Patent ID: 7987794
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: E21D,E21F

Abstract:
1. A transfer assembly for laterally transferring a raise climber out of an access drift, said access drift extending away from a lower end of a raise, said transfer assembly comprising: a length of rail being sized to fit in series with, and in between, a pair of existing rails supported in said access drift and spaced from each other, to provide continuity between the existing rails and said length of rail and thereby permit said raise climber to drive from said length of rail onto either of said existing rails; one or more supports attached to and extending upwardly from said length of rail and positioned along said length of rail to be aligned with corresponding transfer rails extending away from said access drift and into a recess in said access drift; and a trolley at an upper end of each support, each support being sized to provide vertical alignment of a respective trolley with a corresponding transfer rail when said transfer assembly is aligned with said existing rails, each trolley being configured to suspend from, and be moveable along, said corresponding transfer rail, to permit movement of said transfer assembly laterally with respect to said existing rail and into said recess.