Skip and crosshead

Abstract

A conveyance system for moving a conveyance along a mine shaft during shaft construction, comprising: a first guide section; a second guide section located along the mineshaft in series with the first guide section, the conveyance being movable along the first guide section; and a head section for receiving the conveyance, the head section cooperating with the first guide section to enable the conveyance to travel from the second guide section along the first guide section when received by the head section.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A conveyance system for moving a skip along a mine shaft during shaft sinking, the conveyance system comprising:
 a first guide section for guiding movement of the skip along the mine shaft between an upper region of the mine shaft and a work stage, the work stage being arranged for transferring cuttings passed upwardly and received from a shaft forming apparatus to the skip for ascending the mine shaft to the upper region of the mine shaft, the first guide section having a variable length; 
 a second guide section located along the mine shaft in series with the first guide section, wherein the second guide section has a fixed length and guides movement of the skip within the work stage and along the mine shaft by engaging with the skip as the skip moves along the second guide section; and 
 a head section for receiving the skip, the head section cooperating with the first guide section to enable the skip to travel from the second guide section along the first guide section when received by the head section; 
 wherein the conveyance system provides guidance along an entire length of the mine shaft from the shaft forming apparatus to the upper region of the mine shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the head section includes a containing section in which the skip is at least partially received during travel of the skip along the first guide section. 
     
     
       3. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the head section includes a chairing member that chairs against the skip during travel of the skip along the first guide section and wherein the chairing member comes into abutment with the skip. 
     
     
       4. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the head section is configured to depend from the skip during movement of the skip and head section along the first guide section. 
     
     
       5. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the head section chairs against a work stage as the skip travels from the first guide section along the second guide section. 
     
     
       6. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mine shaft is substantially vertical. 
     
     
       7. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first guide section and second guide section restrict rotational movement and swing movement of the skip. 
     
     
       8. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the head section does not travel along the second guide section. 
     
     
       9. The conveyance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second guide section extends through the work stage. 
     
     
       10. A guide system for guiding a skip during shaft sinking, while lifting and/or lowering of the skip in a mine shaft, the guide system comprising:
 an intermediate fixed length guide section for guiding movement of the skip within a work stage and along the mine shaft, the work stage being arranged for transferring cuttings passed upwardly and received from a shaft forming apparatus to the skip for ascending the mine shaft to an upper region of the mine shaft; and 
 a variable length upper guide section extending from the intermediate fixed length guide section to accommodate changes in distance between the intermediate fixed length guide section and an upper region of the mine shaft, the variable length upper guide section guiding movement of the skip between the upper region of the mine shaft and the work stage, 
 wherein the guide system restricts rotational movement and swing movement of the skip; 
 wherein the guide system provides guidance along an entire length of the mine shaft from the shaft forming apparatus to the upper region of the mine shaft. 
 
     
     
       11. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate fixed length guide section and the variable length upper guide section are configured to allow the skip to transition from one guide section to the other. 
     
     
       12. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the variable length upper guide section extends from the intermediate fixed length guide section to the upper region of the mine shaft. 
     
     
       13. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate fixed length guide section is fixable to the work stage. 
     
     
       14. The guide system according to  claim 10 , further including a variable length lower guide section extending from the intermediate fixed length guide section to accommodate changes in distance between the intermediate fixed length guide section and a lower region of the mine shaft. 
     
     
       15. The guide system according to  claim 14 , wherein the variable length lower guide section extends from the intermediate fixed length guide section in the direction of a shaft forming apparatus. 
     
     
       16. The guide system according to  claim 14 , wherein the variable length lower guide section extends with movements of the shaft forming apparatus away from the intermediate fixed length guide section and retracts with movements of the intermediate fixed length guide section towards the shaft forming apparatus. 
     
     
       17. The guide system according to  claim 14 , wherein the variable length lower guide section comprises a telescopic guide assembly. 
     
     
       18. The guide system according to  claim 14 , wherein the variable length lower guide section is extendable without a corresponding extension and/or retraction of the variable length upper guide section. 
     
     
       19. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the variable length upper guide section extends with downward movements of the intermediate fixed length guide section. 
     
     
       20. The guide system according to  claim 19 , wherein the variable length upper guide section extends from the intermediate fixed length guide section to an above ground loading/discharge region. 
     
     
       21. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the variable length upper guide section and intermediate fixed length guide section meet at a transition region, and the skip comprises a head section and a base section, the transition region being adapted to halt downward travel of the head section whilst permitting the base section to continue downward travel along the intermediate fixed length guide section. 
     
     
       22. The guide system according to  claim 10 , being for use in a substantially vertical mineshaft. 
     
     
       23. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate fixed length guide section guides movement of the skip along the mine shaft by engaging with the skip while the skip moves along the intermediate fixed length guide section. 
     
     
       24. The guide system according to  claim 10 , wherein the intermediate fixed length guide section extends through the work stage to the variable length upper guide section.