Fiber optic remote control system for a continuous miner and method of use

• US 5,295,733 A
• Filed: 07/22/1992
• Issued: 03/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DBT America, Inc. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Tamrock World Corporation NV
• Inventors: LeBegue, Maurice K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US07/918,419
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 299/1.4, 299/30, 385/100, 385/109, 385/111, 242/47.07, 226/190, 226/191, 226/196, 226/198, 226/199, 254/414
• US Class Current: 299/30
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 51/22 Reels or cages, e.g. cylindrical, with storing and forwarding surfaces provided by rollers or bars measuring and temporaly storing the weft in looms D03D47/36; thread feeding devices for weft knitting machines D04B15/48
• CPC Class Codes: E21C 35/24 Remote control specially adapted for machines for slitting or completely freeing the mineral control in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/50 Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts

Abstract

A mining machine is controlled by a fiber optic controlled remote control system that includes one or more fiber optic cables that extend from a remote control station through a hose supplying water to the mining machine. The fiber optic cables exit the water hose for connection to electrically operated equipment onboard the mining machine. Connectors having sealing glands with apertures therethrough allow for insertion of the cables into the water hose and exiting of the cables from the hose at the mining machine while preventing the escape of water from the hose at the points of insertion and exiting. The fiber optic cable is supported and positioned for movement in the hose to relieve tension on the cable when the hose is stretched.

Claims

1. Apparatus for transmitting optical communication signals to electrically powered equipment used in an underground mine comprising,

at least one optical communication cable having a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion between said first and second end portions,

said cable first end portion positioned remotely from the powered equipment for receiving optical communication signals,

said cable second end portion positioned to supply the optical communication signals onboard the powered equipment,

a flexible hose for conveying a fluid from a source to the powered equipment,

means for connecting said hose to the powered equipment for movement of said hose with the powered equipment while supplying fluid onboard the powered equipment,

said cable extending a preselected length through said hose with fluid flowing through said hose surrounding said cable,

said cable entering said hose at a point adjacent said first end portion and exiting said hose at a point adjacent said second end portion with said intermediate portion positioned within said hose, and

means for relieving tension on said cable intermediate portion to permit said cable to extend in length and move within said hose in response to stretching of said flexible hose in the transmission of optical communication signals through said cable positioned within said hose supplying a fluid to the powered equipment.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which,

said means for relieving tension on said cable to permit said cable to extend in length and move within said hose includes said cable intermediate portion having elastic means for allowing expansion of said cable intermediate portion within said hose from a first length to a second length greater than the first length.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which,

said elastic means includes said cable intermediate portion having a section wound in a spiral configuration, and

said section being expanded in length in response to stretching along the length of said flexible hose.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 which includes,

said flexible hose having an inner surface, and

means for elastically securing said cable intermediate portion to said flexible hose inner surface.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

transmitter means positioned remotely of the mining machine for generating optical communication signals to the mining machine, and

receiver means positioned on the mining machine and connected to said cable second end portion for receiving the optical communication signals and converting the signals to electrical signals onboard the mining machine.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

a fitting for sealingly connecting said cable to said hose at the points where said cable enters and exits said hose,

said fitting having a body portion,

said body portion having a fluid leg, a cable leg and a merge leg,

said fluid leg being aligned with said merge leg to form a hose passage for said hose to extend through said fluid leg and said merge leg,

said cable leg extending from said fluid leg and said merge leg, said cable leg including a cable passage communicating with said hose passage,

said cable selectively entering and exiting said cable passage and extending into said hose to travel through said hose, and

seal means for sealing said cable passage around said cable to prevent the escape of fluid out of said cable leg.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein,

said fitting cable leg has one end connected to said fluid leg and said merge leg and an opposite open end, and

said seal means closing said open end to prevent the escape of fluid therefrom while permitting said cable to extend through said seal means into and out of said cable leg.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which,

said seal means includes a gland positioned in said cable leg open end,

a gland retainer connected to said cable leg and sealingly positioned around said gland to support said gland in said cable leg open end, and

said gland having at least one orifice with means for permitting said cable to pass through said orifice without fluid escaping through said orifice.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 which includes,

said gland being fabricated of a resilient material, and

each said orifice having a diameter less than the outer diameter of said cable such that said gland expands around said orifice when said cable is inserted through said orifice and said gland radially compresses said cable to form a fluidtight seal around said cable.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 which includes,

means for threadedly connecting said gland retainer to said cable leg to compress said gland into surrounding relation with said cable passing through said orifice to form a fluidtight seal around said cable.

11. A mining machine comprising,

a mobile frame,

means connected to said mobile frame for dislodging mine material,

conveying means for moving the dislodged mine material rearwardly of said mining machine,

a water hose to supply said mining machine with water,

an operating station located remote of said mobile frame,

a fiber optic control system positioned at said operating station,

a fiber optical cable for transmitting optical communication signals from said control system onboard said mining machine,

said fiber optic cable having a first end portion connected to said control system and a second end portion positioned onboard said mining machine,

said fiber optic cable extending through said water hose, between said first and second end portions,

a stationary frame with a plurality of rollers rotatably supported in a circular array on said frame for storing a preselected length of said fiber optic cable adjacent to said cable first end portion,

means for rotatably supporting said rollers for movement in a radial direction between an inner radial position on said frame to an outer radial position on said frame,

biasing means supported by said frame for normally urging said roller to move to the outer radial position to support said cable in an expanded loop around said rollers, and

said biasing means responding to an increase in tension exerted on said cable to move said rollers to the inner radial position to support said cable in a retracted loop around said rollers to permit feeding an additional length of said cable into said water hose to relieve tension exerted on said cable when said water hose is stretched.

12. A mining machine as set forth in claim 11 which includes,

connecting means for introducing said cable in said water hose and exiting said cable from said water hose.

13. A mining machine as set forth in claim 12 which includes,

said connecting means includes a y-shaped connector, and

said connector having an inlet end sealingly connected to said water hose, an outlet end sealingly connected to said water hose, and an opening between said inlet end and said outlet end for receiving said cable in said water hose.

14. A mining machine as set forth in claim 11 in which,

said rollers in the outer radial position support a single wrap of said cable in the expanded loop having a preselected tension thereon, and

said rollers move from the outer radial position to the inner radial position to support said cable in the retracted loop to feed a length of cable from the single wrap when the tension on said cable is increased to thereby maintain a preselected tension on said cable.

15. A method for transmitting optical communication signals to a mining machine comprising the steps of,

connecting a hose to a mining machine for movement with the mining machine in conducting mining operations,

supplying water to the mining machine through the hose from a source positioned remote from the mining machine for performing work on the mining machine,

generating optical communication signals from a station located remote from the operation of the mining machine,

inserting the fiber optic cable into the water hose adjacent to the station,

extending the fiber optic cable a preselected distance through the water hose,

exiting the fiber optic cable from the water hose for connection to the mining machine, and

supporting the fiber optic cable to extend and retract the length of the cable in the hose to relieve tension exerted on the fiber optic cable when the water hose is stretched.

16. A method as set forth in claim 15 which includes,

attaching a connector to the water hose at a point thereon where the fiber optic cable enters and exits the water hose,

extending the fiber optic cable through the connector into the water hose, and

forming a watertight seal around the fiber optic cable in the connector to permit the fiber optic cable to pass through the connector while preventing the escape of water from the hose through the connector.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 which includes,

positioning a flexible gland in an opening for receiving the fiber optic cable,

extending the fiber optic cable through an aperture in the gland, and

maintaining the gland around the aperture in compression with the fiber optic cable.

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 which includes,

compressing the gland in sealing engagement with the fiber optic cable to prevent water from escaping from the connector around the fiber optic cable.

19. A cable spooling device comprising,

a stationary frame,

a plurality of rollers positioned in spaced relation in a circular array adjacent to said frame, said rollers having surfaces for supporting a length of cable looped between ends of the cable around said rollers in a loop,

said rollers each having opposite end portions and a shaft extending from said end portions,

slot means in said frame for receiving the end portions of said shafts of said rollers,

said slot means extending in a radial direction on said frame to guide said rollers between an inner radial position and an outer radial position,

biasing means supported by said frame in abutting relation with said roller shafts for normally urging said roller shafts to move in said slot means to the outer radial position on said frame to support the cable in an expanded loop around said rollers, and

said biasing means responding to an increase in tension exerted on the cable to allow said roller shafts to move in said slot means to the inner radial position on said frame to support the cable in a retracted loop around said rollers to decrease the tension in the cable.

20. A cable spooling device as set forth in claim 19 in which,

said biasing means is positioned on said frame in alignment with said slot means,

said biasing means in an expanded position applying a force upon said roller shafts to position said rollers in the outer radial position for supporting the cable in the expanded loop around said rollers, and

said biasing means responding to an increase in tension on the cable to move from the expanded position to a retracted position and position said rollers in the inner radial position for supporting the cable in the retracted loop around said rollers.

21. A cable spooling device as set forth in claim 19 in which,

said slot means include a plurality of radial slots extending from a central point on said frame in a radial pattern thereon,

said end portions of said roller shafts being positioned in said radial slots respectively, and

said roller shafts being movable along the length of said slots between the outer and inner radial positions to adjust the position of said rollers for supporting the cable in the expanded and retracted loop respectively.

22. A cable spooling device as set forth in claim 19 in which,

said biasing means include a plurality of springs positioned in alignment with said slot means respectively,

said springs each having opposite end portions acting on said frame and said roller shafts to exert an outward compressive force on said roller shafts to normally maintain said rollers in the outer radial position to support the cable in the expanded loop, and

said springs being compressed in response to an increase in tension exerted on the cable and move said roller shafts in said slot means so that said rollers are in the inner radial position to support the cable in the retracted loop for reducing the tension on the cable.

23. A cable spooling device as set forth in claim 19 in which,

said rollers in the outer radial position support a single wrap of the cable in the expanded loop having a preselected tension thereon, and

said rollers move from the outer radial position to the inner radial position to support the cable in the retracted loop to feed a length of cable from the single wrap when the tension on the cable is increased to thereby maintain a preselected tension on the cable.

24. A cable spooling device as set forth in claim 19 which includes,

a plurality of actuators connected to roller shaft end portions respectively,

said biasing means being compressed between said frame and said actuators to exert a force on said actuators to normally maintain said rollers in the outer radial position for supporting a single wrap of the cable in the expanded loop, and

said biasing means in response to an increase in tension on the single wrap of cable move said actuators to position the rollers in the inner radial position for supporting the cable in the retracted loop and reduce the tension in the cable.

25. A mining machine comprising,

a mobile frame,

means connected to said mobile frame for dislodging mine material,

conveying means for moving the dislodged mine material rearwardly of said mining machine,

a flexible cable extending from one end portion located remote of said mining machine to a connection on said mining machine,

a stationary frame positioned remote of said mining machine and including a plurality of rollers rotatably supported in a circular array on said frame for storing a preselected length of said cable to be fed to said mining machine,

means for rotatably supporting said rollers for movement in a radial direction between an inner radial position on said frame to an outer radial position on said frame,

biasing means supported by said frame for normally urging said rollers to move to the outer radial position to support said cable in an expanded loop around said rollers, and

said biasing means responding to an increase in tension exerted on said cable to move said rollers to the inner radial position to support said cable in a retracted loop around said rollers to permit feeding an additional length of said cable to said mining machine to decrease the tension in said cable when said cable is stretched.