GB2139199A - Apparatus for delivering bulk material, e.g. coal, from a conveyor belt - Google Patents

Abstract

Conveyor belt delivery apparatus includes a main chute (9) with a short section (27) at its lower end and angled thereto, the outlet (30) thereof being provided with an adjustable chute (38). The main chute (9) is rotatably adjustable about the centre of its upper opening (8) and is provided with an internal, elongate guide element, (not shown). The main chute is of tapering circular cross-section, and the plane of the upper opening thereof is at an angle relative to the plane of its lower end, as is the plane of the upper opening of the discharge section relative to the plane of the lower opening thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveyor belt delivery apparatus This invention relates to conveyor belt delivery apparatus, particularly for use in underground mining operations.

In DD-PS-42911 there is disclosed adjustable belt delivery apparatus, intended to be used for loading trucks, having a chute which is continuously rotatable through 360" about a central point. The chute has a substantially larger cross-section at its upper opening arranged adjacent the conveyor than at its lower opening. The upper opening is provided with a flange-like bearing collar by means of which the rotatable chute is supported on a 360" pivot bearing.

The openings are connected to each other by a casing extending in a straight line. The chute has a substantially square inlet opening and, similarly, a square outlet opening, with the two openings being parallel to each other. The outlet opening is arranged in a corner of the chute, which is thus constructed as a truncated pyramid. The conveyor belt which conveys the bulk material is spaced above the upper opening. Spaced below the outlet opening there is a cross saddle by means of which the bulk material can be introduced into different trucks, depending on the setting of the chute.

This adjustable belt delivery apparatus is not suitable for underground mining owing to its considerable dimensions and particularly its height, as there is insufficient space available underground.

Moreover, with this chute, the stream of bulk material ejected from the conveyor belt strikes the walls of the chute virtually perpendicularly, thus tending to produce more dust. The chute is also difficult to transport owing to its size and the fact that it is in one piece.

Viewed from one aspect, the present invention provides conveyor belt delivery apparatus comprising a main chute consisting of a plurality of parts releasably secured together and having an upper circular opening arranged to receive material from the belt and a lower circular opening of smaller cross-section, the chute extending in a straight line with its longitudinal axis passing through the centres of the openings and the planes of the openings being at an acute angle to each other, and the apparatus further comprising a relatively short discharge pipe section having a circular inlet opening connected to the lower opening of the main chute by means of a pair of flanges, and a circular discharge opening, the planes of the inlet opening and discharge opening being at an acute angle to each other, wherein a bearing collar in the form of an annular flange is joined to the main chute adjacent the end face of the upper opening and rests flush on a horizontal bearing ring so astro form a bearing for pivotal movement of the chute around the centre of the upper opening, and the main chute has an adjustable guide element for controlling the direction of flow of material and which can be locked in position.

Preferably the apparatus includes a discharge chute mounted adjacent the discharge opening and adjustable in the circumferential direction of the discharge pipe section.

In a preferred embodiment, there is provided adjustable belt delivery means with a rotatable chute which is continuously adjustable through 360 , particularly for use in underground mining operations, predominantly for coal mining, which is of low-level construction and is easy to repair and transport. At the same time, it is possible to influence the direction of the stream of conveyed material, even afterthe rotary chute has rotated and been stopped, without having to readjust the rotary chute, so as to be able to deposit a load in the precise centre of a belttravelling below. For this purpose, there is provided a rotatable chute with which even a stream of material comprising large lumps can be deflected so that even coarse fragments of ore can be reliably diverted on to the centre of a continuous conveyor located below.This can be achieved with simple constructional means which will satisfy the particularly requirements of underground mining in every case.

Owing to the fact that a short length of pipe is arranged at the lower opening of the rotatable chute, this length of pipe being associated with a discharge chute which is preferably segment shaped, or shaped like a spoon in the circumferential direction of the lower circular opening of the discharge pipe section, it is possible not only to adjust the rotatable chute in the circumferential direction but also to obtain individual adjustment by circumferentially adjusting the spoon-like discharge chute in the circumferential direction of the lower opening of the discharge pipe section and locking it in the selected position. As a result, even coarse fragments of rock and/or coal are reliably caught, diverted and conveyed to the centre of a continuous conveyor travelling below. It is impossible for any coarse fragments of ore to jump over the guide element.

This construction may also be used reliably over long periods for the very large capacities which occur particularly in underground coal mining.

Preferably the discharge chute is mounted on a sliding guide and can be infinitely adjusted in the circumferential direction of the lower opening of the discharge pipe section and can also be locked in the desired position.

In one embodiment the sliding guide is a double-T rail to which the discharge chute is adjustably and lockably connected on diametrically opposite sides via bearings coupled to the outer flange of the sliding guide.

Thus a particularly stable mounting for the discharge chute is obtained in the region of the lower opening of the discharge pipe section. In particular, no bending or other deformation can occur when the discharge chute is locked in position. The coupling and/or locking elements required for the mounting of the discharge chute can be arranged so as to be hidden to some extent behind the flanges of the double-T rail of the sliding guide.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment the rotatable main chute consists of two longitudinal parts or two halves which are releasably coupled by means of longitudinal flanges and screws. The rotatable chute can also be produced easily in this way. Repairworkcan also be carried out more easily as a result.

Preferably the plane of separation contains the longitudinal axis of the chute. This construction produces half shells, to some extend, which can be coupled together.

Preferably, the rotatable main chute can be locked in the desired position. In one embodiment this locking is effected by tensional, more particularly frictional connection, for example by means of clamping abutments.

Preferably the guide element is elongate and adjustable and being provided on the inner wall of the rotatable main chute is a simple means of directing the stream of conveyed material so that it runs in the direction where it is needed, for example towards the centre of a conveyor belt located below.

In one embodiment, by pivoting the guide element it is possible to vary the angular position of the guide element relative to the stream of conveyed material within wide limits, so that even if there is a change in the lumpiness of the stream of material and in its resultant direction of flow, the direction of discharge of the stream of material can be influenced without any fresh pivoting of the rotatable main chute per se.

The elongate guide element may be constructed and arranged so that the element itself is subjected only to substantially tangential contact, i.e. it does not have to absorb the full force of the stream of material like a baffle plate, but gently deflects the stream of material in the required direction towards the discharge opening.

Since it is possible, during pivoting or angular adjustment of the elongate guide element, to arrive at positions in which cavities are formed under the elongate discharge section, as a result of the inherent curvature of the inner casing of the chute or of discharge sections thereof, it is proposed that the guide element be bent round at least one bending axis extending at right angles to the pivot axis. This ensures that it fits flush against the inner surface of the chute or discharge section, so that it fits closely, more or less without a join, against the associated wearing parts of the discharge chute.

The elongate guide element may be mounted by means of fixing bolts which also lockwearing inserts in position in the main chute. One of these wearing bolts may serve as a pivot axis, thereby minimising the number of individual parts.

The elongate guide element may be arranged in the discharge chute.

A particularly robust guide element which can be produced without any special parts comprises a profiled angle iron the flanges of which extend at right angles to each other. One flange serves to abut on the wearing insert of the rotatable chute, whilst the other flange extending at right angles thereto forms the guide surface for the stream of material.

The flanges may be constructed with unequal sides.

Preferably, the longer flange is intended as a guide surfaceforthe stream of material.

The guide element need only extend over part, possibly only over a small part, of the axial length of the main chute, since all that matters is that the stream of material should be acted upon, in the region of the discharge opening of the rotatable main chute, or in the region of the discharge chute in such a way that it is directed in the required direction of discharge, e.g. towards the centre of a transverse conveyor. Thus the length of the guide element may be approximately one fifth to two thirds of the length of the main chute, preferably one third to half. The element may terminate in the region of the lower opening of the main chute.

In one embodiment the elongate guide element is designed to be telescopically adjustable in length.

This permits a favourable adaptation to the curvature of the inner casing of the discharge chute or of the discharge section during angular adjustment thereof with respect to the stream of material. The individual parts of the elongate guide element may be displaced relative to one another. This may be achieved, for example, by having the parts flanged to one another via slotted bores.

It may also be advantageous to provide slotted holes which are able to receive the pivot axes and/or fixing bolts for the assembling and arrangement of the elongate guide elements.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying, partly schematic, drawings in which Figure 1 shows adjustable belt delivery apparatus, partly in section and partly in elevation; Figure 2 shows a detail of Figure 1 in side elevation and; Figure 3 shows the discharge pipe section with the sliding guide, partly in elevation, partly in section.

The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention applied to adjustable conveyor belt delivery apparatus which may be used to particular advantage in underground coal mining.

Reference numeral 1 denotes a conveyor (not shown in detail) which is guided via a guide station 2. The drive motor of the conveyor 1 is not illustrated as it is not needed in order to understand the embodiment described hereinafter.

The belt delivery apparatus is screened at the sides by walls 3 which project by a considerable amount beyond the upper run of the conveyor 1.

Mounted on these walls 3 is a feed member 4, the front end wall of which is inclined relative to the horizontal by an angle (x so that the discharge parabolas, such as 5 and 6, for the conveyed material discharged from the guide station 2 make contact with the inside of the front and side end walls of the feed member 4 only tangentially if possible, corresponding to the path of the discharge parabolas 5,6, so that the stream of conveyed material is gently deflected downwards. On the one hand this prevents excessive wear of the feed member 4 and on the other hand it reduces noise. Moreover, the proportion of fine particles in the material is kept small, which isfavourable in particular with regard to the formation of dust. Feed member 4 is curved and the curved path of the walls of the feed member 4 at the front and at the sides is schematically indicated in Figure 1 by the lines 7 which are located correspondingly close together.

The inner walls of the feed member 4 may be lined with replaceable wear inserts which terminate immediately in front of the upper opening 8 of a rotatable chute 9 which will be described more fully hereinafter and which is continuously rotatable, through 360 , about the centre point, i.e. the vertical axis, of the upper opening 8.

As can be clearly seen from Figure 2, the rotatable chute 9 has two circular openings 8 and 10 which differ considerably in diameter and which enclose an acute angle ss between them. At the same time, the openings 8 and 10 also extend at an angle to the straight longitudinal axis 11 of the chute.

A circular flange 12 is fixedly connected to the opening 8 by welded seams, whilst a circular flange 13 is also mounted in the region of the lower opening 10. The openings 8 and 10 are connected to each other by means of a straight casing 14.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the angle of inclination y is about 50 , whilst the angle of inclination 3 of the casing 14 is about 45 in this embodiment. The angles y and 3 are each measured relative to the horizontal.

The annular flange 12 of the upper opening 8, which is larger in diameter, is mounted so as to be infinitely rotatable in both directions in a profiled member 15 which is substantially U-shaped in cross-section (Figure 1), and is mounted on the lower flange 16 thereof. The flange 16 thus forms the rotational abutment for the annular flange 12 and thus carries the rotatable chute 9.

The vertical side portion 17 of the profiled member 15 is provided with at least one lateral aperture, bore or other opening. One leg of a locking abutment 18 of U-shaped cross-section (Figure 1 ) passes through this opening or the like. The longer leg of the locking abutment 18 passing through the opening is of a length such that it is able to project over at least one portion of the surface of the annular flange 12 and thus press down and act frictionally on this surface portion. The annular flange 12 has a plurality of bores (not shown) through each of which a screw bolt with a nut and lock nut can project. The domed head of a screw bolt (which is not clearly shown in the drawings) engages in one of the openings and thereby locks the annular flange 12 and hence the chute 9 to prevent them rotating.However, it is also possiblefortheannularflange 12 merely to be frictionally clamped by a screw bolt (not shown) by the abutment of the domed head of the screw bolt against the underside of the annular flange 12. A locknut will then prevent the bolt from accidentally working loose. Depending on the particular operating conditions, the chute 9 can be rotated about the vertical axis of the upper opening 8 and brought into another position and then locked in this position.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the chute 9 is longitudinally divided and consists of two longitudinal portions 19 and 20. The plane of separation is denoted by reference numeral 21, whilst 22 and 23 are flanges which are provided with a plurality of bores 24 arranged at a spacing from one another, through which pass screw bolts 25 (of which only the axes are indicated in Figure 2).

Reference numeral 26 denotes strip-like wearresistant parts or reinforcements which are indicated only schematically in Figure 1 by lines. These parts 26 are arranged immediately side by side and line the entire inner surface of the rotatable chute 9. Each strip-like wear-resistant part 26 is replaceableperse without the need to dismantle the other parts 26. For this purpose, the appropriate parts 26 may be releasably coupled to the casing 14 by suitable fixing means such as screws.

The flange 13 on the lower opening 10 of the rotatable chute 9 is coupled to a short discharge pipe section 27 via a flange 28 by means of a plurality of screws 29 (again, indicated schematically) distributed over the circumference. In the embodiment shown, the lower discharge opening 30 of the Section 27 does not extend parallel to the upper, inlet opening 31 of the pipe section 27, associated with the flange 28, and therefore does not extend parallel to the lower opening 10 of the rotatable chute 9 either. Instead, the planes of the upper, inlet opening 31 of the discharge pipe section 27 and of the lower, discharge opening 30 thereof form an acute angle with each other, so that the angle p measured between the longitudinal axis 11 of the chute and the longitudinal axis 32 of the discharge pipe section 27 is an obtuse angle.

At a spacing from the lower discharge opening 30 and parallel thereto, a sliding guide 33 in the form of a double-T rail (Figure 3) is fixedly mounted by welded seams, on the outer surface of the discharge pipe section 27. The rail 33 may extend over the entire circumference of the discharge pipe section 27 or only over a part of it.

Bearings 34 are mounted on the rail 33 so as to be adjustable in the circumferential direction of the rail 33 and capable of being locked in position, one bearing 34 being provided on each of two diametrically opposite sides, although only one of these bearings 34 is shown in Figure 2. The bearing 34 has gripping means (not shown) which engage around and behind the outer flange of the double-T-Shaped rail 33. Each of these bearings 34 has a bearing bolt 35 projecting vertically outwards with an enlarged head (not shown) which engages, with its portion which is smaller in diameter, through a longitudinally slot 36 in a fishplate 37 which is integrally connected firmly by welding to a spoon-shaped discharge chute 38. The longitudinal slot 36 is open towards the longitudinal axis 32 of the discharge pipe section 37.Reference numerals 39 and 40 diagrammatically indicate locking means, more particularly the central lines of screw bolts which are capable of acting on the outer flange of the double-Tshaped rail 33, in the embodiment shown, and thereby positively locking the bearing 34 relative to the rail 33. The discharge chute 38 is designed to be tiltable by a limited amount in the direction Xso that any fragments of rock or ore hitting it are able to pivot the discharge chute 38 upwards should they be knocked against the discharge chute 38 by a continuous conveyor (not shown) located below it. The parts which are not shown and which are located on the other side, more particularly the longitudinal slot 36, fishplate 37, bolt 35 and head and locking means 39 and 40 are constructed in the same way as the components shown.

It will readily be appreciated that by releasing the locking means 39 and 40 the positive connection between the bearing 34 and rail 33 can be released and in this way the discharge chute 38 can be adjusted in the circumferential direction relative to the discharge pipe section 27. Moreover, the entire chute 9 can additionally be adjusted infinitely in both directions, with the result that it is always possible to adjust the discharge chute 38 in such a way that even large fragments of rock and ore can run centrally into a continuous conveyor (not shown) travelling past underneath, with large and very large deliveries per unit of time.

A guide element (not shown) is provided inside the casing 14. This is in the form of an elongate angle-iron member adjustably and lockably secured by means of bolts holding the wear-resistant parts 26 in place.

Claims (22)

1. Conveyor belt delivery apparatus comprising a main chute consisting of a plurality of parts releasably secured together and having an upper circular opening arranged to receive material from the belt and a lower circular opening of smaller cross-section, the chute extending in a straight line with its longitudinal axis passing through the centres of the openings and the planes of the openings being at an acute angle to each other, and the apparatus further comprising a relatively short discharge pipe section having a circular inlet opening connected to the lower opening of the main chute by means of a pair of flanges, and a circular discharge opening, the planes of the inlet opening and discharge opening being at an acute angle to each other, wherein a bearing collar in the form of an annular flange is joined to the main chute adjacent the end face of the upper opening and rests flush on a horizontal bearing ring so as to form a bearing for pivotal movement of the chute around the centre of the upper opening, and the main chute has an adjustable guide element for controlling the direction of flow of material and which can be locked in position.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a discharge chute mounted adjacent the discharge opening and adjustable in the circumferential direction of the discharge pipe section.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the discharge chute is mounted on a sliding guide extending in the circumferential direction of the discharge pipe section.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding guide extends parallel to the plane of the discharge opening.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the sliding guide is a double-T rail to which the discharge chute is adjustably and lockably connected on diametrically opposite sides via bearings coupled to the outer flange of the sliding guide.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein on each of the diametrically opposite sides of the discharge chute is fixed a fishplate which engages with a longitudinal slot round a bolt in pivotable manner at least at one end, and wherein the bearings have associated locking means which act in positively locking manner against the rail.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the discharge chute is segment shaped and substantially triangular in side view.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the main chute consists of two longitudinal portions which are coupled by means of longitudinal flanges and screws or the like.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plane of separation for the longitudinal portions of the main chute contains the longitudinal axis of the main chute.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the main chute is releasably lockable in the desired rotational position by means of at least one locking abutment.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the locking abutment cooperates in a positively locking manner with the bearing ring.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the adjustable guide element is elongate or strip shaped and can be locked in a desired position on the inside of the main chute.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide element can be pivoted about a rotational axis in its angular position relative to the stream of material and can be adapted to the curvature of the main chute about at least one bending axis extending at right angles to its rotational axis.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide element can be locked in position by means of screw bolts which also secure wear inserts in the main chute.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide element is a profiled angle iron the flanges of which extend at right angles to one another.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the length of the guide element is approximately one-fifth to two-thirds of the length of the main chute.

17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the length of the guide element is approximately one third to half the length of the main chute.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide element terminates in the region of the lower opening of the main chute.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the guide element consists of a plurality of parts which are telescopically adjustable and/or pivotable relative to one another.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more mounting holes are provided in the guide element and are slotted holes.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the guide element is mounted on the discharge chute.

22. Conveyor belt delivery apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.