GB2098574A

GB2098574A - Scraper conveyor apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2098574A
Application number: GB8209929A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PHB WESERHUETTE AG
Current assignee: PHB WESERHUETTE AG
Priority date: 1981-04-02
Filing date: 1982-04-02
Publication date: 1982-11-24
Also published as: JPS57203619A; DE3113255A1; DK143682A; FR2503108A1

Abstract

A scraper conveyor apparatus has a vertical central column (1), a support (6) which is horizontally swingable about the vertical axis of the column (1), and a vertically- movable scraper conveyor (2) which is suspended from the support (6). In order to reduce the weight of the column (1) and also reduce the moment required to swing the scraper conveyor (2) and support (6) horizontally, the support (6) has its inner end supported for swinging about the vertical axis of the column (1) and its outer end running on a track (9) centered on the axis of the column (1), and the scraper conveyor (2) has its inner end engaging the column (1) by means of rollers (3) so as to be able to swing horizontally and move vertically with respect to the column (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scraper conveyor apparatus Background of the Invention The present invention relates to a scraper conveyor apparatus for feeding material into storage and removing the material therefrom, the apparatus having a vertical central column, a support which is swingable horizontally about the vertical axis of the column, and a scraper conveyor which is suspended from the support, for instance by means of cables, and is movable vertically and swingable sideways, preferably comprising a single arm. The material can be bulk material, i.e.

loose or particulate goods.

Such an apparatus is known from DE-PS 2014332. In that specification, a horizontal scraper conveyor is guided for vertical movement on a rotatable central column, swinging sideways in conjunction with the column. The necessary guides require a relatively heavy construction with a massive central column and heavy steelwork. As the column and the guides must turn with the support and the scraper conveyor, a large turning moment is required, and must be provided by a relatively powerful and expensive drive mechanism.

It is desirable to reduce weight and reduce the power of the drive mechanism, and more specifically to provide an apparatus which requires a smaller turning moment, has light steelwork and the possibility of a relatively simple drive mechanism, preferably also with improved stabilisation of the engagement of the scraper conveyor inner end with the central column. It is also desirable that the apparatus should occupy a relatively small amount of space.

The Invention In accordance with the invention, the support has its inner end supported on the column and its outer end running on an at least part-circular track which is centered on the vertical axis of the column; in addition, the scraper conveyor has its inner end engaging the column so as to be able to swing horizontally and move vertically with respect to the column.

Thus, using the invention, the previous heavy guides on the column are not required, and the construction can be lighter and less expensive, with less steelwork. Thus the moment required to swing the support and scraper conveyor is less and the drive mechanism can be simpler.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of scraper conveyor apparatus for feeding material into storage and removing the material therefrom, the scraper conveyor being shown in full lines in its uppermost position and in dashed lines in its lowermost positions; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a horizontal section along the line Ill-Ill in Figure 1, on a large scale; Figure 4 is a detail of the section of Figure 3, on a larger scale; and Figure 5 is a side view on a somewhat smaller scale than that of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrow IV in Figure 1.

The drawings show a combined scraper conveyor apparatus for feeding into storage and removal from storage, the stored material being heaped in a circular or part-circular location. There is a fixed stationary central column 1 having a vertical axis with which engages a horizontal scraper conveyor 2 which comprises only one arm and which is movable vertically and swingable horizontally with respect to the column 1. There are engaging means comprising guide rollers 3 for engaging the inner end of the scraper conveyor 2 with the column 1 whilst enabling the scraper conveyor 2 to swing horizontally about the column 1 and move vertically with respect to the column 1.

The guide rollers 3 are journalled on the inner end of the scraper conveyor 2 in a conventional manner (not shown) for rotation about a horizontal axis, and are equally-spaced around the column 1. The inner end of the scraper conveyor 2 is formed by a horizontal plate 4 to which the scraper conveyor 2 is connected at a joint 5 which allows some pivotal movement but no rotary movement between the plate 4 and the remainder of the scraper conveyor 2. The drive for the scraper conveyor 2 can be of any suitable type and such drives are well known.

Directly above the scraper conveyor 2 there is a horizontal support arm 6. The support arm 6 has its inner end supported by a rotary support means on or above the top of the column 1 for swinging about said vertical axis. The rotary support means may be a conventional axial/radial bearing. Drive means or mechanisms for swinging the support arm 6 are well known, and there could for instance be a pinion meshing with a bull gear ring (not shown) secured to the inner end of the support arm 6. The outer end of the support arm 6 is supported by circumferentially-movable support means in the form of at least one wheel 8 which rolls on an at least part-circular track 9 centered on the vertical axis of the column 1. The track 9 is roughly at the height of the top of the column 1, in fact slightly above the height of the column 1. The drive mechanism may as an alternative act on the wheel(s) 8.The support arm 6 suspends the scraper conveyor 2 by suitable suspension means which permit vertical movement of the scraper conveyor 2 with respect to the support arm 6; the suspension means are in the form of four or more cables 10 which therefore act as drive means for moving the scraper conveyor 2 vertically, being connected to winches 11 with suitable pulley arrangements indicated in Figure 1. In order to stabilise the scraper conveyor 2, telescopic arms 12 are arranged on each side adjacent its outer end, and small pivoted links 13 are also arranged adjacent its outer end with a suitable guide track 14.

For feeding the material into storage, there is a horizontal belt 1 5 which leads via a small hopper to a feeder belt 1 6 which is carried on an arm 1 7.

The arm 17 is pivoted at 1 8 above the column 1 and is connected to a small trolley 1 9 which rolls on a special track on top of the arm of the scraper conveyor 2. The arm 1 7 increase the stabilisation of the scraper conveyor 2. The arm 17 swings together with the support arm 6. When feeding the material into storage, the scraper conveyor 2 is brought into its lowermost position (shown dashed), and the bulk material is fed to the scraper conveyor 2 by way of the feeder belt 1 6. The scraper conveyor 2 moves in such a direction that the material is conveyed to its outer end and distributed uniformly in the storage location by the vertical blades of the scraper conveyor 2. It will be noted that the feeder belt 1 6 delivers to the upper run of the scraper conveyor 2, and the blades of the upper run in effect distribute the material over the lower run of the scraper conveyor 2.

A central bunker or outlet chute 20 is positioned beneath the central column 1 for removing material from storage. The material can then be discharged in any suitable manner.

The central column 1 is tubular and relatively thin, though if desired its top can be supported by an overhung beam 21, depending upon whether the scraper conveyor 2 is required to swing round a full circle or not.

Claims

1. Scraper conveyor apparatus for feeding material into storage and removing the material therefrom, the apparatus comprising: a vertical column; a track centred on the vertical axis of the column; a support which is horizontally swingable about the vertical axis of the column, the support having its radially inner end supported for swinging about the vertical axis of the column and its radially outer end running on the track; a drive mechanism for swinging the support about the vertical axis; and a scraper conveyor which is suspended from the support so as to be vertically movable with respect thereto, and which has its radially inner end engaging the column so as to be able to swing horizontally and move vertically with respect to the column.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scraper conveyor is suspended from the support by four or more cables.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the scraper conveyor is arranged for feeding material to storage, and is provided with a feeder conveyor for feeding material to the scraper conveyor.

4. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scraper conveyor is arranged for removing material from storage, and an outlet is provided beneath the central column for receiving material removed from storage by the scraper conveyor.

5. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central column is tubular.

6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scraper conveyor comprises a single arm which is suspended from the support by means of cables.

7. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radially inner end of the support is above the central column and the track is roughly at the height of the top of the central column.

8. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radially inner end of the scraper conveyor engages the central column by means of guide rollers which are journalled on the inner end of the scraper conveyor for rotation about horizontal axes and which are positioned around the central column.

9. Scraper conveyor apparatus for feeding material into storage and removing the material therefrom, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.