AU2019100641A4 - Improvements in conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A modular conveyor assembly comprises a ground or base support for placement on ground such as a pre-cast concrete sleeper (18), leg supports (14) removably attachable to the base support (18) and a stringer module (12) defining two spaced longitudinal members (50, 52) linked by cross members defining idler rollers removably attachable to the leg supports (14). ,0: Cy\-

Description

[0001] This invention relates to improvements in conveyors.

Background [0002] Conveyors are extensively used in the mining industry for moving mined ore for processing (e.g. crushing) or for transfer to transport such as rail wagons, barges, ships or the like.

[0003] Like most mining infrastructure, conveyors are expensive to buy and specialised personnel are required to set up the conveyors.

[0004] Since most mines are located in remote areas, particularly in Australia, transporting the conveyors and their components to the mine site is also expensive. In general, the cost of transport is related to the size of the product being transported and thus most of the assembly of conveyors takes place on site and is conducted by specialised teams of workers. Construction of a conveyor by specialised personnel at a remote location is expensive.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an improved conveyor and at least address and ameliorate the problems associated with existing conveyors.

[0006] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed before the priority date of each of the appended claims.

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Summary [0007] In a first broad aspect, the present invention provides a modular conveyor assembly comprising a ground or base support for placement on ground, leg supports removably attachable to the base support and a stringer module defining two spaced longitudinal members linked by cross members defining idler rollers removably attachable to the leg supports.

[0008] The ground or base support may comprise a sleeper which is most preferably made from concrete or the like, but may be made of any suitable material. The sleeper may define apertures in a top face for receiving jacking screws, bolts or the like. The sleepers are most preferably pre-cast concrete.

[0009] The leg supports may comprise two legs connected by a cross member. The upper surface of the cross member in use, may define an inverted v-shaped cross section. The base of each leg may define a plate which is horizontal in use and defines a hole for receiving a screw, bolt or the like.

[0010] It is preferred that the stringer defines leg support fittings which define feet having an inverted v-shaped cross section that matches the upper surface of the cross member of the leg support. The fitting may further define apertures for receiving bolts for connecting the stringer to the leg support assembly.

[0011] The longitudinal members of the stringer may define an upper flange.

[0012] The modules may be stacked one on top of another with the leg support fittings acting as a guide to ensure that the modules are correctly superposed.

[0013] The conveyor has a number of advantages over existing conveyors. First, it is possible for it to be assembled by ordinary (non-specialised) mine workers, rather than by specialised conveyor installers. Secondly, it is relocatable so can be moved (by nonspecialised workers) when required, e.g. after when an ore body becomes exhausted or

2019100641 13 Jun 2019 when a mine is redesigned or closed. Thus the capital invested into the conveyor is not wasted when the ore body is exhausted and the conveyor does not become redundant.

[0014] Because the system is modular, it is flexible and can be added to/expanded when required, or adjusted.

[0015] The conveyor has a lower capital cost than traditional fixed conveyors.

[0016] Being stackable, the conveyor is easy to store and transport.

[0017] The invention also provides optional tools for use with the modular conveyor assembly/system including a tool for lifting the sleeper for attachment to an excavator which includes a hydraulically operated arms for grabbing and retaining a sleeper.

[0018] The invention also provides a lifting tool for lifting a stringer which uses the upper flange of the stringer to locate and lock into position for safe lifting.

[0019] Throughout this specification the word comprise, or variations such as comprises or comprising, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.

Brief Description of Drawings [0020] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Figure 1 is an exploded view of the components making up a module of a stackable conveyor;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of an assembled conveyor;

Figure 3 is an end view of the assembled conveyor shown in Figure 2;

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Figure 4 is an top plan view of the assembled conveyor shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an side view of the assembled conveyor shown in Figure 2;

Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the stacking of the stringers of the conveyor;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a leg assembly of the conveyor;

Figure 8 is an isometric view of the leg assembly of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a sleeper for the conveyor;

Figure 10 is an end view illustrating the stacking of the conveyor stringers;

Figure 11 is an isometric view illustrating stacking of the conveyor stringers;

Figure 12 is an isometric view showing packing of the leg assemblies;

Figure 13 is an isometric view showing packing of conveyor components on a truck;

Figure 14 is an isometric view of a sleeper lifting tool;

Figure 15 is an end view of the sleeper lifting tool of Figure 14; and

Figure 16 is a schematic view of a lifting apparatus for lifting a stringer.

Description of Embodiments [0021] Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the components making up a module 10 of the conveyor. In particular each module 10

2019100641 13 Jun 2019 includes a longitudinal support member or stringer assembly 12, leg assemblies 14, jacking screws 16 and precast concrete sleepers 18 for foundation support.

[0022] With reference to Figures 2 and 4 in particular, each stringer is formed from two opposed longitudinal side members 50, 52 linked by a series of concave cross members 54 on each of which a plurality of idler rollers 56 are located, defining a concave support 58 for a conveyor belt 60, as is best seen in the end view Figure 3. Each stringer 12 also defines leg support fittings 62 for attaching a leg to the conveyor which also serves as a guide for stacking the stringers. The side members define an upper flange 50a, 52a respectively (refer to Figures 2 and 3) which extends along the length of the stringer.

[0023] The leg support fittings, best seen in Figure 6, include a plate 70 attached to the inner face of the side members. The leg support fittings include two generally parallel plates 72, 74 which extend perpendicular to the side members and define an inverted v-shaped foot 76 at their base which extends between the plates. The upper ends 78 of the plates flare outwards and a cross plate extends between the plates to define a concave depression or recess 82 which is sized and shaped to receive the base of a leg support of a superposed stringer, as shown in Figure 6. Two holes 77 are defined in the plate adjacent the foot 76.

[0024] As is best seen in Figures 7 and 8, the leg assemblies 14 are a type of H frame with vertical legs 81, 82 connected by a cross member 84. The cross-member has an inverted V-shaped cross-section defining a ridge 86 and angled side faces 88, 90 best seen in Figure 4, which matches the v-shaped foot 76 of the leg supports. Beneath the cross member 84 there is an optional V-shaped cross member 92 that can be provided and equipped with idler rollers 94 for a return conveyor, if required. The base of the each legs defines a hole 96 for receiving the jacking screw 16. Holes 95, best seen in Figure 5, are defined at the top of each of the legs for connecting the legs to the leg support fittings of the stringers.

2019100641 13 Jun 2019 [0025] Figure 9 shows a ground or base support in the form of a sleeper 18 for the conveyor which is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The sleeper includes two slots 100, 102 in each longitudinal side face for receiving the tines of a fork lift. Two holes 104, 106 are defined in the top of the sleeper for receiving the jacking screws 16 for attaching the leg assemblies to the sleeper.

[0026] The assembly can be preassembled away from the project site, and stacked to maximise shipping efficiency. The leg support fittings 70 act as stacking guides for the stringers and ensure safe stacking.

[0027] The installation of the conveyor system is as follows. In a first step a suitable site is determined for the conveyor and any necessary are earthworks constructed to receive the conveyor system. Sleepers 18 are placed on the earthworks/ground, spaced apart at the required spacing. These can be placed either using the specialised sleeper lifting tool described below or by using conventional systems, such as a crane and rigging.

[0028] The jacking screws 16 are then inserted into holes 104, 106 in the top of the sleepers and the height of the mating washer 108 at the top of the jacking screw is checked and adjusted to the required height to ensure that the conveyor is at the desired inclination.

[0029] Next the leg assemblies are placed on the jacking screws/sleepers which locate in the holes 96 in the base of the leg assemblies 14.

[0030] The stringer modules are then lowered onto the leg assemblies, optionally using the module lifting tool described below. The v-shaped feet 76 of the leg supports defined on the stringers locate on the inverted v-shaped cross member 84 of the leg assemblies. They can then be secured to the each other using bolts passing through aligned holes 77 and 95 in the legs and leg supports respectively. The conveyor can then be fitted with a conveyor belt and conveyor belt drive means (not shown) of a conventional nature.

2019100641 13 Jun 2019 [0031] The conveyor assembly can be disassembled by reversing the assembly procedure.

[0032] Figures 14 to 16 show equipment that may be used for the purposes of assembling the conveyor. In particular Figures 14 and 15 show a sleeper lifting tool 200 which is designed to be fixed to an excavator. The tool comprises a mounting plate 202 which attaches to the excavator which is mounted for pivoting and rotation to a sleeper grabber assembly 210 which include an elongate member 212 which defines pivoting grabber arms 214 at each end controlled by hydraulic cylinders 216, and guide arms 218. The grabber arms 214 define flanges which located under the ends of the sleeper. A leg 220 depends down from the elongate member 212 to ensure the correct spacing/positioning of the sleeper for pick up.

[0033] Figure 16 shows a stringer lifting tool 300 which can be used to lift the stringer from a stack on a truck body and lower the stringer onto the leg assemblies using a crane or the like (not shown). The tool defines pivotable arms whose ends locate under the upper flanges 52a, 52b of the stringer for safe lifting.

[0034] The stringer assembly is designed for efficient transport and with reference to Figure 13, a standard truck tray is able to carry a stack of five stringer assemblies and eight H-frame leg assemblies. Figure 12 shows eight leg assemblies packed side by side. Figure 11 shows four stringer modules stacked one on top of another.

[0035] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, without departing from the broad general scope of the present disclosure. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

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CLAIMS:

Claims (7)

1. 2019100641 13 Jun 2019

   CLAIMS:

   1. A modular conveyor assembly comprising a ground or base support for placement on ground, leg supports removably attachable to the base support and a stringer module defining two spaced longitudinal members linked by cross members defining idler rollers removably attachable to the leg supports.
2. 2. A modular conveyor assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground or base support comprises a sleeper which is most preferably made from pre-cast concrete and wherein the sleeper define apertures in a top face for receiving jacking screws, bolts or the like.
3. 3. A modular conveyor assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the leg supports comprise two legs connected by a cross member and wherein the upper surface of the cross member preferably has an inverted v-shaped cross section and wherein the base of each leg may defines a hole for receiving a screw, bolt or the like and wherein optionally a further v-shaped cross member is defined below the cross member in use for supporting a return conveyor belt.
4. 4. A modular conveyor assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the stringer module defines leg support fittings which define feet having an inverted v-shaped cross section that matches the upper surface of the cross member of the leg support and wherein the fittings optionally define apertures for receiving bolts for connecting the stringer to the leg support assembly.
5. 5. An installed modular conveyor assembly comprising components recited in any one of claims 1 to 5 and further including a conveyor belt carried on the idler rollers
6. 6. A kit of parts for use in assembling a modular conveyor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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7. 7. A tool for lifting a sleeper for a modular conveyor assembly including a mounting plate for attachment to an excavator which plate is mounted for pivoting and rotation relative to a sleeper grabber assembly which includes an elongate member which defines pivoting grabber arms at each end of the elongate member, preferably controlled by hydraulic cylinders, and wherein the grabber arms define flanges which located under ends of the sleeper and a leg extends from the elongate member to position the sleeper for pick up.

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