GB2114242A - Vehicles including runaway arrestor means - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle (7) adapted to travel along a track (2) having a steeply inclined section provided with a plurality of spaced anchored means (18), comprises arrestor means mounted on chassis (8) and having a rotatable drum (10) and a rope (13) wound on to the drum, the free end of the rope being provided with engagement means (14) for engaging the anchored means (18) when the arrestor means is activated. Rotation of the drum to unwind the rope is resisted by retardation means, such as hydraulic dashpot or a friction clutch arrangement. The engagement means (14) is retained on a feed arm (15) which is lowered in response to vehicle speed increasing above a preselected speed, or manually. Further embodiments are disclosed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicles including runaway arrestor means This invention relates to vehicles including runaway arrestor means.

In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relatesto underground mine rail mounted vehicles which in usetravel along paths comprising steeply inclined sections.

It is known for such an underground mine vehicles to comprise brakes which are automatically applied tending to prevent wheel rotation should the vehicle speed reach a preselected high value. Unfortunately, upon particularly steeply inclined sections when the vehicle brakes are applied the wheels tend to slide along the rail and therefore do not bring the vehicle to rest.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle including a runaway arrestorwhich tends to overcome or reduce the above mentioned problem.

According to the present invention a vehicle adapted to travel along a path at least a section of which is steeply inclined and provided with anchored means, comprises a wheel mounted chassis and arrestor means mounted on the chassis, the arrestor means comprising an elongate component and a store forthe component which at one end is attached to the store and which at the other end is provided with engagement means, the component being capable of being drawn out ofthe store against a preselected resistance, the vehicle further comprising feed means which, in use, are actuatableto urgetheengagement meanstowardsthe anchored means.

Preferably, the elongate component is flexible and the store comprises a drum upon which the component is wound.

Advantageously, drum rotation is a direction associated with the component being wound offthe drum is retarded.

Conveniently, the retardation to drum rotation is achieved by providing a hydraulic dash pot.

Alternatively, the retardation to drum rotation is achieved by providing a friction clutch.

Preferably, the engagement means comprises catch means adapted to engage the anchored means.

Convenientiy, the vehicle is a brake bogie adapted for attachmentto a train of manriding vehicles.

Byway of example, one embodiment ofthe present invention nowwill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa diagrammatic side view of one end of a train of underground mine manriding vehicles including a brake bogie vehicle constructed in accordance with the present invention, the brake bogie vehicle including arrestor means which are shown in one operational position; Figure 2 and 3 are similar diagrammatic side views to Figure 1 but showing the arrestor means in different operational positions.

Figure 1 shows one end of a train of connected rail mounted, underground mine, manriding vehicles 1 being hauled down a steeply inclined section oftrack2 by an effectively endless haulage rope 3 fixed secured to the vehicles. Each man riding vehicle comprises a chassis 4 having rail engaging wheels 5 and a cabin 6.

The train ofvehicles also includes a brake bogie vehicle 7 comprising a chassis 8, rail engaging wheels 9 and arrestor means including a drum 10 having a shaft 11 rotatably mounted on a stand 12 fixedly secured to the chassis 8. The drum arrangement is provided with retardation means (not shown) tending to retard rotation of the drum 10in at least an anti-clockwise direction as seen in the Figures.Conve niently, the retardation means comprises a hydraulic dashpot arrangement or a friction clutch arrange ment, each ofthe alternative arrangements being adapted to apply a preselected resistance to resist rotation of the drum in an anti-clockwise direction as seen in the Figures. The arrestor means also compris es a flexible, elongate component constituted by a steel rope 13 fixedly attached to the drum 10 at one end and provided at its other end with engagement means comprising a catch device 14for engaging anchored means 18 provided at spaced intervals along the steeply inclined section oftrack.Feeder means comprise an arm 15 pivotaliy mounted on the chassis 8 and sensor means 1 for sensing the vehicle speed and for controlling downward pivotal move ment ofthe arm 1 stro urge the catch device 14towards the anchored means 18 should the sensed vehicle speed reach a preselected relatively high speed. The end ofthe arm 15 remote from the pivotal connection to the chassis 8 is adapted to releasably retain the engagement means 14 on the arm until the engagement means engage a set ofthe anchored means 18.

Upon engaging the anchored means the engagement means are adapted to fixedly-engage the anchored means with an action intended to avoid accidential disengagementbythewhipping rope.

Typically, the anchor means comprises a plurality of arrestor catchesfirmly anchored to the mine floor at preselected spaced intervals and located between the pair of rails constituting the vehicle track. Alternatively, or in addition to, the arrestor catches could be mounted bytheside ofthetrack.

In use, the train of vehicles is hauled to and fro bythe effectively endless rope 3 with the sensor means 16 acting to retain the feed arm 15 raised clear of the track as seen in Figure 1). The engagement means 14 provided on the free end ofthe rope 13 are retained on the end ofthe feed arm 15 remote from its pivotal mounting with the chassis 8 and clearofthe anchored means 18. During normal running ofthevehiclethe feed arm 15 ofthe arrestor means is retained in the raised position.

However, if the rope 3 should break or if the train of vehicles becomes disengaged from the rope 3 while the train of vehicles is negotiating the steeply inclined section oftrackthe sensor means 16 senses the increase in vehicle speed above the preselected speed and activates the feed arm mechanism to lowerthe feed arm 15 towards a position as indicated in Figure 2 such that the engagement means 14 is in a position between the two rails ofthe vehicle track 2.

Upon the train of runaway vehicles travelling a relative!yshort preselected distance the lowered engagement means 14 engage the next encounted anchored arrestor device 18 to be fixedly retained by the arrestor catch 14. Further downward movement of the train of vehicles causes the rope 13 to start being unwound from off the drum 10 againstthe preselected resistance induced by the retardation means. The action of this resistance to drum rotation acts to slow down the train of runaway vehicles which thereby is graduallybroughtto rest. The applied resistance to drum rotation is set at a preselected value sufficiently lowto avoid an undesired sudden braking action but sufficiently high to ensure the train of vehicles is brought to rest.

In other embodiments of the invention manual activated means are provided for lowering the feed arm shouldthetrain guard desire to apply the arrestor means. The manual activated means may be provided in addition to, or instead of, the sensor means 16.

In other embodiments of the invention the arrestor means is mounted on a manriding vehicle and not on a separate brake vehicle as shown in the drawings.

In still further embodiments ofthe invention the train of vehicles is hauled by means other than an effectively endless rope, as for example, by a locomotive or by a single rope arrangement.

Claims (10)

1. Avehicle adapted to travel along a path at least a section of which is steeply inclined and provided with anchored means, comprising a wheel mounted chas sis and arrestor means mounted on the chassis, the arrestor means comprising an elongate component and a storeforthe component which at one end is attached to the store and which at the other end is provided with engagement means, the component being capable of being drawn out of the store against a preselected resistance, the vehicle further comprising feed means which, in use, are actuatableto urge the engagement means towards the anchored means.

2. Avehicle as claimed in claim 1, in which the elongate component is flexible and the store comprises a drum upon which the component is wound.

3. Avehicle as claimed in claim 2, in which drum rotation in a direction associated with the component beinng wound off the drum is retarded.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 3, in which the retardation to drum rotation is achieved by providing a hydraulicdashpot.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, in which the retardation to drum rotation is achieved by providing a friction clutch.

6. Avehicle as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, in which the engagement means comprises catch means adapted to engage the anchored means.

7. Avehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the vehicle is a brake bogie adapted for attachmentto a train of manriding vehicles.

8. Avehicle as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 when dependant upon claim 6, in which the catch means are adapted to prevent accidental disengagement of the catch and anchor means.

9. Avehicle as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, comprising sensor means for sensing the vehicle speed and for activating the arrestor means if the sensed speed reaches a preselected relatively high speed.

10. Avehicle substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.