GB1563142A

GB1563142A - Apparatuses in inclined interconnected conveyors

Info

Publication number: GB1563142A
Application number: GB3982976A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Siwertell AB
Current assignee: Siwertell AB
Priority date: 1975-09-30
Filing date: 1976-09-24
Publication date: 1980-03-19
Also published as: FR2326352B1; JPS5945577B2; DE2643653C2; AU1815376A; JPS5264770A; SE7510926L; SE406070B; NL7610711A; FR2326352A1; DE2643653A1; BE846493A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUSES IN INCLINED INTERCONNECTED CONVEYORS (71) We, AB SIWERTELL, a company duly organized and existing under the laws of Sweden, of Gunnarstorp, 267 00 BJUV, Sweden, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Use is often made of screw conveyo rs in conjunction with unloading apparatus in harbours, these screw conveyors being either mounted on cranes or being designed as separate unloading apparatus. An apparatus as first mentioned is disclosed in the specification of United Kingdom Patent No. 1,374,550, whereas an example of the latter is described in United Kingdom Patent Application No. 12753/76 (Serial No.

1,490,830). These known apparatus have a substantially vertically directed conveyor section that is in the form of a screw conveyor, at its lower end provided with some type of feeding means (for instance as described in U.S. Patent 3,569,751) said conveyor conveys particulate bulk goods up from, for example, a ship's hold, whereupon the said vertical conveyor section discharges the goods to a horizontal conveyor section via a transfer housing in which the goods may slide along an inclined surface down to the inlet of the horizontal conveyor section which is disposed at a lower level to that of the vertical section discharge. The two conveyor sections are pivotally connected to each other and able to swing in a common plane.Consequently, it has been necessary to make the transfer housing relatively large such that the vertical conveyor section has to discharge the goods from a relatively high level in comparison with the level of inlet of the horizontal conveyor section. This considerable difference in level has been necessary to make it possible, without the aid of bellows and other expandable devices that are unsuitable from the maintenance point of view, to ensure mutual movability between the horizontal conveyor section and the vertical conveyor section. In these known apparatus, the conveyor sections are arranged in a common plane to allow for the desired angular movability and to insert a sliding surface of a certain length for the material so that the conveyor sections do not collide in their interrelated movements.Where large angular differences are involved and in particular for sluggishly moving particulate bulk goods, difficulties have arisen in the known apparatus in obtaining reliable material transfer. Furthermore, the known apparatus are expensive and it has been necessary to transport the material vertically over an extra distance thereby consuming further energy as a result. Moreover, sealing against the penetration of water and the efflux of material has caused almost insurmountable problems in these known apparatus.

According to the present invention we provide apparatus for unloading particulate material, comprising two conveyor sections which make an angle with each other and which are disposed on pivotally interconnected supporting arm means and of which at least the conveyor section supplying the goods is a screw conveyor, and which are interconnected by a sealing means via a transfer housing between the outlet of the conveyor section supplying the goods and the inlet of the conveyor section removing the goods, wherein the two conveyor sections are mutually laterally offset on the supporting arm means, in order, on pivotal movement of the said supporting arm means, to swing in two mutually laterally offset and parallel planes that are substantially vertical planes, the axis of rotation of the sealing means, which comprises mutually rotatable parts and a pivot shaft of the said supporting arm means being arranged on a common geometric axis, and the parting plane of the sealing means being at right angles to said geometric axis and disposed between the mutually laterally offset conveyor sections.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description given by way of example with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows portions only of a side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the section station II-II of Figure 1, details lying beyond the section having been omitted.

Figure 4 is a part sectional elevation of vertical and horizontal conveyor sections taken on section station IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a part only of horizontal and vertical conveyor sections suitably joined, and Figure 6 is a sectional view on the section station VI-VI of Figure 5.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 there is shown an embodiment which can be utilized in conjunction with, for example, the unloading apparatus described in the specification of United Kingdom Patent 1,490,830. Two conveyor sections 10, 20 have been disposed on a separate support structure. This support structure comprises a jib 37 having at its one end a fork 38 by means of which the jib is pivotally mounted on a crane frame (not shown). The fork 38 is connected to the crane frame by means of pivot shafts 39.

The jib 37 is in the form of a box beam 40 which, in its end opposite to a supply conveyor section 10, has an obliquely upwardly directed fork 41. This fork 41 is pivotally connected, by means of a shaft 42, to an arm 43 in the form of a box beam. This arm 43 serves as the support structure or means for the supply conveyor section 10 which is fixedly mounted on the arm 43 by means of clamps 44. Moreover, the jib 37 and the arm 43 are connected to each other by means of a jack assembly 45, by means of which the angle between the two arms 37, 43 can be adjusted. The angular position of the arm or jib 37 relative to the horizontal plane can, furthermore, be adjusted by means of winch cables 46 which co-operate with a pulley wheel 47 mounted on the jib 37. The cables 46 are then connected to a winch on the crane frame (not shown).The conveyor sections 10 and 20 use a sealing means that is rotation symmetrical and is described in relation to Figure 4.

Flanges 18 and 27 and a groove (not shown) are rotation-symmetrical about the centre of a discharge opening 15, and a flange 29 extends in a semi-circular arc with its centre at the centre of the said discharge opening 15, and a flange 29 extends in a semi-circular arc with its centre at the centre of the said discharge opening 15. As a result the angle between the conveyor sections 10, 20 can be changed without losing the sealing in the transfer between both of the said conveyor sections 10 and 20.

This rotation-symmetrical sealing and connection means between the conveyor sections 10 and 20 has become possible in that the conveyor sections 10 and 20 are no longer placed for mutual pivot movement in a common plane.

Thus, both of the conveyor sections are disposed to pivot in two different planes which are parallel to each other.

An electric motor 48 (Figure 1) drives the conveyor section 20 by means of belt transmission 49.

The conveyor 20 is, at its discharge end, connected to yet another conveyor or a chute 50, this connection being effected in exactly the same manner as the connection between the conveyors 10, 20. The rotation-symmetrical sealing means at the transfer between the conveyors 20 and 50 has, thus, been placed coaxially with the pivot shafts 39 for the mounting of the jib 37 in the crane frame (not shown) As a result, dust-free and reliable connection is ensured also between the conveyor 20 and the conveyor or chute 50.

It can be seen from Figure 4 that the conveyor section 10 has a right cylindrical casing 11 and a screw 12 rotatably mounted therein.

The screw 12 has a shaft 13 with a screw flight 14 which terminates approximately in the middle of a discharge or outlet opening 15 at the output end of the conveyor section 10. For assisting the discharge of particulate bulk goods through the discharge opening 15, the screw shaft 13 has a further screw flight 16 which meets the screw flight 14 approximately in the middle of the discharge opening 15 and is of the opposite feed direction as compared with this screw flight 14. At the top the shaft 13 of the conveyor section is extended through the conveyor casing and is connected to a motor (not shown).

The discharge opening 15 is connected to the interior of the screw via a conical discharge funnel 17 which at its outer end is provided with two spaced outw ardly directed flanges 18 with an outwardly directed groove 19 therebetween. The conveyor section 10 delivers goods via the discharge opening 15 to the conveyor section 20 that has the form of a screw conveyor and has a casing 21 in which a screw 22 is rotatably mounted. Shaft 23 of this screw 22 is also connected to a motor (not shown).

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown an embodiment of the invention as it can be utilized in conjunction with unloading apparatus, for example, of the type shown in the specification of United Kingdom Patent 1,490,830. A supply conveyor section 10 is used which can be pivoted out from its vertical position within an angle a. This conveyor section 10 is pivotally connected to a screw conveyor 20 which is designed in approximately the same manner and the conveyor section 20 in Figure 4. This conveyor 20 can be inclined from its horizontal position within the angle ss. The connection between the supply conveyor 10 and the removal conveyor 20 is provided in the same manner as in Figure 4 and need not, therefore be described in greater detail.One difference between the embodiment according to Figure 4 and that of Figures 5 and 6 is that the two conveyors have been connected to each other also by means of ajoint system which takes up the major loads so that the rotation-symmetrical sealing means 18, 27 need not take up any loads, To this end, the screw conveyor 20 has been provided with an angle arm 32 which terminates in a fork 33.

This fork grasps one end of an arm 34 which is rigidly connected to the supply conveyor 10.

The fork 33 and the arm 34 are pivotally connected to each other by means of a shaft 35.

This shaft 35 is disposed coaxially with the axis of symmetry of the rotation-symmetrical sealing means 18,27 so as to ensure the pivotability of the conveyors 10,20. Figure 5 also shows an electric motor 36 for the supply conveyor 10.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. Apparatus for unloading particulate material, comprising two conveyor sections which make an angle with each other and which are disposed on pivotally interconnected supporting arm means and of which at least the conveyor section supplying the goods is a screw conveyor, and which are interconnected by a sealing means via a transfer housing between the outlet of the conveyor section supplying the goods and the inlet of the conveyor section removing the goods, wherein the two conveyor sections are mutually laterally offset on the supporting arm means in order, on pivotal movement of the said supporting arm means, to swing in two mutually laterally offset and parallel planes that are substantially vertical planes, the axis of rotation of the sealing means, which comprises mutually rotatable parts and a pivot shaft of the said supporting arm means being arranged on a common geometric axis, and the parting plane of the sealing means being at right angles to said geometric axis and disposed between the mutually laterally offset conveyor sections.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is designed as a rotationsymmetrical labyrinth sealing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the conveyor section supplying the goods is arranged for substantially upward transport of particulate bulk goods from a lower to a higher level, whereas the conveyor section removing the goods is arranged for substantially horizontal transport of the goods from one position to another position which is offset in the horizontal direction therefrom, wherein the axis of rotation of the rotation-symmetrical sealing means is arranged slightly above the conveyor section removing the goods.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the screw conveyor section supplying the goods is arranged on a crane arm which is pivotable out from a vertical position and is, at its upper end, connected to one end of ajib which is pivotable up and down from a horizontal position and supports the conveyor section removing the goods.

5. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the inlet of the conveyor section removing the goods is surrounded by an inwardly directed flange which engages an outwardly directed groove which extends about the outlet of the conveyor section supplying the goods and in the same plane as the inwardly directed flange, the flange and the groove forming the rotatable sealing means.

6. Apparatus of any one of the preceding claims wherein the sealing means contains a slide bearing.

7. Apparatus for unloading particulate material constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. Apparatus for unloading particulate material constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 when modified by Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. been connected to each other also by means of ajoint system which takes up the major loads so that the rotation-symmetrical sealing means 18, 27 need not take up any loads, To this end, the screw conveyor 20 has been provided with an angle arm 32 which terminates in a fork 33. This fork grasps one end of an arm 34 which is rigidly connected to the supply conveyor 10. The fork 33 and the arm 34 are pivotally connected to each other by means of a shaft 35. This shaft 35 is disposed coaxially with the axis of symmetry of the rotation-symmetrical sealing means 18,27 so as to ensure the pivotability of the conveyors 10,20. Figure 5 also shows an electric motor 36 for the supply conveyor 10. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. Apparatus for unloading particulate material, comprising two conveyor sections which make an angle with each other and which are disposed on pivotally interconnected supporting arm means and of which at least the conveyor section supplying the goods is a screw conveyor, and which are interconnected by a sealing means via a transfer housing between the outlet of the conveyor section supplying the goods and the inlet of the conveyor section removing the goods, wherein the two conveyor sections are mutually laterally offset on the supporting arm means in order, on pivotal movement of the said supporting arm means, to swing in two mutually laterally offset and parallel planes that are substantially vertical planes, the axis of rotation of the sealing means, which comprises mutually rotatable parts and a pivot shaft of the said supporting arm means being arranged on a common geometric axis, and the parting plane of the sealing means being at right angles to said geometric axis and disposed between the mutually laterally offset conveyor sections.