CN1044792A - Conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

A bulk material conveyor comprising an endless carrier belt and an endless bulk material engaging means having a plurality of flights shaped to correspond to the cross-section of a channel defined by the carrier belt, the flights engaging the sides and base of the channel, at least one of the belt and engaging means being driven to transmit power to the other by contact. The connecting means of the carrier tape and the engaging means move along the same path in the vertical plane of the transport path, while the engaging means and the carrier tape engage internally, thereby maintaining the movement of the scraper and the tape in synchronism. The conveyor of the invention is suitable for uphill and downhill conveying, and has high conveying capacity especially for conveying with steep gradient.

Description

conveyor

The present invention relates to a conveyor suitable for conveying bulk materials, in particular to a conveyor for lifting such materials.

Bucket conveyors are the most common method for conveying bulk materials on steep slopes. These conveyors have various disadvantages, including cost, structural complexity, noise, and dust generation. Because they require individual buckets for loading, loading is inconvenient and cleaning each bucket is difficult, which exacerbates the problem of material adhering to and remaining in the bucket.

More recently, there has been a proposal to use what are known as closed belt conveyors, in which two belts are joined along the interior of a conveying channel to enclose the bulk material within the space defined by the belts. In such conveyors, there is a first carrier belt and a second, enclosing belt, both of which are roughly "U"-shaped with corrugated edges. The carrier belt also has a plurality of regularly spaced upright plates that divide the interior of the carrier belt into a plurality of independent cells. However, loading such conveyors is quite restrictive and cumbersome. In addition, the bulk material in such conveyors is somewhat sticky or not particularly free-flowing, and thus tends to become lodged in the corners and/or corrugations between the supporting upright plates and the base. These problems make the conveyor particularly cumbersome to use and difficult to clean, resulting in additional production costs. At the same time, the material lodged in the carrier belt takes up the available space, thereby reducing the conveying capacity of the conveyor.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid or reduce the above-mentioned disadvantages.

The present invention proposes a conveyor suitable for conveying bulk materials, comprising: an endless belt and a endless bulk material coupling device, characterized in that: the bulk material coupling device includes an elongated flexible connecting device, on which a plurality of scrapers spaced apart from each other are mounted, the endless belt is a carrier belt, the carrier belt and the endless connecting device are configured to move along a conveying channel, the scrapers basically extend to at least the inside of a channel defined by the carrier belt along the conveying channel, close to the side and base of the channel, so as to contact the bulk material in the channel and transmit driving force between the connecting device and the bulk material when the conveyor is used for uphill or downhill transportation, the scrapers have a cross-sectional shape that basically corresponds to the channel at least at their ends, the connecting device and the belt move along basically the same route on a vertical plane of the conveying channel, here, the belt and the coupling device are internally coupled, so that the movements of the scrapers and the belt remain synchronized.

Of course, it will be appreciated that the belt and bulk material engaging means will generally be required to move together along an inclined conveying path (with the scrapers extending into the path), and that the conveyor will also require a substantially horizontal conveying path portion, with the carrier belt extending beyond the endless connecting means, the latter being directed towards and away from the carrier belt at or near the end of the inclined conveying path portion.

The conveyor of the present invention thus enables uphill and downhill conveying of bulk materials without substantially any relative motion between the scraper and the carrier belt in the conveying direction, thereby avoiding friction and/or damage to these components caused by relative motion. Furthermore, this arrangement allows a wide variety of materials to be conveyed at very steep inclines at variable or intermittent feed rates. Thus, brittle materials can be conveyed with minimal or no degradation, while wet, sticky, frozen, irregularly shaped, and/or abrasive materials can be conveyed with minimal accumulation and/or damage to the conveyor. Furthermore, bulk materials can range from fine particles to relatively large chunks, e.g., 0.6 meters of material on a 2-meter-wide belt.

The conveyor of the present invention allows the carrier belt to be charged with bulk material, thereby achieving a high conveying capacity for a given conveyor size. Very steep conveying paths, such as those inclined at least 70 degrees or more from the horizontal, can also be efficiently handled, resulting in savings in conveyor length and structure. Such conveying paths allow for increased flexibility in conveyor routing, reducing the work area and, consequently, the cleaning area of the conveyor's working area. Furthermore, the conveyor of the present invention provides easy and flexible loading facilities, reducing cleaning requirements and facilitating conveyor cleaning. The endless belt and bulk material engaging means are arranged substantially back-to-back, directed in the same direction and separated from each other at the beginning and end of the conveying path, respectively. Along their respective return paths, at least a portion of the engaging means and the conveyor's carrier member are precisely separated, thereby further reducing the problems of material loading and retention between the two. Furthermore, since the carrier belt itself is only required to support and carry the bulk material and does not require any special assistance, the carrier belt can be made into a relatively flat structure, i.e., a deformable flat belt. This is not only more economical than carrier belts of complex shapes, but also reduces material loading problems and is easier to clean.

The conveyor of the present invention utilizes various drive arrangements, including those driven solely by the endless coupling mechanism and those driven separately for the elevator and the carrier belt. In the former, the carrier belt is driven indirectly by friction between the bulk material engaged by the scraper and the carrier belt, or by direct engagement of the carrier belt with the scraper edge. This type of drive is generally preferred because it avoids the use of a relatively high-tension carrier belt. This allows for a more economical belt construction and increases belt life, saving on replacement costs and maintenance costs due to the mechanical joints that avoid rubber hardening. In practice, the carrier belt can be a conventional horizontal conveyor belt, simplifying design, while the use of standard components increases reliability. It is also noted that the use of a low-tension belt system significantly reduces the risk of belt leaks and the resulting downtime of the conveyor.

The present invention can adopt any suitable form of flexible connecting means, as, chain, cable and belt.Can adopt two such connecting assemblies as convenient, be arranged on each side of the channel that the carrying belt defines.

The scrapers of the engaging means are preferably arcuate so as to form a generally scoop-shaped container together with the channel defined by the carrier belt. Each scraper defines a plurality of generally upright, generally transverse walls, the corresponding ends of which curve upwardly in the inclined conveying channel. Typically, the corresponding ends of the scraper means gradually decrease in thickness in the aforementioned direction. The scraper means are advantageously provided with generally laterally outwardly mounted fins which extend beyond and around the outer sides of the side walls of the channel defined by the carrier belt to secure the scraper means to the corresponding endless connection means.

With such a scraper, the inclination angle and/or the conveying capacity of the conveyor can be increased without the risk of substantial accumulation of bulk material and blocking of the carrier belt or the engaging device.

The conveyor of the present invention also allows a variety of feeding methods such as side loading, loading on an inclined or horizontal belt channel and center loading, thereby avoiding the transfer site of the conveyor and the supporting equipment.

If necessary, the scrapers can be further equipped with elastically deformable edge seals located on their carrier belt-cooperating edges to reduce leakage of bulk material therebetween and improve drive transmission between them. They can also be equipped with deformable and/or curved central portions located on their upper edges, distal from the carrier belt-cooperating edges, so that if large pieces of material become lodged between the elevator's drive and return channels, these portions will move out of the way and pass over the bulk, thereby preventing elevator blockage and/or potential damage to the conveyor. These portions can be formed of a flexible material, such as rubber, fixed to the main surface of the scraper or hingedly mounted to the main surface of the scraper by suitable elastic means.

The scrapers are arranged to extend at right angles to the conveying direction. They are formed and mounted on the elevator drive transmission member so as to be tilted rearward relative to the uphill direction of the conveying path. In this manner, the effective filling capacity of the individual cells defined by the scrapers within the carrier belt of an elevator conveyor according to the present invention is significantly improved. Furthermore, conveyor unloading is facilitated, and the amount of bulk material that may adhere to the scrapers is reduced due to the separation of the scrapers from the carrier belt.

As mentioned above, the elongated connecting means may be in the form of a belt which will help to keep the bulk material within the conveyor. In the case of a chain or cable connecting means, cover means may be provided over the connecting means along the conveying path if desired to reduce the spread of dust etc.

For the avoidance of doubt, it must be noted that the present invention extends to conveyors having a horizontal section and an elevated section, wherein the elevation means is provided only on the elevated section of the carrier belt. The present invention also extends to conveyor arrangements, such as horizontal skip conveyors and fluidized bed chain conveyors, wherein the carrier belt extends only horizontally, the engagement means having a short horizontal extension to assist in driving the horizontal carrier belt, the horizontal carrier belt carrying bulk material, the scrapers engaging the bulk material or the belt.

Any suitable arrangement known in the art may be used to form the carrier belt and the return section of the elevator. Generally, the return of the elevator above the carrier belt is most facilitated if the engaging device (elevator) and the carrier belt are arranged back-to-back. The return section of the elevator may also be arranged to surround the carrier belt below the carrier belt during its return run.

The conveyor of the present invention can be configured with various loading arrangements, such as bottom loading, side loading, and top loading. Alternatively, loading can be performed directly "through" the elevator, with the material falling onto the carrier belt over both sides of the flight. This can be done through the elevator's forward and rearward paths, or, more commonly, through the elevator's forward conveying path only. Loading occurs when the path defined by the carrier belt forms a "V" or "U" shape, at which point the return path is sufficiently distal to the conveying path to allow entry of bulk material. In another possible configuration, a short tube tightly fits over the elevator upstream of the start of the conveying path and extends along a portion of the elevator's return path, allowing top loading to enter the upstream end of the short tube. The material is then carried away by the elevator through the short tube into the U-shaped path of the carrier belt. In the bottom loading case, the material is loaded onto a portion of the carrier belt that extends horizontally upstream of a point where the elevator and carrier belt are completely integrated.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a side view of the conveyor of the present invention;

Figures 2 to 4 show the detailed structure of the scraper of the conveyor in Figure 1 in an enlarged form, wherein:

Figure 2 is a side view;

Figure 3 is an end side view;

Figure 4 is a plan view;

FIG5 shows a schematic side view of another conveying device used in the present invention in the case of downhill conveying.

As shown in Figure 1, a conveyor 1 is suitable for conveying bulk granular material 2 uphill. Conveyor 1 includes a carrier belt 3 and a bulk material engaging device 4. The carrier belt 3 extends over two pulleys 5 and onto guide wheels 6 (see Figure 3). The guide wheels are arranged so that the carrier belt forms a flat, generally V- or U-shaped channel 7 in the conveying direction of conveyor 1.

The bulk material engaging device 4 comprises an endlessly connected assembly in the form of a chain 8 and a base 9, on which a plurality of spaced-apart upright scrapers are mounted, substantially corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the channel 7 defined by the carrier belt 3 and guide rollers 6 (see FIG3 ). The scrapers are generally in the form of curved plates 10 (see FIG4 ). As best seen in FIG2-4 , the curved plates 10 have a central, substantially upright wall portion 11 (slightly inclined in the conveying direction) extending transversely of the carrier belt and curving on either side to form side walls 12 of decreasing thickness extending in the uphill direction of the conveyor 1. Thus, the scrapers 10, in conjunction with the carrier belt, form a substantially scoop-shaped container, thereby retaining and advancing the bulk material 2 upward during uphill conveyance, and reducing leakage of the bulk material from the carrier belt 7 . Furthermore, a seal 15 is provided on the outer peripheral edge 14 of each scraper 10 for engaging the carrier belt 3 to further reduce leakage of the material 2. The use of such curved plates has the additional advantage of increasing the strength of the scrapers and their impact resistance and helping to center the bulk material 2 on the carrier belt 3, thereby improving the movement of the carrier belt. Outwardly directed fins 10a are provided on either side of the curved plates 10, which extend over the inclined edges 3a of the grooved carrier belt and extend downwardly to the chain base 9 substantially at the level of the bottom edge 11a of the central portion 11 of the scraper 10.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the bulk material engaging device 4 extends on the conveying path around a return guide wheel in the form of a sprocket 16 , at least one of which serves as a drive or brake wheel in uphill or downhill conveying, respectively.

The chains 8 are supported between the return sprockets 16 and on the return path shown by suitable support sprockets or rollers 17. On their conveying path, the chains 8 are supported substantially only by the scrapers 10 above the carrier belts 3, thereby increasing the frictional engagement therebetween and correspondingly increasing the drive transmission from the carrier belts to or from the chains.

The carrier belt 3 returns from the return wheel 5 under the conveying channel, and the carrier belt 3 is supported on the guide roller 6 along the return channel to form a hollow flat bottom "V" shaped channel 7. A substantially flat belt shape can also be considered, where there is a risk that the material 2 may be on the belt or stick to it, but any required cleaning can be easily achieved.

The bulk material engaging device 4 and the carrier belt 3 are mounted on a conventional support structure frame 18 (as schematically shown in FIG5 ). The conveyor 1 is provided with a loading chute 20 near its bottom 19 and a discharge hopper 22 near its upper portion 21 for receiving the material 2 discharged from the conveyor 1.

FIG5 shows an improved conveyor assembly 23. The conveying channel is essentially S-shaped, with interconnecting channels 24, 25 for the carrier belt 3 and the bulk material engaging device 4, having a convex portion 26 and a concave portion 27 at the upper and lower portions 28, 29, respectively. The carrier belt 3 has an extended horizontal portion, which does not require the assistance of a scraper, and which is connected to the upper and lower portions 30, 31 of the bulk material engaging device 4. This embodiment also shows how uphill or downhill conveying can be effectively combined with horizontal conveying that is not at the same level, without the need for multiple separate conveyors and complex transition arrangements between them.

When conveyor 1 is used for uphill conveying, the bulk material engaging device drives the carrier belt 3 by frictional engagement, with its scraper 10 extending into the channel 7 defined by the carrier belt 3 to draw the bulk material 2 within the channel and simultaneously propel it along the carrier belt 3. Consequently, a separate friction drive for driving the carrier belt 3 is eliminated, and drive efficiency is improved by employing a positive drive connection via a suitable sprocket engaged with the chain 8. Furthermore, by positioning the chain 8 of the bulk material engaging device 4 substantially adjacent to the base 30 of the channel 7 defined by the carrier belt 3 along the majority of the conveying channel, where the bulk material engaging device 4 engages the carrier belt 3, relative movement and slippage between the scraper 10 and the carrier belt 3 in a vertical plane, i.e., along the same bend radius in the vertical plane (see FIG. 1 ), is substantially avoided, thereby preventing friction and damage therebetween. If the edges 14, 15 of the scraper 10 engage well and effectively with the carrier belt 3 at the vertically curved portions of the conveying path (the upper end 21 in FIG. 1 and the upper and lower ends 26, 27 in FIG. 5 ), the drive transmission between them will be particularly effective in these portions. This is more important for uphill conveying ( FIG. 1 ), but of course it is also required for downhill conveying ( FIG. 5 ).

As can also be seen from FIG. 1 , the scrapers 10 can be arranged very close to the chain 8 , which further increases the conveying capacity, and is also very powerful due to the use of scrapers of this shape.

It can be further seen from Figure 1 that when the carrier belt 3 gradually approaches the return wheel 5, it gradually flattens, and the carrier belt guide roller 5 also has an appropriate shape here. In the embodiment of Figure 5, the conveyor includes a horizontally extending carrier belt channel 35, and the carrier belt 3 can have a flatter shape than the inclined channel section.

With regard to the choice of couplings for bulk material couplings using chains, a variety of drive wheel arrangements can be used in between, thereby avoiding the need for very large drive systems at the conveyor ends and the need for high tension in the coupling to transmit the drive force along the entire length of the coupling.

The scrapers 10 may also be provided with a bendable and/or flexibly deformable panel 33 on their central upper edge 34 .

Claims (18)

1, the conveyer (1) of a kind of suitable conveying bulk materials (2), comprise: a tape loop (3) and a circulation bulk material coupling device (4), it is characterized in that: described bulk material coupling device (4) comprises the flexible connecting device (8) of elongation, the scraper plate (10) of a plurality of spaces is housed on it, described tape loop (3) is the carrying band, carrying band and circulation connecting device (8) are arranged to move along transfer passage, described scraper plate (10) reaches basically at least in the inside along the passage (7) that is limited by described carrying band (3) on the described transfer passage, side (3a) and base portion near described passage (7), so that the bulk material in the contact channels (7) also is used for going up a slope or descending when carrying at conveyer, transmission of drive force between described connecting device (8) and described bulk material (2), described scraper plate (10) has the cross sectional shape that corresponds essentially to described passage (7) at their not end (10) at least, the route motion that described connecting device (8) and described band (3) are substantially the same in a vertical plane surface upper edge of transfer passage, here, described band (3) and coupling device (4) interior bonds, therefore, the motion of described scraper plate (10) and described band (3) keeps synchronously.

2, according to the conveyer of claim 1, it is characterized in that: the flexible connecting device of described elongation (8) comprises at least one endless chain or an endless cable or a tape loop.

3, according to the conveyer of claim 1 or 2, it is characterized in that: the flexible connecting device (8,9) that two relative described elongations that are parallel to each other basically are set at least.

4, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-3, it is characterized in that: the formation of described scraper plate (10) and being provided with is beneficial to carrying the passage that band (3) limits and forms a container (13) of spoon type basically, each described scraper plate (10) forms a plurality of upright basically substantial transverse walls, and the corresponding end of this wall is crooked on the throughput direction of conveyer.

5, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-4, it is characterized in that: described scraper plate (10) forms and is provided with elastic deformation limit sealing (15), is convenient to engage with band (3), reduces the leakage of bulk material and the driving that improves between them transmits.

6, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-5, it is characterized in that: described scraper plate (10) is provided with plastic deformation and/or crooked core (33) at their center upper limb, allow to protrude passing through of bulk material element, avoid the obstruction and the damage of conveyer.

7, any one conveyer according to claim 3 and among the claim 4-6 when being subordinated to claim 3, it is characterized in that: described scraper plate (10) is provided with the protruding wing (10a) that substantial lateral is outwards installed, extend beyond and center on the outside of the sidewall (3a) of the passage (7) that limits by carrying band (3), scraper plate (10) is fixed on the corresponding circulation connecting device.

8, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-7, it is characterized in that: each described scraper plate (10) has a lateral cross section shape that corresponds essentially to the passage that is limited by described carrying band (3), occupies described passage (7) basically and at the base portion and/or the side splicing tpae (3) of passage (7).

9, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-8, it is characterized in that: described circulation connecting device (8) and the driven engagement of actuating device (16).

10, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-9, it is characterized in that: described carrying band (3) and the driven engagement of actuating device (5a).

11, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-10, it is characterized in that: described carrying band (3) and described bulk material coupling device (4) are back-to-back to be provided with basically, are directed mutually in the same way and are separated from each other in the beginning of transfer passage and end respectively.

12, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-11, it is characterized in that: described bulk material coupling device (4) only is with the tilting section setting of (3) in carrying.

13, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-11, it is characterized in that: conveyer (1) comprises a substantially horizontal part (35), this part (35) is provided with a bulk material coupling device (4) at least, directly and/or by the bulk material (2) on it transmission drives to carrying band (3).

14, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-13, it is characterized in that: at least a portion of conveyer and the leaning angle of horizontal surface are at least 70 °.

15, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-14, it is characterized in that: the formation of described coupling device (4) and be provided with and allow to fall between the scraper plate in succession (10) of bulk material (2) by coupling device (4) top loading of realizing bulk material (2) on the carrying band (3).

16, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-14, it is characterized in that: a slot device (20) is used between scraper plate material being sent into the sidepiece charging of carrying band (3).

17, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-14, it is characterized in that: conveyer comprises the extendible portion (35) of a basic horizontal, and the bottom charging that bulk material (2) passes through is realized in the upstream in coupling device (4).

18, according to any one conveyer among the claim 1-17, it is characterized in that: conveyer is installed on the support frame (18).