GB2173488A

GB2173488A - Chute

Info

Publication number: GB2173488A
Application number: GB08605584A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John David Groves
Original assignee: MECH CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Current assignee: MECH CONSTRUCTION Ltd
Priority date: 1985-04-13
Filing date: 1986-03-06
Publication date: 1986-10-15
Also published as: GB8605584D0; GB8509539D0

Abstract

A chute (1) for use in handling particulate materials, comprises:- a discharge member (2) which is rotatably attached to the chute (1) by a bearing ring arrangement (6); drive means (22-25) to rotate the discharge member (2), about the chute (1); and the discharge member (2) being provided with an offset outlet mouth (3), whereby rotation of the discharge member (2) varies the outlet direction. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chute This invention relates to a chute for the handling of particulate materials, e.g. coal, sand, gravel, ore, cement, grain etc., particularly, though not exclusively for the transfer of materials from a first conveyor to a second conveyor at a so-called transfer point. The conveyors dould be of the same or different types, e.g. belt conveyors or scraper chain conveyors.

In practice, the-two conveyors could be running at any included angle with respect to one another, an elevated end of the delivery conveyor delivering material into the chute, which defines an appropriate path, which may be curved to turn the material into the direction of the receiving conveyor, with an open delivery mouth two deliver material in the driven direction of the receiving conveyor. However, a spillage problem frequently occurs at the transfer point, and a means of alleviating this problem is the provision on the chute of an outlet mouth which is adjustable, so as to provide the possibility of varying the chute delivery direction, as what may have been thought the optimum delivery direction in theory may not prove so in practice.Furthermore, the nature of the material being handled may vary, e.g. stock piles of power station coal exhibit different handling characteristics in dry summer conditions compared with wet winter conditions, making on-site adjustments advantageous. However, known adjustable outlet mouths are flanged mounted to the chute proper, resulting in the need to release a larger number of nuts/studs, so that the outlet mouth may be rotated to a new position, and the nuts/studs replaced. This procedure may be required- on more than one occasion if the optimum "new" position is not found immediately. This is a time consuming operation and furthermore the nuts/studs may shear and/or rust in place, particularly if the chute is located outdoors, as is frequently the case.In addition, the circumferential positions selected around the flanges for the bolts or studs restrict the positions to which the outlet mouth may be rotated and consequently it may not be possible to locate the outlet mouth precisely in the optimum discharge position.

According to the present invention, there is provided a chute for use in handling particulate materials, comprising: a discharge member which is rotatably attached to the chute by a bearing ring arrangement; drive means to rotate the discharge member, about the chute; and the discharge member being provided with an offset outlet mouth, whereby rotation of the discharge member varies the outlet direction.

Thus, the invention provides a chute with an adjustable position outlet mouth, in which bolts or studs are completely avoided and hence infinite, incremental adjustment, to the optimum discharge position, is readily attainable.

It is of course desirable- to provide some locking means to secure the rotatable member in its selected position. Preferably, both the chute and its rotatable member are generally tubular, so that material being handled is, advantageously, totally enclosed, thus minimising dust release resulting in health and environmental benefits, and also eliminating contamination of the material being handled. Advantageously, the off-setting of the outlet mouth is achieved by the discharge member being asymmetrically tapered towards its outlet mouth.

The means to rotate the member, and consequently its outlet mouth, may be handoperated or power-operated. In a handoperated arrangement, a cranked handle may rotate a pinion in mesh with a gear ring extending around the rotatable member. In a power-operated arrangement, the power means may be an electric or hydraulic motor, or a doubleacting pneumatic or hydraulic ram. These last mentioned arrangements require of course the availability of electric power lines, hydraulic lines or pneumatic lines, but for larger sizes of chute/rotatable mouth, powered adjustment may be unavoidable. However, powered adjustment does provide the possibility of remote operation, e.g. from a safe location and/or a control panel.

The bearing ring arrangement may conveniently comprise a static ring carried by the chute and having a circumferential groove, and a rotatable ring carried by the rotatable member and also having a circumferential groove with a plurality of balls common to both grooves. Preferably, dust/dirt seals are carried to protect this ball race, while the rotatable ring may also be provided with grease nipples and porting from the nipples to the ball race.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of chute in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view through a portion of Figure 1; Figure 3 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows a second embodiment of chute in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view through a portion of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a partial end view in the direction of arrow A of Figure 3.

In both embodiments, like components are accorded like reference numerals.

In the drawings, is illustrated a generally tubular chute 1 for the handling of particulate materials, such as coal, the chute 1 being of length to meet the requirements of any particular installation and consequently an inlet end of the chute is not illustrated. At its outlet end the chute 1 is provided with a generally tubular discharge member in the form of a rotatable spout member 2, which tapers asymmetrically towards an outlet mouth 3 so that the latter is offset with respect to the chute, whereby rotation of the spout member 2 achieves variation in the-outlet direction of the particulate material.

As detailed in- Figures 2 and 4, the chute 1 has a wall 4, with flow of particulate material being indicated at arrow 5, whilst the spout member 2 is rotatably attached to, and supported from, the chute 1 by a bearing ring arrangement 6 having an annular- plate 7 attached by bolts 8 to a flange 9 welded around the chute wall 4.The bearing ring arrangement 6 further comprises firstly a static ring 10 secured by bolts 11 to the annular plate 7 and having a circumferential groove 12,-and secondly a rotatable ring 13 having a circumferential groove 14, with a- plurality of balls 15, common to both grooves 12 and 14, the rotatable ring 13 being secured by bolts 16 to an annular plate 17 secured by bolts 18 to a flange 19 welded around si- dewall 20 of the spout member 2,' whilst a circumferential skirt 21 is welded two the annular flange 7, contiguous with the walls 4 and 20. The rotatable ring 13 is also providedwith grease nipples 21 and porting for lubrication of the balls 15.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the rotatable ring 13 is also provided with circumferential teeth 22 in mesh with a drive pinion 23 drivable by an electric or hydraulic motor 24 via a speed reduction unit 25, for powered rotation of the spout member 2 until the desired direction of discharge of the particulate material from the chute 1 is achieved.

In the embodiments of Figures 3 to 5 and alternative power means for rotating the spout member 2 is shown, annular plate 7A is provided with a bracket 26 secured by two bolts 11A, the bracket 26 carrying a pivot pin 27 for a cylinder 28 of a double-acting, hydraulic, piston and cylinder unit 29. Similarly, three bolts 18A securing the annular plate 17A to flange 19A of the spout member 2 are also employed to secure a bracket 30 to flange 19A, the bracket 30 carrying a pivot pin 31 for piston rod 32 of the unit 29, whereby extension or retraction of the unit 29 achieves -the desired rotation of the spout member 2.

Claims

1. A chute for use in handling particulate materials, comprising: a discharge member which is rotatably attached to the chute by a bearing ring arrangement; drive means to rotate the discharge member, about the chute; and the discharge member being provided with an offset outlet mouth, whereby rotation of the discharge member varies the outlet direction.

2. A chute as claimed in Claim 1, wherein locking means is provided to secure the rotatable member in its selected position.

3. A chute as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2,- wherein both the chute and its rotatable member are generally tubular.

4. A chute as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the discharge member is asymmetrically tapered towards its outlet mouth.

5. A chute as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the means to rotate the member, and consequently its outlet mouth, is hand operated.

6. A chute as claimed in Claim 5, wherein a cranked handle is provided to rotate a pinion in mesh with a gear ring extending around the rotatable member.

7. A chute as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the means to rotate the member, and consequently its outlet mouth, is power operated.

8. A chute as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the power means is an electric or hydraulic motor, or a double-acting pneumatic or hydraulic ram.

9. A chute as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the bearing ring arrangement comprises a static ring carried by the chute and having a circumferential groove, and a rotatable ring carried by the rotatable member and also having a circumferential groove, with a plurality of balls common to both grooves.

10. A chute as claimed in Claim 9, wherein dust/dirt seals are carried to protect ball race.

11. A chute as claimed in Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the rotatable ring is provided with grease nipples and porting from the nipples to the ball race.

12. A chute substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.