US3804229A

US3804229A - Stockpile reclaiming apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3804229A
Application number: US00347070A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Baldwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-04-02
Filing date: 1973-04-02
Publication date: 1974-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-04-16

Abstract

A material receiving unit is pulled along the ground and through the stockpile by a winch-driven cable. Material from the pile flows downwardly into a chamber within the unit and is discharged out of the rear of the unit by a conveyor located in the chamber to catch the downwardly flowing material.

Description

United States Patent Baldwin, Jr.

STOCKPILE RECLAIMING APPARATUS Inventor: Darwin Clark Baldwin, Jr., 921 River Ln., Rockford, Ill. 61 l l 1 Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 Appl. No.: 347,070

us. c1. 198/36, 214/10 1m. 01 B65g 59/00 Field of Search 214/10, 16 R, 44 A, 57,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Peterman 214/10 Apr. 16, 1974 2,876,886 3/1959 Reynolds 198/7 Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A material receiving unit is pulled along the ground and through the stockpile by a winch-driven cable. Material from the pile flows downwardly into a chamber within the unit and is discharged out of the rear of the unit by a conveyor located in the chamber to catch the downwardly flowing material.

8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDM n, W.

SHEER 1 I 3 STOCKPILE RECLAIMING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 3 The general aim of the present invention is to provide new and improved stockpile reclaiming apparatus of the foregoing character which is simpler and less expensive than prior apparatus of the same general type and which, at the same time, is capable of cleaning up the stockpile in an effective manner and with very little attention on the part of an operator.

A more detailed object is to provide improved reclaiming apparatus having a unique material receiving unit which is adapted to be moved beneath and through the stockpile without need of special tracks, tunnels or the like, the unit defining a chamber into which the material gravitates automatically and also serving to enshroud and protect a conveyor for catching the material flowing into the chamber and for discharging the material out of the trailing end of the chamber.

A further object is to provide a material receiving unit in which the flow rate of the material into the chamber may be selectively adjusted so as to enable use of the unit with different types of materials without overloading the conveyor while still keeping the conveyor operating near maximum capacity.

Still another object is to advance the material receiving unit automatically through the pile with a step-bystep motion, the unit first stopping within the pile to clean up the overlying material and thereafter moving further into the pile and beneath another section of material. a

The invention also resides in the novel construction of the material receiving unit to facilitate its insertion into and movement through the pile and also to enable the material to be elevated at the same time it is discharged from the unit. The invention is further characterized by the comparatively simple mechanism used to pull the unit through the pile.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing new and improved stockpile reclaiming apparatus incorporating the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the material receiving unit.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of mechanism used to pull the material receiving unit through the pile.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of an exemplary control circuit for the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention contemplates the provision of comparatively simple and inexpensive apparatus which, with very little attention on the part of an operator, may be used to remove material such as sand or gravel from a stockpile 10 and to convey the material to a remote point for further handling. In general, the invention is characterized by a material receiving unit 11 which defines a material receiving chamber 13 (FIG. 3) and which is adapted to be inserted into and advanced through the stockpile. Material gravitates downwardly from the pile and into the chamber and is discharged rearwardly therefrom by a power-driven conveyor 14 enshrouded by the unit and adapted to move through the pile with the unit.

More specifically, the material receiving unit 11 includes a steel plate defining a flat and relatively wide base 15 (FIG. 2) adapted to slide upon the surface of the ground beneath the stockpile 10. Supported upon the base and coacting with the latter to define the chamber 13 are three fabricated steel sections, namely, a leading nose section 16, an intermediate gate section 17, and a trailing discharge section 18. Each section is defined by two vertical side walls 19 connected to an upper or top wall 20 by inclined panels 21.

Advantageously, the top wall 20 of the nose section 16 is inclined downwardly and forwardly while the side walls 19 thereof are inclined inwardly and forwardly so that the nose section is streamlined with a downward and inward taper to facilitate insertion of the unit 11 into the stockpile 10 and to decrease its resistance to movement through the pile. The top wall 20 of the gate section 17 is joined at its forward edge to the top wall of the nose section 16 and is located in a generally horizontal plane. Formed through the top wall of the gate section is a rectangular opening 23 (FIG. 3) which permits material from the stockpile to gravitate downwardly into the chamber 13. Such material flows downwardly through a hopper 24 underlying the opening 23 and is caught by the conveyor 14 for discharge out of the trailing end of the unit 11.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the conveyor 14 comprises an endless belt 25 trained around upper and lower rollers 26 and 27 and having a troughed upper run which is supported by suitably arranged guide rollers 29, the upper roller 26 being power-rotated by an electric motor 30 (FIG. 1) so as to advance the upper run of the belt rearwardly. The various rollers are journaled by frame members 31 anchored within the unit 11 by brackets 33 (FIG. 3) which are positioned so as to locate the upstream end of the conveyor within the nose section 16 and just forwardly of the hopper 24. From its upstream end, the conveyor is inclined upwardly and rearwardly for the purpose of elevating the material at the same time the material is conveyed rearwardly, such inclination being permitted by virtue of the top wall 20 of the rear section 18 being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the top wall of the gate section 17 (see FIG. 3). An auxiliary conveyor 35 (FIG. 1) is connected to the downstream end of the conveyor 14 to swing about a generally vertical axis and serves to catch the material discharged from the conveyor 14 and to transfer such material to a remote point for discharge into a truck 36 or other material handling equipment positioned along one side of the stockpile 10. The auxiliary conveyor is supported on wheels 37 and moves along behind the unit 11 as the latter advances into the pile.

When the unit 11 is positioned within the pile 10 but is not in operation, it is desirable to shut off the flow of material through the opening 23 so that the material will not accumulate on the idle conveyor 14. Also, various types of materials flow through the opening 23 at different rates and thus it is desirable to adjust the size of the opening to establish the highest flow rate which can be handled by the conveyor without overloading the latter. For these purposes, agate valve 40 (FIG. 3) in the form of a flat plate is positioned beneath the top wall 20 of the gate section 17 and is guided for back and forth sliding across the opening 23 by a pair of channels 41 supported on the side walls 19. A reversible electric motor 43 is connected to rotate a lead screw 44 journaled by stationary brackets 45 and threaded into a stationary nut 46 carried on the underside of the gate 40. By rotating the screw with the motor 43, the gate may be slid forwardly across the opening 23 to close off all or part of the opening.

Preferably, the unit 11 is pulled through the pile 10 by a winch 50 (FIGS. 1 and 4) adapted to be powerrotated by an electric motor 51. As shown in FIG. 1, the winch is located at the end of the pile opposite the end into which the unit 11 is initially inserted and is supported on a skid 53. A flexible line or cable 54 threaded through the pile is anchored at one end to the forward end of the unit 1 l as indicated at 55 (FIG. 3), is wrapper around the winch 50, and is anchored at its opposite end to a take-up drum 56 (FIG. 4) which is also supported on the skid and which is adapted to be rotated by an electric motor 57. A large plate 59 upstands from the skid 53 and is positioned against the pile as shown in FIG. 1 to keep the skid from being drawn into the pile when the winch is rotated to pull the unit 11 through the pile.

In carrying out an advantageous aspect of the invention, means are provided for automatically deenergizing the winch motor 51 after the unit 11 has been pulled a predetermined distance into the pile l and for automatically re-energizing the motor after material has been removed from the pile and the size thereof has been reduced. Herein, these means comprise a limit switch LS-l (FIGS. 3 and connected into the control circuit of the motor 51 and supported on a framework 60 which is mounted on the upper wall of the discharge section 18. A feeler 61 is pivoted on the framework at 63 and is biased outwardly either by the spring-loaded actuator of the switch or by a separate spring (not shown). As long as the feeler is in its outward position shown in phantom in FIG. 3, the switch LS-l is closed and enables energization of the motor 51 so that the latter rotates the winch 50 to pull the unit 11 into the pile. After the unit has been pulled a predetermined distance into the pile, the feeler 61 engages the inclined side of the pile and is pivoted rearwardly as shown in full lines in FIG. 3. The feeler thus depresses the switch actuator to open the switch, deenergize the winch motor and stop further movement of the unit. After sufficient material has flowed through the opening 23 to cause the side of the pile to shift forwardly relative to the feeler, the latter springs outwardly to close the switch and cause further forward movement of the unit until the switch is again opened. In this way, the unit is pulled through the pile with an intermittent motion, the unit stopping to remove the overlying material and then advancing automatically into a new section of material.

To set up the apparatus for use, the cable 54 is threaded through the pile 10 adjacent one of the long sides of the pile and from the same end of the pile into which the unit 11 is initially inserted, this being the right end as viewed in FIG. 1. To thread the cable, a bulldozer may push a length of pipe (not shown) into and through the pile from right to left until the left end of the pipe emerges out of the left end of the pile. If the pile is extremely long, one section of pipe may be pushed into the pile, another section then may be coupled to the right end of the first section and pushed in and so on until a length of pipe extends completely through the pile. One end of the cable then may be connected to the right end of the pipe, and the bulldozer may pull on the left end of the pipe until the left end of the cable emerges from the pile. The left end of the cable then may be wrapped around the winch 50 and anchored to the take-up drum 56.

After the cable 54 has been threaded, the unit 11 and the winch 50 are positioned substantially as shown in FIG. 1, the

motors

30, 43, 51 and 57 all are deenergized, and the gate 40 is in a fully closed position.

When the gate is fully closed, its front edge engages the actuator of a limit switch LS-2 (FIGS. 3 and 5) on the underside of the top wall 20 of the gate section 17 and such engagement serves to keep the switch in an open condition. A second limit switch LS-3 is mounted within the discharge section 18 adjacent the rear edge of the gate 40 and is adapted to open when the rear edge engages the switch actuator as an incident to opening of the gate. The limit switch LS-3 is supported for selective manual adjustment lengthwise of the screw 44 by means indicated generally at (FIG. 3) and its position may be changed so that its actuator is engaged when the gate opens to different selected positions.

Let it be assumed that the driver of the truck 36 wishes to load the truck with material from the pile 10. He may drive the truck to a position beneath the discharge end of the auxiliary conveyor 35 as shown in FIG. 1. A control pendant (not shown) preferably is supported on the auxiliary conveyor and is accessible to the driver while he is seated in the cab. By momentarily depressing a start button on the pendant, the driver may close a start switch ST (FIG. 5) to energize a rely CR across electrical lines L-l and L-2 connected to a suitable voltage source. When the relay is energized, normally open relay contacts CR-l, CR-2, CR-3 and CR-4 are closed while normally closed contacts CR-S are opened. Closure of contacts CIR-l establishes a sealing circuit around the start switch ST and keeps the relay CR energized when the driver releases the start button to open the start switch.

Upon closing of the contacts CR-3, the conveyor motor 30 is energized to drive the upper run of the belt 25 in a rearward direction. When contacts CR-2 are closed, the gate motor 43 'is energized through the closed limit switch LS-3 and turns the screw 44 in a direction to open the gate 40. As the gate opens, the open limit switch LS-2 closes but is not effective to energize the gate motor in the reverse direction since the contacts CR-S are open.

The gate 40 opens until its rear edge causes the limit switch LS-3 to open and de-energize the gate motor 43.

when the relay CR is energized, the switch LS-l is in a closed condition and causes energization of the winch motor 51 and the take-up motor 57. The unit 11 is thus pulled into the pile until the feeler 61 is deflected inwardly by the side of the pile and opens the switch LS-l to de-energize the

motors

51 and 57.

Withthe unit 11 inserted into the pile l and with the gate 40 open, material from the pile flows downwardly through the opening 23 and is caught by the conveyor 14. The latter discharges the material onto the auxiliary conveyor 35 which, in turn, dumps the material into the truck 36. When sufficient material is removed from the pile to permit the feeler 61 to swing outwardly, the winch 50 is again rotated to insert the unit 11 further into the pile. The auxiliary conveyor 35 moves forwardly with the unit, and the truck 36 may be driven forwardly if necessary.

After the truck 36 has been loaded, the driver may depress a stop button on the pendant to open a stop switch SP (FIG. and de-energize the relay CR. This closes the relay contacts CR-5 and energizes the gate motor 43 through the closed limit switch LS-2. The gate motor turns the screw 44 in a direction to close the gate 40 and, as the rear edge of the gate moves away from the actuator of the limit switch LS-3, the latter closes preparatory -to the next cycle. As the gate reaches its closed position, it engages the actuator of the limit switch LS-2 to open such switch and deenergize the gate motor 43 and the conveyor motor 30. It will be noted that the conveyor 14 runs until the gate is closed and thus most of the material on the conveyor is discharged therefrom before the apparatus is shut down.

The foregoing operation may be repeated until the unit 11 reaches the left end of the pile 10. The unit then may be towed back around to the right end of the pile and re-inserted to move along a path spaced transversely of the first path. By pulling the unit through the pile along successive paths, substantially the entire pile may be reclaimed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention brings to the art a new and improved stockpile reclaiming apparatus which is of relatively simple construction and which requires comparatively little operator time. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the winch 50 could be carried in the unit 11 itself or that other suitable means could be used for advancing the unit, such means preferably coacting with the cable 54. Also, it will be appreciated that an electrical cable may be strung along the cable 54 or may be strung on poles alongside the pile for the purpose of electrically connecting the unit 11 with the pendant and the

motors

51 and 57 and for the purpose of connecting the motors 30 and 43 with the voltage source.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for reclaiming a stockpile of flowable solid material, said apparatus comprising a material receiving unit adapted to be moved along the ground and inserted into one side of the stockpile, said unit including means defining a walled chamber, an opening in the top wall of said chamber to permit material from the stockpile to flow downwardly into the chamber, mechanism carried on said unit and adjustable to close off said opening, a powered conveyor disposed within said chamber beneath said opening and operable to catch the material flowing into said chamber and to discharge such material out of the trailing end of said unit, a line extending into said stockpile adjacent the bottom thereof and having a first end connected to said unit, the other end of said line being anchorednear the opposite side of said stockpile, and power-actuated means acting on said line to pull said unit through the stockpile.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said unit includes a nose on its leading end, said nose tapering downwardly and forwardly and also tapering inwardly and forwardly to facilitate movement of said unit into and through said stockpile.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which part of said chamber is defined within said nose, the upstream end of said conveyor being located in said nose.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the top wall in which said opening is defined is located rearwardly of said nose and extends generally horizontally, the rear portion of said chamber having an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper wall, said conveyor being inclined upwardly and rearwardly within said chamber and having a portion underlying said upper wall.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including means carried on said unit and responsive to the position of the unit relative to said stockpile to alternately inactivate and activate said power-actuated means.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said power-actuated means comprise a rotatable winch located on the opposite side of said stockpile and operable when rotated to pull said line and said unit through the stockpile, and a motor connected to said winch for rotating the latter.

. 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further including manually operable means for initially energizing said motor and thereby cause insertion of said unit'into said stockpile, and means carried on said unit and operable to sense said one side of said stockpile and automatically de-energize said motor when said unit has been pulled a predetermined distance into said stockpile, said last-mentioned means being operable to automatically re-energize said motor after said one side of said stockpile has shifted a predetermined distance as a result of material being removed from said stockpile through said opening.

8. Apparatus for reclaiming a stockpile of flowable solid material, said apparatus comprising a material receiving unit adapted to be moved along the ground and inserted into one side of the stockpile, said unit including means defining an enclosure having top, bottom and upstanding side walls, an opening in the top wall of said enclosure to permit material from the stockpile to flow downwardly into the enclosure, a powered conveyor disposed within said enclosure beneath said opening and operable to catch the material flowing into said enclosure and to discharge such material out of an opening in the trailing end of said unit, and means for advancing said unit along a substantially straight path through said stockpile.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reclaiming a stockpile of flowable solid material, said apparatus comprising a material receiving unit adapted to be moved along the ground and inserted into one side of the stockpile, said unit including means defining a walled chamber, an opening in the top wall of said chamber to permit material from the stockpile to flow downwardly into the chamber, mechanism carried on said unit and adjustable to close off said opening, a powered conveyor disposed within said chamber beneath said opening and operable to catch the material flowing into said chamber and to discharge such material out of the trailing end of said unit, a line extending into said stockpile adjacent the bottom thereof and having a first end connected to said unit, the other end of said line being anchored near the opposite side of said stockpile, and power-actuated means acting on said line to pull said unit through the stockpile.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 further including manually operable means for initially energizing said motor and thereby cause insertion of said unit into said stockpile, and means carried on said unit and operable to sense said one side of said stockpile and automatically de-energize said motor when said unit haS been pulled a predetermined distance into said stockpile, said last-mentioned means being operable to automatically re-energize said motor after said one side of said stockpile has shifted a predetermined distance as a result of material being removed from said stockpile through said opening.