EXTERNAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC DRUM SEPARATORS

DISPOSITIF DE REGLAGE EXTERNE POUR SEPARATEURS DE TAMBOURS MAGNETIQUES

English Abstract

The device adjusts clearance between a rotatable drum interior surface and an
internal magnet array supported by a fixed shaft disposed inside such drum.
The device includes a pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves disposed respectively
between shaft end portions and drum end plates. Adjustment devices carried by
each of the sleeves and located externally of the end plates vary the spatial
distance between the sleeve interior surface and the outer surface of the
shaft and for moving the drum longitudinal axis relative to the magnet array
longitudinal axis to provide a generally uniform clearance space between the
drum and magnet array outer surface. A plurality of spaced threaded radially
disposed holes extend through the sleeve and a plurality of elongate screws
are threaded into the holes and contact the shaft outer surface to move the
respective sleeve with respect to the shaft for moving the drum longitudinal
axis.

French Abstract

Le dispositif règle le jeu entre une surface intérieure de tambour rotatif et une série d~aimants internes soutenus par un arbre fixe disposé à l~intérieur dudit tambour. Le dispositif comporte une paire de gaines cylindriques creuses disposées respectivement entre des parties d~extrémité d~arbre et des plaques d~extrémité de tambour. Les dispositifs de réglage portés par chacune des gaines et situés à l~extérieur des plaques d~extrémité font varier la distance spatiale entre la surface intérieure de la gaine et la surface externe de la gaine et déplacent l~axe longitudinal du tambour par rapport à l~axe longitudinal de la série d~aimants pour réaliser un espace de dégagement généralement uniforme entre le tambour et la surface externe de la série d~aimants. Une pluralité d~orifices filetés disposés radialement et espacés traversent la gaine et une pluralité de vis allongées sont vissées dans les trous et entrent en contact avec la surface externe d~arbre pour déplacer la gaine respective par rapport à l~arbre afin de déplacer l~axe longitudinal du tambour.

Claims

7
CLAIMS
1. Adjustment apparatus for adjusting the clearance between the interior
surface of a rotatable drum having spaced end plates connected to a
cylindrical
shell and a magnet array having an outer surface supported by a fixed shaft
having an outer surface in a relatively fixed position and disposed inside
such
drum, said apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve having interior
and
exterior surfaces and opposite end portions and means for mounting said
sleeve between such shaft and one such end plate, said means for mounting
including adjustment means carried by said sleeve and located externally of
the
end plates for varying spatial distance between said interior surface of said
sleeve and the outer surface of such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of
such drum relative to the longitudinal axis of such magnet array and to
provide
a generally uniform clearance space between the interior surface of such drum
and an outer surface of such magnet array and said sleeve includes a plurality
of spaced threaded radially disposed holes extending between said interior and
exterior surfaces, said adjustment means including a plurality of elongate
screws threaded into said holes and contacting the outer surface of such
shaft,
each of said screws operable inwardly and outwardly in respective said hole to
move said sleeve with respect to such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis
of
such drum.
2. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein such shaft has a plurality of
flat
surface areas formed on the outer surface thereof for engagement with
respective said screws.
3. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said means for mounting
includes a bearing surface formed on one said end portion of said sleeve for
engagement with an end plate for supporting a drum thereon.
4. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said holes are spaced at
approximately 60 degrees apart.

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5. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a first
and
second set of spaced radially disposed holes extending between said interior
and exterior surfaces, said adjustment means including a plurality of elongate
posts located in said first set of holes and contacting the outer surface of
such
shaft, each installed said posts operable inwardly and outwardly in respective
said hole to move said sleeve with respect to such shaft for vertically moving
the longitudinal axis of such drum.
6. The apparatus as defined in Claim 5 wherein said posts are located in both
of said sets of holes for enhanced stability.
7. The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said sleeve includes a first
and
second set of spaced radially disposed holes extending between said interior
and exterior surfaces, said adjustment means including a plurality of elongate
threaded screws located in said first set of holes and contacting the outer
surface of such shaft, each of said screws operable inwardly and outwardly in
respective said hole to move said sleeve with respect to such shaft for
vertically
moving the longitudinal axis of such drum.
8. Adjustment apparatus for adjusting the clearance between the interior
surface of a rotatable drum having spaced end plates connected to a
cylindrical
shell and a magnet array having an outer surface supported by a fixed shaft
having an outer surface and opposite end portions in a relatively fixed
position
and disposed inside such drum, said apparatus comprising a pair of hollow
cylindrical sleeves each having interior and exterior surfaces and opposite
end
portions and means for mounting each said sleeve between one end portion of
such shaft and one such end plate, said means for mounting including
adjustment means carried by said sleeve and located externally of the end
plates for varying spatial distance between said interior surface of said
sleeve
and the outer surface of a respective end portion of such shaft and for moving
the longitudinal axis of such drum relative to the longitudinal axis of such

9
magnet array and to provide a generally uniform clearance space between the
interior surface of such drum and an outer surface of such magnet array and
each said sleeve includes a plurality of spaced threaded radially disposed
holes
extending between said interior and exterior surfaces, said adjustment means
including a plurality of elongate screws threaded into said holes and
contacting
the outer surface of the end portion of such shaft, each said screw operable
inwardly and outwardly in respective said hole to move respective said sleeve
with respect to such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum.
9. The apparatus as defined in Claim 8 wherein such shaft has a plurality of
flat
surface areas formed on the outer surface thereof for engagement with a
respective said screw.
10. The apparatus as defined in Claim 8 wherein said means for mounting
includes a bearing surface formed on one said end portion of each said sleeve
for engagement with an end plate for supporting a drum thereon.
11. The apparatus as defined in Claim 8 wherein said holes are spaced
circumferentially at approximately 60 degrees apart.
12. Adjustment apparatus for adjusting the clearance between an interior
surface of a hollow drum rotatably mounted on a shaft having an outer surface,
said drum having spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a
magnet array supported by said shaft in a relatively fixed position with
respect
to said drum and shaft and disposed inside said drum, said apparatus
comprising a pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves each having interior and
exterior
surfaces and opposite end portions and means for mounting respective said
sleeve between said shaft and respective said end plates, said means for
mounting including adjustment means carried by said sleeve and located
externally of said end plates for varying spatial distance between said
interior
surface of said sleeve and said outer surface of said shaft and for moving the
longitudinal axis of said drum relative to the longitudinal axis of said
magnet

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array and to provide a generally uniform clearance space between said interior
surface of said drum during its rotation with respect to an outer surface of
said
magnet array and each said sleeve includes a plurality of spaced threaded
radially disposed holes extending between said interior and exterior surfaces,
said adjustment means including a plurality of elongate screws threaded into
said holes and contacting said outer surface of the end portion of said shaft,
each said screw operable inwardly and outwardly in respective said hole to
move respective said sleeve with respect to said shaft for moving the
longitudinal axis of said drum.
13. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12 wherein said shaft has a plurality of
flat surface areas formed on said outer surface for engagement with a
respective said screw.
14. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12 wherein said means for mounting
includes a bearing surface formed on one said end portion of each said sleeve
for engagement with said end plate for supporting said drum thereon.
15. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12 wherein said screws are spaced
circumferentially at approximately 120 degrees apart.
16. The apparatus as defined in Claim 12 wherein said sleeve includes a first
and second set of spaced radially disposed holes extending between said
interior and exterior surfaces, said adjustment means including a plurality of
elongate threaded screws located in said first set of holes and contacting the
outer surface of such shaft, each said screw operable inwardly and outwardly
in
respective said hole to move said sleeve with respect to such shaft for
vertically
moving the longitudinal axis of such drum.
17. The apparatus as defined in Claim 16 wherein said holes in said first and
second sets of holes are spaced circumferentially at approximately 120 degrees
apart.

Description

CA 02606483 2007-10-29
WO 2006/123008 PCT/F12005/000231
EXTERNAL ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC DRUM SEPARATORS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to adjustment devices for wet and dry magnetic
drum separators and particularly to external adjustment apparatus.
RELEVANT ART
A wide variety of adjustment devices exist for adjusting the clearance between
the interior surface of a rotating drum and a stationary magnet array. What is
desired is a device that provides for adjustment externally of the drum,
especially in applications employing a wet drum separation system.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustment
apparatus for adjusting the clearance between the interior surface of a
rotatable
drum having spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a magnet
array having an outer surface supported by a fixed shaft having an outer
surface in a relatively fixed position and disposed inside such drum, the
apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve having interior and exterior
surfaces and opposite end portions and means for mounting the sleeve
between such shaft and one such end plate, the means for mounting includes
adjustment means carried by the sleeve and located externally of the end
plates
for varying spatial distance between the interior surface of the sleeve and
the
outer surface of such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum
relative
to the longitudinal axis of such magnet array and to provide a generally
uniform
clearance space between the interior surface of such drum and an outer surface
of such magnet array. The sleeve includes a plurality of spaced threaded
radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior surfaces,

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and the adjustment means includes a plurality of elongate screws threaded into
the holes and contacting the outer surface of such shaft, each screw being
operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to move the sleeve with
respect to such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum. The shaft
has a plurality of flat surface areas formed on the outer surface thereof for
engagement with a respective screw.
The means for mounting includes a bearing surface formed on one end portion
of the sleeve for engagement with an end plate for supporting a drum thereon.
The holes are spaced at approximately 60 degrees apart. The sleeve includes a
first and second set of spaced radially disposed holes extending between the
interior and exterior surfaces, the adjustment means including a plurality of
elongate posts located in the first set of holes and contacting the outer
surface
of such shaft, each installed post operable inwardly and outwardly in
respective
hole to move the sleeve with respect to such shaft for vertically moving the
longitudinal axis of such drum. The holes have internal threads and each post
has external threads matching the threads in the holes.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided adjustment
apparatus for adjusting the clearance between the interior surface of a
rotatable
drum having spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a magnet
array having an outer surface supported by a fixed shaft having an outer
surface and opposite end portions in a relatively fixed position and disposed
inside such drum, the apparatus comprising a pair of hollow cylindrical
sleeves
each having interior and exterior surfaces and opposite end portions and means
for mounting each sleeve between one end portion of such shaft and one such
end plate, the means for mounting including adjustment means carried by the
sleeve and located externally of the end plates for varying spatial distance
between the interior surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of a
respective
end portion of such shaft and for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum
= relative to the longitudinal axis of such magnet array and to provide a
generally
uniform clearance space between the interior surface of such drum and an

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3
outer surface of such magnet array. The sleeve includes a plurality of spaced
threaded radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior
surfaces, the adjustment means including a plurality of elongate screw
threaded
into the holes and contacting the outer surface of the end portion of such
shaft,
each screw operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to move
respective sleeve with respect to such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis
of
such drum. The shaft has a plurality of flat surface areas formed on the outer
surface thereof for engagement with a respective screw. The means for
mounting includes a bearing surface formed on one end portion of each sleeve
for engagement with an end plate for supporting a drum thereon. The holes are
spaced circumferentially at approximately 60 degrees apart.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided adjustment
apparatus for adjusting the clearance between an interior surface of a hollow
drum rotatably mounted on a shaft having an outer surface, the drum having
spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a magnet array
supported by the shaft in a relatively fixed position with respect to the drum
and
shaft and disposed inside the drum, the apparatus comprising a pair of hollow
cylindrical sleeves each having interior and exterior surfaces and opposite
end
portions and means for mounting the respective sleeve between the shaft and
respective end plates. The means for mounting includes adjustment means
carried by the sleeve and located externally of the end plates for varying
spatial
distance between the interior surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of
the
shaft and for moving the longitudinal axis of the drum relative to the
longitudinal
axis of the magnet array and to provide a generally uniform clearance space
between the interior surface of the drum during its rotation with respect to
an
outer surface of the magnet array. The sleeve includes a plurality of spaced
threaded radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior
surfaces, the adjustment means including a plurality of elongate screws
threaded into the holes and contacting the outer surface of the end portion of
the shaft, each screw operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to
move respective sleeve with respect to the shaft for moving the longitudinal
axis

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of the drum. The shaft has a plurality of flat surface areas formed on the
outer
surface for engagement with a respective screw. The means for mounting
includes a bearing surface formed on one end portion of each sleeve for
engagement with the end plate for supporting the drum thereon. The holes are
spaced circumferentially at approximately 60 degrees apart.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention
are
set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself,
however,
both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further
objects
and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following
description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the adjustment device in accord with the
present
invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the device of FIG. 1 secured to a drum shaft;
FIG. 3 is a side pictorial view of a magnetic drum separator apparatus
employing the adjustment device of FIGS. 1 and 2; and
FIG. 4 is another view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 illustrating the position of
a
drum drive sprocket attached to the drum.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the production of high-intensity magnetic drum separators there is a need
to
place the internal magnet assembly as close as possible to the inside surface
of
the drum. Due to manufacturing tolerances this must be accomplished with an
adjustment apparatus. This apparatus has always been located within the drum.
That has necessitated access holes in the drum endplates and created a
difficult, sometimes unsafe adjustment procedure. Further, in drums used for
wet processing, the access holes in the endplates are unacceptable as they
provide an inevitable leak path, which will cause serious damage to the magnet
assembly. This invention eliminates the need for these access holes.

CA 02606483 2013-01-03
The present apparatus provides a means of adjustment external to the drum.
This results in an easier, safer adjustment procedure. The device is a hollow
cylinder, which has a section of the outer surface machined to create a
bearing
seat, and a series of threaded, radial holes which allow for jacking screws.
5 These screws are used to position the cylinder relative to a shaft having
machined flats on the outer surface, which supports the magnet assembly. An
appropriate bearing is placed on the seat and the assembly is mated to a drum
endplate. The drum and cylinders are coaxial. Thus the axis of the drum can be
moved relative to the axis of the magnet assembly.
With respect now to the drawings, an adjustment cylinder or sleeve according
to
the present invention is shown at 10 in FIG. 1. Metal body 11 has an end
portion machined to form a bearing seat 12 defining bearing flange 17 and
another end portion 13. The cylinder 10 is a hollow member defined by interior
surface 15 and interior passageway 14.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, six pairs of threaded radial holes 16 spaced 60
degrees
apart pass into passageway 14. Jacking screws 18 are threaded through three
pairs spaced 120 degrees apart of holes 16 by rotation of screw ends 19 to
position the interior end 20 of screw 18 a desired distance into passageway 14
as will be discussed hereinbelow.
With regard to FIGS. 3 and 4, the sleeve 10 in use in magnetic drum separation
apparatus is illustrated. The drum 21 is cylindrical in nature and includes an
inside surface 22. Drum 21 is rotated via a drive sprocket 24 bolted to
bearing
cover 26 that is in turn bolted to drum 21 via bolts 37. Sleeve 10 is
positioned
within endplate opening 34 on bearing end.
Fixed shaft 23, mounted on supports 23', has pairs of flats 27 spaced 120
degrees apart on each end portion machined thereon for engagement with
interior ends 20 of the spaced jacking screws 18 used in a particular
application.

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Magnet array 28 is held in a fixed position via posts 33 and is spaced away
from
the interior surface 22 of drum 21 by small clearance space or gap 29. Numeral
30 represents the longitudinal axis of shaft 23. Numeral 31 represents the
longitudinal axis of sleeve 10 and numeral 32 represents the longitudinal axis
of
the magnet array 28.
With reference also to FIG. 2, jacking screws 18 are used to align axis 31 to
maintain clearance space 29 as drum 21 is rotated by drive apparatus 24
around magnet array 28 as illustrated in FIG. 3. In addition, each sleeve 10
can
be adjusted to level out drum 21 at each end plate 35 to prevent tilting. The
present sleeve 10 allows for the positioning of the drum 21 with respect to
the
magnet array 28 without the need to alter the structure of the drum 21.
Alternatively, access holes are often formed in endplates 35, which, as
discussed hereinabove, is unacceptable particularly in the case of a wet drum
system. Preferably, only six alternatively spaced jacking screws 18 (120
degrees apart) are used at each end of shaft 23. The holes 16 not used with a
screw 18 are used in conjunction with depth measuring devices or gauges to
align the sleeves 10 as desired and are then filled with plugs 38 prior to
operation of the apparatus. Bearing covers 26 are affixed to drum endplates 35
via three spaced bolts 37.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific
embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may
be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the
invention. It is intended therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such
modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.

Representative Drawing