GB2128156A

GB2128156A - Metering unit for a conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2128156A
Application number: GB08228138A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Smith
Original assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Current assignee: Coal Industry Patents Ltd
Priority date: 1982-10-01
Filing date: 1982-10-01
Publication date: 1984-04-26

Abstract

A metering unit (1) for a conveyor (10) includes a base plate (2) to which is hinged a door (12) which is operable by means of a ram (10), the door (12) extending downwardly towards the conveying run 30 and terminating at a predetermined distance thereabove. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Metering unit for a conveyor This invention relates to a metering unit for a conveyor. In particular, the invention has reference to a metering device for use in association with an armoured conveyor of the type currently employed in mining operations.

It is sometimes necessary to meter the material, e.g. coal, carried on the conveyor and in order to do this some means of evening out the material profile and therefore loading is required. Existing equipment intended to perform this function is subject to certain faults which give rise to inaccuracy in the metering exercise. For example, one kind of conventional metering unit includes at least one door disposable over the conveying run and hinged to a support structure. In use, material tends to build up behind the door thereby preventing accurate metering or the door would be held open by blockage and again incorrect metering would result.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved metering unit for a conveyor which will obviate the unreliability attaching to conventional equipment.

Accordingly the invention provides a metering unit for a conveyor including a door hinged to a base plate, and a fluid actuable ram mounted on the base plate and having a piston rod the free end of which is attached to a part of the door, the base plate being adapted, in use, for mounting over a conveyor having a conveying run, and the door extending downwardly to terminate at a predetermined distance above the conveying run.

Preferably, the door is in the form of a plate hinged on one side thereof intermediate the ends of the plate, the piston rod of the ram being attached to the plate on one side of the hinge. The point of attachment of the piston rod to the door may conveniently be variable.

The fluid actuable ram may be of the pneumatic type or it may be hydraulic.

The door may be provided with a capability for adding extensions thereby, in use, to vary the length thereof.

The base plate has a bracket employed as a mounting for the ram and is provided with means through the agency of which it can be secured to a support attachable to the structure of the conveyor.

By way of example only, one embodiment of a metering unit according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the unit in position on a conveyor.

Referring to the drawing, a metering unit includes a base plate 2 provided with bolt holes 4 along its marginal edges whereby the plate 2 can be secured to spill plates 6 attached to sides of conveyor pans 8 of an armoured conveyor 10. A door 12 is hinged at one end of the base plate 2 and is in the form of a plate, the hinge 14 being disposed intermediate the ends of the door on one side thereof. The door 12 carries a stop 13 such that in use its movement is restricted.

A mounting bracket 16 is fixed to the top of the base plate 2 and the cylinder 18 of a pneumatic ram 20 is pivotally attached to the bracket 16 at 22. The ram 20 also possesses a piston rod 24 extending from the cylinder 18 and attached at its free end to the relatively upper part of the door 12 as shown.

The means of attachment is a pivot block 26 which may be bolted to the door 12 in one of two positions shown at 28 and 28'.

The door 12 extends downwardly between the spill plates 6 and terminates at a desired distance above the conveying run 30 of conveyor 10. The length of this door 12 can be adjusted by attachment of an extension plate (not shown) which can be bolted to the door 12 by using the holes 32. The spill plates carry stops 34 to limit the movement of the door 12.

In operation, the metering unit 1 is attached over the conveyor 10 in the manner described, the door 12 being in a substantially vertical position and its lower edge being spaced from the conveyor run 30 to give the desired loading for the conveyor 10. Coal or other material is conveyed by the run 30 in the direction of arrow A. The door 12 is maintained in the position shown in the drawing by actuation of the ram 20, the extension of the piston rod 24 forcing the door 12 into abutment with the stops 34. In this position, the door 12 ensures an even spread of the coal or other material at the desired level. Moreover, should any obstruction occur behind the door 12, an operator can cause the piston rod 24 to retract thereby resulting in movement of the door 12 in a clockwise sense as viewed in the drawings, the extent of movement being restricted by the stop 13.

Such movement releases the obstruction and thereafter the door 12 is reset by activation of the ram 20 to extend the rod 24. In the event that an operator is not available to actuate the ram 20, the door 12 will open against the ram to allow obstructions to pass thereby obviating the risk of bending conveyor flights and the rapid wear of the conveyor pans.

The present invention thus provides a simple, yet effective mechanism for metering the loading on a conveyor, whereby a positive control is achieved for the operation of the metering door.

1. A metering unit for a conveyor includes a door hinged to a base plate, and a fluid actuable ram mounted on the base plate and having a piston rod free end of which is attached to a part of the door, the base plate being adapted, in use, for mounting over a conveyor having a conveyor run, and the door extending downwardly to terminate at a predetermined distance above the conveying run.

2. A metering unit according to claim 1 in which the door is in the form of a plate hinged one side thereof intermediate the ends of the plate, the piston rod of the ram being attached to the plate on one side of the hinge.

3. A metering unit according to claim 1 or 2 in which the piston rod of the ram is attached to the door through the agency of a pivot mounting.

4. A metering unit according to any one of the

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Metering unit for a conveyor This invention relates to a metering unit for a conveyor. In particular, the invention has reference to a metering device for use in association with an armoured conveyor of the type currently employed in mining operations. It is sometimes necessary to meter the material, e.g. coal, carried on the conveyor and in order to do this some means of evening out the material profile and therefore loading is required. Existing equipment intended to perform this function is subject to certain faults which give rise to inaccuracy in the metering exercise. For example, one kind of conventional metering unit includes at least one door disposable over the conveying run and hinged to a support structure. In use, material tends to build up behind the door thereby preventing accurate metering or the door would be held open by blockage and again incorrect metering would result. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved metering unit for a conveyor which will obviate the unreliability attaching to conventional equipment. Accordingly the invention provides a metering unit for a conveyor including a door hinged to a base plate, and a fluid actuable ram mounted on the base plate and having a piston rod the free end of which is attached to a part of the door, the base plate being adapted, in use, for mounting over a conveyor having a conveying run, and the door extending downwardly to terminate at a predetermined distance above the conveying run. Preferably, the door is in the form of a plate hinged on one side thereof intermediate the ends of the plate, the piston rod of the ram being attached to the plate on one side of the hinge. The point of attachment of the piston rod to the door may conveniently be variable. The fluid actuable ram may be of the pneumatic type or it may be hydraulic. The door may be provided with a capability for adding extensions thereby, in use, to vary the length thereof. The base plate has a bracket employed as a mounting for the ram and is provided with means through the agency of which it can be secured to a support attachable to the structure of the conveyor. By way of example only, one embodiment of a metering unit according to the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a perspective view of the unit in position on a conveyor. Referring to the drawing, a metering unit includes a base plate 2 provided with bolt holes 4 along its marginal edges whereby the plate 2 can be secured to spill plates 6 attached to sides of conveyor pans 8 of an armoured conveyor 10. A door 12 is hinged at one end of the base plate 2 and is in the form of a plate, the hinge 14 being disposed intermediate the ends of the door on one side thereof. The door 12 carries a stop 13 such that in use its movement is restricted. A mounting bracket 16 is fixed to the top of the base plate 2 and the cylinder 18 of a pneumatic ram 20 is pivotally attached to the bracket 16 at 22. The ram 20 also possesses a piston rod 24 extending from the cylinder 18 and attached at its free end to the relatively upper part of the door 12 as shown. The means of attachment is a pivot block 26 which may be bolted to the door 12 in one of two positions shown at 28 and 28'. The door 12 extends downwardly between the spill plates 6 and terminates at a desired distance above the conveying run 30 of conveyor 10. The length of this door 12 can be adjusted by attachment of an extension plate (not shown) which can be bolted to the door 12 by using the holes 32. The spill plates carry stops 34 to limit the movement of the door 12. In operation, the metering unit 1 is attached over the conveyor 10 in the manner described, the door 12 being in a substantially vertical position and its lower edge being spaced from the conveyor run 30 to give the desired loading for the conveyor 10. Coal or other material is conveyed by the run 30 in the direction of arrow A. The door 12 is maintained in the position shown in the drawing by actuation of the ram 20, the extension of the piston rod 24 forcing the door 12 into abutment with the stops 34. In this position, the door 12 ensures an even spread of the coal or other material at the desired level. Moreover, should any obstruction occur behind the door 12, an operator can cause the piston rod 24 to retract thereby resulting in movement of the door 12 in a clockwise sense as viewed in the drawings, the extent of movement being restricted by the stop 13. Such movement releases the obstruction and thereafter the door 12 is reset by activation of the ram 20 to extend the rod 24. In the event that an operator is not available to actuate the ram 20, the door 12 will open against the ram to allow obstructions to pass thereby obviating the risk of bending conveyor flights and the rapid wear of the conveyor pans. The present invention thus provides a simple, yet effective mechanism for metering the loading on a conveyor, whereby a positive control is achieved for the operation of the metering door. CLAIMS

4. A metering unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which a bracket is fixed to the base plate and is employed for the mounting of the ram.

5. A metering unit according to claim 4 in which the bracket incorporates a pivot to which is attached the cylinder of the ram.

6. A metering unit according to any one of the preceding claims in which the door has a stop for limiting the movement thereof.

7. A metering unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

8. A metering unit as claimed in the preceding claims in combination with a conveyor having a conveying run and upstanding side members to which the base plate of the metering unit is secured, the door extending downwardly towards the conveying run and terminating at a predetermined distance above the conveying run.