Conveyors: power-driven – Conveying apparatus entirely supported by mobile ground... – Conveyor shiftably mounted on vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-17
2004-03-16
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveying apparatus entirely supported by mobile ground...
Conveyor shiftably mounted on vehicle
C209S241000, C198S632000, C198S538000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06705449
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to a bulk material processing apparatus.
The type of bulk material with which the invention is concerned includes quarry stone, site clearance material, domestic and industrial waste, and the apparatus will therefore be provided with processing equipment appropriate to the material to be handled.
In a quarry environment, it is known to provide screening plants for processing crushed stone material, and in particular to screen the material into one or more screened size ranges e.g. sand, ballast and aggregate, in which case the processing equipment usually comprises a so-called “screen box”. It is usual to provide an input hopper for receiving the bulk material, and a conveyor e.g. an elevator, to transfer the bulk material to the screen box. One or more discharge conveyor is arranged to receive screened material from the screen box and to discharge the screened material e.g. to stockpiles.
Screening plants range in size from massive static installations, down to smaller self-propelled screening plants e.g. for screening material to be used in filling pipeline trenches. Very large static installations are assembled on site e.g. at a quarry, and usually will remain there until the source of raw material is exhausted.
However, there is a substantial demand for screening plants which are readily transportable from one site to another e.g. on a low loader, or by being towed as a trailed vehicle, and therefore it is highly desirable to design such plants in such a way that the operating components can be readily adjusted between an operative (e.g. screening) mode, and a transport mode. Evidently, in the operative or deployed position of the apparatus, it will be (a) greater in height, (b) wider and (c) longer than when in the transport position. It is therefore necessary to design the apparatus, and the assembly of the movable components, in such a way that the moving components can be easily adjusted between deployed and transport positions, and without interfering with each other.
The supply conveyor takes the bulk material from its input (hopper) end, and elevates the material to its upper discharge end, and from which it falls under gravity to the screen box. The screen box separates the bulk material into different size ranges, and the separated material falls onto corresponding discharge conveyors i.e. one for each size range, and which can then discharge the screened material onto separate stockpiles which are formed alongside and/or rearwardly of the apparatus.
Rearward discharge conveyors are usually referred to as “tail conveyors”, whereas one or more further discharge conveyor arranged to discharge the material to a respective side of the apparatus is usually referred to as a “side conveyor”. A side conveyor, when in the deployed position, extends laterally outwardly of the apparatus, and therefore does not take-up much of the space below the screen box. Furthermore, when adjusted to a transport position, a side conveyor is usually located along one side of the apparatus i.e. extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and therefore against does not take-up any appreciable portion of the space available below the screen box.
However, a tail conveyor extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, when in the deployed position, and therefore occupies a large proportion of the space available below the screen box. When the apparatus is adjusted to a transport mode, it is necessary to reduce the overall height of the apparatus (so as to be able to pass with clearance below bridges), and therefore the discharge end of the supply conveyor, and also the screen box, are usually adjusted downwardly together to take-up the transport position. Therefore, the mounting of the tail conveyor in the space below the screen box must be such that (a) the tail conveyor can allow the downward movement of the screen box and (b) the tail conveyor also can be adjusted to take-up its transport position.
In the current state of the art, a tail conveyor usually is in two parts, of which a first part is pivotally mounted on the main frame or chassis of the apparatus, and a second part forms a prolongation of the first part when in the deployed position. However, the second part can be pivoted to an upwardly extending position to provide a transport mode of the tail conveyor. In this position, the overall length of the apparatus is reduced, but evidently the second part of the tail conveyor will be located rearwardly of the rear end of the screen box and the discharge end of the supply conveyor (after downward adjustment of the screen box and the supply conveyor).
Therefore, in the current state of the art, there are serious design constraints in the mounting of the screen box, the supply conveyor and the tail conveyor on the frame of the apparatus, given that all of these components must be provided with freedom of movement between the respective deployed and transport positions and without interfering with each other.
The present invention seeks to provide a bulk material processing plant e.g. a screening plant, and preferably a self-propelled apparatus, in which a different mode of adjustment is provided for the tail conveyor, and, in a first aspect, giving technical advantage of better utilisation of the space available and, in a second aspect, improved access to components above the tail conveyor e.g. a screen box in the case of a screening apparatus.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bulk material processing apparatus which comprises:
a longitudinally extending main frame;
a supply conveyor mounted on, and extending lengthwise of the main frame, and operative to convey a supply of bulk material from a forward lower end of the conveyor to an upper and rearward discharge end;
a material processing device mounted on the main frame and arranged to receive material from the discharge end of the supply conveyor, to process the material, and to discharge processed material;
a discharge conveyor mounted on the main frame below the processing device so as to be able to receive processed material discharged by the processing device, and to discharge the material to a discharge point located rearwardly of the apparatus;
means mounting the processing device on the main frame for movement between a raised operating position to a lowered transport position; and,
means mounting the discharge conveyor on the main frame for movement between a raised operative position and a lowered inoperative position;
in which the discharge conveyor has a first part which is mounted on the main frame, and a second part which is adjustable between an operative position in which it forms a prolongation of the first part, and a folded transport position in which it extends below the first part.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a bulk material processing apparatus which comprises:
a longitudinally extending main frame;
a supply conveyor mounted on, and extending lengthwise of the main frame, and operative to convey a supply of bulk material from a forward lower end of the conveyor to an upper and rearward discharge end;
a material processing device mounted on the main frame and arranged to receive material from the discharge end of the supply conveyor, to process the material, and to discharge processed material;
a discharge conveyor mounted on the main frame below the processing device so as to be able to receive processed material discharged by the processing device, and to discharge the material to a discharge point located rearwardly of the apparatus;
means mounting the processing device on the main frame for movement between a raised operating position to a lowered transport position;
means mounting the discharge conveyor on the main frame for movement between a raised operative position and a lowered inoperative position; and,
means connecting the discharge conveyor to the processing device so that they are movable together between the respective operating and transport positions.
in which the disch
Ellis Christopher P.
Extec Industries PLC
Madson & Metcalf
Ridley Richard
LandOfFree
Bulk material processing apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bulk material processing apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bulk material processing apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3257448