BATTERY POWERED MECHANIZED RAISE CLIMBING SYSTEM

• US 20090211853A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redpath Canada Limited
• Original Assignee: J.S. Redpath Limited (J.S. Redpath Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: JYLHA, Rick T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,362,721 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 187/289
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 9/193 with inclined liftways
• CPC Class Codes: E21D 3/00 Raising shafts, i.e. working upwards from the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/04 Transport of mined material in gravity inclines; in staple or inclined shafts
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 13/06 Transport of mined material at or adjacent to the working face
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/10 The network having a local or delimited stationary reach
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/04 using variable-frequency supply voltage, e.g. inverter or converter supply voltage

Abstract

A battery powered raise climber system is provided that uses Lithium ion batteries to drive a single or double electric drive for an existing raise climber. The batteries offer a faster, safer, quieter and cleaner way to move workers and their equipment to and from the work face in a raise and eliminates the need for adding lengths of hose as the raise climber ascends and eliminates the emission of harmful inhalants. The battery powered system also enables high efficiency area lighting to be used at the work face, and as the raise climber descends in the raise, the electric drives can reverse operation to recharge the batteries.

Claims

1. A battery powered drive system for a raise climber comprising one or more batteries connected to one or more electric motors through one or more respective variable frequency drives that enables the batteries to power the electric motors when the raise climber ascends and to recharge the batteries when the raise climber descends.

2. The drive system of claim 1 wherein said batteries are Lithium-ion batteries.

3. The drive system of claim 1 comprise a pair of motors and a pair of corresponding variable frequency drives in a master/slave configuration.

4. The drive system of claim 1 further comprising high efficiency lighting powered by said batteries.

5. The drive system of claim 1 further comprising, for each variable frequency drive, a dynamic braking resistor to assist in dynamic braking of said motors.

6. The drive system of claim 1 further comprising an operator controller for driving said raise climber forwards and backwards.

7. The drive system of claim 6 further comprising a closed loop speed control and tachometer mounted on a shaft of said motor.

8. The drive system of claim 6 wherein said operator controller comprises a high resolution joystick.

9. The drive system of claim 1 further comprising a connector for charging said batteries using a battery charger.

10. The drive system of claim 1 configured to be housed in an existing raise climber.

11. The drive system of claim 10 wherein said existing raise climber is a diesel unit comprising an existing mounting bracket.

12. A raise climber comprising the battery powered drive system according to claim 1.