GB2122176A - Impact-resistant wear plate - Google Patents

Abstract

In a wear plate, such as is described in Patent Application No. 81 29996 (Publication No. 2 107 288 A) for lining chutes for handling abrasive material, comprising an array of ceramic tiles moulded into elastomeric material, providing a resilient bed and inter-tile fillets, which may be carried by a backing plate with means for mounting it on a surface to be provided with a wear- resistant facing, the bases (19) of the tiles (15) are concave so as to espouse in the elastomeric bed a complementary convex cushion as a centralising support against impact. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Impact-resistant wear plate This invention relates to impact-resistant wear plates for lining or covering surfaces, such as of chutes or conveyors, subject to the impact and abrasion of minerals or other abrasive materials or products in industrial plants, for example metal smelting plants or foundires.

It is known that ceramic materials can be made much more wear-resistant than metals, such as mild steel, which might economically be used for material-handling surfaces but ceramic material is vulnerable to impact damage, especially when used in the form of tiles laid in edge-abutment as a surface covering.

In our Patent Application No. 8129996 we have described ceramic tiles embodied in a wearresistant surface-covering, which is resistant also to impact damage, in the form of a wear plate comprising a wear-resistant surface layer of an array of ceramic tiles set in a bed of elastomeric material bonded to and extending as a cushioning fillet between adjacent tiles and peripherally around the array of tiles as well as behind the tiles.

In such a wear plate the elastomeric material, which may be natural or synthetic rubber or a plastics material such as finely cellular polyurethane or a resiliently deformable polymer, isolates the tiles from side contact, one with another, and permits the tiles under impact to move with deflection of their elastomeric bed and thus absorb shock without damage.

Preferably the tiles, which may be of any interfitting plan shape, are set into the bed as inserts in moulding of the bed preferably injection moulding of the elastomeric material into a closed mould in which the tiles are held in the required array.

The sides of the tiles, at least in part, may be tapered from back to front so that they are of dovetail section for keying into the elastomeric material.

The plan shape of the tiles may be indented so as to define between adjacent tiles additional cushioning fillets of elastomeric material, for example, at four-tile junctions, circular fillets around ceramic cylindrical plugs, which may be tapered.

The elastomeric bed may be carried by a mild steel or other backing plate which may have means, such as a screw-threaded stud and nut, for securing the wear plate in place as a surface covering.

The present invention provides improvements in or modifications of the invention to our Patent Application No. 8129996 and, according to the present invention, the bases of the ceramic tiles are concave, either arcuately or angularly, so as each to espouse in the bed of elastomeric material a complementary convex cushion which provides a centalising support for the tile against impact loading having a lateral component.

With such a concave base, centrally-cushioned tile, impact loads which would otherwise produce shear or tensile forces, across the interface of a flat tile base and its elastomeric bed, produce compressive forces which the elastomeric material can absorb without rupture or fatigue.

Preferably also the tile edges are radiused so as to reduce the risk of their suffering edge fracture or cutting into the elastomeric bed.

In general, the small the maximum dimension and surface area of the individual tiles, the higher their resistance to impact damage. In particular, square tiles are preferred with a side dimension of 45-49 mm or, for high impact resistance, 20- 30 mm.

The preferred tile material is an alumina or high alumina content ceramic.

Examples of the invention are illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 11 to 1 5 are each a set of views of one embodiment of a tile, each set comprising a plan, side elevation and section on A-A.

The drawings are self-explanatory and may be read in conjunction with the drawings of our Patent Application No. 8129996, the tiles now shown being alternatives for the tiles 1 shown in the drawings of that application or, with appropriate modification, for the tiles 8.

In other words, the features of the tiles illustrated in the drawings of this application and our earlier application may be substituted or combined.

The tiles 1 5 and 1 6 now illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12 are of the larger size, 45-49 mm square, and their edges 17 and corners 1 8 are radiused at 1-5 mm. In Fig. 11 the tile has an angularly facetted concave base 19 and the tile 16 in Fig.

12 has an arcuately concave base 20.

Fig. 13 shows a smaller, 20-30 mm square, tile 21, with radiused corners and edges, and sides 22 tapered, at 120, upwardly from an arcuately concave base 23.

Figs. 14 and 1 5 show oblong tiles 24 and 25, with longer sides 45-49 mm and shorter sides 22-24, radiused corners and edges and, respectively, an angularly concave base 26 and an arcuately concave base 27.

Claims (Filed on 24 May 1983) 1. A wear plate comprising a wear-resistant surface layer of an array of ceramic tiles set in a bed of elastomeric material bonded to and extending as a chushioning fillet between adjacent tiles, in which the bases of the tiles are concave so as each to espouse in the bed of elastomeric material a complementary convex cushion which provides a centralising support for the tile against impact loading having a laterial component.

2. A wear plate according to claim 1 in which tiles have each an angularlyfacetted concave base.

3. A wear plate according to claim 1 or 2, in which edges of the tiles are radiused.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   SPECIFICATION Impact-resistant wear plate This invention relates to impact-resistant wear plates for lining or covering surfaces, such as of chutes or conveyors, subject to the impact and abrasion of minerals or other abrasive materials or products in industrial plants, for example metal smelting plants or foundires.

   It is known that ceramic materials can be made much more wear-resistant than metals, such as mild steel, which might economically be used for material-handling surfaces but ceramic material is vulnerable to impact damage, especially when used in the form of tiles laid in edge-abutment as a surface covering.

   In our Patent Application No. 8129996 we have described ceramic tiles embodied in a wearresistant surface-covering, which is resistant also to impact damage, in the form of a wear plate comprising a wear-resistant surface layer of an array of ceramic tiles set in a bed of elastomeric material bonded to and extending as a cushioning fillet between adjacent tiles and peripherally around the array of tiles as well as behind the tiles.

   In such a wear plate the elastomeric material, which may be natural or synthetic rubber or a plastics material such as finely cellular polyurethane or a resiliently deformable polymer, isolates the tiles from side contact, one with another, and permits the tiles under impact to move with deflection of their elastomeric bed and thus absorb shock without damage.

   Preferably the tiles, which may be of any interfitting plan shape, are set into the bed as inserts in moulding of the bed preferably injection moulding of the elastomeric material into a closed mould in which the tiles are held in the required array.

   The sides of the tiles, at least in part, may be tapered from back to front so that they are of dovetail section for keying into the elastomeric material.

   The plan shape of the tiles may be indented so as to define between adjacent tiles additional cushioning fillets of elastomeric material, for example, at four-tile junctions, circular fillets around ceramic cylindrical plugs, which may be tapered.

   The elastomeric bed may be carried by a mild steel or other backing plate which may have means, such as a screw-threaded stud and nut, for securing the wear plate in place as a surface covering.

   The present invention provides improvements in or modifications of the invention to our Patent Application No. 8129996 and, according to the present invention, the bases of the ceramic tiles are concave, either arcuately or angularly, so as each to espouse in the bed of elastomeric material a complementary convex cushion which provides a centalising support for the tile against impact loading having a lateral component.

   With such a concave base, centrally-cushioned tile, impact loads which would otherwise produce shear or tensile forces, across the interface of a flat tile base and its elastomeric bed, produce compressive forces which the elastomeric material can absorb without rupture or fatigue.

   Preferably also the tile edges are radiused so as to reduce the risk of their suffering edge fracture or cutting into the elastomeric bed.

   In general, the small the maximum dimension and surface area of the individual tiles, the higher their resistance to impact damage. In particular, square tiles are preferred with a side dimension of 45-49 mm or, for high impact resistance, 20- 30 mm.

   The preferred tile material is an alumina or high alumina content ceramic.

   Examples of the invention are illustrated by way of example on the accompanying drawings, in which: Figs. 11 to 1 5 are each a set of views of one embodiment of a tile, each set comprising a plan, side elevation and section on A-A.

   The drawings are self-explanatory and may be read in conjunction with the drawings of our Patent Application No. 8129996, the tiles now shown being alternatives for the tiles 1 shown in the drawings of that application or, with appropriate modification, for the tiles 8.

   In other words, the features of the tiles illustrated in the drawings of this application and our earlier application may be substituted or combined.

   The tiles 1 5 and 1 6 now illustrated by Figs. 11 and 12 are of the larger size, 45-49 mm square, and their edges 17 and corners 1 8 are radiused at 1-5 mm. In Fig. 11 the tile has an angularly facetted concave base 19 and the tile 16 in Fig.

   12 has an arcuately concave base 20.

   Fig. 13 shows a smaller, 20-30 mm square, tile 21, with radiused corners and edges, and sides 22 tapered, at 120, upwardly from an arcuately concave base 23.

   Figs. 14 and 1 5 show oblong tiles 24 and 25, with longer sides 45-49 mm and shorter sides 22-24, radiused corners and edges and, respectively, an angularly concave base 26 and an arcuately concave base 27.

   Claims (Filed on 24 May 1983) 1. A wear plate comprising a wear-resistant surface layer of an array of ceramic tiles set in a bed of elastomeric material bonded to and extending as a chushioning fillet between adjacent tiles, in which the bases of the tiles are concave so as each to espouse in the bed of elastomeric material a complementary convex cushion which provides a centralising support for the tile against impact loading having a laterial component.
2. 2. A wear plate according to claim 1 in which tiles have each an angularlyfacetted concave base.
3. 3. A wear plate according to claim 1 or 2, in which edges of the tiles are radiused.
4. 4. A wear plate according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which sides of tiles are tapered each upwardly from a concave base.
5. 5. A wear plate according to any foregoing claim in which the tiles have a maximum side dimension of 45-49 mm.
6. 6. A wear plate with an array of tiles substantially as described and as shown by Figs.

   11, 12, 13, 14 or 1 5 of the accompanying drawings.