GB2088311A - Structural connection for scraper-chain conveyor pans - Google Patents

Abstract

A structural connection, for connecting together two members 11 e.g. scraper-chain conveyor pans disposed in generally in-line, end-to- end, relation comprises a respective receiving means 14, 17, 19 formed with each of the two adjacent end portions of the members. A connector 27 is adapted to be inserted directly into the receiving means from a position above them so as to bridge from one member to another. Two retaining means 32 are provided which when fitted to their respective receiving means with the connector inserted in place therein, so engage the connector as to couple it to both receiving means thus to link the members together. Respective locking means 38 are directly engaged with means 36, 37 disposed adjacent an end portion of each of the retaining means, thereby to lie closely adjacent the end portion for resisting inadvertent disengagement of the retaining means from the receiving means and the connector. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Link and pins joint This invention relates to a structural connection for connecting together two adjacent structural members, for example adjacent pan side sections of a scraper-chain conveyor, having ramp plate and/or spill plate structure, such as used in mineral-mining operations.

Hitherto difficulty has been experienced in providing a structural connection, suitable for such applications, which is capable of affording ready release and ready re-engagement without the need to move the structural members themselves and yet which provides such freedom of relative movement of the members during mineral-mining operations as will permit snaking of the members to take place to accommodate such relative lateral movement of those members as then occurs.

The invention as claimed is intended to provide a remedy. It solves the problem of how to design an improved structural connection in which a connector is so provided as to permit ready release and re-engagement of the connection with the least inconvenience.

According to the invention a structural connection, for connecting together two adjacent structural members disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end, relation, comprises a respective receiving means attached to or formed with each of the two adjacent end portions of said members, a connector adapted to be inserted directly into the receiving means from a position above them so as to bridge from one of said members to the other, two retaining means, one associated with each of said receiving means, which when fitted to said receiving means with the connector inserted in place therein, so engage said connector as to couple it to both receiving means and thereby effect linking of said members together, and respective locking means which can be directly engaged with means disposed adjacent an end portion of each said retaining means thereby to lie at least closely adjacent said end portion for resisting inadvertent disengagement of said retaining means from said receiving means and said connector.

The connector and openings formed in said receiving means to receive the connector may be of complementary rectangular cross-sectional shape and the connector be of waisted profile.

Each said retaining means may be fitted to its receiving means with its axis lying transversely, or substantially so, with respect to said structural members, said retaining means each comprising a pin which co-operates with respective aligned apertures formed in said receiving means and in said connector. Preferably each aperture in said connector is of elongate form.

Each said locking means may comprise a spring element and said means with which it is directly engageable may comprise openings which are formed in a member which abuts a surface of the respective receiving means.

The advantages offered by the invention are mainly that the structural connection provided is relatively compact and straightforward in its construction, is reliable in use and is relatively inexpensive to produce. Since the connector is introduced from a position above the receiving means there is no necessity to move the structural members when fitting or removing the connector.

One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate one specific embodiment, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a side section of a conveyor pan to which ramp plate structure is fitted, Figure 2 is a side elevation of one end portion of the side section and structure shown in Figure 1 together with the adjacent end portion of another side section and similar structure connected thereto, and, Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the right-hand portion of Figure 2.

This embodiment applies to scraper-chain conveyors in which the structural members are conveyor pans intended to be connected together in generally in-line, end-to-end, relation and yet permitted to snake during mineral-mining operations to accommodate slight directional variations of one pan with respect to another.

Figure 1 shows one side section 11 of a conveyor pan intended to be connected to similar side sections of adjacent conveyor pans. Each of these side sections is of sigma cross-sectional shape and is suitably secured to ramp plate structure generally indicated at 12. The side sections (not shown) on the other side of the conveyor pans are also of sigma cross-sectional shape suitably connected together. A respective deck plate extends centrally from one side of each pan to the other side, part of that deck plate associated with the side section 11 being shown at 13.

The ramp plate structure 12 for each pan comprises wall structure in the form of a plate member 14 which is vertically disposed and provided with apertures 1 5 by way of which it is bolted to the side section 11. A base strip 1 6 for this structure is welded to the lower edge of the plate member 14 extending in the direction horizontally away from the pan. A verticallydisposed apertured plate member 1 7 is provided adjacent each end portion of the plate member 14. The plate member 1 7 is generally parallel to and spaced from the plate member 14 and its end portion 1 8 remote from the respective end of the plate member 14 curves inwardly towards and comes into engagement with that plate member.

A bridge member 19 is welded to the upper edge of a part of the plate member 17 and to the plate member 14 in the manner shown. The bridge member 1 9 is thus so positioned and of such length that the space 20 so formed between plate members 14 and 1 7 has an upward opening 21 and an endwise opening 22 to the exterior of the structure. A ramp plate 23 is welded to the plate members 14 and 17, this ramp plate having a base member 24 and ribs, as at 25, welded thereto.

The flat portion 26 of the ramp plate 23 forms a track for mounting a mineral-cutting machine (not shown).

The members 14, 17, 19 and strip 16, in so defining the space 20, which is of rectangular cross-section, form receiving means, one such receiving means being provided at each end of the side section 11. The two adjacent spaces 20 of adjacent side sections 11 are intended slidably to receive a connector 27 as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This connector is also of rectangular crosssection and is of waisted profile, having two apertures 28, 29 extending transversely therethrough which are of elongate form so as to facilitate fitment of the connector.

The plate members 14 and 17 have aligned apertures 30 and 31 which extend transversely therethrough and which are capable of receiving retaining means each comprising a cylindrical pin member 32. Lugs 33, 34 project from the exterior surface of each plate member 1 7 on each side of the aperture 31. A further aperture 35 is provided in each plate member 17 which gives access to one of the apertures 15 for the insertion of a retaining bolt intended to be fitted therein for engagement with the respective side section 11.

Further retaining bolts (not shown) are applied to the remaining apertures 1 5 and likewise engage the side section 11.

Openings 36 and 37 are provided in the edge of the ramp plate 23 adjacent each plate member 17 and beneath the aperture 31 as viewed in Figure 2 for receiving locking means in the form of a spring element 38 which is of substantially U-shape.

When adjacent conveyor pans are placed in generally in-line, end-to-end, relation as shown in Figure 2 in readiness for being joined together, a retaining bolt is omitted from one of the two apertures 1 5 in alignment with the apertures 35 of the two adjacent members 1 7. Such omission facilitates fitment of the connector 27. The connector is inserted directly into the receiving means 14, 1 6, 17, 19, by sliding movement, with one end portion of the connector leading, from a position immediately above the receiving means and by way of the openings 21, 22. In this way the connector bridges from one conveyor pan to the other.The two respective pin members 32 are now inserted into the respective apertures 31, through the elongate apertures 28, 29, and into the respective apertures 30, whereupon each pin engages that part of the outer surface of the respective section 11 exposed to an aperture 30.

Thereafter the spring elements 38 are driven directly into the openings 36, 37 from a position above them, the U-shaped upper end portions of the spring elements standing proud of these openings lying closely adjacent or in engagement with the outer end faces of the pin members 32 to ensure that those members are maintained axially in place.

A retaining bolt is then fitted into the remaining aperture 1 5 by way of the respective aperture 35 and is screwed into the respective side section 11.

By the construction ready release of the pan connection can be achieved, after removing one of those set bolts accessible through an aperture 35, by levering out the spring elements 38 from the openings 36, 37, and withdrawing the pin members 32 from their aligned apertures, whereupon the connector 27 can be simply lifted upwardly out through the openings 21, 22 to the exterior of the structure.

The construction is therefore such that disengagement, and subsequent re-engagement, of the connection can take place without the need to move the conveyor pans themselves.

The lugs 33, 34 are provided to afford protection for the fitted spring elements 38, particularly when a mining machine is passing in close proximity thereto. The lugs also provide means to facilitate the levering of the spring elements out of their openings for joint disconnection.

Although in the embodiment above-described with reference to the drawings the profile of the connector is of waisted shape so that if ever joint failure takes place this will occur at a position midway, or substantially so, of the connector rather than by pin breakage, in alternative embodiments of the invention the profile of the connector may not be so waisted but instead be of other suitable profile. In such cases suitable modification in the dimensions of the bridge members would be made to enable the openings 21 to accommodate connectors of the revised profile.

Again, although in the embodiment abovedescribed with reference to the drawings the ramp plate structure which embodies the receiving means is secured to the conveyor pan side sections by suitable bolts, in alternative embodiments of the invention the ramp plate structure may be secured thereto, at least in part, by welding.

Further, although in the embodiment abovedescribed with reference to the drawings the receiving means and the connector are associated with ramp plate structure, in alternative embodiments of the invention they are associated with spill plate structure required to be fitted along the length of the conveyor, or again, such conveyors may have no ramp plate structure or spill plate structure in which case the receiving means and the connector may, in convenient manner, be applied directly to the side sections of adjacent conveyor pans themselves.

Finally, although in the embodiment abovedescribed with reference to the drawings the structural connection is applied to a scraper-chain conveyor for use in mineral-mining operations, in alternative embodiments of the invention the structural connection is applied to other devices where means for ready engagement and disengagement of the connection is required.

Claims (9)

1. A structural connection, for connecting together two adjacent structural members disposed in generally in-line, end-to-end, relation, comprising a respective receiving means attached to or formed with each of the two adjacent end portions of said members, a connector adapted to be inserted directly into the receiving means from a position above them so as to bridge from one of said members to the other, two retaining means, one associated with each of said receiving means, which, when fitted to said receiving means with the connector inserted in place therein, so engage said connector as to couple it to both receiving means and thereby effect linking of said members together, and respective locking means which can be directly engaged with means disposed adjacent an end portion of each said retaining means thereby to lie at least closely adjacent said end portion for resisting inadvertent disengagement of said retaining means from said receiving means and said connector.

2. A structural connection as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said connector and spaces formed in said receiving means to receive the connector are of complementary rectangular cross-sectional shape.

3. A structural connection as claimed in either Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said connector is of waisted profile.

4. A structural connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said retaining means is fitted to its receiving means with its axis lying transversely, or substantially so, with respect to said structural members.

5. A structural connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retaining means each comprises a pin member which co-operates with respective aligned apertures formed in said receiving means and in said connector.

6. A structural connection as claimed in Claim 5, wherein each aperture in said connector is of elongate form.

7. A structural connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said locking means comprises a spring element.

8. A structural connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means with which said locking means is directly engageable comprise openings which are formed in a member which abuts a surface of the respective receiving means.

9. A structural connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.