AU2019253878A1

AU2019253878A1 - Adjustable Chute

Info

Publication number: AU2019253878A1
Application number: AU2019253878A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bruno Ruggiero
Original assignee: Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-12
Filing date: 2019-10-24
Publication date: 2020-07-02
Also published as: ZA201907241B

Abstract

5 An adjustable chute 10 for a conveyor system is described. The chute 10 comprises side walls 12 for directing material in a downwards direction towards an elongate discharge slot 14 in a lower portion 16 of the chute 10. 10 The chute 10 also comprises adjustable first and second elongate discharge slot side panels 20a and 20b movable to widen or narrow the discharge slot whereby, in use, the trajectory of material exiting the discharge slot can be controlled. Adjustment of the discharge slot 14 enables the material to be directed to load a conveyor belt in such a manner that mis-tracking is 15 minimised or eliminated. Drawing recommended to accompany Abstract: Figure 3 3002a s24 332 FIGURE 4

Description

30 2a

s24

332

FIGURE 4

ORIGINAL AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Invention title:

"ADJUSTABLE CHUTE"

Applicant:

Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd

Associated Provisional Application No.: 2018904729

The following statement is a full description of the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:

"ADJUSTABLE CHUTE"

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable chute and relates particularly, though not exclusively, to an adjustable loading boot for a conveyor transfer system.

Background to the Invention

In conveying systems, the manner in which the material is presented and loaded onto a conveyor is critical to ensure that no mis-tracking (belt drift) of the conveyor occurs. Despite significant advances in modelling techniques for conveyor transfers, including DEM modelling, scale modelling, etc., problems with conveyor loading and consequently conveyor mis-tracking persist.

There are numerous types of conveyor loading or transfer systems: inline, right angle and obtuse (i.e. any angle other than inline or right angle). For troughed idler profiles, the control of the material trajectory from the upstream conveyor is paramount in controlling the loading or transfer of material onto the downstream conveyor. Mis-tracking occurs when the material loading is biased across the width of the conveyor and differential loading occurs on the wing idlers. This creates an unbalanced force across the conveyor, leading to mis-tracking of the conveyor belt. The problem is exacerbated as the troughing angle of the idler set increases. Furthermore, steeper troughing angles are more likely to be used for larger plants as the capacity of a conveyor increases as the troughing angle increases, all other parameters being equal.

Material is discharged onto the downstream conveyor belt via a transfer chute. The lower section of the chute is known as the loading boot. Depending on the physical properties of the material being transferred, the loading boot may or may not include:

(i) Replaceable wear liners on the walls of the chute and/or boot. (ii) Microledges on the walls of the chute and/or boot, with replaceable wear liners on the edges of the microledges. (iii) Ledges on the walls of the chute and/or boot with replaceable wear liners on the edges of the ledges.

The loading boot will always include a discharge slot, through which the material discharges onto the downstream conveyor belt.

The present invention was developed with a view to providing an adjustable chute, whereby the trajectory of the material can be directed to load the conveyor belt in such a manner that mis-tracking is minimised or eliminated. Whilst the invention will be described with specific reference to an adjustable loading boot for a conveyor transfer system, it will be appreciated that it may have wider application to other kinds of transfer chutes for conveyer systems.

References to prior art in this specification are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not to be taken as an admission that such prior art is part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustable chute for a conveyor system, the chute comprising:

side walls for directing material in a downwards direction towards an elongate discharge slot in a lower portion of the chute; and,

adjustable first and second elongate discharge slot side panels movable to widen or narrow the discharge slot whereby, in use, the trajectory of material exiting the discharge slot can be controlled.

Advantageously each discharge slot side panel is also provided with a mechanical adjustor, each adjustor being mechanically coupled to a discharge slot side panel, and extending along the underside of the lower portion of the chute. Preferably each mechanical adjustor is one of a plurality of mechanical adjustors provided in connection with each discharge slot side panel. In a preferred embodiment the mechanical adjustors are in the form of threaded adjustment rods, each threaded adjustment rod comprising a threaded spindle received within a threaded tube, the threaded spindle extending to an outer edge of the chute.

Preferably the discharge slot side panels are each provided with wear liners mounted on an inner edge of each discharge slot side panel to protect the edges of the discharge slot from excessive wear.

In a preferred embodiment each discharge slot side panel comprises a right angle steel member of L-shaped cross-section comprising a first flat in which a plurality of slotted apertures are provided extending substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal edge of the discharge slot side panel. Preferably a corresponding plurality of fasteners are received in the slotted apertures to slidably mount the discharge slot side panel to an underside of the lower portion of the chute. Typically the right-angle steel member of L shaped cross-section comprises a second flat on which the wear liners are mounted in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to an edge of the discharge slot.

Advantageously the length of the discharge slot can also be adjusted. Preferably the chute further comprises a plurality of removable impact plates removably mounted in a lower portion of the chute and extending transversally across the discharge slot whereby, in use, the length of the discharge slot can be adjusted by adding or removing the impact plates. Typically each impact plate comprises a length of steel channel of C-shaped cross-section.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Likewise the word

"preferably" or variations such as "preferred", will be understood to imply that a stated integer or group of integers is desirable but not essential to the working of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The nature of the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment of an adjustable chute, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective, semi-transparent, view of a first embodiment of the adjustable chute according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section view through the line A-A of the adjustable chute shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable chute of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top perspective view of part of the inside of the lower portion of the adjustable chute of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the adjustable chute of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a section view through the line B-B of the adjustable chute shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the adjustable chute of Figure 1, mounted above a conveyor belt;

Figure 8 is bottom plan view of the adjustable chute of Figure 1 with a centre discharge and full length discharge slot;

Figure 9 is bottom plan view of the adjustable chute of Figure 1 with an offset discharge and full length discharge slot;

Figure 10 is bottom plan view of the adjustable chute of Figure 1 with a centre discharge and shortened discharge slot; and,

Figure 11 is bottom plan view of the adjustable chute of Figure 1 with an offset discharge and shortened discharge slot.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

A preferred embodiment of the adjustable chute 10 in accordance with the invention, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, in the form of an adjustable loading boot 10, comprises side walls 12 for directing material in a downwards direction towards an elongate discharge slot 14 in a lower portion 16 of the boot 10. As can be seen in Figure 7, the loading boot 10 typically forms a lower section of a transfer chute, used for discharging material onto a downstream conveyor belt 18. The adjustable loading boot further comprises adjustable first and second elongate discharge slot side panels 20a and 20b (Figure 3) movable to widen or narrow the discharge slot 14 whereby, in use, the trajectory of material exiting the discharge slot 14 can be controlled.

Advantageously, the discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b can be adjusted and set during commissioning, or as required, to suit the particular properties of an ore, or as conveying characteristics change, e.g. conveyor speed is modified to increase capacity. The width of the elongate discharge slot can also be adjusted to suit the particular characteristics of the conveyor belt, e.g. to avoid mis-tracking.

Preferably the discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b are each provided with wear liners 22 mounted on an inner edge of each discharge slot side panel to protect the edges of the discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b from excessive wear. In the illustrated embodiment each discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b comprises a right-angle steel member of L-shaped cross-section, as can be seen most clearly in Figures 3 and 6. Each right-angle steel member 20a, 20b comprises a first flat 24 in which a plurality of spaced apart, slotted apertures 26 are provided extending substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal edge of the discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b (see Figure 5). Preferably a corresponding plurality of fasteners 28 are received in the slotted apertures to slidably mount the discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b to an underside of the lower portion 16 of the chute 10. The fasteners 28 are preferably not fully tightened, but are sufficiently loose so that the first flat 24 can slidably move in the direction of the slotted apertures when a transverse, linear force is applied to the discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b.

Typically the right-angle steel member 20a, 20b of L-shaped cross-section comprises a second flat 30 on which the wear liners 22 are mounted in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to an edge of the discharge slot 14.

Advantageously each discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b is also provided with a mechanical adjustor 32 for adjusting the position of the discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b. The adjustor 32 extends along the underside of the lower portion 16 of the chute 10. Preferably the mechanical adjustor 32 is one of a plurality of mechanical adjustors 32 provided for each discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b. In this embodiment two mechanical adjustors 32 are provided for each discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b. The mechanical adjustors 32 are typically elongate, with one end mechanically coupled to the first flat 24 of one of the discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b, and the other end mechanically coupled to a mounting lug 34 provided on the outer edge of the loading boot 10, as can be seen most clearly in Figure 6. In another embodiment, the same L-shaped discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b can be mounted on the topside of the lower portion 16 of the chute, and adjusted via mechanical adjustors attached to the second flat 30, allowing a different form of liner to be used.

Advantageously the mechanical adjustors 32 are arranged so that adjustment of the discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b can occur without the need to enter the chute 10 or to remove the wear liners 22 to effect the adjustment. In the illustrated embodiment the mechanical adjustors are in the form of threaded adjustment rods 32, each threaded adjustment rod comprising a threaded spindle 36 received within a threaded tube 38, the threaded spindle 38 extending to an outer edge of the chute. The threaded tube 38 is rotatably supported in one of the mounting lugs 34. The threaded tube 38 can be rotated to effect adjustment of the mechanical adjustor 32, but itself remains fixed in position relative to the edge of the loading boot 10. However as the tube 38 is wound clockwise or anticlockwise it winds the threaded spindle 36 either towards or away from the edge of the loading boot 10. With this arrangement, each discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b of the loading boot 10 can be adjusted using the threaded adjustment rods 32, to wind the side panel 20a, 20b either in or out.

Advantageously the discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b can be adjusted independently of each other, thus enabling the impact point onto the conveyor below the discharge slot 14 to be easily set and controlled, so as to mitigate belt tracking issues. This means that if the desired impact point is off-centre, the discharge slot side panel 20a, 20b can be adjusted to be off centre. Figures 9 and 11 show the discharge slot side panel 20a, on one side of the discharge slot 14, positioned further away from a centre line of the discharge slot 14, compared to its opposite counterpart discharge slot side panel 20b, to produce an off-centre discharge flow. Figures 8 and 10 show both discharge slot side panels 20a, 20b positioned equidistant from the centre line, to produce a centralised discharge flow.

Preferably the chute 10 further comprises a plurality of removable impact plates 40, removably mounted on a lower portion 16 of the chute 10 and extending transversally across the discharge slot 14. In use, the length of the discharge slot 14 can be adjusted by adding or removing the impact plates 40 from a throat of the discharge slot 14. Typically each impact plate 40 comprises a length of steel channel of C-shaped cross-section, as can be seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 4.

The length of the discharge slot 14 can be adjusted by entering the chute 10 and manually removing or inserting the impact plates 40 to either lengthen or shorten the discharge slot. The impact plates 40 sit above the discharge slot. This feature is important when treating ores which feature variable handling characteristics, inasmuch as:

1. Sticky ores do not flow readily, build up and are susceptible to blockages, and hence are best accommodated with large discharge areas. This prevents build-up and promotes flow, albeit at the expense of wear.

2. Harder, free flowing and abrasive ores are less susceptible to blockages, and are best accommodated with rock-boxes, and ledges which promote the formation of rock-boxes, to mitigate wear by: • Eliminating direct impact on the chute. • Eliminating direct impact on the belt. • Imparting a velocity to the ore in the direction of the downstream conveyor, thus reducing the relative velocity between the ore and the conveyor belt, the primary cause of conveyor belt wear.

The ability to adjust the length, width and position of the discharge slot 14 enables the best discharge geometry to be optimised relatively easily via trial and error during commissioning, using these design features of the chute 10. This helps to eliminate the costly and time-consuming need to modify the chute via conventional means of cutting and welding.

The front of the loading boot is fairly conventional inasmuch as only the wear liner height can be adjusted to prevent overloading of the conveyor, leading to spillage.

Now that a preferred embodiment of the adjustable chute has been described in detail, it will be apparent that the described embodiment provides a number of advantages over the prior art, including the following:

(i) It enables the trajectory of the material to be directed to load the conveyor belt in such a manner that mis-tracking is minimised or eliminated. (ii) Adjustments can be made quickly and easily without the need to enter the chute or to remove the wear liners. (iii) The discharge slot side panels can be adjusted independently of each other, thus enabling the impact point onto the conveyor below the discharge slot to be easily set and controlled, so as to mitigate belt tracking issues. (iv) The length of the discharge slot can also be easily adjusted to accommodate ores with variable handling characteristic.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing embodiments, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts of the present invention. For example, the position, number and type of mechanical adjustors can be varied from that shown in the embodiment. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described.

Claims

The Claims defining the Invention are as follows:

1. An adjustable chute for a conveyor system, the chute comprising:

2. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 1, wherein each discharge slot side panel is also provided with a mechanical adjustor, each adjustor being mechanically coupled to a discharge slot side panel, and extending along the underside of the lower portion of the chute.

3. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 2, wherein each mechanical adjustor is one of a plurality of mechanical adjustors provided in connection with each discharge slot side panel.

4. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 3, wherein the mechanical adjustors are in the form of threaded adjustment rods, each threaded adjustment rod comprising a threaded spindle received within a threaded tube, the threaded spindle extending to an outer edge of the chute.

5. An adjustable chute as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge slot side panels are each provided with wear liners mounted on an inner edge of each discharge slot side panel to protect the edges of the discharge slot from excessive wear.

6. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 5, wherein each discharge slot side panel comprises a right-angle steel member of L-shaped cross-section comprising a first flat in which a plurality of slotted apertures are provided extending substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal edge of the discharge slot side panel.

7. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 6, wherein a corresponding plurality of fasteners are received in the slotted apertures to slidably mount the discharge slot side panel to an underside of the lower portion of the chute.

8. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 6, wherein the right-angle steel member of L-shaped cross-section comprises a second flat on which the wear liners are mounted in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to an edge of the discharge slot.

9. An adjustable chute as defined in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the discharge slot can also be adjusted.

10. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 9, wherein the chute further comprises a plurality of removable impact plates removably mounted in a lower portion of the chute and extending transversally across the discharge slot whereby, in use, the length of the discharge slot can be adjusted by adding or removing the impact plates.

11. An adjustable chute as defined in claim 10, wherein each impact plate comprises a length of steel channel of C-shaped cross-section.

Dated this 24th day of October 2019

Lycopodium Minerals Pty Ltd by its Patent Attorneys WRAYS