Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
"A RIGGING ASSEMBLY FOR A DRAGLINE EXCAVATOR"
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a rigging assembly for a dragline excavator. In
particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to an improved
upper
hoist rigging assembly for a dragline excavator.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Dragline excavators are commonly employed on mine sites for tasks to
strip overburden to expose coal seams. Draglines have been in use for
approximately 100 years in this capacity. However, machine sizes, bucket
styles
and sizes, and rigging arrangements have evolved as technology has advanced.
Draglines have a high capital cost and significant ongoing maintenance
costs and hence represent a substantial investment for the mine operator.
Consequently, it is essential that the dragline has a high availability and
demonstrates efficiency of operation to ensure that the mine operator realizes
an
optimal return on investment.
In order to optimise the productivity of a dragline it is desirable to
minimize
the time between each dig cycle, minimize maintenance cost of the dragline
rigging and provide dragline rigging for optimum excavation capabilities.
The design of the dragline bucket has evolved to provide a bucket that fills
more quickly and efficiently than more traditional buckets. For example,
Australian Patent Application 2002301250 provides for a dragline bucket design
that has a relatively low drag energy requirement during the fill portion of
the dig
cycle and thus reducing the required fill time than that previously observed
whilst
also increasing the payload.
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However, whilst bucket design has evolved, the rigging that controls the
motion of the bucket has remained largely unchanged. The interplay between
the dragline bucket and the rigging is an important factor in ensuring the
dragline
reaches optimal production.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or
more of the above problems and/or provide the consumer with a useful or
commercial choice.
= DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form,
the invention resides in a rigging assembly for a dragline excavator, the
rigging
assembly comprising:
a first upper hoist link;
a second upper hoist link; and
an equalization member extending between the first upper hoist link and
the second upper hoist link;
wherein, the equalization member is formed from a flexible material.
Preferably, the equalization member is in the form of a link chain.
Suitably, the equalization member is rotatably secured at an end thereof
to the first upper hoist link and is rotatably secured at an opposing end
thereof to
the second upper hoist link.
Optionally, the equalization member is rotatably secured at either end
thereof to a clevis arm of a respective upper hoist link by way of a pin.
Suitably, a link of an upper hoist chain is secured to each clevis arm of the
upper hoist links by way of the retaining pin.
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Preferably, a dump block is secured to each upper hoist link.
In a further form, the invention resides in a rigging assembly for a dragline
excavator, the rigging assembly comprising:
a first upper hoist link;
a second upper hoist link; and
an equalization member extending between the first upper hoist link and
the second upper hoist link, the equalization member being secured at an end
thereof to the first upper hoist link by way of a retainer and being secured
at an
opposed end thereof to the second upper hoist link by way of a retainer;
an upper hoist chain secured to the first upper hoist link by way of the
respective retainer; and
an upper hoist chain secured to the second upper hoist link by way of the
respective retainer.
Preferably, the retainer is in the form of a retaining pin.
Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the
following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in
the art to put the invention into practical effect preferred embodiments of
the
invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG 1A shows a perspective view of a prior art dragline excavator rigging
assembly;
FIG 1B shows a close up perspective view of the upper hoist rigging
forming part of the dragline excavator rigging assembly shown in FIG 1A;
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FIG 2A shows a perspective view of a further prior art dragline excavator
rigging assembly;
FIG 26 shows a close up perspective view of the upper hoist rigging
assembly forming part of the dragline excavator rigging assembly shown in FIG
2A;
FIG 3A shows a front perspective view of an upper hoist rigging assembly
according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG 36 shows a rear perspective view of the upper hoist rigging assembly
shown in FIG 3A;
FIG 4A shows a front perspective view of an upper hoist rigging assembly
according to a further embodiment of the invention;
FIG 46 shows a rear perspective view of the upper hoist rigging assembly
shown in FIG 4A; and
FIG 5 shows a front perspective view of an upper hoist rigging assembly
according to a further embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG 1A shows a perspective view of a prior art dragline rigging assembly
1000 and FIG 1B shows a close up perspective view of an upper hoist rigging
assembly 1100 forming part of the prior art dragline rigging assembly 1000
shown in FIG 1A. The upper hoist rigging assembly 1100 is adapted for use with
a single dump block 1009 as will be discussed in further detail below.
Dragline rigging assembly 1000 is used to control movement of the
dragline bucket 1002 and includes an upper hoist rigging assembly 1100 formed
from two hoist sockets 1111, a rigid connection bar 1112 pivotally connected
to a
lower end of each hoist socket 1111 thereby coupling the hoist sockets 1111.
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Upper hoist rigging assembly 1100 rigging assembly further comprises a
hoist link 1113 pivotally connected to a central region of rigid connection
bar
1112 and a hitch 1114 pivotally connected to a lower end of hoist link 1113.
Hitch 1114 has a pair of opposed clevis arms 1114A and a forwardly extending
5 clevis arm 1114B. =
A hoist rope 1001 extend from an upper extent of each hoist socket 1111
in order to suspend the rigging assembly 1000 and bucket 1002 from a boom of
the dragline (not shown). Furthermore, an upper hoist chain 1003A extend from
each opposed clevis arm 1114A as shown with each upper hoist chain 1003A
terminating at a respective end of spreader bar 1004. A lower hoist chain
1003B
extends from each end of spreader bar 1004 and terminates at a respective
trunion 1002A of dragline bucket 1002 as shown.
A drag chain 1005 extends from each opposed wing 1002B of dragline
bucket 1002 with each drag chain terminating at a respective drag link 1006.
The drag links 1006 are operatively connected by way of dump rigging assembly
1007.
Dump block 1009 is operatively connected to forwardly extending clevis
arm 114B of hitch 1114 of upper hoist assembly 1100. Dump rope 1008 extends
from dump rigging assembly 1007 about dump block 1009 and terminates at
arch 1002C of drag line bucket 1002.
FIG 1A shows a perspective view of a prior art dragline rigging assembly
1000 and FIG 1B shows a close up perspective view of an upper hoist rigging
assembly 1100 forming part of the prior art dragline rigging assembly 1000
shown in FIG 1A. The upper hoist rigging assembly 1100 is adapted for use with
a single dump block 1009 as will be discussed in further detail below,
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FIG 2A shows a perspective view of a further prior art dragline rigging
assembly 2000 and FIG 2B shows a close up perspective view of an upper hoist
rigging assembly 2100 forming part of the prior art dragline rigging assembly
2000 shown in FIG 2A.
The dragline rigging assembly 2000 differs from that previously discussed
in that the rigging assembly 2000 includes two dump blocks 2009 as will be
discussed below.
As before, the rigging assembly 2000 includes an upper hoist rigging
assembly 2100 formed from two hoist sockets 2111 and a rigid connection bar
2112. Rigid connection bar 2112 has a first pair of clevis arms 2112A
extending
from longitudinal ends of rigid connection bar 2112, a pair of forwardly
extending
clevis arms 2112B and a pair of upwardly extending clevis arms 2112C.
Each hoist socket 2111 is operably connected to a respective upwardly
extending clevis arm 2112C of rigid connection bar 2112 by way of links 2120.
Furthermore, each dump block 2009 is operably conndcted to a respective
forwardly extending clevis arm 2112B of rigid connection bar 2112 by way of
links 2120.
As the dragline rigging assembly 2000 has two dump blocks 2009, dump
ropes 2008 extend from a respective drag link 2006, about a dump block 2009
and each terminates at arch 2002C
The dragline rigging assembly 2000 otherwise has features as previously
discussed.
The prior art rigging assemblies discussed above include upper hoist
rigging that comprises many components that add weight and complexity to the
system.
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FIG 3A shows a front perspective view of an upper hoist rigging assembly
3000 according to an embodiment of the invention and FIG 36 shows a rear
perspective view of the upper hoist rigging assembly 3000.
Upper hoist rigging assembly 3000 comprises hoist sockets 3001 and a
pair of upper hoist links 3002 each rotatably connected to a lower clevis arm
3001A of a respective hoist socket 3001.
Each upper hoist link 3002 has a lower clevis arm 3002A and a forwardly
extending attachment portion 30026.
A dump block 3009 is attached to the forwardly extending attachment
portion 30026 of each upper hoist link 3002 by way of shackle 3020.
Furthermore,. an upper hoist chain 3003A is attached to lower clevis arm 3002A
of each upper hoist link 3002.
A flexible equalization member 3010 extends between the upper hoist
links 3002. Flexible equalization member 3010 is secured to a respective upper
hoist link 3002 by way of a retainer pin 3030 extending between lower .clevis
arms 3002A.
As shown, retainer pin 3030 secures both an end of flexible equalization
member 3010 and shackle 3020 to lower clevis arm 3002A of each upper hoist
link 3002. Alternatively, a separate retainer pin 303 may be used to secure an
end of flexible equalization member 2010 to lower clevis arm 3002A and shackle
3020 to lower clevis arm 3002A.
In the embodiment, flexible equalization member 3010 is in the form of a
link chain of similar construction to upper hoist chains 3003A.
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FIG 4A shows a front perspective view of an upper hoist rigging assembly
4000 according to a further embodiment of the invention and FIG 4B shows a
rear perspective view of the upper hoist rigging assembly amp.
In the embodiment shown in FIG 4A and FIG 46, the upper hoist rigging
assembly 4000 includes a flexible equalization member 4010 formed from a light
weight flexible material such as plastic coated wire rope, plastic coated
textile
ropes, plastic coated chain or the like.
Preferably, the flexible equalization member 4010 is of a unitary
construction and has a shaft 4011 and clevis arms 4012 located at either end
thereof. The flexible equalization member 4010 extends between the lower
clevis arms 4002A of upper hoist links 4002. The flexible equalization member
4010 is secured at either end thereof to a respective upper hoist link 4002 by
way of a retainer pin 4030 extending between each arm of the clevis arm 4002A.
As described in previous embodiments, upper hoist chains 4003A are secured
within clevis arms 4002A of each upper hoist link 4002 by way of the retainer
pin
4030 such that a link of each upper hoist chain is secured within the clevis
arms
4012 of flexible equalization member 4010.
Alternatively, separate pins 4030 may be used to secure the components
within the clevis arms 4002A of each upper hoist link 4002.
In the embodiment a shackle 4040 is used to operatively secure each
upper hoist chain 4003A to a lower clevis arm 4002A of a respective upper
hoist
link 4002.
In prior art rigging assemblies, there was no provision within the assembly
for hoist rope equalization as the operative connection between the respective
upper hoist links was a rigid connection. As such, by providing the flexible
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equalization member of the invention, better hoist rope equalization is
achieved
delivering improved hoist rope life.
Furthermore, by providing an upper hoist rigging assembly that has an
upper hoist link with clevis arms adapted to secure both the flexible
equalization .
member and an operative attachment to a respective upper hoist chain,, the
upper hoist rigging assembly of the invention has a lesser weight than prior
art
assemblies in view of the fact that less link members are required in the
assembly. This reduced weight provides for power consumption advantages
over prior art assemblies as a greater proportion of the dragline's energy
output
is devoted to moving payload in the dragline bucket rather than the hoist
rigging
assembly.
FIG 5 shows a front perspective view of upper hoist rigging assembly
5000 according to a further embodiment of the invention. Upper hoist rigging
assembly 5000 is adapted to attach to a single dumb block 5009. Upper hoist
rigging assembly 5000 has a rigid connection bar 5010 extending between a pair
of upper hoist links 5002. Each upper hoist link 5002 has lower clevis arms
5002A adapted to receive and secure an end of rigid connection bar 5010 and a
link of an upper hoist chain 5003A by way of retainer pin 5030.
Similar to the double dump block applications previously discussed, by
providing an upper hoist rigging assembly that has an upper hoist link with
clevis
arms adapted to secure both the rigid connection bar and an operative
attachment to a respective upper hoist chain, the upper hoist rigging assembly
of
the invention has a lesser weight than prior art assemblies in view of the
fact that
less link members are required in the assembly. This reduced weight provides
for productivity advantages over prior art assemblies as a greater proportion
of
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the dragline's output capability is devoted to moving payload in the dragline
bucket
rather than in the hoist rigging assembly. The invention also has positive
benefits to
machine energy reduction due to more efficient and effective bucket handling.
Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the invention
without
5 limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of
features. Persons
skilled in the relevant art may realize variations from the specific
embodiments that will
nonetheless fall within the scope of the invention.
The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set
forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation
consistent with the
10 description as a whole.
