WO2016116941A1

WO2016116941A1 - Skirt sealing system for conveyor belt

Info

Publication number: WO2016116941A1
Application number: PCT/IN2015/000158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Madan Mohan Mohanka
Original assignee: Tega Industries Limited
Priority date: 2015-01-21
Filing date: 2015-04-01
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Also published as: AR103459A1

Abstract

The skirt sealing system has liners (4) fixed with the inner wall of skirt plates (5) by a bolt (8), a backing plate (6) welded with the skirt plate (5), a skirt rubber block (3) fixed over the backing plate (6) through a guide such that a bush protrudes through a slotted groove, a serrated clamp (7) fixed over rubber block (3). The rubber block (3) has an extra rubber cushion (10) to cover any gap between the skirt plate liner (4) and the rubber block (3) to eliminate entrapment of material and is shorter than conventional rubber blocks for easy adjustment.

Description

SKIRT SEALING SYSTEM FOR CONVEYOR BELT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to spillage control system for belt Conveyors and in particular to the sealing of loading zone of the conveyors to restrict the spillage that happens due to the turbulence in material flow when the material falls from the chute on a moving conveyor belt and also eliminating damages to the belt conveyors by materials getting entrapped between the liner plate, skirt plate and skirt board . BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART

In material handling operations, conveyor belts are used for conveying or transporting material from one station to another station. When the material is dropped on the conveyor from the chute some material bounces out of the conveyor due to elastic collision between the material and the belt. This is known as spillage or loss of material .

In general the chute in any conveyor is attached with a skirt board mother plate. The gap between the mother plate and the conveyor belt is kept around 25mm. Skirt sealing system is fixed on this mother plate to stop material from spilling out. With the increase in tonnage it has been observed that the mother plate wears out very fast and at the same time a gap of 25 mm contributes a lot of spillage as the skirt sealing system does not effectively seal such a large space. To overcome such limitations, some modification in the loading zone was made. Firstly the gap between the mother plate and belt has been reduced which varies from 3mm to 10mm . The inside of the mother plate is lined with wear resistant material so that it does not get damaged. The gap of 3 to 10mm is sealed either through long single piece rubber skirt or by using a skirt board which is modular in nature and contains flat rectangular spillage control blocks that can be installed according to the sag- of the belt over the flat backing plate by means of bolts. Each block can be moved up and down over the backing plate by loosening the bolts. After considerable wear and tear the blocks are lowered by adjusting the bolts so that the gap that was created due to wear and tear between the assembly of blocks and the conveyor would be sealed . This is a preferred option as the single piece of rubber strip cannot seal all the gaps and results in considerable amount of spillage. However in cases where the mother plate is being lined, the gap gets created along the length of the conveyor between the liner and the rubber block of the skirt sealing system. This gap tends to trap the material which in turn damages the conveyor belt. Therefore, for the belts handling high tonnage of material, both these sealing systems available in the market become ineffective and result in huge spillages.

US 4,874,082 discloses a skirt board and mounting arrangement to seal the side edges of a conveyor belt to prevent the escape of material being conveyed. The skirt board sections include a pair of opposed side faces, one of which is placed against a mounting surface. One of the faces includes a specially constructed engagement surface which is operative, when engaged by a stop to permit the skirt board to be adjusted downwardly toward the conveyor belt but prevents the skirt board from moving upwardly away from the belt. A clamp secures the skirt board against a mounting surface.

US 6,328, 156 Bl discloses a skirt board and mounting plate for sealing the side edges of a conveyor belt to prevent spillage of material being transported. The skirt board comprises an elastomeric sheet having regularly spaced parallel ribs integrally formed on one major surface thereof and adapted for insertion within regularly spaced parallel slots formed in a metal mounting plate that is adapted for attachment to a frame disposed above or alongside the conveyor belt.

There has thus been a persistent need to design a suitable skirt sealing to solve the issue of trapping of the material and provide effective sealing at the loading point.

The present invention meets the aforesaid long felt need.

All throughout the specification including the claims, the words "conveyor belt", "skirt plate" "rubber block", "serrated clamp", "bolt", "liner", and "backing plate" are to be interpreted in the broadest sense of the respective terms and includes all similar items in the field known by other terms, as may be clear to persons skilled in the art. Restriction/limitation, if any, referred to in the specification, is solely by way of example and understanding the present invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a skirt sealing system to ensure that no material gets trapped between the liner and the skirt rubber block.

Another object of the invention is to provide a skirt sealing system in which each block can be adjusted individually.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a skirt sealing system which can reduce the spillage at the loading point. Yet another object of the invention is to provide skirt sealing system which is easy to install and maintenance of skit board system is easy. Yet another object of the invention is to provide skirt sealing system which protects the belt from damages caused by the trapped material between the mother plate liner and the rubber blocks.

Yet another object of the invention is to facilitate smooth flow of conveyed material.

Yet another object of the invention is to thicken the bottom portion of the rubber block to ensure better structural rigidity against the bouncing force of the material.

How the foregoing objects are achieved will be clear from the following description. In this context it is clarified that the description provided is non-limiting and is only by way of explanation.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An improved skirt sealing system which is positioned above a conveyor belt is disclosed. It comprises of a plurality of liners which are fixed with the inner wall of a plurality of mother skirt plates by means of bolts. A skirt backing plate is welded with each said mother plate, said backing plate being provided with a guide and a bush. An improved skirt rubber block is fixed over the backing plate through a guide such that a bush protrudes out through a slotted groove. A serrated clamp is fixed over the rubber block by inserting the serrated clamp through the bush. The gripping part of the serrated clamp is placed inside the respective groove of the skirt rubber block. The rubber block is provided with an extra rubber cushion which is adapted to cover any gap between the skirt plate liner and the skirt rubber block to eliminate entrapment of fine material in this gap. This eliminates abrasion of the conveyor belt and reduces its maintenance. The rubber block is also made shorter than the conventional rubber block by a specific height for ease of adjustment.

The liner is fixed on the inner wall of the skirt plate by means of bolting and the skirt rubber block is fixed to the outer wall of the skirt plate with the help of the backing plate and the serrated clamp.

The projected portion of the bolt used for fixing the liner with the skirt plate remains at the top of the skirt outer wall for easier fixing of the liner and skirt board at inner and outer walls of the skirt plate.

The gap between the mother skirt plate and the belt is kept between 3mm and 10mm to totally eliminate spillage.

The plurality of skirt rubber blocks is arranged in an overlapping fashion to completely eliminate any spillage through the gaps between individual rubber blocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The nature and scope of the present invention will be better understood from the accompanying drawings, which are by way of illustration of a preferred embodiment and not by way of any sort of limitation. In the accompanying drawings:- Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a belt conveyor with conventional skirt sealing board without extra rubber block as existing in the prior art. Figure 1A shows a detail view of portion 'A' of fig. 1

Figure IB shows the drawback of conventional skirt sealing system.

Fig . 2 shows a cross sectional view of Belt conveyor with new skirt sealing and liner arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2A shows a detail view of portion Έ' of fig . 2 Figure 2B shows the cross sectional view of improved skirt sealing system which eliminate the drawbacks of conventional type.

Figure 3 shows side view along line X-X of fig. 2. Figure 3A shows a detail view marked as "C of fig. 3.

Figure 4A and Figure 4B shows cross sectional view of back plate of conventional and improved skirt sealing system respectively. Figure 5A and Figure 5B show cross sectional views of skirt rubber blocks of conventional and improved skirt sealing system respectively.

Figure 6A and Figure 6B show cross sectional views of serrated clamps of conventional and improved skirt sealing system respectively.

Figure 7 is an assembly line of components of improved skirt sealing system in cross sectional view.

Figure 8 is an assembly line of components of improved skirt sealing system in isometric view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Having described the main features of the invention above, a more detailed and non-limiting description of a preferred embodiment will be given in the following paragraphs with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In all the figures, like reference numerals represent like features. Further, the shape, size and number of the devices shown are by way of example only and it is within the scope of the present invention to change their shape, size and number without departing from the basic principle of the invention. Further, when in the following it is referred to "top", "bottom", "upward", "downward", "above" or "below" , "right hand side", "left hand side" and similar terms , this is strictly referring to an orientation with reference to the apparatus, where the base of the apparatus is horizontal and is at the bottom portion of the figures. The number of components shown is exemplary and not restrictive and it is within the scope of the invention to vary the shape and size of the apparatus as well as the number of its components, without departing from the principle of the present invention. All through the specification including the claims, the technical terms and abbreviations are to be interpreted in the broadest sense of the respective terms, and include all similar items in the field known by other terms, as may be clear to persons skilled in art. Restriction or limitation if any referred to in the specification, is solely by way of example and understanding the present invention. Skirt sealing blocks are well known in the prior art. Most chutes comprise rigid skirts that extend downwards toward the belt to prevent spillage or loss of material at one or more loading zone. Reference is made to figures 1 and 1A. Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a conveyer with conventional skirt sealing system which is attached with the outer wall of the mother (skirt) plate and the liner is attached to the inner wall of said plate, thus preventing damage of the skirt plate. As best shown in figure 1A, in conventional skirt sealing system, the liner (4') is fixed on the inner wall of the skirt plate (5') by means of bolting (8'). The skirt rubber block (3') is fixed to the outer wall of skirt plate (5') with the help of backing plate (6') and serrated clamp (7'). The main drawback of the conventional system is that during operation of conveyer belt ( ), the conveying material gets trapped in the gap (9) present between the liner (4') and skirt plate (5') and the adjustable skirt rubber block (3') as best shown in fig IB. During the course of time the entrapped fine material becomes abrasive. Maintenance and/or cleaning of such entrapped material is not easy and requires frequent shut down of the plant. Moreover, it is not possible to know the exact time of such maintenance or cleaning job. As a result, the abrasive material causes damage to the conveyor belt (1')· Such maintenance cost should be kept to minimum.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of a conveyor with an improved skirt sealing board according to the present invention, which has extra rubber block to cover the area lying between the mother plate liner and the adjustable skirt block, while figure 2A is the blown up view of the portion marked as Έ' in figure 2. Figure 2B depicts the main crux of the present invention over the conventional skirt sealing system. Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of a conveyer with skirt sealing system in accordance with the present invention which is attached with the outer wall of the mother (skirt) plate and the liner is attached to the inner wall of said plate, thus preventing damage of the skirt plate. In the present skirt sealing system, {best shown in fig. 2A}, the liner

(4) is fixed on the inner wall of the skirt plate (5) by means of bolting (8). The skirt rubber block (3) is fixed to the outer wall of skirt plate

(5) with the help of backing plate (6) and serrated clamp (7). The skirt rubber block (3) consists of extra rubber cushion ( 10) which is adapted to cover the gap (9) between the liner (4) and skirt plate (5) and the adjustable skirt rubber block (3) present in the conventional skirt sealing system, as best shown in figure 2B. As a result, the chances of entrapping material in the said gap is totally eliminated, thus preventing damage of conveyor belt ( 1) in comparison to the prior art.

Figure 2B also reveals lowered position (L) of the liner and lowered position of liner fixing fastener arrangement in accordance with the present invention. More space (S) is therefore left at one's disposal for liner fixing .

Figure 3 shows the side view along line X-X of figure 2, while figure 3A shows the detailed blown up view of the portion marked as 'C in figure 3. The skirt rubber blocks (3) according to the present invention are arranged in an overlapping fashion, so that the chance of any spillage through the gaps between the plurality of rubber blocks (3) can be totally eliminated . The rubber block (3') is clamped on the backing plate by means of bolt ( 14') and serrated clamp (7), which ensures tight fixing of the blocks.

Figures 4A and 4B show the cross-sectional view of the backing plates (6', 6) of conventional and present invention respectively. In the present invention, the backing plate (6) is shorter by height (h) than the conventional backing plate (6'), as shown in this figure. It is advantageous to have free space in the outer wall of the skirt plate so that the liner can be easily fixed with the inner wall of the skirt plate by bolt.

Figures 5A and 5B show the cross-sectional view of the rubber blocks of conventional and present invention respectively. The rubber block (3') is clamped on the backing plate by means of bolt for which the backing plate has necessary threading and the rubber block has the necessary slotted groove. In the present invention, the rubber block (3) is made shorter than the conventional rubber block by height (h') and an extra rubber cushion ( 10) is provided to cover the gap (9) shown in figure IB, where fine materials get entrapped . In the conventional type it is a cumbersome process to adjust the block when it gets eroded at its bottom portion. This also requires extra man power. It is advantageous to have free space in the outer wall of the skirt plate so that the liner can be easily fixed with the inner wall of the skirt plate by bolt.

Figures 6A and 6B show the cross-sectional views of serrated clamps (7', 7) of conventional and present invention respectively. The serrated clamp is used to tightly fix the rubber block with the skirt plate. The extended part ( 11) of the serrated clamp (7') is used to provide support to the rubber block. Compared to this, in the present invention, the extended portion (11 ) of the serrated clamp (7') of conventional type is removed, as shown in figure 6B. As a result, adjustment of skirt rubber block is not required .

Fig. 7 shows an assembly line of components in cross-sectional view, while Fig. 8 shows the assembly line of components in isometric view. The liner (4) is fixed with the inner wall of the mother skirt plate (5) by bolting (8). The skirt backing plate (6) is welded with the mother plate. The backing plate has a guide (12) and a bush (13) . The new improved rubber skirt block (3) is fixed over the backing plate through the guide ( 12) so that the bush (13) gets protruded out through the slotted groove. The serrated clamp (7) is fixed over the rubber block by inserting the clamp (7) through the bush and the gripping part of the clamp inside the respective groove of the rubber block (3). Finally the bolt (14) is tightened through the bush. The projected portion of the bolt (8) used for fixing the liner with the skirt plate remains at the top of the skirt outer wall . So it is easier to affix the liner and skirt board at inner and outer wall of the skirt plate without any intervention.

The present invention has been described with reference to some drawings and a preferred embodiment purely for the sake of understanding and not by way of any limitation and the present invention includes all legitimate developments within the scope of what has been described herein before and claimed in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIM

An improved skirt sealing system positioned above a conveyor belt (1) and comprising of a plurality of liners (4) fixed with the inner wall of a plurality of mother skirt plates (5) by means of plurality of bolt (8), a skirt backing plate (6) being welded with said mother plate, said backing plate being provided with a guide ( 12) and a bush (13), an improved skirt rubber block (3) being fixed over the backing plate through said guide ( 12) such that said bush ( 13) protrudes out through a slotted groove, a serrated clamp (7) being fixed over said rubber block (3) by inserting said clamp (7) through said bush and the gripping part of clamp (7) being positioned inside the respective groove of rubber block (3), said rubber block (3) is provided with an extra rubber cushion ( 10) to cover any gap between said skirt plate liner (4) and skirt plate (5) and said rubber block (3) thereby eliminating entrapment of fine material and is also made shorter than the conventional rubber blocks.

2. The skirt sealing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said liner (4) is fixed on the inner wall of said skirt plate (5) by means of bolting (8) and said skirt rubber block (3) is fixed to the outer wall of said skirt plate (5) with the help of said backing plate (6) and said serrated clamp (7).

3. The skirt sealing system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the projected portion of said bolt (8) used for fixing said liner (4) with said skirt plate (5) remains at the top of the skirt outer wall for easier fixing of the liner and skirt board at inner and outer wall of the skirt plate.

4. The improved skirt sealing system as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the gap between said mother plate (5) and the belt (1) is kept minimum to eliminate spillage totally.

5. The improved skirt sealing system as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein said plurality of skirt rubber blocks (3) is arranged in an overlapping fashion to completely eliminate any spillage through the gaps between individual rubber blocks (3).