GB2397107A

GB2397107A - A longwall conveyor chain having a short broad vertical link

Info

Publication number: GB2397107A
Application number: GB0324674A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Edmund Powell; Terence W Scrutton
Original assignee: Joy MM Delaware Inc
Current assignee: Joy MM Delaware Inc
Priority date: 2003-01-13
Filing date: 2003-10-23
Publication date: 2004-07-14
Also published as: CN1517281A; RU2003136792A; DE102004001072A1; PL364199A1; AU2003261526A1; GB0324674D0

Abstract

A chain 10 adapted to be driven over a horizontal pan, said chain 10 including an oblong endless horizontal link 18, and an oblong endless vertical link 22, said vertical link 22 having an overall height and said horizontal link 18 having a horizontal width, said width to height ratio being greater than 1.3. The width to height ratio may be 1.6. The vertical link 22 of the chain may have a 'D' shaped cross section 13, with the rounded portion of the 'D' cross section 13 facing the centre of the vertical link 22.

Description

23971 07

LONGWALL CONVEYOR CHAIN HAVING A SHORT BROAD VERTICAL LINK

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to conveyor elements for the transport of bulk materials such as coal and the like, and, more particularly, to chain used in connection with longwall conveyor systems.

Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a longwall conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a pan and a coal conveying chain and flight mechanism thereon. The coal conveying mechanism includes a sprocket drive (not shown) that pulls the chain and flight mechanism along the pan. The flights are attached to the chain at spaced intervals. AS the chain and flights move along the pan, coal is carried by the flights to the end of the pan, where it is transferred to a mechanism for taking the coal out of the underground mine.

Two different chain styles have been primarily used in connection with longwall conveyor systems. One is known as a round link or crosslink chain, and it is illustrated in Figure 2. In the crosslink chain, the horizontal link and the vertical link have the same dimensions. The other style of chain is commonly called a compact link or flat link chain, and it is illustrated in Figure 3. In a flat link chain, the same horizontal link as in a crosslink chain is used, but the vertical link is about fifteen percent (15%) shorter than the vertical link in the crosslink chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved chain adapted to be driven over a horizontal pan, the chain including a horizontal link and a vertical link having an overall height and the horizontal link having an overall width, the height to width ratio being less than 2. In one embodiment of the invention, the vertical link has a non round "D,, shaped type cross section, with the rounded portion of the "D" shaped segment facing the center of the vertical link. In other embodiments (not shown), and as is expected to happen within the chain specifications and also soon after use of the chain, the shaped segment will match the contour of the horizontal link it faces, ending up with essentially a line contact between the two links.

The improved chain of this invention results in several areas of improvement, especially when the chain is applied to a longwall conveyor apparatus. Broadband Chain offers lower chain height for Longwall conveying. The resulting increase in power density allows lower linepans for thin seam extraction while for thick seam applications the chain geometry substantially reduces wear of chain and drive sprockets.

The reduction in the overall chain height is significantly less than either a flat link or a crosslink chain, as a result the overall height of the conveyor pan can be reduced by about twenty percent (20%). This results in an opportunity for the longwall conveyor to have more space above the conveyor pan to carry more coal. The lower pan height also permits the longwall conveyor to be used in smaller seam heights. The shorter vertical link also permits lighter flight bars to be used, since the overall height is less, less material is required for each flight for the given height.

The wider horizontal link of the chain of this invention permits an increased amount of contact area between the horizontal link and the sprocket which drives the horizontal link. Figures 2 and 3 and 5 are illustrations of a sprocket engaging the horizontal link of either a crosslink or flat link chain. Figures 4 and 6 illustrates the horizontal link of this invention being engaged by the sprocket. As illustrated by Figures 5 and 6, substantially more of the horizontal link of the invention is engaged by the sprocket, thus thereby reducing the amount of wear which typically occurs in both the horizontal link and the sprocket, because the loading is now spread over a larger area.

The widthwise longer ID', shaped cross section 13 of the vertical link provides additional benefits. In particular, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, the did,, shaped cross section causes the vertical link to contact the horizontal link at least two different contact points or by line contact across the entire face of the link. Several benefits result from this line contact. By having line contact, there is slower overall chain wear. The spreading out of the chain wear also results in reduced elongation of the chain as chain wear occurs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view a prior art longwall conveyor system.

Figure 2 is an end view a prior art crosslink chain being engaged by a sprocket.

Figure 3 is an end view a prior art flat link chain being engaged by a sprocket.

Figure 4 is an end view the improved chain of this invention being engaged by a sprocket.

Figure 5 is a perspective top view of part of a sprocket engaging the horizontal link of either a crosslink or flat link chain and showing the amount of area contact between the chain and the sprocket.

Figure 6 is a perspective top view of part the horizontal link of this invention being engaged by the sprocket and showing the amount of area contact between the chain and the sprocket.

Figure 7 is a partial cross sectional plan or top view of the "D" shaped cross section of the horizontal link of the chain of this invention.

Figure 8 is a partial cross sectional view of the "D" shaped cross section showing twin areas of contact. Figure 8 is a partial cross sectional view of the D,, shaped cross section showing twin areas of contact.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the horizontal link.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the vertical link.

Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the À . purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Use of "including" and "comprising" and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of "consisting of n and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Further, it is to be understood that such terms as "forward", "rearward", "left", "right", 'upward" and "downward", etc., are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated in Figures 4, 6 and 7 through 10, this invention provides a chain 10 adapted to be driven over a horizontal pan 14, the chain 10 including a horizontal link 18, and a vertical link 22, the vertical link 22 having an overall height and said horizontal link having an overall width, the width to height ratio being greater than 1.3. More particularly, the vertical link 22 has a width to height ratio is about 1.63 and, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, a,D, , shaped cross section, with the rounded portion of the "D" facing the center of the oblong endless horizontal link 18.

Figure 9 illustrates how the horizontal link 18 can be formed from a bar formed to its ends connected such as by welding. Figure 10 illustrates how, in the preferred embodiment, excess material not needed can be removed in the top and bottom portions of the vertical link 22.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following claims. i

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A chain adapted to be driven over a horizontal pan, said chain including an oblong endless horizontal link, and an oblong endless vertical link, said vertical link having an overall height and said horizontal link having an overall width, said width to height ratio being greater than 1.3

2. A chain in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said horizontal link has a "Dn shaped cross section, with the rounded portion of the "D" facing the center of the oblong endless vertical link.

3. A chain in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said width to height ratio is about 1.6.

4. A chain constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to figures 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.