GB2060534A

GB2060534A - Conveyor Equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2060534A
Application number: GB7935521A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1979-10-12
Filing date: 1979-10-12
Publication date: 1981-05-07

Abstract

A connector arrangement for connecting together adjacent pans (1 and 2) of a chain conveyor, the side walls of the two adjacent end margins of the pans defining two recesses (9 and 10) and two passage sections (11 and 12), respectively, such that in use when the pans are mounted end to end the two passage sections define an open sided passage extending between the two recesses and located within the outer extremity of the pan side wall. A connector key-element (3) has a slender portion (4) extending along the passage within the cross- sectional area of the passage and two enlarged portions (5 and 6) accommodated within the two recesses, respectively. The key- element (3) is held in place by ramp plates or spill plates bolted to the side walls after fitting the key element (Fig. 2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Conveyor Equipment This invention relates to conveyor equipment.

In particular, the present invention relates to connector arrangements for articulately connecting together adjacent line pans of a scraper chain conveyor.

Typically, two adjacent pans of a scraper chain conveyor are connected together by a pair of bolts engaging in holes provided in the end margins of the adjacent pan ends, the bolts being left slack to permit limited vertical and horizontal articulation between the pans. Unfortunately, in use the bolts can become bent or damaged making disconnection of the conveyor pans difficult, or fractured to the extent where the conveyor is inoperable.

In order to overcome the disadvantages associated with the use of bolts for connecting adjacent conveyor pans it has been proposed to use various connector key-elements bridging across the pan ends and having enlarged ends which engage in corresponding recesses provided in the end margins of the pans. The connector key-elements have releasable retainer means for securing the elements in a connecting position between the pans and, unfortunately, these retainer means tend to suffer from the same disadvantages as the original connector bolts. In addition, the prior proposed connector keyelements extend outwardly beyond the side wall of the associated. conveyor pan requiring any furnishings secured to the conveyor pans to be cut away in the regions of the connector keyelements.

An object of the present invention is to provide a connector arrangement for connecting together adjacent pans of a scraper chain conveyor which tends to overcome or reduce the above mentioned problems.

According to the present invention a connector arrangement for connecting together adjacent pans of a scraper chain conveyor comprises two conveyor pans having side walls and adapted, in use, to be mounted end to end, the side walls of the two adjacent end margins of the pans defining two recesses and two passage sections, respectively, in use when the pans are mounted end to end the two passage sections define an open-sided passage extending between the two recesses and located within the outer extremity of the pan side walls, and a connector key-element having a relatively slender portion and two relatively enlarged portions on opposite ends of the relatively slender portion, respectively, in use the relatively slender portion extending along the passage within the cross-sectioned area of the passage with the two relatively enlarged portions engaged and accommodated within the two recesses, respectively.

Preferably, furnishings are secured along the side wall of at least one of the conveyor pans, the furnishings being adapted to retain the connector key-element in the pan connecting position.

Alternatively simulated furnishings may be used for retention of the connector key-element.

Advantageously, each recess is open sided and tapers inwardly away from the side surface of the pan wall.

Preferably, each relatively enlarged portion of the connector key-element is generally semicircular in cross-section.

By way of example only, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of two adjacent end margins of two side walls of two scraper chain conveyor pans, the pans connected in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an incomplete perspective view of the pan connector arrangement of Figure 1, the pans being provided with furnishings.

In the drawings, adjacent end margins of two side walls 1 and 2 of two adjacent scraper chain conveyor pans are shown articulately connected by a connector key-element 3 having a relatively slender central portion 4 and two relatively enlarged portions 5 and 6 at opposite ends of the relatively slender portion 4. In Figure 1 ,for the sake of clarity, the connector key-element 3 is shown withdrawn from the connected position.

The two enlarged portions 5 and 6 of the keyelement 3 are of a generally semi-circular crosssection.

Each of the side walls 1 or 2 of the two conveyor pans is provided with an open sided recess 9 or 10 which tapers inwardly away from the vertical side surface of pan wall. Also, each side wall 1 or 2 is provided with a passage section 11 or 12 such that in use when the two conveyor pans are mounted end to end the two passage sections 11 and 12 define an open sided passage extending between the two recesses 9 and 10. The crosssectioned areas of the passage section are within the outer extremity of the side walls of the conveyor pans and are sufficiently large to ensure that when the key-element 3 is in the connected position the central slender portion 4 fits entirely within the passage and thereby, does not extend outwardly beyond the outer vertical side extremity of the associated pan walls.

In addition, when the key-element 3 is in the connected position the two enlarged end portions 5 and 6 wholly are accommodated within the recesses 9 and 10, respectively, and do not extend outwardly beyond the outer vertical side extremity of the associated pan wall, the semi circular cross-section of the enlarged portions fitting the inwardly tapering boundaries of the recess.

In use, when the pans are mounted end to end a key-element 3 is inserted into the recesses 9 and 10 and passage sections 11 and 12 provided on each side of the conveyor pan to connect the pans. The central slender portion 4 is slightly longer than the total length of the passage defined by the passage sections 11 and 12 such that when the key-member is in the connected position the two adjacent portions of the pan ends are permitted limited relative longitudinal movement. Also, the cross-sectioned dimensions of the central slender portion 4 are sufficiently less than the cross-section dimensions of the passage sections 11 and 12 to permit limited vertical and horizontal articulation between the two connected conveyor pans.

Relative longitudinal movement between the connected conveyor pans only is permitted until abutment shoulders 1 5 (see Figure 1) defined by the innerfacing surfaces of the enlarged end portions 5 and 6 abut the associated inner facing surfaces 16 and 17 provided by the pan side walls at the junctures between the recesses 9 and 10 and the passage sections 11 and 12, respectively.

Once each key-element 3 is located in the connected position furnishings; for example, upwardly inclined ramp plates 20 for guiding broken coal from the mine floor onto the conveyor, or spill plates (not shown) for retaining loaded coal on the conveyor are secured by releasable retainer means (not shown), for example, nuts and bolts along the side walls of the conveyor pans, the furnishings over-lapping at least portions of the key-elements 3 which thereby, are retained in the connected position. To remove a key-element 3 from its connected position, first requires the removal of the associated furnishings. However, as the retainer means securing the furnishings to the side walls of the conveyor pan are not subjected to any operational stresses or strains their removal usually provides no great obstacle. Consequently, the key-element 3 can be removed and if necessary replaced with a minimum of delay.

The central slender portion 4 of the keyelement is constructed such that its tensional breaking strength is not sufficiently high to allow the associated end margins of the conveyor pan to be damaged by undesirably high operational forces. Thus, in use, if for any reason such potentially dangerous and undesirably high forces tend to be encountered the key-element will break before the conveyor pan is damaged.

From the above description it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and effective connector arrangement for an underground mine scraper chain conveyor which entirely is located within the outer extremities defined by the side walls of the conveyor pans.

Claims

1. A connector arrangement for connecting together adjacent pans of a scaper chain conveyor comprising two conveyor pans having side walls and adapted, in use, to be mounted end to end, the side walls of the two adjacent end margins of the pans defining two recesses and two passage sections, respectively, in use when the pans are mounted end to end the two passage sections define an open-sided passage extending between the two recesses and located within the outer extremity of the pan side walls, a connector keyelement having a relatively slender portion and two relatively enlarged portions on opposite ends of the relatively slender portion, respectively, in use the relatively slender portion extending along the passage within the cross-sectioned area of the passage with the two relatively enlarged portions engaged and accommodated within the two recesses, respectively, and furnishings or simulated furnishings adapted to be secured along the side wall of at least one of the conveyor pans, the furnishings being adapted to retain the connector key-element in the pan connecting position.

2. A connector arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which each recess is open sided and tapers inwardly away from the side surface of the pan wall.

3. A connector arrangment as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which each relatively enlarged portion of the connector key-element is generally semicircular in cross-section.

4. A connector arrangement substantially as described herein and substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

5. A scraper chain conveyor comprising a plurality of pans mounted end to end, the adjacent end margins of each side wall of two adjacent pans being connected by a connector arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.