GB2147864A

GB2147864A - Linked conveyors

Info

Publication number: GB2147864A
Application number: GB08425483A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hubert Wiesenbauer; Alfred Zitz
Original assignee: Voestalpine AG
Current assignee: Voestalpine AG
Priority date: 1983-10-11
Filing date: 1984-10-09
Publication date: 1985-05-22
Also published as: ZA847548B; GB8425483D0; FR2557862B1; GB2147864B; DE3435328A1; AU3408384A; FR2557862A1; AU566495B2

Abstract

The invention refers to a device for coupling and steering two successive conveyor sections (1) which each have a wheeled chassis. Each conveyor section (1) is supported with its discharge end (2) on the receiving end (3) of the subsequent conveyor section (1). The individual conveyor sections each have only one chassis comprising wheels (5, 6) and this chassis is arranged at one end, namely at the receiving end (3) of the conveyor section. The conveyor sections are coupled one with the other for being swivelled around a vertical axis (4). A holding means is swivellably connected with the receiving end (3) of the succeeding conveyor section (1) for being swivelled around a vertical axis (4), with which holding means the discharge end (2) of the preceding conveyor section is connected in a tension-proof manner. The holding means is connected with steering levers (8) for the wheels (5, 6) by means of connecting rods, so that the wheels (5, 6) can be steered by and in accordance with the relative swivelling movement of both conveyor sections (Figure 1), out of alignment, the inside and outside wheels being steered to predetermined different extents as governed by the linkage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Linked conveyors The invention refers to chassis mounted conveyor sections adapted to be coupled one with the other, the sections being provided with endless conveyor belts and being provided at their receiving end with a charging chute. Trains composed of such mobile conveyor sections are, in particular, used for underground working, where such a train is coupled to a cutting machine. The individual conveyor sections may run along the same path, road or track and the existing space conditions are very restricted. Only minor deviations from the track result in collisions with the mine walls and it is extremely difficult to precisely observe the track.

It is a task of the present invention to design a steering and coupling means for two successive conveyor sections such that a track can be precisely followed. The invention broadly provides that a chassis for each conveyor section, is only arranged within the area of the charging chute of that section, with a holding means for the discharge end of a preceding conveyor section being connected with the charging chute, for being swivelled around a vertical axis (assuming an approximately centred position relative to the charging chute), and in which the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section is connected with the holding means in a tension-proof manner and in a manner preventing de-coupling or relative movement in the horizontal direction and in a manner for being swivelled about a vertical axis and in which the directing movement or steering control of the chassis is derived from the swivelling movement of the holding means.

As only one chassis is provided for each conveyor section, steering is facilitated because this one chassis supports the receiving end of the subsequent conveyor section as well as the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section, and the directing or steering means of this one conveyor section is thus active for the receiving end as well as for the discharge end. If a chassis is provided at the front end and at the rear end of each conveyor section, and the steering means of both chassis is made dependent one upon the other, there result a risk of imprecisions due to the long interconnecting steering rods which would be required.If the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section is connected with the receiving end of the subsequent conveyor section in a tension-proof manner and for being swivelled'around a vertical axis, adjacent conveyor sections are precisely linked one with the other and any bending angle between adjacent conveyor sections provides a precise measure for directing the chassis.

Preferably a holding means is arranged for being swivelled around a vertical axis and has connected thereto in a tension-proof manner, and in a manner preventing relative movement in a horizontal direction, the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section. Such discharge end of the preceding conveyor section is connected with the charging chute, i.e. with the receiving end of the succeeding conveyor section, and on account of this manner of swivelling, the holding means provides an exact measure for the relative swivelling movement of adjacent conveyor sections. A precise transmission of the swivelling movement to the chassis is made possible, because the holding means and the chassis are now arranged on one and the same compo nent part, i.e. on the receiving end of the conveyor section and on the charging chute, respectively.

On account of the vertical axis, around which the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section and thus also the holding means is swivelled, assuming a centred position relative to the charging chute, the same conditions are reliably provided for a swivelling movement in left-hand direction and for a swivelling movement in right-hand direction. Any unevenness of the floor is taken into consideration by connecting the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section with the holding means in a manner allowing swivelling movement in vertical direction.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding means is connected to the charging chute via a traversing gear arranged behind the charging chute and connected therewith, the traversing gear simulating the geometrical swivelling axis of the holding means. This not only keeps free the charging chute for charging therein the bulk material, but also provides, above all, the possibility to obtain a construction of small constructional height, which is of particular importance in underground mining. The traversing gear can - on account of being located behind the charging chute - be arranged on an arbitrarily low level and can even be located below the upper edge of the charging chute.

The arrangement is preferably such that the traversing gear has a first constructional part connected with the charging chute for being swivelled around a vertical axis located behind this charging chute by a first lever arm rigidly connected with the first constructional part. The holding means is connected with this first constructional part via first parallelogram guides swivellable around their vertical axes. The traversing gear has a second constructional part being connected with a guide rod for being swivellable around a vertical axis and this guide rod has its other end linked to the charging chute for being swivelled around a vertical axis.The second constructional part is connected with the charging chute via second parallelogram guides swivellable around vertical axes and a second lever arm is rigidly connected with the second constructional part and has its other end linked to the holding means for being swivelled around a vertical axis. By means of this combination of levers and guide rods, the holding means is controlled such that it becomes swivelled around the geometrical axis assuming a centre position relative to the charging chute. The holding means carries the comparatively great weight of the discharge end of the preceding conveyor section.For the purpose of not subjecting the traversing gear to the weight of the receiving end, the holding means is, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, supported by means of at least one track roller on an approximately semi-circular running surface, located in a horizontal plane, of the charging chute.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the chassis has two individually suspended running wheels having connected with their steering axles, directing or steering levers which diverge in a direction away from these steering axles and which are connected one with the other by a track rod. Addvantageously, at least one directing lever is connected via a strut rod with a component part coupled with the holding means. When travelling along a curved path, the circular arc described by the wheel running on the innermost curve has a smaller radius than the circular arc described by the wheel running along the outermost curve. The wheel running along the innermost curve must thus be given a greater lock than the wheel running on the outermost curve.

On account of the diverging directing levers of both wheels and on account of both directing levers being connected one with the other by a track rod, the wheel running along the innermost curve is - irrespective of travelling along a right-hand curve or a left-hand curve - given a corresponding higher degree of lock than the wheel running on the outermost curve (Ackermann effect). The curve to be travelled over is dependent on the angle included between the longitudinal axis of the subsequent conveyor section and the longitudinal axis of the preceding conveyor section. The position of the holding means provides the measure for the angle for which the longitudinal axes of both conveyor sections are swivelled one relative to the other.By means of the strut rod, the holding means now transmits the relative angular position of both adjacent conveyor sections to the steering mechanism of the wheels. This can, according to the invention, be achieved in a simple manner if the strut rod is linked to a steering lever swivellable around a vertical axis fixed to the charging chute and coupled to the holding means in the sense of a proportional swivelling movement.On account of the wheels of the chassis being approximately located within the area of the vertical swivelling axis around which the adjacent conveyor sections are bent one relative to the other, the axis of symmetry of the angle included by both running wheels as seen in a top plan view must include an angle with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor section carrying the chassis, which latter angle approximately corresponds to half of the swivelling angle between the longitudinal axes of adjacent conveyor sections. This angle can exactly be determined.

Preferably and according to the invention, the steering lever is coupled with the holding means for effecting a swivelling movement in the ration of 2:1. Thus it is achieved that, with all swiveiled positions of adjacent conveyor sections, the average lock of the wheels keeps the same ratio relative to the angular position of the axes of the adjacent conveyor sections.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the strut rod is arbitrarily adjustable, the strut rod being formed, for example, of a hydraulic thrust piston drive means or a screw spindle. The train of conveyor section can be attached to the cutting machine and the train can in dependence on the direction of movement of the cutting machine, be moved in forward or rearward direction. In this case, it is possible to travel along right-hand curves and ieft-hand curves which frequently show a comparatively low radius of curvature. With bad floor conditions, it is in this case possible that the running wheels become laterally displaced and the track is thus changed. By arbitrarily adjusting the length of the strut rod, the various chassis can again be brought into the correct track. This is of importance in view of the restricted space existing in underground working.Any changes in the track become summed up and if the steering mechanism cannot be corrected, there exists the risk that the train composed of a conveyor section or of conveyor sections collides with lateral walls or with pillars.

The second parallelogram guides which are linked to the charging chute and which are connected with the holding means via the second constructional part by means of a lever arm, supply an exact measure for the swivelling movement of the holding means and thus of the relative swivelling movement of the axes of adjacent conveyor sections. According to a preferred feature of the invention, the steering lever is therefore conveniently connected with the second parallelogram guides.

According to a further preferred feature of the invention, the middle of the chassis is located in the vertical swivelling axis located in the middle of the charging chute. In case of a chassis formed of two running wheels, the arrangement is therefore preferably such that the vertical swivelling axis located in the middle of the charging chute intersects the connecting line of the king pins of both wheels of the chassis in its centre. The steering geometry is thus improved because in this case the holding means and thus the conveyor sections coupled one to the other are swivelled around the same axis as is swivelled the chassis.

According to the invention, a mechanically re leasabie steering lock for the chassis can be provided. This may be of advantage under particularly difficult conditions if sharp curves must be travelled along.

If the chassis is formed of creeper chains, directing operation can be achieved by changing the running speed of the creeper chains arranged at both sides. Also such directing operation can be derived from the angular position of the holding means.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in a top plan view of plurality of conveyor sections linked one to the other for forming a train.

Figures 2 and 3 show the traversing gear for guiding the holding means carrying the receiving end of the subsequent conveyor section Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the travers ng gear.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of the traversing gear also in an exploded view.

Figure 6 shows the directing means of the running wheels in a top plan view.

Figure 7 shows in a top plan view a modified embodiment for the directing means for the running wheels.

Figure 1 shows in a top plan view part of a train composed of conveyor sections 1 being equipped with a conveyor belt. The discharge end of these conveyor sections 1 are designated by 2 and the receiving ends are designated by 3. A charging chute (13 in Figure 2), is arranged on these receiving ends. The conveyor sections 1 are coupled one with the other for being swivelled around axes 4.

The receiving ends are equipped with a chassis, the wheels of which are designated by 5 and 6.

The wheels are individually suspended on king pins 7 and have steering arms or levers 8 being connected one with the other by track rods 9.

For the linking point, generally designated by A, of two adjacent conveyor sections 1, the centre of the curve is designated by 10. In this representation the wheel 5 is the wheel running along the innermost curve and wheel 6 is the wheel running on the outermost curve.

The wheel 5 running on the innermost curve extends perpendicularly relative to the connecting line 11 with the centre 10 of the curve and the wheel 6 running on the outermost curve extends perpendicularly relative to the connecting line 12 bisecting the obtuse angle a formed between the longitudinal axes of two adjacent conveyor sections, also passes through the centre 10 of the curve. The wheel running on the innermost curve includes an angle a with the axis of the conveyor section 1 carrying the chassis. The wheel running on the outermost curve includes an angle oL2 with the conveyor section 1 carrying the chassis.The angle OL is greater than the angle a because the radius of the curve (distance from the centre 10 of the curve) of the wheel 5 running on the innermost curve is smaller than the radius of the curve of the wheel 6 running on the outermost curve. The mean value of the angles a, and a2 is one half of the acute angle y by which both conveyor sections 1 have their longitudinal axes inclined one relative to the other (a + y = 1800).

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the receiving end 3 of a conveyor section in a top plan view and in a side elevation, respectively. The charging chute of the receiving end 3 is designated by 13. A holding means 14 is connected with the charging chute for being swivelled around a vertical geometrical axis 15. This discharge end of the preceding conveyor section is connected to this holding means 14 for being swivelled around an axis 18. The discharge end 2 of the preceding conveyor section 1 is connected with this holding means 14 in a tensionproof manner and in a manner preventing movement in the horizontal direction.

The holding means 14 thus carries the weight of the discharge end 2 of the preceding conveyor section. The holding means 14 is connected with a box 16 for being rotated around a horizontal axis.

This box 16 has a roller 17 running on a semi-circular running surface 19 of the charging chute 13 and carrying the weight of the discharge end 2 of the preceding conveyor section.

A first rigid constructional part 20 is rigidly connected with a lever 21, which is linked to a plate member 23 bolted to the charging chute 13, and which lever 21 can be swivelled around a vertical axis 22. The constructional part 20 is pivotally linked to the box 16 by parallelogram guide rods 24. As best shown in Figure 4, a second constructional part 25 is pivotally linked the plate member 23 by means of parallelogram guide rods 26. The linking points on the plate member 23 are designated by 27 and the linking points on the second constructional part 25 are designated by 28. The second constructional part 25 is rigidly connected with a lever arm 29 which is pivotally linked to the console 16 for being swivelled around a vertical axis 30. By this arrangement of levers and guide rods, the holding means is guided such that it is swivelled around the geometrical vertical axis 15.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the traversing gear equipped with chains and sprocket wheels. A swivelling arm 31 is connected with the box 16' for being swivelled around an axis 32. A sprocket wheel 34 is rotatably supported on the swivelling arm at 33. A sprocket wheel 36 rigidly connected with the box 16' is connected with the sprocket wheel 34 by means of a chain 35. The sprocket wheel 34 is coaxially and rigidly connected with a sprocket wheel 37. The sprocket wheel 37 is, via a chain 38, in connection with a sprocket wheel 39 being rigidly connected with the plate member 23'.

An arm 41 is connected with the plate member 23' for being swivelled around an axis 40 and has its end rigidly connected with the sprocket wheel 34.

Also in this manner, the holding means 14 can be swivelled around the geometrical axis 15.

Figure 6 illustrates the steering geometry or directing geometry of the running wheels. The running wheels 5 and 6 are pivotally supported for being swivelled around king pins 42. The king pins 42 are supported on a carrier member or dead axle 43 being rigidly connected with the charging chute (13). The directing levers 8 are connected with the steering knuckles of the wheels 5, 6. The directing levers diverge in a direction away from the king pins 42 and are connected one with the other by means of a track rod 9 in the form of a bar 44 whose length is preferably adjustable. The divergency of the directing levers has as a result that the respective wheel running along the innermost curve is given a greater degree of lock than the wheel running on the outermost curve.

A steering lever 46 (Figure 6 and see also Figure 4) is swivellably linked to a carrier member 43 and - with interposition of this carrier member - also the charging chute for being swivelled around an axis 45. This steering lever 46 is in its turn pivotally linked at 48 by means of a bracket 47 to the parallelogram guide rods 26 (see Figure 4). The bracket 47 has a pin 49, for example a ball pin, being guided within the slot 50 of the steering lever 46.

In this manner, the steering lever 46 is coupled with the holding means 14 and the linking points are located in such a way that the steering lever travels over a swivelling angle being one half of the swivelling angle being described by the holding means 14.

A strut rod 52 is pivotally linked to a directing lever 8 at 51. The steering lever 56 has a joint 53 being acted upon the directing lever. The length of the strut rod 52 can arbitrarily be adjusted. This is indicated in Figure 6 by a strut rod designed as a screw spindle being screwedly adjustable by means of hand wheel 54, so that the distance between the joints 51 and 53 can be changed. Comparatively great forces are, however, required for adjusting the length of the strut rod 52 and it is just on account ot this reason that the strut rod 52 is conveniently designed as a hydraulically actuated strut formed of a cylinder and of a piston.

Figure 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the directing means shown in Figure 6. A steering lever 56 is pivotally linked to the charging chute 13 for being swivelled around an axis 55 and is intended for the same purpose as the steering lever 46 of Figure 6. A pin 58 is slidably guided within a slot 57 of this steering lever 56. This pin 58 is intended for the same purpose as the pin 49 of Figure 6. This pin 49, which can be designed as a ball pin, is moved in correspondence with the swivelling movement of the holding means 14. Movement of this pin 48 can again be derived from the parallelogram guide rods 26 (see Figures 4 and 6). Directing levers 8 are again rigidly connected with the steering knuckles of the wheels 5 and 6 and have their free ends connected by a track rod 44.

A strut rod 60 is pivotally linked to the steering lever 56 by means of a bolt 59, the other end of the strut rod being pivotally linked at 61 to the joint connecting the directing lever 8 with the track rod 44. The strut rod 60 consists of a screw spindle 62 and a bushing 63 provided with an internal thread. By rotating the screw spindle 62 relative to the bushing 63, the length of the strut rod 60 can be adjusted and the selected adjustment can be locked by means of a retainer nut 64.

In this embodiment, the chassis is - with the middle of its axis - exactly located within the swivelling axis 15 of the holding means 14. The arrangement is thus selected such that the vertical swivelling axis 15 assuming a centred position relative to the charging chute 13 intersects the middle of the connecting line 65 of the king pins 42.

Claims

1. A device for coupling and steering conveyor sections rendered mobile by means of chassis and said sections each being provided with an endless conveyor belt and at their receiving ends, with a charging chute, and wherein a wheeled chassis is only arranged within the area of the charging chute (13), i.e. at one end of the mobile conveyor section, a holding means (14) for the discharge end (2) of a preceding conveyor section (1) being connected with the charging chute (13) for being swivelled around a vertical axis (4, 15) assuming an approximately centred position relative to the charging chute (13), the discharge end (2) of the preceding conveyor section (1) being connected with the holding means (14) in a tension-proof manner and in a manner preventing movement in horizontal direction and in a manner for being swivelled and the steering movement for the wheels of the chassis being derived from the swivelling movement of the holding means (14).

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the holding means (14) is connected to the charging chute (13) via a traversing gear arranged behind the charging chute (13) and connected therewith, the traversing gear simulating the geometrical swivelling axis (4, 15) of the holding means (14).

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the traversing gear has a first constructional part (2) being connected with the charging chute (13) for being swivelled around a vertical axis (22) located behind this charging chute (13) by a first lever arm (21) rigidly connected with the first constructional part (20), in that the holding means (14) is connected with this first constructional part (20) via first parallelogram guides (24) swivellable around their vertical axes, in that the traversing gear has a second constructional part (25) being connected with a guide rod for being swivellable around a vertical axis and this guide rod having its other end linked to the charging chute (13) for being swivelled around a vertical axis (30), in that the second constructional part (25) is connected with the charging chute (13) via second parallelogram guides (26) swivellable around vertical axes and in that a second lever arm (29) is rigidly connected with the second constructional part (25) and has its other end linked to the holding means (14) for being swivelled around a vertical axis.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the holding means (15) is supported by means of at least one track roller (17) on an approximately semi-circular running surface (19), located in a horizontal plane, of the charging chute (13).

5. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the chassis has two individually suspended running wheels (5, 6) having connected with their steering axles directing levers (8) diverging in a direction away from these steering axles and being connected one with the other by a track rod (9), and in that at least one directing lever (8) is connected via a strut rod (52, 60) with a component part (46, 56) coupled with the holding means (14).

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that the strut rod (52, 60) is linked to a steering lever (46, 56) swivellable around a vertical axis (45, 55) fixed to the charging chute (13) and coupled to the holding means (14) in the sense of a proportional swivelling movement.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that the steering lever (52, 60) is coupled with the holding means (14) for effecting a swivelling movement in the ratio of 2:1.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the length of the strut rod (52, 60) is arbitrarily adjustable, the strut rod being formed, for example, of a hydraulic thrust piston drive means or a screw spindle (62).

9. A device as claimed in any of Claims 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, characterized in that the steering lever (46, 56) is connected with the second parallelogram guides (26).

10. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that as seen in a top plan view, the middle of the chassis is located in the vertical swivelling axis (15) located in the middle of charging chute (13).

11. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the vertical swivelling axis (15) located in the middle of the charging chute (13) intersects the connecting line (65) of the king pins (42) of both wheels (5, 6) of the chassis in its centre.

12. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a mechanically releasable steering lock for the chassis is provided.

13. A device for coupling and steering two successive conveyor sections substantially as described.

14. A device for coupling and steering two successive conveyor sections substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.