Power pack trolley and captivation system

A conveyor belt structure (10) has a pair of longitudinally extending tracks or stringers (11) upon which trolleys can ride. A power pack trolley (12) also rides stringers (11). The trolley (12) has stringer-engaging wheels (14) and a power pack supported upon a frame. The power pack might be a rechargeable battery or a generator for example. The power pack trolley (12) also includes a motor or motors to drive its wheels (14). A captivation (30) is affixed to a bogie arm (31). Attached to the lower edge of the mounting plate (32) is a horizontal plate (34). A flange (36) is angularly offset with respect to the plane of the plate (35). Should one of the wheels (17) of the trolley (16) become derailed from stringer (11), one or both of plates (34 and 35) of the captivation bracket (30) will strike the stringer (11).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The following invention relates to a power pack trolley capable of riding
 along tracks or belt conveyor stringent and providing a motive power to
 other trolleys also riding along the tracks or stringers. More
 particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to such a
 system for use in underground coal mining installations. In such
 installations, a conveyor belt structure has a pair of stringers extending
 longitudinally of the structure. These stringers are used to support
 trolleys which transport equipment, materials or personnel along the
 conveyor belt structure. For example, such trolleys can be used to
 transport materials or exhaust fans for example, along a coal mine tunnel.
 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
 It is the object of the present invention to provide a means of powering
 belt structure mounted conveyances (trolleys). This would be in the form
 of an independent power pack trolley or carriage from which mechanical or
 electrical power may be taken to drive the motor or motors of another
 trolley or carriage not having its own power source. This allows the
 system to operate under more arduous conditions by driving and/or braking
 on one or all wheels in contact with the rails. By this method, the system
 can operate safely on steeper gradients.
 The use of a single independent power source allows the reduction of the
 trolley mass and increase of the payload.
 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
 There is disclosed herein a power pack trolley having:
 a frame;
 wheels attached to the frame and adapted to ride along a track,
 motor means adapted to drive at least one of said wheels,
 a power pack, and
 a take-off by which energy from the power pack can be drawn for use in
 driving equipment upon another trolley.
 Typically, the power pack comprises a hydraulic pump or battery or stored
 energy source.
 Alternatively, the power pack includes a generator and a fuel source.
 Alternatively, the power pack receives energy from an external source.
 Typically, the transmission equipment on the other trolley drawing energy
 from the power pack includes a motor drivingly associated with a wheel or
 wheels of the other trolley.
 Typically, the power pack trolley need not be mechanically interconnected
 with the other trolley for the purpose of hauling thereof. However, a
 mechanical interconnection between the power pack trolley and the other
 trolley can include a spacer bar adapted to maintain a space between the
 power pack trolley and the other trolley.
 Typically, the power pack trolley receive power from the power pack.
 Alternatively, the motors of the power pack trolley can receive power from
 a separate power supply on board the power pack trolley.
 There is further disclosed herein a combination of a trolley or carriage
 having motor driven wheels but no power source and a power pack trolley
 interconnected thereto.
 Additionally, the two trolleys can be mechanically interconnected for the
 purpose of hauling.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 In FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a
 conveyor belt structure 10 in a tunnel 18 of an underground mine. The
 conveyor belt structure 10 has a pair of longitudinally extending tracks
 or stringers 11 upon which trolleys can ride.
 A power pack trolley 12 is shown riding the stringers 11. The trolley 12
 comprises stringer-engaging wheels 14 and a power pack supported upon a
 frame. The power pack might be a rechargeable battery or a generator for
 example. The power pack might also comprise a canister of compressed air,
 or might be an external electrical source from which power is delivered
 via an electrical cable to the trolley. However, any means of storing or
 generating energy can be included in the power pack.
 A spacer bar 15 extends from the power pack trolley 12 to a fan starter
 trolley 13. Also, extending between the two trolleys is a power
 interconnect 19. The interconnects 19 might pass through the spacer bar 15
 or be otherwise associated therewith.
 Another trolley 16 is attached by an interconnect 15' to the fan starter
 trolley 13. Trolley 16 can be used to transport mining equipment through
 the tunnel 18. Depicted is a fan unit which is exemplary only. A power
 interconnect 19' extends between the fan starter trolley 13 and trolley
 16. The trolley 16 has track or stringer-engaging wheels 17, some or all
 of which are driven by motors. The motors can be directly coupled to the
 wheels 17 or associated therewith by means of a drive transmission. Energy
 from the power pack trolley 12 is conducted by interconnects 19 and 19' to
 the motors which drive wheels 17 of the other trolley 16.
 It should be noted that the spacer bar 15 is not designed to hitch power
 pack trolley 12 to the other trolley 16 for the purpose of hauling or
 pushing the same. It serves to maintain a safe working distance between
 the two trolleys.
 The power pack trolley 12 also includes a motor or motors to drive its
 wheels 14. Theoretically, hauling of the other trolley 16 could be
 performed.
 In use, the power pack trolley can be used to service a number of other
 trolleys at different locations in the underground mine.
 It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to
 those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of
 the present invention. For example, the power pack trolley 12 might serve
 not only to provide motive power to the starter motor trolley 13 and the
 motors of the other trolley 16, but might also be used to power other
 equipment such as compressors and other equipment.
 Furthermore, the invention may be employed in fields other than mining or
 for use upon a conveyor structure. That is, the power pack trolley might
 be used upon ordinary railway tracks providing a source of relocatable
 power for use in a number of applications.
 It should further be appreciated that one or more of the wheels of both
 trolleys can be braked. The brakes might include disks or drums or other
 braking/retarding devices. The source of power for the brakes might be the
 power pack 13 or another source of energy. Alternatively, the brakes might
 be hydraulically activated by means of a driven hydraulic pump receiving
 power from the power pack.
 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
 The following invention relates to a captivation system for use in
 preventing dislodgment of a railway carriage or trolley form raised
 stringers or tracks.
 More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to an
 apparatus to prevent a trolley from falling from the stringers of an
 underground mine conveyor belt structure, should the wheels of the trolley
 become derailed from the stringers.
 It is known to provide trolleys having wheels which ride upon stringers
 supported above the conveyor belt in a structure used in underground
 mining.
 In the event that a derailment of the trolley occurs, the trolley can fall
 from the stringers onto the conveyor belt causing substantially damage and
 disruption.
 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
 It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially
 ameliorate the above disadvantage and/or more generally to provide a
 captivation system for rail vehicles.
 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
 There is disclosed herein a captivation system for a rail-riding vehicle,
 said system comprising:
 a mounting plate affixable to a bogie of the vehicle,
 a substantially horizontal plate extending from the mounting plate such
 that in use it resides above a track or stringer along which the vehicle
 rides,
 a substantially vertical plate situated adjacent to the substantially
 horizontal plate and positioned such that in use it resides substantially
 alongside said stringer or track, wherein the substantially horizontal and
 vertical plates are adapted to abut the track or stinger should the
 vehicle become derailed.
 Preferably, the captivation system further comprises a rib or ribs to which
 said substantially horizontal and substantially vertical plates are
 affixed.
 Preferably, the substantially vertical plate has a pair of flanges, one at
 each opposed end thereof, said flanges deviating from the plane of the
 plate away from the stringer.
 Preferably, the vertical plate is positioned at an outside edge of the
 stringer. That is, the vertical plate is not positioned between the
 stringers but outside the stringers.
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
 A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of
 example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
 FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a trolley,
 FIG. 3 is a schematic elevational view of the trolley of FIG. 2 positioned
 upon the stringers of an underground mine conveyor belt structure,
 FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a captivation bracket,
 FIG. 5 is a schematic end elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 4,
 FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevational view of the bracket of FIGS. 4 and
 5, and
 FIG. 7 is a schematic side elevational view of the bracket of FIGS. 4, 5
 and 6 in position as attached to a bogie arm of the trolley of FIGS. 2 and
 3.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 In FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a
 trolley 16 for use in underground mining installations. The trolley 16
 comprises a number of wheels 17 support by a respective bogie arms 31.
 Each bogie arm 31 has affixed thereto a pair of captivation brackets 30.
 With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, each captivation bracket 30 has a mounting
 plate 32 having a number of holes 37 therethrough for the purpose of
 bolting interconnection with the bogie arm 31. Attached to the lower edge
 of mounting plate 32 is a substantially horizontal plate 34. In use, this
 plate 34 is positioned above the stringer 11. Also, extending from the
 mounting plate 32 is a pair of ribs 33. To the ribs 33 there is attached a
 substantially vertical plate 35. At each end of plate 35 there is a flange
 36 which is angularly offset with respect to the plane of the plate 35.
 The parts 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 can be formed of steel and can all be
 interconnected by means of welding.
 The vertical plate 36 is positioned at the outside of stringer 11. That is,
 the plate 35 does not reside between the pair of stringers 11.
 Should one of the wheels 17 of the trolley 16 become derailed from stringer
 11, one or both of plates 34 and 35 of the captivation bracket 30 will
 strike the stringer 11. At this time, the horizontal plate 34 prevents
 further downward movement of the trolley 16 onto the conveyor belt
 therebelow. The vertical plate 35 of one of the laterally opposed
 captivation brackets will engage the outside edge of the respective
 stringer 11, preventing that side of the trolley from falling onto the
 conveyor belt therebelow.
 It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to
 those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of
 the present invention. For example, the flanges 35 might be removed or
 additional flanges might be provided at opposed ends of the horizontal
 plate 34.