GB1563953A - Creeper device for moving vehicles - Google Patents

Description

(54) CREEPER DEVICE FOR MOVING VEHICLES (71) We, COAL INDUSTRY (PATENTS) LIMITED, a company organised in accordance with the laws of Great Britain, of Hobart House, Grosvenor Place, London S.W.1X 7AE, England, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a creeper device for moving vehicles at a slow speed.

In particular, the present invention concerns such a device for use in conjunction with underground mining transport systems in which rail-mounted vehicles are employed, It is fairly common practice to use rope-hauled vehicles whereby the vehicles are attached through the agency of a clip or other connecting device, e.g. a rope clip.

to a rope, the path of which is usually fixed and comprises an endless loop driven by a suitable winch. Difficulties arise not only when guiding a rope around bends in the roadways but also in hauling a vehicle around a turn from one roadway to another, i.e. one rope haulage to another.

Hitherto this latter manoeuvre has been effected by using a length of rope capped at both ends, one end being secured to a vehicle and the other end being attached to a clip. The clip is then clamped onto the haulage rope in the relevant roadway and the vehicle is thereby moved, the motion of the haulage rope being transmitted to the vehicle through the agency of the length of rope. One disadvantage of adopting this manoeuvre is that it can be dangerous to personnel in that-they may be unable to see the length of rope or if the rope should fail, serious injury might result. Furthermore the degree of immediate contrOl over the movement of the vehicle is somewhat low in that the haulage rope control may be remote giving rise to delay in response, even in the event of prompt signalling.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a creeper device suitable for use in underground mining transport systems.

Accordingly, the invention provides a creeper device for moving vehicles including a framework having a section of arcuate form, an endless flexible drive member housed within the framework which defines races for the flexible drive member, drive means for the flexible drive member, a slot in the framework, a connecting member extending through the slot and attached to the drive member, and coupling means on the connecting member.

The section of arcuate form conveniently corresponds to a similar section of a track for wheeled veihlces, the creeper device in use being locatable adjacent thereto.

The endless flexible drive member may be round-link chain engageable by a drive sprocket which is coupled to the drive means, e.g. an electric motor driving through a reduction gear box.

By way of example only, two embodiments of creeper device according to the invention are described below with reference to the drawing accompanying the Provisional Specification in which: Fianre l is a plan view of a first embodiment.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, Figure 3 is an end sectional view: and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 4 is a sectional end view of a second embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, a first embodiment of creeper device is indicated at 1 and is shown (see Figure 1) adjacent a track 2 for wheeled vehicles (not shown), only a part of the track 2 being illustrated.

The creeper device 1 includes a framework 4 having a base 6 on which is fixedly mounted a chain guide 8. The chain guide 8 has a portion 9 of arcuate form and is formed with upper and lower races 10, 12 within which runs an endless round link chain 14 looped around an idler sprocket 16 and a drive sprocket 18. An electric motor 20 is coulpled to a reduction gearbox 22 which has the sprocket 18 mounted on output shaft 24 thereof. The chain guide 8 has the upper race 10 almost totally en dosed by plates 30 which serve to define a slot 32 extending along the top of the framework 4. A connecting member 34 extends through the slot 32 and has an engagement portion 36 which positively engages the upper run 38 of chain 14.The member 34 also has coupling means 40 attached thereto, the means 40 being located outside the framework 4 and adapted to interconnect the connecting member 34 via a towing arm 41 to a vehicle (not shown) on the track 2. The connecting member 34 is provided with a plate 42 which carries two guide rollers 44 which are engageable with the sides of the framework 4 and serve to maintain the member 34 in alignment within the chain guide 8.

In use, the creeper device 1 is located adjacent track 2 which extends from one roadway (not shown) into another each having a separate haulage system, the device 1 being positioned at the turn between the roadways in, for example, an underground mine. In order to move a vehicle (not shown) along the turn the connecting member 34 is coupled through the agency of the means 40 and towing arm 41 to the vehicle.

The motor 20 is then actuated and imparts rotary motion through gearbox 22 to the drive sprocket 18, thus causing the chain 14 to move. The movement of chain 14 thus effects movement of the vehicle which can be so moved along the length of the track extending adiacent the device I: the towing arm 41 is capable of moving through 90" and thus movement of the vehicle around the turn in track 2 is facilitated. Once the vehicle or series of vehicles has been transported along the length of track 2 and is positioned in the other roadway, the coflp- ling between the member 34 and the vehicle may be disconnected and the vehicle attached to the haulage system (not shown) of the other roadway.

Referring now to Figure 4, the second embodiment of creeper device is shown at 101 and includes a framework 104 having a base 106 incorporating a chain guide 108.

The guide 108 is formed of chain races 110, 112 arranged side by side and divided by a plate 111. An endless round link chain 114 runs in the races 110, 112 and is looped around an idler sprocket (not shown) and a drive sprocket (not shown) coupled to a drive motor (not shown).

The race 110 is almost totally enclosed by a top plate 130, a gap or slot 132 being formed through which a connecting member 134 extends. A further top plate 131 encloses the race 112.

The connecting member 134 has an engagement portion 136 which positively engages the chain 114 in race 110. The member 134 also has coupling means 140 attached thereto, the means being located outside the framework 104 and having formations 141 adapted for connection to a vehicle (not shown). The coupling means 140 also has depending therefrom, two rollers 144 which engage the plates 130 and 131.

As with the first embodiment, the creeper device is in use located adjacent a track for a vehicle and operates in the same way as the first embodiment. The actuation of the chain 114 causes movement of the vehicle attached to the connecting member 134.

The present invention thus provides a creeper device suitable for use underground and capable of effecting movement of a vehicle mounted on a track around a turn or other length of track where conventional haulage does not exist or is difficult to effect.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A creeper device for moving vehicles including a framework having a section of arcuate form, an endless flexible drive member housed within the framework which defines races for the flexible drive member, a drive means for the flexible drive member.

a slot in the framework, a connecting member extending through the slot and attached to the drive member, and coupling means on the connecting member.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the endless flexible member is a roundlink chain engageable by a drive sprocket coupled to the drive means.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the races are disposed vertically.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the races are disposed horizontally.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the connecting member is provided with rollers for engaging the framework.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a track for a vehicle, the device being located adjacent the track.

7. A creeper device for moving vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

8. A creeper device for moving vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. dosed by plates 30 which serve to define a slot 32 extending along the top of the framework 4. A connecting member 34 extends through the slot 32 and has an engagement portion 36 which positively engages the upper run 38 of chain 14. The member 34 also has coupling means 40 attached thereto, the means 40 being located outside the framework 4 and adapted to interconnect the connecting member 34 via a towing arm 41 to a vehicle (not shown) on the track 2. The connecting member 34 is provided with a plate 42 which carries two guide rollers 44 which are engageable with the sides of the framework 4 and serve to maintain the member 34 in alignment within the chain guide 8. In use, the creeper device 1 is located adjacent track 2 which extends from one roadway (not shown) into another each having a separate haulage system, the device 1 being positioned at the turn between the roadways in, for example, an underground mine. In order to move a vehicle (not shown) along the turn the connecting member 34 is coupled through the agency of the means 40 and towing arm 41 to the vehicle. The motor 20 is then actuated and imparts rotary motion through gearbox 22 to the drive sprocket 18, thus causing the chain 14 to move. The movement of chain 14 thus effects movement of the vehicle which can be so moved along the length of the track extending adiacent the device I: the towing arm 41 is capable of moving through 90" and thus movement of the vehicle around the turn in track 2 is facilitated. Once the vehicle or series of vehicles has been transported along the length of track 2 and is positioned in the other roadway, the coflp- ling between the member 34 and the vehicle may be disconnected and the vehicle attached to the haulage system (not shown) of the other roadway. Referring now to Figure 4, the second embodiment of creeper device is shown at 101 and includes a framework 104 having a base 106 incorporating a chain guide 108. The guide 108 is formed of chain races 110, 112 arranged side by side and divided by a plate 111. An endless round link chain 114 runs in the races 110, 112 and is looped around an idler sprocket (not shown) and a drive sprocket (not shown) coupled to a drive motor (not shown). The race 110 is almost totally enclosed by a top plate 130, a gap or slot 132 being formed through which a connecting member 134 extends. A further top plate 131 encloses the race 112. The connecting member 134 has an engagement portion 136 which positively engages the chain 114 in race 110. The member 134 also has coupling means 140 attached thereto, the means being located outside the framework 104 and having formations 141 adapted for connection to a vehicle (not shown). The coupling means 140 also has depending therefrom, two rollers 144 which engage the plates 130 and 131. As with the first embodiment, the creeper device is in use located adjacent a track for a vehicle and operates in the same way as the first embodiment. The actuation of the chain 114 causes movement of the vehicle attached to the connecting member 134. The present invention thus provides a creeper device suitable for use underground and capable of effecting movement of a vehicle mounted on a track around a turn or other length of track where conventional haulage does not exist or is difficult to effect. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A creeper device for moving vehicles including a framework having a section of arcuate form, an endless flexible drive member housed within the framework which defines races for the flexible drive member, a drive means for the flexible drive member.

a slot in the framework, a connecting member extending through the slot and attached to the drive member, and coupling means on the connecting member.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the endless flexible member is a roundlink chain engageable by a drive sprocket coupled to the drive means.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the races are disposed vertically.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which the races are disposed horizontally.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the connecting member is provided with rollers for engaging the framework.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a track for a vehicle, the device being located adjacent the track.

7. A creeper device for moving vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification.

8. A creeper device for moving vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.