Fiber optic cable protection in a mining system
AssigneeJoy MM Delaware, Inc.
InventorsEdward F. Niederriter, Shawn W. Franklin, James E. Haughey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain link assembly, a cable chain assembly and a mining system. The cable handler individual links may include an enclosed section for the fiber optic cable separate from other services for the machine. A flexible material or other structure may assemble the fiber optic cable in the cable handler in a manner in which it “snakes” about the centerline to provide ample slack in the fiber optic cable to, for example, prevent over tension.
Claims23
A chain link assembly for a cable chain assembly in a mining machine, the cable chain assembly extending along an axis, the chain link assembly comprising:
- a chain link having a plurality of walls cooperating to define a compartment opening in the direction of the axis, the chain link including a first projection and a second projection extending opposite the first projection, the chain link defining a length measured between the first projection and the second projection and parallel to the direction of the axis, a fiber optic cable being supportable in the compartment, a service line being supportable in the compartment;
- and
- a flexible member supported in the compartment and engageable with the fiber optic cable, the flexible member having a length that is shorter than the length between the first projection and the second projection, the flexible member positioning the fiber optic cable toward one of the plurality of walls.
A cable chain assembly for a mining machine, the cable chain assembly extending along an axis, the assembly comprising:
- a plurality of chain links each having a top wall, a bottom wall, and at least one side wall cooperating to define a compartment opening in the direction of the axis;
- a fiber optic cable extending through the compartment in each of the plurality of chain links, the fiber optic cable extending generally along a wave-shaped path;
- a service line supportable in the compartment in each of the plurality of chain links;
- a first member supported in the compartment of one of the plurality of chain links and engageable with the fiber optic cable, the first member positioning the fiber optic cable toward the one of the walls of the one of the plurality of chain links;
- and
- a second member supported in the compartment of a second one of the plurality of chain links and engageable with the fiber optic cable, the second member positioning the fiber optic cable toward one of the walls of the second one of the plurality of chain links.
A chain link assembly for a cable chain assembly in a mining machine, the cable chain assembly extending along an axis, the chain link assembly comprising:
- a chain link having a first wall, a second wall opposite the first wall, and a third wall extending between the first wall and the second wall, the first wall, second wall, and third wall cooperating to define a compartment opening in the direction of the axis;
- a fiber optic cable supportable in the compartment;
- a service line supportable in the compartment;
- a connector coupled to the third wall;
- and
- a resilient member supported by the connector and engageable with the fiber optic cable, the resilient member having a portion engageable with the fiber optic cable, the resilient member positioning the fiber optic cable toward one of the first wall and the second wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.