EP0701482B1

EP0701482B1 - A device comprising a frame and an element rotably supported therein

Info

Publication number: EP0701482B1
Application number: EP94918632A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sven-Olov Biller
Original assignee: Svedala Arbra AB
Current assignee: Sandvik SRP AB
Priority date: 1993-06-07
Filing date: 1994-06-01
Publication date: 1999-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 2014-06-01
Also published as: JP3159709B2; JPH08510956A; EP0701482A1; ATE185498T1; DE69421176D1; SE501406C2; WO1994029025A1; SE9301952L; SE9301952D0

Abstract

A device of the kind comprising a frame (1) and an element (2) rotatably supported therein includes a drive assembly (17) arranged at the frame (1), said drive assembly having an output drive axle (16) drivingly connected to a first end of the element (2). Means (18) are provided to support the drive assembly (17) relative to the frame and prevent a body (19) of the drive assembly to rotate relative to the frame. A bearing (20), which is provided for the output drive axle (16) and comprised in the drive assembly (17), is also arranged to function as a rotation bearing for the rotatable element (2) as a consequence of the latter being supported relative to the frame (1) via the output drive axle (16).

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

This invention concerns devices as described in the precharacterizing parts of the appendent claims 1 and 7 respectively. Although other applications of the device according to the invention are quite possible, it is preferred to realize the device as a disintegrating device, the rotatably supported element being arranged to exert a disintegrating action on the material to be disintegrated.

Prior art in this respect suffers from several disadvantages. A primary disadvantage with regard to the device as it is defined in the precharacterizing part of enclosed claim 1 resides in the support of the rotatable element relative to the frame at the first end of the element and the connection of the rotatable element to the output drive axle of the drive assembly being rather complicated, and, accordingly, costly. Furthermore, it is relatively difficult to carry out assembly, disassembly and service. According to the prior art, the rotatable element is formed by a main section, which for example may be cross-sectionally tubular, and end pieces removably attached thereto. At the end of the rotatable element adjacent to the drive assembly, a bearing arrangement is arranged to function supporting between the frame and the end piece attached to the main section of the rotatable element. The end piece is in its turn connected to an output drive axle of the drive assembly in a manner which precludes relative rotation. The drive assembly comprises a body which is rigidly connected to the frame of the device. This construction involves great requirements for precision with regard to the connection between the main section of the rotatable element and the end piece, i.e. the rotatable element must present a very precise straightness in its assembled state. Furthermore, two bearing arrangements are required, namely a first between the end piece and the frame and a second, which is contained in the drive assembly and which supports its output drive axle relative to the body of the assembly.

DE-A-2 359 852 is related to a gyro device having a rotatable element, which is supported at one end only. Thus, this known device deviates from what is defined in the precharacterizing part of claim 1. Furthermore, it is pointed out that no clear teaching as to how the rotatable axle is intended to be put into rotation is given. It is stated that the rotatable axle is connected to a running mantle but it is not clarified how this mantle is co-ordinated with a drive assembly. Some kind of drive assembly would have to be coupled to the running mantle but one has to question how the drive assembly is supported relative to a frame of the device. It is reasonable to assume that the output axle of a drive assembly, which has to be added, should be coupled to the running mantle by some suitable coupling. In case the drive assembly and the frame would be rigidly connected, this coupling would have to be at least to some extent of a flexible nature in order to compensate for possible misalignments. However, this would then mean that such a design which already has been discussed hereinabove and which is of a "double bearing" type would be at hand.

A secondary disadvantage of the known device as it appears from the precharacterizing part of the appendent claim 7 concerns the support of the rotatable element at its second end. Prior art involves also here the disadvantage that the work with regard to assembly, disassembly and service is tiresome and time consuming. In order to disassemble the end piece and the bearing arrangement, they must be separated from each other so that the end piece can be removed from the sleeve in a direction inwardly into the frame whereas, on the contrary, the bearing arrangement is disassembled outwardly in a direction from the frame. A tertiary disadvantage in this connection is that the end piece will rotate with a disk shaped portion for connection to the main section of the rotatable element entirely at the side of the sleeve receiving the bearing arrangement, for what reason debris may have entered in behind the disk shaped portion and may have accumulated there so that disassembly and service have been made more difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims at reducing the disadvantages discussed hereinabove.

According to a first aspect of the invention, reduction or elimination of the primary disadvantage discussed by way of introduction is aimed at. This is obtained by arranging, in accordance with the characterizing part of claim 1, a bearing, which is comprised in the drive assembly and which is provided for the output drive axle, to function additionally as a rotation bearing for the rotatable element as a consequence of the same being supported relative to the frame via the output drive axle. Accordingly, the axle bearing in the drive assembly will serve as a rotation bearing not only for the drive axle but also for the rotatable element itself, whereby the construction is considerably simplified.

By arranging, the means for supporting the drive assembly relative to the frame and preventing the body of the drive assembly to rotate relative to the frame so as to allow some relative movement, including some angular movement, between the body and the frame, the requirements for precision as far as the straightness of the rotatable element is concerned are considerably reduced because occurring precision deficiencies within certain limits are adapted by the body of the drive assembly moving to the degree required relative to the frame.

What concerns the secondary disadvantage above, the invention proposes, in accordance with claim 7, the measure to design the bearing arrangement as well as the end piece removable in a direction outwardly from the frame through the sleeve. Thus, the bearing arrangement as well as the end piece may be drawn out of the sleeve and be replaced with new or renovated corresponding components and be connected to the main section of the rotatable element, whereas the removed bearing arrangement and the associated end piece may be disassembled from each other at another place and be subjected to the necessary service or renovation. It is then understood that the end piece, in the normal case, is conceived to be axially secured relative to the bearing arrangement so that these two components are removed from the sleeve in a direction outwardly as a unit.

The tertiary disadvantage above is, reduced by a portion of the end piece being adapted, in the assembled state of the device, to run with a peripherical surface radially inwardly of and relatively closely adjacent to an internal surface of the sleeve end portion turned inwardly into the frame for the purpose to restrict passage of debris in a direction outwardly towards the bearing arrangement.

Further preferable features and advantages of the device according to the invention are defined in dependent claims and dealt with in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the enclosed drawings a more close description of an embodiment of the invention cited as an example follows hereunder.

In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a partially cut and diagrammatical view illustrating a device according to the invention seen from the side;

Fig 2 is an enlarged detail view of that illustrated in the circle denoted II in Fig 1;

Fig 3 is a view from the left in Fig 1, a protection having been placed over the bearing arrangements;

Fig 4 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the contents of the circle denoted IV in Fig 1,

Fig 5 is a view from the right in Fig 1; and

Fig 6 is a view illustrating a carrying member of the frame with the drive assemblies of the device removed, the carrying member also appearing in Fig 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device according to the invention comprises a frame generally denoted 1 and at least one element 2 rotatable supported therein. As will be described more closely in the following, the rotatable element 2 is formed by a main section 3 and

end pieces

4 and 5 respectively located thereat. There is an arrangement 6 to hold the main section 3 and the

end pieces

4, 5 together.

As appears from Figs 3, 5 and 6, three rotatable elements 2 are in practice intended to be used in the present example. The device according to the invention is primarily conceived to be used as a disintegrating device for various types of material or goods although also other applications are possible. As far as the disintegrating aspect is concerned, the device may be based upon the disintegration principle related in the European patent No. 81539. As is indicated in Figs 3, 5 and 6, the three rotatable elements 2 are conceived to be disposed triangularly with two upper and one lower. The two upper rotatable elements 2 may cooperate mutually in the manner discussed in said European patent and the same applies for the rest also to the cooperation between the lower rotatable element and one of or both of the two upper. If the disintegration principle according to the European patent is to be used, the rotatable elements, in practice their main sections 3, should be provided with processing members 7 (see Fig 1) having the character of threads. Thus, this means that the rotatable elements 2 obtain the character of screws. However, it is emphasised that the device according to the invention could be provided with other types of processing members 7, such as flails, teeth, discs etc. operating according to other disintegration principles.

As is illustrated in Fig 1 with regard to the lower of the rotatable elements 2, their main section 3 are conceived to comprise a tubular core 8, from which the processing elements 7 protrude. At the two ends of the main section 3, transverse plate elements 9 are provided, as is indicated with dashed lines.

The frame 1 comprises at its

ends gables

10 and 11 respectively and wall like covering members 12 (Fig 5) extending between the gables so that the frame 1 will delimit an interior, in which the rotatable elements 2 extend between the

gables

10 and 11. On disintegration of material, this is intended to be received in the frame 1 via an upper opening 13 of the same and the material leaves the frame through a lower opening 14. It should be understood that arbitrary devices for simplifying in-feed, such as funnel formations, conveyers etc., may be connected to the opening 13. In connection with the lower outlet opening 14 from the frame, arbitrary material receiving arrangements, such as conveyers, containers etc., may be provided.

The three occurring rotatable elements 2 are arranged alike as far as bearing and driving are concerned; therefore the construction will be more closely described only as far as one of the elements is concerned, more specifically the lowest, which in Fig 1 is illustrated in more detail.

At a first end 15 of the element 2 this is drivingly connected to output drive axle 16 of a drive assembly generally denoted 17 and provided at the frame 1. As will be more closely described in the following, there are means 18 to support the drive assembly 17 relative to the frame 1 and prevent its body 19 to rotate relative to the frame. A bearing for the drive axle 16, which is diagrammatically indicated at 20 and comprised in the drive assembly, is also provided to function as a rotation bearing for the rotatable element 2 since the latter is supported relative to the frame 1 via the drive axle 16.

The means 18 to support the drive assembly 17 relative to the frame 1 and prevent the body 19 of the drive assembly to rotate relative to the frame are adapted to allow some relative movement, comprising some angular motion, between the body 19 and frame 1. Thus, said means form, expressed in other words, a coupling which is intended to allow some axial and some radial movement of the body 19 of the drive assembly relative to the frame 1, whereas the body 19 also should be capable of assuming some inclination as a consequence of movement freedom in said coupling in adjustment to deficient straightness of the rotatable element 2. The means 18 comprise, as is most clearly apparent from Fig 4, mutually engaging

members

21, 22 of the body 19 and frame 1 respectively. These

engagement members

21, 22 are designed as recesses and projections respectively engaging with each other. It is preferred that the

engagement members

21, 22 have a complementary form-locking design so as to avoid rotation of the body 19 relative to the frame. More specifically, the engagement member 21 of the body has, in the example, the shape of an un-round portion, which is received in the engagement member, which is shaped as a recess 22, of the frame 1. In the embodiment chosen, the engagement member 21 of the body has the character of a protruding projection having a hexagonal periphery. This projection is received in the recess 22, which likewise has a hexagonal shape. However, it should be noted that, as appears from Fig 5, two of the sides in this hexagon are defined, as far as the recess 22 is concerned, by portions comprised in projections 21 of the two adjacent drive assembly bodies 19, so that, accordingly, they always will abut against each other along two sides of the hexagon whereas the four other sides of the hexagonal recess 22 are defined by the frame 1.

Furthermore, it is pointed out that the body 19 of the drive assembly 17 also has, at the hexagonal projection 21, a cross-sectionally circular portion 23, which lies at the side of the projection 21 and which is adapted to be received in a circular space 24 (see Fig 6) in the frame 1.

As previously described, the

portions

21, 23 of the body 19 are received with such clearances in the corresponding

portions

22, 24 of the frame 1 that occurring tolerances may be accommodated.

It appears from the example how the

engagement members

22, 24 for the three drive assemblies 17 are designed in a common carrier 25, which suitably has a platelike structure more closely appearing from Figs 4-6. This carrier 25 is, in operation, rigidly connected to the frame 1 and forms, accordingly, a part thereof. However, there are means 27 in the form of adjustment screws adapted to adjust the position of the carrier 25 relative to the gable 10 of the frame 1. The gable 10 is provided with brackets 26, which are provided with the adjustment members 27 adapted to actuate the carrier 25 into a correct position. In the embodiment the adjustment members 27 are formed by screws in thread engagement with thread holes in the brackets 26 and adapted to actuate the carrier 25 with their ends. There should be adjustment members to actuate the carrier 25 in at least two different directions. Furthermore, there are bolt joints 28 adapted to secure the position of the carrier 25 relative to the frame 1 when the carrier has been adjusted into an adequate position. The bolt joints 28 extend through holes in the carrier 25 and engage in the brackets 26.

The means 6 to connect the rotatable element 2 with the drive axle 16 of the drive assembly comprise a tension rod 29. The latter engages, in the example, with the drive axle 16 by comprising a threaded end screwed into a threaded hole 30 in the axle 16. The latter comprises means, for instance splines, one or more keys or the like, for connecting the drive axle to a sleeve 32 in a manner precluding relative rotation. To the sleeve there is secured a disc element 33. Screws 34 may, more specifically, serve for such securing. The sleeve 32 and the disc element 33 form in unison the end piece 4 previously described. The disc element 33 has an opening 36 for allowing passage of the tension rod 29 and, furthermore, centering means 35 in the form of a shoulder 35 fitting together with a corresponding design in the plate element 9 of the main section 3 for the purpose of centering the main section 3 relative to the end piece 4.

As appears from Fig 1, the tension rod 29 passes through the end piece 5 located at the second end of the element 2 and the tension rod has a threaded extreme portion, with which a nut 37 engages. By tightening this nut 37 on the tension rod 29, the end piece 5 will, with a disc element 38 located there, be pressed against the adjacent plate element 9 of the main section 3, so that the main section in its turn will be pressed against the other end piece 4, which in turn will be drawn against the end of the axle 16 by the tension rod 29.

As appears from Fig 4, the portion 39 of the carrier 25 which defines the opening 24 will form a restriction for the body of the drive assembly to move in a direction inwardly towards the frame 1. To restrict the body of the drive assembly to move in the opposite direction, there are, as appears most closely from Fig 5, clamps 40 arranged on the carrier, said clamps engaging over the projecting flange 21 of the body 19.

As appears most closely from Fig 2, the rotatable element 2 is, at its end turned away from the drive assembly 17, supported relative to the frame 1 by means of a bearing arrangement 41. This is more specifically adapted to function supporting between the end piece 5 and a sleeve 42 rigidly secured, for instance by welding, to the frame 1. The bearing arrangement 41 projects at least partially into an annular space 43 between the end piece 5 and the sleeve 42.

The bearing arrangement 41 comprises a bearing 44 which is adapted to prevent the end piece 5 from moving outwardly from the frame 1 by abutting against a shoulder 45 on the end piece. The inner race ring of the bearing 44 restricts the movement of the end piece 5 inwardly towards the middle of the frame by abutting against a stop member 46, which here is designed as a nut engaging with a thread on the end piece and secured against rotation by means of a locking washer.

The outer race ring of the bearing 44 is surrounded by a bearing housing 47. A first alternative design of this bearing housing is illustrated at the bottom of Fig 2, namely as being designed in one piece. In the upper half of Fig 2, an alternative design is illustrated, where the bearing housing 47' is formed by two

annular parts

48, 49 secured to each other by means of securing members 50, for instance screws. Independently of whether a one piece or two piece design is chosen for the bearing housing 47, the same is adapted to be restricted in its movement inwardly to the right in the sleeve 42 by taking support against a shoulder 51 formed on the interior side of the sleeve 42.

A bearing cover 52 secures the radially outer race ring of the bearing 44 within the bearing housing 47 by pressing the race ring in a direction to the right in Fig 2 against a shoulder formed on the bearing housing 47. The bearing cover 52 is secured to the bearing housing 47 by means of screws 53. Also as far as the bearing cover 52 is concerned, two different embodiments are illustrated in Fig 2, namely in the upper half a one piece design of the bearing cover and in the lower half a design, where the bearing cover is formed by two

parts

54, 55 interconnected by means of screws 56. The bearing cover 52 is in its turn secured to the sleeve 42 by means of securing members 57 in the form of screws.

An outer cap 58 is suitably disposed over the bearing cover 52.

The bearing arrangement 41 as well as the end piece 5 are removable in a direction outwardly (arrow 59 in Fig 2) from the frame 1 through the sleeve 41 after loosening of the nut 37 of the tension rod and, thus, releasing of the end piece 5 from the main section 3 of the rotatable element 2 and also loosening of the securing members 57 of the bearing cover 52. The bearing arrangement 41 with appendent end piece 5 may then, accordingly, be slidingly withdrawn out of the sleeve 42. A condition in this respect is of course that the end piece 5 does not have any parts with a larger diameter than the internal diameter of the sleeve 42. Accordingly, the disc element 38 of the end piece 5 serving for interconnection with the main section 3 must have a smaller diameter than the smallest diameter of the sleeve 42. In this connection a particularly preferred embodiment is that said portion 38 of the end piece 5 is arranged, in the assembled state of the device, to run with a peripherical surface 60, which suitably is cylindrical or almost cylindrical, radially inwardly of and relatively closely adjacent to an internal surface of the sleeve end portion 61 turned inwardly into the frame for the purpose of restricting passage of debris in a direction past the disc element 38 into the space which in Fig 2 is indicated with the reference character 43.

On mounting of the device according to the invention, the drive assembly 17 is located in place in the carrier 25 and the end piece 4 of the rotatable element is pushed onto the drive axle 16 from the inside of the gable 10. The bearing arrangement 41 and the end piece 5 are thereafter loosely placed within the sleeve 42, whereafter the main section 3 is lowered into place within the frame 1 and the tension rod 29 is applied so as to pass through the main section 3 and the end pieces. When the parts have been adequately located relative to each other, the nut 37 of the tension rod 29 is tightened so as to draw the main section 3, the

end pieces

4, 5 and the axle 16 together.

On starting of the drive assembly 17, the drive axle 16 will cause the element 2 to rotate. The own bearing 20 of the drive assembly 17 will then function supporting both for the axle 16 and for the element 2, the holding of the body 19 of the drive assembly 17 with some required clearance relative to the frame 1 allowing the relative movements which can occur between the body 19 and the frame 1 as a consequence of deficient straightness of the rotatable element 2.

Disassembly of the device is carried out in the reversed order, i.e. the tension rod 29 is loosened and the end piece 5 with the associated bearing arrangement 41 is drawn backwardly somewhat according to the arrow 59 in Fig 2 (this may be simplified by using the separation screws 62 indicated in Fig 2 and adapted to draw the bearing arrangement 41 in the direction of arrow 59 away from the frame 1). The main section 3 of the element 2 may then be lifted upwardly within the frame 1 for exchange or renovation. The bearing arrangement 41 and the end piece 5 may also be drawn out according to the arrow 59 for service or replacement as a coherent unit.

It is evident that the device described may be designed in several alternative manners within the scope of the claims. Although the drive assembly 17 in the example is conceived to comprise a hydraulic motor, which, possibly via a gear, drives the output axle 16, any other types of motors may come in question.

Claims

A device comprising a frame (1) and an element (2) rotatably supported therein, said element being, at a first end, drivably connected to an output drive axle (16) of a drive assembly (17) provided at the frame and, at a second end, which is turned away from the drive assembly, supported relative to the frame (1) by means of a bearing arrangement (41), means (18) being provided to support the drive assembly relative to the frame and prevent a body (19) of the drive assembly to rotate relative to the frame,
characterized in that a bearing (20), which is arranged for the output drive axle (16) and which is comprised in the drive assembly (17), also is adapted to function as a rotation bearing for the rotatable element (2) as a consequence of the latter being supported relative to the frame (1) via the output drive axle (16), that said means (18) for supporting the drive assembly (17) relative to the frame and preventing the body (19) of the drive assembly to rotate relative to the frame (1) forms a coupling adapted to allow both some axial and some radial relative movement, comprising some inclination, between the body and the frame, and that the means (18) forming the coupling comprise mutually engaging members (21, 22) of the body and frame respectively, said engagement members (21, 22) having a complementary form-locking design so as to avoid rotation of the body relative to the frame.
A device according to claim 1,
characterized by said engagement members (21, 22) of the body and frame being designed as recesses and projections respectively engaging with each other.
A device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized by the engagement member (21) of the body being designed as an up-round portion, which is received in the engagement member (22), which is formed as a recess, of the frame.
A device according to any preceding claim,
characterized by a tension rod (29) engaging with the drive axle being arranged to secure the rotatable element (2) to the drive axle (16) by means of tensioning.
A device according to any preceding claim,
characterized in that the rotatable element (2) at its second end is supported relative to the frame by means of a bearing arrangement (41), that the rotatable element at the second end comprises a removable end piece (5), that the bearing arrangement is adapted to function in a bearing manner between this end piece and a sleeve (42) arranged at the frame, whereas the bearing arrangement projects at least partially into an annular space (43) between the end piece and the sleeve, and that the bearing arrangement as well as the end piece are removable in a direction outwardly from the frame through the sleeve.
A device according to claim 5,
characterized in that a portion (38) of the end piece is adapted to, in the assembled state of the device, run with a peripherical surface (60) radially inwardly of and relatively closely adjacent to an internal surface of a sleeve end piece (61) turned inwardly into the frame for the purpose to restrict passage of debris in a direction outwardly towards the bearing arrangement (41).
A device comprising a frame (1) and an element (2) rotatably supported therein, said element being, at one of its ends, supported relative to the frame by means of a bearing arrangement (41), the rotatable element comprising, at said end, a removable end piece (5) and the bearing arrangement being adapted to function in a bearing manner between this end piece and a sleeve (42) provided at the frame, whereas the bearing arrangement at least partially protrudes into an annular space (43) between the end piece and the sleeve,
characterized in that the bearing arrangement (41) as well as the end piece (5) are removable in a direction outwardly from the frame (1) through the sleeve (42).