GB2078649A - Device to assist transfer between conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

To assist the transfer of coal from a face conveyor 12 to a stage loader conveyor 11, a transfer device 10 is disposed directly opposite the face conveyor 12 and on the opposite side of the stage loader conveyor 11 to the face conveyor 12. The device 10 comprises an endless chain or the like extending in the longitudinal direction of the stage loader conveyor 11 and passing around two sprockets, one sprocket preferably being driven from the stage loader conveyor 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Transfer device This invention relates to a transfer device for assisting the transfer of material on a first conveyor to a second conveyor which extends transversely with respect to the first conveyor. The invention is more particularly though not exclusively, concerned with a transfer device for assisting the transfer of coal from a face conveyor to a stage loader conveyor in a coal mine. it is a disadvantage that long pieces of coal can become wedged against a spill plate at the intersection between the two conveyors and this can lead to costly stoppage of the conveyors to release or brake the wedge pieces of coal and to remove any other coal which may have been transported under the face conveyor as a result of the blockage.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and relatively inexpensive transfer device for assisting the transfer of material from a first conveyor to a second conveyor which extends transversely with respect to the first conveyor.

According to the present invention, the transfer device comprises a driven, endless chain or the like having a run which extends in the longitudinal direction of the second conveyor and which is disposed opposite the discharge end of the first conveyor and on the opposite side of the second conveyor to the first conveyor.

With this form of construction, long pieces of coal or other material carried by the first conveyor which engage against the endless chain or the like are diverted and/or reduced in size so that they can be properly transported by the second conveyor.

The transfer device may comprise more than one of said endless chain or the like arranged at different levels.

Preferably, the or each endless chain or the like is driven from one of the conveyors, preferably the second conveyor, so that a separate drive motor is unnecessary.

In order to enhance the transferring effect, the or each endless chain or the like may be provided with tines or other projections thereon.

In the preferred embodiment, the or each endless chain or the like is driven from a freely rotatable or idler shaft which carries sprockets around which chains of the second conveyor pass, said shaft being driven via the chains of the second conveyor by drive sprockets over which the latter chains pass at a location which is spaced from the freely rotatable shaft.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a transfer device shown fitted at the junction between an armoured face conveyor and a stage loader conveyor in a coal mine.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the transfer device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic rear elevation of the transfer device of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the transfer device is indicated generally by arrow 10 and is disposed on the opposite side of the stage loader conveyor 11 to the face conveyor 1 2 and directly opposite the latter. The transfer device 10 comprises an endless chain 13 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the stage loader conveyor 11 and which runs in a vertical plane around a drive sprocket 14 and a freely rotatable sprocket 1 5.

The sprocket 1 5 is adjustable to enable the chain tension to be adjusted. The upper run of the chain 1 3 is downwardly inclined in the direction of travel of the stage loader conveyor 11, the angle of inclination being about 5 degrees. The chain 1 3 extends longitudinally of the stage loader conveyor 11 over the full width of the carrying surface of the face conveyor 1 2 and, furthermore.

extends, in this embodiment for 100 cm beyond the carrying surface in the downstream direction of the stage loader conveyor 11. The maximum height of the upper run of the chain 13 above the carrying surface of the stage loader conveyor 11 is, in this embodiment, 40 cm. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the highest point of the upper run of the chain 1 3 is disposed at approximately the same level as the axis of rotation of the chain conveyor shaft at the discharge end of the face conveyor 12. The drive sprocket 14 is mounted on a stub shaft 16 carried in a bearing 1 7 mounted in a housing 18. A first gear wheel 19 is mounted in the housing 18 and is keyed to the stub shaft 1 6.

The first gear wheel 1 9 meshes with a further gear wheel 20 also mounted within the housing 1 8.

The second gear wheel 20 is driven by a third gear wheel 21 which is mounted on an extension 22 of a shaft 23 carrying chain sprockets 24. The shaft 23 and the chain sprockets 24 form a non-driven return end of the stage loader conveyor 11. As is usual with stage loader conveyors 11, the sprockets 24 are fixedly mounted on the shaft 23 which is, in turn, rotatable in bearings 25 secured to U-shaped frame members 26 of the stage loader conveyor 11. As can be seen from Fig. 2, a seal 27 is provided around the stub shaft 1 6 where it projects from the housing 1 8 to prevent unwanted ingress of dirt, coal dust etc into the housing 18.

On the opposite side of the chain 1 3 to the conveyor 11, an upstanding spill plate 28 is provided which projects above the upper surface of the discharge end of the face conveyor 12.

A protective plate 29 is provided on the side of the transfer device adjacent the stage loader conveyor 11 to cover all but the extreme upper portions of the sprocket and the upper run of the chain 13 so as to minimize the risk of damage and/or jamming of the transfer device by coal being transferred.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the gear reduction drive of the transfer device is replaced by a chain and sprocket drive.

In a further embodiment (not shown), the transfer device is driven independently using a suitable hydrostatic motor, electric motor or other means.

It will be appreciated from the above that operation of the stage loader conveyor 11 causes the shaft 23 and therefore the third gear wheel 21 to be rotated which in turn causes movement of the chain 13 via the second and first gear wheels 20 and 19 and the stub shaft 16. The chain 13 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, i.e. the upper run of the chain 13 moves in the same direction as the upper run of the stage loader conveyor 11. In use, coal being transported along the face conveyor 12 normally discharges directly onto the stage loader conveyor 11 to be transported thereby away from the coal face.

However, if an unusually long piece of coal falls onto the face conveyor 12 and does not fall directly onto the stage loader conveyor 11, it will engage against the upper run of the chain 13.

Because of the movement of the chain 13, the front end of the long piece of coal is diverted in the direction of movement of the stage loader conveyor 11 so that the lump is turned and is then free to drop onto the stage loader conveyor.

The transfer device may have more than one endless chain, in which case, it is preferred for the additional chain(s) to be mounted at increasingly higher levels behind the above described endless chain 13 relative to the stage loader conveyor 11.

All of the chains run in planes which are mutually parallel and each chain is driven from the stage loader conveyor 11.

Claims (7)

1. A transfer device for assisting the transfer of material on a first conveyor to a second conveyor which extends transversely with respect to the first conveyor comprising at least one driven, endless chain or the like having a run which extends in use, in the longitudinal direction of the second conveyor and which is in use, disposed opposite the discharge end of the first conveyor and on the opposite side of the second conveyor to the first conveyor.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, comprising more than one endless chain or the like arranged at different levels.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the or each endless chain or the like is driven in use, from one of the conveyors.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the or each endless chain or the like is driven, in use, from the second conveyor.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each endless chain or the like is provided with tines or other projections thereon.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each endless chain or the like is driven from a freely rotatable or idler shaft which carries sprockets around which, in use, chains of the second conveyor pass, said shaft being driven, in use, via the chains of the second conveyor by drive sprockets over which the latter chains pass at a location which is spaced from the freely rotatable shaft.

7. A transfer device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.