GB1594359A

GB1594359A - Apparatus for breaking up minerals

Info

Publication number: GB1594359A
Application number: GB4255277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-07-30

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO APPARATUS FOR BREAKING UP MINERALS (71) We, RICHARD SAMUEL ALLSOP, GEORGE ALLSOP, FREDERICK GEORGE ALL SOP, all British Subjects, trading as ALLSOP BROTHERS, all of Hollymount Farm, Smalley, Derbyshire, England, 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: The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to apparatus for breaking up minerals and the like, especially but not exclusively, coal waste.

It is the practice in most coal mines to wash the coal after it has been brought to the surface. The water from the washing operation contains coal dust, clay and other debris and is either filtered or piped to a settlement pool where the material is allowed to separate out. As the separated material has a high coal content it is desirable that it should be re-utilised. However, during the settlement process or the filtration process, the coal dust particles and other particles, for example clay particles, combine together to form a fairly compact mass, the mass being nonregular in that it includes some powdered material, some slurry, and some lumps of thick compacted clay-like material.

Attempts have been made in the past to break up the lumps into a more manageable form so that the coal waste can be mixed with high grade coal particles to form a readily combustible mixture. One attempt has involved passing the waste through stone crushers. In view of the nature of the material. however, the crushers soon become choked. Another attempt has been to feed the material into a machine comprising an auger discharging through a fine mesh grating. Whereas this machine has not been wholly unsuccessful, its through-put is such that it is hardly economical. for example, through puts of less than three tons an hour being the maximum obtainable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus in which the disadvantages of the prior arrangements are obviated or mitigated and which provides from an irregular mass of coal waste a relatively fine mixable material.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for breaking up minerals and the like, comprising sequentially arranged first and second conveyor means, means for moving said conveyors with the second conveyor travelling at least as fast as the first conveyor and breaker means including a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor and having members projecting therefrom intermediate the first and second conveyors to break up material conveyed thereto by the first conveyor means.

Preferably the breaker means includes two shafts with radial members projecting therefrom, the shafts being arranged one higher than the other with their axes parallel and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor.

Preferably the first or lowermost of said shafts is positioned beyond the end of the first conveyor and above the second conveyor, while the second or uppermost shaft is arranged above the end of the first conveyor.

Preferably a third shaft provided with radial members is arranged higher than the first and second shafts, its purpose being to separate out solids and remove them from the apparatus.

Preferably a feed box into which material to be treated can be fed is arranged above the first conveyor and the second conveyor is enclosed in a casing.

Preferably said feed box terminates before the outlet end of said first conveyor and a downwardly extending baffle is provided to reduce the level of the material on the first conveyor before the material is subjected to the action of the breaker means.

Preferably the direction of rotation of the shafts is the same in each case and is counter to the direction of rotation of the conveyor at its outlet end.

Preferably thc radial members on the first and third shafts are formed from angle iron, while the members of the second shaft are formed from bars. there being more bars on the second shaft than there are angle irons on the first and third shafts.

Preferably the linear speed of the second conveyor is four times that of the first conveyor and the speed of the shafts increases from the first to third shafts.

The apparatus may be provided with a prime mover, alternatively it may be driven from some external source by way of a power take-off. The drive between the shafts and the power take-offor prime mover may be by means of chains and/or belts and similarly the drive to the conveyors may be by means of chains and/or belts.

The apparatus may be mounted on a wheeled chassis. In a modified embodiment a collector is provided to operate in association with the third shaft to collect stones and the like removed by said shaft.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. I shows a diagrammatic sectional elevation of the machine; and Fig. 2 shows a top plan view.

The apparatus comprises a wheeled chassis 10 supporting first and second endless belt conveyors 12, 14 of equal length. The first conveyor 12 is arranged horizontally while the second conveyor 14 is arranged at an angle to the horizontal with its inlet end below the outlet of the first conveyor and its outlet end above and spaced from the outlet of the first conveyor. Conveniently, the conveyors are each 14 feet long and 5 feet 6 inches wide and are driven from a common power take-off point 16 by a chain and belt drive 18. The chain sprockets (not shown) are so chosen that the linear speed of the second conveyor 14 is four times that of the first conveyor 12, conveniently 14 and 56 feet per minute respectively.

An open topped feed box 20 is arranged above almost the entire length of the first conveyor 12 only a region adjacent the outlet therefrom not being surrounded by the box.

Similarly the second conveyor 14 is enclosed by a casing 22 only an outlet end 24 therefrom and possibly an area 26 spaced above the inlet end being open.

The casing 22 around the second conveyor 14 is arranged such that it is higher than the feed box 20 of the first conveyor 12 and it extends over the area of the first conveyor not covered by the feed box 20. There is no end to the feed box 20 adjacent the outlet end of the conveyor 12, rather the end ofthe second casing 22 terminates two feet above the top of the first conveyor such that a baffle 44 is provided, the baffle running transversely of the longitudinal direction of the first conveyor. In other words the baffle 44 serves to level the material on the first conveyor 12.

Intermediate the conveyors there are arranged three parallel shafts 30, 32, 34, the axes of the shafts being parallel to the axis of the conveyor rollers 36. The first shaft 30 is arranged above the second conveyor 14 beyond the outlet end of the first conveyor 12 and the axis of the shaft lies on an extension from the top flight of the conveyor 12 and is spaced from the outlet end of the conveyor 12 such that the tips of blade members 38 radially arranged on the first shaft 30, clear the end of the first conveyor by about two inches. Conveniently, the blades 38 are manufactured from angle-iron.

The second shaft 32 is located directly above the outlet end of the first conveyor 12 and is provided with a plurality of radially extending blades 40, the black tips being arranged about one foot above the outlet end of the conveyor 12. There are twice as many blades on the second shaft 32 as there are on the first shaft 30 and conveniently, the blades 40 are formed by rectangular section bars.

A third shaft 34 is provided above the first and second shafts 30, 32 the shaft axis lying on a line adjoining the axes of the first and second shafts. The third shaft 34 is also provided with angle-iron blades 42 which are less in number than those on the second shaft, and is arranged such that there is a small clearance between the tips of the blades 42 of the third shaft and the tips of the blades 40 of the second shaft 32. Conveniently, the opening 26 in the top of the casing 22 surrounding the second conveyor 14 is arranged adjacent said third bladed shaft such that any large solid bodies picked up by the blades 42 of the third shaft are ejected through said opening, if desired into a stone collector (not illustrated).

Drive means 18 are provided for the bladed shafts 30, 32, 34, the means comprising chains and sprockets (not shown) driven from the power take-off point 16. Conveniently, the first shaft 30 takes the drive from the power take-off point 16 and is provided with two sprockets, one carrying a chain leading to a sprocket on the second shaft 32 and the other carrying a chain leading to a sprocket on the third shaft 34. The sprocket on the first shaft connected with the sprocket of the second shaft has 25 teeth while that connected with the third shaft has 19 teeth.

The second and third shaft sprockets have respectively 38 and 56 teeth such that the speed of rotation of the shafts increases from the first to the third.

Further sprockets are provided on the end of the first shaft 30 and are connected respectively to sprockets associated with the drive rollers of the first and second conveyors so that the speed of the second conveyor is four times that of the first conveyor.

The chain and sprocket drives are so arranged that the first and second conveyors 12, 14 travel in the same linear direction and the shafts 30, 32, 34 rotate in the same direction, the direction of rotation of the shafts being counter to the direction of rotation of the conveyor rollers 36.

In operation, when processing coal waste, filter cake from a press filter associated with a coal washing plant or compacted and partially dried slurry removed from a settlement pool, is supplied to the apparatus by way of the feed box 20, thus waste is piled on the moving first conveyor 12. When the pile of waste arrives at the baffle 44 it is levelled thereby to form a two feet thick layer on the end region of the first conveyor.The upper surface of the layer is subjected to the breaking action of the second bladed shaft 32 which breaks up any compacted lumps and furthermore removes therefrom stones or any other debris, the stones and the like being thrown off the blades 40 of the second shaft 32 into the blades 42 of the third shaft 34, which is rotating at a greater speed than the second shaft, and subsequently thrown out of the machine by way of the opening 26 in the second casing 22.The partially broken up material is then carried under the second shaft 32 by the conveyor 12 into the path of the blades 38 of the first shaft 30 and only that waste which has been sufficiently broken up to fall between the blades 38 of the first shaft 30 or through the clearance between the tips of said blades 38 and the end of the conveyor 12 is allowed to pass, the larger particles being thrown up by the blades 38 of the conveyor 30 into the blades 40 of the second conveyor 32 to be broken up therein prior to being presented again to the first bladed shaft 30. Material passing between the first shaft blades 38 or the first shaft blades and the end of the first conveyor 12.

falls onto the second conveyor and is conveyed upwards towards the outlet of the machine.

As the second conveyor is moving at a speed four times greater than the first conveyor the layer of materials thereon is consequently less deep. for example 6 inches.

and contains no lumps, such that it can be fed directly to. for example, a vibrating screen prior to being mixed with higher grade coal. It is envisaged that 100 tons of waste may be treated by the apparatus per hour.

A second embodiment of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 3 and components thereof which are similar to those of the embodiment shown in Figs. I and 2 have been given the same reference numeral and will not be described again.

In this embodiment only two shafts 50, 52 are provided, each shaft having a plurality of blades 54 thereon. The first shaft 50, whose longitudinal axis runs transversely of the longitudinal axis of the conveyors, is arranged above second conveyor 14, has its axis spaced above the top flight of the first conveyor 12 and is spaced from the outlet end of the first conveyor 12 whereby there is a gap of 2 inches between the outlet end of the first conveyor 12 and the tips of its blades.

The second shaft 52 is located above the top flight of the first conveyor and is spaced inwardly of the outlet end of said conveyor.

Each shaft 50, 52 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced discs 56 fixed thereto, the discs being provided with holes adjacent their peripheries whereby the blades 54 can be bolted thereto. Each blade 54 extends radially from the disc and is curved in the transverse direction of the disc, the blades on alternate discs being curved in opposite directions. The blades 54 of one disc are staggered relative to the blades of the adjacent discs such that together, all the blades are arranged in a substantially helical configuration.

The operation of this second embodiment is similar to that of the first although lumps and stones are not removed by the breaker means; rather these means separate out the stones from the remaining material, which lie on the top of the broken up layer of material on the second conveyor and thus can be easily removed thereform.

As with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in this embodiment the shafts rotate counter to the direction of rotation of the conveyor rollers.

Various modifications can be made to the apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the range of rotational and linear speeds given above may be altered; rather than being driven by an external source the machine can be provided with its own prime mover; the shafts of the breaker means can be driven in a direction opposite to that described above or in independently different directions.

Seal means may be provided at the end of each shat 30, 32, 34, 50, 52, where it passes through the casing 22 to prevent the passage of material out of the casing, and to prevent the accumulation of material on the conveyor rollers these may be slatted. Whereas in the embodiment described above with reference to Figs. I and 2 the first and third rollers 30, 34 have blades 38, 42 formed from angle-iron they may equally well have blades formed from rectangular section steel bar.

Similarly the blades 54 of the first and second shafts of the Fig. 3 embodiment may be cranked rather than curved. Scraper means may be provided at the underside of the second conveyor to remove any material adhering thereto.

Whereas the apparatus in the embodiment described above is mounted on a wheeled chassis. it may be a stationary apparatus.

Furthermore. the chain and sprocket drives between the conveyors and shafts may be replaced by gearing. hydraulic or any other suitable drive means.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- I. An apparatus for breaking up minerals and the like. comprising sequentially arranged first and second conveyors. means for moving said conveyors with the second conveyor travelling at least as fast as the first conveyor and breaker means including a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor and having members projecting therefrom intermediate the first and second conveyors to break up material conveyed thereto by the first conveyor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1. in which the breaker means includes two shafts with radial members projecting therefrom, the shafts being arranged one higher than the other with their axes parallel and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2. in which the first or lowermost of said shafts is positioned beyond the end of the first conveyor and above the second conveyor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the second or uppermost shaft is arranged above the end of the first conveyor.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which a third shaft provided with radial members is arranged higher than the first and second shafts.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the radial members are bolted to discs fixed to the shafts.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the radial members are curved transversely of the plane of the disc.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the radial members are curved in alternate directions.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8. in which the radial members are staggered in a helical form along the length of the shaft.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. in which a feed box for material to be treated is arranged above the first conveyor.

I. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second conveyor is enclosed.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which said feed box terminates before the outlet end of said first conveyor and a downwardly extending baffle is provided to reduce the level of the material on the first conveyor before the material is subjected to the action of the breaker means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the direction of rotation of the shafts is the same in each case and is counter to the direction of rotation of the conveyor at its outlet end.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. in which the linear speed of the second conveyor is four times that of the first conveyor.

IS. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. including a prime mover.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 14, which is driven from some external source by way of a power take-off, 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the drive between the shafts and the prime mover is by means of chains and/or belts and similarly the drive to the conveyors may be by means of chains and/or belts.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a wheeled chassis.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which a collector is provided to operate in association with the third shaft to collect stones and the like removed by said shaft.

20. Apparatus for breaking up minerals and the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. I or Fig. 2 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 **.

cranked rather than curved. Scraper means may be provided at the underside of the second conveyor to remove any material adhering thereto.

Whereas the apparatus in the embodiment described above is mounted on a wheeled chassis. it may be a stationary apparatus.

Furthermore. the chain and sprocket drives between the conveyors and shafts may be replaced by gearing. hydraulic or any other suitable drive means.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- I. An apparatus for breaking up minerals and the like. comprising sequentially arranged first and second conveyors. means for moving said conveyors with the second conveyor travelling at least as fast as the first conveyor and breaker means including a rotatable shaft arranged transversely of the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor and having members projecting therefrom intermediate the first and second conveyors to break up material conveyed thereto by the first conveyor.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1. in which the breaker means includes two shafts with radial members projecting therefrom, the shafts being arranged one higher than the other with their axes parallel and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2. in which the first or lowermost of said shafts is positioned beyond the end of the first conveyor and above the second conveyor.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the second or uppermost shaft is arranged above the end of the first conveyor.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which a third shaft provided with radial members is arranged higher than the first and second shafts.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the radial members are bolted to discs fixed to the shafts.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the radial members are curved transversely of the plane of the disc.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the radial members are curved in alternate directions.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 8. in which the radial members are staggered in a helical form along the length of the shaft.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. in which a feed box for material to be treated is arranged above the first conveyor.
I. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second conveyor is enclosed.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which said feed box terminates before the outlet end of said first conveyor and a downwardly extending baffle is provided to reduce the level of the material on the first conveyor before the material is subjected to the action of the breaker means.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the direction of rotation of the shafts is the same in each case and is counter to the direction of rotation of the conveyor at its outlet end.
14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. in which the linear speed of the second conveyor is four times that of the first conveyor.
IS. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. including a prime mover.
16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims I to 14, which is driven from some external source by way of a power take-off,
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the drive between the shafts and the prime mover is by means of chains and/or belts and similarly the drive to the conveyors may be by means of chains and/or belts.
18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including a wheeled chassis.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which a collector is provided to operate in association with the third shaft to collect stones and the like removed by said shaft.
20. Apparatus for breaking up minerals and the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. I or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.