GB2529144A

GB2529144A - Adjustable track system

Info

Publication number: GB2529144A
Application number: GB1412580.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Douglas; Terance Bratton
Original assignee: Louise Douglas
Current assignee: Louise Douglas
Priority date: 2014-07-15
Filing date: 2014-07-15
Publication date: 2016-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-15
Also published as: GB201412580D0; GB2529144B

Abstract

An adjustable track system 1 features two sets of tracks 11, which can be moved further apart from each other by displacement on a chassis 2, to provide an enhanced stability configuration. The chassis may be applied in particular to materials processing apparatus or conveyors used in mining.

Description

1 Adiustable Track System 3 The present invention relates to the field of material processing units and in particular 4 mobile material processing units as commonly employed in the mining and construction industries.

7 Backciround to the Invention 9 Material processing units are machines designed for a range of functions for example crushing, pre-screening, screening and or conveying solid materials. In particular, they are 11 often employed to reduce large rocks into smaller rocks, gravel, or rock dust. They are 12 employed primarily to reduce the size, or change the form, of waste materials so they can 13 be more easily disposed of or recycled, or to reduce the size of a solid mix of raw materials 14 (as in rock ore), so that pieces of different composition can be differentiated.

16 Mobile material processing units employed for the above purpose are known in the art. In 17 general they comprise a processing module mounted on a chassis, a prime mover 18 mounted on the chassis, moving moans supporting the chassis and arranged to be power- 19 operated by the prime mover in order to move the material processing unit over the ground. Generally the prime mover comprises an engine arranged to power a set of 1 endless tracks. The processing unit may comprise: a hopper arranged to receive a supply 2 of bulk material to be screened; one or more conveyors arrange to convey materials 3 between different parts of the processing unit; and or a screen arranged to discharge 4 material at various stages of the process to a required deposition zone.

6 It is desirable for the mobile material processing unit to be easily manoeuvrable in order to 7 assist movement during normal operation or transport between separate static operating 8 locations. Although a relatively expensive component pad of such units, the employment 9 of a set of endless tracks is a particularly suitable means for propelling and steering such units. Ii

12 The mobile material processing units known in the art are generally large and extremely 13 heavy pieces of machinery, typically exhibiting heights up to and above 4 m, overall 14 lengths of approximately 16 m, and weights of over 35,000 kg. The overall size and IS weight of these units can cause them stability problems, both during normal operation and 16 when being moved between locations where they are to be deployed. This problem 17 continues to grow as the overall height, lengths and weights of these units continues to 18 increase so as to meet the increasing operational demands being placed upon them.

In order to address these issues it is common to design a mobile material processing unit 21 such that its various components are arranged to provide a stable weight distribution, see 22 for example US patent publication number 2006/0070925. It is also known in the art to 23 employ hoppers, screens and conveyors that are moveable between a retracted transport 24 position and an extended deployed position, see for example German patent publication number DE 3,904,501 and US patent number 6,186,338. Support legs are also known to 26 be employed as a means to maintain the overall stability of the unit when the unit is in a 27 static operating location and the various above described components are in their 28 extended deployed positions, see for example international patent publication numbers 29 WO 03/004176 and WO 2004/018106.

31 It is therefore an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an adjustable 32 track system that obviates, or at least mitigates the foregoing disadvantages of the mobile 33 material processing units known in the art.

1 Summary of the Invention

3 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable track 4 system for a mobile material processing unit, the adjustable track system comprising a chassis connected to which is a first moving means and a second moving means 6 separated from the first moving means along a longitudinal axis of the chassis, the first 7 and second moving means both comprising one or more endless tracks wherein the first 8 moving means is moveable relative to the chassis to provide a first means for varying the 9 linear separation between the first and second moving means along the longitudinal axis.

Ii The above adjustable track system has the advantage that it is movable between a 12 transport configuration where the linear separation of the first and second moving means 13 along the longitudinal axis is minimised and a first operational configuration where the 14 linear separation of the first and second moving means along the longitudinal axis is is increased, thus increasing the stability provided by the adjustable track system.

17 Preferable the first moving means is connected to the chassis by a first releasable 18 mounting mechanism.

The first moving means may be connected to the chassis within a first end chassis section.

22 Most preferably the second moving means is moveable relative to the chassis to provide a 23 second means for varying the relative separation between the first and second moving 24 means along the longitudinal axis.

26 Preferable the second moving means is connected to the chassis by a second releasable 27 mounting mechanism.

29 The second moving means may be connected to the chassis within a second end chassis section.

32 Most preferably adjustable track system further comprise one or more rotational control 33 means that provide a means for varying the rotational position of an associated endless 34 track relative to the longitudinal axis. The incorporation of the one or more rotational 1 control means provides a means for varying the operational configuration of the adjustable 2 track system.

4 The adjustable track system may further comprise a lateral position control means that connects an endless track to an associated releasable mounting mechanism. The function 6 of the lateral position control means is to provide a means to independently adjust the 7 position of an endless track in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal 8 axis.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of Ii configuring an adjustable track system for a mobile material processing unit, the method 12 comprising 13 -providing a chassis with a first moving means comprising one or more endless 14 tracks; is -providing the chassis with a second moving means comprising one or more 16 endless tracks separated from the first moving means along a longitudinal axis of 17 the chassis; 18 -moving the first moving means relative to the chassis to vary the linear separation 19 between the first and second moving means along the longitudinal axis.

21 Most preferably the method of configuring an adjustable track system further comprises 22 moving the second moving means relative to the chassis to vary the linear separation 23 between the first and second moving means along the longitudinal axis.

Optionally the method of configuring an adjustable track system further comprises varying 26 the rotational position of one or more of the endless tracks relative to the longitudinal axis.

28 Embodiments of the second aspect of the invention may comprise features to implement 29 the preferred or optional features of the first aspect of the invention or vice versa.

31 Brief Descrirtion of the Drawings 33 There will now be described, by way of example only, various embodiments of the 34 invention with reference to the drawings, of which: 1 Figure 1 presents (a) a side view and (b) an isomeric view of an adjustable track system 2 for a mobile material processing unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present 3 invention, shown in a transport configuration; Figure 2 presents (a) a side view and (b) an isomeric view of the adjustable track system 6 of Figure 1 in a first operational configuration; 8 Figure 3 presents an isomeric view of the adjustable track system of Figure 2 in a second 9 operational configuration; Ii Figure 4 presents an isomeric view of the adjustable track system of Figure 2 in a third 12 operational configuration; 14 Figure 5 presents an isomeric view of the adjustable track system of Figure 2 in a fourth IS operational configuration; 17 Figure 6 presents an isomeric view of the adjustable track system of Figure 2 in a fifth 18 operational configuration; and Figure 7 presents an isomeric view of the adjustable track system of Figure 2 in a sixth 21 operational configuration.

23 In the description which follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and 24 drawings with the same reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated to better illustrate details and 26 features of embodiments of the invention.

28 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A first embodiment of an adjustable track system 1 for a mobile material processing unit, in 31 accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, will now be described with 32 reference to Figures 1 and 2. In particular, Figure 1 presents a side view and an isomeric 33 view of the adjustable track system 1 in a transport configuration while Figure 2 presents 34 the same views of the adjustable track system 1, this time in a first operational configuration.

2 The adjustable track system 1 can be seen to comprise a chassis 2 comprising two 3 elongated supports 3a and 3b connected by four support struts 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d.

A longitudinal axis of the adjustable track system 1, generally depicted by reference 6 numeral 5, is presented in Figures 1 (b) and 2 (b). The longitudinal axis 5 can be seen to 7 lie substantially parallel to the elongated supports 3a and 3b and hence the normal 8 direction of travel of the mobile material processing unit when in the transport configuration 9 of Figure 1.

11 The support struts 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d can be seen to split the chassis 2 into three distinct 12 sections separated longitudinally along its length, namely: a first end chassis sections 6, 13 located between the first and second support struts 4a and 4b; a central chassis sections 14 7, located between the second and third support struts 4b and 4c; and a second end is chassis sections 8 located between the third and fourth support struts 4c and 4d.

17 The adjustable track system 1 further comprises two moving means 9 and 10 employed to 18 support and manoeuvre the chassis 2, which in the presently described embodiment 19 comprises a pair of endless tracks 11.. Operation of the moving means 9 and 10 is controlled by a prime mover (not shown) mounted upon the chassis 2.

22 The first moving means 9 is connected to the first end chassis section 6 by a first 23 releasable mounting mechanism 12. In a similar manner, the second moving means 10 is 24 connected to the second end chassis section 8 by a second releasable mounting mechanism 13 27 The releasable mounting mechanisms 12 and 13 may comprise hydraulically driven 28 clamps. In the absence of a hydraulic pressure, the clamp is biased towards a closed 29 position such that the position of the corresponding moving means 9 or 10 is fixed relative to the chassis 2. However, when a hydraulic fluid is provided to the releasable mounting 31 mechanisms 12 and 13 these are disengaged from the chassis 2 and thus allow the 32 corresponding moving means 9 or 10 to move, in a direction substantially parallel to the 33 longitudinal axis, relative to the chassis 2. In this way the adjustable track system 1 can 34 be moved between a transport configuration as presented in Figure 1 and a first operational configuration as presented in Figure 2.

2 It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that the releasable mounting mechanisms 12 3 and 13 may comprise alternative mechanical means to the above described hydraulically 4 driven clamps.

6 The adjustable track system 1 may comprise one or more hydraulic jacks that provide a 7 means for increasing or decreasing the separation of the first moving means 9 and or the 8 second moving means 10 relative to the chassis 2. In this way angle of the chassis 2 9 relative to the ground may be adjusted so as to provide a means for the mobile material processing unit to compensate for uneven ground. Ii

12 Employing two moving means 9 or 10 separated along the longitudinal axis 5 of the 13 adjustable track system 1 means that when in the transport configuration of Figure 1 the 14 associated mobile material processing unit is provided with improved skid steer torque is when compared to those employing a track system comprising a single pair of endless 16 tracks 11. This means that by employing the adjustable track system 1 an increased 17 number of mobile material processing units can be transported on a public road. Where 18 the overall size of the mobile material processing unit still requires a trailer to be employed 19 for such transport purposes the increased manoeuvrability provided by the adjustable track system 1 means that it is easier to get the material processing unit onto, and off of, the 21 trailer.

23 When the mobile material processing unit is to be deployed at a particular location the 24 adjustable track system 1 may be moved from the transport configuration of Figure 1 to the first operational configuration, as presented in Figure 2. In this configuration the overall 26 footprint of the endless tracks 11 is increased and hence there is a corresponding increase 27 in the overall stability of the mobile material processing unit. As a result there is a reduced 28 restriction on the design of the various components of the mobile material processing unit 29 upon the chassis and a reduction in the need to deploy support legs.

31 The adjustable track system 1 may further comprise a rotation control means 14 that 32 connects an endless track 11 to an associated releasable mounting mechanism 12 or 13.

33 The function of the rotation control means 14 is to provide a means to independently 34 adjust the rotational position of an endless track 11 relative to the longitudinal axis 5. In the presently described embodiments of Figures 3 to 7 the rotation control means 14 1 comprise a hydraulic actuator, activation of which causes rotational movement of the 2 endless track 11 to occur. It will however be appreciated by the skilled reader that the 3 rotation control means 14 may comprise an alternative mechanical component to provide 4 this independent rotational functionality to each of the endless tracks 11.

6 Figures 3 to 7 presents an isomeric view of the adjustable track system second to sixth 7 operational configurations respectively.

9 In particular, in Figure 3 the endless tracks 11 of the first moving means 9 have both been rotated to approximately 45° relative to the longitudinal axis 5 while the endless tracks 11 ii of the second moving means 10 remain substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 5.

13 In Figure 4 the endless tracks 11 of the first moving means 9 have both again been rotated 14 to approximately 45° relative to the longitudinal axis 5 while the endless tracks 11 of the IS second moving means 10 have both been rotated to approximately -45° relative to the 16 longitudinal axis 5.

18 In Figure 5 the endless tracks 11 of the first moving means 9 have both again been rotated 19 to approximately 45° relative to the longitudinal axis 5 while the endless tracks 11 of the second moving means 10 have also both been rotated to approximately 45° relative to the 21 longitudinal axis 5.

23 In Figure 6 the endless tracks 11 of the first moving means 9 have been rotated to 24 approximately -90° and 90°, respectively, so as both to lie substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 5. In this configuration the endless tracks 11 of the second moving 26 means 10 remain substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 5.

28 Finally, in Figure 7 the endless tracks 11 of the first moving means 9 and the second 29 moving means 10 have been rotated to approximately -90° and 90°, respectively, so that they all lie substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 5.

32 It will be appreciated by the skilled reader that the choice of operational configurations is 33 not limited to those presented in Figures 2 to 7. The choice of operation configuration 34 adopted will be depend upon the particular design of the associated mobile material processing units, the use to which it is to be deployed and the terrain upon which it is 1 deployed. The adjustable track system 1 thus provides a means for increased linear and 2 radial movement for the associated mobile material processing unit to assist slewing 3 motion during operation.

Although the above described embodiments have all been described in relation to the first 6 9 and second moving means 10 comprising a pair of endless tracks 11 it will be 7 appreciated that one or both of these moving means may alternatively comprise one or 8 more than two endless tracks 11.

In addition, it will be appreciated that in a further alternative embodiment one of the moving ii means may not be connected to the chassis by a releasable mounting mechanism. In 12 such an embodiment the relative longitudinal positions of the first and second moving 13 means is controlled by the release and movement of a single moving means.

is In a yet further alternative embodiment the adjustable track system may further comprise a 16 lateral position control means (e.g. a telescopic arm) that connects an endless track to an 17 associated releasable mounting mechanism. The function of the lateral position control 18 means is to provide a means to independently adjust the position of an endless track in a 19 direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

21 The adjustable track system described above provides a number of advantages when 22 deployed with a mobile material processing unit. In the first instance when in the transport 23 configuration the adjustable track system is highly manoeuvrable since it offers increased 24 skid steer torque over those systems known in the art. The employment of a second moving means comprising an endless track is contrary to the normal practice in the art due 26 to the relative expense of such a component.

28 The ability to move reconfigure the first and second moving means to the one or more 29 described operational configurations also provides the associated mobile material processing unit with further increased stability without the need to employ support legs or 31 to carefully design the weight distribution of the carious other components of the unit.

33 An adjustable track system for a mobile material processing unit is described. The 34 adjustable track system comprises a chassis connected to which is a first and second moving means separated along a longitudinal axis of the chassis. The first and second 1 moving means both comprise one or more endless tracks and the first moving means is 2 moveable relative to the chassis so as to provide a first means for varying the linear 3 separation between the first and second moving means along the longitudinal axis. The 4 track system is therefore movable between a transport configuration where the linear separation of the first and second moving means along the longitudinal axis is minimised 6 and a first operational configuration where the linear separation of the first and second 7 moving means along the longitudinal axis is increased to increase the stability provided by 8 the adjustable track system.

Throughout the specification, unless the context demands otherwise, the terms "comprise" 11 or "include", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", "includes" or "including" will 12 be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the 13 exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Furthermore, reference to any prior art in the description should not be taken as an 16 indication that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

18 The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration 19 and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The described embodiments were chosen and described in order to best 21 explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others 22 skilled in the art to best utilise the invention in various embodiments and with various 23 modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Therefore, further 24 modifications or improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.