PLOW GUIDE ASSEMBLY FOR PLOW GUIDES
20170292378 · 2017-10-12
Assignee
Inventors
- Gerhard Siepenkort (Lünen, DE)
- Klaus Duhnke (Werne, DE)
- Susanne Wutzke (Holzwickede, DE)
- Frank Reitenbach (Lünen, DE)
Cpc classification
E21C29/14
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E21C27/32
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
E21C27/32
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a plow guide assembly for guiding a mining plow. The plow guide assembly may comprise a base member including a first guide beam for guideing the mining plow and extending along a first axis, and a second guide beam spaced apart the first guide beam for defining a service clearance therebetween, and extending along a second axis axially aligned to the first axis. The plow guide assembly may further comprise an insert element insertable into the service clearance and having a third guide beam extending along a third axis. In an assembled state of the insert element, the third axis is axially aligned to the first and second axes.
Claims
1. A plow guide assembly of a plow guide for guiding a mining plow used in underground mining applications, the mining plow having at least one top guide member and at least one bottom guide member, the plow guide assembly comprising: a base member defining a bottom chain guide duct, a top chain guide duct disposed above the bottom chain guide duct, and a top guide rail configured to guide the at least one top guide member of the mining plow, the base member including: a first guide beam extending along a first axis, and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member of the mining plow; and a second guide beam spaced apart the first guide beam for defining a service clearance therebetween, the second guide beam extending along a second axis axially aligned to the first axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member; a removable insert element configured to be inserted into the service clearance and to be attached to the base member, the insert element having a third guide beam extending along a third axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member, wherein, in an assembled state of the insert element, the third axis is axially aligned to the first and second axes; and a supporting device configured to support and position the insert element relative to the base member.
2. A plow guide assembly of a plow guide for guiding a mining plow used in underground mining applications, the mining plow having at least one top guide member and at least one bottom guide member, the plow guide assembly comprising: a base member defining a bottom chain guide duct, a top chain guide duct disposed above the bottom chain guide duct, and a top guide rail configured to guide the at least one top guide member of the mining plow, the base member including: a first guide beam extending along a first axis, and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member of the mining plow; and a second guide beam spaced apart the first guide beam for defining a service clearance therebetween, the second guide beam extending along a second axis axially aligned to the first axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member; a removable insert element configured to be inserted into the service clearance and to be attached to the base member, the insert element having a third guide beam extending along a third axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member, wherein, in an assembled state of the insert element, the third axis is axially aligned to the first and second axes; and a supporting device configured to support and position the insert element relative to the base member, wherein the supporting device includes at least one protrusion provided at the base member and at least partially protruding into the service clearance, and at least one recess provided at the insert element and configured to engage the at least one protrusion.
3. The plow guide assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one protrusion is provided at the first guide beam and extends along the first axis, and/or at least one recess is provided at the third guide beam.
4. A plow guide assembly of a plow guide for guiding a mining plow used in underground mining applications, the mining plow having at least one top guide member and at least one bottom guide member, the plow guide assembly comprising: a base member defining a bottom chain guide duct, a top chain guide duct disposed above the bottom chain guide duct, and a top guide rail configured to guide the at least one top guide member of the mining plow, the base member including: a first guide beam extending along a first axis, and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member of the mining plow; and a second guide beam spaced apart the first guide beam for defining a service clearance therebetween, the second guide beam extending along a second axis axially aligned to the first axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member; a removable insert element configured to be inserted into the service clearance and to be attached to the base member, the insert element having a third guide beam extending along a third axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member, wherein, in an assembled state of the insert element, the third axis is axially aligned to the first and second axes; and a supporting device configured to support and position the insert element relative to the base member, wherein the supporting device includes at least one protrusion provided at the insert element and extending along the third axis, at least one recess provided at the first beam and configured to engage at least one protrusion, and at least one recess provided at the second beam and configured to engage at least one protrusion.
5. The plow guide assembly of claim 2, wherein, when the at least one protrusion engages the at least one recess, the insert element is at least partially pivotable relative to the base member.
6. The plow guide assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one protrusion has a cross-sectional shape including a first semicircular section and a tapered section, and/or the at least one recess has a cross-sectional shape including a second semicircular section and a rectangular section, a diameter of the second semicircular section being equal to or greater than a diameter of the first semicircular section.
7. The plow guide assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one protrusion has a cross-sectional shape including a first semicircular section and a rectangular section, and/or the at least one recess has a cross-sectional shape including a second semicircular section and a conical section, a diameter of the second semicircular section being equal to or greater than a diameter of the first semicircular section.
8. The plow guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert element further includes a bottom chain guide duct forming section forming at least a portion of the bottom chain guide duct and a top chain guide duct forming section 146 forming at least a portion of the top chain guide duct, thereby enlarging the service clearance.
9. The plow guide assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert element further includes a top guide rail forming section forming at least a portion of the top guide rail.
10. The plow guide assembly of claim 1, wherein a length of the insert element along the third axis is configured to be equal or greater than a length of the at least one bottom guide member of the mining plow along the third axis.
11. A plow guide for attaching to a chain scraper conveyor including a plurality of conveyor pans connected to one another, the plow guide comprising: a plurality of plow guide elements connected to one another; and at least one plow guide assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the at least one plow guide assembly being connected to at least one of the plurality of plow guide elements.
12. A chain scraper conveyor comprising: a plurality of conveyor pans connected to one another; and a plow guide according to claim 11, the plow guide being attached to the plurality of conveyor pans.
13. A method for replacing a worn bottom guide member of a mining plow, the bottom guide member being configured to be guided by a plow guide according to claim 11, the method comprising: moving the mining plow to a position, such that at least one bottom guide member is disposed at the at least one plow guide assembly; disassembling the insert element from the base member thereby providing access to at least one bottom guide member via the service clearance; replacing the worn bottom guide member by a new bottom guide member; and assembling the insert element to the base member.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least partially lifting the mining plow prior replacing the worn bottom guide member by a new bottom guide member.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the bottom guide members of the mining plow is replaceable via the at least one plow guide assembly.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013]
[0014]
[0015]
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
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[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] 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.
[0024] The present disclosure may be based at least in part on the realization that providing at least one of a plurality of plow guide elements of a plow guide with a service clearance and an insert element insertable into the service clearance may facilitate maintenance work of the bottom guide members of the mining plow, especially when replacing worn bottom guide elements with new ones.
[0025] The present disclosure may be further based at least in part on the realization that providing the insert element with a portion of a bottom guide rail of the plow guide element may further facilitate maintenance work of the bottom guide members of the mining plow. Since the bottom guide rail engages the bottom guide members of the mining plow, disassembling of the insert element equipped with a portion of the bottom guide rail may provide access to the bottom guide member to be replaced.
[0026] The present disclosure may be further based at least in part on the realization that providing at least one of a plurality of plow guide elements of a plow guide with a service clearance and an insert element may provide the possibility to replace each of the bottom guide members of the mining plow via one service clearance. Therefore, only one of the plurality of plow guide elements connected to one another for forming a plow guide for a mining plow may need to be provided with an insert element and a service clearance.
[0027]
[0028] As shown in
[0029] The base member 110 further includes a first guide beam 122 and a second guide beam 124 spaced apart the first guide beam 122 thereby defining a service clearance 130. The first and second guide beams 122, 124 are integrally formed with the base member 110. In some further embodiments, the first and second guide beams 122, 124 may be attached to the base member 110 via any known fastening device, such as, for example, welding.
[0030] The exemplary disclosed plow guide assembly 100 further includes a removable insert element 140 that is insertable into the service clearance 130 and attachable to the base member 110 via a fastening device, such as, for example, a plurality of screws 152, 154, 156, 157, 158. In
[0031] A connecting member 160 is configured to connect the plow guide assembly 100 to an adjacent plow guide element 102. On the other side, a further connecting member (not shown) may also be provided for connecting the plow guide assembly 100 to an adjacent plow guide element 102. The plow guide 10 according to the present disclosure may include only one plow guide assembly 100 for performing maintenance work at the mining plow 400.
[0032] Referring to
[0033] As can be seen in
[0034] As also indicated in
[0035] Referring to
[0036] The insert element 140 includes a third guide beam 142 extending along a third axis 143. When being in the assembled position (as shown in
[0037] As indicated in
[0038] As can be further seen in
[0039] A first embodiment of a supporting device 170 for supporting and positioning the insert element 140 relative to the base member 110 is illustrated in
[0040] The supporting device 170 further includes two recesses 174 (only one of which is visible in
[0041]
[0042] As shown in
[0043] The recesses 174 each have a cross-sectional shape including an upper semicircular section 174A and a lower rectangular section 174B having an inner face 175A facing towards the bottom chain guide duct 112 (see
[0044] The process of inserting the insert element 140 into the service clearance 130 of the base member 110 is now described with reference to
[0045] Then, the insert element 140 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction in
[0046] Due to the specific shape of the protrusions 172 shown in
[0047] In another embodiment, the protrusions 172 may have a cross-sectional shape including an upper semicircular section and a lower rectangular section. In such embodiments, the recesses 174 may have a cross sectional shape including an upper semicircular section and a lower conical section.
[0048] Referring to
[0049] With respect to
[0050] The supporting device 270 further includes two recesses 274 (only one of which is visible in
[0051]
[0052] As shown, each of the protrusions 272 has a cross-sectional shape including a lower semicircular section 272A and an upper rectangular section 272B having an inner face 273A facing towards the bottom chain guide duct 112 (see
[0053] The recesses 274 each have a cross-sectional shape including a lower semicircular section 274A and an upper conical section 274B having an inner face 275A facing towards the bottom chain guide duct 112 (see
[0054] The process of inserting the insert element 140 into the service clearance 130 of the base member 110 is now described with reference to
[0055] Then, the insert element 140 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction in
[0056] In another embodiment, the protrusions 272 may have a cross-sectional shape including a lower semicircular section and an upper tapered section. In such embodiments, the recesses 274 may have a cross sectional shape including a lower semicircular section and an upper rectangular section.
[0057] In another embodiment, instead of providing the recesses 274 asymmetrically at the face sides of the first and second guide beams 122, 124, respectively, and the protrusions 272 symmetrically at the faces sides of the third beam 142, it may also be possible to provide the protrusions asymmetrically at the face sides of the third beam 142 and the recesses 274 symmetrically at the face sides of the first and second guide beams 122, 124, respectively.
[0058] It should be noted that, after having pivoted the insert element 140 from the unlocked into the locked position and having fixed the insert element 140 to the base member 110, the first, second, and third axes 123, 125, 143 should be aligned to one another, such that the first, second, and third beams 122, 124, 142 together form the bottom guide rail 120 for guiding the bottom guide members 420 of the mining plow 400.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0059] In the following, an exemplary method for replacing worn bottom guide members 420 of the mining plow 400 will be described with reference to the drawings, especially with respect to
[0060] In the assembled state, the third guide beam 142 of the insert element 140 engages the left bottom guide member 420 (see, for instance,
[0061] After having disassembled the insert element 140, the left end of the mining plow 400 is at least partially lifted by a lifting device, such as, for instance, a crane apparatus engaging a towing eye 422 attached to the mining plow 400. In such state, the left bottom guide member 420 is accessible and removable from the base member 110.
[0062] After having replaced the worn bottom guide member 420 by a new one and lowered the mining plow 400 onto the slideway 118, the insert element 140 is assembled to the base member 110, as described above with respect to
[0063] In case that the other bottom guide member 420 is also worn, the mining plow 400 is moved to the plow guide assembly 100, as shown in
[0064] It should be noted that the length of the insert element 140 in the direction of the third axis 143 is equal or greater than the length of the greatest bottom guide member 420 of the mining plow 400, such that each bottom guide member 420 may be replaced via one plow guide assembly 100 having an insert element and a service clearance 130 as disclosed herein.
[0065] In another aspect of the present disclosure, an insert element for inserting into a service clearance provided at a base member of a plow guide element for guiding a mining plow is disclosed. The base member may define a bottom chain guide duct, a top chain guide duct disposed above the bottom chain guide duct, and a top guide rail configured to guide at least one top guide member of the mining plow. The base member may include a first guide beam extending along a first axis, and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide membe of the mining plow, and a second guide beam spaced apart the first guide beam for defining a service clearance therebetween. the second guide beam may extend along a second axis axially aligned to the first axis and may be configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member of the mining plow. The insert element according of the present disclosure may include a third guide beam extending along a third axis and being configured to guide the at least one bottom guide member. In an assembled state of the insert element, the third axis may be axially aligned to the first and second axes.
[0066] 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.