AU675337B2 - Connecting means for connecting a liner to a chute - Google Patents

Description

i/fl/oi 3 2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: i* *e oooe oeo o BELTRECO LIMITED 382 Victoria Road Malaga, Western Australia 6062 Australia Vince Pansini Griffith Hack Co., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, W.A. 6000, Australia Standard Complete Specification for the invention entitled: CONNECTING MEANS FOR CONNECTING A LINER TO A CHUTE Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PM 0780 filed August 20, 1993 The following is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 CONNECTING MEANS FOR CONNECTING A LINER TO A CHUTE The present invention relates to a connecting means for connecting a liner to a chute, a chute including a liner suspended therein by said connecting means, and a method of connecting a liner to a chute.

Chutes are commonly used in mineral processing and bulk materials processing for conveying material between different levels in a process line. Typically chutes have a peripheral boundary structure in the form of a wall or frame defining a passageway or channel through which material is conveyed between different levels.

Usually the cross-sectional area of the structure reduces in the downstream direction of material flow. In one type of chute the peripheral boundary structure is a wall made from sheets of metal connected together, in such a manner 4...that the chute has a square or rectangular cross-section.

It has been found in many applications that the chutes rapidly wear away by the action of the material passing therethrough. In addition fine material passing through 20 the chute tends to stick to the metal walls and over time 44.e builds up to cause clogging of the chute. This leads to increased process costs due to the need to repair, maintain or replace the chute and the associated downtime. This difficulty has been largely overcome by the use of a second type of chute in which the peripheral boundary structure is a frame made from a plurality of interconnected steel beams and having rubber tiles glued or otherwise mechanically connected to beams on the inside of the chute to form rubber walls. This type of chute is commonly referred to as an open frame rubber walled chute.

While the open frame rubber walled chute has far superior wear and self cleaning characteristics to the conventional steel chute, both types of chute are still susceptible to clogging by the collection of fine material on the chute walls. The fine material can be dislodged and the chute maintained operative by regularly striking the chute with a mallet or other driven impact or vibration device. However, this is generally inconvenient and can be dangerous as the chutes are often at elevated positions within a processing plant and cannot be easily accessed.

Furthermore, with the rubber walled chutes, any vibration caused by striking with the mallet is quickly dampened because of the way the rubber tiles are connected to the frame thereby limiting the effectiveness of this method of dislodging fine material.

The present invention was developed with a view to providing a connecting means for connecting a liner to the inside of a chute, a chute including a liner suspended therein by the connecting means and a method of connecting a liner to the inside of: the chute which assist in alleviating the problems of wear and clogging associated with the prior art chutes described above.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a connecting means for connecting a liner to a chute having a peripheral boundary 20 structure, said connecting means comprising: an elongate member provided at one end with first coupling means for coupling said connecting means to said liner and at an opposite end with second coupling means for coupling said connecting means to said peripheral boundary structure, thereby connecting said liner to said chute, i said connecting means adapted to allow adjustment of tension in said liner wherein when said connecting means is one of a plurality of connecting means coupled at spaced locations between said liner and said chute said connecting means can suspend said liner inside said chute under tension in spaced relationship to said peripNialo boundary structure, whereby, in use, material falling through said chute and impacting on said liner can cause said liner to vibrate.

Preferably said first coupling means ccl r'rises one of two complementary engaging means, the other of said complementary engaging means being provided on said liner.

3A Preferably said complementary engaging means com~prise an eyelet and a hooking means or stopping means_ engagable with said eyelet.

In an alternative embodiment said first coupling means comprises a web adapted for fixing to said liner and to which said one end can be coupled.

Preferably said web is folded and attached to itself to form a loop portion to which said one end is coupled.

Preferably said loop portion and said one end are coupled by way of mutual engagement.

Preferably an opening is formed in said loop portion and said one end is provided with a stop configured to prevent passage thereof through said opening, whereby, in use, said stop is engaged in said loop and said elongate member extends through said opening to allow coupling of 15 said opposite end to said chute.

In a further embodiment said web is one of a pair spaced apart webs disposed in a side by side manner, where one and the same end of each web is adapted for fixing to said liner, and each web can be folded and attached to itself to form respective spaced apart loop portions, whereby, in use, said one end can engage one or both loop portions with said elongate member extending between said loop portions.

In a further arrangement, said one end is 25 provided with a substantially C-shaped or closed loop member for engaging said loop portion.

In yet a further embodiment, said one end is provided with clamping means for clamping said web therein.

Preferably said clamping means comprises opposing jaws, one of which is provided with means for piercing said web and the other jaw provided with a recess for receiving said piercing means.

Preferably said second coupling means is adapted to allow adjustment of tension in said liner.

Preferably said second coupling means comprises fastening means threadingly engagable with said opposite end.

5 Preferably said web is fixed to said liner by means of an adhesive.

Preferably said web is attached to itself to form said loop portion by means of an adhesive.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a chute having a peripheral boundary structure and including a liner suspended therein by a plurality of connecting means in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably said chute has a plurality of sides and said liner comprises a like plurality of pieces, each liner piece being in facing relationship with a different side and of substantially identical shape to the side it faces, wherein a plurality of said connecting means are connected between opposite side edges of each liner piece and said chute.

Preferably said peripheral bounding structure comprises a frame made from a plurality of interconnected :beams.

Preferably said beams include a number of corner beams, each corner beam extending in a downstream direcuion along a line of intersection of respective adjacent chute eoog sides, wherein said opposite ends of the connecting means fixed along a side edge of a liner piece are coupled to an adjacent corner beam.

Preferably said chute further comprises biasing *emeans located between said peripheral bounding structure 0090*and said liner for biasing said liner away from an a facing chute side thereby further tensioning said liner.

Preferably said biasing means comprises a protrusion extending laterally of said facing chute side.

a Preferably said protrusion comprises an elongate element attached to and extending along one of said beams in said chute side.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of connecting a liner to a chute having a peripheral bounding structure 111 v1 -6comprising the steps of: providing a plucality of connecting means, each connecting means comprising an elongate member provided at one end with first coupling means for coupling said connecting means to said liner and at an opposite end with second coupling means for coupling said connecting means to said peripheral boundary structure each connecting means also adapted to allow adjustment of tension in said liner; coupling said first coupling means of each of a plurality of connecting means at spaced locations to said liner; and, coupling said second coupling means of each of said plurality of connecting means to said chute so as to suspend said liner inside said chute under tension in spaced relationship to said peripheral bounding structure; whereby, in use, material falling through said chute and impacting on said liner can cause said liner to vibrate.

Preferably said method further comprises the step of forming said liner in a plurality of pieces, each piece being of a shape substantially identical to a predetermined side of said peripheral bounding structure, wherein said attaching step includes, for each liner piece: attaching at S spaced locations an end of a first plurality of connecting 25 means along and inboard of one side edge of said liner piece; attaching at spaced locations an end of a second plurality of connecting means along and inboard of an opposite side edge of said liner piece; and, S 30 coupling an opposite end of said first and second plurality of connecting means to said peripheral bounding structure.

Preferably said coupling step includes coupling said opposite ends in a manner so as to allow adjustment of tensile forces within said connecting means whereby, in use, the tensile force in said liner can be adjusted.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the ii accompanying drawings in which: 1/, 7 Figure 1 is an exploded view of the connecting means; Figure 2 is a plan view of the connecting means shown in Figure 1 attached to a liner; Figure 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a web incorporated in the connecting means shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a chute having a liner connected thereto by the connecting means shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 5 is a view of Section S-S illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the chute illustrated in Figure 4; 15 Figures 7 to 11 illustrate alternate embodiments e of the connecting means.

shown in the accompanying drawings with particular reference to Figur-s 1 and 4 to 6, a connecting means 10 for connecting a liner 12 to a chute 14 having a peripheral bounding structure in the form of a frame 36 comprises an elongate member 18 provided at one end 20 with 9o** first coupling means 21 for coupling to the liner 12 and at an opposite end 22 a second coupling means 23 for coupling to the frame 36. Referring to Figures 4 to 6 it can be 25 seen that when the connecting means 10 is one of a plurality of like connecting means coupled at spaced *locations between the liner 12 and frame 36, the connecting S.Q S means suspend the liner 12 inside the frame 36 in spaced relationship to the frame (that is with a space between the liner 12 and the frame 36), so that material falling through the chute 14 and impacting on the liner 12 can cause the liner to vibrate.

The elongate member 18 is in the form of a T-bolt having a shank 26 with a cross-bar 28 welded to end First coupling means 21 includes a web 16 adapted for fixing to the liner 12 by adhesive. An opening in the form of hole 24 is formed in web 16 along its longitudinal I -8centre line but offset from the geometric centre of the web 16.

When forming the connecting means 10, the shank 26 is passed through hole 24 and the web 16 folded and attached to itself to form a loop portion 30 which engages the cross-bar 28 (as seen most clearly in Figure The web 16 is attached to itself by adhesive.

Second coupling means 23 comprises a fastening means in the form of a nut 32 which threadingly engages end 22 of the T-bolt 18. Tension in the liner 12 can be adjusted by simply screwing nut 32 along the shank 26. In order to provide a planar abutment for the nut 32 when coupling the connecting means 10 to a tapered portion of the chute 14 (refer Figure a wedge-shaped washer 34 is S 15 placed on the shank 26 before engagement of the nut 32. A plain washer 36 is located between the wedge-shaped washer and the nut 32.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 the single ro web 16 is one of a pair of spaced apart webs 16, 16' disposed in a side by side manner. One and the same end of each web 16 and 16' is fixed to the liner 12 and each web oo00 folded and attached to itself so as to form respective spaced loop portions. T-bolt 18 can be easily coupled to the loop portions by placing the cross bar 28 between the 25 loop portions with the cross bar 28 extending parallel to webs 16 and 16', then turning the T-bolt 18 so that the cross bar 28 engages both loop portions, with the shank 26 extending between the loop portions.

In an alternate embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8, the cross-bar 28 can be replaced with a substantially Cshaped member 28' (Figure 7) or a closed loop member 28" (Figure 8) through which the web 16 is passed prior to formation of loop portion 30 so that the members 28' or 28" engage the loop portion 30. Depending on the size of the gap in the C-shaped member 28' it may be possible to form the loop portion 30 in web 16 first and then insert the free ends of member 28' into opposite open ends of the loop 9 portion 30. In these embodiments there is no need to form the hole 24 in web 16 to effect coupling between the T-bolt and loop portion In a further embodiment shown in F.iure 9, end of the shank 26 is provided with clamping means 29 comprising opposing jaws 31 and 33. Jaw 31 is welded to shank 26 and extends perpendicular thereto. Jaw 33 is connected to jaw 31 by bolts 35 passing therethrough and threadingly engagable nuts 37. Piercing means in the form of spikes 39 depend from jaw 33. Holes formed in jaw 31 to receive the spikes 39 when the :I and 33 are clamped together by tightening of nuts bolts The web 16 passes between jaws 31 and 33 and bolts 35. In this embodiment, there is no need to form the loop portion S 15 30 as the web 16 can be strongly held by the clamping means 29, although the clamping means can also be applied to a loop portion In a further embodiment of the connecting means shown in Figures 10 and 11 the first coupling 21 is in the form of a plate 43 (Fig. 10) arid hook 45 (Fig. 12) welded to end 20 of shank 26. The liner is provided with o an eyelet (not shown) through which the shank 26 passes to effect coupling of the connecting means 10 with the liner 12. The plate 43 is dimensioned to prevent passage through 25 the eyelet.

Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the chute 14 comprises a frame 36 made from a plurality of *sea@: interconnected beams 38 in the form of angle irons. The chute has four sides 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d (each referred to in general as side 40i) arranged so that the chute is rectangular in horizontal cross-section with the crosssectional area reducing in the downstream direction.

Respective corner beams 42 extend in a downstream direction between adjacent sides 40i of the chute 14.

The liner 12 is composed of four liner pieces 44a, 44b, 44c and 44d (each referred to in general as liner piece 44i) which are in facing relationship with the chute 10 sides 40i when the liner is connected inside the chute Each liner piece 44i is of a shape substantially identical to the chute side 40i which it faces.

A plurality of connecting means 10 are attached along and inboard of opposite edges of liner piece 44a.

Each connecting means 10 is attached to liner piece 44a by adhering a part of its corresponding web 16 to the liner piece 44a. The shank 26 of T-holt 18 is passed through hole 24 and the web 16 folded and adhered onto itself to form loop portion 30 which engages the cross-bar 28 of the T-bolt. Once all of the connecting means have been attached to liner piece 44a, the end 22 of each T-bolt 18 is passed through a respective hole formed in the corner beams 42 adjacent the liner piece 44a. Washers 34 and 36 15 are then placed on end 22 of each T-bolt and nut 32 screwed e on the shank 26 to couple the connecting means to the chute.

As seen most clearly in Figure 6, the angle washers 34 abut the corner beams 42 so as to present the nut 32 of a connecting means 10 with a planar bearing surface. By screwing the nut 32 along the shank 26, the coo tension in the shank and thus the tension in the liner piece 44 can be adjusted.

CA further plurality of connecting means 10 are 25 likewise attached to each of liner pieces 44b, 44c and 44d, and the connecting means 10 coupled to respective corner beams 42 adjacent each liner piece 44i. As shown most 04 clearly in Figures 5 and 6, the connecting means 10 along adjacent side edges of adjacent liner pieces 44i are coupled to the same corner beam 42.

In this way, each liner piece 44i and thus the liner 12 can be suspended in the chute 14 in spaced relationship to the frame 36 by the connecting means The tension in the liner can be adjusted by simply screwing the nut 32 of each connecting means 10 along shank 26. The nuts 32 are screwed onto corresponding shanks 26 to a point so that a small impact such as that created by tapping the 11ii chute 14 with one's hand, will produce vibrations in thE liner.

The webs 16 are fixed to each liner piece 44i inboard of the liner side edges. This produces a flap 46 along each side of liner pieces 44i between the loop portion 30 and the nearest side edge of that liner piece 44i. The flap 46 of adjacent liner pieces are placed in overlapping relationship and adhered together to complete the construction of the liner 12, (refer Figures 5 and 6) To apply additional tension to liners of large area, biasing means in the form of rubber strips 48 can be attached to vertically extending beams 38 so as to abut a facing liner piece 44i. The rubber strips 48 bias the facing liner piece 44i away from the facing side thereby increasing tension in the liner 12 (refer Figure 0 By virtue of the above arrangement, material passing through the chute 14 and impacting on the liner 12 will cause vibrations in the liner 12 thereby dislodging fines that would otherwise adhere thereto. This provides a self-cleaning action and greatly reduces the likelihood of clogging. As the vibrations are caused by the material passing through the liner, the need for a person or custom machine to dislodge built-up fines by striking or 25 otherwise vibrating the chute or liner is dispensed with.

The liner 12 is made of a wear resistant rubber and the webs 16 from a rubberised polyester/nylon fabric.

The thickness of the liner 12 is dependent on the application of the chute. However, as the average mass of material passing through the chute reduces the wall thickness required also decreases to ensure that material can cause vibrations of the liner on impact.

Now that an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in thie relevant arts that numerous modifications and variations may be made without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example, while the peripheral 12 bounding structure is shown as frame 36, it can be made from sheets of metal welded or otherwise connected together. Also, the chute can be formed to have an arcuate cross-secticn rather than a rectangular one. Furthermore, the web 16 and liner 12 can be fixed together by means of hook and loop fastener, such as VELCRO (trade mark) fastener. All such modifications and variations are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.

SS

S*

S

Claims (22)

1. 4. Connecting means according to claim 1, wherein said first coupling means comprises a web adapted for fixing to said liner and to which said one end can be coupled.
2. 5. 'onnecting means according to claim 4, wherein said web is folded and attached to itself to fcrm a loop portion to which said one end is coupled. 'p 14
3. 6. Connecting means according to claim 5, wherein said loop portion and said one end are coupled by way of mutual engagement.
4. 7. Connecting means according to claim 6, wherein an opening is formed in said loop portion and said one end is provided with a stop configured to prevent passage thereof through said opening, whereby, in use, said stop is engaged in said loop and said elongate member extends through said opening to allow coupling of said opposite end to said chute.
5. 8. Connecting means according to claim 4, wherein said web is one of a pair of spaced apart webs disposed in a side by side manner, where one and the same end of each web is adapted for fixing to said liner, and each web can S 15 be folded and attached to itself to form respective spaced apart loop portions, whereby, in use, said one end can engage one or both loop portions with said elongate member extending between said loop portions. oboe
6. 9. Connecting means according to any one of claims 5, 6 or 8 wherein said one end is provided witha S substantially C-shaped or closed loop member for engaging said loop portion. 9 *too 10. Connecting means according to any one of 00.0.. claims 5, 6 and 8 wherein said one end is provided with clamping means for clamping said web therein.
7. 11. Connection means according to claim wherein said clamping means comprises opposing jaws, one of which is provided with means for piercing said web and the other jaw provided with a recess for receiving said piercing means. 4q i L 15
8. 12. Connecting means according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said second coupling means is adapted to allow said adjustment of tension in said liner.
9. 13. Connecting means according to claim 12, wherein said second coupling means comprises fastening means threadingly engagable with said opposite end.
10. 14. Connecting means according to any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein said web is fixed to said liner by means of an adhesive.
11. 15. Connecting means according to claim 5 or 8, wherein said web is attached to itself to form said loop portion by means of an adhesive.
12. 16. A chute having a peripheral boundary structure and including a liner suspended therein by a **so fee* 0 15 plurality of connecting means in accordance with any one of claims 1 to .0
13. 17. A chute according to claim 16, wherein said *SeS chute has a plurality of sides and said liner comprises a oeo like plurality of pieces, each liner piece being in facing 20 relationship with a different side and of substantially identical shape to the side it faces, wherein a plurality Noof said connecting means are connected between opposite side edges of each liner piece and said chute.
14. 18. A chute according to claim 17, wherein said 25 peripheral bounding structure comprises a frame made from a plurality of interconnected beams.
15. 19. A chute according to claim 18, wherein said beams include a number of corner beams, each corner beam extending in a downstream direction along a line of intersection of respective adjacent chute sides, wherein I C' 16 said opposite ends of the connecting means fixed along a side edge of a liner piece are coupled to an adjacent corner beam. A chute according to claims 16 to 19, wherein said chute further comprises biasing means located between said peripheral bounding structure and said liner for biasing said liner away from an a facing chute side thereby further tensioning said liner.
16. 21. A chute according to claim 20, said biasing means comprises a protrusion extending laterally of said facing chute side.
17. 22. A chute according 'o claim 21, wherein said protrusion comprises an elongate element attached to and extending along one of said beams in said chute side.
18. 23. A method of connecting a liner to a chute having a peripheral bounding structure comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of connecting means, each connecting means comprising an elongate member provided at 20 one end with first coupling means for coupling said connecting means to said liner and at an opposite end with *second coupling means for coupling said connecting means to said peripheral boundary structure each connecting means also adapted to allow adjustment of tension in said liner; S 25 coupling said first coupling means of each of a plurality of connecting means at spaced locations to said liner; and, coupling said second coupling means of each of said plurality of connecting means to said chute so as to suspend said liner inside said chute under tension in spaced relationship to said peripheral bounding structure; whereby, in use, material falling through said chute and impacting on said liner can cause said liner to J vibrate. 4 i 17
19. 24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said method further comprises the step of forming said liner in a plurality of pieces, each piece being of a shape substantially identical to a predetermined side of said peripheral bounding structure, wherein said attaching step includes, for each liner piece: attaching at spaced locations an end of a first plurality of connecting means along and inboard of one side edge of said liner piece; attaching at spaced locations an end of a second plurality of con-., t.;ng means along and inboard of an opposite side edc, f said liner piece; and, coupli-., .I ,)pposite end of said first and second plurality of connecting means to said peripheral bounding structure.
20. 25. A method according to claim 24, wherein said coupling step includes coupling said opposite ends in a manner so as to allow adjustment of tensile forces within said connecting means whereby, in use, the tensile force in said liner can be adjusted. 20 26. A connecting means for connecting a liner to a chute, said connecting means substantially as herein i described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. 27. A chute according to claim 16 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. 28. A method of connecting a liner to a chute substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 2nd day of October 1996. BELTRECO LIMITED By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. 18 ABSTRACT A connector 10 is disclosed for connecting and suspending a liner 12 in a chute 14. The connecting means allows the liner to be tensioned or stretched so that material falling through the chute 14 and impacting on the liner 12 can cause the liner to vibrate thereby assisting in preventing the build-up of material on the liner 12. In one embodiment, the connecting means 10 is in the form of T-bolt 18 having a shank 26 with a cross-bar 28 welded to one end 20. A web 16 is provided with a hole 24 which lies along the longitudinal centre line of the web but off-set from the geometric centre of the web 16. Shank 26 is passed through hole 24 and the web 16 folded and attached to itself to form a loop portion 30 which engages the cross bar 28. The folded web is then attached to the Sliner 12 by adhesive. Nut 32 threadingly engages an opposite end 22 of the T-bolt 18. Tensior i the liner 12 can be adjusted by screwing the nut 30 tc g shank 26. o *ose