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.

Abstract: A hoist system for hoisting a conveyance from a mineshaft, comprising: a head frame mounted over the mineshaft; a hoist connected to the conveyance by an elongate flexible hoisting element so as to be operable to hoist the conveyance from the mineshaft by winding the hoisting element; an upper crash barrier located on the head frame so as to be engageable by the conveyance to prevent upward movement of the conveyance beyond the crash barrier in an overwind condition; and an upper conveyance retarder to retard upward movement of the conveyance as it approaches the crash barrier.

Abstract: A variable length guide system for guiding a conveyance along a mineshaft, the variable length guide system extending downwardly from a work stage and being extendable or retractable to accommodate changes in distance between the work stage and a lower region of a mineshaft.

Abstract: A method of moving a component or a material to and within a level of a shaft boring system. The shaft boring system is positioned within a shaft and the method comprises lowering the component or the material inside a cage into the shaft and to a level of the shaft boring system. The method further comprises suspending the component or the material from a transport system within the level of the shaft boring system. In addition, the method comprises moving the component or the material within the level of the shaft boring system using the transport system. The component is a component of the shaft boring system and the material is a material for forming the shaft boring system.

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.

Abstract: A hoist system for hoisting a conveyance from a mineshaft, comprising: a head frame mounted over the mineshaft; a hoist connected to the conveyance by an elongate flexible hoisting element so as to be operable to hoist the conveyance from the mineshaft by winding the hoisting element; an upper crash barrier located on the head frame so as to be engageable by the conveyance to prevent upward movement of the conveyance beyond the crash barrier in an overwind condition; and an upper conveyance retarder to retard upward movement of the conveyance as it approaches the crash barrier.

Abstract: A variable length guide system for guiding a conveyance along a mineshaft, the variable length guide system extending downwardly from a work stage and being extendable or retractable to accommodate changes in distance between the work stage and a lower region of a mineshaft.

Abstract: A method of moving a component or a material to and within a level of a shaft boring system. The shaft boring system is positioned within a shaft and the method comprises lowering the component or the material inside a cage into the shaft and to a level of the shaft boring system. The method further comprises suspending the component or the material from a transport system within the level of the shaft boring system. In addition, the method comprises moving the component or the material within the level of the shaft boring system using the transport system. The component is a component of the shaft boring system and the material is a material for forming the shaft boring system.

Abstract: In forming a mine shaft for an underground mine, earth excavated by a boring machine may be transported upwardly by a handling unit to a transfer station where it may be transferred into skips, which may be raised and lowered along skip guides within the shaft hole for transport of the excavated material to an earth surface region. The transfer station may be moved downwardly as excavation progresses.

Abstract: In forming a mine shaft for an underground mine, earth excavated by a boring machine may be transported upwardly by a handling unit to a transfer station where it may be transferred into skips, which may be raised and lowered along skip guides within the shaft hole for transport of the excavated material to an earth surface region. The transfer station may be moved downwardly as excavation progresses.