Raise climber carrier

Abstract

A raise climber carrier for supporting and transporting a raise climber includes a conveyance support assembly. The conveyance support assembly includes a base frame and an elevating frame secured to the base frame via a mechanical linkage assembly for controlled elevation of the raise climber. A raise climber support assembly is mounted and supported upon the elevating frame for deployment of the raise climber. The conveyance support assembly also includes an intake and outlet for air and an intake and outlet for water, as well as a hose assembly including a hose reel used to carry, dispense and retract a pressured air hose.

1 . A raise climber carrier for supporting and transporting a raise climber within a mine, comprising:
 a conveyance support assembly including,
 a base frame; 
 an elevating frame secured to the base frame via a mechanical linkage assembly for controlled elevation of the raise climber; 
 a raise climber support assembly mounted and supported upon the elevating frame for deployment of the raise climber; 
 an intake and outlet for air and an intake and outlet for water; 
 a hose assembly including a hose reel used to carry, dispense and retract a pressured air hose. 
   
     
     
         2 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base frame for engagement with rails formed along a floor of a mining tunnel. 
     
     
         3 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base frame for engagement with ground along a floor of a mining tunnel. 
     
     
         4 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a plurality of hydraulic jacks used for lifting and leveling. 
     
     
         5 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 4 , wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a hydraulic oil tank coupled to a hydraulic pump for use in lifting the hydraulic jacks. 
     
     
         6 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the raise climber support assembly includes a rearward support saddle shaped and dimensioned to support the raise climber. 
     
     
         7 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 6 , wherein the raise climber support assembly further includes a forward locking saddle joint shaped and dimensioned to support the raise climber. 
     
     
         8 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance support assembly includes a hydraulic oil tank coupled to a hydraulic pump. 
     
     
         9 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the hose assembly includes a drive assembly that controls rotation of the hose reel and therefore extension and retraction of the hose. 
     
     
         10 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 9 , wherein the drive assembly includes a pneumatic hose wheel winder motor coupled to the hose reel by a drive chain. 
     
     
         11 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 10 , wherein the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor includes a control valve controlling operation thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 11 , wherein the control valve is in an “OFF” position and no air is supplied to the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor when the raise climber is moving away from the conveyance support assembly and the control valve is in an “ON” position allowing compressed air to be fed to the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor causing rotation of the pneumatic hose wheel winder motor, which rotates the hose reel and winds the hose thereabout. 
     
     
         13 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the intake and outlet for air are connected to a main air manifold which is connected to an air motor. 
     
     
         14 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , wherein the intake and outlet for water are connected to a main water manifold which connects to a water pump. 
     
     
         15 . The raise climber carrier according to  claim 1 , further including an automatic header controlling flow of air and what with the raise climber carrier.