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EP-4739607-A1 - CABLE FEEDER

EP4739607A1EP 4739607 A1EP4739607 A1EP 4739607A1EP-4739607-A1

Abstract

A feeder (400) for feeding a cable or hose operatively connected to a machine (100) for mining or construction, the cable/hose (200) being connected remote from the machine (100) at another end thereof, wherein the cable/hose feeder (400) is arranged to be placed on the machine (100). The cable/hose feeder (400) comprises a feeding means (420), arranged to engage the cable/hose (200), a transmission means (430), operatively connecting a drive system to the feeding means (420). The transmission means (430) comprises a one-way drive mechanism (432), configured to allow the feeding means (420) to be driven by the drive system in a first direction, and freewheel in a second, opposite direction.

Inventors

  • JOHANSSON, LENNART

Assignees

  • Epiroc Rock Drills Aktiebolag

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20230703

Claims (18)

  1. 1 . A feeder (400) for feeding a cable or hose operatively connected to a machine (100) for mining or construction, the cable/hose (200) being connected remote from the machine (100) at another end thereof, wherein the cable/hose feeder (400) is arranged to be placed on the machine (100), the cable/hose feeder (400) comprising: a feeding means (420), arranged to engage the cable/hose (200), a transmission means (430), operatively connecting a drive system to the feeding means (420), wherein the transmission means (430) comprises a one-way drive mechanism (432), configured to allow the feeding means (420) to be driven by the drive system in a first direction, and freewheel in a second, opposite direction.
  2. 2. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to claim 1 , wherein the feeding means (420) comprises at least one conveyor belt.
  3. 3. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to claim 2, wherein the feeding means (420) comprises a first conveyor belt (421 ) and second conveyor belt (422) arranged opposite each other, between which the cable/hose (200) is arranged to pass.
  4. 4. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to any claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one conveyor belt comprises a plurality of conveyor segments (423) being linked to form a closed loop.
  5. 5. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to claim 4, wherein each conveyor segment (423) is releasably attached to the at least one conveyor belt.
  6. 6. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein each conveyor segment (423) is 3D-printed.
  7. 7. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feeding means (420) is formed by a polymer material.
  8. 8. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one-way drive mechanism (432) operatively connects the transmission means (430) to the feeding means (420).
  9. 9. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission means (430) comprises a transmission shaft (431 ), and wherein the one-way drive mechanism (432) is arranged at an end of the transmission shaft (431 ).
  10. 10. The cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the freewheel mechanism is a one-way ball bearing.
  11. 11 . The cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the freewheel mechanism is a one-way clutch.
  12. 12. A feeding system for feeding a cable or hose operatively connected to a machine for mining or construction, the cable/hose (200) being connected remote from the machine (100) at another end thereof, wherein the cable/hose feeding system (300) is arranged to be placed on the machine (100), the cable/hose feeding system (300) comprising: a cable/hose reel, onto which the cable/hose (200) is arranged to be wound, a cable/hose guiding arm (320), extending from the cable/hose reel, and a cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-11.
  13. 13. The cable/hose feeding system (300) according to claim 12, wherein the cable/hose feeder (400) is arranged on the cable/hose guiding arm (320).
  14. 14. The cable/hose feeding system (300) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the cable/hose feeder (400) is arranged to pull the cable/hose (200) in a first direction to reel out the cable/hose (200) from the cable/hose reel, and the cable/hose reel is arranged to rotate to pull the cable/hose (200) in a second direction, opposite the first direction, to reel in the cable/hose (200) on the cable/hose reel.
  15. 15. A machine for mining or construction, the machine (100) being operatively connected to a cable/hose (200), the cable/hose (200) being connected remote from the machine (100) at another end thereof, wherein the machine (100) comprises a cable/hose feeder (400) according to any one of claims 1-11 , or a cable/hose feeding system (300) according to any one of claims 12-14.
  16. 16. The machine (100) according to claim 15, wherein the machine (100) is a surface mine machine.
  17. 17. The machine (100) according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the machine (100) is a drill rig.
  18. 18. The machine (100) according to any one of claims 15-17, being an electrically powered machine.

Description

CABLE FEEDER Technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to a cable feeder. Specifically, a cable feeder arranged on a mining or construction machine. Background art [0002] For work in mining environments, a shift to electrically powered machines and vehicles is underway. The shift aims at least at improving the working environment as well as a step to lessen a dependence on fossil fuel. Furthermore, there are many additional positive effects of electrification. The working environment is not only cleaner from removing exhaust gases, but also having less noise. Removing exhaust gases furthermore lowers the demands on ventilation system capacity in underground environments. [0003] One solution for facilitating the transition to electrical driven machines is connecting an electric cable to the machine, for example for transport, operation and for charging of on-board batteries. A cable may for example be needed when battery power is not sufficient for the heavy and energy intensive operations performed by the mining machines. The cable provides the machine with electricity during operation and therefore trails behind the machine in the mining environment. [0004] During operation, the cable is reeled in and out by means of a cable handling system, commonly located at the back of the machine. The cable handling system may be configured to position the cable on a cable reel when reeling in the cable. The cable handling system may furthermore position the cable on the ground to prevent the machine from running over the cable. [0005] A problem with present cable handling systems is the risk of tangling of the cable in the cable handling system. For example, the cable may be tangled on the cable reel. If the cable is tangled, an operator may be required to climb up onto the mining machine to un-tangle it, which presents a great risk to the operator as operators in the mining environment are commonly not equipped with sufficient safety equipment for such a task. Sometimes, two operators are even required to solve the problem which, in addition to the increased risk, is highly time consuming and inefficient. Furthermore, for remotely operated machines, or autonomously operated machines, there may not even be operators nearby. [0006] Thus, there is a need to improve cable handling systems on mining machines, for example to prevent tangling of the cable. [0007] Corresponding issues are related to hoses connected to the mining machine, and trailing behind the machine to a liquid source, such as a source of pressurized gas. A hose may for example be a hydraulic hose connected to a remote hydraulic pump. Hydraulic systems are vital on mining machines, for example for operating tools such as drills. Thus, tangling of such a hose leads to production stops and may be dangerous to people nearby. Summary of invention [0008] An object of the present disclosure is to overcome at least some of the problems outlined above. This object is achieved in a first aspect of the disclosure by providing a feeder for feeding a cable or hose operatively connected to a machine for mining or construction, the cable/hose being connected remote from the machine at another end thereof. The cable/hose feeder is arranged to be placed on the machine. The cable/hose feeder comprises a feeding means 420, arranged to engage the cable/hose, a transmission means 430, operatively connecting a drive system to the feeding means 420, wherein the transmission means 430 comprises a one-way drive mechanism, configured to allow the feeding means 420 to be driven by the drive system in a first direction, and freewheel in a second, opposite direction. [0009] The cable/hose feeder is configured to feed or pull the cable/hose in the first direction to reel out the cable/hose from the machine. The cable/hose is for example reeled out when the machine is traveling forward or turning and therefore requires more cable/hose between the machine and the remote connection point of the cable/hose. The cable/hose may also be reeled out for the purpose of detangling the cable/hose when it has been tangled for example on a cable/hose reel. Since the cable/hose is allowed to freewheel in the second direction, the cable/hose feeder does not create any resistance or obstacle when the cable/hose is pulled through the cable feeder in that direction. This may for example be advantageous when the cable/hose is reeled in and out by means of different parts of a system. As such, the one-way drive mechanism makes it possible to utilize the cable/hose feeder only for reeling out the cable/hose, without it presenting an obstacle when reeling in the cable/hose. [0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding means comprises at least one conveyor belt. [0011 ] In an exemplary embodiment, the feeding means comprises a first conveyor belt and second conveyor belt arranged opposite each other, between which the cable/hose is arranged to pass. [0012] By increasing the conta