Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
SPECIFICArION
The present invention relates to a chain conveyor with a
chain band revolving around a conveyor frame, the chain band
consisting of a chain and conveyor elements connected to the
chain, the chain being guided by its upper stringer and lower
strinyer on the conveyor frame.
Chain conveyors of this type are well known (see for
instance DE-OS 29 26 798) and are used, for example, in
mining, particularly as face conveyor in a longwall mining
system for the conveying of coal. In such a situation the
chain conveyor follows the excavation progress by being
advanced by means of rear cylinders positioned transversely
to its conveyance direction. The chain conveyor is advanced
in the direction of travel only with its segment connected
through a 90 arc and extending into the conveyance path.
It is also well known (see DE-OS 30 46 025) for a chain
conveyor to be used as a mining roadway conveyor follo~ing
the advance of said roadway by being advanced in the
conveying direction, namely, along its longitudinal
direction. For advancement there is provided a guide sled
extending below the chain conveyor and being anchorable to
the roadway, having an advance drive in the form of a rack
and pinion. Such reverse drives with a support are very
costly, and are not suita~ole for chain conveyors passing
through curves.
It is also known (see DE-OS 12 90 108) to provide a
chain conveyor, which, in a room-and-pillar mining system~
can ~ollow the extraction machine around curves. For this
p~rpose, the chain conveyor is ~ormed in a curve manner, and
is towed by the e~traction apparatus. In view of the large
towing ~orces required, this apparently is only possible
using a very short chain conveyor. Furthermore, the above
mentioned patent publicatlon is devoid oE any suggestion of
how the chain conveyor should be supported and guided along
the curve during the towing process.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention ko
further develop the chain conveyor of the initially described
type, so that it can advance along its longitudinal direction
without -the aid of any separate advance driving arrangement,
or towing arrangement, even if it is a very long conveyor.
Beginning with a chain conveyor of the initially
described type, it is proposed by the present invention that
the chain band revolving in the lower stringer be pressed
against the floor in such a manner that the conveyor ~rame is
supported on the ~loor through the chain band revolving in
the lower stringer.
In the chain conveyor according to the present
invention, the chain band disposed in the lower stringer is
supported with its conveyor elements over its entire length
on the floor during reverse travel, so that the conveyor
frame slides forwardly in the longitudinal direction oE the
chain conveyor relative to the chain band lying on the
floorO ThuS, the chain conveyor is displaced by its own
force by means of its drives, so that separate advance drives
or towing means can be dispensed with.
The pressing of the chain band towards the Eloor can be
accomplished, for example, by the guides of the chain band in
the lower stringer being movable arld pressed downwardly. It
is, however, co~siderably simpler if the conveyor frame is
provided with lateral support elements which are adjustable
in height. l~hus, the support elements can lift the conveyor
frame when in their extended state so that the chain band
passing in the lower stringer is carried by the conveyor
frame~ By retracting the support elemen-ts the conveyor frame
is lowered so that the chain band passing on the lower
stringer is pressed against the floor. These support
elements permit the chain band guided in -the lower stringer
to be selectively lifted or to be put in contact with the
floor for the purpose of advancing the chain conveyor.
So as to be able to pass the chain conveyor advancing
under its own force -through curves, the conveyor frame is
advantageously assembled in a known manner from individual
segments, which are pivotally connected to one another in a
horizontal plane.
To guide the flexible chain conveyor around curves in a
horizontal plane, the chain ~and passing in the lower
stringer may be pressed against a guide track disposed on the
floor. Such a track consists of transportable segments
rigidly connected to one another which may be either straight
or curved. The guide track segments are set at the
respective forward ends of the chain conveyor to the already
laid track so that the respective advancing front erld of the
guidance frame is guided in the correct direction.
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The guide track advantageously incluc1es guide rods
and/or guide recesses for the chain band and/or Eor the
segments of the conveyor frame. These guide rods or guide
recesses and the parts of the chain band or -the conveyor
frame coacting therewith, are advantageously wedge-shaped in
cross section. Thus, the front end of the chain conveyor is
guided into the track even if the chain band and the
frontmost segment of the conveyor frame attemp-t to deviate
laterally from the track. Additionally, the fron-t segment of
the guide frame can be equipped with additional guide
elements, for example, in the ~orm of guide rolls, which are
supported laterally on the track.
An alternate embodiment of the chain conveyor without a
guide track provides, for the purpose of guiding the travel
of the chain conveyor, that there are provided between two
respective segments of the conveyor frame controllable
positioning members. By means of these positioning ~embers
the angle between two adjoining segments of the conveyor
frame is adjustable in a horizontal plane and is arbitrarily
fixed or set within the pivoting region. In this manner, it
is possible to impart to the chain conveyor in the
longitudinal direction and within its movability in the
horizontal plane, any desired travel.
So as to maintain travel of the chain conveyor, once set
with the aid of th~ positioning members even i~ the chain
conveyor advances along its longitudinal direction, the
positioning members are connected to a common remote control
system. Through this control system the posltioning
movements of the positioning members are interrelated in such
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a manner with the relative movement between the chain band
and the conveyor frame during advance of the chain conveyor,
that the chain conveyor moves even in the curved region along
the predetermined track.
Although the conveyor frame may ~ollow any started
travel oE the chain band within a longitudinal region without
any positioning members, it is sufficient in certain cases if
positioning members are provided in certain longitudinal
regions of the chain conveyor, for instance along a length
which is required for attaining a 90 arc. By this means, a
large number of positioning members can be dispensed with,
particularly in the case of very long chain conveyors.
In the case where control of the advancing device of the
chain conveyor can be accomplished in a short and visibly
controllable region, these few positioning members can be
controlled manually.
Advantageously, intermediate drives are incorporated in
the chain conveyor, in the longitudinal region of the
conveyor frame in a manner known, whose length does not
exceed two segments of the conveyor frame. Such drives are
spaced a distance from one another corresponding to the
smallest possible arc length of a 90 arc of the conveyor
frame. By ~his formation of the intermediate drives, the
horizontal guiding of the chain conveyor is nok substantially
impaired even in the region of the intermediate drives. Due
to the fact that the intermediate drives are disposed at very
short distances from one another, relatively low tensions
arise between khe individual drives in the chain band. This
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is important since large tensions arisiny in the chain band
particularly in the reyion of the arcs tend to change the
travel of the conveyance frame.
The present invention further provides that the drive
wheel of the intermediate drive engages both the upper
stringer as well as the lower stringer of the chain band.
The drive wheel also serves as a support roller for the chain
band in the lower stringer. Due to this, friction forces
arising during advance of the chain conveyor are reduced
between the chain band and the conveyance frame in the region
of the drives.
Support rollers can be associated with the lower
stringer of the conveyor frame for the same purp~se. ~y
means of such rollers the conveyor frame is supported on the
chain band, which in turn is supported on the floor. Such
support rollers for the lower stringer of the chain band are
relatively simple in construction, and result in a
considerable reduction of the frictional forces during
advance of the conveyor frame, as only the rolling fric~ion
between the chain band and the support rollers need be
overcomeO
Advanta~eousl~, the members of the chain band are formed
so as to be flat on that side facing the support rollers and
also to overlap one another in the longitwdinal direction to
such an extent that a smooth roller track is formed for the
support rollers. The support rollers of the conveyor frame
move easily and unhindered on this roller track since no
unevenness occurs therealony.
According to a preferred embodiment of the chain
conveyor of the present invention, the chain conveyor i5
implemented as a scraper chain conveyor, in which the
conve~or frame is implemented in a known manner as a supply
chute composed o~ chute segments and the conveyor elemen-ts of
the chain band a~e implemented as scraper elements.
So as to be able to transfer the conveyed goods at the
end of the conveyor chute from a chain scraper conveyor of
this type advancing along the longitudinal direction, the
conveyor frame, implemented as a conveyance chute, includes a
lifted discharge end which is shifted in parallel and is
connected to the supply chute through an S-shaped curve.
According to an alternate embodiment of the chain
conveyor of the present invention, the chain conveyor is
implemented as a plate-band wherein the conveyor elements are
formed in a known manner by plates overlapping one another
along the longitudinal direction.
The present invention will be described and understood
more readily when considered together with the embodiments
depicted in the acco~panying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a scraper chain conveyor
according to the present invention travelling in a
longitudinal section of the conveyance chute, and shaped in
the form of a curve;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment
of -the scraper chain conveyor according to the present
invention without a guide track;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional v:iew oE a second embodiment
of the scraper chain conveyor accoediny to the present
invention, incl~ding a gui~e track;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the guide track;
FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 3 but is a cross-sectional
view in the region of the frontmost chute segment,
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment
of the scraper chain conveyor according to the present
invention, including support rollers for the chain band;
~IG. 7 is a side view of the chain band of the scrpaer
chain conveyor of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the chain band of the scraper
chain conveyor of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the scraper chain
conveyor of FIG. 6, in the region of the intermediate drive;
FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of the scraper chain
conveyor of FIG. 9;
FIG. ll is a plan view of the lifted discharge end of
the scraper chain conveyor according to the present
invention; and
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the chain conveyor,
according to the present invention, implemented as a plate
band.
The chain conveyors, as seen in FIGS. 1-11, each include
a conveyor frame composed oE respective short segments, which
is implemented as a conveyor chute of a ccraper chain
conveyor, which is assembled from chute segments. In the
embodiment example o~ ~XGS. 1-5, the chute segments are
denoted by the reference numeral 1.
The chute segments 1 are pivotally connected with one
another in a horizontal plane, in such a way that the
conveyor chute can travel along narrow curves having an arc
radius of, for example, 4 m or less. The chute segments 1
include in the center on the upper side (upper stringer), and
in the center on the lower side (lower stringer) guides 2 for
a chain band 3. Chain band 3 consists of vertical chain
members 3a, horizontal connecting members 3b, and scraping
elements 3c serving as guide elements. Chain band 3 is
freely shiftable in a known manner (See ~E-OS 29 26 798) in
guides 2 of chute segments 1 along the longitudinal direction
of the conveyor chute, may be telescoped, and slidable in the
telescoped state. Intermediate drives 4 are provided at
uniform respective distances in the supply chute and are
shorter than two adjoiningly disposed chute segments 1 and
can therefore be tailored to the shape of the curves of the
supply chute. The distance between two intermediate drives
is great enough that the chute segments 1 lying theLebetween
can form a 90 arcO The intermediate drives 4 each include a
wheel 4a, ~hich engages the horizontal connecting members 3b
of the chain band 3 both in the upper stringer as well as in
the lower stringer.
Chute segments 1 are provided on each side ~ith
retractable support elements 5, which advantageously are
formed as double-acting hydraulic cylin~ers. The stroke of
support elements 5 is large enough that chute seyment 1 may
be lifted to such an extent ~rom the floor, in the case of
extension oE support elements 5, that chain band 3 is carried
without making contact with the floor (see FIG. 2) by guides
2 in the lower stringer. If, however, supporting elements S
are retracted (phantom lines in FIG. 2~, chain band 3 lies on
the floor, and is pressed towards the floor by the weight of
the conveyor chute. If, when support elements 5 are
retracted, drives 4 are switched on, the conveyance chute is
shifted on the chain band 3, which is supported on the floor,
along the longitudinal direction of -the scrapper chain
conveyor.
Guidance of the scraper chain conveyor along its
longitudinal direction during the reverse travel is
accomplished in the embodiment example of FIGS. 1 and 2 by
positioning cylinders 6 (see FI~. 1) disposed between
adjoining chute segments. Positioning cylinders 6 engage two
adjoining chute segements 1 and may arbitrarily shi~t and set
the angle subtended between these chute segments 1 within the
available pivoting region. Positioning members 6 are
advantageously formed as short hydraulic cylinders controlled
by a central control system 7 in the require~ manner. The
control system operates in such a manner that during
advancement of the scrapper chain conveyor, the positioning
movements of the positioning members 6 are so interrelated
with the relative movement of the chain band 3 and o~ the
conveyance chute that the scraper chain conveyor moves
snakewise along the region of the curves.
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As chute segments 1, in the longltudinal region of the
scraper chain conveyor fo~low the travel of the ch~in band 3
lying on, and supported by the floor, even without any
positioning members 6, it is sufficient under certain
circumstances to only provide the Erontmost segment of the
scraper chain conveyor with posi-tioning members 6, namely,
over a length which is sufficient for the formation of a 90
arc. In that case, the positioning members 6 can optionally
be controlled manually.
An alternate embodiment of the scraper chain conveyor is
shown in FIG. 3. This embodiment dispenses with positioning
members 6, and uses in lieu thereof a rigid guide track 8
disposed below the scraper chain conveyor. Guide track 8 is
composed of straight or curved segments which are easily
transportable and can be firmly assembled together. Guide
track 8 includes in the center thereof a guide rod 9, which
engages with complementary recesses 10 in the horizontal
connecting members or links 3b or in scraping elements 3c of
chain band 3. Furthermore, the guide track 8 is Eormed with
guide recesses 11 for support elements 5 of chute segments
1. Both guide rod 9 as well as guide recesses 10 are
wedge-shaped in cross section, so that they guide the guided
parts (chain bands 3 and frontmost chute segment 1)
automatically in the proper direction in the event they
should deviate laterally during their advancement. The
segments of guidance track 8 are each set to the already
displaced guide track ahead of the conveyor, so that it is
possible to guide the scraper chain conveyor in an arbitrary
manner by the use of straight or curved segments.
~ s seen in FIG. 5, the frontmost chute segment 1 can
additionally be provided with lateral guide elements in the
form of guide rolls 12, which abut guide track 8 laterally
and maintain the frontmost end chute segment 1 on guide track
$.
Chute segmen~ 20 shown in E~IG. 6 includes an upper floor
sheet metal 21, and a lower floor sheet metal 22. Floor
sheet metals 21 and 22 are connected into a box-shaped
structure by means of the profiled sidewalls 23 and 24.
Upper floor sheet metal 21 and the upper segments of
sidewalls 23 and 24 form a channel open thereabove through
which passes the upper stringer of a rotating chain band 25
with scraping elements 26 affixed thereto. Chain band 25
consists of vertical chain members 25a and horizontal chain
members 25b (see also FIGS. 7 and 8) wherein horizontal chain
members 25b are provided with lateral guide cheeks, which are
forcibly guided in guides 27 disposed on upper floor sheet
metal 21.
The lower floor sheet metal 22, and the lower segments
of the sidewalls 23 and 24 form a channel open therebelow
within which is guided the lower stringer of the rotating
chain band 25 with the scraping elements 26 affixed thereto.
For its guidance, lower floor sheet metal 22 ;ncludes guides
27 on its lower side, which correspond to the guides 27 on
the upper side of the upper floor sheet metal.
Hydraulically adjustable support elements 28 are
disposed on the lower edges of sidewalls 23 and 24. The
vertical stroke path of support elements 28 is such that
~
chain band 25 does not come in contact with the floor when
support elements 28 are extended and is guid~d in suspension
by guides 27. When support elements 28 are retracted,
however, chain band 25 lies on the floor and carries the
entire chute element 20. Thus positioned, during a relative
motion between chain band 25 and chute element 20 along the
longitudinal direction of the conveying channel, chute
element 20 and consequently the conveying channels are
shifted.
In order to reduce the frictional forces arising during
this displacement, there are supported on lower floor sheet
metal 22 support rollers 29, which project throuyh
corresponding openings in floor sheet metal 22, and support
chute segment 20 and therewith the chute channel during
advancement on chain band 25. Support rollers 29 are
supported on a stationary axle 30, which in turn is affixed
to consoles 31, which in turn are connected to the upper side
of ~loor sheet metal 22.
So that support rollers 29, during their support on
chain band 25, have smooth and undisturbed travelling
surfaces, the chain members 25a and 25b are formed so as to
be Elat on the respective sides facing support rollers 29,
and overlap one another along the longitudinal direction of
chain band 25 in such a manner that the through-going smooth
roll tracks result for -the supporting rollers 2g (see FIGS. 7
and 8).
The intermediate drive illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10
corresponds in its basic construction substantially to a
;"aS ~
normal chute segment having the floor sheet metals 2l and 22,
the sidewalls 23 and 24, the guides 27 for chain band 25, and
support elements 28. Here, however, there is supported
between the floor sheet metals 21 and 22 a drive wheel 33
driven by a motor 32, which passes through openings in the
floor sheet metals 21 and 22, and engages chain band 25 both
in the upper stringer as well as in the lower stringer. This
drive wheel 33 also includes supporting surfaces for chain
band 25, when the latter lies on the floor because of the
retraction of the support elements 287 These supporting
surfaces serve as a support for the intermediate drive
advancing along the longitudinal direction of -the scraper
chain conveyor. In this manner, drive wheel 33 is
simultaneously formed as a support roller for the advancement
of the conveyor on chain band 25.
In FIG. 11, there is illustrated the discharge end A of
a scraper chain conveyor lifted from the floor. This
discharge end A extends parallel to the longitudinal region L
of the scraper chain conveyor, and is connected through an
S-curve S to the longitudinal region L of the scraper chain
conveyor. The discharge end A is optionally guided by means
of guide elements, for example, rollers or the like (not
illustrated in the drawing), on the stationary conveyor F for
accepting the supply goods from the movable scraper chain
conveyor.
The chain conveyor, according to FIG. 12 is Eormed as a
plate band with a box-shaped conveyor frame 41 wi-th chain
band 42 rotating therearound. Chain band 42 consists of a
chain 43 and plates 44 affixed thereto which serve as
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conveyance elements. Plates 44 are supported and guided in
guides 46 of the conveyor frame 41 through rollers 45
laterally attached thereto.
Laterally of the conveyor frame 41 there are disposed
extendable and retractable support elements 47, which in the
retracted state, as shown in F~G. 12, cause the chain band 42
to come in contact with the floor, and lif~ in their extended
state conveyor frame 41 to such an extent that chain band 42
travelling in the lower stringer is carried by conveyor frame
41. Conveyor frame 41 is provided in i~s interior with
additional support rollers 48, which support conveyor frame
41 during its advancement on chain band 42, which is
supported on the floor by plates 44~ so that during an
advancement of the conveyor frame 41, only frictional rolling
resistance has to be overcome.
It is understood that the foregoing general and detailed
descriptions are explanatory of the present invention and are
not to be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the
following claims.
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