Patent GB-380789-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to loading or conveying systems
IPC: E21F13/06
Filed: 1931-06-13
Abstract: 380,789. Scoop apparatus for transporting loose materials ; step-by-step conveyers. BROWN, S. WALTON-, Seghill Hall, Dudley, Northumberland. June 13, 1931, No. 17256. [Classes 78 (i) and 78 (iv).] Self-loading scoops or scrapers for loading or conveying coal &c. on the surface or in mines are constructed to be flexible vertically, horizontally or universally, or they are connected to a haulage rope, which passes the scoop in a continuous length, so as to have a limited flexibility of movement, or a scoop operated with lateral play is provided with a swingable flap or door mounted so as to permit flexibility of movement to the scoop relatively to the door. The scoops are hauled to and fro, or in certain cases they may be reciprocated to work the material towards the loading point. Scoops may be used in series, and the door may be movable through the scoop or the scoop may be tilted for discharge ; they may be of high form or made low to work in the kerf ; they may be provided with antifriction devices, wearing strips, tooth-formations, ploughs, removable doors, eyes to engage guide ropes, and folding sides to facilitate entry into the pile. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a box scoop with swingable door 55 mounted between vertical sides 52 which are connected by bridge-pieces 53 is made flexible horizontally and vertically by forming the sides in sections hinged together at 104, each side section between two hinges comprising two plates which overlap, studs 106 in each plate engaging loosely in slots 105 in the other plate. This construction may be aplied to V-type scoops. The pull of the haulage rope is taken by chains or links 107 which connect the bridge-pieces 53 and have freedom for vertical and horizontal movements. Covers may be put over the ends of the studs and the slots inside or outside the scoop, and the stud ends may be knobshaped or fitted with rollers to run in metal guides. A flexible scoop may be made from a series of small scoops connected one behind another by links &c. as shown, for example, in Figs. 134 and 135 of Specification 352,930. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the scoop comprises a skeleton framing consisting of side chains 92 connected at intervals by cross-bars 127 and rods 130 which form pivots for doors or flaps 132. Movement of the flaps is limited by projections 133 engaging the bars 127, and by extensions 126 of a beading on the flaps engaging the links 131. The doors may swing down by gravity to enter the coal, or they may be swung down by ropes. The doors may be as shown in Figs. 141 to 146 of Specification 352,930. The flexible scoops may have ploughs at either or both ends. In a modification, Fig. 12 (not shown), the sides of the scoop are formed by alternate chain links and slotted blocks which may have vertical extensions, bridge-pieces and swingable doors. As shown in Fig. 13, the chains forming the sides of the scoop comprise slotted blocks h, connected by headed bars q. These two modifications may be applied to V-type scoops. As shown in Fig. 10, a non-flexible scoop s is flexibly connected with a continuous length, e.g. of haulage rope &c., which may be guided round bends by guide rollers. This modification may be applied to V-type and hoe-type scoops. The portion g of the haulage line may be a chain to facilitate the attachment of the ropes or chains f<1>, f<2>, connected with the scoop. As shown, f<1> is led directly to the near corner of the scoop and f<2> passes over a sheave c on one corner and is fastened to the outer corner at c<1>, but both connections may be of either type. In modifications, Figs. 9 and 11 (not shown), the ropes or chains f<1>, f<2> are connected with sheaves engaging in looped draft-chains on the scoop, or an end ring on f<1>, f<2> or both slides on a bar on the side of the scoop. As shown in Fig. 15, a reciprocating scraper conveyer comprises long side bars or chains 77 working with lateral play on guides n, the bars 77 being connected by bridge-pieces 53 on which doors or scrapers 55 are pivoted with lateral play. Cross-bars 127 prevent the doors from swinging backwards, and the device is hauled to and fro, or reciprocated by a rod so as to move the material gradually to the loading points. The doors 55 may have vertical play on their hinges, being normally held down by springs. Hoe-type scoops may be made flexible as indicated above and also by making the forwardly-extending arm or arms in sections jointed together. The scoops may be used with or without troughing, floor-plates, guides, and subsidiary scoops, and they may comprise the features and be operated as described in Specifications 352,930, 378,512, 379,365, 379,377 and 380,519 ; and the description refers particularly to specified Figures of some of the prior Specifications. Specifications 356,275 and 356,284, both in Group XXV], also are referred to.