NZ569156A - Chutes and modules therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

A chute liner element 24 intended in use to be applied to at least a portion of a chute surface in association with a plurality of like chute liner elements to form a chute liner, the chute liner element 24 having a base 25 and the base 25 having a face which in use is to be located in face to face relationship with the surface, a strip-like wing member 27 extending laterally to one side of the base 25, the wing member 27 formed integrally with the base 25 to be resiliently supported by the base 25, the base 25 having a fixing portion extending laterally from the base 25 in opposed relationship to the wing member 27, the fixing portion being arranged and configured in use to be able to be fixed to the support, the base 25 being formed with a waisted portion 29 which extends for at least a portion of the length of the element 24 and is located intermediate of the fixing portion and the wing, a heel portion 28 adjacent the waisted portion and located intermediate of the waisted portion 29 and the wing, wherein in use the heel portion 28 will bear on the surface and the base 25 will flex in the region of the waisted portion 29 and/or the junction of the waisted portion 29 and the heel portion 28 on the wing member 27 being caused to flex on the base 25.

Description

569156 6 9 1 5 6 NEW ZEALAND X^rtfofa PATENTS ACT, 1953 M Divided out of Application No: 544258 Date: 14 December 2006 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 1 3 JUN 2#08 CHUTES AND MODULES THEREFOR We, SKELLERUP INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 124 Marshall Street, Woolston, Christchurch, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 56915|5_ "Chutes and Modules Therefor" Field of the Invention The present invention relates to chutes and in particular liners for chutes. Background There is frequently a need to rely on gravity for the transfer of material use chutes. This is particularly the case in the mining industry where ore is are passed over a screen with specified aperture sizes. Undersize particles fall through the screen and cascade down a chute onto a conveyor belt. To reduce wear on such metal chutes they are usually covered by a sacrificial material 10 and/or a resilient material such as soft natural rubber sheeting. Many ores however tends to be very sticky and has a tendency to adhere to rubber especially on the bottom of a chute and particularly where any chute narrows. Any build up ore tends to block the chute and leads to downtime.

The present invention envisages an advantage whereby individually attached 15 chute liner elements can be used to provide an chute lining within a chute and which is able to at least partially overcome the property of the material passing though the chute form adhering to the walls of the chute.

As used herein "chute(s)" encompasses inclined or vertical chute(s) in whole or in part and thus "bottom" and/or "wall" can take appropriate meanings.

Disclosure of the Invention Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. intellectual property officf of n.z. 2 4 AUG 2009 received 569156 Accordirig to one aspect the invention resides in a chute liner element intended in use to be applied to at least a portion of a chute surface in association with a plurality of like chute liner elements to form a chute liner, the chute liner element having a base and the base having a face which in use is to be located in face to 5 face relationship with the surface, a strip-like wing member extending laterally to one side of the base, the wing member formed integrally with the base to be resiliently supported by said base, said base having a fixing portion extending laterally from the base in opposed relationship to the wing member, the fixing portion being arranged and configured in use to be able to be fixed to the 10 support, the base being formed with a waisted portion which extends for at least a portion of the length of the element and is located intermediate of the fixing portion and the wing a heel portion located adjacent the waisted portion intermediate of the waisted portion and the wing, wherein in use the heel portion will bear on the surface and the base will flex in the region of the waisted portion 15 and/or the junction of the waisted portion and the heel portion on the wing member being caused to flex on the base.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the waisted potion defines a recess in the face of the base intermediate the heel and the fixing portion. According to preferred feature of the invention the recess is defined by a groove 20 formed along the face.

According to a preferred feature of the invention said wing member is inclined away from the base to in use be inclined outwardly from the surface. According to a preferred feature of the invention the outer face of the wing member defines an angle which is in the range of from 10 to 45" with respect to the face.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the fixing portion, base and heel portion are integrally formed.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the fixing portion is reinforced.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the fixing portion is provided with a set of longitudinally spaced apertures or slots which are to be received intellectual property office of n.z.

Ik AUG 2009 569156 over a correspondingly spaced set of bolts, studs or the like fixings to be able to be fixed to the support.

According to a preferred feature of the invention in use the chute liner elements are held in place by nuts which are threadably engagable with studs fixed to the 5 surface. According to a preferred feature of the invention each said nut is formed of a plastics material optionally fibre reinforced. According to a preferred feature of the invention said nut is a 60% glass filed aromatic nylon.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the element is formed by extrusion.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the element is formed by moulding.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the wing member includes a wear resistant lining on the face remote form the surface. According to a preferred feature of the invention the lining is defined by a set of tiles. According 15 to a preferred feature of the invention the lining is defined by a coating. According to a preferred feature of the invention said resilient lining is formed of a nylon.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the waisted portion and the heel portion extends for the full length of the element.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the waisted portion is discontinuous along the length of the element and the heel portion is proved in association with each waisted portion. According to a preferred feature of the invention wedges are affixed to the face of the base, each wedge defining the heel portion and further forming the waisted portion between the respective 25 wedge portion and the fixing portion. According to a preferred feature of the invention the wedges are located on the face of the element at the ends thereof. According to one embodiment of the invention the wedges are moulded intellectual property office of n.z. 2 4 AU6 2009 received 569156 as part of the element. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention the wedges are formed separately and are bonded to the element.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the element is at least in part formed from a natural or synthetic rubber. According to a preferred feature of the 5 invention the rubber is one having a polybutadiene content. According to a preferred feature of the invention the rubber has a formulation of which at least from 40 to 60 parts per hundred (PPH) is polybutadiene. According to a preferred feature of the invention the rubber has a Shore Hardness of 45° Shore A.

According to another aspect the invention resides in a chute lining intended in use to be applied to at least the portion of the surface of a chute for wet or dry particulate material, the chute defining a material pathway for said materials, the chute lining comprising a plurality of the chute liner elements of the form as described above, the chute liner elements are to be affixed to the surface to be in 15 parallel substantially side by side relationship wherein the chute liner elements are transverse to the flow of material through the chute and the wing members are located downstream of the base of the respective chute liner element.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the chute lining includes a chute liner module which in use is to be in close side by side parallel relationship and in 20 advance of the most upstream chute liner element, the module having a base and the base having a face which in use is to be located in face to face relationship with the surface, a strip-like wing member extending laterally to one side of the base to in use overlie the fixing portion of the most upstream chute line element, the wing member formed integrally with the base to be resiliency 25 supported by said base, said base having a fixing portion extending laterally to underlie the wing member, the fixing portion being arranged and configured in use to be able to be fixed to the support..

According to another aspect the invention resides in a chute for wet or dry particulate material, the chute defining a material pathway which is bounded by intellectual property office of n.z. 2 4 AUG 2009 nrrtruir 569156 -fi- at least one surface which is at least partially covered by a chute lining of the form as described above, the chute liner elements affixed to the surface to be in parallel substantially side by side relationship wherein the chute liner elements are transverse to the flow of material through the chute and the wing members 5 are located downstream of the base of the respective chute liner element.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the chute is inclined and has sidewalls and a downwardly inclined descending lower wall between the sidewalls, wherein at and at least the bottom is protected at least partially by said chute lining.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the chute is vertical and all walls are covered at least in part by with said chute lining .

The present invention also relates to a method of maintaining a chute which involved the replacement of at least one chute liner element of the chute, the chute being a chute of any of the kinds previously defined and/or the cute liner 15 element being an element of any of the kinds previously defined.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of several specific embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an upper isometric view of a chute liner according to the first embodiment;; Figure 2 is a cross sectional plan view of an inclined chute having an open upper face and a chute liner according to the first embodiment applied to the lower wall; 'n^llectual property office of m.2 2 4 AUG 2009 R F H C I \/ c n 569156 Figure 3 is a cross sectional plan view of an inclined chute having a closed upper face and a chute liner according to the first embodiment applied to the upper and lower wall; Figure 4 is a variation of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 where wear 5 resistant and friction reducing linings are provided on the inner faces of the side walls; Figure 5 is a cross sectional end elevation of a chute liner according to a first embodiment which is associated with an uppermost chute liner module; Figure 6 is a cross sectional end elevation of a chute liner according to a second 10 embodiment; Figure 7 is plan of a chute liner element according to the second embodiment; Figure 8 is a plan view of a chute liner element according to the first embodiment as shown in Figure 5 but modified to the extent that it is provided with tiles or the like members bonded to part of the wing or flap to enhance wear resistance, 15 reduced flexibility in that zone to some extent and to reduce friction, Figure 9 is a cross sectional elevation of the chute line element of Figure 8; Figure 10 is an enlarged partial cross sectional elevation of the chute liner element of Figure 9 showing the tile on the upper face of the wing or flap, Figure 11 is a cross sectional end elevation of a chute liner element according to 20 the third embodiment; Figure 12 is a cross sectional end elevation of a pair of chute liner elements according to the third embodiment; in position in an inclined chute;, fntcllectual property office of n.z.

U AUG 2009 Receiv e d 569156 Figure 13 is a cross sectional end elevation of a chute liner element according to the third embodiment; illustrating the movement of the wing member on the base as a result of flexure of the element;; Figure 14 is a cross sectional end elevation of a pair of chute liner elements 5 according to the third embodiment; in position in an upright chute;, Figure15 is a partial side elevation of a chute liner element of according to the fourth embodiment; showing one end of the element and Figure 16 is an end elevation of the chute liner element of Figure 15.

Detailed Description of Specific Embodiments The chute lining system according to the embodiment is a modular in form and as a result, allows mine site personnel to change the chute liner elements in the areas of most wear. The bolting assembly is from the inside of the chute which makes the changeover more efficient and can be carried out by 1 or 2 people. Alternately paneis of such preferred modules can be used for the relining 15 procedure.

As shown n Figure 2 the chute liner according to the each of the embodiments takes the form of a mat which is applied to the floor of an open inclined chute as a mat 1 which is provided by for example, a leading module and a series of chute liner elements which are each bolted to the floor as shown as 2 in Figure 1. The 20 module and chute liner elements are fixed in parallel side by side relationship to extend across the floor of the chute in transverse relationship to the flow path defined by the chute A similar sequence of module and chute liner elements but inverted can be provided as 3 to both the lower face and the upper face of an inclined chute 25 having a closed upper wall. In addition side linings 4 can be provided in the side walls of the chute. The lining materials 4 are preferably 32mm ultra high molecular weight polyethylene plates which can be bolted to the metal parallel intellectual PR°pepty] UFFfCE OF M,2 24 AUG 2009 569156 sides of the chute where the modules meet i.e. there is a about a 10mm gap. Other materials besides polyethylene can be used and better wear resistance is likely from nylon whether fibre reinforced or not.

Forms of each chute liner element can be as depicted. Preferably each is 5 extruded from a composition to the desired shape and thereafter can be machine pressed or otherwise modified for the purpose of provision of the holes and the reinforcement.

As shown In Figure 5 the chute liner of the first embodiment also comprises an chute liner module 5 which is to be located upper most in the chute. The module 10 has a base and a fixing portion 9 and a wing member 8 which extend from the same side of the base where the fixing portion underlies the wing member and is provided with a set of stud holes 6 and is provided with a bonded reinforcing strip 7.

The module is to be associated with a set of chute liner elements 11, 16 which 15 are position in a side by side parallel relationship below the module. Each element has a base 15 and a wing member 14 which extends from the lower side of the base and a fixing portion 10 which extends from the other side of the base. The wing member of the module is dimensioned to be able to overlie the fixing portion 10 of the chute liner element 11 The base of the module and the chute 20 liner elements 15 can be rendered more resilient by being extruded hollow or otherwise being machined to provide differing levels of deformability and resilience.

A second embodiment of the chute lining is shown in Figures 6 and 7 where the wing member 18 of the leading module 17 has a width such that it will overlie a 25 portion of the base of the adjacent chute liner element and likewise the wing member 20 of the chute liner element overlies the base 21 of the adjacent chute liner element module.

The chute liner of the first embodiment of can include a lining on the outer face of the wing members in the form of tiles 22 affixed to the wing of as depicted in intellectual property office of n.z. 24 AUG 2009 569156 Figures 8, 9 and 10. The tiles 22 are to enhance wear resistance and to reduce friction. Alternatively according to an alternative embodiment strips (not shown) can be applied over the outer faces of the wing members. The tiles 22 or strip which is applied to the wing members is preferably of a material with a low 5 coefficient of friction and less susceptible to sliding abrasion. For example, 150 mm x 150 mm x 2 mm sheets of a material e.g., glass filled nylon can be bonded e.g., by 2-part cold-bonding system to the composition. In an alternate embodiment the tile 22 or strip replacement is formed as a long injection moulded or extruded strip.

The module and chute liner elements are placed in position from the inside of the chute and sit on, studs (e.g. nominal 10mn flash welded stainless steel studs) that are fixed to the inner face of the chute to extend outwardly from the face and which are to threadably receive nuts to retain the module and chute liner elements in position.. The nuts, whilst they can be stainless dome topped nuts to 15 secure the module and chute liner elements, are preferably formed of a plastics material which is less likely to destroy machinery downstream should they become loose. A preferred dome nut is an injection moulded nut of impact surviving 60% glass filed aromatic nylon.

The third embodiment of the invention is shown at Figures 11 to 14 and 20 comprises a chute liner element 23 which can be of an extruded form or a moulded form. The chute liner element of the third embodiment 23 has base 24 proximate fixing portion 25 which extends to one side of the base and a wing member 27 which extends to the other side of the base. The fixing portion is provided with a set of apertures to facilitate the fixing of the chute liner element to 25 the inner face of a chute as in the case of the previous embodiments. The junction of the base and the fixing portion is formed with a waisted portion 29 which in the case of the second embodiment is defined by a groove 30 along the lower face of the base. The presence of the waisted portion defines a heel 28 which is spaced from the fixing portion. And the lower face of the heel is in use 30 intended to bear on the inner face of the chute. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 4 AUG 2009 Received 569156 The heel 28 allows the flexure of the chute liner element in the region of the waisted portion as result of loading applied to the wing portion when impacted by material passing through the chute . Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings shows how the heel zone rocks in response to the wing being at least in part 5 moved in flexure and how, preferably, a waisted "arch" rises in flexure as a complement. The flexure resulting from the presence of the heel 28 allows the wing member to flex at the junction 31 of the base with the fixing portion and/or in the region of the groove.

It has been found that with the arrangement as depicted at Figures 11 to 14 there 10 is a better spread of stored energy in the module as a result of impingement on the wing of the material flow thereby better passing the material onto a subsequent wing and/or directing the material inwardly of the module within the chute.

Without the rocking feature of the heel zone and its trailed relationship with 15 respect to the anchoring point provided by the fixing portion there would be less reliance upon the resilience of the junction between the fixing portion and the heel and into the wing itself.

It is believed that the moulded, extruded or otherwise formed resilient profile substantially as depicted (irrespective of whether or not the heel region is 20 hollowed or otherwise formed) better uses the resilience of the mat and thereby allowing a better placement elsewhere on the form of protective surfacing features (whether in the form of adhesively or in mould affixed tiles, coating or the like). By way of example wear exposed surfaces of the wing can have bonded thereto (on preferably a chemically modified rubber surface the rubber 25 preferably as described previously) a coating of a reactive polyurethane or polyurea.

Figure 14 shows two profiles as in Figure 11 as they might be positioned relative to each other in a vertical chute. There the datum is the interface of the surface 26 in each instance with the boundary support on which the heel region can also 30 bounce, rock or the like. intellectual property office of n.z. 2« AUG 2009 n r i- n # ^ « 569156 Figure 12 shows a similar arrangement to that of Figure 14 but this time for an inclined chute.

In each of Figures 12 and 14 a suitable axis of rotation in a manner analogous to that previously shown is denoted by the broken lines whilst, in each instance, in 5 Figures 12 and 14, the chute direction or material advance direction (in a general sense) is shown by the large arrow.

Figures 15 and 16 show a fourth embodiment of the invention which comprises a fabricated chute liner element that may be used as an alternative to that of the third embodiment. It comprises an extruded element 32 which has fixing portion 10 34 and wing member 35 which extend to each side of the base 36.. In the case of the fourth embodiment the heel portion is defined by a pair of wedges 33 which are fixed to the underneath of the base 32 at the ends of the element. As can be seen there is the fixing portion 34 by which the chute liner element can be attached to a supporting surface as previously described. There is also the 15 cantilevered wing member 35. There is also the heel which is provided by the wedges at the ends of the element. By way of example the wedges 33 can be moulded rubber wedges approximately 80mm x 150mm x 20mm in dimension. They can be retro fitted if desired to extrusions according to the first embodiment thus creating a raised lateral end region with a heel. As a result of the wedges 20 the portion of the base intermediate the wedges will be capable of flexure when subjected to a loading It is believed that material tumbling down chutes having such chute liner elements will be deflected back towards the central portion of the chute to reduce the chances of clogging and/or build up at the end In the case of the fourth embodiment there can be reinforcement of the fixing portion 34, e.g. by the provision of clamping bar (not shown).

A suitable wedge can be formed of a similar material to that from which the chute liner element has been made and can be affixed by a suitable adhesive which intellectual property office of n.z. 24 AUG 2009 ncrciucn 569156 can comprise a suitable cyanoacrylate (SUPERGLUE™) adhesive or a neoprene based two part cold bonding adhesive Persons skilled in the art will appreciate the flexure inherent in profiles or silhouettes as depicted and how with such an attachment, the chute liner 5 element can act to both rock and bounce as the need might be during module caused redirection of material away from the boundary and/or onto an underlying wing or flap.

In use therefor modules of the present invention act collectively as a mat down which material moves on the fall of the chute so matted and the vibrance of the 10 support for and the resilient cantilevering of the wings is sufficient to keep the material from excessive clumping which could lead to downtime.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by any of the specific embodiments described herein. These embodiments are intended for the purpose of exemplification only. Functionally equivalent products, formulations 15 and methods are clearly within the scope of the invention as described herein.

Intellectual property office of n.2. 24 AUG 2009 received A Received at IPONZ on 14 September 2009 156 -14-

Claims (32)

Claims The Claims Defining the Invention are as Follows:

1. A chute liner element intended in use to be applied to at least a portion of a chute surface in association with a plurality of like chute liner elements to 5 form a chute liner, the chute liner element having a base and the base having a face which in use is to be located in face to face relationship with the surface, a strip-like wing member extending laterally to one side of the base, the wing member formed integrally with the base to be resiliently supported by said base, said base having a fixing portion extending laterally 10 from the base in opposed relationship to the wing member, the fixing portion being arranged and configured in use to be able to be fixed to the support, the base being formed with a waisted portion which extends for at least a portion of the length of the element and is located intermediate of the fixing portion and the wing, a heel portion adjacent the waisted portion 15 and located intermediate of the waisted portion and the wing, wherein in use the heel portion will bear on the surface and the base will flex in the region of the waisted portion and/or the junction of the waisted portion and the heel portion on the wing member being caused to flex on the base.

2. Chute line element as claimed at claim 1 wherein said wing member is 20 inclined away from the base, to in use, be inclined outwardly from the surface.

3. Chute line element as claimed at claim 2 wherein the outer face of the wing , member defines an angle which is in the range of from 10 to 45° with respect to the face. 25

4. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 1 or 2 or 3 wherein the fixing portion and heel portion are integrally formed. 569156 -15-

5. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing portion is reinforced.

6. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing portion is provided with a set of longitudinally spaced 5 apertures or slots which are to be received over a correspondingly spaced set of bolts, studs or the like fixings to be able to be fixed to the support.

7. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 6 wherein in use the chute liner elements are held in place by nuts which are threadably engagable with studs fixed to the surface. 10

8. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 7 wherein each said nut is formed of a plastics material optionally fibre reinforced,

9. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 7 or 8 wherein said nut is a 60% glass filed aromatic nylon.

10. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims 15 wherein the element is formed by extrusion.

11. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the element is formed by moulding.

12. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the wing member includes a wear resistant lining on the face which 20 in use is to be remote from the surface.

13. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 12 wherein the lining is defined by a set of tiles.

14. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 12 wherein the lining is defined by a coating. intellectual property office of n.z. 2 4 AUG 2009 RECEIVED 569156 -16-

15. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 12 or 13 or 14 wherein said lining is formed of a nylon.

16. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the waisted portion and the heel portion extends for the full length 5 of the element.

17. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of claim 1 to 16 wherein the waisted portion is discontinuous along the length of the element and the heel portion is provided in association with each waisted portion.

18. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 17 wherein wedges are affixed to 10 the face of the base, each wedge defining a heel portion and further forming the waisted portion between the respective wedge portion and the fixing portion.

19. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 18 wherein the wedges are affixed to the face of the element at the ends thereof. 15

20. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 18 or 19 wherein the wedges are moulded as part of the element.

21. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 18 or 19 wherein the wedges are formed separately and are bonded to the element.

22. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims 20 wherein the element is at least in part is formed from a natural or synthetic rubber.

23. A chute as claimed at claim 22 wherein the rubber is one having a polybutadiene content.

24. A chute as claimed at claim 23 wherein the rubber has a formulation of 25 which at least from 40 to 60 parts per hundred (PPH) is polybutadiene. intellectual property office of n.z 2 k AUG 2009 569156 -17-

25. A chute as claimed at claim 22, or 23 or 24 wherein the rubber has a Shore Hardness of 45° Shore A.

26. A chute liner element as claimed at any one of the preceding claims wherein the waisted potion defines a recess in the face of the base 5 intermediate the heel and the fixing portion.

27. A chute liner element as claimed at claim 26 wherein the recess is defined by a groove formed along the face.

28. A chute liner element substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 10

29. A chute lining intended in use to be applied to at least the portion of the surface of a chute for wet or dry particulate material, the chute defining a material pathway for said materials, the chute lining comprising a plurality of the chute liner elements of the form as claimed at any one of claims 1 to 28, the chute liner elements are to be affixed to the surface to be in parallel 15 substantially side by side relationship wherein the chute liner elements are transverse to the flow of material through the chute and the wing members are located downstream of the base of the respective chute liner element.

30. A chute lining as claimed at claim 29 wherein the chute liner includes a chute liner module which in use is to be in close side by side parallel 20 relationship in advance of the most upstream chute liner element, the module having a base and the base having a face which in use is to be located in face to face relationship with the surface, a strip-like wing member extending laterally to one side of the base to in use overlie the fixing portion of the most upstream chute line element, the wing member 25 formed integrally with the base to be resiliently supported by said base, said base having a fixing portion extending laterally to underlie the wing member, the fixing portion being arranged and configured in use to be able to be fixed to the support. intellectual property ofrce of n z 24 AUG 2009 RECEIVED! 569156 -18-

31. A chute lining substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings

32. A chute substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5 intellectual property! office of n.z. i 24 AUG 2009 re c eiv e 0