Patent Publication Number: US-7914249-B2

Title: Shoveling apparatus with multi-positional shovel

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to shoveling apparatuses with multi-positional shovels, suitable for use in underground coal mines, and designed and configured for specific use in corridors that house coal conveyor belt lines. 
     Coal conveyor belt lines transport coal from the mine face to a tipple or other location, and generally run the length(s) of a mine, through narrow corridors. These corridors are separate from, and generally parallel to, transportation routes within the mine. A plurality of panels run perpendicular to the transportation routes, to provide access to the belt line corridors. 
     From time to time coal falls from the belt line, onto the corridor floor. Furthermore, the walls of these corridors deteriorate over time, so that loose rock gathers with the fallen coal on the corridor floor. The accumulating coal and rock in the belt line corridor causes a fire hazard and creates a potentially explosive environment. Therefore, for mine safety, loose coal and rock debris must be periodically removed from the belt line corridor floor. Presently, this accumulating debris is removed by manually shoveling it onto the belt line, which is generally hazardous, costly, and time consuming. The belt line may be over four feet above the ground, making the manual task of cleaning belt line corridors even more demanding. However, there exists no known vehicle or other mechanical device suitable for removing coal and rock debris from the corridor floor and moving it to the belt line. 
     Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical apparatus to shovel coal and other debris from the belt line corridor floor (including under the belt line), moving it to the belt line, for removal from the mine. Other objects and purposes of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, wherein there is shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention. 
     SUMMARY 
     The shoveling apparatus of the present invention comprises a low profile vehicle, a boom assembly, and a shovel assembly, wherein the boom assembly is capable of positioning the shovel assembly into a belt line corridor so that coal and debris therein may be collected and transported to the belt line for further conveyance by the belt line out of the mine. 
     The low profile vehicle generally comprises a cab portion, at least one motive support, and an advanceable support. The cab portion provides a workspace in the vehicle for an operator of the shoveling apparatus; the motive support (e.g., continuous tracks, wheels) mobilizes the low profile vehicle; and the advanceable support supports and advances the boom assembly from the cab portion. 
     The boom assembly generally comprises a rotary actuator, a linear actuator, and an elongated support structure, wherein the rotary actuator laterally rotates this elongated support structure  90 , in each direction, with respect to the advanceable support of the low profile vehicle; the linear actuator vertically rotates the structure relative to the advanceable support; and the elongated support structure supports and positions the shovel assembly with respect to a ground surface (the elongated support structure may further contain tubing, wires, and/or other power and communication components). The boom assembly is affixed to and supported by the advanceable support. 
     The shovel assembly generally comprises a shovel assembly rotary actuator, a shovel, and in some embodiments a tilting mechanism, wherein this rotary actuator laterally rotates the shovel up to 90°, in each direction, with respect to the elongated support structure of the boom assembly; the shovel facilitates shoveling and moving of a material; and the tilting mechanism vertically tilts the shovel with respect to the shovel assembly rotary actuator. The shovel assembly may further comprise an advanceable plate that facilitates removal of the material from the shovel. The shovel assembly is affixed to and supported by the boom assembly. 
     The present invention thereby moves the shovel to multiple positions by one or more of: the advancement or retraction of the boom assembly by the advanceable support; the lateral rotation of the boom assembly elongated support structure by the boom assembly rotary actuator; the vertical rotation of the boom assembly elongated support structure by the boom assembly linear actuator; the lateral rotation of the shovel by the shovel assembly rotary actuator; and the vertical tilting of the shovel by the tilting mechanism, so as to facilitate shoveling, carrying, and dumping of the material by the shoveling apparatus, in belt corridors and similar difficult to reach areas in locations such as underground coal mines. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following detailed description of specific embodiments can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shoveling apparatus according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the shoveling apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embodiment of the shoveling apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a magnified, perspective view of a shovel assembly of an embodiment of the shoveling apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial view of components of the advanceable support of an embodiment of a shoveling apparatus; 
         FIG. 6  is a view of portions of the advanceable support and the boom assembly of an embodiment of a shoveling apparatus; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view of portions of the boom assembly and the shovel assembly of an embodiment of a shoveling apparatus. 
     
    
    
     The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and are not intended to be limiting of the embodiments defined by the claims. Moreover, individual aspects of the drawings and the embodiments will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , embodiments of a shoveling apparatus  10  respectively comprise a low profile vehicle  12 , a boom assembly  14 , and a shovel assembly  16 . These components  12 ,  14 ,  16  of the shoveling apparatus  10  cooperate to shovel coal and rock from around and under coal belts in underground coal mines, and dump the debris onto the coal belts for conveyance out of the mines. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the low profile vehicle  12  comprises a cab portion  18 , one or more motive supports  20 , and an advanceable support  22 . The cab portion  18  provides a workspace in the vehicle  12  for an operator of the shoveling apparatus, and generally comprises a cage, or other protective enclosure or partial enclosure, to provide some protection to the operator from foreign objects that may fall onto the vehicle. Generally, the low profile vehicle  12 , the boom assembly  14 , and the shovel assembly  16  are controllable by the operator from within the cab portion of the vehicle. The low profile vehicle  12  may comprise a variety of dimensions (remaining cognizant of the height and maneuverability restrictions within underground mines). In one exemplary embodiment, the low profile vehicle comprises a length of 9′-11′, preferably about 10′5″, and a height of 3′-5′, preferably about 4′3″. 
     The motive supports  20  mobilize the low profile vehicle  12  and generally provide sufficient ground clearance for the vehicle to travel over rocky and/or uneven terrain. For example, in one embodiment, the motive supports provide a ground clearance of about 12″. The motive support(s)  20  may be configured as one or more continuous tracks, wheels, or other supportive devices, or combinations thereof, causing, or having potential to cause, motion of the low profile vehicle  12 . 
     The advanceable support  22  of the low profile vehicle  12  supports the boom assembly  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ,  5  and  6 . As used herein, “advanceable” simply refers to an ability to longitudinally advance from a position closer to the vehicle to a position further from the vehicle. This longitudinal advancing of the boom assembly  14  from the cab portion  18  by the advanceable support  22  is variable to any feasible distance. For example, but not by way of limitation, the advanceable support  22  may advance the boom assembly  14  a variable distance up to about 4′ from the cab portion  18 . Preferably, the advanceable support permits at least 1′-3′ advancement, to further the reach of the shovel assembly  16  into the belt corridor. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , generally the advanceable support  22  comprises an elongated support structure and one or more receptacles  37  partially receiving, supporting and promoting longitudinal movement of the support structure. In the embodiment shown in the FIGs, the elongated support structure comprises parallel arms  38  that laterally advance from, and retract to, corresponding cavities  36  on the sides of the low profile vehicle  12  by means of an opening  36 A on each side of the vehicle. The exposed ends of the parallel arms  38  preferably extend at an angle toward the ground surface  28 , and terminate at a face plate  40 , which is substantially perpendicular to the ground surface. For additional support, these exposed ends preferably flare out on at least one edge, at an angle, so that the width of the exposed end is about the height of the plate  40 ; alternatively, an additional support structure  38 B may further adjoin the arm  38  to the plate  40 . The interior ends of the parallel arms  38  remain within the cavities  36  when fully assembled and during operation. In some embodiments, the parallel arms  38  are constructed from 3″ ×6″ rectangular tubing, having ½″ thick walls, and a length of between 3′ and 10′, preferably between 5′ and 8′, so that, when the advanceable support is assembled, it supports the extension thereof by a preferred distance of 3′ from the forward-most end of the cavity  36  or the cab portion  18 . In the embodiment shown, the barrel  39 A of the cylinder is 3′ long; therefore, to promote such extension, the arms  38  must be at least 6′ long. 
     As shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 5 , each cavity  36  provides exterior walls to protect components therewithin, with a sufficient opening to allow advancement of the parallel arm  38 . Generally, one or more receptacles  37  are positioned within the cavity, to receive, support and promote the advancement and retraction of the parallel arm  38 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , three receptacles are positioned within a cavity  36 , with each receptacle having two rollers  37 A affixed thereto and positioned to receive the parallel arm  38  therebetween. 
     The longitudinal advancement and retraction of the advanceable support  22  may be performed by any conventional devices, such as, but not limited to, linear actuators, gears, chains, actuators, belts, and/or other mechanical and/or electrical devices, or combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , hydraulic cylinder systems  39  are used to control the longitudinal advancement and contraction of the parallel arms  38 , with the clevis of each hydraulic cylinder (extending from and affixed to the exposed end of the cylinder rod  39 B) being affixed to or engaged with the interior end (opposite from the exposed end) of a parallel arm  38 , so that when the cylinder rod  39 B is fully extended from the barrel  39 A of the hydraulic cylinder, the parallel arm is retracted within the cavity  36  (with a portion of the parallel arm, and the face plate  40 , remaining outside of the cavity); as the cylinder rod is contracted by traditional means of the hydraulic cylinder system, the parallel arm  38  is advanced from the cavity until in its fully extended position (with a portion of the parallel arm remaining within the cavity). In some embodiments (as shown in  FIG. 5 ), the barrel  39 A of the hydraulic cylinder system  39  is affixed to the top of a receptacle  37 , with a plate  37 B extending from the outermost receptacle, within the cavity, to provide additional support for the cylinder barrel  39 A. The advanceable support  22 , as such, longitudinally advances and retracts the boom assembly  14  from/toward the cab portion  18 . 
     The boom assembly  14 , an embodiment of which is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ,  6  and  7 , couples the shovel assembly  16  to the low profile vehicle  12 , and generally comprises a rotary actuator  24  and an elongated support structure. In the embodiment shown, the boom assembly elongated support structure comprises a positioning arm  26  and a leveling arm  44 . 
     The boom assembly rotary actuator  24  laterally rotates the boom assembly elongated support structure with respect to the advanceable support  22 , up to 180° (90° in each direction). As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 , in some embodiments the boom assembly rotary actuator is affixed (by its feet) to the face plate  40  of the advanceable support by a support structure  40 A, which extends from the plane face of the plate. The support structure  40 A is sized (and the actuator is positioned thereon) to allow the positioning and leveling arms to swing a full 90°, in either direction, without interference with the face plate  40  or the support structure  40 A; preferably, the support structure is a rectangular box slightly larger than the footprint of the actuator base, with a depth of 0.5′ to 1.5′. By this and other embodiments, the boom assembly rotary actuator directs and controls the rotation of the boom assembly elongated support structure laterally about the face plate  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  the positioning arm  26  and the leveling arm  44  are affixed to the rotary actuator  24  by a bracket  24 A, straddle mounted on the actuator and bolted to the shaft and endcap flanges of the actuator. Each of the leveling arm  44  and the positioning arm  26  are pivotally affixed (by devises  24 B, pins  24 C and corresponding apertures positioned at the end of each arm) to the bracket so that, in addition to supporting the load of the arms and enabling the lateral rotation of the arms by the boom assembly rotary actuator, the arms may be vertically rotated (about the pins) as hereinafter described. 
     Each of the positioning arm  26  and the leveling arm  44  also rotate in the vertical plane, relative to the low profile vehicle, and about their affixation point  24 C to the rotary actuator  24 , to lift and lower the shovel assembly (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ); preferably, this rotation is caused and controlled by a linear actuator, such as a pair of boom lift cylinders  42  with load lock, as shown in the figures, or similar systems or designs to support the load of the positioning and leveling arms, the shovel assembly, and any coal and debris that may be transported by the shovel. When extended, the linear actuator positions the positioning and leveling arms so that the shovel is at the ground surface, and when fully retracted it positions the arms so that the shovel is at the highest design level (at least sufficient to deposit the coal on the coal belt, but being cognizant of limited vertical space within belt line corridors). In the embodiment shown, the boom lift cylinders  42  are affixed to the bracket  24 A at the barrel end, and to the positioning arm  26  at the exposed end of the cylinder rod. 
     In one embodiment, the positioning arm  26  and leveling arm  44  are about 8′ in length, thereby vertically positioning the shovel assembly  16  a variable distance between in contact with the ground surface  28  and about 5′3″ above the ground surface. Preferably, the positioning arm has a length of between 6′ and 10′, and positions the shovel to a maximum height of 4′ to 7′ above the ground surface  28 . 
     The positioning arm is preferably a 6″×6″, 31 lb, boxed-in beam. As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4  and  7 , the bottom end of the positioning arm  26 , nearest to the shovel assembly  16 , may recede on one side so that when the shovel is near ground surface  28 , the positioning arm does not inhibit the shovel from being flat on the surface of the ground to effectively shovel the coal and debris. Preferably, the leveling arm is a tubular structure having a 2″×4″ cross section, with a wall thickness of ¼″. It is possible, although not preferred, that the positioning and leveling arms are a single arm or structure sufficient to support the shovel and any coal and rock it shovels, carries and delivers to a belt line. 
     The shovel assembly  16 , shown in  FIGS. 1-4  and  7 , comprises a rotary actuator  30 , a shovel  32 , and a tilting mechanism  34 . The shovel assembly rotary actuator  30  laterally rotates the shovel  32  up to 90°, in each direction, with respect to the boom assembly elongated support structure. A plate  30 A facilitates the affixation of the boom assembly elongated support structure (pivotally affixed thereto by pins and clevices) to the shovel assembly rotary actuator  30  (affixed at the feet to said plate), as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 . Thus, the positioning and leveling arms can pivot as they rotate vertically about the pins  24 B, while the shovel assembly rotary actuator remains in a stable, horizontal position. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the shovel is affixed to the shovel assembly rotary actuator by a support structure  31 . This support structure  31  comprises a plate  31 A, from which a bracket  31 B protrudes to the back to allow the same to straddle mount the actuator  30 . At the bottom, and protruding perpendicularly from the plate, is a support surface or plate  31 C which rotationally affixes to the back of the shovel, with pins  31 D and devises or other hinging apparatus (thereby allowing the plate to tilt, as hereinafter described). 
     Tilting of the shovel with respect to the shovel assembly rotary actuator is controlled by one or more linear actuators, preferably hydraulic cylinder systems  46 , each engaged on opposite sides with the top half of the back side of the shovel  32  and the bottom half of the supporting structure  31 . When the rods extend from the barrels of these systems, the shovel tilts downwards; when they are retracted the shovel resumes its normal position (lateral to the surface, or tilted upwards). Thus the shovel  32  can tilt to assist in the capturing and holding coal therein, and removal of coal therefrom. 
     By virtue of the shovel&#39;s depth dimension and side and back walls, the shovel  32  generally comprises a cavity  48  in which the material may be held until its removal from the shovel  32 . Generally, the material is dumped from the shovel  32  through a downward tilting of the shovel via the tilting mechanism  34 , as described above. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the material may be pushed from the cavity  48  of the shovel  32  by an advanceable plate  50 , as depicted in  FIG. 4 , or other similarly performing device. The advanceable plate  50  generally is perpendicular to, or at least angular to, a bottom of the cavity  48  and is advanceable at least partially, but preferably substantially, across the cavity  48 , from the back plate to the open front of the shovel. Thereby, the advanceable plate  50  may directionally push the material in the cavity  48  with advancement of the advanceable plate  50  at least partially across the cavity  48 . The advancement and retraction of the advanceable plate  50  across the cavity  48  of the shovel  32  is controlled by means such as a hydraulic ram jack, stored and protected by rod  52   
     The shovel  32  may comprise any variety of dimensions suitable for shoveling, carrying, and/or dumping the material in the limited space of a belt line corridor. For example, the shovel  32  comprises a length and width of between 2′-4′, respectively, and a depth of between 0.5′ and 2′. More preferably, the width and height range from 2.5′-3.5′, and the depth is about 1′. 
     By the present invention, the shovel  32  is positionable in multiple positions with respect to the cab portion  18  of the low profile vehicle (and therefore capable of reaching into and working within the belt line corridors, to mechanically collect fallen coal and rock debris, and deliver the same to the belt line). More particularly, the shovel  32  is positionable via one or more of the lateral advancement and/or retraction of the boom assembly  14  by the advanceable support  22 , the bi-directional lateral rotation of the positioning and leveling arms  26  and  44  by the boom assembly rotary actuator  24 , the bi-directional vertical positioning of the shovel assembly  16  by the boom assembly linear actuator  42 , the bi-directional lateral rotation of the shovel  32  by the shovel assembly rotary actuator  30 , and the bi-directional vertical tilting of the shovel  32  by the tilting mechanism  34 . This variability in the positioning of the shovel  32  enhances operational capabilities of the shoveling apparatus  10  in reaching difficult to reach areas, and facilitates shoveling, carrying, and/or dumping of material by the shoveling apparatus  10 . 
     While hydraulic cylinders and actuators are preferred in the apparatus of the present invention, other structures such as pneumatic pumps, or other linearly or rotary motive devices may be suitable for use in the present invention. Specifically suitable for use in the present invention is a helical, hydraulic rotary actuator from Helac Corporation (series L30). 
     It is noted that recitations herein of a component of an embodiment being “configured” in a particular way or to embody a particular property, or function in a particular manner, are structural recitations as opposed to recitations of intended use. More specifically, the references herein to the manner in which a component is “configured” denotes an existing physical condition of the component and, as such, is to be taken as a definite recitation of the structural characteristics of the component. 
     It is noted that terms like “generally,” when utilized herein, are not utilized to limit the scope of the claimed embodiments or to imply that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the claimed embodiments. Rather, these terms are merely intended to identify particular aspects of an embodiment or to emphasize alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment. 
     For the purposes of describing and defining embodiments herein it is noted that the term “substantially” and “partially” are utilized herein to represent the inherent degree of uncertainty that may be attributed to any quantitative comparison, value, measurement, or other representation. The terms “substantially” and “partially” are also utilized herein to represent the degree by which a quantitative representation may vary from a stated reference without resulting in a change in the basic function of the subject matter at issue. 
     Having described embodiments of the present invention in detail, and by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the embodiments defined in the appended claims. More specifically, although some aspects of embodiments of the present invention are identified herein as preferred or particularly advantageous, it is contemplated that the embodiments of the present invention are not necessarily limited to these preferred aspects.