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US 4,625,631 AGranted
Method and apparatus for extending ventilation ductwork
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorSamuel I. Vera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for advancing extendable ventilation ductwork in an underground facility is disclosed wherein a mechanical cable and pulley system is utilized in conjunction with a support swivel. The support swivel permits support clips to advance without interference from support members. The cable and pulley system comprises a cable, support swivel, head pulley and winding mechanism.
Claims15
An extendable ventilation ductwork system comprising:
- an extendable ventilation ductwork adapted to connected at one end to a fresh air source;
- a pulley fixed at the point of furthest desired extension of said extendable ductwork;
- deployment means for paying out and taking in a cable fixed at the point of deployment of said extendable ductwork;
- a cable extending between said pulley and said deployment means to thereby form a lower deployment line and an upper return line;
- securing means for fixedly connecting the other end of said extendable ductwork to said lower line;
- a clip means slidably mounted on said lower line between said securing means and said deployment means;
- support means for connecting said clip means to a point on said extendable ductwork between said ends thereof whereby said support means will pull said clip means along said lower line when said deployment means is actuated to extend said ductwork to provide support for said ductwork from said lower line;
- a hanger assembly affixed over said cable at a point between said pulley and said deployment means, said hanger assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a swivel having a body and a plurality of stubs radially spaced around said body at equal angles to each other, each of said stubs extending outwardly from the body at an angle with respect to the centerline of said body;
- pivot means for rotatably mounting said swivel on said housing, said pivot means passing through the centerline of said body whereby each stub is adapted to receive and support said lower line of said cable when said stub is in its uppermost position on said body until said stub is contacted by said clip means, said swivel being rotated by said clip means as it moves along said lower line to move the next of said stubs into said uppermost position to support said lower line while permitting said clip means to pass through said swivel.
8 more elements
An extendable ventilation ductwork system for deployment in a substantially horizontal mineshaft, said system comprising:
- an extendable ventilation ductwork adapted to be connected at one end to a fresh air source and adapted to extend substantially parallel below the roof of a horizontal mineshaft;
- a pulley;
- means for affixing said pulley from said roof of said mineshaft at the point furthest desired extension of said extendable ductwork;
- deployment means for paying out and taking in a cable, said deployment means fixed at the point of deployment of said extendable ductwork;
- a cable positioned between said roof of said mineshaft and said extendable ductwork and extending between said pulley and said deployment means to thereby form a lower deployment line and an upper return line;
- securing means for fixedly connecting the other end of said extendable ductwork to said lower line of said cable;
- a clip means slidably mounted on said lower line between said securing means and said deployment means;
- support means for connecting said clip means to a point on said extendable ductwork between said ends thereof whereby said support means will pull said clip means along said lower line when said deployment means is actuated to extend said ductwork so that said support means will support said ductwork from said lower line;
- a hanger assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a swivel having a body and a plurality of stubs radially spaced around said body at equal angles to each other, each of said stubs extending outwardly from the body at an angle with respect to the centerline of said body,
- pivot means for rotatably mounting said swivel on said housing, said pivot means passing through the centerline of said body whereby a particular stub is adapted to receive and support said lower line of said cable when said particular stub is in its uppermost position on said body until said stub is contacted by said clip means and said swivel is rotated by said clip means as it moves along said lower line to move the next of said stubs into position to support said lower line while permitting said clip means to pass through said swivel;
- and
- means for affixing said hanger assembly from said roof of said mineshaft at a point between said pulley and said deployment means.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.