Patent Publication Number: US-2016236695-A1

Title: Raise climber carrier

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a raise climber carrier. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As those skilled in the art appreciate, a raise climber employs a working platform to access space within a mine that is located above the floor level of the mine. The raise climber employs a rail system fastened to the wall of a vertical incline for the purpose of elevating the working platform, and ultimately the workers supported within the working platform. The working platform further has the ability to extend, or retract, backward into the horizontal access tunnel during a blast. 
     It is sometimes required in an underground mine to provide access to an upper level of the mine from a relatively lower level of the mine. In such situations a raise (or vertically inclined) excavation is created from the lower level to the upper level. Such raises may be used for various purposes, including, but not limited to, air ventilation, secondary personnel access/egress or as material dump chutes. 
     After the excavation of the raise is begun, it becomes necessary and desirable to utilize raise climbing equipment commonly referred to as a raise climber for accessing the raise. The raise climber travels along a rail secured along the wall of the raise. The raise climber is used for accessing the drilling face as well as a drill and charge explosives. A typical process for excavating a raise includes driving the raise climber to the face of the raise, drilling a round of holes, loading the holes with explosives, returning to the parking area where both the raise climber and the workers are protected from explosions coming from the raise, detonating the explosives, clearing the muck, adding a rail as necessary, and repeating until the raise reaches the upper level. As the raise is excavated, muck piles accumulate at the bottom of the raise and are then removed. 
     Additional horizontal excavation along the raise creates access tunnels which enable the raise climber to retreat therein so as to avoid contact with the falling muck (rock) which occurs after a blast or when scaling. Similarly, access tunnels are created for blasted rock removal. However, depending on size, layout and length it can take days or weeks to excavate such access tunnels. This results in an increased amount of man hours worked, leading to more exposure to risk and potential injury. 
     Further deficiencies in raise climber usage include the fact that it takes an average crew between six to ten work shifts to assemble and install a raise climber. When using an elevated set-up for the raise climber it takes weeks to install infrastructure. This increase in man hours means more exposure to risk and potential injury, as well as additional costs. 
     With the raise climber installed, the raise climber monopolizes 100% of the work shift, when in actuality, only 55% to 75% of the working shift is required to accomplish the cycle of use necessary to complete the anticipated work. This results in expensive down time for the whole industry (contractor or client), having workers, active only 55% to 75% of work shift and paid for 100% of the work shift. 
     Further, extensive development is needed for the creation of a personnel/material passageway and removal of blasted rock. The access tunnel for removal of blasted rock has no practical purpose once excavation of the raise is completed. Such openings in the underground mine are of no benefit and may further cause weakness to the rock structure. Such an opening will, therefore, need to be inspected periodically and potentially rehabilitated at a high cost. 
     An alternative to access tunnels is elevated set-ups as shown in  FIG. 3 . However, elevated set-ups create a risk of fall during installation and transfer. Accessing a raise is done from a ladder and material has to be hoisted on a slide. Downtime is caused by idling a raiser climber during time required for removal of broken rock. This leads to a delay caused by the necessity to remove blasted rock at the beginning of a work shift from several work sites. 
     Typically, raise climbers were initially designed for six feet advance per work shift. The current culture to drill and blast longer rounds means the blasted advance, typically 8 feet, is quicker than that of guide raise rail. Therefore, this means that every three to four blasts the crew will have to install two consecutive raise rails. The situation this creates is that after a fresh blast the raise climber&#39;s canopy will not reach the face of the raise. The overhead canopy is meant to protect the men from potential rock falls, especially after a blast where the face has not been scaled and ground support has not yet been installed. This translates in more distance between the workers and the work face. More distance for potentially falling rocks means they will gather more speed as they are falling, resulting in a greater impact when coming in contact with equipment or personnel, causing damage, injury or death. 
     When in need of two raise rails, a way to avoid this danger is to install a three foot raise rail before the blast. This requires additional steps to be taken by the workers and often another trip up the raise to carry the required equipment; this adds unnecessary wear to the raise climber. When purchasing the equipment, the addition of three foot guide rails, according to advance to price ratio, creates added expense. Three foot guide rails are also more expensive in terms of operational costs where the same steps are required to install a three foot guide rail versus a six foot rail. The extended drilling time for an 8 foot raise versus a 6 foot raise, sometimes means drilling beyond the capacity of oil lubricators. The result is a premature breakdown for drills and increased cost of maintenance. 
     An exemplary carrier for a raise climber is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,021,098 and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0308890, both to Grenon. However, the device of Grenon is highly complex and difficult to maintain and use. In developed countries, authorities that are responsible for safety in the workplace will not allow anyone to work under a freshly blasted rock face (i.e., underneath a raise) without specifically designed overhead protection. Grenon&#39;s equipment requires workers to expose themselves every time they need to couple the climber to the existing rail. Despite the raise climber platform offering some protection, there is a risk of falling rocks around the platform, causing serious injury to workers or damage to equipment while coupling the carrier to a raise. As described in Grenon&#39;s description, “The parking area (p) removes the raise climber (10) from the direct path of falling debris . . . ” Grenon&#39;s own words indicate that at anytime there might be falling debris, therefore it is only logical to conclude that any work performed directly below the excavation may be extremely hazardous. A working platform does not constitute a safety bulkhead. 
     With Grenon&#39;s equipment, a worker would have to climb on the raise climber unit to bolt the rails together, connect the hoses, lift the overhead protection canopy in place, or rectify any malfunction or perform any kind of maintenance to any of the complex mechanisms. This would not only expose the worker to potential falling debris, it would create a task performed at heights, thus creating a risk of falling. Any mechanism needed to couple Grenon&#39;s unit to the existing rail regularly requires maintenance and, given the harsh conditions (i.e.; falling debris) in an underground mine, will inevitably break down. 
     In addition, to maintain optimum performance and savings by not excavating any more rock than is necessary, raise climber parking areas are constructed with minimal extra space such that the raise climber parking area is relatively snug with the size of the platform used, with just enough room for workers to walk around the climber for inspection. However, if a mine operator has got a larger size raise to excavate, a bigger piece of equipment (converted loader, forklift or scoop-tram) will be required to transport the raise climber resulting in the need for a larger raise climber parking area. This additional excavation is undesirable and costly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier for supporting and transporting a raise climber within a mine. The raise climber carrier includes a conveyance support assembly. The conveyance support assembly includes a base frame and an elevating frame secured to the base frame via a mechanical linkage assembly for controlled elevation of the raise climber. A raise climber support assembly is mounted and supported upon the elevating frame for deployment of the raise climber. The conveyance support assembly also includes an intake and outlet for air and an intake and outlet for water, as well as a hose assembly including a hose reel used to carry, dispense and retract a pressured air hose. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base frame for engagement with rails formed along a floor of a mining tunnel. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base frame for engagement with ground along a floor of a mining tunnel. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a plurality of hydraulic jacks used for lifting and leveling. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a hydraulic oil tank coupled to a hydraulic pump for use in lifting the hydraulic jacks. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the raise climber support assembly includes a rearward support saddle shaped and dimensioned to support the raise climber. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the raise climber support assembly further includes a forward locking saddle joint shaped and dimensioned to support the raise climber. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a hydraulic oil tank coupled to a hydraulic pump. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the hose assembly includes a drive assembly that controls rotation of the hose reel and therefore extension and retraction of the hose. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the drive assembly includes a pneumatic hose wheel winder motor coupled to the hose reel by a drive chain. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor includes a control valve controlling operation thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the control valve is in an “OFF” position and no air is supplied to the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor when the raise climber is moving away from the conveyance support assembly and the control valve is in an “ON” position allowing compressed air to be fed to the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor causing rotation of the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor, which rotates the hose reel and winds the hose thereabout. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the intake and outlet for air are connected to a main air manifold which is connected to an air motor. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier wherein the intake and outlet for water are connected to a main water manifold which connects to a water pump. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a raise climber carrier including an automatic header controlling flow of air and what with the raise climber carrier. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are schematics of a mining tunnel with raises at various locations. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic of a prior art raise climber assembly employing an elevated set-up. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a raise climber carrier in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention showing various components of the present raise climber carrier. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of a raise climber carrier in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention showing various components of the present raise climber carrier. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  are detailed schematics showing the hydraulic and pneumatic systems of the raise climber carrier with views of the forward and rearward portions of the raise climber carrier respectively. 
         FIGS. 8, 9 and 10  are detailed views showing the hose reel and associated assemblies in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 4 to 10 , a raise climber carrier  10  is disclosed. With the exception of distinguishing structural features discussed below, the raise climber  12  used in conjunction with the present raise climber carrier  10  is a traditional raise climber and may take various forms depending upon specific needs of the mine operator. As those skilled in the art appreciate, a raise climber  12  employs a working platform  54  to access space within a mine that is located above the floor of a horizontal tunnel, that is, within a raise. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the raise climber  12  employs a rail system  16  fastened to the wall  18  of a vertical mine tunnel for the purpose of elevating the working platform  54  of the raise climber  12 , and ultimately the workers supported upon the working platform  54 . The working platform  54  further has the ability to extend, or retract, backward into a horizontal access tunnel during a blast. 
     As will be appreciated based upon the following disclosure, the present raise climber carrier  10  adds to the efficiency of excavation where raise climbers are utilized. As such, the raise climber carrier  10  of present invention provides substantial savings to vertical raise mining using a raise climber system, due to portability of the raise climber system, minimizes development and excavations needed for conventional installation of raise climber units, minimizes downtime and idling, and increases safety. In addition, the present raise climber carrier  10  is built specifically for the transport of a raise climber  12  and, therefore, is highly user friendly. 
     Through the utilization of hydraulic and pneumatic based power systems as discussed below, the present raise climber carrier  10  eliminates the need for diesel power, thereby reducing the chance of underground fire and improving underground air quality. The present raise climber carrier  10  also employs a one size fits all design for existing mine conditions. As will be appreciated based upon the following disclosure, the fact the present raise climber carrier  10  is self-contained with a hose reel  22  and automatic header  24  controlling the flow of air and water within the present apparatus means that there will not be any obstructions in the path of an oncoming emergency raise climber due to water, air and other cables laying upon the ground of the access tunnels. 
     In addition, the present raise climber carrier  10  employs simplified engineering principles, reducing costs and minimizing the time required to perform tasks. As is appreciated, the more complex the system, the more chances of it breaking down. 
     The present raise climber carrier  10  is designed for use in conjunction with either a conveyance support assembly  26  utilized for transport over rails  28  (see  FIG. 4 ) or a conveyance support assembly  26  utilized for transport over ground  30  (see  FIG. 5 ). With reference to the embodiment using a conveyance support assembly  26  for transport over rails  28 , the raise climber carrier  10  includes a conveyance support assembly  26  having a base frame  32  and an elevating frame  33  upon which a raise climber support assembly  34  is mounted and supported for movement and deployment of the raise climber  12  as will be described below in greater detail. As will be explained below in greater detail, the elevating frame  33  is secured to the base frame  32  via a mechanical linkage assembly  37 . The mechanical linkage assembly  37  allows for controlled elevation of the elevating frame  33  relative to the base frame  32  in a manner allowing for controlled elevation of the raise climber  12 . 
     The base frame  32  is preferably composed of one-half inch thick metal plates  35  providing for substantial rigidity and durability. Extending downwardly from the base frame  32  are a plurality (for example, four) of wheels  36  for engagement with the rails  28  formed along the floor of the mining tunnel. Also extending downwardly from the base frame  32 , preferably at the four corners thereof, are a plurality of hydraulic jacks  38  used to lift and level the base frame  32  as the raise climber  12  is deployed from the raise climber carrier  10  and mounted upon the raise rails  16  in the manner discussed below in greater detail. The base frame  32  also includes a rearward latch  40  for selective attachment to a locomotive engine  42  used in pulling the raise climber carrier  10  to a desired position within the mining tunnel. 
     Referring now to the embodiment using a conveyance support assembly  26  for transport over ground as shown in  FIG. 5 , the conveyance support assembly  26  includes a base frame  32  and an elevating frame  33  upon which a raise climber support assembly  34  is mounted and supported for movement and deployment of the raise climber  12  as will be described below in greater detail. As will be explained below in greater detail, the elevating frame  33  is secured to the base frame  32  for controlled elevation of the raise climber  12  through the utilization of a mechanical linkage assembly  37 . 
     Extending downwardly from the base frame  32  are a plurality (for example, four) of wheels  36  for engagement with the ground along the floor of the mining tunnel. Also extending downwardly from the base frame  32  are a plurality of hydraulic jacks  38  used to lift and level the base frame  32  as the raise climber  12  is deployed from the raise climber carrier  10  and mounted upon the raise rails  16 . 
     The wheels  36  are driven by a motor and drive assembly (not shown) commonly used in industrial automotive equipment. As such, the conveyance support assembly  26  includes a driver compartment  27  in which a driver steers and otherwise controls movement of the conveyance support assembly  26 . It is appreciated, the driver compartment and motor/drive assembly may be integrally formed with the base frame  32  as shown with reference to  FIG. 5  or the driver compartment and motor/drive assembly may be shaped and dimensioned for selective attachment with the base frame. As with the conveyance support assembly for use with rails, the conveyance support assembly is provided with a working park brake and service brake. 
     Regardless of the construction of the conveyance support assembly  26 , the conveyance support assembly  26  is provided with sensors and safety locking devices so that when the raise climber carrier  10  is not level the hydraulic system  44  will not be operational. The conveyance support assembly  26  may also be provided with a lighting system for use in the illumination of the work environment and the ultimate improvement in the safety associate with the use of the present raise climber carrier  10 . In addition, the conveyance support assembly  26  is preferably provided with wheel locking devices to secure the carrier on potentially inclines or uneven ground. Such locking devices are conventional and commonly available structures are used in accordance with the present invention. 
     Secured to the elevated frame  33  along the top side of the conveyance support assembly  26 , prior to deployment, is a centrally located raise climber  12  adapted for deployment and retrieval as discussed below in greater detail. The raise climber  12  is supported upon the elevated frame  33  by a raise climber support assembly  34 . A rearward located hose assembly  46  is also secured to the base frame  32  along the top side of the conveyance support assembly  26 . 
     The raise climber  12  is centrally mounted to the elevated frame  33  along the conveyance support assembly  26 . As is appreciated, the raise climber  12  includes a working platform  54  adapted for controlled movement upward and downward within a raise tunnel. The raise climber support assembly  34  of the conveyance support assembly  26  includes a rearward support saddle  48  which supports the raise climber  12  above the elevated frame  33  of the conveyance support assembly  26 . The raise climber support assembly  34  also includes a forward locking saddle joint  49  which selectively secures the raise climber  12  to the elevated frame  33  by the insertion or removal of a locking pin (not shown). 
     As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the conveyance support assembly  26  also includes a guide rail  50  upon which is mounted the raise climber  12  prior to deployment. The guide rail  50  is shaped and dimensioned for mating with the lower end  52  of the raise rail  16  formed along the wall  18  of the raise within the mining tunnel. In practice, the guide rail  50  is aligned with the raise rail  16  such that the raise climber  12  is selectively deployed onto the raise rail  16  from the existing horizontal mine tunnel. Adjustment in the height of the guide rail  50 , and ultimately the raise climber  12  as it is supported by the conveyance support assembly  26  is preferably achieved through provision of a mechanical linkage assembly in the form of a scissor lift structure extending between the base frame  32  and the elevated frame  33 . In particular, the elevated frame  33  of the conveyance support assembly  26  is secured to the base frame  32  of the conveyance support assembly  26  via the scissor lift structure  37 . As is appreciated, a scissor lift structure is a mechanical linkage assembly commonly used to elevate one support frame from another support frame. A scissor lift includes linked, folding supports in a criss-cross “X” pattern. The upward motion is achieved by the application of pressure to the outside of the lowest set of supports, elongating the crossing pattern, and propelling the work platform vertically. In accordance with the present invention, the contraction of the scissor linkage assembly may be achieved through hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical mechanisms known to those skilled in the art. 
     The scissor lift structure  37  allows the raise climber  12  and the guide rail  50  to be raised to a desired height. Once the raise climber  12  is positioned at a desired height, the hydraulic jacks  38  are used to level the raise climber  12  for complete and proper alignment with the raise rails  16 . 
     The raise climber  12  includes a drive unit  14  coupled to the working platform  54 . It is appreciated the drive unit  14  is similar to those of currently existing raise climber trolleys and may be varied in size according to the needs of specific applications and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. As such, the drive unit  14  is designed to be compatible with existing raise rail systems. As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,021,098, which is incorporated herein by reference, the drive unit  14  houses the drive sprockets, which interact with the rail and drive track (not shown) on the existing rail as is well known in the art. 
     The work platform  54  is pivotally connected to the drive unit  14  via both a direct pivotal connection  91  and a linkage connection in the form of a main support arm  58 . In particular, the main support arm  58  is connected between the working platform  54  and the drive unit  14 . The first end  60  of the main support arm  58  is pivotally secured to the working platform  54  of the raise climber  12 . This joint is securely held by the forward saddle locking joint  49 . The second end  62  of the main support arm  58  is pivotally secured to the drive unit  14  of the raise climber  12 . 
     The effective length of the main support arm  58  is adjusted to allow for adjusting the relative angular orientation between the drive unit  14  and the adjustable working platform  54 . This is achieved by providing a main support arm  58  that includes telescoping first and second rods (not shown) that may be selectively locked at desired relative positions to adjust the effective length of the main support arm  58 . In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the first and second rods  58   a ,  58   b  are provided with spaced holes (not shown) that may be aligned for the passage of a locking pin (not shown) therethrough. Given the angle or dip of the tunnel to be excavated, the working platform  54  is set to a desired orientation. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the outer second rod  58   b  slides over the inner first rod  58   a . Both the inner first rod  58   a  and the outer second rod  58   b  have a series of matching holes in which you insert a lock pin when the desired angle is set on the platform  54 . Adjustment of the main support arm  58  allows workers to change the dip angle of the adjustable working platform  54  to accommodate differently angled raises. A personal cage  51  extends downwardly from the bottom of the working platform  54 . The drive unit  14  also includes a receiver box  64  for receiving a support beam  66  extending from the personal cage  51  of the raise climber  12 . The support beam  66  may be selectively locked relative to the receiver box  64  so as to ensure the personal cage  51  is maintained in a desired orientation relative to the rest of the components of the raise climber  12  and the raise climber carrier  10 . 
     The guide rail  50  includes an upper portion shaped and dimensioned for mating with the raise rail  16 . In practice, and prior to deployment, the first end  60  of the support arm  58  (that is, the support arm tip) joins the support arm  58  to the platform  54 . A large bolt (not shown) holds the support arm tip  60  and the platform  54  together. This joint rests on the forward locking saddle joint  49  of the elevated frame  33  and support to the back of raise climber  12  is achieved by sitting the personal cage  51  on the rearward support saddle  48  of the elevated frame  33  of the conveyance support assembly  26 . 
     The control of the raise climber  12  and the associated raise climber carrier  10  is achieved through the provision of various hydraulic, pneumatic and motor systems all maintained, integrated with, and operated from the conveyance support assembly  26 . In this way, the present raise climber carrier  10  is a self-contained unit allowing for operation of a raise climber  12  without the need for running external lines along the access tunnel for the supply of water, air, and various other power sources. 
     In particular, and with reference to the rearward portion of the raise climber carrier  10  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the raise climber carrier  10  is provided with an intake and outlet for air  72 ,  74  and an intake and outlet for water  76 ,  78 , all of which are in fluid communication with an automatic header for controlled flow within the present apparatus. The air intake  72  is connected to a main air manifold  80  which is connected to an air motor  82 . Similarly, the water intake  76  is connected to a main water manifold  84  which connects to a water pump  86 . The water outlet  78  and air outlet  74  are respectively connected to the main water manifold  84  and the main air manifold  80 . The flow of air and water within the present raise climber carrier  10  is controlled by the automatic header  24  in a manner known to those skilled in the art. The automatic header  24  is remotely operated for supplying air and water up the raise. The raise climber carrier  10  is also provided with a hydraulic oil tank  88  coupled to a hydraulic pump  90  for use in extending the hydraulic jacks  38  for lifting the raise climber  12  to position for engagement with the raise rails  16 . 
     Turning now to the rearward portion of the raise climber carrier  10  as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 , the raise climber carrier includes a hose assembly  46  which is used in the supply of water to the raise climber  12  and up the raise. The hose assembly  46  is positioned adjacent the rearward end of the conveyance support assembly  26 , and therefore along the rearward end of the raise climber carrier  10 . The hose assembly  46  includes a hose reel  22  used to carry, dispense and retract the pressured air hose  96 . The hose reel  22  is built to fit the raise climb carrier. The hose reel  22  is permanently fitted to the back of the conveyance support assembly  26 . 
     The hose assembly  46  includes a length of hose  96  mounted upon the hose reel  22 . The hose reel  22  includes a longitudinal axis about which it rotates that is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the conveyance support assembly  26 . The hose reel  22  supports the length of the hose  96  so that it may be extended and retracted with the working platform  54  of the raise climber  12 . With this in mind, the free end of the hose  96  is engaged with the support framework of the working platform  54  such that the free end of the hose  96  is automatically drawn upwardly with the raise climber as the working platform  54  is elevated within the raise. 
     The hose assembly  46  further includes a drive assembly  98  that controls rotation of the hose reel  22  and therefore extension and retraction of the hose  96 . The drive assembly  98  includes a pneumatic hose wheel winder motor  100  coupled to the hose reel  22  by a drive chain  102 . The pneumatic hose wheel winder motor  100  is connected to the air system  104  of the raise climber carrier  10  and is connected to the air motor  82  via tubing  106 . As such, both the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor  100  and the hose reel  22  are provided with gear rings  108 ,  110  with teeth shaped and dimensioned for engagement with the drive chain  102  in manner allowing force from the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor  100  to rotate and thereby control the extension and retraction of the hose  96  mounted thereupon. The hose assembly  46  includes a guard  112  positioned over the drive chain  102  enhancing protection of the drive chain  102  and the safety of those using the present raise climber carrier  10 . The pneumatic hose wheel winder motor  100  is also provided with a control valve  114  controlling operation thereof. The control valve  114  is controlled by gravity. When the climber is going up, the hose is pulled upwardly by the raise climber. Therefore, the valve  114  is in the “OFF” position and no air is supplied to the motor allowing the hose to be wound out of the reel  22 . When the climber is going down, the weight of the hose pushes down upon the lever  114   a  to open valve  114  and compressed air is fed to the motor causing rotation of the motor, which rotates the hose reel and winds the hose thereabout. 
     Also provided at the rear end of the raise climber carrier is a control panel  116  for the hydraulic elements of the conveyance support assembly  26 , in particular, the hydraulic jacks  38 . This control panel  116  allows for control of the various hydraulic jacks  38  mentioned above. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control panel  116  includes a four way hydraulic flow control unit to distinctly control the various hydraulic jacks so that the raise climber is raised evenly. The control panel  116  is a standard hydraulic control panel allowing for controlled actuation of the hydraulic jacks  38 . It is appreciated that the jacks may be replaced with hydraulically driven rubber tires. 
     It is also appreciated that load tested conventional coarse threaded anchor rods or re-bars may be used as anchors to secure the raise climber  12  to the roof of a tunnel, wherein the threaded anchor rods are ready for conventional use. Nuts are used to secure the raise climber  12  to the threaded anchor rods as the rods are passed through attachment apertures (not shown) in the raise climber  12 . In particular, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the nuts are used to hang the raise climber  12  to the roof of the tunnel and are locked with a double nut placed behind the first one, a locking pin or a Teflon lock nut to ensure none of the latter will rattle off as a result of traveling on rail with the climber. 
     In contrast to the deficiencies described above with regard to prior systems, the present raise climber carrier  10  offers a variety of advantages. These advantages stem from the mobility and self-contained nature of the present raise climber carrier  10 . 
     For example, assembly of the raise climber  12  will only be done once, saving weeks to the total development of vertical and access infrastructure. The raise climber carrier  10  and raise climber  12  are assembled when the raise climber carrier  10  and raise climber  12  arrive on the level. Since the raise climber  12  and raise climber carrier  10  are assembled on once when they arrive at a desired level of the mine, the assembly may be completed in the mine workshop on a safer floor, as opposed to a location adjacent the raise tunnel as is common with current usage of raise climbers  12 . 
     As a result, the raise climber  12  only needs to be assembled once so long as its usage is limited to an area accessible to the conveyance support assembly. This may even be a surface workshop where it is possible to drive the conveyance support assembly through an access ramp tunnel. Keeping the raise climber  12  permanently assembled throughout the development of the level allows for better follow up of components to the one climber. 
     In addition, because the hose reel  22  is mounted upon the conveyance support assembly  26  and is laid upon the ground of the access tunnel, the need for a separate access tunnel for the removal of blasted rock is eliminated. Eliminating the need for an additional access tunnel for the removal of blasted rock will save months of horizontal development in the mid to long term scheme of things. 
     The increased mobility offered by the present raise climber carrier  10  allows the raise climber  12  to be used in multiple tunnels on a daily basis. Increased mobility allows planning of shorter and safer blasted rounds. The longer the holes are drilled in the round the more explosives you need. Hence, the shock wave delivered to the rock structure needs to be greater to break the longer rounds. Such practices result in increasing the loosening of the rock structure. Because the present raise climber carrier  10  permits more efficient mining such longer, high powered rounds are not necessary and operators may make use of shorter and safer blasted rounds. 
     In particular, the mobility and efficiency offered by the use of the present raise climber carrier  10  permits operators to avoid the instability generated by the use of longer rounds. As such, operators need only use 6 ft. blasts that are known to safely excavate rock without creating undesirable loosening of the rock structure. In turn, boring a 6 ft. round is more efficient than longer rounds due to decreased perforation speed rate of more unstable long drill steel. This is due to loss of performance from the percussion air drills, caused by vibration and friction from the rock etc. A shorter drill time, will ultimately mean that lubricators will be less likely to run out of oil due to extended drilling times of longer rounds. 
     Smaller rounds also results in a reduction in necessary inventory. Less inventory will have to be kept eliminating the 8 ft steel, reamer steel, necessary bits and maintenance thereof. Once the first round had been successfully completed, the carrier and raise climber can be returned to gear bay for re-stocking. Centralizing the materiel required for ground supporting will improve ability for keeping inventories, housekeeping and less waste due to materiel being spread out in different tunnels. It will also ensure less time for transporting of materiel to workplaces translating into savings in wages paid, in order to complete this task. 
     The mobility of the raise climber carrier  10  allows for maintenance to be done in a more comfortable and safe environment as an underground or surface workshop. Eliminating the loss time due to loss of performance in the drills will translate in the crews being able to finish the cycle much earlier. The latter means a second cycle can be executed therefore ensuring 100% working time for a given work shift. In a mine where shorter shifts are routine, the second cycle may not be completed, however if only a reasonable 50% is achieved, after a full 6 ft. round plus 50% of another equals 9 ft. of advance per shift therefore an approximate performance increase in 25-30% will occur. Using the proposed method and raise climber carrier  10  will allow more time to prepare face and vertical tunnel for surveyors and technical to inspect the raise without losing a full round as per conventional method. Shorter rounds are usually easier to keep online as less ground is covered each blast allowing less distance covered between surveys. Having the raise climber carrier  10  move to a different tunnel will allow surveyors and technical department to execute their task without pressure on the mining crew or themselves resulting in less potential mistakes. 
     Still further, the present raise climber carrier  10  is fully self-contained including a hose reel  22  and an automatic header  24 . The hose reel  22 , the automatic header  24  and the water pump (if needed) are all protected in the half inch plated steel shell of the present raise climber carrier  10 . 
     The present raise climber carrier  10 , in contrast to systems such as those discussed above with regard to Grenon, requires no safety block or safety stop on the raise rail as the conventional manufacturer supplied “bumper block” is permanently attached to the lowest part of the rail. Once the raise climber  12  is attached to the permanent rail system and ready to go, it complies with manufacturer&#39;s specifications, recommendations and designs. As opposed to systems such as that disclosed by Grenon the present raise climber carrier  10  allows a safe distance or safe zone from any potential fall of rock from the raise. This will eliminate any risk of injury to personnel or damage to equipment. 
     While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.