aligned at the same height as support platform 305 according to the configuration of FIGS. 3 to 5 or may be lowered below the height level of platform 305 to the position of FIGS. 1 and 9 when the assembly 109 is actuated so as to be displaced in its forwardmost position.

[0042] According to the specific implementation, working platform 112 is substantially elongate in a widthwise direction of machine 100 and comprises a central portion 402 mounted directly to the linkage forward end 401. A pair of end portions 403 project laterally outward from central portion 402 and mount a corresponding pair of platform wings 405 via respective hinges 404 to allow wings 405 to fold laterally outward from side portions 403. Accordingly, working platform 112 is extendable and retractable in the widthwise direction of machine 100. Central portion 402 is mounted at a raised position above side portions 403 such that central portion 402 is configured to sit above elongate guiderail 301 when the assembly 109 is configured in its rearwardmost position as shown in FIGS. 3 to 7. That is, in this configuration working platform 112 is positioned rearwardly behind the rail forward end 303 with the platform end portions 403 projecting laterally outward to the side of each respective rail channel 318. Referring to FIG. 5, working platform 112 is configured to releasably mount a safety rail structure 501 so as to provide railings that at least partially surround platform 112 when laterally fully extended. Additionally, platform 112 provides a support structure for a plurality of ladders 500 having lowermost ends that are mountable on the mine floor to further stabilise and working platform 112 when used by personnel. According to further implementations, platform 112 may comprise suitable telescopic or pivot mounted struts or ladders to provide downwardly projecting ground engaging support legs.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 9 machine 100 is advantageously configured with a manipulator assembly 109 having working components 110, 112 that may be moved in the axial forward and rearward direction along machine 100 towards and away from cutting head 105. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the assembly 109 in the rearward position with FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrating the assembly 109 moved to its forwardmost position (with platform 112 positioned substantially vertically above cutting head 105). Machine 100 further comprises a canopy 600 positioned at a height above boom 104 and immediately below guiderail 301. Canopy 600 is positioned at a generally forward region of machine 100 immediately above a rearward end of gathering head 103. With manipulator assembly 109 located at its rearward position of FIGS. 6 and 7, canopy 600 is accordingly exposed with arm 110 positioned substantially above the rearwardly projecting discharge conveyor 108 axially rearward of motor 106. Accordingly, in this position, manipulator assembly 109 does not restrict the pivoting movement of boom 104 to allow cutting head 105 to be raised and lowered during cutting operations. Additionally, platform 112 and arm 110 are maintained rearward of any material dislodged from the cutting face. The distribution of the weight of assembly 109 is also fully adjustable via the present arrangement so as to minimise fatigue of the machine 100 generally and those components 601 that support the assembly 109 via mainframe 101. In use, the support platform 305 and in particular arm 110 and working platform 112 may be displaced in the linear forward direction involving sliding movement of the guiderail 301 on base 300 and the corresponding sliding movement of support platform 305 on guiderail 301. Arm 110 may then be slewed in the lateral outward direction such that grasping end 113 is extended laterally outward in the widthwise direction beyond tracks 107 to take hold of support beam 111. Arm 110 may then be raised vertically via pivoting about axis 406 to allow support beam 111 to clear the working components of machine 100. The present assembly 109 therefore provides a linear telescopic arrangement to maximise the axial displacement of arm 110 and platform 112. With the support platform 305 displaced to its forwardmost position of FIGS. 8 and 9, linkage 314 may then be pivoted so as to project generally downward from support platform 305 to lower working platform 112 downward towards boom 104 and cutting head 105. In this configuration, the rail forward end 303 and support platform 305 extend axially forward beyond canopy 600.