US 20090211853A1

( 19) United Sta tes

( 12) Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion ( 10) Pub. N o. : US 2009/0211853 A1
JYLHA ( 4 3) Pub. D a te: Aug. 27 , 2009
( 54 ) BATTERY POWERED MECHAN IZED RAISE Publica tion Cla s s i? ca tion
CLIMBIN G SYSTEM ( 51) Int- Cl
_ _ B66B 1/06 ( 2006. 01)
( 7 6) Inv entor : Rlck T. JYLHA, COI bBll ( CA) H021) 3/14 ( 200601)
H02P 6/04 ( 2006. 01)
gilf lipEongilgg? A? gr is s r GRAYD oN LLP ( 52) us . Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 /289; 318/37 6; 318/139
3
BOX 25, COMMERCE COURT WEST, 199 BAY ( 57 ) ABSTRACT
STREET: SUITE 2800 A ba tter y power ed r a is e clim ber s y s tem is pr ov ided th a t us es
TORON TO, ON M5L 1A9 ( CA) Lith ium ion ba tter ies to dr iv e a s ingle or double electr ic dr iv e
f or a n ex is ting r a is e clim ber . Th e ba tter ies of f er a f a s ter , s a f er ,
( 21) App1_ N O _ ; 12/389, 592 q uieter a nd clea ner Wa y to m ov e Wor k er s a nd th eir eq uipm ent
to a nd f r om th e Wor k f a ce in a r a is e a nd elim ina tes th e need f or
( 22) F iled. F eb 20 2009 a dding length s of h os e a s th e r a is e clim ber a s cends a nd elim i
' na tes th e em is s ion of h a r m f ul inh a la nts . Th e ba tter y power ed
. . s y s tem a ls o ena bles h igh ef ? ciency a r ea ligh ting to be us ed a t
Rela ted U' s ' Apph ca tlon D a ta th e Wor k f a ce, a nd a s th e r a is e clim ber des cends in th e r a is e,
( 60) Pr ov is iona l a pplica tion N O_ 61 /( ) 3( ) , 28( ) , ? led on F eb th e electr ic dr iv es ca n r ev er s e oper a tion to r ech a r ge th e ba t
21, 2008.
ter ies .
Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Aug. 27 , 2009 Sh eet 1 0f 8 US 2009/0211853 A1
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Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Aug. 27 , 2009 Sh eet 4 0f 8 US 2009/0211853 A1
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V 61w
BELLE/3AM
Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Aug. 27 , 2009 Sh eet 6 0f 8 US 2009/0211853 A1
RAISE CLIMBER
D RIV E SCHEMATIC
F IGUQ E 7
BATTERY PACK J
BATTERY EN CLOSURE
RASSE CLIMBER
REGEN . BRAK ' N G SCHEMATK C
10 HP. 10 HP.
1
l ' T/
: 223; ?
i
IN V ERTER /
F REQ . D RIV E
BATTERY PACK
BATTERY EN CLOSURE
Pa tent Applica tion Publica tion Aug. 27 , 2009 Sh eet 7 0f 8 US 2009/0211853 A1
US 2009/0211853 A1
BATTERY POWERED MECHAN IZED RAISE
CLIMBIN G SYSTEM
[ 0001] Th is a pplica tion cla im s pr ior ity f r om US. a pplica
tion Ser . N o. 61/030, 280 ? led on F eb. 21, 2008, th e contents
of Wh ich a r e incor por a ted h er ein by r ef er ence.
F IELD OF THE IN V EN TION
[ 0002] Th e inv ention r ela tes to poWer s y s tem s f or r a is e
clim ber s .
BACK GROUN D
[ 0003] It is s om etim es r eq uir ed in a n under gr ound m ine, to
pr ov ide a cces s f r om a loWer lev el L th er eof to a n upper lev el
U th er eof . A m ine oWner m a y r eq ues t th a t a r a is e ex ca v a tion
R be cr ea ted f r om th e loWer lev el L to th e upper lev el U, Wh ich
is of a cer ta in s iZe/ con? gur a tion a nd length . Th e r a is e R m a y
be us ed to s er v e a v a r iety of pur pos es s uch a s a ir v entila tion,
s econda r y per s onnel a cces s /egr es s or a s m a ter ia l r ock pa s s es .
[ 0004 ] To cr ea te th e r a is e ex ca v a tion R, ty pica lly a pilot or
a cces s dr if t A is ? r s t ex ca v a ted f r om th e m a in m ine dr if t D to
th e pr opos ed r a is e loca tion a s ca n be s een in F IG. 1. Th is
pr ov ides a cces s to th e r a is e R f or both per s onnel a nd m uck
r em ov a l eq uipm ent ( not s h oWn) . In oth er ca s es , a r a is e ca n be
opened up f r om a bov e in a doWnWa r d dir ection ( s om etim es
r ef er r ed to a s being s la s h ed ) .
[ 0005] Th e r a is e clim ber 10 r eq uir es a dr iv e s y s tem in or der
m ov e a long th e r a il 12 a nd a s cend into th e r a is e R. Tr a ditiona l
dr iv e s y s tem s f or r a is e clim ber s 10 a r e pneum a tic poWer ed
( s ingle or double) , electr ic, or h y dr a ulic poWer ed m otor s . Th e
pneum a tic a nd electr ic poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem s a r e s upplied
With a ir or electr icity by a r eel of h os e or ca ble a s s h oWn in
F IG. 1. Hy dr a ulic poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem s a r e poWer ed by a n
on boa r d dies el engine ( not s h oWn) oper a ting a h y dr a ulic
pum p.
[ 0006] A pneum a tic poWer ed r a is e clim ber 10 is connected
to a n a ir s y s tem in th e m ine v ia a n a ir h os e, Wh ich is toWed up
th e r a is e R beh ind th e r a is e clim ber 10. Air pr es s ur e ty pica lly
? uctua tes a nd th e e? iciency of th e pneum a tic s y s tem is
dir ectly r ela ted to th e num ber of connections in th e a ir deliv
er y s y s tem . Als o, th e v olum e of a ir decr ea s es a s th e length of
h os e is incr ea s ed a nd, a s s uch , ef ? ciency of th e dr iv e unit
decr ea s es a s th e r a is e clim ber 10 a s cends in th e r a is e R. Th e
toWed h os e a ls o a dds a ppr ox im a tely 1. 8 k ilogr a m s per m etr e
to th e ov er a ll loa d. Th er ef or e, a s th e length of th e r a is e R a nd
th e de? ciencies incr ea s e, th e m a x im um ca r r y ing ca pa city of
th e dr iv e s y s tem becom es lim ited. It h a s been f ound th a t a
pneum a tic poWer ed s y s tem ca n of ten be lim ited to a s cending
only a ppr ox im a tely 500 m etr es a nd ty pica lly only 300 m eter s
or les s .
[ 0007 ] An electr ic ca ble dr iv e s y s tem is a ls o connected to
a n electr ica l s y s tem pr es ent in th e m ine a nd is a tta ch ed to th e
r a is e clim ber 10 v ia a n electr ica l ca ble. Th is a dds a ppr ox i
m a tely 1. 5 k ilogr a m s per m etr e to th e ov er a ll loa d, a ga in
lim iting th e ca r r y ing ca pa city of th e dr iv e s y s tem . It h a s been
f ound th a t a n electr ic ca ble dr iv e s y s tem ca n of ten be lim ited
to a s cending only a ppr ox im a tely 1500 m etr es .
[ 0008] Since both th e pneum a tic poWer ed a nd electr ic
ca ble poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem s a r e f ed poWer f r om a r em ote
loca tion v ia a n um bilica l h os e, th er e a ls o ex is ts th e pos s i
bility of th e h os e being da m a ged or s ev er ed th us inter r upting
poWer deliv er y a nd im pos ing s a f ety is s ues pa r ticula r ly in th e
Aug. 27 , 2009
a bov e- des cr ibed electr ic dr iv e s y s tem s due to th e pr es ence of
a liv e poWer ca ble being loos e in a r a is e a nd th e dif ? culty in
r epa ir ing th e ca ble ( a nd los s of poWer ) if th e ca ble is da m a ged
or s ev er ed.
[ 0009] A dies el poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem does not r eq uir e a n
um bilica l h os e or s uf f er f r om poWer degr a da tion. HoWev er ,
th e f um es em itted by a dies el engine ca n be dea dly , es pecia lly
in a con? ned a r ea a nd th us m us t be r em ov ed f r om th e Wor k
a r ea by pum ping la r ge a m ounts of a ir th r ough th e Wor k a r ea .
It ca n be a ppr ecia ted th a t it m a y be dif ? cult to m ov e a ir
th r ough th e r a is e R a s it pr ov ides a dea d end Wh ile it is being
ex ca v a ted a nd until it r ea ch es a br ea k th r ough point a t th e
upper end U. Th e us e of dies el poWer ed s y s tem s is cons e
q uently eith er ba nned or r es tr icted to s pecia l cir cum s ta nces
by th e a ppr opr ia te a uth or ities . In f a ct, s ince th e ea r ly 1980s ,
th e us e of dies el units in m ines in th e Pr ov ince of Onta r io,
Ca na da , Wa s tur ned doWn due to ? r e h a Za r d, v entila tion pr ob
lem s a nd a la ck of pr a ctica l ex per ience. Only f or em er gency
pur pos es a r e dies el units th er ef or e ty pica lly per m itted.
[ 0010] It is th er ef or e a n obj ect of th e f olloWing to pr ov ide a
poWer s y s tem f or a r a is e clim ber th a t obv ia tes or m itiga tes th e
a bov e- noted dis a dv a nta ges .
SUMMARY
[ 0011] In one a s pect, th er e is pr ov ided a ba tter y poWer ed
dr iv e s y s tem f or a r a is e clim ber com pr is ing one or m or e
ba tter ies connected to one or m or e electr ic m otor s th r ough
one or m or e r es pectiv e v a r ia ble f r eq uency dr iv es th a t ena bles
th e ba tter ies to poWer th e electr ic m otor s Wh en th e r a is e
clim ber a s cends a nd to r ech a r ge th e ba tter ies Wh en th e r a is e
clim ber des cends .
BRIEF D ESCRIPTION OF THE D RAWIN GS
[ 0012] An em bodim ent of th e inv ention Will noW be
des cr ibed by Wa y of ex a m ple only With r ef er ence to th e
a ppended dr a Wings Wh er ein:
[ 0013] F IG. 1 is a s ch em a tic dia gr a m s h oWing a h os e/ca ble
r eel s upplied dr iv e s y s tem f or a r a is e clim ber .
[ 0014 ] F IG. 2 is a s ch em a tic dia gr a m s h oWing a r a is e
clim ber h a v ing a ba tter y poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem .
[ 0015] F IG. 3 is a n enla r ged pr o? le v ieW of th e r a is e
clim ber s h oWn in F IG. 2.
[ 0016] F IG. 4 is a per s pectiv e v ieW of a double- m otor elec
tr ic dr iv e f or th e r a is e clim ber s h oWn in F IG. 3.
[ 0017 ] F IG. 5 is a n enla r ged per s pectiv e v ieW of r egion X
s h oWn in F IG. 3.
[ 0018] F IG. 6 is a block dia gr a m of th e ba tter y poWer ed
dr iv e s y s tem f or th e r a is e clim ber s h oWn in F IG. 2.
[ 0019] F IG. 7 is a n electr ica l s ch em a tic dur ing a dr iv e
oper a tion.
[ 0020] F IG. 8 is a n electr ica l s ch em a tic dur ing a r egener a
tiv e br a k ing oper a tion.
[ 0021] F IG. 9a is a n electr ica l s ch em a tic f or a dua l- electr ic
m otor ba tter y poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem .
[ 0022] F IG. 9b is a n electr ica l s ch em a tic per F IG. 9a in one
em bodim ent.
D ETAILED D ESCRIPTION OF THE D RAWIN GS
[ 0023] It h a s been r ecogniZed th a t a r a is e clim ber is us ed in
a n env ir onm ent conduciv e to ena bling a ba tter y poWer ed
dr iv e s y s tem to be us ed, due to: ( a ) th e ty pica l dur a tion of us e
f or ea ch tr ip; ( b) th e v er tica l dir ection of tr a v el; a nd ( c) th e
doWntim e betWeen tr ips . Since in m a ny a pplica tions , a r a is e
US 2009/0211853 A1
clim ber only r eq uir es power to a s cend to th e r ock f a ce bef or e
bla s ting a nd th en m us t r etur n to th e a cces s dr if t A to clea r
a Wa y f r om th e bla s t, m a ny s h or t tr ips a r e m a de a nd a s im ila r
num ber of idle per iods ex is t, th a t ena ble r ech a r ging s es s ions
or ba tter y s Wa pping or both Wh ile Wa iting in th e a cces s dr if t
A f or th e nex t tr ip. Th e v er tica l dir ection of tr a v el m ea ns th a t
poWer is only r eq uir ed f or h a lf of th e tr ip a nd th us ev en if th e
r a is e clim ber s ba tter ies dr a in Wh ile a t th e r ock f a ce, it Will not
be s tr a nded in th e r a is e ( s ince it ca n r ely on gr a v ity to r etur n) .
Mor eov er , dur ing des cent, th e ba tter ies ca n r egener a te up to a
cer ta in per centa ge of ca pa city ba s ed on th e ef ? ciencies of th e
ov er a ll s y s tem a nd its con? gur a tion.
[ 0024 ] Since ba tter y poWer ca n be incr ea s ed or decr ea s ed
by s im ply a dding or r em ov ing cells a s needed, a ba tter y
poWer ed r a is e clim ber ca n be im plem ented by m a tch ing th e
num ber of cells a ppr opr ia te to th e Weigh t of th e unit, Wh ich
a lth ough is ty pica lly s im ila r , ca n dif f er f r om m odel to m odel.
F ur th er m or e, ex is ting r a is e clim ber s ca n be a da pted to
a ccom m oda te th e ba tter ies With out dis r upting th e s tr uctur a l
integr ity of th e r a is e clim ber .
[ 0025] Tur ning noW to F IGS. 2 a nd 3, to a v oid th e ine? i
ciencies a nd/or s a f ety h a Za r ds a s s ocia ted With th e a bov e
des cr ibed poWer s y s tem s , a nd by r ecogniz ing th e s uita bility
of th e r a is e ex ca v a ting pr oces s dis cus s ed a bov e, a ba tter y
poWer ed r a is e clim ber s y s tem 18 h a s been dev eloped, Wh ich
includes a r a is e clim ber 20 h a v ing a s ingle or double electr ic
dr iv e 26 a nd a ba tter y enclos ur e 24 conta ining one or m or e
ba tter ies 28 h a v ing a h igh ener gy /m a s s r a tio, th e ba tter ies 28
ty pica lly being m ounted in a n ex is ting m ounting a r ea 22 th a t
Wa s or igina lly des igned f or a noth er dr iv e s y s tem . In th is Wa y ,
ex is ting r a is e clim bing eq uipm ent ca n be m odi? ed to a ccom
m oda te a nd utiliZe th e ba tter y enclos ur e 24 s o a s to pr ov ide a n
electr ic dr iv e 26 With poWer With out r eq uir ing a n um bilica l
cor d. In s om e em bodim ents , a s ta nda r d r a is e clim ber 20 s uch
a s a n Alim a k STH- SEE ca n be r etr o? tted by r em ov ing th e
tr a iling ca ble to th e m otor dr iv es . A ca ge ( not s h oWn) m a y
th en be cons tr ucted a nd s uppor ted under th e Alim a k r a is e
clim ber 20 to h old both th e ba tter ies 28 a nd th e oth er eq uip
m ent s uch a s v a r ia ble f r eq uency dr iv es ( to be ex pla ined
beloW) .
[ 0026] Th e ba tter ies 28 a r e in one ex a m ple utiliZe Lith ium
Ion tech nology , Wh ich h a s been f ound to h a v e a s uita ble
ener gy /m a s s r a tio. It Will be a ppr ecia ted th a t oth er ba tter y
tech nology With s im ila r per f or m a nce cr iter ia , in pa r ticula r
th e ener gy /m a s s r a tio a ch iev ed by th e Lith ium - Ion tech nol
ogy m a y a ls o be us ed. It h a s been f ound th a t Lith ium - Ion
ba tter ies 28 cur r ently pr ov ide th e bes t poWer - to- m a s s r a tio
a nd s uita ble ch a r ge tim es th a t ena ble m ultiple tr ips on a s ingle
ch a r ge, in pa r ticula r Wh en us ing r egener a tion a s dis cus s ed
beloW. F or ex a m ple, EU1 Lith ium Ph os ph a te cells f r om th e
Epoch f a m ily m a nuf a ctur ed by V a lence Tech nology TM ca n be
us ed, Wh er ein ea ch cell h a s a ca pa city of 4 2 Ah a t a v olta ge of
12. 8V , Weigh s a ppr ox im a tely 7 k g, h a s a ch a r ge v olta ge of
14 . 6V , ? oa t v olta ge of 13. 8V , a nd m a x im um continuous
ch a r ging a m per a ge of 4 0 A.
[ 0027 ] It m a y be noted th a t in a pplica tions Wh er e th e r a is e
is s la s h ed f r om th e top, th e ba tter y poWer ed m ech a niZed r a is e
clim ber h er ein des cr ibed m a y s ta r t With a f ully ch a r ged ba t
ter y a nd des cend doWn, r egener a ting poWer . In s uch a n ev ent,
or if a s upply s ide f us e Wer e to bloW, th e s y s tem ca n be
des igned to h a v e dy na m ic br a k ing r es is tor a nd contr ol cir
cuitr y to pr ev ent ov er ch a r ging of th e ba tter ies .
[ 0028] In s om e em bodim ents , one or tWo 7 . 6 k W AC
m otor s , depending on th e Weigh t of th e r a is e clim ber 20, a r e
Aug. 27 , 2009
r eq uir ed to be oper a ted f or a ppr ox im a tely 15 m inutes With out
poWer dis r uption. Th e m otor s a r e s upplied f r om r es pectiv e
v a r ia ble f r eq uency AC dr iv es 58 Wh ich obta in ener gy f r om
th e ba tter ies 28 a nd s h ould be ca pa ble of lif ting th e Weigh t of
th e r a is e clim ber 20 300 m eter s or m or e. It m a y be noted th a t
pr ef er a bly one dr iv e 58 is pr ov ided f or ea ch electr ic m otor to
pr ov ide r edunda ncy in ca s e of f a ilur e. In em bodim ents com
pr is ing m ultiple inv er ter s , s uch m ultiple inv er ter s ca n be con
? gur ed to both dr a W ener gy f r om a com m on ba tter y s our ce.
[ 0029] In one ex a m ple, a nAC f r eq uency dr iv e s upplies tWo
230 V , 3 ph a s e, 10 HP m otor s th a t, in s uch a n ex a m ple Would
r eq uir e a D C bus v olta ge of betWeen 34 0 V a nd 310 V . Th e
r ela tiv ely loWer D C v olta ge ( eg wh en com pa r ed to 380 V
m otor s , ena bles a gr ound f a ult detection s ch em e ( not s h oWn)
to be ins ta lled With th e ba tter ies 28, Wh ich ca n detect gr ound
f a ults betWeen th e ex ter na l ba tter y connections , th us r educing
th e r is k of s h ock h a Za r ds . It m a y be noted th a t th e v olta ge
r eq uir ed is ba s ed on th e v olta ge of th e electr ic m otor . Th is
ex a m ple illus tr a tes a con? gur a tion th a t utiliZes ex is ting elec
tr ic m otor s to m a inta in th e integr ity of th e des ign. It h a s been
f ound th a t a t f ull s peed, th e r a is e clim ber 20 in th is con? gu
r a tion oper a tes a t f ull loa d conditions f or a ppr ox im a tely 15
m inutes a s noted a bov e. Wh en a s s um ing a n 80% ef ? ciency
f or th e ba tter ies 28, a ppr ox im a tely 5 k WH of ener gy Will need
to be deliv er ed in s uch a 15 m inute per iod. Ba tter ies s uch a s
U1- 12XP 12. 8V ba tter ies a v a ila ble f r om V a lence Tech nol
ogy , Inc. TM of Aus tin Tex . , USA, a r e s uita ble a nd h a v e a cut
of f v olta ge of 10. 5 V . To a tta in th e m a x im um D C bus v olta ge
of 34 7 V D C, 27 ba tter ies @ 12. 8 V per ba tter y ca n be us ed,
Wh ich Would a ls o r es ult in a n end v olta ge h igh er th a n th e
m inim um D C bus v olta ge of 283 V . It ca n be a ppr ecia ted th a t
U1 - 12XP ba tter ies a r e only one ex a m ple a nd m a ny oth er s a r e
a v a ila ble. F or ex a m ple, in s om e ca s es , due to th e loWer m otor
v olta ge a nd h igh er r eq uir ed a m per a ge, a UEV - 18XP ba tter y
m a y ins tea d be us ed. F or th e U1 ba tter ies noted a bov e, it h a s
been f ound th a t 7 3 . 5 a m ps ca n be s upplied f or 1/2 h our , bef or e
th e cut of f v olta ge is r ea ch ed ( Wh en ba s ed on th e m a x im um
output of th e r a is e clim ber 20 Wh ich is gener a lly a cons er v a
tiv e es tim a te) . Wh en us ing r egener a tiv e br a k ing th a t ca n
potentia lly r ecov er up to 50% of th e ener gy dur ing des cent,
th er e is th e pos s ibility of per f or m ing th r ee 15 m inute tr ips on
a s ingle ch a r ge, a t m a x im um pa y loa d. It ca n be a ppr ecia ted
th a t th e r a is e clim ber 20 in m a ny ca s es does not a lWa y s
oper a te a t m a x im um pa y loa d th er ef or e ex tending th is ca pa
bility ( i. e. th is cons ider s th e Wor s t ca s e s cena r io) . It ca n a ls o
be a ppr ecia ted th a t th e num ber of tr ips a nd dur a tion of ea ch
tr ip a s Well a s th e ty pe of ba tter ies in dif f er ent con? gur a tions
m a y oper a te dif f er ently . It ca n be s een th a t th e us e of ba tter ies
28 th a t h a v e a s uita ble ener gy /m a s s r a tio m a k es a cor dles s
electr ic dr iv e s y s tem f ea s ible Wh er ea s oth er ba tter y tech nolo
gies s uch a s lea d a cid, nick ca dm ium etc. a r e too h ea v y a nd do
not pr ov ide s uf ? cient ener gy ( i. e. loWer ener gy /m a s s r a tio) .
[ 0030] Th e r a is e clim ber 20 a ls o includes a n oper a tor con
tr ol 36, a teles coping oper a tor pla tf or m 4 0 a nd a s a f ety
ca nopy 4 1 Wh ich a r e Well k noWn r a is e clim ber com ponents .
Ref er r ing a ls o to F IG. 4 , th e electr ic dr iv e 26 is in one
em bodim ent, a s ta nda r d double dr iv e electr ic s y s tem Wh ich
utiliZes a n electr ic m otor 52 to pr ov ide m otiv e poWer to ? r s t
a nd s econd pinions 4 4 , 4 6 Wh ich include teeth f or enga ging a
tr a ck 4 5 in th e r a il 12. Th e electr ic m otor 52 poWer s th e
pinions 4 4 , 4 6 th r ough cor r es ponding Wor m gea r s 4 8 a nd 50
a nd us es a centr if uga l clutch 53. Th e clutch 53 pr ov ides a
s of t s ta r t With a ? x ed s peed m otor . It Will be a ppr ecia ted
th a t th e clutch 53 m a y a ls o be r epla ced in a pplica tions us ing
US 2009/0211853 A1
a n inv er ter /v a r ia ble f r eq uency dr iv e 58 With a s ta nda r d cou
pling in or der to pr ov ide r educed oper a tiona l s peed. In s uch
ca s es , th e clutch h ous ing Would be r eta ined but th e clutch
m ech a nis m ( ins ide) r epla ced With a s ta nda r d coupling. Th is
ena bles v a r ia ble s peed oper a tion of th e r a is e clim ber 20
( Wh ich is not pr ov ided With a n um bilica l electr ica l dr iv e
s y s tem ) . To ena ble r egener a tion, th e Wor m gea r dr iv e needs to
s pin th e electr ic m otor Wh ich is inh ibited by th e clutch m ech a
nis m . Th e a bility to m ov e a t a contr olled s peed a lloWs th e
oper a tor to better m a neuv er th e r a is e clim ber 20, f a cilita ting
th e ins ta lla tion of th e r a is e clim ber r a il 12.
[ 0031] To pr ov ide ba ck - up br a k ing poWer in ca s e of f a ilur e
of th e contr ol br a k e 54 , a centr if uga l br a k e 51 is a ls o pr o
v ided. Th e contr ol br a k e 54 ca n be oper a ted by th e oper a tor
us ing a contr ol h a ndle 55. As ca n a ls o be s een in F IG. 4 , a
r oller a s s em bly 32 enga ges a nd r olls a long th e oth er s ide of
th e r a il 12 a s th e r a is e clim ber 20 m ov es a long th e r a il 12. As
Will be dis cus s ed in gr ea ter deta il beloW, th e r a is e clim ber 20
dur ing des cent, is electr ica lly br a k ed dur ing th e ba tter y 38
r ech a r ging cy cle th er eby r ecov er ing th e ener gy , th a t Would
oth er Wis e dis s ipa te a s h ea t, f or r eus e.
[ 0032] In one em bodim ent, s h oWnbes t in F IGS. 3 a nd 5, th e
ba tter y enclos ur e 24 is s uppor ted by a pr e- ex is ting m ounting
br a ck et 30 f r om a n ex is ting dies el h y dr a ulic r a is e clim bing
s y s tem With th e electr ic dr iv e s y s tem 26 r epla cing th e h y dr a u
lic dr iv e. In th is Wa y , th e ba tter y enclos ur e 24 is a da pted to ? t
With in a dies el m otor m ounting loca tion 22 on a n ex is ting
h y dr a ulic r a is e clim ber 20 m odi? ed to include a n electr ic
dr iv e s y s tem 26, in or der to r eta in th e s tr uctur a l integr ity of
th e r a is e clim ber 20 a nd to ens ur e th a t th e env eloping dim en
s ions a nd clea r a nces a r e not ex ceeded. It Will be a ppr ecia ted
th a t a ny ex is ting or neW r a is e clim ber 20 ca n be a da pted to
include th e ba tter y enclos ur e 24 a nd electr ic dr iv e 26, includ
ing neW des igns .
[ 0033] As a ls o s h oWn in F IG. 3, th e ba tter ies 28 ena ble
ener gy ef ? cient a r ea ligh ting 4 2 to be ins ta lled on th e r a is e
clim ber 20 to pr ov ide illum ina tion a t th e Wor k f a ce. Pr ev ious
r a is e clim ber s ( e. g. r a is e clim ber 10 in F IG. 1) Wer e not
r ea dily eq uipped to pr ov ide s uch ligh ting ( eg no ex ter na l
s our ce of electr icity ) a nd th us per s onnel s till r elied on per
s ona l ligh ting a tta ch ed to th eir s a f ety h elm ets . As s uch , in
pr ev ious us es , th e only ligh ting in th e Wor k a r ea could be
pr ov ided by a m iner s h a t ligh t, Wh ich is lim ited by a ba tter y
pa ck th a t needs to be Wor n by th e m iner a nd ty pica lly only
pr ov ides illum ina tion in a dir ection th a t th e m iner is look ing.
Th e a dditiona l ligh ting 4 2 in th is em bodim ent pr ov ides m uch
needed illum ina tion in a n oth er Wis e dim Wor k a r ea . Th is
r es ults in a s a f er a nd m or e a m ena ble env ir onm ent.
[ 0034 ] F IG. 5 s h oWs por tionX identi? ed in F IG. 3, Wh ich is
a th r ee- dim ens iona l v ieW th a t s h oWs th e a r r a ngem ent of th e
ba tter y enclos ur e 24 With in th e m ounting a r ea 22 of th e ex is t
ing r a is e clim ber 20. In th is ex a m ple, th e m ounting a r ea 22
includes dia gona l br a ck ets 56 ( only one s h oWn in F IG. 5) ,
Wh ich Would nor m a lly per m it th e dies el h y dr a ulic m otor to
r ota te a s th e r a is e clim ber 20 ch a nges inclina tion s o a s to
a v oid oil lea k a ge. Since th e ba tter ies 28 do not h a v e th e s a m e
is s ues , th e br a ck ets 56 ca n optiona lly be us ed to ? x th e enclo
s ur e 24 in one pos ition r a th er th a n per m itting th e nor m a l
piv oting a ction. It Will be a ppr ecia ted th a t oth er m ounting
tech niq ues m a y be us ed depending on m a k e a nd m odel of th e
ex is ting r a is e clim ber 20. Th e ex a m ples des cr ibed h er ein a r e
pa r ticula r ly s uita ble f or r a is e clim ber s s upplied by Ar k br o
Indus tr ies TM, including th e s ingle dr iv e m odel ABI- 5A a nd
Aug. 27 , 2009
th e double dr iv e m odel ABI- 5AA. It m a y be noted th a t th e
deck s 4 0 f or th e dr iv e units a r e ty pica lly m a de s peci? c f or
ea ch r a is e s iZe.
[ 0035] As ca n be s een in F IG. 5, th e length L' , Width W a nd
h eigh t H of th e enclos ur e 24 is With in th e dim ens ions th a t
Would nor m a lly per m it r ota tion of th e dies el h y dr a ulic unit
With out inter f er ing With th e r a is e R or th e r a il 12, f or ex a m ple
by not ex tending bey ond th e a llotted length L.
[ 0036] F IG. 6 illus tr a tes a n electr ica l s ch em a tic of th e ba t
ter y poWer ed r a is e clim ber s y s tem 18. Th e Lith ium - Ion ba t
ter ies 28 us ed in th is ex a m ple a r e connected to a n inv er ter /
f r eq uency dr iv e 58, Wh ich ena bles poWer to be s upplied to th e
electr ic dr iv e 26 a nd poWer in th e ba tter ies 28 to be r egener
a ted dur ing br a k ing. It Will be a ppr ecia ted th a t a s er ies con
nection or a s er ies pa r a llel connection m a y be us ed depending
on th e r eq uir ed a m p- h our dis ch a r ge r a te. Th e s iZe of th e
ba tter ies 28 m a y a ls o be a cons ider a tion s ince la r ger m odules
With m or e ca pa city m a y be pr ef er r ed ov er m a ny s m a ller m od
ules in s er ies or pa r a llel com bina tions . As noted a bov e, it h a s
been r ecogniz ed th a t a r a is e clim bing env ir onm ent is pa r ticu
la r ly s uita ble f or us ing r egener a tiv e br a k ing a s th er e a r e ty pi
ca lly s ev er a l r etur n tr ips in a doWnWa r d dir ection th a t ca n
r ev er s e th e oper a tion of th e dr iv e 26 s uch th a t it a cts a s a
gener a tor . In th is Wa y , f eWer r ech a r ges a r e r eq uir ed a s th e
ba tter ies 28 ca n be pa r tia lly r ech a r ged on ea ch r etur n tr ip,
f eWer ba tter ies ca n a ls o be us ed f or a giv en s iz e/Weigh t, a nd
longer oper a ting tim es a r e pos s ible by us ing m or e ba tter ies
th a n r eq uir ed f or a giv en s iz e/Weigh t. Since th e us e of th e h igh
ener gy /m a s s ba tter ies 28 a v oids th e need to r ely on outs ide
poWer s our ces , th e ba tter y poWer ed s y s tem 18, in Wh a tev er
enclos ur e, cr a dle or oth er m ounting con? gur a tion, is a dv a n
ta geous ly des igned With a q uick a tta ch /dis connect f ea tur e to
ena ble ba tter ies 28 to be s Wa pped a nd not neces s a r ily ev en
r ely on a r ech a r ge in th e m ine, i. e. neW ba tter ies ca n be
br ough t doWn f or r epla cem ent pur pos es if f ea s ible in th e
pa r ticula r env ir onm ent.
[ 0037 ] Th e r egener a ting m ode ca n th us ta k e a dv a nta ge of
th e of ten gr ea t dis ta nces r etr a ced by th e r a is e clim ber 20 a s it
m ov es out of th e r a is e R in betWeen bla s ts . Since th e r a is e R
is s ubs ta ntia lly v er tica l, gr a v ity ena bles th e electr ic dr iv e 26
to be r ev er s ed dur ing des cent Wh ils t th e r egener a ting m ode
h a r nes s es th e m ov em ent of th e pinions 4 4 , 4 6 a long th e tr a ck
4 5.
[ 0038] Th e ba tter y poWer ed r a is e clim ber s y s tem 18 does
not r eq uir e a tta ch m ent of a n um bilica l h os e a nd th us r educes
th e tim e r eq uir ed to a s cend to th e Wor k f a ce in th e r a is e R a nd
ba ck to th e dock ing a r ea . With out a h a nging h os e or ca ble, th e
ba tter y poWer ed s y s tem 18 ca n m a inta in a cons is tent s peed
a nd cons is tent loa d ca pa city , r ega r dles s of th e h eigh t of th e
r a is e, s ince th e ba tter ies 28 do not a dd a ny a dditiona l loa d
dur ing us e ( i. e. th e Weigh t is cons ta nt) . Th e ba tter ies 28 a r e
a ls o inh er ently s a f er a s a n um bilica l h os e does not inter f er e
With oper a tion of th e r a is e clim ber 20 a nd th er e is not th e
pr es ence of h a r m f ul em is s ions ( e. g. Lith ium - Ion ba tter ies a r e
non- ga s s ing ba tter ies ) . Mor eov er , th e ba tter y poWer ed s y s
tem 18 does not r eq uir e outs ide poWer s our ces a nd th us th e
r a is e clim ber 20 ca n be deploy ed Wh er e th e m ine s er v ices
s uch a s a ir a nd electr icity a r e not im m edia tely a v a ila ble or a r e
ex pens iv e to ta p into. In s om e ins ta nces , r ech a r ging th e ba t
ter ies 28 ca n ev en be done of f - s ite, s ince th e ba tter ies 28 ca n
be r em ov ed f r om th e enclos ur e 24 a nd ta k en to a m or e con
v enient loca tion f or th e ba tter y ch a r ger 60. Th is is pa r ticula r ly
us ef ul Wh er e em is s ions f r om dies el - poWer ed gener a tor s need
to be a v oided. As s uch , th e ba tter y poWer ed s y s tem 18 ena bles
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a clea ner , s a f er , m or e e? icient, a nd m or e conv enient Wor k
env ir onm ent Wh en cr ea ting a r a is e R.
[ 0039] Tur ning ba ck to F IG. 6, th e oper a tor ca n contr ol th e
s y s tem 18 us ing th e contr ol pa nel 36, by pr ov iding Sta r t,
Stop, a nd s peed contr ol in both dir ections ( e. g. F WD a nd
REV f unctions s h oWn in F IG. 6) a s Well a s a contr ol or s Witch
f or th e ligh ting 4 2. Wh en a com plete r ech a r ge is needed, a
ba tter y ch a r ger 60 ca n be plugged into a r ecepta cle 38 pr o
tr uding f r om th e enclos ur e 24 , or ta k en of f s ite to th e ba tter y
ch a r ger 60 a s noted a bov e. Th e ch a r ger 60 in one em bodim ent
is cons tr ucted be a s ta nda r d s olid s ta te D C m otor dr iv e th a t is
con? gur ed to pr ov ide a r egula ted ch a r ging v olta ge, Wh ich ca n
be m or e cos t ef f ectiv e th a n des igning a h igh v olta ge D C
ch a r ger . It Will be a ppr ecia ted th a t th e ba tter y ch a r ger 60 is in
gener a l s peci? c to th e ba tter y tech nology us ed. It h a s been
f ound th a t s om e Lith ium - ion ba tter ies , in pa r ticula r th e neW
es t v er s ions , do not r eq uir e s pecia l or s oph is tica ted ch a r ger s
a nd ca n a ccept h igh ch a r ge r a tes , Wh ich a ls o lends s uch ba t
ter ies to th e r ech a r ging pr oces s dur ing des cent des cr ibed
a bov e. Th er ef or e, th e ch a r ging pr oces s ca n be r ea dily a ccom
m oda ted With out dedica ted, s oph is tica ted eq uipm ent.
[ 004 0] F IG. 7 s h oWs a n electr ica l s ch em a tic dur ing a dr iv e
oper a tion a nd F IG. 8 s h oWs a n electr ica l s ch em a tic dur ing a
r egener a tion or br a k ing oper a tion. It ca n be s een f r om F IG. 7
th a t Wh en th e oper a tor h a s s elected th e F WD contr ol, th e
inv er ter / f r eq uency dr iv e 58 ener giZes th e electr ic m otor s 52
of ea ch electr ic dr iv e 26 ( in a double dr iv e a r r a ngem ent) by
s upply ing poWer f r om th e ba tter ies 28 connected in s er ies . It
m a y be a ppr ecia ted th a t, to incr ea s e th e a m or ph ous ca pa city
of th e ba tter ies , a s er ies - pa r a llel con? gur a tion ca n be
a dopted. As s h oWn in F IG. 8, Wh en th e oper a tor s elects th e
REV contr ol a nd th e r a is e clim ber 20 des cends th r ough th e
r a is e R, th e m otor s 52 r ev er s e th eir oper a tion a nd a ct a s
gener a tor s 52' . At th e s a m e tim e, th e inv er ter / f r eq uency dr iv e
58 r ev er s es th e How of electr icity s o a s to ch a r ge th e ba tter ies
28.
[ 004 1] As noted a bov e, to pr ov ide r edunda ncy , a s epa r a te
inv er ter / f r eq uency dr iv e 58 m a y be pr ov ided f or ea ch m otor
52. Tur ning noW to F IG. 911, a n em bodim ent s h oWing s uch
r edunda ncy is illus tr a ted. As s h oWn in F IG. 9a , th e ba tter ies
28, Wh ich Wh en connected cr ea te a s peci? c D C bus v olta ge,
m a y be s Witch ed betWeen a ch a r ging con? gur a tion a nd a n
oper a tiona l con? gur a tion th r ough a ctiv a tion of a ? r s t pa ir of
inter lock ed s Witch es 7 0, Wh er ein num er a l 7 2 s igni? es th a t th e
tWo s Witch es 7 0 a r e m ech a nica lly tied togeth er . Th e ba tter ies
28 a r e connected to a m odula r m a s ter / s la v e con? gur ed dr iv e
s y s tem by a pola r iz ed ca pa citor 7 4 ( Wh ich is s h oWn concep
tua lly in F IG. 911 but Would ty pica lly be integr a l With th e dr iv e
58) . Th e m a s ter / s la v e con? gur a tion a lloWs th e r a is e clim ber
20 to oper a te on a s ingle m otor 52 in th e ev ent of a dr iv e
f a ilur e. Ea ch dr iv e m a y a ls o include a N EMA 4 X r a ted enclo
s ur e to a lloW f or r em ov a l of one dr iv e Wh ile a lloWing th e oth er
dr iv e to oper a te th e r a is e clim ber 20. Th e tWo dr iv es in th e
m a s ter /s la v e con? gur a tion oper a te f r om a com m on D C bus
v olta ge s upplied by th e ba tter ies to pr ov ide th r ee- ph a s e
poWer to th e m otor s 52.
[ 004 2] A ? r s t m otor 52a is dr iv en by a ? r s t D C- AC f r e
q uency dr iv e 58a , Wh ich ca n a ls o be connected/ dis connected
th r ough a s econd s et of inter lock ed s Witch es 7 6, Wh er ein
num er a l 7 8 indica ted th ey a r e m ech a nica lly tied to ea ch oth er .
Th e dr iv e 5811 is pr otected by a pa ir of f us es 80 a nd includes
a dy na m ic br a k ing r es is tor 82 Wh ich is a h igh poWer /Wa tta ge
r es is tor us ed to a s s is t in dy na m ic br a k ing, With a ccom pa ny
ing r ela y conta ct 84 . Th e r ela y conta ct 84 clos es a s r eq uir ed to
Aug. 27 , 2009
dis s ipa te th e ex ces s ener gy into th e dy na m ic br a k ing r es is tor
82, a nd is contr olled by th e f r eq uency dr iv e 5811. A s econd
m otor 52b is dr iv en by a s econd dr iv e 58b, Wh ich ca n a ls o be
connected/dis connected th r ough a th ir d s et of inter lock ed
s Witch es 86, Wh er ein num er a l 7 8 indica ted th ey a r e m ech a ni
ca lly tied to ea ch oth er . Th e s econd dr iv e 58b a ls o h a s a
dy na m ic br a k ing r es is tor 82 f or a s s is ting in dy na m ic br a k ing.
Th e s Witch es 7 0 oper a te a s a tr a ns f er s Witch ing m ech a nis m
f or ch a nging betWeen th e ch a r ging a nd oper a ting m odes . Th e
inter lock ed s Witch es 7 6, 86 a r e us ed to is ola te th e dr iv es in th e
ev ent of s ingle m otor oper a tion or f or m a intena nce. Th e m a s
ter / s la v e r ela tions h ip is ba s ed on Wh ich dr iv e r eceiv es th e
s peed f eedba ck f r om th e ta ch om eter . Th e s la v e dr iv e Would
s im ply th en f olloW th e dir ection f r om th e m a s ter dr iv e.
[ 004 3] F IG. 9b illus tr a tes a s peci? c ex a m ple of th e con? gu
r a tion s h oWn in F IG. 911 wh er ein a 54 0V D C 28 is us ed, With
380V , 60 Hz , 10 HP m otor s 52a , 52b.
[ 004 4 ] It Will be a ppr ecia ted th a t th e dr iv es ca n a ls o utiliZe
a clos ed loop s peed contr ol ba s ed on a ta ch om eter m ounted
on th e s h a f t of th e m otor 52 ( not s h oWn) . Speed contr ol v ia a
h igh r es olution j oy s tick ca n a ls o be pr ov ided to a lloW th e
oper a tor to contr ol th e s peed in both dir ections . In th e ev ent
th a t th e ba tter ies 28 a r e f ully ch a r ged dur ing a des cent, cur r ent
s h ould be div er ted to a r es is tor gr id to dis s ipa te th e ex ces s
poWer .
[ 004 5] It ca n th er ef or e be s een th a t th e ba tter y poWer ed
r a is e clim ber s y s tem 18 of f er s a f a s ter , s a f er , q uieter a nd
clea ner Wa y to m ov e Wor k er s a nd th eir eq uipm ent to a nd f r om
th e Wor k f a ce in a r a is e R. Mor eov er , les s f r eq uent a nd m or e
conv enient m a intena nce a t a loWer cos t ca n be a ch iev ed, in
pa r t beca us e th e ba tter ies 28 ca n m or e ea s ily be r em ov ed a nd
tr a ns por ted th a n oth er dr iv e s y s tem s . Th e s a f er Wor k a r ea is
a ls o bene? ted by th e us e of th e h igh ef ? ciency a r ea ligh ting 4 2
a nd does not em it h a r m f ul a ir bor ne inh a la nts . Th e q uieter
ba tter y poWer ed s y s tem 18 ca n a ls o pr ov ide a cons ta nt s peed
a nd pa y loa d th r ough out th e entir e tr ip th r ough th e r a is e R,
r ega r dles s of its length . D ue to th e elim ina tion of a n um bilica l
cor d to deliv er poWer , a nd th e cons is tent ov er a ll Weigh t, th e
r a is e clim ber 20 is ca pa ble of a s cending h igh er a nd th us
cr ea ting longer r a is es R.
[ 004 6] Alth ough th e inv ention h a s been des cr ibed With r ef
er ence to cer ta in s peci? c em bodim ents , v a r ious m odi? ca
tions th er eof Will be a ppa r ent to th os e s k illed in th e a r t With
out depa r ting f r om th e s pir it a nd s cope of th e inv ention a s
outlined in th e cla im s a ppended h er eto.
1. A ba tter y poWer ed dr iv e s y s tem f or a r a is e clim ber
com pr is ing one or m or e ba tter ies connected to one or m or e
electr ic m otor s th r ough one or m or e r es pectiv e v a r ia ble f r e
q uency dr iv es th a t ena bles th e ba tter ies to poWer th e electr ic
m otor s Wh en th e r a is e clim ber a s cends a nd to r ech a r ge th e
ba tter ies Wh en th e r a is e clim ber des cends .
2. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 Wh er ein s a id ba tter ies a r e
Lith ium - ion ba tter ies .
3. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 com pr is e a pa ir of m otor s
a nd a pa ir of cor r es ponding v a r ia ble f r eq uency dr iv es in a
m a s ter / s la v e con? gur a tion.
4 . Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 f ur th er com pr is ing h igh
ef ? ciency ligh ting poWer ed by s a id ba tter ies .
5. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 f ur th er com pr is ing, f or ea ch
v a r ia ble f r eq uency dr iv e, a dy na m ic br a k ing r es is tor to a s s is t
in dy na m ic br a k ing of s a id m otor s .
US 2009/0211853 A1
6. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 f ur th er com pr is ing a n oper a
tor contr oller f or dr iv ing s a id r a is e clim ber f or wa r ds a nd
ba ck wa r ds .
7 . Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 6 f ur th er com pr is ing a clos ed
loop s peed contr ol a nd ta ch om eter m ounted on a s h a f t of s a id
m otor .
8. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 6 Wh er ein s a id oper a tor con
tr oller com pr is es a h igh r es olution j oy s tick .
9. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 f ur th er com pr is ing a con
nector f or ch a r ging s a id ba tter ies us ing a ba tter y ch a r ger .
Aug. 27 , 2009
10. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 1 con? gur ed to be h ous ed in
a n ex is ting r a is e clim ber .
11. Th e dr iv e s y s tem of cla im 10 Wh er ein s a id ex is ting r a is e
clim ber is a dies el unit com pr is ing a n ex is ting m ounting
br a ck et.
12. A r a is e clim ber com pr is ing th e ba tter y poWer ed dr iv e
s y s tem a ccor ding to cla im 1.
* * * * *