Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
Apparatus and method for conveying into and out of a hollow
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for filling a
hollow with solid con-
veyed material or for removing solid conveyed material from a hollow.
In surface mining, natural resources such as ores, stone, sand, gravel or coal
are extracted
.. from layers close to the surface. Mining is carried out with excavators or
bucket wheel exca-
vators, and by blasting, milling, etc. The material extracted is often removed
from the mining
site for further processing by belt conveyor systems. Surface mines can also
reach great
depths, which can make removal with belt conveyor systems complex, because the
belt con-
veyor system often has to be moved and adjusted in length.
Conventional belt conveyor systems with a driven, endless conveyor belt, which
is deflected
via deflection rollers at both ends of the belt conveyor system, can be used
as conveying de-
vices for conveying the material to be conveyed. A plurality of support
rollers are generally
provided between the deflection rollers in order to support the conveyor belt,
in particular the
run in which the material is conveyed. Conveying devices are also known with a
conveyor
belt on which a plurality of support rollers are arranged, which are
distributed over the length
and which roll on fixed track ropes. Examples of this can be found in EP 2 460
744 B1 or EP
2 030 919 B1. Furthermore, a known aerial cableway designed as a reversible
aerial tram-
way for transporting conveyed material, such as bulk material, can also be
used as the con-
veying device. A material bucket for receiving the material to be conveyed is
arranged on a
hanger of the reversible aerial tramway. The hanger is suspended from a
running gear with a
number of support rollers on a track rope (or a plurality of track ropes) and
is usually moved
back and forth between two stations with a pull cable attached to the running
gear.
Surface mining sometimes also leaves very spacious and/or deep hollows in the
landscape.
It is often a desire or a requirement to backfill such hollows with material
after the surface
mine has been abandoned, for example because the deposit has been exhausted.
Hollows
to be filled can of course also be created in other ways than through the
extraction of natural
resources. Hollows are often filled with conveying devices in order to
transport the filling ma-
terial to the right place. This is also complex because the conveying device
often has to be
relocated and its length adjusted. The above-mentioned conveying devices can
also be used
for this purpose.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method
that permit flexi-
ble, simple removal of solid conveyed material from a hollow or flexible,
simple filling of a hol-
low with solid conveyed material.
According to the invention, this object is achieved with at least one track
rope which is fixed
between two anchor points over the hollow and which sags between two support
points in
- 1 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
the shape of a catenary, wherein a conveying device for conveying the conveyed
material is
arranged suspended from the at least one track rope, wherein the anchor points
are each ar-
ranged above a desired filling height in the region of the respective anchor
point and a track
rope length of the at least one track rope between the two support points is
longer than a
conveying length of the conveying device between the two support points, and
wherein at at
least one anchor point there is provided a rope adjustment device for
adjusting the track
ropes between the two support points. This means that the track rope can be
pulled at cer-
tain times in order to shorten the track rope length between the two support
points while at
the same time the at least one track rope with the conveying device suspended
therefrom is
io moved upwards, or the track rope can be slackened at certain times in
order to extend the
track rope length between the two support points while at the same time the at
least one
track rope with the conveying device suspended therefrom is moved downwards.
In this way,
the sag of the track rope in the hollow can be adapted to the hollow, so that
the conveying
device can always be kept at the required or desired distance from the hollow
base. A reloca-
tion of the conveying device or of anchor points or of support points is
therefore no longer
necessary, which considerably simplifies the effort required to convey into or
out of the hol-
low.
A transfer station for loading onto the conveying device or for unloading from
the conveying
device is preferably provided in the region of an anchor point and the rope
adjustment device
is provided at the opposite anchor point. In this way, the end of the track
rope on which the
conveying device is not suspended can be adjusted, so that an adjustment of
the suspension
points of the conveying device on the track rope that may otherwise be
necessary can be
dispensed with. This simplifies the use of the apparatus.
In order to be able to make the conveyance of conveyed material into the
hollow more flexi-
ble, a distribution conveying device can be arranged suspended from the at
least one track
rope in the region of an end of the conveying device in the hollow, wherein
the conveying de-
vice conveys the conveyed material onto the distribution conveying device. By
appropriately
designing the distribution conveying device, the distribution of conveyed
material in the hol-
low can easily be adapted to the respective requirements and circumstances. It
is particularly
advantageous if the distribution conveying device is designed as a
distribution belt conveyor
system that can be operated in both conveying directions. In this way,
conveyed material can
be unloaded at two different points in the hollow in a simple manner, which
supports the fur-
ther distribution of the conveyed material in the hollow.
Accordingly, in one aspect there is provided a method for filling a hollow
with solid conveyed
material which is transported to the hollow by means of a conveying device,
wherein the con-
veying device is suspended from at least one track rope which is fixed between
two anchor
- 2 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-09
points over the hollow, wherein the at least one track rope sags between two
support points
in the shape of a catenary and the track rope length of the at least one track
rope between
the two support points is longer than the conveying length of the conveying
device between
the two support points, the method comprising: pulling the at least one track
rope at at least
one anchor point at certain times in order to shorten the track rope length
between the two
unaltered support points, by which at the same time the at least one track
rope with the con-
veying device suspended therefrom is moved upwards.
In another aspect, there is provided a method for removing solid conveyed
material from a
hollow by means of a conveying device, wherein the conveying device is
suspended from at
io least one track rope which is fixed between two anchor points over the
hollow, wherein the at
least one track rope sags between two support points in the shape of a
catenary and the
track rope length of the at least one track rope between the two support
points is longer than
the conveying length of the conveying device between the two support points,
the method
comprising: slackening the at least one track rope at at least one anchor
point at certain
times in order to extend the track rope length between the two unaltered
support points, by
which at the same time the at least one track rope with the conveying device
suspended
therefrom is moved downwards.
In still another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for filling a hollow
with solid conveyed
material or for removing solid conveyed material from a hollow, wherein at
least one track
rope is fixed between two anchor points over the hollow, and in that the at
least one track
rope sags between two support points in the shape of a catenary, wherein a
conveying de-
vice for conveying the conveyed material is arranged suspended from the at
least one track
rope, wherein a track rope length of the at least one track rope between the
two support
points is longer than a conveying length of the conveying device between the
two support
points, and wherein at at least one anchor point there is provided a rope
adjustment device
for adjusting the track rope length of the at least one track rope between the
two support
points, wherein the rope adjustment device pulls on the at least one track
rope at at least one
anchor point at certain times in order to shorten the track rope length
between the two
unaltered support points and to move the at least one track rope with the
conveying device
suspended therefrom upwards at the same time or wherein the rope adjustment
device
slackens the at least one track rope at at least one anchor point at certain
times in order to
extend the track rope length between the two unaltered support points and to
move the at
least one track rope with the conveying device suspended therefrom downwards
at the same
time.
In the following, the present invention is described in greater detail with
reference to Fig. 1 to
6 which, by way of example, show schematic and non-limiting advantageous
embodiments of
the invention. In the drawings:
- 2a -
Date Recue/Date Received 2022-05-09
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a hollow with a track rope fixed over it,
Fig. 2 is an embodiment of a conveying device for conveying into and/or out of
the hol-
low,
Fig. 3 shows an end of the conveying device in the region of an anchor point
of the
track rope,
Fig. 4 shows an end of the conveying device in the hollow,
Fig. 5 shows an end of the conveying device in the hollow with a distribution
conveying
device, and
Fig. 6 shows an anchor point with an embodiment of a rope adjustment device.
The invention is described below primarily using the example of filling a
hollow with conveyed
material, in particular bulk material. The conveyed material is removed from a
hollow in an
analogous manner in the opposite direction.
Fig. 1 is a cross-section through a hollow 1, which can typically reach a
depth in the range of
a few tens of meters to a few hundred meters, shallower or even deeper hollows
being of
course also conceivable. The width and length, or approximately a diameter, of
the hollow 1
can be in the range of a few hundred meters, with smaller and larger
dimensions also being
conceivable. The hollow 1 has a hollow base 2, from which the hollow slope 3
extends up-
wards all around with a slope angle. Of course, the hollow 1 does not have to
be symmet-
rical, nor does it have to have the same slope angle on all sides. The hollow
slope 3 can also
be created in the form of steps. The shape and the dimensions of the hollow 1
are ultimately
secondary to the invention. For filling, conveyed material is transported onto
the hollow base
2 in order to fill the hollow 1, whereby the hollow base 2 rises. Conversely,
conveyed material
obtained in the hollow 1 is removed from the hollow base 2, whereby the hollow
base 2 can
sink further.
At least one track rope4 is fixed over the hollow 2 between two anchor points
Al, A2. A plu-
rality of track ropes4 can also be fixed, wherein the number of track ropes
required naturally
depends on the span and the load to be supported. The at least one track rope
4 is sus-
pended over the hollow 1 between two support points SP1, SP2 in the shape of a
catenary,
which results in a track rope length IT as the length of the catenary between
the two support
points SP1, SP2. The catenary results as a function of the span, the
arrangement of the sup-
port points SP1, SP2 and the load on the at least one track rope 4. A support
point SP1, SP2
can be an anchor point Al, A2, for example the anchor point A2 in Fig. 1, or a
support for the
track rope 4, for example on a support pole 5, for example on a support pole 5
in Fig. 1. The
track rope length IT between the two support points SP1, SP2 does not have to
correspond to
the actual length of the at least one track rope 4 between the two anchor
points Al, A2, de-
pending on the specific design. In an advantageous embodiment, the two support
points
SP1, SP2 coincide with the anchor points Al, A2.
- 3 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
If the topology of the hollow 1 and/or the arrangement of the anchor points
Al, A2 requires it,
a support pole 5 (or a plurality of support poles) for the at least one track
rope 4 can also be
provided at a suitable location.
The support points SP1, SP2 are preferably arranged above the desired filling
height hv in
the region of the respective support point SP1, SP2, i.e. at a higher level.
The filling height hv
is the level of the hollow base 2 after filling. In the case of mining, the
filling height hv corre-
sponds to the initial height, i.e. the hollow base 2 at which mining begins.
In the case of in-
clined filling, however, one support point SP1, SP2 could, for example, be
arranged lower
than the other support point SP1, SP2 and also lower than the filling height
hv in the region of
the other support point SP1, SP2, although the lower support point SP1 would
nevertheless
preferably be higher than the filling height hv in the region of the lower-
lying support point
SP1. It can thus be achieved that the at least one track rope 4 always runs
above the respec-
tive hollow base 2 without providing any further supports. Depending on the
topology of the
hollow, it is therefore not absolutely necessary to strive for horizontal
filling.
Depending on the track rope length IT, the track rope 4 sags to a greater or
lesser extent be-
tween the anchor points Al, A2 and there is maximum sag. An upper tensioning
position S1
is shown in Fig. 1, in which the track rope 4 sags only slightly and in
particular runs above
the filling height hv. In a lower tensioning position S2, the track rope
length IT is greater and
the track rope 4 sags to a greater extent, in particular just above the hollow
base 2, usually in
the range from a few meters to a few tens of meters.
A conveying device 10 is suspended from the at least one track rope 4, which
is explained by
way of example with reference to Fig. 2. In this embodiment a total of four
track ropes 4 are
fixed next to one another and are at least approximately parallel. A first
load-bearing struc-
ture 11 is suspended from the track rope 4 at a first height and a second load-
bearing struc-
ture 12 at a second height. Of course, a plurality of such load-bearing
structures 11, 12 are
arranged distributed at certain intervals along the length of the belt
conveyor system 10
along the track rope 4. In the embodiment shown, the first load-bearing
structure 11 is de-
signed as a U-shaped frame which is attached to the track ropes, for example
by means of a
clamp connection. The second load-bearing structure 12 is also designed as a
frame which
is attached to rods or cables, which in turn are attached to the track ropes
4, for example
again by means of a clamp connection. Two guide elements 13', 13", 14', 14"
are arranged
next to one another on the load-bearing structures 11, 12 in the direction of
the longitudinal
extent of the conveying device 10. The guide elements 13', 13", 14', 14" are
thus also ar-
ranged in pairs at different heights. A guide element 13', 13", 14', 14" can
be a cable, a rod,
a pipe, a rail or the like, preferably a cable. The distance between the pairs
of guide elements
gives the track width for support rollers 15`, 15", which are arranged on both
sides of an end-
less, revolving conveyor belt 16 of the conveying device 10. For this purpose,
cross struts 17
- 4 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
are arranged distributed in the longitudinal direction on the conveyor belt
16, for example by
a screw or clamp connection, which protrude over the width of the conveyor
belt 16 and at
the axial ends of which the support rollers 15', 15" are rotatably mounted. If
there are several
guide elements 13', 13", 14', 14" on each side of the conveyor belt 16,
support rollers 15',
15" with different track widths can also be provided on the conveyor belt 16,
as in Fig. 2,
which then roll on different guide elements 13', 13", 14', 14". At the lateral
ends of the con-
veyor belt 16, side walls 18', 18" can also be arranged in order to form a U-
shaped recepta-
cle for the conveyed material on the conveyor belt 16. Distributed in the
longitudinal direction
of the conveyor belt 16, transverse walls can also be arranged between the two
side walls
18', 18" in order to form individual receiving portions, which can facilitate
the transport of
conveyed material, in particular in sections of the conveyor belt 16 with an
incline. The sup-
port rollers 15', 15" roll on the respectively assigned guide element 13',
13", 14', 14". The
conveyor belt 16 revolve on deflection rollers 19 (see Fig. 3) at the
respective ends of the
conveying device 10. At least one deflection roller 19 can be driven in order
to drive the con-
veyor belt 16. This type of conveying device 10 is well known, which is why no
further details
need to be discussed here.
However, the conveying device 10 can also be designed differently. For
example, on the at
least one track rope 4, rotatably mounted support rollers distributed in the
longitudinal direc-
tion can be suspended, on which the conveyor belt 16 is supported. The support
rollers can
also be arranged on load-bearing structures, which in turn are attached to the
track rope 4.
The conveying device 10 would thus be designed in the form of a classic belt
conveyor sys-
tem. Likewise, the conveying device 10 can be designed as a well-known
reversible aerial
tramway, with a material bucket which is suspended from a hanger with a number
of support
rollers on the at least one track rope 4, or a guide element suspended
therefrom, and which
can be moved back and forth thereon. The hanger with the material bucket can
have its own
actuator or is moved with a pull rope which is attached to the hanger.
In the region of an end of the conveying device 10, a transfer station U is
arranged, which is
arranged in the region of an anchor point Al, as shown in Fig. 3. In the
transfer station U, ei-
ther the conveyed material is loaded into the conveying device 10 (when
backfilling) or con-
veyed material is unloaded from the conveying device 10 (when excavating or
mining). For
loading, the conveyed material can for example be placed on the conveyor belt
16 or filled
into a material bucket. For unloading, the conveyed material can be removed
from the con-
veyor belt, for example, or emptied from a material bucket. The way in which
the transfer sta-
tion U and the loading or unloading are exactly implemented is irrelevant to
the invention.
This one end of the belt conveyor system 10 in the region of the transfer
station U is thus
also arranged above the desired filling height hv in the region of the anchor
point Al or in the
region of the transfer station U. An actuator 20 for the deflection roller 19
is also indicated in
- 5 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
Fig. 3. It is also indicated that support rollers 21 can also be arranged in
the region of the
transfer station U, for example on a support pole 5 in order to guide a
conveyor belt 16 in a
targeted manner, for example in a section horizontally, in order to facilitate
the handling of
the conveyed material at the transfer station U.
Of course, the belt conveyor system 10 could also extend beyond the anchor
point Al, de-
pending on the arrangement of the transfer station U or the topology of the
environment. In
this case, for example, corresponding guide elements, also arranged in a
stationary manner,
on which the support rollers 15', 15" of the conveyor belt 16 roll, could also
be arranged in
the region of the transfer station U. For this purpose, a suitable transfer,
known per se, of the
support rollers 15', 15" of the conveyor belt 16 from the guide elements 13',
13", 14', 14" of
the conveying device 10 to the guide elements in the region of the transfer
station U could be
provided.
In the case of a reversible aerial tramway as the conveying device 10, the
transfer station U
can be provided, for example, in a cableway station into which the material
bucket enters.
The transfer station U, and also the anchor point Al at the end of the
conveying device 10 in
the region of the transfer station U, can, however, also be provided away from
the actual hol-
low 1. In this case, the conveying device 10 can also extend further beyond
the region of the
hollow 1. A configuration is therefore also conceivable in which the anchor
points Al, A2 are
provided in the region of the hollow 1, but the conveying device 10 extends
beyond an an-
chor point Al.
The conveying length IF of the conveying device 10 extending along the at
least one track
rope 4 between the two support points SP1, SP2 is shorter according to the
invention than
the track rope length IT between the two support points SP1, SP2. The
conveying length IF of
the conveying device 10 between the two support points SP1, SP2 is preferably
in the range
of 20 to 80% of the track rope length IT between the two support points SP1,
SP2.
In Fig. 4, the other end of the conveying device 10 suspended from the track
rope 4 is
shown. Since the track rope length IT between the two support points SP1, 5P2
is longer
than the conveying length IF, this other end of the conveying device 10 ends
between the two
support points SP1, 5P2, preferably in a region of the hollow base 2 that is
currently being
backfilled or mined. In a possible advantageous embodiment, the conveying
device 10 ends
in the region of the maximum sag of the at least one track rope 4.
The deflection roller 22 at this end of the belt conveyor system 10 is also
arranged sus-
pended from the track ropes 4. For this purpose, a suitable load-bearing
structure 23 for the
deflection roller 22 can be provided on the at least one track rope 4. The
track rope 4 ex-
tends beyond the end of the belt conveyor system 10 to the support point 5P2
and anchor
point A2, which can coincide (as in Fig. 1). The conveyed material 6 conveyed
with the
- 6 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
conveying device 10 into the hollow 1 is deposited on the hollow base 2 in the
region of the
end of the conveying device 10, for example in the form of a conical pile 24,
as in the draw-
ings. From there, the conveyed material 6 can be distributed on the hollow
base 2, for exam-
ple by means of further belt conveyor systems, an excavator, a bulldozer, or
the like.
To fill a hollow 1 with conveyed material 6, the following procedure should
now be followed.
At the beginning of filling, the track rope 4 is in the lower tensioning
position S2, i.e. the track
rope 4 is so long that it sags sufficiently far to the hollow base 2, wherein
it should of course
be avoided that the conveying device 10 suspended from the track rope 4
touches the hollow
base 2. The conveying device 10 is preferably located a few meters or a few
tens of meters
above the hollow base 2. Conveyed material 6 is conveyed with the conveying
device 10 into
the hollow 1 and distributed there on the hollow base 2. This increases the
level of the hollow
base 2. If the distance between the conveying device 10 and the hollow base 2
gets too
small, the track rope 4 is pulled at at least one of the anchor points Al, A2
in order to shorten
the track rope length IT between the support points SP1, SP2. When this
happens can be
freely selected and also depends on the distribution system of the conveyed
material 6 in the
hollow 1. Thereby, the track rope 4 with the conveying device 10 attached
thereto moves up-
wards at the same time. This is repeated until the hollow 1 is completely
filled and the track
rope 4 is in the upper tensioning position S1 (Fig. 1). Thereafter, the track
rope 4 and the
conveying device 10 can also be dismantled if necessary.
It is advantageous if the track rope 4 is pulled at the anchor point A2
opposite the conveying
device 10 (in Fig. 1). In this case, the conveying device 10 simply moves
upwards without
having to alter anything in the suspension of the conveying device 10 on the
at least one
track rope 4. Since the track rope length IT between the two support points
SP1, SP2 is short-
ened, only the end of the conveying device 10 lying in the region of the
hollow 1 moves in the
direction of the anchor point A2.
However, it is also possible to pull the track rope 4 at the anchor point Al
(in Fig. 1) on the
side of the conveying device 10. In this case, however, the suspension of the
conveying de-
vice 10 would usually also have to be adjusted (provided that it is not
suspended in a floating
manner), since the suspension points of the conveying device 10 on the track
rope 4 would
also be displaced with the track rope 4 in the direction of the anchor point
Al.
However, it is also possible to pull the track rope 4 at both anchor points
Al, A2 at the same
time.
In the case of mining, the process is of course exactly the reverse. It begins
in the upper ten-
sioning position S1 and the extracted material is conveyed away from the
hollow base 2 with
the conveying device 10. If the distance between the conveying device 10 and
the hollow
base 2 gets too great, the track rope 4 is slackened at at least one anchor
point Al, A2 in
- 7 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
order to extend the track rope length IT. When this happens can be freely
selected and also
depends on the mine plan in the hollow 1. Thereby, the track rope 4 with the
conveying de-
vice 10 attached thereto moves downwards. This is repeated until the mining is
finished.
Here, too, the adjustment of the track rope length IT can take place at each
of the anchor
points Al, A2 or at both at the same time.
The conveying length IF does not have to be altered, nor does the position of
the anchor
points Al, A2 or the support points SP1, SP2, which considerably simplifies
the realization of
the backfilling or mining. As a result of the tensioning or slackening of the
track rope 4 during
this process, only the end of the conveying device 10 displaces slightly to
and fro in the re-
of the hollow base 2, but this is irrelevant for the realization of the
backfilling or mining.
It is also evident from this that the conveying device 10 suspended from the
at least one
track rope 4 can also be designed differently than described with reference to
the specific
embodiment, for example with support rollers on which the conveyor belt is
supported or with
an reversible aerial tramway, since this is irrelevant to the invention.
The at least one track rope 4 is preferably fixedly fixed at one of the two
anchor points Al,
A2, with the result that the track rope length IT is altered at the other
anchor point Al, A2.
This simplifies the design and handling of the system. But it is of course
conceivable to make
the track rope length IT of the track rope 4 alterable at both anchor points
Al, A2.
In Fig. 5, a particularly advantageous embodiment for filling in the region of
the hollow base 2
is shown. In the region of the end of the conveying device 10 in the hollow 1,
a distribution
conveying device 25 is arranged suspended from the at least one track rope 4.
The convey-
ing device 10 conveys the conveyed material 6 onto the distribution conveying
device 25 and
is conveyed from there into the hollow 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the
distribution con-
veying device 25 is designed as a distribution belt conveyor system, other
configurations also
being conceivable.
In the embodiment of the distribution conveying device 25 according to Fig. 5
as a distribu-
tion belt conveyor system, the distribution conveying device 25 has two
deflection rollers 26,
27 around which an endless distribution conveyor belt 28 revolves. At least
one deflection
roller 26, 27 is driven by a drive 29. In this example, the distribution
conveying device 25 is
designed with support rollers 30 on which the conveying run of the
distribution conveyor belt
28 is supported. For the support rollers 30, load-bearing structures 31 are
provided, which
are arranged on the at least one track rope 4. Corresponding load-bearing
structures 32,
which are also arranged on the track rope 4, are also provided for the
deflection rollers 26,
27. The distribution conveying device 25 could, however, be designed just like
the conveying
device 10, i.e. with support rollers 15', 15", which are arranged distributed
along the length of
the distribution conveyor belt 28, and with guide elements 13', 13", 14', 14",
which are
- 8 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
arranged suspended from the at least one track rope 4, preferably on
corresponding sus-
pended load-bearing structures.
Of course, a common load-bearing structure could also be provided for the
distribution con-
veying device 25, suspended from the track rope 4, on which the components
required for
the distribution conveying device 25 are arranged.
The distribution conveying device 25 in the form of a distribution belt
conveyor system prefer-
ably extends along the track rope 4 in both directions from the end of the
conveying device
in the hollow 1 and below the conveying device 10. The conveying device 10
conveys the
conveyed material 6 onto the distribution conveying device 25 and is conveyed
from there
10 .. into the hollow 1. By changing the direction of rotation of the drive
29, the distribution belt
conveyor system can convey in both directions (as indicated in Fig. 5 by the
double arrow).
In this way, two conical piles 24 can be heaped up onto the hollow base 2 with
conveying
material 6, which of course can facilitate and accelerate the filling process.
For example, one
conical pile can be formed while the other is being spread.
One or more unloading points located between the two ends of the distribution
conveying de-
vice 25 could also be provided on the distribution conveying device 25, for
example in order
to form further conical piles 24, or to deposit the conveyed material 6 at
other locations.
Likewise, the distribution conveying device 25 can only convey in one
direction. In order to
still be able in such an embodiment, or in other embodiments, to deposit the
conveyed mate-
rial at two points, for example two conical piles 24 as shown in Fig. 5, a
switching chute can
also be arranged between the conveying device 10 and the distribution
conveying device 25,
which either conveys the conveyed material 6 from the conveying device 10 onto
the distribu-
tion conveying device 25, or from the conveying device 10 next to the
distribution conveying
device 25 directly onto the hollow base 2. In the latter case, the
distribution conveying device
25 can also stand still. The switching chute could be arranged suspended from
the at least
one track rope 4 or also on a load-bearing structure of the conveying device
10 or the distri-
bution conveying device 25.
In the above preferred embodiments, suspended is understood to mean that the
at least one
track rope 4 is arranged at the very top and all other components, such as the
load-bearing
structure 11, 12, 31, 32, guide elements 13', 13", 14', 14", support rollers
and the distribution
belt conveyor system 25, are suspended therefrom. According to the invention,
suspended is
understood more broadly and also includes designs in which the track rope is
arranged in the
middle, i.e. certain components above and certain below the track rope 4, or
at the very bot-
tom, i.e. all components above the track rope 4.
An advantageous embodiment of an anchor point Al, A2 with a rope adjustment
device 46 is
explained with Fig. 6. In this embodiment, six track ropes 4 are provided, the
following
- 9 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
statements naturally being valid for any number of track ropes 4. At the ends
of the track
ropes 4, a first holding device 40 of the rope adjustment device 46 is
fastened to the track
ropes 4, for example via a clamp connection. These first holding devices 40
are supported on
a first cross-member 41 through which the track ropes 4 are passed. The first
holding de-
vices 40 together with the first cross-member 41 must therefore support the
entire weight of
the track ropes 40, the conveying device 10 arranged thereon, and the weight
of the con-
veyed material 6 being conveyed. At a certain distance (in the direction of
the other anchor
point Al) from the first holding devices 40, second holding devices 43 are
provided on the
track ropes 4, which can be designed in the same way as the first holding
devices 40. Fur-
l() thermore, a second cross-member 42, through which the track ropes 4 are
passed, is ar-
ranged in a stationary manner, on which the second holding devices 43 can be
supported.
The first cross-member 41 is arranged displaceably in the longitudinal
direction of the track
ropes 4 by means of an actuator. For this purpose, a linear actuator 44, for
example a hy-
draulic, pneumatic or electric actuator, which acts on the first cross-member
41, is arranged
on a supporting element 45 of the anchor point A2. Such a linear actuator 44
is preferably
provided on both sides of the track ropes 4. With the linear actuator 44, the
cross-member 41
can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the track ropes 4.
In order to pull the track rope 4 upwards, the procedure according to Fig. 6
can be carried out
as follows. The holding devices 40 at the ends of the track ropes 4 are
fastened to the track
ropes 4 and are supported on the first cross-member 41. The linear actuator 44
is fully re-
tracted. The linear actuator 44 is now actuated, with which the cross-member
41 is displaced
in the direction away from the opposite anchor point Al - the track rope
length IT is thus
shortened by the stroke of the linear actuator 44. For safety reasons, the
second holding de-
vices 43 can also be fastened to the track ropes 4, which are thus also
displaced with the
track rope 4. When the linear actuator 44 is extended, these second holding
devices 43 are
released from the track ropes 4 and displaced to the second cross-member 42.
This can be
done automatically or manually. If the second holding devices 43 are released
from the track
ropes 4 when the track ropes 4 are pulled, then under certain circumstances it
is also possi-
ble to dispense with displacing the holding devices 43 to the second cross-
member 42. The
second holding devices 43, that abut the second cross-member 42, are fastened
to the track
ropes 4 (manually or automatically), with which the track ropes 4 are now
supported via the
second holding devices 43 and the second cross-member 42. The linear actuator
44 can
now be retracted again, with the result that the first cross-member 41 is
displaced again in
the direction of the opposite anchor point Al. The first holding devices 40
can then be re-
leased from the track ropes 4 and displaced in the direction of the first
cross-member 41 and
fastened again to the track ropes 4 (manually or automatically). This can of
course be re-
peated until the desired shortening of the track rope length IT has been
achieved.
- 10 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
CA 03105984 2021-01-08
It is of course also conceivable to dispense with the second cross-member 42
and the sec-
ond holding devices 43. In this case, another suitable holding device could be
provided for
holding the track rope 4 during the adjustment of the first holding devices
40.
Of course, other configurations of the anchor point Al, A2 and/or the rope
adjustment device
46 for altering the track rope length IT are also conceivable. Another option
for a rope adjust-
ment device 46 would be, for example, a rope winch for a track rope 4 with a
latch.
To extend the track rope length IT, the process would essentially proceed in
reverse order. In
this case, the linear actuator 44 could normally be extended and retracted to
lengthen the
track rope length IT. In order that the linear actuator 44 does not always
have to be activated,
a releasable latching of the first cross-member 41 could also be provided in
the position of
the extended linear actuator 44. Alternatively, the linear actuator 44 could
also be arranged
differently or a different actuator could be provided.
- 11 -
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-01-08
