Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CARRIAGELESS STOCKPILING CONVEYOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to equipment for stockpiling bulk material;
specifically, a cost-
effective apparatus that is able to "climb" the stockpile as it is being
formed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A stockpile is a pile or storage location for bulk materials, forming part of
the bulk material
handling process. The stockpile is normally created by a stockpiling conveyor
(or stacker).
Stockpiles are normally stacked in stockyards in refineries, ports and mine
sites.
As can be seen in Figure 1, a traditional stockpiling conveyor (10) utilizes
an undercarriage
frame (12) or fixed structural supports having an extendable support (14) to
raise the
conveyor to desired height and lay the stockpile (16) below.
Stockpiling conveyors can also travel on a rail between stockpiles in the
stockyard. This
allows it to typically move in at least two directions: horizontally along the
rail and vertically
by luffing (raising and lowering) its boom. Luffing of the boom minimises dust
by reducing
the distance that material such as coal needs to fall to the top of the
stockpile. The boom is
luffed upwards as the height of the stockpile increases. Some stockpiling
conveyors can rotate
the boom. This allows a single stockpiling conveyor to form two stockpiles,
one on either side
of the conveyor.
U.S. Patent No. 6,126,738 an inclined conveyor is shown that may be inclined
at a climb
angle B of about 22 degrees with respect to the ground. The inclined conveyor
is pivoted on a
support at a first end, near the horizontal conveyor. A movable frame with a
support tower is
provided for support for elevating or inclining the inclined conveyor. The wet
mixture is
dropped from height to the base surface to form one or more conical piles. In
the embodiment
the radial stacker is preferably stepped through a horizontal arc to form
multiple overlapping
piles.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
Japanese Patent Application No. JP2010075798A discloses a self-travelling
processing
machine. The self-traveling machine comprises of a processing unit for
processing matters, a
discharge conveyor that transports objects and discharges them, a plurality of
non-contact
type sensors installed in the discharge conveyor. The sensors are used to
measure height at
each different measuring point of a slope on the same side as the heap. The
plurality of
sensors help calculate the height and angle of repose and the vertex. The peak
position is used
to calculate the volume of the processing operation.
There still remains a need for a more cost-effective apparatus, one that is
less expensive and
more portable. There also remains a need for a stockpiling conveyor which can
create large
stockpiles within a smaller staging area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a design with no undercarriage. It utilizes the
stockpile of
material it has already deposited as a support and climbs (walks) on top of
that stockpile to
raise itself and deposit more stockpile. In this regard, a hydraulic ram at
the distribution end
operates in conjunction with the support to jack the support in an incremental
ratcheting
fashion as the stockpile gets higher.
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for creating a stockpile of
bulk material, the
apparatus comprising a conveyor portion having a feed end and a distribution
end; a stabilizer
at the feed end of the conveyor for temporarily fixing the conveyor portion to
the ground,
creating an angle between the conveyor portion and the ground; and a support
at the
distribution end of the conveyor portion; wherein the support includes a
primary hydraulic
cylinder having a base portion connected to the support and an end portion
which extends and
retracts in a longitudinal direction to alter the angle between the conveyor
portion and the
ground; and a secondary hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to the
support and the
other end connected to the primary hydraulic cylinder, where the secondary
hydraulic
cylinder extends and retracts in a lateral direction, thus pivoting the
primary hydraulic
cylinder against the support.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
In one embodiment, the primary hydraulic cylinder extends and retracts in a
longitudinal
direction until the angle between the conveyor portion and the ground reaches
a maximum of
18 to 20 .
As a further option, the conveyor portion may include a cleated belt allowing
for the angle
between the conveyor and the ground to reach approximately 25 .
Preferably, the stabilizer includes at least one outrigger for translatable
movement of the feed
end of the conveyor in the lateral direction of the secondary hydraulic
cylinder. This allows
the stockpiling conveyor to be used to make rows of deposited material, not
just conical piles,
which more efficiently utilizes the stockpile area.
In one embodiment the conveyor portion is foldable, allowing the apparatus to
be
containerized for ease of transport. Alternatively to being containerized, the
conveyor portion
may include a removeable or retractable wheel assembly, allowing for the
apparatus to be
towed.
The present invention is also directed to a method of creating a stockpile of
bulk material, the
method including the steps of:
a. feeding the bulk material into a first end of a conveyor portion, the bulk
material then travels along a length of the conveyor portion and off of a
second
end of the conveyor portion, which then creates the stockpile;
b. activating a ratcheting cylinder having a base portion connected to the
conveyor portion, and a foot portion which extends and retracts in a
longitudinal direction;
c. raising the second end of the conveyor portion in a ratcheting fashion
with the
foot portion acting against the stockpile;
d. supporting the conveyor portion against the stockpile with a support, the
support being the connection means between the ratcheting cylinder and the
conveyor portion;
e. repeating steps b-d until a desired stockpile height is reached;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
f. pivoting the ratcheting cylinder such that the extension of the foot
portion
translates the second end of the conveyor portion laterally relative to the
stockpile;
g. retracting the foot portion to lower the support down one side of the
stockpile;
and
h. repeating steps f-g until the support rests upon the ground at the base of
the
stockpile.
The inventive stockpiling conveyor is simpler and less expensive to make than
a traditional
stockpiling conveyor with an undercarriage. Smaller hydraulic ram(s) are(is)
required. The
present invention also makes for a smaller staging area as room for the
undercarriage is
unnecessary as the stockpile can be distributed closer to the tail (feed) end.
Furthermore, the
inventive stockpiling conveyor can be used to make rows of deposited material,
not just
conical piles, which more efficiently utilizes the stockpile area.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a traditional stockpiling conveyor with an undercarriage.
Figure 2 shows the stockpiling conveyor of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows the stockpiling conveyor of the present invention as it starts
to create a conical
stockpile.
Figure 4 shows the conveyor of Figure 3, after extending through the stockpile
material.
Figure 5 shows the conveyor of Figure 4, as the conical stockpile grows
larger.
Figure 6 shows the conveyor of the present invention at its maximum conveying
angle.
Figure 7 shows an end view of the stockpiling conveyor of the present
invention.
Figure 8 shows the present invention including optional elements.
Figure 9 shows the invention in a folded configuration.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Figures 2-6 show the stockpiling conveyor apparatus 20 of the present
invention. It features a
conveyor portion 22 having a feed end 24 and a distribution end 26. Stability
at the feed end
24 is provided by a stabilizer 28. This stabilizer 28 can be in the form of a
large ground plate
or bar, which allows for pivoting and incline movement of the conveyor portion
22, but
prevents translation or twisting movement. At the distribution end 26 of the
conveyor portion
22 is a support 30, which initially rests upon the ground 50.
As can best be seen in Figure 7, the support 30 includes a primary hydraulic
cylinder 32 and a
secondary hydraulic cylinder 36. The primary hydraulic cylinder 32 is
connected to the
support 30 at a base portion 36. An end portion 38 of the primary hydraulic
cylinder 32 is able
to extend and retract in longitudinal direction A.
The secondary hydraulic cylinder 36 is connected at one end to the support 30,
with the other
end being connected near the middle of the primary hydraulic cylinder 32.
Therefore, as
shown in Figure 7, as the secondary hydraulic cylinder 36 extends and
retracts, the primary
hydraulic cylinder 32 pivots against the support 30 in direction B.
In use, the stockpiling operation would start with the stockpiling conveyor
apparatus 20 in its
lowest position, with the support 30 resting against the ground (Figure 2).
The deposition of
the material creates a conical stockpile 40 at the distribution end 26 of the
conveyor portion
22. As the material stockpile raises up to maximum height under the conveyor
apparatus 20,
the stockpile 40 starts to bury the support 30 under the material (Figure 3).
The distribution end 26 is then raised in a ratcheting fashion by contracting
the primary
hydraulic cylinder 32 and then extending it.
During contraction, the primary hydraulic cylinder end portion 38 pulls
through the stockpile
material, with the support 30 acting against the stockpile.
During subsequent extension, the primary hydraulic cylinder end portion 38
acts against the
stockpile material, raising the support 30, thus ratcheting the distribution
end 26 higher atop
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
the stockpile 40 it has already created (Figure 4). Figure 7 shows direction A
of the movement
of the primary hydraulic cylinder end portion 38. This increases the angle (a)
between the
conveyor portion 22 and the ground 50, giving the equipment more height to
deposit further
material above the stockpile 40.
The contraction and extension motion of the primary hydraulic cylinder end
portion 38 in
direction A are repeated until the angle (a) reaches its maximum (as seen in
Figures 5-6). This
maximum angle (a) is typically around 18 to 20 , although if a cleated belt
is used on the
conveyor portion 22, the maximum of the angle (a) could be up to approximately
25 ,
depending on the type of bulk material.
As shown in Figure 7, once the maximum height of the stockpile 40 is achieved,
the
secondary hydraulic cylinder 34 extends, pivoting the primary hydraulic
cylinder 32 along
direction B, thus pushing the distribution end 26 of the conveyor portion
laterally. This
lateral/translational movement of the distribution end 26 lowers the support
30 down the side
of the stockpile 40. As the primary hydraulic cylinder end portion 38
continues to extend and
retract in a lateral direction, the conveyor apparatus is able to slowly climb
or "step" down the
side of the conical stockpile 40.
In one embodiment, the stabilizer 28 at the feed end 24 of the conveyor
portion 22 includes
elements such as outriggers (not shown), which enable translational movement
of the feed end
24 of the conveyor portion 22. The translational movement of the feed end 24,
combined with
the above-mentioned translational movement of the support 30 at the
distribution end 26,
allows for the entire stockpiling conveyor apparatus 20 to move in a lateral
direction. After
repeated operations, this results in a row of stockpile material, rather than
a single conical
pile.
Figures 8 and 9 show the present invention including multiple optional
elements.
In one embodiment, where the conveyor apparatus 20 is foldable for ease of
transport, the
conveyor portion 22 includes a hinge 60 partway along its length. A locking
bolt 62 is
engaged during operation of the conveyor apparatus 20, and is removed to allow
the conveyor
portion 22 to be folded over. An additional locking bolt 62' can be located at
the connection
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
point of the conveyor portion 22 and the support 30. When the stockpiling
conveyor apparatus
20 is not operational, one could remove the locking bolt 62', allowing the
support 30 to be
pivoted for transport. Figure 9 shows the conveyor apparatus 20 in a folded
position with the
conveyor portion 22 folded over, and the support 30 pivoted for transport.
Although a locking
bolt 62, 62' is shown in the Figures, any type of locking/un-locking mechanism
could be used
in a similar manner. Once in the folded position, the conveyor apparatus 20 is
easily
containerized for transport.
Alternatively to containerizing the folded apparatus, the folded apparatus
could be towed
when in a folded position. As shown in Figure 8, the stockpiling conveyor
apparatus 22 may
also include a removeable or retractable wheel assembly 64. This wheel
assembly 64 would
be removed or retracted during operation of the conveyor apparatus 20, but
could then be
attached or extended, allowing for the apparatus to be towed.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 ¨ traditional stockpiling conveyor
12 ¨ undercarriage frame
14¨ extendable support
16¨ stockpile
¨ stockpiling conveyor apparatus
20 22 ¨ conveyor portion
24¨ feed end
26¨ distribution end
28 ¨ stabilizer
30¨ support
32 ¨ primary hydraulic cylinder
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
34¨ secondary hydraulic cylinder
36 ¨ primary hydraulic cylinder base portion
38¨ primary hydraulic cylinder end portion
40 ¨ conical stockpile
50 ¨ ground
60 ¨ hinge
62 ¨ locking bolt
62' ¨ locking bolt
64¨ wheel assembly
A ¨ longitudinal extending direction
B ¨ pivoting direction
a ¨ angle between the conveyor portion and the ground
20
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Date Recue/Date Received 2022-09-29
