JPH07112884B2 - Bulk material processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a bulk material processing machine provided with an endless bucket provided with a number of axially spaced buckets axially connected by a flexible tensioning element such as a wire rope or chain device. For formats with trains. The bucket train runs around spaced support wheels. In one type of material handling system, the bucket train includes a middle section that forms a loading span as a free suspension between two consecutive support wheels and is drawn and collected within the bulk material below. The span further includes two end sections, each suspended along a catenary line between the underlying material and an adjacent support wheel.

In particular, the present invention relates to a machine having a new drive mechanism for circulating a bucket train around a support wheel in material to lift a full bucket. The drive mechanism according to the present invention uses an endless loop tractor drive and has drive legs that are parallel to the raised portion of the bucket train and simultaneously engage and push a plurality of spaced buckets. The tractor drive loop mechanism according to the present invention is capable of hoisting a large number of buckets from a relatively long loading span, hoisting large buckets, dense material, and high speed bucket trains to increase the tonnage capacity of the machine. However, the wear and damage of the machine such as the breakage of the wire rope is reduced, and the service life is long and trouble-free.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In one respect, the present invention is an improvement on Applicants' bulk material processing machine, US Pat. Nos. 3,378,130, 3688893. Further, the present invention is an improvement on US Pat. No. 4,264,003. The bulk materials processed by this machine include granular materials, powders, flakes, chips and the like.

Known bulk material processing machines use endless bucket trains having a large number of axially spaced circular buckets connected to each other by flexible tensioning elements such as cable arrangements. The bucket train is supported and driven by a series of support wheels to define separate loading and unloading spans of the bucket.

The charging span is defined by two support wheels, which are horizontally spaced and arranged above the bulk material to be mined and transported by the material processing machine. In the first free state, the bucket train in the loading span is suspended freely between the two support wheels along the suspension line. In use of the machine, the charging spa excavates and engages a pile or mass of loose bulk material. In this condition, the middle section of the charging span engages the bulk material and is displaced upward from the catenary. When the bucket train circulates, the first descending section of the charging span moves with the empty bucket from the first support wheel towards the bulk material, and the middle section of the charging span is indexed into the material to fill the bucket. ， The end section of the loading span moves up from the material to the unloading span with the filling bucket.

The unloading span of the bucket train should be above the bulk material and downstream from the direction of movement of the bucket train, and the material from the bucket should be discharged onto the hopper or unloading conveyor. The preferred arrangement of unloading spans is that the bucket train goes over the first support wheel, then first under the second support wheel under the second support wheel, and the bucket flips between the two support wheels. Is discharged from the bucket.

Each bucket has a circular cross section and has a central tubular mounting core.
The tensioning element is, for example, a flexible wire rope or cable and extends into the mounting core at both ends of the bucket to secure the bucket to the tensioning element at approximately equal axial spacing. The bucket train is configured to ride on the outer circumference of each transport wheel.

Each support wheel has spaced guide members for receiving and laterally retaining the cable arrangement between the two buckets. Each bucket fits between two adjacent guide members. A device such as a drive roller is provided on the outer circumference of each support wheel to mesh with the bucket train between the separated buckets to synchronize the motions of the bucket train and the support wheel. One or more supporting wheels are driven by power to circulate the bucket train, and the other supporting wheels are rotated by the bucket train acting as an idler wheel. For power driven wheels, drive rollers engage the bottom of the curved surface of each bucket to drive the bucket train.
For idler wheels, the drive rollers are engaged by the core at the top of each bucket and the support wheels are driven by the bucket train. Another roller or other support member is provided on the outer circumference of each wheel to engage and stabilize the bucket around the support wheel.

In summary, the bucket holds its position on each support wheel by a support roller that engages the sides of the bucket, a drive roller that engages the bottom or top of the bucket, and a cable guide around which a cable or tension element rotates. To be done.

In the standard bulk material handling equipment described above, the section of the cable or wire rope extending between the buckets must support the entire weight of the suspended and full bucket of the charging span. Another large load acts on the cable section and the bucket is the load excavating in the bulk material. Centrifugal force is also generated that moves the bucket away from the support wheels, which must be resisted by the cable section. Furthermore, the cable section repeats bending according to its curvature as it goes around the support wheel. These stresses are the minimum design requirements for cable or wire rope sections.

In a machine with a high load capacity, the bucket is large and the cable is extremely heavy. Furthermore, if the bucket train is operated at high speed, the cable will be subject to large bending and vibration due to the high load. In the practical experiments of this bulk material processing machine, the most frequent cause of machine downtime was cable repair and failure. Repeated bending of the cable near the bucket when the cable goes around the support wheel, friction of the cable with respect to the cable guide, and high cable load and stress are the causes of the cable failure. Even if the cable design is appropriate and the combination of high strength and high flexibility, cable damage such as fraying and actual cable damage occur at a significantly high rate.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The main object of the invention is to provide a bulk material processing machine of the type described above, which combines a new drive mechanism to engage and circulate a bucket train, which has a high load carrying capacity in terms of ton per hour, and It is intended to reduce the stress on the bucket train, especially the tension elements such as cables extending between the buckets, to reduce wear and damage to the tension elements and other bucket train components.

Another purpose is to provide a new machine, where the drive mechanism directly engages the filling bucket and after the bucket is filled with the bulk material,
Cable when the full bucket travels along the ascending path and is independent of the supporting wheels, and the bucket train passes through the supporting wheels, especially when the bucket train with the full bucket ascends along the ascending path after passing through the supporting wheels. It is intended to reduce the load acting on the tensile element such as, thereby avoiding the combination of high stress and high bending of the cable and reducing the wear and damage of the cable.

Another purpose is to provide a new machine, in which the drive mechanism engages multiple buckets at the same time to lift and while the full bucket travels up a straight upward path, so that the load produced by the drive mechanism is The cables are distributed in tension elements such as multiple cables between buckets, and the cables are located in a substantially straight line position, so that large bending does not work.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new machine, in which the drive mechanism is provided with an endless loop device to form a tractor drive, and a plurality of spaced push members are engaged to the bucket train,
Along the drive leg of the tractor drive, the full bucket engages the bucket while traveling along the ascending path substantially parallel to the drive leg, which causes multiple buckets to be simultaneously engaged and propelled by the pusher member. The purpose of this is to reduce the stress acting on the tensile elements such as the bucket and each cable extending in the middle.

Another object is to provide a device such as an anti-friction roller on a push member that engages the bucket, cable or both to minimize friction and wear as the push member enters and exits the bucket for drive engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A material processing apparatus for moving loose bulk material from an underlying deposit according to the present invention to achieve the above objects comprises a plurality of flexible inextensible tension element devices and a corresponding plurality of buckets, An endless bucket train formed of a device for fixing a bucket to a tension element with axial intervals substantially equal to each other, and a device including a plurality of support wheels for guiding the bucket train, and a bucket train between some support wheels To define the loading span that fills the bucket through the pile of bulk material, and to reverse the bucket between some other supporting wheels to define the unloading span that drains the material from the bucket on the bucket train. The train is guided along an ascending path after the bucket is filled with bulk material; circulates the bucket train unidirectionally around an endless path on the support wheels With a drive, the drive being spaced above the stack of loose bulk material and arranged along an ascending path by which the filling bucket moves upwards; provided with an endless loop device extending to the drive, around the loop device, etc. A plurality of pushing members corresponding to the axial spacing of the buckets on the bucket train at intervals, the loop device having drive legs extending along the ascending path of the bucket train; Push members are engaged with the bucket train and engage the bottom of the corresponding bucket while the bucket is traveling along the ascending path of the bucket train; Engage to lift the full bucket and circulate the bucket train along the endless path on the support wheels.

In a preferred example, the drive legs of the loop device are sufficiently long compared to the spacing of the push members to allow the push members to engage the bucket train for driving engagement with the buckets, thereby providing multiple drive loads. The stress applied to the pushing members and the tension elements such as wire ropes and cables distributed between the buckets and extending between the buckets is reduced.

In a preferred example, the machine is provided with a guide along the drive leg of the loop device to stabilize the position and orientation of the pushing member with respect to the bucket train.

In a suitable example, an anti-friction roller is attached to each pushing member,
Engages the tension element to minimize friction and wear between the push member and the tension element.

In the preferred embodiment, an anti-friction roller is provided on the pusher member to engage the bucket to reduce friction and wear between the pusher member and the bucket. In the preferred embodiment, two anti-friction drive rollers are mounted symmetrically on each side of the tensioning element on each push member and are drivingly engaged with the bucket.

In the preferred embodiment, the drive roller is rotatably mounted on the pusher member about an axis extending at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the bucket train. In the preferred embodiment, the drive roller has a conical taper outer peripheral surface extending approximately 45 ° to the axis of rotation for driving engagement with the bucket.

In a preferred example, the loop device is provided with an endless drive chain extending along both sides of the lifting legs of the bucket train and a drive sprocket for turning the drive chain. In the preferred embodiment, a push member is connected between the drive chains and extends at a right angle to the bucket train.

In a preferred embodiment, the machine is provided with a longitudinal guide member for guiding the movement of the drive chain along the bucket train to stabilize the position and posture of the pushing member with respect to the bucket train.
In a preferred example, the guide member is provided with inner and outer guide walls along the inner and outer sides of the drive chain along the drive legs of the loop device at the position where the push member engages the bucket train and drives the bucket. Has an accurate position and attitude with respect to the bucket.

At the position where the pushing member engages with the bucket and is lifted up, the ascending path of the bucket train is almost straight, and the tensile element such as the cable does not bend at the position where tensile stress due to the driving force of the pushing member acts. The drive chain is located close to the support wheels that rotate around to reverse the bucket train and start discharging the bucket.

Embodiments Embodiments and drawings for explaining the objects and advantages of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a bulk material processing machine 10 of the type described in the above mentioned patents 3378130, 3688893 and 4264003. Bulk material processing machine 10 includes a frame or housing 12
A boom 14 rotatably supported on the frame 12 by a pivot 15 and a plurality of support wheels 16, 1 supported on the frame 12.
7,18,19,19a, 20, a supporting wheel 22 supported on the boom 14, and a flexible endless bucket train 24 that circulates in the direction shown by an arrow 25 through the upper or lower side of the supporting wheel in the shape shown in the drawing. To provide. The bucket train 24 is freely suspended along the relatively long loading span 26 between the support wheels 22 and 16, and the barge or ship 30
Alternatively, the material is loaded by pulling it through the bulk material contained in another container. Further, the bucket train 24 is the unloading span
The material is discharged from the bucket train guided by the support wheels 17, 18, 19 forming 32. Hopper 34 receives material to be discharged as a location around and below unloading span 32 of bucket train 24. As shown, the belt conveyor 36 receives the material from the hopper 34 and conveys the material to a remote location.

FIG. 1 is shown as a diagram, and the structure can be variously modified. For example, the support wheels 19a may be omitted and the downwardly moving portion 38 of the bucket train 24 may extend directly between the support wheels 19,20. The supporting wheel 20 can be brought close to the supporting wheel 16 so that the lower moving portion 38 and the upper moving portion 39 between the supporting wheels 16 and 17 can be brought close to each other. The portions 38, 39 can be substantially parallel.

In FIG. 1, the housing or frame 12 of the machine 10 is suspended from the upper cable connection 42. A rotating mechanism 44 is inserted between the housing 12 and the cable connecting portion 42 to enable the entire machine to rotate about the vertical axis of the rotating mechanism 44. The hopper 34 can be modified to combine the other pivoting mechanism described in the above referenced US Pat. No. 4,264,003.

Power cylinder 46 is part of frame 12 and part of boom 14
The boom angle is changed by connecting it to the boom 48, and the position of the boom wheel 22 with respect to the lower bulk material 28 and the lateral protrusion dimension of the boom 14 are changed. Although the illustrated bulk material processing machine has many uses, a particularly preferred use is barge or unloading from a ship 30. For this application, lower the machine and let the boom 14 and lower part of the machine pass through the hatch openings and into the hold of the ship or barge 30.
The boom 14 is pivoted up or down as required to pass through the hatch opening. Next, the boom 14 is rotated outward to deploy the charging span 26 of the bucket train 24. Rotation mechanism 44
Allows the boom 14 to pivot horizontally around the entire circumference over the underlying bulk material, and the loading span 26 can cover the material broadly. The dimensions and location of the machine 10 are such that the loading span 26 can reach the bottom of the ship or barge 30.

Details of the bucket train 24 are shown in FIGS. Bucket train 24 has a number of individual buckets 50, which are connected to one another at even intervals by means of a flexible inextensible tension element device 52. Each bucket 50 has a circular cross section, and has an annular side wall 54 and a curved bottom wall 56. Central tubular core 58 in each bucket 50
Is fixed to the bottom wall 56 by welding or the like. A radial member 60 extends from the nose of core 58 to the edge of sidewall 54. The tension element device 52 can be continuous, but in the example shown it is a short element and extends between adjacent buckets 50. The tensioning element 52 is preferably a short wire rope or cable, although other flexible tensioning elements such as chains can be used. The illustrated wire rope or cable 52 is detachably fixed to the bucket 52 in the core portion 58. The total length of the bucket train 24 can be increased or decreased by adding or removing the required number of buckets 50 and cables 52. The structure of the bucket train 24 is, for example, a U.S. patent.
Same as 3688893.

Each bucket train support wheel is mounted rotatably about a horizontal axis. Although FIG. 3 shows only the support wheels 17,
All supporting wheels have almost the same structure. The support wheel 17 has a substantially cylindrical wall 62 that is annularly supported by a central support mounting portion 64. The radial arms 66 project from the wall 62 at equal circumferential intervals and correspond to the axial spacing of the buckets 50 of the bucket train 24. Bucket 50 has two adjacent arms 66
Fitted in between, the cable 52 curves on the ends of adjacent radial arms 66. An outer peripheral groove or a guide portion (not shown) is provided on each arm so that the cable 52 does not move laterally from the radial surface formed by the cable when it goes around the support wheel. This groove is described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent No. 3688893. A support roller 67 is attached between each arm 66 of the cylindrical wall 62, and each bucket 50 supported on the support wheel is received and engaged. As shown, the rollers 67 are arranged as a set and are equally spaced on both sides of the radial surface formed by the curved cable element 52. Rollers 67 are in each bucket 50
Is supported from the side, and the cable element 52 is supported at a radial position such that the cable element 52 turns on the support wheel with a substantially uniform radius.

A drive roller 68 is attached to each arm 66 and meshes with the bucket train to engage the bucket 50, thereby synchronizing the rotation of the support wheels with the circulation of the bucket train 24. There is a driving relationship between the drive roller 68 and the bucket 50, and the supporting wheels are driven by power to drive the bucket train 24, and the supporting wheels rotate as a play wheel around the supporting wheels of the bucket train 24. There is.

FIG. 1 shows a power operated drive motor 72 for rotating the support wheels 18. The motor 72 is operated by hydraulic pressure, electricity or the like. Prior to the present invention, the power drive support wheels were bucket trains.
It was the only drive source driving the 24. When a supporting wheel, for example, the supporting wheel 18, drives the bucket train 24, the front drive roller 68L sequentially engages with the curved bottom wall 56 of each bucket 50 to drive the bucket train 24. When the support wheel is an idle wheel which is another support wheel shown in FIG. 1, the core portion 58 of each bucket 50 sequentially engages with the rear drive roller 68T to drive the support wheel.

As shown in FIG. 3, the drive rollers 68 are mounted as a group of four rollers 68 on each radial arm 66. The axis of rotation of the drive roller 68 is inclined at an acute angle of approximately 45 ° with respect to the radial plane of the support wheel. The drive roller 68 has a symmetrical arrangement,
The axes of adjacent rollers are oppositely inclined. Drive roller 68
There is a conical tapered circumferential surface 69 at about 45 from the axis of rotation.
It is formed as an inclination of °.

Each bucket 50 is engaged by two drive rollers 68 of each group, on either side of the cable element 52, the cable elements being guided between the drive rollers 68 on both sides.

The bucket train 24 and the support wheels 15 to 22 are substantially the same as the configuration described in U.S. Pat. No. 3688893 in the above point. The details of the bulk material processing machine 10 are substantially similar to the construction of the above-mentioned patent. The structure of the present invention will be described below.

Endless bucket train 24 has boom wheel 22, frame wheel 17,1
Go around the upper side of 9,19a and go under the frame wheels 16,18,20. The loading span 26 of the bucket train 24 described above is the wheel 22,1.
Suspended between 6 freely. When the charging span 26 contacts the bulk material, the charging span is suspended along the catenary line in the city. machine
When 10 is activated and the charging span 26 contacts the bulk material 28, the intermediate portion 26d of the charging span 26 contacts or is dug into the bulk material. A downward running portion 26e of the charging span is suspended along the catenary between the boom wheel 22 and the bulk material. Bucket 50 along section 26e is empty. The upward running portion 26f of the charging span 26 is suspended along the catenary line between the bulk material 28 and the support wheel 16. Along the portion 26f, the bucket 50 is full of bulk material, which is the material that the bucket has excavated along the middle portion 26d.

After the bucket 50 has been loaded with the bulk material, the bucket train travels along a path that rises upward, which path extends upwards 26f of the charging span 26 and the spans of the bucket train 24 between the support wheels 16 and 17. Including 39.

Obviously, the endless bucket train 24 has various support wheels 16-22.
When it goes around, it receives various gravitational forces, dynamic forces, and stress. The tensioning element 52, such as a cable, must support the entire weight of the suspension-filled bucket and is subject to the large additional dynamic forces created by the excavation action as the bucket is pulled through the bulk material. Incidentally, the flexibility of the cable element 52 causes another stress,
In particular, this deflection is caused by the movement around the discharge support wheel 17 of the full bucket and the movement around the drive wheel 18 of the bucket. Thus, the cable element 52 is most stressed when it is close to the support wheels 17 and when traveling between the support wheels 17 and 18 along the unloading span 32. The combination of high tensile stress and high bending stress in the cable element 52 promotes wear of the cable element 52. The engagement of the cable element with the support arm 66 of the support wheels 17, 18 promotes wear of the cable element.

In actual operation tests, premature wear of the cable element occurred more than expected, causing wear and actual damage to the cable element. Even if the cable element was designed appropriately and high tensile strength and high flexibility were combined, it was damaged as well.

The present invention provides a new drive for the circulation of the bucket train 24 around the support wheels and through the bulk material 28, particularly as a lifting mechanism for a full bucket when traveling along the ascending path formed by the ascending spans 26f, 39. The critical stress acting on the cable element 52 is significantly reduced. This significantly extends the predictable life of bucket train 24. A power actuated endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70 is provided that provides parallel drive legs 73 along the raised portion 24d of the bucket train 24.
It has an endless loop device 72 attached. The pushing member 75 is supported by the endless loop device 72 and is engaged with the bucket train 24 to engage with the plurality of buckets 50 when moving upward toward the support wheels 17 along the ascending path. The tractor drive mechanism 70 can hold or increase the material handling capacity of the machine 10 and reduce the stresses acting on the tension element 52, such as the cable, thereby preventing cable damage and extending the useful life of the cable.

The endless loop device 72 is in the preferred embodiment formed by two parallel endless drive chains 76 and extends along both sides of the bucket train 24. The drive chain 76 rotates around the vertical drive sprockets 78U, 78L, and the sprockets are fixed to vertical rotation shafts 79U, 79L supported by a bearing 80 mounted on a part of the frame or the housing 12. A U-shaped guide channel 81 is provided to bring the inner and outer walls 81i, 81o close to the inner and outer sides of the drive chain 76. Guidance channel is ascending section 26 of bucket train 24
It extends in parallel along d, guides and stabilizes the drive chain 76, and runs the chain along a straight path when the chain contacts and drives the drive legs 73 of the loop device 72. The pushing member 75 connects both ends to a drive chain 76 which is parallel and spaced from each other. As shown in FIG. 6, the pushing member 75 is a chain 76.
Stick to a special link 82. As another example, the drive chain 76 is a normal roller chain, and a series of inner and outer links 83i, 83o, rollers 84, and link pins 85 are provided. The sprockets 78U and 78L have teeth 78t and engage with the openings 76o formed by the links of the chain.

In the illustrated example, the pushing member 75 is a rigid member, extends between the drive chains 76, and is perpendicular to the drive chains 76 and the bucket lane 24. Each pushing member 75 has a wide intermediate portion 75i and meshes with the bucket train 24 to support the bottom of the bucket 50. The middle portion 75i of each push member is offset rearward relative to the end of the push member 75. Notch or notch 7 in middle 75i
5c is formed to accommodate the cable elements 52 with sufficient lateral spacing.

A rolling drive roller 86 is rotatably attached to the intermediate portion 75i of each pushing member 75 and drivingly engages with the curved bottom portion of the bucket 50 on both sides of the cable element 52. As shown, each drive member 75 is provided with two drive rollers 86, but the number and arrangement of drive rollers can be changed. The illustrated drive roller 86 engages the bucket 50 symmetrically with respect to the cable element 52. The drive roller 86 is similar to the drive roller 68 and rotates about an axis extending at an acute angle of approximately 45 ° with respect to the axial direction of the cable element. The drive roller 86 has a conical taper and has an outer peripheral surface that is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° with respect to the rotation axis. The outer peripheral surface 87 extends parallel to the bottom wall of the bucket 50 when it comes into contact with the bottom wall of the bucket 50 to provide an appropriate driving engagement.

Another rolling roller 88 is rotatably attached to each push member 75, positioned between the drive rollers 86 and engaged with the cable element 52 between the drive rollers 86. The roller 88 projects in a relation to overlap the notch 75c of the pushing member 75, so that it engages the element 52 before the cable element 52 contacts the end wall of the notch. The roller 88 is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the cable element 52, and a substantially cylindrical outer peripheral surface 88s is formed so as to face the cable element and is rollingly engaged. Rolling roller 8
6,88 engage the cable element 52 and prevent the cable element from contacting the intermediate portion 75i of the pushing member 75. If desired, an outer peripheral groove is formed in each roller 78 to engage the cable element 52 by self-centering action.

The rollers 86 and 88 act as an anti-friction device, and push members 7
Move 5 smoothly and easily to engage and disengage bucket train 24 to minimize friction and wear between the pusher and bucket train.

The push member 75 connects to another drive chain 76 at equal intervals on the loop device 73. This spacing is approximately equal to the spacing between successive buckets of bucket train 24. In a preferred example, the drive leg 73 of the loop device 72 is made sufficiently long with respect to the distance between the pushing members 75 so that two or more pushing members 75 are simultaneously engaged with the bucket train 24, so that there is always more than two. The pushing member produces a driving force on the successive buckets 50. Thus, the total drive force produced by the pushing member 75 of the drive mechanism 70 is distributed to two or more sequential buckets 50, reducing the maximum stress on the buckets and cable elements 52. by this,
Bucket and cable element wear and damage are reduced, and bucket train 24 has a longer service life.

The tractor drive mechanism 70 is power driven by the required equipment, for example, the frame or housing 12 is the required drive connection from an attached motor 90, for example the driven sprocket 92a secured to the upper sprocket shaft 79U from the drive sprocket 91a of the motor 90 shown. It is driven via a chain drive device 91 that goes around. The motor 90 is operated by electricity, hydraulic pressure or the like.

The endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70 is installed along the ascending path of the bucket train so that the full bucket after being filled along the charging span 26 can be lifted upward.
The drive mechanism 70 may be positioned along the rising portion of the charging span, but in the example shown in the figure, it is positioned along the upper part of the vertical span 39, and the filled bucket moves upward from the charging span 26 between the supporting wheels 16 and 17. It is the position to drive to. In a preferred example, the tractor drive mechanism 70 is positioned near the support wheels 17 and
The bucket that went around runs to the unloading span 32. Support wheel 17
At a position close to, the maximum number of full buckets 50 are suspended below the drive mechanism 70. The pushing member 75 of the drive mechanism 70 produces most of the driving force to raise the filling bucket, causing the cable element to bend and run around the support wheel 17 after the stress in the cable element 52 has been significantly reduced. Therefore, it is not necessary to combine the high tensile strength and high flexibility of the cable element. Furthermore, the driving load is distributed to more than one bucket by more than one pushing member, thus reducing the maximum tensile stress in the cable element 52.

The pushing member 75 of the tractor drive mechanism 70 exerts a driving force on two or more sequential buckets which travel along the substantially straight legs 24d of the bucket train. Thus, the driving force is not combined with the bending of the cable element 52.

The drive chain 76 is guided along a straight path by the guide channel 81 to stabilize the movement of the chain 76 and the position and direction of the pushing member 75. by this,
The pushing member 75 travels upward at a required interval and posture and smoothly engages with the bucket train 24.

In the illustrated material processing machine 10, the bucket train reaches the support wheels 17 after the tractor drive mechanism 70 exerts most of the lifting force on the bucket train 24. Next support wheel 18
Is a power drive and assists the circulation of the bucket train 24. However, the driving force supplied to the support wheels 18 is significantly reduced. Therefore, in the path in which the cable element 52 goes around the support wheels 17, 18, 19, the tensile force acting on the cable element is significantly reduced.

Most of the driving force is applied to the bucket train 24 by the tractor drive mechanism 70. As a result, the operating speed of the tractor drive mechanism 70 basically determines the operating speed of the bucket train 24. The drive motor 72 for the driven support wheels 18 is adjusted to produce the required amount of additional drive force at the defined operating speed of the tractor drive mechanism 70. Therefore, the drive motor
The 72 is a variable speed, variable torque type. Support wheels other than the support wheel 18 can be driven as required. It is also possible to drive two or more support wheels. As another example, all the power that circulates the bucket train 24 is applied to the tractor drive mechanism 70.
Supplied by. The weight of an empty bucket traveling downward from the support wheels 19a, 20 and 22 depends on the bucket train.
Sufficient for driving around 7,18,19a, 20,22.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a state in which the tractor drive pushing member 75 and the drive roller 86 attached thereto are engaged with and released from the bucket train 24. The sequential dotted line positions of the pushing member 75 and the drive roller 86 are shown, and the sequential dotted line positions of the corresponding bucket 50 are shown.

The operation will be described.

During operation of the material processing machine 10, the endless bucket train 24 continuously circulates around the support wheels. The empty bucket 50 runs on the support wheels 19 and 19a, below the support wheel 20, and above the boom wheel 22. Bucket train between boom wheel 22 and support wheel 16
24 hangs to form a charging span 26 in the shape of a substantially catenary, a modified shape as the bucket train contacts the loose bulk material 28. The bucket train 24 travels downward from the boom wheel 22, and the empty bucket 50 moves into the bulk material 28.
Reach The bucket 50 is then pulled into the bulk material 28 and the bucket digs and fills the bulk material in the middle of the charging span 26 or in the drilling section 26d. After passing the bulk material 28, the full bucket 50 travels upward along the remaining rising section 26f of the charging span 26.

Bucket train 24 then travels under support wheels 16 and upwards along a rising span or path 39. Along the rise span 39, the bucket train 24 is driven by an endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70. The drive mechanism 70 raises the full bucket 50 and produces most of the load pulling the bucket through the bulk material 28. The pushing member 75 of the endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70 engages the bucket train, thereby
At least one pushing member always applies a lifting force to the successive buckets 50 at the same time. Bucket train 24 is a straight section 24
It is running along d, so the lifting force is 50
Therefore, the cable elements extending between the buckets 50 and connected do not bend. Thus, the combination of high stress and high bending does not act on the cable element 52. Push member 75
The total lifting force of the is distributed to two or more buckets and shared,
Therefore, the maximum load of the cable element is reduced with respect to the total lifting force.

From the tractor drive mechanism 70, the bucket train 24 moves upward for a short distance, then reaches the support wheel 17, travels over the support wheel 17 and moves downward along the unloading span 32 to the support wheel 18, and the bucket is inverted and lumped. Material is discharged from the bucket Hopper 34
Is discharged to. Bucket train 24 is on support wheels 17,
When passing over the lower support wheel 19 of the support wheel 18, the cable element 52
Bends along the curvature of the support wheels, but the stress of the cable element is low because most of the driving force has already been applied to the bucket train 24 by the pushing member 75 of the endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70. The driving force supplied from the drive motor 72 to the driven wheels 18 is significantly smaller than in the known machine without the endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70.

In the material processing machine 10 according to the present invention, the maximum tensile stress of the cable element 52 occurs directly below the endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70, where the cable element 52 does not bend at all. The maximum bending of the cable element 52 is the bucket train 24 supporting wheels 17,1
The tensile stress in the cable element 52 is low because it occurs when it goes around 8, and here after almost all the lifting force is applied by the endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70. Therefore, the wear and damage of the cable element 52 is significantly less than that of the known machine without the endless loop tractor drive mechanism 70. The service life of the cable element is thus significantly extended. The problem of wear and tear of cable elements does not occur. Bucket and support wheel wear and damage are also reduced.

The tractor drive mechanism must engage the bucket train on the ascending path of the full bucket. However, the ascending path does not have to be strictly vertical. Furthermore, the arrangement of the support wheels can be changed.

Furthermore, the driven portion of the bucket train and the driving portion of the tractor drive mechanism do not have to be strictly straight, and may be somewhat curved along the ascending path with which the pushing member engages the bucket. The bending stress should not be a problem that causes wear and damage.

The illustrated endless loop tractor drive mechanism uses two endless drive chains with the push members spaced between the chains. However, the endless drive chain can be replaced with an endless drive member such as an endless flexible member such as a wire rope.

The middle portion of the push member is offset rearward relative to the end of the push member that connects to the drive chain. The amount of offset is varied so that the drive roller on the pusher member is behind the end that connects to the drive chain. Thus, the drive roller contacts the bucket behind the end of the pushing member and stabilizes the pushing action of the pushing member. According to the invention, the drive leg of the loop device extends along the ascending path of the bucket train, and the direct engagement of the pushing member with the corresponding bucket reduces the stress on the tension element device and thus the tension device. There is a real benefit of minimizing wear of the device and prolonging its life.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the embodiments and the drawings are illustrative and do not limit the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a material processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an end view of a part of the material processing apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a part of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view showing the drive mechanism of the bucket train, FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are enlarged partial side views of the sequential operating positions of the upper and lower drive sprockets of part of the drive mechanism of FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 7, FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of FIG. 5, and FIG. 11 is a partial side view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10 …… Bulk material processing machine, 12 …… Frame 14 …… Boom, 16,17,18,19,19a, 20,22 …… Support wheel 24 …… Bucket train, 26 …… Loading span 28 …… Bulk Material, 30 …… Ship, 32 …… Unloading span 34 …… Hopper, 50 …… Bucket, 52 …… Cable element 66 …… Radial arm, 67 …… Support roller 68 …… Drive roller 70 …… Endless loop tractor Drive mechanism 72 …… Endless loop device, 73 …… Drive leg, 75 …… Pushing member 76 …… Endless drive chain, 78 …… Drive sprocket 86 …… Drive roller, 88 …… Roller, 90 …… Motor

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A material processing apparatus for moving loose bulk material from an underlying deposit, the plurality of flexible inextensible tension element devices, the corresponding plurality of buckets, and substantially equal axial spacing from each other. As an endless bucket train formed from a device for fixing the bucket to the tension element, and a device including a plurality of support wheels for guiding the bucket train. To define a charging span that fills the bucket through, and to define an unloading span that inverts the bucket between some other supporting wheels to discharge material from the bucket in the bucket train. Is guided along an ascending path after being filled with; a drive device that circulates the bucket train in a unidirectional manner around an endless path on a support wheel. Placed along the ascending path above which the filled buckets move upwards above the pile of bulk material; the drive is provided with an endless loop device extending to the bucket train on a bucket train equidistantly around the loop device. A plurality of pushing members substantially corresponding to the axial spacing, the loop device having drive legs extending along the ascending path of the bucket train; As the bucket travels along the path, it meshes with the bucket train and directly engages the bottom of the corresponding bucket; a power unit that circulates the endless loop device is provided to engage the pusher member with the bucket to load the full bucket. An agglomerate material processing apparatus characterized in that a fried bucket train is circulated along an endless path on a support wheel. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the driving legs of the loop device are sufficiently extended with respect to the distance between the pushing members, and at least two pushing members are provided along the driving legs of the loop device. A device in which a member meshes with the bucket train in all operating positions of the loop device, whereby the bucket train is continuously driven by the loop device. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive leg of the loop device is sufficiently extended with respect to the distance between the push members, and a plurality of push members are provided along the drive leg of the loop device. An apparatus characterized in that it meshes with a bucket train to drive-engage a plurality of buckets, whereby a driving load is distributed to a plurality of pushing members and a plurality of buckets. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein a guide device is provided along the drive leg of the loop device to stabilize the position and direction of the pushing member with respect to the bucket train. . 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each push member is attached to and engages a tension element device to minimize friction and wear between the push member and the tension element device. A device that is provided with a prevention roller. 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said push member is provided with a friction prevention device which directly engages a mounting bucket to minimize wear and friction between the push member and the bucket. A device characterized by the above. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two friction preventing drive rollers are rotatably attached to each pushing member and engaged with corresponding buckets so that the pushing member and the bucket are connected to each other. A device characterized in that the rollers are mounted symmetrically on both sides of the tension element device with minimum friction and wear between them. 8. The drive roller according to claim 7, wherein the drive roller is attached to a pushing member and is rotated about an axis extending at an acute angle with respect to the direction of movement of the bucket train. Is a device having an outer peripheral surface which tapers into a cone extending approximately 45 ° with respect to the axis of rotation and engages the bucket. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the endless loop device includes two endless drive chains extending on both sides along a rising leg of a bucket train, and a drive sprocket around the drive chain. And wherein the pushing member is coupled between the drive chains and extends laterally to the bucket train. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a longitudinal guide member for guiding the movement of the drive chain along the bucket train and stabilizing the position and posture of the pushing member with respect to the bucket train. A device characterized by being provided. 11. A material processing apparatus for moving loose bulk material from an underlying deposit, comprising a plurality of flexible inextensible tension element devices, a corresponding plurality of buckets, and substantially equal axial spacing from each other. As an endless bucket train formed from a device for fixing the bucket to the tension element, and a device including a plurality of support wheels for guiding the bucket train. To define a charging span that fills the bucket train, and to reverse the bucket between some other supporting wheels to define an unloading span that discharges material from the buckets of the bucket train. After being filled with material, guided along an ascending path; equipped with a drive that circulates the bucket train in one direction around an endless path on a support wheel, A drive is spaced above the stack of loose bulk material and located along an ascending path through which a full bucket moves upwards; the drive having an extended endless loop with drive legs extending along the ascending path of the bucket train. The loop device is provided with two endless drive chains arranged on both sides of the tension element device, a drive sprocket around which the drive chains rotate, and a pushing member connected between the drive chains and extending laterally to the bucket train. The push member is provided at an equal interval to the outer circumference of the drive chain and is made to correspond to the axial distance to the bucket of the bucket train; And a power unit that circulates the bucket train around an endless path on a support wheel; Bulk material processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of pushing members sufficiently long to distribute the drive load is directly engaged pressing the corresponding bucket meshed bucket train relative spacing. 12. A device according to claim 11, further comprising a longitudinal guide device for guiding the drive chain along the ascending legs of the bucket train to stabilize the position and posture of the pushing member with respect to the bucket train. A device characterized by the above. 13. The drive chain according to claim 12, wherein the guide device is provided with a pushing member along the drive leg of the loop device at a position where the pushing member meshes with the bucket train and engages with and drives the bucket. An apparatus, wherein inner and outer guide walls are provided along the inner and outer sides of the bucket, and the pushing member has a correct position and posture with respect to the bucket. 14. The device according to claim 11, wherein an anti-friction roller is provided on the pushing member so as to be engageable with the tension element device, and friction and wear between the pushing member and the tension element device are provided. A device characterized by minimizing. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein another friction preventing roller for directly engaging and pressing the bucket of the bucket train is provided on the pressing member, and the pressing member and the bucket are connected to each other. A device characterized by minimizing friction and wear between. 16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the ascending path of the bucket train is relatively straight at the position where the pushing member of the drive device engages with the bucket train and lifts up, and the position of the drive chain is A device characterized in that the bucket train is in close proximity to the support wheels that rotate around to initiate the inversion and ejection of the bucket. 17. A material processing device for moving loose bulk material from an underlying deposit, the plurality of flexible inextensible tension element devices, the corresponding plurality of buckets, and substantially equal axial spacing from each other. As an endless bucket train formed from a device for fixing the bucket to the tension element, and a device including a plurality of support wheels for guiding the bucket train. To define a loading span that fills the bucket, and between some other supporting wheels to reverse the bucket to define an unloading span that drains material from the bucket on the bucket train, where the bucket train is a block of bulk material. Is guided along an ascending path after being filled with; a drive device provided with a drive device that circulates the bucket train in a single direction around an endless path on a support wheel An extended endless loop device having drive legs extending along the ascending path of the bucket train, spaced above the pile of loose bulk material and disposed along the ascending path of the full bucket train; The loop device is provided with two endless drive chains arranged on both sides of the tension element device, a drive sprocket around which the drive chains rotate, and a push member connected between the drive chains and extending laterally in the bucket train, The pushing member has an equal distance to the outer circumference of the drive chain and corresponds to the axial distance of the bucket of the bucket train; the driving sprocket is rotated to circulate the endless drive chain, and the pushing member is directly engaged with the corresponding bucket to lift the bucket. Equipped with a power unit that circulates the train around an endless path on the support wheels; Sufficiently long with respect to the interval between the plurality of pushing members to engage the bucket train and directly engage and press the corresponding bucket train to distribute the driving load; An agglomerate material processing apparatus comprising: a longitudinal guide device that guides the drive chain to stabilize the position and posture of the pushing member with respect to the bucket train. 18. The drive chain according to claim 17, wherein the guide device is provided with a push member along the drive leg of the loop device at a position where the pushing member meshes with the bucket train and engages with the bucket to drive the bucket. An apparatus, wherein inner and outer guide walls are provided along the inner and outer sides of the bucket, and the pushing member has a correct position and posture with respect to the bucket. 19. The device according to claim 17, wherein at least two friction preventing rollers engageable with the tension element device are provided on the pushing member, and the friction member and the tension element device are provided. To minimize friction and wear between the push members and to provide another anti-friction roller on the push member for directly engaging and pushing the bucket of the bucket train to minimize friction and wear between the push member and the bucket. A device characterized by. 20. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the ascending path of the bucket train is relatively straight at the position where the pushing member of the drive device engages with the bucket and lifts up, and the position of the drive chain is the bucket. A device characterized in that the train is brought into close proximity to the supporting wheels that rotate around to initiate the inversion and ejection of the bucket.