AU2018219983B2 - Conveyor skirting system - Google Patents
Conveyor skirting system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2018219983B2 AU2018219983B2 AU2018219983A AU2018219983A AU2018219983B2 AU 2018219983 B2 AU2018219983 B2 AU 2018219983B2 AU 2018219983 A AU2018219983 A AU 2018219983A AU 2018219983 A AU2018219983 A AU 2018219983A AU 2018219983 B2 AU2018219983 B2 AU 2018219983B2
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- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- conveyor belt
- sealing strip
- wear liner
- skirting system
- support bracket
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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- Auxiliary Methods And Devices For Loading And Unloading (AREA)
Abstract
A skirting system 10 for a conveyor belt 12 is described. The skirting system
10 comprises a wear liner 14 mounted on a support bracket 16 which is
10 adapted to be mounted adjacent to the conveyor belt 12. In use, a lower
edge 18 of the wear liner 14 is spaced from a top surface 20 of the conveyor
belt 12. The skirting system 10 also comprises a sealing strip 22 made of
resilient material also supported on the support bracket 16, behind the wear
liner 14. The sealing strip 28 is supported in such a manner that a lower
15 portion 24 of the sealing strip 22 is bent towards an outer edge 26 of the
conveyor belt 12 whereby, in use, an inner surface of the lower portion 24 of
the sealing strip 22 presses against the conveyor belt 12 to form a contact
seal 28. This helps to (a) minimise wear of the sealing strip material and of
the belt in the region of the (area) contact seal 28, where the sealing strip 22
20 engages the moving conveyor belt 12; and, (b) mitigates any spillage and/or
billowing of dust.
Drawing to accompany the Abstract: Figure 3
16
404 1-V
4,6
10
226
£1012 8
Description
404 1-V
4,6
10
226
£1012 8
Patents Act 1990
Invention title:
Applicant:
Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd
Associated Provisional Application No.: 2017903574
The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a skirting system for a conveyor belt and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to such a skirting system for conveyor belts used in the mining industry.
Background to the Invention
A conveyor skirting system of the kind employed in the mining industry typically comprise two elements: (i) a wear liner that helps to keep the bulk of the ore or other material being transferred on the centre of the belt; and, (ii) a rubber sealing strip that helps to reduce spillage and to control dust. The wear liner is a consumable item that is typically made of a wear resistant material chosen to reflect the abrasiveness and size of the material being transferred. The wear liner is generally fixed to the inside of the support bracket in a vertical position along each side of the belt, with a bottom edge spaced slightly above the belt. The rubber sealing strip is typically located on the outside of the support bracket and extends (usually vertically or inclined in a single plane) below the liner and support bracket to seal the gap between the liner and the conveyor belt. With this kind of contact type skirt arrangement, the rubber quality of the sealing strip is selected so that it is inferior to the rubber quality of the conveyor belt, in order to ensure that the sealing strip wears preferentially relative to the belt.
There are several problems with prior art skirting systems. Firstly, material being conveyed on the belt tends to get caught in the gap between the bottom of the wear plate and the belt. This results in significant wear at this point as the material is dragged along the length of the wear liners by the conveyor belt, leading to the formation of two gouge lines along the respective sides of the belt. Secondly, the rubber sealing strip also tends to wear at the point where it contacts the conveyor belt, and/or the (line) contact between the sealing strip and the belt is lost due to belt sag between idlers, and this reduces the effectiveness of the (line) contact seal, resulting in billowing of dust and, potentially, spillage.
The present invention was developed with a view to providing an improved conveyor skirting system that overcomes one or more of the above-note problems with prior art skirting systems.
References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.
Summary of the Invention
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a skirting system for a conveyor belt, the skirting system comprising:
a wear liner mounted on a support bracket which is adapted to be mounted adjacent to a conveyor belt wherein, in use, a lower edge of the wear liner is spaced from a top surface of the conveyor belt; and,
a sealing strip made of resilient material also supported on the support bracket, behind the wear liner, wherein the support bracket comprises a seal plate profiled so that it forces the sealing strip to be inclined away from the rear of the wear liner, the sealing strip being supported in such a manner that a lower portion of the sealing strip is bent towards an outer edge of the conveyor belt whereby, in use, an inner surface of the lower portion of the sealing strip presses against the conveyor belt to form a contact seal.
Preferably the lower portion of the sealing strip presses against the conveyor belt to form an area contact seal. Advantageously the seal plate is profiled such that it is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle that is less than or equal to the surcharge angle (usually 50 to 150 less than the angle of repose) of the material being conveyed on the conveyor belt. Typically the seal plate is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of between 100 to 350.
Advantageously the wear liner is mounted with its lower edge spaced from the top surface of the conveyor belt so as to leave a gap of between 10 to 70 mm, but is ultimately dependent on the particle size distribution of the material being conveyed. More typically the lower edge is spaced from the top surface of the conveyor belt so as to leave a gap of between 25 to 50 mm.
Preferably the skirting system also comprises a clamping arrangement to hold the sealing strip on the support bracket and which can be disengaged to adjust the sealing strip if and when required.
Preferably the wear liner is fastened to the support bracket by bolts, and the seal plate is formed integral to the support bracket.
Advantageously the combined effect of having the lower edge of the wear liner spaced from the belt line, together with having a location of the contact seal beyond an edge of the profile of the material, is to create a sealed cavity behind the lower edge of the wear liner and below the seal plate.
Throughout the specification, 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. Likewise the word "preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of several specific embodiments of skirting system, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the skirting system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a section view of the skirting system of Figure 1, taken through the line A-A in Figure 4;
Figure 3 is an enlarged section view of the lower part of the skirting system as shown in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is side elevation view of the skirting system of Figure 1; and,
Figure 5 is a top plan view of the skirting system of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
A preferred embodiment of a skirting system 10 for a conveyor belt 12 in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, comprises a wear liner 14 mounted on a support bracket 16. The support bracket 16 is adapted to be mounted adjacent to the conveyor belt 12. A lower edge 18 of the wear liner 14 is spaced from a top surface 20 of the conveyor belt 12, as can be seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 3.
The skirting system 10 further comprise a sealing strip 22 made of resilient material also supported on the support bracket 16, behind the wear liner. The sealing strip 22 is supported in such a manner that a lower portion 24 of the sealing strip 22 is bent towards an outer edge 26 of the conveyor belt 12. In use, an inner surface of the lower portion 24 of the sealing strip 22 presses against the conveyor belt 12 to form a contact seal 28 between the sealing strip and the belt. Preferably the lower portion 24 of the sealing strip 22 presses against the conveyor belt 12 over a sufficient region to form an area contact seal 28. In view of the resilient nature of the sealing strip material, it applies substantial pressure on the belt 12 forming a firmer (area) contact seal 28 between the sealing strip and conveyor belt 12.
Preferably the support bracket comprises a seal plate 30 profiled so that it forces the sealing strip 22 to be inclined away from the rear of the wear liner 14. Advantageously the seal plate 30 is profiled such that it is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle that is less than or equal to the angle of surcharge (usually 5° to 15° less than the angle of repose) of the material 32 being conveyed on the conveyor belt 12. The angle of repose of a material is the acute angle which the surface of a normal, freely formed pile makes to the horizontal. The angle of surcharge of a material is the angle to the horizontal which the surface of the material assumes while the material is at rest on a moving conveyor belt. This angle usually is 5° to 150 less than the angle of repose, though in some materials it may be as much as 20 less. Having the seal plate 30 profiled in this way has the significant advantage that it places the location of the (area) contact seal 28 beyond the edge of the material profile, (as shown in Figure 3) so that the likelihood of material 32 reporting to the seal 28 is substantially reduced. This means that the (area) contact seal 28 is kept substantially free from any ore or grit and airtight. It thereby (a) minimises the wear of the sealing strip material and of the belt in the region of the (area) contact seal 28, where the sealing strip 22 engages the moving conveyor belt 12; and, (b) mitigates any spillage and/or billowing of any dust.
In the illustrated embodiment the seal plate 30 is formed integral to the bracket 16; however this is not essential to the invention. Typically the seal plate 30 is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of between 10 to 350. In the illustrated embodiment the seal plate 30 is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of 20°, whereas the angle of surcharge of the material 32 (which will be approximately that of its angle of repose at the point of loading) is around 35°, as shown in Figure 3.
Advantageously the wear liner 14 is mounted with its lower edge 18 spaced from the top surface of the conveyor belt 12 so as to leave a gap of between 10 to 70 mm. More typically the lower edge 18 is spaced from the top surface of the conveyor belt 12 so as to leave a gap of between 25 to 50 mm.
Because the wear liner 14 does not extend to the belt line, but rather stops some 10 to 70 mm from the belt (see Figure 2), the likelihood of any material 32 wedging between the wear liner 14 and the conveyor belt 12 is substantially reduced.
As can be seen most clearly in Figure 3, the combined effect of having the lower edge 18 of the wear liner 14 spaced from the belt line, together with having the location of the (area) contact seal 28 beyond an edge of the profile of the material 32, is to create a sealed cavity 34 behind the lower edge 18 of the wear liner 14 and below the seal plate 30. The sealed cavity 34 mitigates, if not eliminates, any material spillage or dust emissions in this region. This is achieved by utilising the natural rill of the material being conveyed to effect a primary seal (formed where the lower edge 18 of the wear liner 14 engages the material 32) and moving a secondary seal, formed by the rubber sealing strip 22 and the conveyor belt 12, to the edge of the conveyor belt beyond the rill of the material 32.
The various components of the skirting system 10 are manufactured of conventional materials. The wear liner 14 is typically made from hardened steel plate, (Bisalloy 400 or similar) a minimum 10 mm thick. The wear liner 14 is fastened to the support bracket 16 by bolts 36. The support bracket 16 is likewise preferably made from mild steel (or similar) plate, a minimum 5 mm thick. Preferably the seal plate 30 is formed integral to the support bracket 16. The sealing strip 22 is typically made from rubber, (60 Duro) a minimum 8 mm thick.
Advantageously the sealing strip 22 is held in position against the support bracket 16 with a clamping arrangement 40, as can be seen most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The clamping arrangement 40 comprises a clevis fastener 42, including a clevis 44, clevis pin 46 (split pin type), and a tang formed by slide plate 48. The slide plate 48 has an elongate slot 50 machined into it, through which the clevis pin 46 passes. The slot 50 is angled so that when the slide plate 48 is driven in a tightening direction on clevis pin 46 it increases the clamping force, and when it is driven in a loosening direction it releases the clamping force on the sealing strip 22. The clevis fastener 42 can be disengaged to adjust the sealing strip 22 if and when required. Numerous other types of clamping arrangement are possible, including simple wedge clamps to more complex toggle clamps.
The skirting system 10 can be designed for all belt widths. The skirting system 10 can also be retrofitted to any conveyor. Although it has been described with particular reference to a conveyor belt for conveying ore material, it will be apparent that the skirting system of the invention can be used with many other kinds of conveyor system.
Now that a preferred embodiment of the skirting system has been described in detail, it will be apparent that the described embodiment provides a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following:
(i) It mitigates the impact of material wedging between the wear liner and the belt, resulting in gouging along the skirt line - the most common cause of belt failure for an in-plant conveyor. This is achieved by utilising the natural rill of the material being conveyed to effect the primary seal and moving the secondary contact seal, formed by the rubber sealing strip and the conveyor belt, to the edge of the conveyor belt beyond the rill of the material. (ii) The wear liner does not extend to the conveyor belt as is usually the case, but rather stops some 10-70 mm from the conveyor belt, reducing the likelihood of material wedging between the wear liner and the conveyor belt and gouging the conveyor belt. (iii) The seal plate is profiled such that it is inclined at less than the surcharge angle of the material being conveyed, placing the secondary contact seal beyond the material profile, reducing the likelihood of material wedging between the rubber sealing strip and the conveyor belt and wearing the conveyor belt.
(iv) Given the primary seal is effected by exploiting the surcharge angle of the material being conveyed, the wear liner does not require adjustment, thus significantly enhancing operability. (v) Given the secondary contact seal, formed by the rubber sealing strip and the conveyor belt, is an area contact seal as opposed to a line seal, the rubber seal does not require adjustment, thus significantly enhancing operability. (vi) The secondary contact seal can better accommodate conveyor belt wear and sag between liners, mitigating material spillage and the billowing of dust. Further the secondary contact seal is self clearing, as there is a natural tendency for any particulates to collect at the lowest point away from the contact seal.
It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, the manner in which the sealing strip and/or the wear liner is fastened to the support bracket may vary considerably from that illustrated in the embodiment. The clamping arrangement illustrated is particularly advantageous as it can be easily installed and adjusted. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.
Claims (9)
1. A skirting system for a conveyor belt, the skirting system comprising:
a wear liner mounted on a support bracket which is adapted to be mounted adjacent to a conveyor belt wherein, in use, a lower edge of the wear liner is spaced from a top surface of the conveyor belt; and,
a sealing strip made of resilient material also supported on the support bracket, behind the wear liner, wherein the support bracket comprises a seal plate profiled so that it forces the sealing strip to be inclined away from the rear of the wear liner, the sealing strip being supported in such a manner that a lower portion of the sealing strip is bent towards an outer edge of the conveyor belt whereby, in use, an inner surface of the lower portion of the sealing strip presses against the conveyor belt to form a contact seal.
2. A skirting system as defined in claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the sealing strip presses against the conveyor belt to form an area contact seal.
3. A skirting system as defined in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the seal plate is profiled such that it is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle that is less than or equal to the angle of surcharge of the material being conveyed on the conveyor belt.
4. A skirting system as defined in claim 3, wherein the seal plate is inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle of between 10 to 35°.
5. A skirting system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wear liner is mounted with its lower edge spaced from the top surface of the conveyor belt so as to leave a gap of between 10 to 70 mm, but is ultimately dependent on the particle size distribution of the material being conveyed.
6. A skirting system as defined in claim 5, wherein the lower edge is spaced from the top surface of the conveyor belt so as to leave a gap of between 25 to 50 mm.
7. A skirting system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a clamping arrangement to hold the sealing strip on the support bracket and which can be disengaged to adjust the sealing strip if and when required.
8. A skirting system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the wear liner is fastened to the support bracket by bolts, and the seal plate is formed integral to the support bracket.
9. A skirting system as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the combined effect of having the lower edge of the wear liner spaced from the belt line, together with having a location of the contact seal beyond an edge of the profile of the material, is to create a sealed cavity behind the lower edge of the wear liner and below the seal plate.
Dated this 2 3 rd day of October 2023.
Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd by its Patent Attorneys WRAYS
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2017903574A AU2017903574A0 (en) | 2017-09-04 | Conveyor Skirting System | |
| AU2017903574 | 2017-09-04 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2018219983A1 AU2018219983A1 (en) | 2019-03-21 |
| AU2018219983B2 true AU2018219983B2 (en) | 2024-03-21 |
Family
ID=65760844
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2018219983A Active AU2018219983B2 (en) | 2017-09-04 | 2018-08-20 | Conveyor skirting system |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2018219983B2 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA201805772B (en) |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0462847A1 (en) * | 1990-06-21 | 1991-12-27 | Martin Engineering Company | Barrier seal for conveyor skirtboard |
| US20020063042A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-05-30 | Air Control Science, Inc. | Roller bed for a conveyor belt system |
| US7484617B1 (en) * | 2007-11-30 | 2009-02-03 | Argonics, Inc. | Sealing system for conveying belt |
| CN204489818U (en) * | 2015-01-07 | 2015-07-22 | 上海梅山钢铁股份有限公司 | A kind of conveying belt sealing arrangement of tackling belt deviation and automatically keeping sealing |
-
2018
- 2018-08-20 AU AU2018219983A patent/AU2018219983B2/en active Active
- 2018-08-29 ZA ZA2018/05772A patent/ZA201805772B/en unknown
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0462847A1 (en) * | 1990-06-21 | 1991-12-27 | Martin Engineering Company | Barrier seal for conveyor skirtboard |
| US20020063042A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-05-30 | Air Control Science, Inc. | Roller bed for a conveyor belt system |
| US7484617B1 (en) * | 2007-11-30 | 2009-02-03 | Argonics, Inc. | Sealing system for conveying belt |
| CN204489818U (en) * | 2015-01-07 | 2015-07-22 | 上海梅山钢铁股份有限公司 | A kind of conveying belt sealing arrangement of tackling belt deviation and automatically keeping sealing |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ZA201805772B (en) | 2019-06-26 |
| AU2018219983A1 (en) | 2019-03-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FGA | Letters patent sealed or granted (standard patent) |