AU2020202775B2

AU2020202775B2 - Quick release buckets for bucket wheels

Info

Publication number: AU2020202775B2
Application number: AU2020202775A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rudolf PLETZ; Belmin SMAJLOVIC; Joachim VORAUER
Original assignee: Koch Solutions GmbH
Current assignee: Koch Solutions GmbH
Priority date: 2019-05-14
Filing date: 2020-04-27
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-04-27
Also published as: CA3080491A1; ZA202002004B; BR102020009688A2; CA3080491C; AU2020202775A1

Abstract

A bucket wheel apparatus incorporates a bucket (1) connected to a crossbar (401) of a wheel (400), wherein hooks (2) surround the crossbar (401) such that the crossbar (401) is received in crossbar openings (13) of the hooks (2). The bucket (1) further has a retaining pin (12) for pre tensioning the bucket (1) to secure the bucket (1) to the wheel (400). Pre tensioning may be effected through the use of a slider key (403) which engages a receptacle (15) extending through the slider key (403). Theadvantages provided with embodiments of the invention include safe and quick assembly and disassembly of the bucket (1) to/from the wheel (400). 4/9 - 300 301 100 101 101*** FIG.7 (PRIOR ART) 400 402 401 FIG.8 401 9 1\010

Description

4/9

- 300 301 100

101 101*** FIG.7 (PRIOR ART)

400 402

401

FIG.8

401 9

1\010

QUICK RELEASE BUCKETS FOR BUCKET WHEELS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application pertains to material handling, and in particular bucket wheel apparatus and related methods of attaching buckets to a wheel.

It will become apparent from this disclosure that embodiments of the quick release bucket system and method described herein offer various advantages and benefits not yet available with conventional flowsheets.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Maintenance time to change out buckets of a bucket wheel apparatus can be time consuming and may cause complications during shut down, commissioning, or decommissioning. In some instances, removal of a single bucket from a wheel may take up to six hours.

A contributor to the long removal and installation process for attaching and removing buckets from a wheel is the tedious removal and installation of the pins 101 forming a connection between the bucket 100 and the wheel 300 at the front open end 122 of the bucket 100. There is a long-felt need to provide a robust connection system in which bucket installation and/or removal can be done in less time (e.g., under an hour, and as little as 30 minutes or less per bucket, without limitation).

The inventors have designed a quick release connection system for connecting one or more buckets 1 to a wheel 400 of a bucket wheel apparatus which incorporates a pre-tensioning device which addresses and overcomes the long bucket 100 change out times associated with prior designs (such as the conventional state-of-the-art design found in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 17.

The present disclosure may therefore provide an improved connection system and method for attaching and removing a bucket from a wheel of a bucket wheel apparatus which reduces maintenance and/or shut down time.

The present disclosure may also provide a system and method which circumvents the aforementioned problems associated with conventional bucket wheel designs.

The present disclosure may also provide an improved connection system and method for attaching and removing a bucket from a wheel of a bucket wheel apparatus which avoids the use of cumbersome pins 101 and alignment thereof (with a bucket 100 and wheel 300), and which removes complex work that can increase exposure to harm, compromise safety, or negatively impact health and safety of workers (e.g., Health Safety and Environmental (HSE), Environment Health & Safety (EHS), Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR), etc.).

These and other features will be apparent from the appended drawings and description herein.

It should be noted that embodiments of the invention may be particularly suitable for use with operations within the mining industry (e.g., concerning iron ore processing) and various material handling of materials associated therewith.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgement or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be combined with any other piece of prior art by a skilled person in the art.

By way of clarification and for avoidance of doubt, as used herein and except where the context requires otherwise, the term "comprise" and variations of the term, such as "comprising", "comprises" and "comprised", are not intended to exclude further additions, components, integers or steps.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect, the present invention provides a bucket (1) for attaching to a bucket wheel (400). The bucket (1) has a plurality of buckets (1) thereon. The bucket (1) comprises a body (21) defined by an outer side (30), a first side (31), and a second side (32). The bucket (1) further comprises a front open end (22) comprising teeth (20), a rear closed end (23), an inner wheel end (24), and an outer tangential end (25). The bucket (1) further comprises a plurality of hooks (2) adjacent the front open end (22). Each hook (2) has a pocket (3) which defines a crossbar opening (13) for receiving a first crossbar (401) provided to the bucket wheel (400). The bucket further comprises a retaining pin having a distal tip which can be received in a receptacle of a second crossbar which is adjacent the first crossbar and also adjacent the rear closed end of the bucket.

As is described above, embodiments of the present invention incorporate a hook design incorporating a plurality of hooks 2, rather than pins 101, which are assumed at a front open end 22 of the bucket 1. The plurality of hooks 2 are designed to receive a crossbar 401 of a wheel 400. Since the connection between each hook 2 and the crossbar 401 is loose, a retaining pin 12 at the rear closed end 23 of the bucket 1 is employed to pretension the bucket 1 at another adjacent crossbar 401 of the wheel 400.

In some embodiments, the bucket (1) may comprise a retaining pin (12) having a distal tip (14) which can be received in a receptacle (402) of a second crossbar (401). The second crossbar (401) may be provided on the bucket wheel (400) adjacent the first crossbar (401). The second crossbar (401) may also be proximate the rear closed end (23) of the bucket (1).

In some embodiments, the retaining pin (12) may comprise a transversely- or diametrically-extending receptacle (15) that receives a slider key (403) as shown in FIG. 18. In some embodiments, the slider key (403) may comprise an inclined surface (404) and the receptacle (15) of the retaining pin (12) may comprise a complimentary inclined surface (18) which engages the inclined surface (404) of the slider key (403), without limitation. In some embodiments, the position of the slider key (403) may be adjustable and may be fixed into place via endplates

(405), without limitation.

In some embodiments, the bucket (1) may comprise a guard (16) forming a protective pocket (17) for protecting the second crossbar (401) from abrasive material during operation of the bucket wheel (400), without limitation.

In some embodiments, the bucket (1) may comprise a scoop extension (7) which protects the retaining pin (12) from abrasive material during operation of the bucket wheel (400), without limitation. In some embodiments, the scoop extension (7) may be defined by scoop extension sidewalls (9), a scoop extension outer sidewall (10), and abutment surface (8), without limitation.

In some embodiments, each of the hooks (2) may comprise a finger (4) having a distal tip (5), without limitation. The tip (5) of each finger (4) may be tapered, rounded, or chamfered as shown, without limitation.

In some embodiments, each of the hooks (2) may comprise a guide surface (11) provided in the form of a ramped surface for receiving the first crossbar (401), without limitation.

In another aspect, the present provides a bucket wheel (400) comprising at least two buckets (1) according to the above described aspect of the invention. Hooks (2) of a first one of the two buckets engage a first crossbar (401) of the bucket wheel (400). Hooks (2) of a second one of the two buckets engage a second crossbar (401) of the bucket wheel (400). A retaining pin (12) extending from the first one of the two buckets is received in a receptacle (402) of the second crossbar (401). The retaining pin (12) of the first one of the two buckets is locked to the second crossbar (401) via a slider key (403). The slider key (405) can be secured by one or more endplates (405).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description which is being made, and for the purpose of aiding to better understand the features of the invention, a set of drawings illustrating the new and novel bucket wheel system and method of attachment to and removal of a bucket from a wheel is attached to the present specification as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non limiting character.

FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 illustrate various views of a conventional bucket used in a conventional bucket wheel apparatus.

FIGS. 11, 13, and 15-17 illustrate various views of a conventional bucket attached to a conventional wheel of a bucket wheel apparatus.

FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 illustrate an improved bucket according to a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 12, 14, 18, and 19 illustrate the improved bucket of FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, and being secured to an improved wheel, according to certain non-limiting embodiments of the invention, which will be described in further detail hereinafter.

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to drawings in conjunction with exemplary embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the present invention has been described herein using exemplary embodiments of a bucket wheel apparatus and connection method for attaching and removing a bucket from a wheel, it should be understood that numerous variations and adaptations of the same will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the field from the teachings provided herein.

The detailed embodiments shown and described in the text and figures should not be construed as limiting in scope; rather, all design features should be considered to be exemplary or suggestive in nature. Accordingly, this invention is only limited by the appended claims.

Moreover, while this subject matter has been disclosed with reference to specific embodiments, it is apparent that other embodiments and variations can be devised by others skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. The appended claims may include some, but not all of such embodiments and equivalent variations.

Where ranges are disclosed herein, the range may be inclusive of each high and low value listed. All patent publications mentioned herein are hereby incorporated by reference, in their entirety for any and all purposes, as if fully set forth herein.

The inventors have recognized a novel and heretofore unappreciated system and method of connecting one or more buckets 1 to a wheel 400 in a bucket wheel apparatus. Embodiments involve the inventive concept of using hooks 2 and a pre-tensioning device, such as a retaining pin 12 which can be received in a receptacle 402 of a crossbar 401 of a wheel 400.

Turning now to prior art FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15-17, a conventional bucket 100 is attached to a conventional bucket wheel 300 via a number of pins 101 extending through respective pin openings 106 through the conventional bucket wheel 300. The pins 101 extend into the conventional bucket wheel 300 to secure the bucket 100 thereto.

The conventional bucket 100 comprises an outer side 130 which is designed to face away from the conventional bucket wheel 300. The conventional bucket 100 further comprises a first side 131 and a second side 132 which join with the outer side 130 to form a body 121. The body 121 of the conventional bucket 100 has a front open end 122 which employs a number of teeth 120, a rear closed end 123, an outer tangential end 125 which is configured to be furthest away from the conventional bucket wheel 300, and an inner wheel end 124 which is configured to be closest to and/or abut the conventional bucket wheel 300.

The conventional bucket 100 may, as shown, comprise an extension 107 having an abutment flange 108, one or more securing tab openings 111 extending through the abutment flange 108, one or more first support(s) 109, such as a gusset or a flange as shown, and one or more second supports 112, such as a gusset or a flange as shown. The extension 107 may be positioned below an extension outer sidewall 110, such that the one or more first support(s) 109 connect the abutment flange 108 to the extension outer sidewall 110.

When mounted to the conventional bucket wheel 300, the one or more securing tab openings 111 may align with one or more complimentary securing tabs 302 which extend from a crossbar 301 of the conventional bucket wheel 300. The crossbar 301 may be flat or rectangular as shown.

Turning now to the non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the invention found in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 18, and 19, according to some embodiments, a system and method for connecting and/or disconnecting a bucket 1 to a wheel 400 may comprise a bucket 1 having one or more hooks 2.

Each hook 2 may comprise one or more apertures 6 as shown. Each hook 2 may comprise a finger 4 having a distal tip 5 which defines a pocket 3. The pocket 3, combined with a guide surface 11 forms a crossbar opening 13 which is suitable for receiving a crossbar 401 of a bucket wheel 400. The crossbar 401 may be cylindrical or round in shape as shown, and may comprise a receptacle 402, such as a transversely- or diametrically-extending)

The bucket 1 similarly comprises an outer side 30 which is designed to face away from the conventional bucket wheel 400. The bucket 1 further comprises a first side 31 and a second side 32 which join with the outer side 30 to form a body 21. The body 21 of the bucket 1 has a front open end 22 which employs a number of teeth 20, a rear closed end 23, an outer tangential end 25 which is configured to be furthest away from the bucket wheel 400, and an inner wheel end 24 which is configured to be closest to and/or abut the bucket wheel 400.

The bucket 1 may, as shown, comprise a scoop extension 7 comprising an abutment surface 8, scoop extension sidewalls 9, and a scoop extension outer sidewall 10. The abutment surface 8 may be configured to contact a crossbar 401 of the bucket wheel 400. Extending from the bucket 1 (e.g., in a direction substantially aligned with the direction of travel of the bucket 1 and generally parallel to the abutment surface 8 is a retaining pin 12 configured for pre tensioning the bucket 1 to the bucket wheel 400.

The retaining pin 12 may comprise a distal tip 14 and a transversely- or diametrically-extending receptacle 15 for receiving a slider key 403. The distal tip 14 of the retaining pin 12 may be chamfered or rounded to promote easy ingress and egress from the receptacle 402 in the crossbar 401.

As shown in FIG. 18, the slider key 403 may comprise an inclined surface 404, which engages a complimentary inclined surface 18 within the receptacle 15 of the retaining pin 12. The slider key 403 may be tightened and held in place using one or more endplates 405 as shown, to fix the bucket 1, slider key 403, and retaining pin 12 to the bucket wheel 400.

The bucket 1 may, as shown, comprise a number of guards 16 near scoop extension 7 and flanking scoop extension sidewalls 9 to form a protective pocket 17 which is configured to protect hooks 2 while in operation (See FIG. 12, which most clearly shows how crossbar 401 is protected by guards 16.

It should be understood that where a single feature, apparatus, component, or device is mentioned herein, a plurality of the same feature, apparatus, component, or device may be employed. Accordingly, where used herein, the term "a" preceding a noun may, in most practical instances, be replaced with "at least one of' or "a plurality', without limitation.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, it should be appreciated that one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention.

LIST OF ENUMERATED IDENTIFIERS IN THE DRAWINGS

1 Bucket 2 Hook 3 Pocket 4 Finger 5 Tip 6 Aperture 7 Scoop extension 8 Abutment surface 9 Scoop extension sidewall 10 Scoop extension outer sidewall 11 Guide surface 12 Retaining pin 13 Crossbar opening 14 Tip 15 Receptacle (e.g., transversely- or diametrically-extending) 16 Guard 17 Protective pocket 18 Complimentary inclined surface 20 Teeth 21 Body 22 Front open end ofbucket 23 Rear closed end of bucket 24 Inner wheel end of bucket 25 Outer tangential end of bucket 30 Outer side 31 First side 32 Second side

100 Conventional bucket 101 Pin 106 Pin opening 107 Extension 108 Abutment flange 109 First support(s) (e.g., gusset or flange) 110 Extension outer sidewall 111 Securing tab opening 112 Second support(s) (e.g., gusset or flange) 120 Teeth 121 Body 122 Front open end ofbucket 123 Rear closed end of bucket 124 Inner wheel end of bucket 125 Outer tangential end of bucket 130 Outer side 131 First side 132 Second side 300 Conventional bucket wheel 301 Crossbar (flat) 302 Securing tab 400 Bucket wheel 401 Crossbar (e.g., cylindrical) 402 Receptacle (e.g., transversely- or diametrically-extending) 403 Sliderkey 404 Inclined surface 405 Endplate

Claims

1. A bucket for attaching to a bucket wheel having a plurality of buckets thereon, the bucket comprising a body defined by an outer side, a first side, and a second side; a front open end comprising teeth, a rear closed end, an inner wheel end, an outer tangential end, wherein the bucket further comprises a plurality of hooks adjacent the front open end, each hook having a pocket which defines a crossbar opening for receiving a first crossbar provided to the bucket wheel, wherein the bucket further comprises a retaining pin having a distal tip which can be received in a receptacle of a second crossbar which is adjacent the first crossbar and also adjacent the rear closed end of the bucket.

2. The bucket according to claim 1, wherein the retaining pin comprises a transversely or diametrically-extending receptacle that receives a slider key.

3. The bucket according to claim 2, wherein the slider key comprises an inclined surface and the receptacle of the retaining pin comprises a complimentary inclined surface which engages the inclined surface of the slider key.

4. The bucket according to claim 3, wherein the position of the slider key is adjustable and may be fixed into place via endplates.

5. The bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a guard forming a protective pocket for protecting the second crossbar from abrasive material during operation of the bucket wheel.

6. The bucket according to any one of claims 1-5, further comprising a scoop extension which protects the retaining pin from abrasive material during operation of the bucket wheel.

7. The bucket according to claim 6, wherein the scoop extension is defined by scoop extension sidewalls, a scoop extension outer sidewall, and abutment surface.

8. The bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each of the hooks comprise a finger having a distal tip.

9. The bucket according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein each of the hooks comprise a guide surface provided in the form of a ramped surface for receiving the first crossbar.

10. A bucket wheel comprising two buckets according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein hooks of a first one of the two buckets engage a first crossbar of the bucket wheel, wherein hooks of a second one of the two buckets engage a second crossbar of the bucket wheel, and wherein a retaining pin extending from the first one of the two buckets is received in a receptacle of the second crossbar and locked thereto via a slider key.