Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONICAL CRUS~ XAVING ON2 PIECE CRUS~ING ~E~B~S
FIE~D O~ TE2 ~v~h~lON
The present in~ention generally relates t~t a
coni_al c~ushe-. ~ore pa~-~icularl~, the present invention
relz~-s to z ~ock c_~s~e_ of si3~liCied cons~- c~ion znd
supe-ior ooe_ztional erflciency. ~he rock crushe- czn be
use~ ~or size ~eduction of low s.reng~h, easy to crush
~ate-ials such as rocks and ~inerzls and for light duty
shaping-type cr~chin~ operations.
B~C~O~ND OF T~ v~:~oN
Conica} crushe-s ha~ing nead asse~rtties wni~;.z~e
caused to yrzte by an eccentric ~ec;~anis~, dri~en b~
varicus ~o~a_y power sou~ces, are co~onty avzilaDle znd
have been the subject of nu3erous p ior Fa~ents. A conic2l
crus;~er typ~cally has an annular sn~ll zr.d a central ~.u~ ~O
,; whic;~ an anr.ula~ rin~ is ~ounted 'cr ~e~ticzl ~oVe~en--
The c tsne~ ~owl and line- are ~ou~~2d c.~ e 2nnul2~ -i.~5-
The nea~ asse~ v inclu~es z !ine~ ,hi_;- is 30~nt,e~
30ve en. .h-oush a ~ea_in~ ~echanis~, di~ect_y to Z
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s~a- onarv sha-t within the hub. Gyration of the h~ d
re~~lve to the bowl assembly is provided by an eCcer~ c
ma -~ed for ~ovement about ~he stationary shaft. ~ith
res_ect to rotation abcut the shaft, the eccentric is
dvna~ically balanced about its center of rotatiOn by a
co~.~er weight. The bowl of the crusher is provided ~~ith
an ~pper liner and the head member is provided ~~i~h a
repLaceable mantle.
~lternatively, another type of conical crusr.er
10 canclude a shaft which is moved by a hydraulic piston
ar-angement attached to the bottom end of the shaft. The
bow~ liner can be fixed to a mechanical adjust~ent device.
In _oth types of cone crushers, the gap between the bowl
lir.e- and crushinq head can be manipulated to prc-~ide
pa_~ cular sized crushed product. Both of these tvpes or
roc.~. crushers have proven most satisfactory in heavy-duty
cr_shing o~erations, par~.icularly when the coacting c_ushing
sur_~ces, which are subject to wear, are provided ~ith
replaceable liners for extending the life of the crusher.
However, for certain crushing and shapins
ope-Jtions, a less robust crusher, of simpler and ligr.ter
we ~-.t construction and greater operational ef'iciencf, is
des ~able. For instance, it is not necessary to use a
hea~;-duty crusher, such as set forth in the zbove-
men- oned patents, for low strength, easy to crush -~cks
and minerals such as coal and non-metallic minerals, and
for light duty shaping type crushing applications. Thus,
the_e is a need for a rock crusher which does not ut~lize
massive support structures. Further, there is an economic
nee~ 'or a light duty crusher which can be easily adJ~sted
fo~ ~~ushing various sizes of crushed materials. The~e is
fu :er a need for a light duty crusher which only rec~ .es
a or~e piece mantle/crushing head or inner crushing me~ e~.
8~XX~RY OF T~E Lhv~ILON
The present invention relates to a c~ s;~er
mou~ d on a foundation. The crusher includes a ~ain
suo_~~t memDer for securing to the foundation, a Dc~om
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plate fixed to the main support member, a one piece
generally conically shaped, downwardly spreading~ inner
crushing member supported on said bottom plate, and a
generally frustoconically shaped, downwardly Spreading~
outer crushing member supported on said main Support member
in a spaced relationship to said conically shaped inner
crushing m~her. The inner and outer crusher members are
spaced apart so that material passing between the inner
crushing member and the outer crushing member is crushed.
The present in~ention additionally relates to a
single piece inner- crushing mem~er for use in a crusher
including a wobble mechanism, a plate, a support member,
and a generally conically shaped outer crushing m~her.
The outer cr~shin~ member is supported by the main support
member. The main support member includes an outer rim, the
wobble mechanism is located within the outer rim of the
main support member and provides a wobble motion with
respect to the main support member and the outer crushing
member. The plate is secured to the wobble ~ech~nism and
receives the wobble motion. Material is fed between the
outer crushing member and the inner crushing member to be
crushed. The single piece inner crushing member includes
a generally conically shaped, downward}y spreading, outer
crushing wall. The wall has a top end and a ~ottom end.
The bottom end of the wall is configured for engagement
with the plate.
The present invention still further relates to a
crusher mounted on a foundation. The crusher includes a
main support member, a wobble mechanism, a single piece
conically shaped, downwardly spreading, inner crushing
member, and a single piece frustoconically shaped outer
crushing member. The main support member has at least one
aperture. The wobble mechanism is disposed within the
aperture. The inner crushing member is coupled to the
wobble mechanism and supported by the main support member.
The inner crushing member has an inside surface and an
outside surface. The outside surface is a crushing surface
of the crusher.
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-3a-
T.-- ~resent inventi 3n further relates to a crusher
for comminu_i-.g minerals, characterized by a main SUpport
member for securing the crusher to a foundation; a base
plate fixed to the main support member; a genera ly
conically shaped, downwardly spreading, inner crushing
member supported on the base plate; a generally
frustoconically shaped, downwardly spreading, outer crush-ng
member supported on the -main support member in a spaced
relationshi~ to said conically shaped inner crushing me~Der
lo such that ma-erial passing between the inner crushing me~ber
and the out-_ crushing member is crushed; and at least cne
of the inne- crushing me~ber and the outer crushing mem~r
is made of one piece.
Th~ present in~ention also relates to a crusher
mounted on a foundation. The crusher includes a main
sup?crt mem~-r for securing .o the foundation, a genera ly
conically -haped, downwardly spreading, inner crush-ng
member suppc-ted within the main support member, and a cne
piece, gen~rally frustoconically shaped, downwarGly
spreading outer crushing member. The outer crushing mem'rer
is supporte~ on an annular rim of the main support mem~_r
in a space~ relationship to the conically shaped ir--r
crushing merier such that material passing between the ir-er
crushing member and the outer crushing member is crushed.
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In one exemplary aspect of the present inventionr
a single piece inner crushing ~mh~r is mounted on a plate
within an aperture of a mainframe. The single piece inner
crushing ~ember serves as a crushing head/mantle and
S includes interior and exterior surfaces- The exterior
surface serves as a crushing surface, and the interior
surface generally surrounds a rod which is fixed to a
plate. The bottom end of the inner crushing me~ber is
confisured to receive the plate.
The present invention still further relates to a
conically shaped downwardly spreading inner crushing member
which is supported upon a bottom plate which is secured to
the top surface of the upper member of the wobble
mechanism. A frustoconically shaped downwardly spreading
outer crusher member is a single piece and is supported in
a fixed position surrounding the inner crushing me~ber.
The ~~obble ~h~nism, and therefor the inner crushing
member, is supported so as to be vertically adjustable with
respect to the base of the crusher. By adjusting the
vertical position of the inner crushing member, its
posit on with respect to the outer crushing member is
adjusted. In a preferred embodiment, the inner crushing
member is adjustably supported-on the base of the crusher
by a~air bellows assembly. By regulating the air pressure
in the air bellows, the relative height of the inner
crushing member with respect to the base of the crusher may
be adjusted.
BRIE~ DE8CRIPTION OY T~E DRA~ING8
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a conical
crusher constructed in accordance with this inventioni
FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conical
crusher of this invention as shown in FIG. 1;
FIGURE 2a is a partial cross-sectional view o, an
alternate construction for a portion of the conical crusher
as shown in FIG. 2;
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional vie~ of
the support and drive mechanism for the inner crushing
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memker of the conical crusher of this invention as shor~n in
FIG. 1;
FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an alternztive
embodiment of the outer crushing member of the conical
crusher shown in FIG. 1,.which is provided with a Support
rib cage; and
FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a support rib
cage for the inner crushing m~mh~r of the conical crusher
sho~n in FIG. 1.
D~T~IT-~n D~8CRIPTION OF TE~ PR~FERR~D E~BODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a crushing system or
conical crusher 10 in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention is shown supported on
four.dation pillars 12. The crusher is asse~bled on a ~ain
support member or bottom plate 14. The bottom plate 14 is
secured to the foundation pillars 12 by anchoring means
such as bolts 16. While the crusher is shown supported on
pillars 12, it may be supported in any other suitable
manner, such as on a cylindrical base having opening
therein for removal of the crushed material and servicing
of the crusher.
The crusher includes a frustoconically shaped
downwardly spreading outer crushing member 18 and a
conically shaped downwardly spreading inner crushing me~ber
20. The inner crushing member 20, which is commonly
referred to as a-mantle, is supported along its lower edge
on a bottom plate 22. Bottom plate 22 can include a.
retaining me~ber or retaining ring 21 to help secure me3~er
? j ~,." ~
20. A hole 24 is provided in the apex of the crus;ning
member 20 through which passes a securing device 26 in the
form of a rod which is secured at its lower end to the base
plate 22 and is provided with a threaded portion 28 at its
upper end. A fastener 30, in the form of a nut, engages
the threaded portion 28 and presses on the top edge of the
crusr,ing me~ber 20 to secure it to the bottom plate 22.
Fastener 30 can be protected by a suitable wearing memDer
disposed over it.
, .
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Referring to .-IGS. 2 and 3, the conically sAaped
inner crushing member 20 is supported on a wobble mechani5
which includes a lower cylindrical member 32 and an uppe-
cylindrical mem~er 34. The upper cylindrical member 34 is
secured to the base plate 22 by a fastener such as bolts
36. A bearing arrangement 38, sh~wn as radially extending
roller bearings, is interposed between the upper surface of
lower member 32 and the lower surface of upper member 34 to
per~it the upper and lower member to rotate with respect to
each other. Alternatively, bearing arrangement 38 can be
a plurality of vertically disposed rollers located at an
oute~ edge of members 32 and 34. Fur~her still, bearing
arrangement 38 can be a vertically disposed sleeve bearing
system or a horizontally disposed thrust bearing system.
As shown in ~IG. 3, the bearing assembly 38
includes a lower bearing race 40, an upper bearing race 42,
and -ollers 44. The lower bearing race 40 is secured to
lower member 32 by clamps 46, and the upper bearing race 42
is secured to upper ~e~h~r 34 by clamps 48. The lower
member 32 is secured to and supported on the upper end of
a shaft 50 for rotation therewith. Generally, any
mechanism can be used to rotate, gyrate, move or woDble
inner crushing member including, but not limited to an
eccentric mechanism (not shown). The upper surface of the
lower member 32 is in a plane which is not perpendicular to
the central axis of the shaft 50. Thus, as the shaft 50
rotates, the upper member 34, which is prevented 'rom
rotating, as will hereinafter be described, is caused to
wobble as alternately a higher and a lower portion of the
upper surface of the lower member 32 passes under a f xed
location on the upper member 34. The upper surface o. the
lower member 32 may be located in a plane which is not
perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft 50 by
forming the lower member 32 as a wedge shaped member, or by
weld~g a uniformly thick lower member 32 to the end of ~he
shaf. 50 which has been cut in a plane which is not
perpendicular to its cen~ral axis.
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The shaft 50 passes through an aperture 52 f5r~ed
in the bottom plate 14 and is supported for rotatiOn
therein by a bearing 54. The shaft 50 is surrounded by a
cylindrical sleeve 56 which slides vertically with respect
to the inner race of the bearing 54. The sleeve 56, ~hich
is secured to shaft 50, is formed of a material which will
reduce the sliding friction between the inner race of the
bearing 54 and shaft 50. The shaft 50, lower member 32 and
upper member 34 of the wobble mec-h~n; sr, as well as the
inner crushing member 20, are supported on the bottom plate
14 by a fluid bellow assembly such as air bellow asse~bly
58 which is illustrated as three ring shaped bellows
stacked one on top of the other. The bellows 60, 62 and 64
are secured to each other, and the lower surface of the
lower bellow 60 is secured to the bottom plate 14 by
securing devices such as pins. A ring like bearing
assembly 66 is interposed between the top surface of the
bellow 64 and the lower surface of the lower member 32.
While not shown in detail, ring-like bearing assembly 66
could be similar in construction to bearing 38, with an
upper bearing race secured to the lower surface of lower
memDer 32, and a lower bearing race secured to the top of
beliows 64. Bearing 54 can be a horizontally or vertically
disposed sleeve bearing, roller bearing or thrust bearing.
The height of the lower member 32 with respect to
the bottom plate 14 is adjusted by regulating the air
pressure in the ring shaped bellows 60, 62 and 64. As
sho-~n in FIG. 2, air may be supplied from a compressor 68
through a regulator 70 to the bellows 60, 62 and 64.
Should it be desirable to reduce the air pressure in
bellows 60, 62, and 64, air may be discharged through valve
72.
The inner crushing member 20 is prevented from
rotatinq by a fluid bellow assembly shown as a stack of air
bellows 74, 76, 78 and 80. The bellows are secured to each
other, and the upper surface of bellow 74 is secured to
base plate 22 and the lower surface of lower bellow 80 is
secured to the bottom plate 14. As in the case of the
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bellows 60, 62 and 64, a regulated supply of air is
provided to the bellows 74, 76, 78 and 80 from air
co~pressor 68 through a regulator 82. The regulated air
pressure supplied to the bellows 74, 76, 78, and 80 is Such
that it permits wobbling of the base plate 22, and does not
tend to lift the base plate 22, such that it would not be
fully supported by the bellows 60, 62 and 64- Should it be
desirable to reduce the air pressure in bellows 74, 76, 78,
and 80, air may be discharged through valve 84. Not only
do ~he bellows 74, 76, 78, and 80 prevent the inner
crushing member 20 f-rom turning, but they also provide a
seal to prevent crushed material, and dust therefrom, from
reaching the bearings 38 and 66. Similarly, bellows 58
further prevents the crushed material and dust from
reaching the upper surface of bearing 54.
The shaft 50 is provided with a splinted bore 86
whicn receives an externally splined shaft 88. The shaft
88 is held in a fixed vertical position by an increased
diameter portion 90, the lower edge of which rests on the
inner race 92 of a bearing assembly 94. Outer race 96, of
the bearing assembly 94, is secured to a support bracket 98
by clamps 100 and fasteners 102. Attached to the lower end
of the shaft 88 is a pulley 104. The pulley 104 is driven
by a belt 106 which engages a pulley 108 driven by a prime
mover 110, such as an electric motor. While a pulley and
belt drive system is shown, other types of drive systems
could be used, such as a hydraulic drive or a conventional
gear and pinion shaft drive. Bearing assembly 94 can also
be a horizontally or vertically disposed roller, sleeve or
thrust bearing system.
The outer crushing member 18 is supported 'rom
the bottom plate 14 by a cylindrical wall member 112 wnich
is welded at its lower end 114 to the bottom plate 14 and
is provided with a flange 116 at the top. The flange 116
is provided with an apertures 118 therein, located to
coincide with apertures formed in the upper crushing me~Der
18, to receive bolts such as 120 to secure the up~er
crushing member 18 to the cylindrical wall 112.
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Turning to the operation of the crusher, material
to be crushed is deposited in a hopper 122 through which it
enters into a conical gap 124 between the outer crushing
member 18 and the inner crushing member 20. As the inner
crushing member 20 wobbles within the outer crushing member
18, the material falls in the area where the crushing
members are more widely spaced and is thereafter crushed as
the inner and outer members move together. By increasing
the air pressure in bellows 60, 62, and 64, the inner
crushing member 20 may be raised, moving its outer surface
closer to the outer crUch;nq member 18, thereby resulting
in finer crushing of the material being crushed.
While in heavier duty crushers such as those set
forth in the above-mentioned patents, replaceable wear
members, usually called liners, are provided on the inner
and outer crushing parts, in the conical crusher of "his
inven'ion, the replaceable wear liners are not provided.
However, members 18 and 20 can be replaced when worn.
Rather, the inner crushing member or mantle and the outer
or upper crushing member are formed of a suitable wear
resistance material. Suitable materials for particular
applications are manganese, air quenched and tempered
chromium steel, and a low cost steel with wear resistance
studs provided on the crushing surface. While the inner
crushing member or mantle 20 and the outer crushing me~ber
18 may be made of suitable wear resistant material, their
strength may not be sufficient to prevent deformation in
certain applications. To prevent deformation, the outer
crushing member 18 may be provided with ribs. Or, a
separate ri~ cage including ribs 126 (shown in FIG. 4) may
be provided and can be secured over the outer crushing
member 18. Similarly, a rib cage 128, as shown in FIG. 5,
may be provided to fit under the mantle or inner crushing
memke~ 20 so as to reinforce it.
System parameters and design criteria can effect
the size and shape of inner crushing member 20. crushing
membe- 20 can have generally parallel interior and exterior
surface. The exterior surface of member 20 advan~ageoUslY
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--10--
se~es as crushing surface for crusher 10- Member 20 can
have various steps, angled surfaces or other formations and
still be considered generally conical and to have generally
parallel surfaces.
Referring to FIG. 2a, in an alternate embodi~ent
of _his invention the air bellow assembly 58 sUpporting the
inner crushing m~her 20 on the bottom plate 14 is replaced
by several hydraulic cylinders, one of which 136 is shown.
Hydraulic pressure is supplied to the cylinders ~y 2 pllmp
138. To provide the bearing 54 with the same protection
from crushed material and dust as is provided by the
bellows 58, a flexib~le cylindrical wall 140 is secured to
the bottom surface of lower cylindrica} member 32 and
bott~m plate 14.
lS Bellow assembly 58 and air bellows 74, 76, 78,
and 30 can be replaced by other support devices. System
parz~eters and design criteria can affect the embodiment of
eit.~er support device. For example, the support device
bet-~een plate 20 and plate 14 preferably provides
suf.icient force to counteract crushing forces and yet does
not substantially lift plate 22 with respect to plate 14.
The support device allows wobbling of inner crushing ~P~hPr
20 ar.d yet prevents inner crushing rPmhPr 20 from turr.ing.
The support device preferably also seals bearing 38 -rom
the czushed material in crusher 10. The support device can
be a spring assembly, a cable tension assembly, a piston
asse3bly, or other apparatus for providing an appropriate
level of tension and force between member 20 and bottom
plate 14.
30To prolong the life of the bearings 38, 54, 66,
and 34, a lubrication system 130 is provided whe-eby
lubrication may be supplied to the bearings while the
crus;.er is in operation. The lubrication system inclldes
a pressurized source of lubricant 132, and a piping sys~em
35134 connecting each of the bearings to the source 132.
When comparing a conical crusher constrUctc~ in
acco-~ance with this invention as set forth above, -~ith
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CA 02206188 1997-0~-27
those shown in the prior art patents set forth above, it
will be noted that the following advantages are offered
1. Fewer parts.
2. Simplified manufacturing and fabrication.
3. Lower cost.
4. Increase energy efficiency.
5. Will operate with the material to be crushed
being either wet or dry.
6. Lower operating cost per ton of product crushed.
7. Better quality control of the ground product
through the ready adjustment provided by the
bellows support system for the inner crushing
member.
8. Ease of operation, maintenance and repair.
For instance, while replaceable liners are not
provided, worn inner and outer crushing members can be
readily replaced wherein they are attached to the crusher
by readily engageable and disengageable fastening means
shown as nuts and bolts.
It should be noted that if tramp material becomes
wedged between the inner and outer grinding members, the ~ -
air pressure in the bellows supporting the inner grinding
member may be reduced, thereby permitting the inner
grinding member to drop away from the outer grinding me~ber
2S so as to free the tramp material from between the grinding
surfaces. Since the crushing gap between the inner and
outer members is readily adjusted and controlled by the
bellows support system, the particle size of the crushed
material may be readily adjusted.
While one embodiment, and component variations of
the invention have been shown, it should be apparent to
those skilled in the art that what has been described is
considered at present to be a preferred embodiment of the
conical crusher of this invention. In accordance with the
Patent Statute, changes may be made in the conical crusher
without actually departing from the true spirit and scope
of this invention. The appended claims are intended to
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CA 02206188 1997-05-27
cover all such changes and modification which fall in the
true spirit and scope of this invention.
