AU2003213870B2

AU2003213870B2 - Chute lining

Info

Publication number: AU2003213870B2
Application number: AU2003213870A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Janusz Waldemar Kania; Henryk Edward Wenzel
Original assignee: Metso Minerals Australia Ltd
Current assignee: Metso Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-04-10
Filing date: 2003-04-10
Publication date: 2008-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-10
Also published as: AU2003213870A1

Description

WO 03/086907 PCT/AU03/00426

TITLE

"CHUTE LINING" FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a chute lining.

In many mineral processing environments material is passed into processing apparatus such as crushers, screens or conveyors by means of a chute. Frequently, such chutes are subject to high levels of abrasion caused by the impact of material against the chute walls. Further, chutes can be prone to blockage caused by the adherence of material to the chute walls. The adhering material can be wet and/or dry.

It is known to line chutes with abrasive resistant materials such as ceramic, metallic or plastic material in order to reduce these effects.

The present invention attempts to alleviate at least in part some of the aforementioned problems associated with chutes.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a chute lining comprising a plurality of resilient members, characterised in that each resilient member is fixed relative to an internal wall of the chute and has an outer end which is free to move in at least one dimension relative to the internal wall of the chute, whereby movement of the outer end of the resilient member assists in the transfer of material through the chute.

WO 03/086907 PCT/AU03/00426 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a cross sectional representation of a chute having a lining in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional representation of a portion of the lining of the chute of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic isometric view of a portion of the lining of the chute of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the Figures, there is shown a chute 10 having an internal wall 12. The chute 10 has a lining comprised of a plurality of resilient members 14 which are fixed to the internal wall 12, and project a short distance within the chute Each resilient member 14 comprises a substantially rectangular rubber strip having a first end 16 and a second end 18, a top face 20 and a lower face 22, and two opposed sides 21. This is best seen in Figure 3.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the resilient members extend along an inner side wall of the chute 10, with the distance between the opposed sides 21 being much greater than that between the first end 16 and the second end 18.

The resilient member 14 has at least one aperture 24 passing between the top face and the lower face 22 as shown in Figure 2. In the embodiment of the drawings the or each aperture 24 is located adjacent the first end 16 of the resilient member 14, and enables the resilient member 14 to be fixed to the internal wall 12. The resilient WO 03/086907 PCT/AU03/00426 member 14 is fixed to the internal wall 12 by any suitable means, such as a bolt 28 passing through the or each aperture 24 and the internal wall 12. The bolt 28 may be secured in position by means of a conventional nut and washer arrangement located externally of the internal wall 12.

An elongate spacer in the form of a pipe 26 extends from one opposed side of each resilient member 14 to the other, across the top face 20 of the resilient member 14. It will be appreciated that the elongate spacer may be of another shape. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipe is held in position by means of pipe brackets 31 which are welded to the bolts 28.

Each pipe 26 is arranged to abut the lower face 22 of the resilient member 14 immediately above the pipe 26, applying a bending force to this resilient member 14.

In this way the second end 18 of each resilient member 14 is arranged to project within the chute 10 away from the internal wall 12.

Each resilient member is thus divided into two portions, a first portion 32 extending from the first end 16 to a line of connection with an adjoining pipe 26, and a second portion 34 extending from the line of connection with the pipe 26 to the second end 18. The first portion 32 is fixed relative to the internal wall 12, whereas the second portion 34 is arranged to pivot about the pipe 26.

The plurality of resilient members 14 arranged in this fashion form a series of substantially parallel resilient ledges arranged along the internal wall 12 of the chute It will be appreciated that a plurality of such series of ledges will be arranged about the inner circumference of the chute WO 03/086907 PCT/AU03/00426 In use, material to be processed enters the chute 10 from the top, for instance via a banana screen 40 as shown in Figure 1, and passes through the chute 10. Material forced against the sides of the chute 10 will impact against the resilient members 14.

This will cause vibration of the second portions 34 of the resilient members 14. This vibration will promote the continued transfer of material from one resilient member 14 to another, lower resilient member 14 until the material has passed through the chute In a preferred operation of the invention, small particles may adhere to the upper face of resilient members 14. Further particles coming in to contact with the resilient members 14 therefore contact the adhered particles rather than the upper face 20. This mode of operation reduces the abrasive wear suffered by resilient members 14. A similar effect may occur with small particles adjacent the resilient members 14 having a smaller velocity than other particles moving through the chute.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. For instance, the resilient members 14 may be clamped to the internal wall 12 by means other than the bolt arrangement hereinabove described.

Claims

1. A chute lining comprising a plurality of resilient members, characterised in that each resilient member has a first portion fixed relative to an internal wall of the chute and has a second portion spaced from the internal wall by a spacer, the second portion having an outer end which is free to move in at least one dimension relative to the internal wall of the chute, whereby movement of the outer end of the resilient member assists in the transfer of material through the chute.

2. A chute lining as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that the outer end of the resilient member projects into the chute.

3. A chute lining as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the second portion being able to pivot relative to the first portion.

4. A chute lining as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the spacer is an elongate spacer.

A chute lining as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the first portion is held in position between two substantially parallel elongate spacers.

6. A chute lining as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, characterised in that the elongate spacers are pipes.

7. A chute lining as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the resilient members are fixed to the internal wall by means of bolts.

8. A chute lining as claimed in Claim 7, characterised in that the bolts are attached to pipe brackets.

9. A chute lining as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the resilient members are substantially rectangular in shape. AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU