GB1565423A

GB1565423A - Scraper-chain assemblies for use in scraper-chain conveyors

Info

Publication number: GB1565423A
Application number: GB468377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
Current assignee: Gewerkschaft Eisenhutte Westfalia GmbH
Priority date: 1976-02-07
Filing date: 1977-02-04
Publication date: 1980-04-23
Also published as: DE2604792C2; DE2604792A1; PL108837B1; FR2340261B1; BE851169A; FR2340261A1

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN SCRAPER-CHAIN ASSEMBLIES FOR USE IN SCRAPER-CHAIN CONVEYORS (71) We, GEWERKSCHAFT EISENHÜTTE WESTFALIA, a body corporate organised and existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of 4670 Liinen, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to scraperchain assemblies for use in scraper-chain conveyors employed mainly in mining.

In general, scraper-chain assemblies are composed of a series of scrapers or flights detachably secured to one or more chains.

Various designs are known in the art.

In the case of assemblies utilizing a pair of chains with the scrapers mounted therebetween it is known from German patent specification 2 105 980 to weld luglike supports to the outer ends of the scrapers so that these supports project beneath horizontal links of the chains.

Hook-like parts then engage over the inner shanks of the horizontal links and separate connectors are used to clamp over the outer shanks of the links. Horizontal screws serve to secure the connectors and hence the chains to the scrapers and permit dis-assembly when desired.

In another similar construction described in German patent specification 1 921 747 separate connectors engage in lateral recesses in the scrapers and are secured thereto with vertical screws. The main disadvantage of these known constructions is that the connection of the scraper to the chains is only effected through the horizontal links and only parts of these links are supported. Consequently high wear can occur because the links are not clamped over as great a surface area as possible.

One other form of known construction which does not suffer from these disadvantages is described in German patent specification 2 160 027. In this construction, shaped grooved pockets for receiving the horizontal links are formed by the scrapers themselves and vertical screws clamp the complementary parts of the scraper together to engage on the horizontal links. This design provides adequate support for the chain links in question but the design is somewhat complicated and necessitates a special and hence more expensive scraper construction.

There is thus a need for an improved scraper assembly which provides adequate support fro the chain links yet needs comparatively simple modification to the basic scraper itself.

According to the present invention a scraper unit comprises a scraper and connectors for connecting the scraper between a pair of chains, the scraper being formed with a main body with end portions providing connection lugs and projections extending outwardly from the connection lugs relative to the main body and serving to locate beneath and support horizontal links of the chains during use and the connectors each being provided with a bifurcated portion with a recess for receiving an associated one of the connection lugs and a shaped pocket which locates over and mates with the horizontal links supported by the associated projection.

The pocket in the connectors can engage chain links to provide complete support.

The projections of the scraper can be formed integrally with the main body of the whole inner and outer contour of the the scraper by forging or casting and preferably the connection lugs and projections are reduced in relation to the main body.

It is convenient from the manufacturing point of view if the projections and end portions or lugs of each scraper have the same width. Preferably the connectors embrace over the chain links and are formed with external outer reinforced noses or the like for providing enhanced wear characteristics. The scraper, per se, need only be shaped at its ends to provide the lugs and the projections. The latter parts can be simple planar rod-like blocks and are not intended to be subjected to traction forces or wear. On the contrary, the shaped connectors are intended to absorb the traction forces and take the main wear. The connectors could thus be replaced more frequently than the scrapers themselves.

Normally, the connection lugs of the scraper and the bi-furcated portions of the associated connectors would be apertured to receive bolts or similar fixing means. A preferred form of fixing means utilizes bolts with ribbed shanks to prevent rotation thereof.

The projections of the scraper, which would normally project entirely beneath the horizontal links supported thereby, can each be provided with a recess. This recess is open in a direction facing the link thereon and serves to receive a depending spigot on the underside of the associated connector. Instead of just relying upon the insertion of the spigot in the recess to locate the connector and the chain link a vertical bolt or screw inserted into a hollow spigot and engaging in or through the projection can be adopted.

It is desirable to also locate the vertical links which adjoin the horizontal links clamped with the connectors. To achieve this, slots can be provided in the connectors themselves and also the spigots can be of curvilinear section to mate with the bight of the vertical links.

The assembly and dis-assembly of a scraper unit made in accordance with the invention can be especially easy to accomplish involving largely just a vertical movement of the connectors.

The invention also provides a scraperchain assembly for a conveyor; said assembly being composed of two chains with scrapers therebetween, each scraper being connected with detachable connectors to horizontal links of the chains wherein each scraper has a main body with end portions forming connection lugs and projections extending outwards from the connection lugs to form support surfaces on which the said horizontal links engage and each connector has a bi-furcated portion whith a recess receiving an associated one of the connection lugs and is secured thereto with detachable fixing means and an internal pocket shape to mate and locate with the horizontal link on the associated projection.

The invention may be understood more readily, and various other features of the invention may become apparent, from consideration of the following description.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of a scraper unit made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the unit shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional end view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view of one end of the scraper unit; Figure 5 is a plan view of the end part of a modified form of scraper unit, the view being on a somewhat larger scale; and Figure 6 is a sectional end view of the end part of the modified unit shown in Figure 5 the view generally corresponding to Figure 3.

Referring initially to Figures 1 to 4, a single scraper unit for a scraper-chain assembly of a scraper-chain conveyor has a scraper composed of a main body 10 with a lower flange 12 and an upper surface 10'. The body 10 has reduced end portions 11 at its ends which form connection lugs extending between the under surface of the flange 12 and the upper surface 10'. The end portions Il adjoin narrow lower projections 13 which extend beneath horizontal links 14 of the associated chains 15 to form seatings therefore as shown in Figure 4. The projections 13 each have a length almost equal to the entire width of the associated link 14 and a width the same as that of the associated portion 11. The under surfaces of the projections 13 are flush with the upper surfaces of the body 10 and the end portions 11. The height of each projection 13 is substantially the same as the distance by which the next-adjacent adjoining vertical links 14' of the associated chain 15 protrude below the underside of the horizontal link 14 therebetween. This height is also commensurate with the distance between the horizontal links 14 the chains 15 and the conveyor floor (not shown). In this construction each projection 13 is provided with a recess or shaped cavity 16 open at the upper surface thereof as shown in Figure 4.

In a complete scraper-chain assembly a series of scrapers as described would be spaced apart and connected between the chains 15 at intervals. The individual scrapers are complemented by connectors 17 which serve to attach the scrapers to the chains. Each scraper unit is thus composed of a scraper as described and two separate connectors 17. Each connector 17 has a bi-furcated portion 18 with a recess designed to receive the associated end portion 11 of the scraper. Each connector 17 is shaped to engage and lock over the horizontal link 14 of the chain 15 seated on the associated projection 13 and is detachably secured to the scraper with the aid of a threaded member 19 engaging through aligned apertures 25, 27 in the portions 18, 11 of the connector and scraper, respectively.In this illustrated embodiment, the apertures 25, 27 are shaped as at 28 to receive locking ribs 26 formed on the shank of the threaded member 19 and designed to prevent rotation of the member 19. Nuts 29 are engaged on the threaded ends of the members 19 as shown in Figure 2.

Each connector 17 is provided with an extended nose 21 which forms a reinforced wear contact zone for the scraper assembly in relation to the conveyor pans.

To accommodate and support the horizontal links 14, each connector 17 is formed with a shaped grooved pocket 20 at its underside with a contour matching that of the links 14. The outer surface of the pocket 20 is indicated by the dotted line 20' in Figure 4.

Each connector 17 is also formed with a downwardly-projecting spigot 22 which extends through the associated horizontal link 14 to engage with an end part 23 in the cavity or recess 16 of the associated projection 13. As shown particularly in Figure 3 the spigot 22 of each connector 17 is shaped with a curvilinear profile as at 22' to match the bight of the vertical links 14' locked to and adjoining the horizontal link 14 in turn located in the pocket 20 thereof. The connectors 17 are also each provided with slots 24 which engage over the vertical links 14' with a slight clearance.

In order to connect the scraper unit to the chains 15, the scraper itself is first arranged so that its projections 13 engage beneath the horizontal links 14 at the desired location. The connectors 17 are then placed onto the scraper and the chains 15 (Figure 4) from above so that the, end parts 23 of the spigots 22 engage into the recesses 16 and the links 14, 14' are located by the pockets 20 the spigots 22 and the slots 24. The threaded members 19 are finally inserted through the bores 25, 27 and the nuts 29 tightened onto the members 19 to secure the unit to the chains 15.

Disconnection would be effected by the reverse sequence.

In a further embodiment of a unit depicted in Figures 5 and 6, the unit takes the form as described subject to the modification now described. Each connector 17 in the modified construction has a hollow spigot 22 with a vertical bore 39 which aligns with a corresponding bore 30 in the associated projection 13 of the scraper. The aligned bores 39, 30 then receive bolts 31. The upper part of the spigot 22 of each connector 17, i.e. the upper side of the connector 17 itself, is recessed as at 33 to accommodate the head 32 of the bolt 31 and similarly the lower part of the projection 13 is recessed as at 35 to accommodate a nut 34 engaged on the bolt 31.These bolts 31 and nuts 34 thereby serve to clamp the connectors 17 onto the projections 13 supplementing the members 19 and replacing the shape-engagement between the recesses 16 and the end parts 23 of the spigots 22 of Figures 1 to 4.

An additional modification effected in the version of Figures 5 and 6 is to utilize members 19 without locking ribs 26 to prevent rotation so that simple threaded bolts can engage through circular bores in the portions 18, 11.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A scraper unit for use with a scraperchain assembly; said scraper unit comprising a scraper and connectors for connecting the scraper between a pair of chains, the scraper being formed with a main body with end portions providing connection lugs and projections extending outwardly from the connection lugs relative to the main body and serving to locate beneath and support horizontal links of the chains during use and the connectors each being provided with a bi-furcated portion with a recess for receiving an associated one of the connection lugs and a shaped pocket which locates over and mates with the horizontal link supported by the associated projection.

2. A scraper unit according to claim 1, wherein the projections of the scraper are each provided with a recess open towards the horizontal link supported thereby and wherein the associated connector has a depending spigot with an end part intended to project through said horizontal link and engage in said recess.

3. A scraper unit according to claim 1, wherein each connector has a downwardly projecting spigot which extends towards the associated projection of the scraper and wherein the spigot is shaped to mate with vertical links of the chain which adjoin the horizontal link supported on the associated projection.

4. A scraper unit according to claim 3, wherein each spigot is shaped to mate with vertical links of the chain which adjoin the horizontal link supported on the associated projection.

5. A scraper unit according to claim 1

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

separate connectors 17. Each connector 17 has a bi-furcated portion 18 with a recess designed to receive the associated end portion 11 of the scraper. Each connector 17 is shaped to engage and lock over the horizontal link 14 of the chain 15 seated on the associated projection 13 and is detachably secured to the scraper with the aid of a threaded member 19 engaging through aligned apertures 25, 27 in the portions 18, 11 of the connector and scraper, respectively. In this illustrated embodiment, the apertures 25, 27 are shaped as at 28 to receive locking ribs 26 formed on the shank of the threaded member 19 and designed to prevent rotation of the member 19. Nuts 29 are engaged on the threaded ends of the members 19 as shown in Figure 2.

Each connector 17 is provided with an extended nose 21 which forms a reinforced wear contact zone for the scraper assembly in relation to the conveyor pans.

To accommodate and support the horizontal links 14, each connector 17 is formed with a shaped grooved pocket 20 at its underside with a contour matching that of the links 14. The outer surface of the pocket 20 is indicated by the dotted line 20' in Figure 4.

Each connector 17 is also formed with a downwardly-projecting spigot 22 which extends through the associated horizontal link 14 to engage with an end part 23 in the cavity or recess 16 of the associated projection 13. As shown particularly in Figure 3 the spigot 22 of each connector 17 is shaped with a curvilinear profile as at 22' to match the bight of the vertical links 14' locked to and adjoining the horizontal link 14 in turn located in the pocket 20 thereof. The connectors 17 are also each provided with slots 24 which engage over the vertical links 14' with a slight clearance.

In order to connect the scraper unit to the chains 15, the scraper itself is first arranged so that its projections 13 engage beneath the horizontal links 14 at the desired location. The connectors 17 are then placed onto the scraper and the chains 15 (Figure 4) from above so that the, end parts 23 of the spigots 22 engage into the recesses 16 and the links 14, 14' are located by the pockets 20 the spigots 22 and the slots 24. The threaded members 19 are finally inserted through the bores 25, 27 and the nuts 29 tightened onto the members 19 to secure the unit to the chains 15.

Disconnection would be effected by the reverse sequence.

In a further embodiment of a unit depicted in Figures 5 and 6, the unit takes the form as described subject to the modification now described. Each connector

17 in the modified construction has a hollow spigot 22 with a vertical bore 39 which aligns with a corresponding bore

30 in the associated projection 13 of the scraper. The aligned bores 39, 30 then receive bolts 31. The upper part of the spigot 22 of each connector 17, i.e. the upper side of the connector 17 itself, is recessed as at 33 to accommodate the head 32 of the bolt 31 and similarly the lower part of the projection 13 is recessed as at 35 to accommodate a nut 34 engaged on the bolt 31.These bolts 31 and nuts 34 thereby serve to clamp the connectors 17 onto the projections 13 supplementing the members 19 and replacing the shape-engagement between the recesses 16 and the end parts 23 of the spigots 22 of Figures 1 to 4.

An additional modification effected in the version of Figures 5 and 6 is to utilize members 19 without locking ribs 26 to prevent rotation so that simple threaded bolts can engage through circular bores in the portions 18, 11.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A scraper unit for use with a scraperchain assembly; said scraper unit comprising a scraper and connectors for connecting the scraper between a pair of chains, the scraper being formed with a main body with end portions providing connection lugs and projections extending outwardly from the connection lugs relative to the main body and serving to locate beneath and support horizontal links of the chains during use and the connectors each being provided with a bi-furcated portion with a recess for receiving an associated one of the connection lugs and a shaped pocket which locates over and mates with the horizontal link supported by the associated projection.
2. A scraper unit according to claim 1, wherein the projections of the scraper are each provided with a recess open towards the horizontal link supported thereby and wherein the associated connector has a depending spigot with an end part intended to project through said horizontal link and engage in said recess.
3. A scraper unit according to claim 1, wherein each connector has a downwardly projecting spigot which extends towards the associated projection of the scraper and wherein the spigot is shaped to mate with vertical links of the chain which adjoin the horizontal link supported on the associated projection.
4. A scraper unit according to claim 3, wherein each spigot is shaped to mate with vertical links of the chain which adjoin the horizontal link supported on the associated projection.
5. A scraper unit according to claim 1

wherein each connecter has a spigot which extends towards the associated projection of the scraper and wherein the spigots and projections have bores for receiving detachable fixing means.
6. A scraper unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the projections of the scraper extend substantially entirely over the width of the horizontal links supported thereby.
7. A scraper unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the end portions of the scraper are reduced in width relative to the main body and the projections have a width substantially the same as that of the end portions.
8. A scraper unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the body of the scraper has a flange at its lower side and the flange extends at least partly over thc region of the end portions.
9. A scraper unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the connection lugs and the bi-furcated portions of the connectors are apertured to receive detachable fixing means.
10. A scraper unit according to claim 9, wherein the fixing means includes bolts each with a shank formed with ribs which engage in slots in the associated connection lug and in the bi-furcated portion of the associated connector to thereby prevent rotation of the bolt.
11. A scraper unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the connectors are each formed with slots which receive vertical links of the chain which adjoin the horizontal link supported on the associated projection.
12. A scraper unit substantially as described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings or Figures 1 to 4 as modified by Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
13. A scraper chain assembly or a scraper chain conveyor employing a plurality of scraper units constructed in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
14. A scraper-chain assembly for a conveyor; said assembly being composed of two chains with scrapers therebetween, each scraper being connected with detachable connectors to horizontal links of the chains, wherein each scraper has a main body with end portions forming connection lugs and projections extending outwards from the connection lugs to form support surfaces on which the said horizontal links engage and each connector has a bi-furcated portion with a recess receiving an associated one of the connection lugs and is secured thereto with detachable fixing means and an internal pocket shape to mate and locate with the horizontal link on the associated projection.