Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an overhead rail system having a pair of parallel rails, mountable to an overhead structure, and a rack line fixedly mounted underneath each rail. A pair of chariots is mounted on the pair of parallel rails. Each chariot has upper and lower bearings rollably connecting the chariot to a respective one of the pair of parallel rails. The bearings allow longitudinal movement of the chariot along a length of the parallel rails while limiting movement of the chariot in other directions. Each chariot has a pinion configured to engage respective rack lines. A drive system is operatively connected to the pinion of at least one of the chariots.

IPC Classes  ?

• B61B 3/02 - Elevated railway systems with suspended vehicles with self-propelled vehicles
• B61B 13/02 - Rack railways
• B61B 5/02 - Elevated railway systems without suspended vehicles with two or more rails
• E21F 13/02 - Transport specially adapted to underground conditions in galleries

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a mining site comprising an extraction shaft passing through an ore body. Also included in the mining site are a lower shaft intersecting a path of the extraction shaft, a starting station extending from the lower shaft and from a bottom of the path of the extraction shaft, an arrival station overhanging above a top of the extraction shaft, and a upper shaft extending from the arrival station. In a particular aspect, the extraction shaft can be dug at a shallow angle between 10 and 45 degrees from horizontal. A shallow angle mining method for constructing the mining site is also provided. The present disclosure additionally introduces a hydro-electric site having a penstock dug at a shallow angle, and a method of digging a penstock.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21C 41/16 - Methods of underground miningLayouts therefor