OVERHEAD POWER GRID FOR MOBILE MINING MACHINES

• US 20130192944A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Underground Mining LLC (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Joy Mm Delaware Incorporated (Komatsu Ltd.)
• Inventors: Zimmerman, Joseph J., Lowman, Garrett L., Struthers, Andrew W.
• Granted Patent: US 9,056,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/36 with means for collecting current simultaneously from more than one conductor, e.g. from more than one phase
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/12 Trolley lines; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60M 1/14 Crossings; Points

Abstract

A vehicle is provided that connects to an overhead power structure for powering and guiding the vehicle. The overhead power structure includes a trolley, a track along which the trolley runs, a power source connected to the track, and a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to the vehicle moving on a surface. The vehicle includes a chassis and a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the overhead power structure. The chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

Claims

1. A vehicle configured to connect to an overhead power structure, the vehicle comprising:

a chassis; and

a cable connected to the chassis and configured to mechanically and electrically connect the vehicle to the overhead power structure,

wherein the chassis includes a connector rotatable 360 degrees, and the cable connects to the chassis through the connector.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a mining vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a load haul dump vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the connector includes a spring-loaded ball that works in a detent to hold the connector in a socket of the chassis.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the cable is releasable from the connector.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cable reel that stores the cable.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a conduit coupled to the cable reel at one end and coupled to the connector at an opposite end.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the conduit is generally vertical.

9. An overhead power structure for a vehicle, the overhead power structure comprising:

a trolley;

a plurality of generally tubular and parallel segments forming a track along which the trolley runs;

a power source connected to the tubular segments; and

a cable connected to the trolley and configured to attach to a vehicle moving on a surface, the cable mechanically and electrically connecting the vehicle to the trolley.

10. The overhead power structure of claim 9, wherein outer tubular segments are rail segments along which guide wheels of the trolley run.

11. The overhead power structure of claim 9, wherein inner tubular segments are conductor tubes that form conductors for a power grid.

12. The overhead power structure of claim 9, wherein the power grid is a 3-phase AC power grid.

13. The overhead power structure of claim 10, wherein the trolley includes a base that runs below and generally parallel to the overhead power structure.

14. The overhead power structure of claim 13, wherein two flanges rise upwards from respective lateral sides of the base on the outside of the rail segments.

15. The overhead power structure of claim 10, wherein at least one of the guide wheels runs along an upper portion of the outer tubular segments and at least one of the guide wheels runs along a lower portion of the outer tubular segments.

16. The overhead power structure of claim 9, further comprising a switch to change direction of a portion of the track.

17. The overhead power structure of claim 9, further comprising a turntable to change direction of a portion of the track.

18. The overhead power structure of claim 17, wherein the turntable includes a plurality of portions of the track and is turnable to change the direction of the track corresponding to a selected one of the portions of the track.

19. The overhead power structure of claim 9, further comprising a sensor that determines an angle of the cable, and if the angle exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the sensor sends a signal to a control means.

20. The overhead power structure of claim 9, further comprising a sensor that determines an amount of tension in the cable, and if the tension exceeds a pre-determined threshold, the sensor sends a signal to a control means.