AU744622B2

AU744622B2 - Quadrapod auger support

Info

Publication number: AU744622B2
Application number: AU23662/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ronald C. Deeter
Original assignee: Brydet Dev Corp
Current assignee: BRYDET DEVELOPMENT CORP
Priority date: 1997-05-28
Filing date: 1997-05-28
Publication date: 2002-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-28
Also published as: AU2366297A

Description

S F Ref: 381032

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: Invention Title: The following statement is a full performing it known to me/us:- Brydet Development Corp.

16867 State Route 83 South Coschocion Ohio 43812 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Ronald C. Deeter Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 35, St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Quadrapod Auger Support description of this invention, including the best method of c a a a c a a a a a [R:\LIBLL] 12277.doc:TCW Quadrapod Auger Support Background of the Invention and Summary of the Invention The present invention relates generally to a quadrapod auger support mechanism primarily as an improvement to an auger apparatus of the type that bores deep, laterally extending holes into minable material in the earth by an auger formed by a string of connected, helically vaned sections known in the industry as auger flights, and more particularly to an auger apparatus for the mining of coal and other minable materials.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a plurality of support legs mounted on a low friction bearing to be mounted on each auger flight in the string and is slightly larger in diameter than the helical fighting of the auger which results in the auger string being supported by the present invention rather than by the helical fighting of the auger flight and thus reducing frictional drag which is a major consumer of horse power.

Embodiments of the invention provide advantages when employed in auger mining machines in that three major requirements that consume horse power on an o 15 augering machine are horse power to convey, friction drag horse power to rotate the auger string, and remaining horse power to cut the minable materials. Embodiments of the present invention reduce the horse power necessary to rotate the auger string and production is increased and is more economical because these embodiments support the auger flights independently of the support provided by the helical flights of the auger flight in a string. Auger mining machines generally comprise an auger embodying a ooo cutting head of selected diameter connected to and rotatably driven by a string of end-connected, helically vaned auger sections known as auger flights, driven from the S. machine by being rotated and urged longitudinally of the auger. The cutting head penetrates the material being mined, and the material is transported rearwardly from the cutting head along the auger string by the vanes of the auger flights out of the hole cut by .the cutting head to a conveyor on the machine by which the material is removed.

As the cutting head is caused to penetrate into the hole, it is necessary to introduce additional auger flights into the string until the desired length of the auger string is reached to achieve the desired depth of the hole. As additional auger flights are introduced into the string the weight of each additional auger flight causes frictional drag based on the weight of the auger string and as each additional auger flight is added to the string, additional horse power is required to rotate the auger string because of the increased frictional drag. Embodiments of the present invention provide independent RA 1 support to each auger flight in the string reducing the frictional drag and increasing horse [R:\LIBLL] 1322.doc:caa:TCW power to rotate the auger string and allowing the mining operation to be more economical and profitable. In addition, the support provided by the present invention further reduces wear and tear on the auger flighting thus reducing maintenance and increasing the longevity of the life of the auger flight.

In a broad form the present invention provides an auger flight support adapted for use in an augering apparatus for rotating and advancing a cutting head driven longitudinally of the apparatus by a string of two-ended auger flights having auger flighting, said support being adapted to support at one end an auger flight with helical flighting, said support comprising: a bearing rotatably affixed to an auger drive shank at one end of an auger flight with two ends; a bearing house surrounding the bearing and adapted to accept a plurality of support legs extending radially from the bearing housing and the drive shank of the auger flight; a plurality of support legs extending radially from the bearing housing to a predetermined length; 0: a bearing seal disposed between the bearing housing and bearing.

The prior art discloses patents for augering machines and improvements to augering apparatus and some of the patents are listed as follows: U.S. Patent 1,729,211 J. L. Erisman Sept. 24, 1929 U.S. Patent 2,298,332 L. J. Applegate Oct. 13, 1942 U.S. Patent 3,012,371 A. C. Pawela Dec. 12, 1961 U.S. Patent 4,220,242 George L. K. Forsberg Sept. 2, 1980 U.S. Patent 4,364,469 Siegfried Rudolph Dec. 21, 1982 25 U.S. Patent 5,318,444 Danny S. Kuzub et al. June 7, 1994 U.S. Patent 1,729,211 issued to J. L. Erisman on September 24, 1929, pertains to S"an improvement to a screw conveyor to minimize destruction of bearings caused by material pile-up at the bearing points and further illustrates a support bracket mounted to the screw conveyor for support of the screw conveyor. The invention does not teach a plurality of support legs extending radially from the screw conveyor as provided by embbdiments of the present invention.

U.S. Patent 2,298,332 issued to L. J. Applegate on October 13, 1942, illustrates a grain removal auger which includes a ring mounted on the outboard end of the auger of larger diameter than the auger and prevents the auger from touching the ground. The invention is operable in a fixed position and does not teach of adding additional auger [R:\LIBLL]I 1322.doc:caa:TCW flights in a string and the horizontal movement of such string and further does not teach of a plurality of support legs radially extending from the auger flights as is provided in embodiments of the present invention.

U.S. Patent 3,012,371 issued to A. C. Pawela on December 12, 1961, illustrates a banker and sprayer for banking earth around a tree or plant which includes a shaft and screw contained within a fixed housing and supported by bearings at each end of the shaft and screw. This invention does not teach of the adding of additional auger flights end to end and the longitudinal movement of such auger flights and a plurality of support legs extending radially to support the auger flights as is provided in embodiments of the 1o present invention.

U.S. Patent 4,220,242 issued to George L. K. Forsberg on September 2, 1980, provides for a screw conveyor and includes at least one arm extending between the shaft and the drum of the invention wherein the arm encompasses paddles, shovels, sickles, buckets and the like for the purpose of avoiding a build-up of the materials being moved along the shaft and screw. The invention does not provide for a plurality of radially extending legs from a helically vaned auger flight to be moved longitudinally of the auger and to provide support for the auger flight and the adding of additional auger flights in a string as is provided in embodiments of the present invention.

U.S. Patent 4,364,469 issued to Siegfried Rudolph on December 21, 1982, provides for a screw conveyor assembly used in pumping of waste water and includes a 0:stationary cylindrical jacket with a screw conveyor mounted within the jacket and supported at the bottom end by an shaped lever to minimize bending and distortion of the jacket and screw. The invention does not teach of a plurality of supporting legs extending radially from a helically shaped auger flight or support of the auger flight as is provided in embodiments of the present invention.

U.S. Patent 5,318,444 issued to Danny S. Kuzub, et al. on June 7, 1994, provides for a grain storage unloading system which includes an auger within a discharge tube wherein the auger is supported by a hanger bearing which extends outwardly from a central sleeve which is mounted on a bushing. The fingers hold the auger away from the walls of the tube. Although the invention teaches the general idea of support by a plurality of radially extending fingers, the invention does not teach of radially extending support legs for helically shaped auger flights moving longitudinally to the auger in a string of such flights as is provided in embodiments of the present invention.

[R:\L1BLL]11322.doc:caa:TCW Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention in position on an auger flight.

Figure 2A is an end view of an embodiment of the present invention in position on an auger flight.

Figure 2B is a section view of an embodiment of the present invention along line A-A of Figure 2A.

Abstract of the Drawings 1 is the present invention; 2 is an auger flight; 3 is an auger drive shank; 4 is a bearing; is a bearing seal; 6 is a support leg; 15s 7 is a hearing housing; 8 is an auger tube; 9 is helical flighting.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Reference is now made to the drawings wherein an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in detail and wherein similar components bear the same reference numeral throughout the several views.

:Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention 1 in position on an auger flight 2. The auger drive shank 3, support leg 6, bearing housing 7, auger tube 8, and helical flighting 9 are further illustrated.

oo 25 Figure 2A shows an end view of an embodiment of the present invention 1 in position on an auger flight 2 and further illustrates support legs 6, bearing housing 7, auger drive shank 3, and auger flighting 9.

Figure 2B is a section view along line A-A from Figure 2A and illustrates an embodiment of the present invention 1, auger drive shank 3, bearing 4, bearing seal support legs 6, bearing housing 7, and auger tube 8.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to Figures 1 through 2A the preferred embodiment of the present Rinvention comprises a plurality of support legs extending radially from a bearing housing [R:\LIBLL]I 1322.doc:caa:TCW which surrounds a bearing rotatably affixed on an auger drive shank of an auger flight wherein the ideal number of support legs is four and the legs are of predetermined length slightly larger than the diameter of the helical flighting of the auger flight and wherein the support legs are affixed to a split bearing housing surrounding a split bearing and a split bearing seal is disposed between the bearing housing and bearing and wherein the preferred embodiment of the present invention is affixed rotatably to one end of a two ended helically shaped auger flight. The auger drive shank rotates freely within the bearing.

Although the invention has been described in preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

o* *0 o* [R:\LIBLL1 1322.doc:caa:TCW

Claims

1. An auger flight support adapted for use in an augering apparatus for rotating and advancing a cutting head driven longitudinally of the apparatus by a string of two-ended auger flights having auger flighting, said support being adapted to support at s one end an auger flight with helical flighting, said support comprising: a bearing rotatably affixed to an auger drive shank at one end of an auger flight with two ends; a bearing house surrounding the bearing and adapted to accept a plurality of support legs extending radially from the bearing housing and the drive shank of the auger flight; a plurality of support legs extending radially from the bearing housing to a predetermined length; a bearing seal disposed between the bearing housing and bearing.

2. The auger flight support of Claim 1 wherein the diameter formed by the 15 radial extension of the support legs is slightly larger than the diameter of the helical S. flighting of the auger flight.

3. The auger flight support of Claim 1 wherein the number of support legs is three.

4. The auger flight support of Claim 1 wherein the number of support legs S 20 is four.

5. An auger flight support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S. Dated 21 December, 2001 -Brydet Development Corp. 25 Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON N iOY- [R:\LIBLL] 1322.doc:caa:TCW