GB2179617A - Steep conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

A steep conveyor which is supported on the one hand on a lower floor 2 and on the other on an upper floor 4 has an obliquely extending intermediate framework 13 connected through articulations 15, 16 with an upper and a lower conveyor framework 14, 5, these frameworks being supported on the floors through undercarriages 6, 17. The articulations have horizontal axes arranged transversely of the frameworks and the conveyor belt 10 is arranged continuously. The lower framework 5 is arranged to be horizontally displaceable in its longitudinal plane whereas the upper framework 14 is non-displaceable. The arrangement of frameworks is to allow the height difference between the upper and lower undercarriages 6, 17 to be variable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Steep conveyor The invention relates to an apparatus having a lower and an upper conveyorframeworkfor conveying loose bulk material orthe like from one level to a higher level, where the lower conveyor framework is supported through a lower undercarriage on a lower floor and the upper conveyor framework is supported through an upper undercarriage on an upperfloor and the lower and the upper conveyorframeworks are connected through an intermediate framework, while all frameworks accommodate a conveyor belt with which there are associated a charging device at one end and a delivery device at the other end.

A steep conveyor is known form German Utility Model No. 1,692,620 in which the conveyor belt is accommodated in a rigid conveyorframeworkwhich canworkonlyon an invariable steep slope with constant difference of level between the lowerfioor and the upperfloor.

In order to compensate for uneven differences of height between the individual floors it is further known to produce the conveyorframework from two parts displaceable one within the other. It is also known from German P.S. 942,079 to form the conveyor with a vertical tower on which a bridge of adjustable height is arranged. However these conveyors are very expensive in assembly and furthermore the vertical transport of the material upwards isverytroublesome.

In orderto compensate forthe height difference between the lower and upper floors it is further known (German P.S. 3,217,745) to support the steep conveyor only on one undercarriage which is mobile on the lowerfloorandto form the upper conveyor framework as a pivotable jib which is held by a support framework with a cou nter-weig ht ji b and a cable winch apparatus. Here again high expense is concerned.

The invention is based upon the problem of producing a steep conveyor of the initially stated kind in which the vertical interval and the height difference between the lower and upper undercarriages are variable with simple means.

In accordance with the invention this problem is solved in that the lower and the upper conveyor frameworks are connected with the intermediate framework through articulations and the articulations comprise horizontal axes oriented transversely of the conveyor frameworks, and in that the conveyor belt is arranged continuously.

With the apparatus according to the invention the object is achieved that the intermediate framework can be brought into every position lying between the vertical and the horizontal, that is to say the intermediate framework can be brought into any desired position lying between the vertical position and the horizontal position without the necessity of varying the horizontal or nearly horizontal position of the lower and upper conveyor frameworks. Afurther advantage is to be seen in that the appliance as a bridge appliance can be driven independently from one location to another location. Especially in underground pit operation this appliance is capable ofdriving alone out of the pit.

Advantageous developments of the invention are contained in the Sub-Claims.

An exampleofembodimentofthe invention is represented in the drawing and will be described in greater detail below.

Figure 1 shows the steep conveyor in a lateral elevation, Figure2 shows the lower articulation point of the steep conveyor in a fragmentary enlarged representation, Figure 3 shows the upper articulation point of the steep conveyor in a fragmentary enlarged representation, Figure 4shows the steep conveyor with the upper conveyorframework in a middle position in a fragmentary lateral elevation, Figure 5shows the steep conveyor with the upper conveyor framework in the horizontal position, in which the lower and the upper undercarriages stand on one common level, in a fragmentary lateral elevation, Figure 6shows the supporting ofthe lower conveyorframeworkon the lower undercarriage in a fragmentary lateral elevation in enlarged representation and Figure 7 shows the supporting of the upper conveyor framework on the upper undercarriage in a fragmentary lateral elevation in enlarged representation.

The steep conveyor 1 works on a slope 3 which is defined bya lowerfloor2andan upperfloor4.The steep conveyor 1 consists essentially of a lower conveyor framework 5, an intermediate framework 13 and an upper conveyorframework 14, while a continuous conveyor belt 10is arranged in the conveyor frameworks. The conveyor belt 10 (see Figure 3) comprises corrugated edgestrips 10' and transverse pieces 10" arranged therebetween and is guided over a lower reversing roller 11 and an upper reversing roller 12 and thus forms an upper run 10a and a lower run 1 Ob.

The lower conveyor frameworkS is connected through a lower articulation 15 with the intermediate framework 13 and the latter again is connected through an upperarticulation 16 with the upper conveyorframework 14. The lower conveyor framework 5 is supported through a lower undercarriage 6 on the lower floor 2.

In the example of embodiment the connection between the lower conveyor framework Sand the lower undercarriage 6 is formed as a displaceable apparatus 28 so that longitudinal displacements are possible between the framework 5 and the undercarriage 6. Forthis purpose the apparatus 28 (Figure 6) on the undercarriage 6 comprises a carrier frame 32 provided with rollers 31 and the framework 5 is supported with rails 33 secured thereto on the rollers 31. The carrierframe 32 is supported through a ball swivel connection 34 on an auxiliary frame 35 and the latter is supported through a Cardan or universal joint arrangement 36 on the undercarriage 6.Forthe adjustment or correction of the angular position of the framework Sin relation to the undercarriage 6, two hydraulic cylinders 37,38 are arranged between the auxiliary frame 35 and the undercarriage 6, namely one in the longitudinal plane and the other in the transverse plane of the undercarriage 6. With the aid of the cylinders 37,38 it is also possible to compensate for different ground inclinations and to bring and hold the framework 5 into the horizontal orientation.

The upper conveyorframework 14 is likewise connected with the upper undercarriage 17 pivotably about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis each in the longitudinal and transverse directions - but not displaceably in the longitudinal direction. For this purposetheframework 14is supported again through a ball swivel connection 34' on an auxiliary frame35' andthe latterthrough a Cardan or universal joint arrangement 36' on the undercarriage 17. Again two hydraulic cylinders 37', 38' are arranged between the auxiliary frame 35' and the undercarriage 17.

In the region of the lower conveyorframework 5 a charging device 7 is provided consisting of a charging hopper8 and a charging belt 9. The charging belt 9 has the purpose of reducing the falling height of the material to be transported, for transference on to the conveyor belt 10.

In the region of the upperconveyorframework 14a discharge device 18 is provided to which a discharge belt 19 is allocated which is supported on the upper floor 4.

In the region of the articulations 15 and 16 between the conveyorframeworks 5 and 14andthe intermediate framework 13there are provided a lower rollway20 and an upperrollway2l for supporting the upper run 1 0a of the conveyor belt 10.

To supportthe lower run 1 0b of the conveyor belt 10 lower guide rollers 22 and upper guide rollers 23 are provided in the stated regions.

As may be seen from Figure 2, in the connection region of the frameworks 5 and 13 there are provided guide rollers 22a and 22b. According to the angular position ofthe intermediate framework 13the upper run 10a ofthe conveyorbelt 10 lies onthetwo guide rollers 22a and possibly on the two guide rollers 22b.

These rollers are so arranged that they accompany the pivoting movement oftheframework parts.

The articulations 15 and 16 can comprise articulation parts 24 fitted on the spares Sa, 1 3a, 14a, oftheframeworks 5,13 and 14, which parts are connected with one another in each case with bolts 25.

While the conveyorframeworks 5 and 14 hold the entire steep conveyor 1 in equilibrium by suitable weight distribution, for better stabilisation of the entire conveyor framework it can be advantageous to arrange a hydraulic cylinder 26 and 27 between the lower conveyorframework 5 and the intermediate framework 13 and/or between the upper conveyor framework 14 and the intermediate framework 13.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus having a lower and an upper conveyorframeworkforthe conveying of loose bulk material orthe like from one level to a higher level, where the lower conveyor framework is supported through a lower undercarriage on a lowerfloorand the upperconveyorframeworkissupportedthrough an upper undercarriage on an upperfloor and the lower and the upper conveyor frameworks are connected through an intermediate framework, while all frameworks accommodate a conveyor belt with which there is associated at one end a charging device and at the other end a discharge device, characterised in thatthe lower and the upper conveyor frameworks (5 and 14) are connected through articulations (1 5, 1 6) with the intermediate framework (13),the articulations (15,16) having horizontal axes oriented transversely of the conveyor frameworks (5,14), and in thatthe conveyor belt (10) is arranged continuously.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that a conveyorframework (5) is supported horizontally displaceably in its longitudinal plane and the other conveyor framework (14) is supported non-displaceably, each on its respective associated undercarriage (6 and 17) respectively.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or2, characterised in that the conveyorframeworks (5, 14) are supported on the pertinent undercarriages (6,17) each through a swivel connection (34,34') and a Cardan joint (36,36') and are connected with the undercarriages through vertically arranged hydraulic cylinders (37,38; 37',38').

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in thatthe lower and the upper conveyorframework (5, 14) are each connected with the intermediate framework through a hydraulic device (26,27).

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in thattheframeworks (5,13, 14) comprise lower spars (5a,13a,14a) which are connected with one anotherthrough bolt joints (24,25).

6. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the conveyor belt (10) is guided over guide rollers (22,23) in the regions of the connections ofthe lower conveyor framework(S) and the upper conveyorframework (14) with the intermediate framework (13), the guide rollersforthe upper run (1 Oa) and the lower run (1 Ob) ofthe conveyor belt (10) being separate.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterised inthattheuppersideoftheupperrun(10a)ofthe conveyor belt (10) is supported in the region between the lower conveyorframework (5) and the intermediate piece (13) by a rollway(20)and in that beneath the upper run (10a) several rollers (22a, 22b) are provided and arranged in such a way that according to the angular position (a) of the intermediate framework (13) at least two carrier rollers(22a)supporttheupperrun (10a).

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.