Method of handling a large diameter slurry hose system

Claim 1

In an apparatus for hauling a slurry system having a flexible hose system which extends from a fixed end to a movable end and a portion of the system is led through a storage and active loop to control slack of said hose system during movement of the slurry system movable end, the apparatus including motive means for supporting said hose system from the floor of a mine, an improvement in said support system comprising: a. a plurality of carts, each having means for powered locomotion; b. clamping means for attaching each of said carts to said flexible hose system, said clamping means being rotatable in the horizontal plane relative to said carts; and c. means for selectively energizing said means for said powered locomotion to reversibly move selecteD ones of said carts between storage position and an angularly oriented active position to maintain uniform loop of said hose system.

Claim 4

An apparatus for hauling a slurry system having a flexible hose system which extends from a fixed end to a movable end and a portion of the system is led through a storage and active loop to control slack of said hose system during movement of the slurry system movable end, the apparatus including motive means for supporting said hose system from the mine floor, said system comprising: a. a plurality of carts, each having means for powered locomotion; b. means for attaching said hose system to each of said carts such that the hose system is horizontally rotatable relative to each cart; c. plural ground-contacting motive elements carried by each of said carts to enable selective movement of the carts when movement is imparted to said slurry system movable end; and d. Means energizable to move individual ones of said carts in a selected direction between the loop storage position which is transverse to the axis of said hose system and the loop active position which is angularly displaced therefrom.

Claim 5

An apparatus for hauling a slurry system having a flexible hose system which extends from a fixed end to a movable end and a portion of the system is led through a storage and active loop to control slack of said hose system during movement of the slurry system movable end, the apparatus including motive means for supporting said hose system from the mine floor, said system comprising: a. a plurality of carts, each having means for powered locomotion; b. means for attaching said hose system to each of said carts such that the hose system is horizontally rotatable relative to each cart; c. plural ground-contacting motive elements carried by each of said carts to enable selective movement of the carts when movement is imparted to said slurry system movable end; and d. Means energizable to move individual ones of said carts in a selected direction between the loop storage position which is transverse to the axis of said hose system and the loop active position which is angularly displaced therefrom.

Claim 7

An apparatus for transporting a slurry system over the surface of the ground, said system extending from a fixed end through a stored portion, a slack loop, and an active portion to a movable end, comprising: a. a flexible products hose extending from the fixed end to the movable end; b. a plurality of cart support means; c. means for rotationally attaching each of said plurality of cart support means in spaced relation along the length of said hose; d. motive means mounted on each of said carts and supporting in contact with the ground for movement over the surface of the ground; and e. means for activating selected cart motive means for providing selective mobility of each of said plurality of cart support means for movement between stored and active positions on opposite sides of said slack loop.

Claim 8

An apparatus for transporting a slurry system over the surface of the ground, said system extending from a fixed end through a stored portion, a slack loop, and an active portion to a movable end, comprising: a. a flexible products hose extending from the fixed end to the movable end; b. a plurality of cart support means; c. means for rotationally attaching each of said plurality of cart support means in spaced relation along the length of said hose; d. motive means mounted on each of said carts and supporting in contact with the ground for movement over the surface of the ground; and e. means for activating selected cart motive means for providing selective mobility of each of said plurality of cart support means for movement between stored and active positions on opposite sides of said slack loop.