GB2187698A - Apparatus for transferring raw ore or the like from a scraper to a belt conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The field of use of scraper (14) is extended by the use of an apparatus enabling raw ore or similar material to be transferred from the scraper (14) to a belt conveyor extending transversely to an endless conveyor (3). The endless conveyor (3) is adjustable transversely in relation to the belt conveyor, onto which it drops the raw ore or the like, and is covered by a grid (10) adjoined on both sides and transversely in relation to the endless conveyor (3) by platform members (6) lengthenable by at least one approach ramp (7). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for transferring raw ore or the like from a scraper to a belt conveyor The invention relates to an apparatus fortransferring raworeorthelikefrom a self-loading scrapertoa belt conveyor, more particularly in open-cast working.

The known scrapers scrape material such as raw ore orthe like from the ground and convey ittothe place of deposition. The raw ore is deposited by emptyingthroughtheundersideofthescraper. Long conveying paths have the disadvantage of heavy costs and additional scrapers must be used to maintain adequate production in dependence on conveying path length.

For conveying raw ore orthe like over long distances it is known to use belt conveyors which as a rule drop the material at its destination via depositing means. As open-cast working proceeds, such belt conveyors can be shifted. As a rule belt conveyors are supplied with the material via bucket-wheel excavators. It is also known for vehicles such as heavy lorries, charged from loaders orexcavators,totransferthe material to long belt conveyors. For this purpose it is known to interpose atransportable conveyor belt having a depositing chute. To enable the conveyor belt to be supplied, its end having the depositing chute must either be lowered in a pit or disposed in front of an approach rampforthe conveying vehicles. Scrapers cannot transfer the material on to such an interposed conveyor belt.

The aim of this invention is to extend the field of useofself-loading scrapers by providing an apparatus enabling raw ore orthe like to be transferred from scrapers to a belt conveyor.

According to this invention, an apparatus for transferring raw ore or the like from a self-loading scraperto a belt conveyor, more particularly in open-castworking, comprises an endless conveyor which can be adjusted transversely in relation to the belt conveyor which is covered by a grid adjoined on both sides and transversely in relation to the endless conveyor by platform members lengthenable byat least one approach ramp.

The invention provides the advantage of substantially reducing the costs of shifting the material by combing the use of scrapers with a belt conveyor. Moreover, the substitution of depositors forscrapersfordumping the material enablesthe surface ofthe ground to be built up not only flat, but in various required or desired shapes.

The apparatus according to the invention is movable and can be set up at any place along the belt conveyor, generally a shiftable stope belt conveyor.

The material is preferably transferred from the endless conveyor on to the belt conveyor by one of the known depositing carriages of the stope belt.

However, if required, the endless conveyor can also be provided with a transfer chute.

Sincetheoverall height of the apparatus can be low, the scrapers can travel over it without any difficulty. The number ofthe approach ramps provided for each apparatus depends on the number of scrapers used and on the intended removal rate of the material to be moved, a generally related aspect.

The material is earth and rocks up to a lump size such as can still be economically received and deposited by the scraper.

The apparatus ofthe invention is preferably one wherein the platform members are at least as high abovetheground asthe grid,whose rods extend in the conveying direction ofthe endless conveyor and one where preferably it has a stripperdevicewhich passes over the grid in the conveying direction to clean the grid and one which preferably has skids.

Advantageously the apparatus of the invention is one wherein at least a proportion of its individual components, preferably the approach ramps, can be readily demounted, wherein the assembly connections used are bolt-insertion connections, wherein the the approach ramps are articulated to the platform members with provision for vertical adjustment and wherein the endless conveyor rises in the conveying direction beyond the grid and is vertically adjustable.

Also the apparatus advantageously is one which has at least one set oftravelling gearwhich can be lifted from the ground and/or demounted, which can be lifted by at Ieastthree lifting elements to enable a transporting vehicleto drive in belowandwhich isat least partly of a lightweight trellis structure, the lowerflanges of its vertical divisions of which are preferably at least partly constructed in the forms of skids.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment diagrammatically illustrated in the drawings, wherein: Figure lisa cross-section through an apparatus together with a scraper in its direction of approach, Figure2 is an elevation ofthe apparatus in its direction of adjustment to the belt conveyor, and Figures3and4aredetailsoftheunloading operation, corresponding to what is shown in Figure 1.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus has a frame 2 which is adjusted transversely in relation to a belt conveyor 1 acting as a stope belt.

Disposed in the centre ofthe frame 2 is an endless conveyor 3 which deposits the debris or the like on a depositing carriage 5 disposed with provision to be driven longitudinallyoverthebeltconveyori and equipped with a chute 4. Onthetop side the frame2 has two platform members 6 which extend in its longitudinal direction and in whose zone pairs of approach ramps 7 are connected to the frame 2via bolt-insertion connections (not shown). The approach ramps 7 and frame 2 each have on the underside skids 8forming the lower flanges of the vertical divisions ofthe trellis construction formed bytheframe and the approach ramps.In the zone of the platform members 6 and approach ramps 7 the endless conveyor 3 extends parallel with the platform members and then rises to the depositing height. If different depositing heights are provided, the angle ofthe ascending portion 9 of the endless conveyor3 can be adjusted accordingly. Disposed in the zone of the platform members 6 above the endless conveyor 3 is a grid 10 which bridges the gap between the platform members 6 and whose rods 11 extend in the conveying direction of the endless conveyor 3. The grid 10 has a stripper device 12 having two strippers 13 disposed on a rotating pair ofchains and extending transversely in relation to the grid rods.

For discharging purposes a scraper 1 4travels over the apparatus via one ofthe approach ramps 7 until the opening zone of its charging space 15 is above the grid 10, as shown in Figure 1.Thentheunderside ofthe charging space 15 is opened in known manner and emptied over the grid 10. The flow of debris is controlled in known manner by a discharge flap 16 and a closure flap 17, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The feature thatthe grid 10is disposed somewhat lower than the platform members 6 produces a certain chute effect during transfer. After being emptied, the scraper 14 leaves the apparatus in the same direction of travel via the other ramp 7.

However, if required, the scraper can also return via the same ramp. If two scrapers are standing simultaneously on the apparatus, as shown in Figure 2, they can be emptied simultaneously only if the capacity ofthe endless conveyor 3 is adequatefor the purpose. This is an exceptional case, to keep the endless conveyor small. Preferably, the endless conveyor is so designed that scrapers with a loading capacity of 32 tonnes are emptied in approximately 4-minute cycles.

After emtpying, the debris dropping through the grid is conveyed onwards by the endless conveyor 3.

Fragments of debris left lying on the grid are thrown on to the endless conveyor by one of the two strippers 13 moving in the conveying direction ofthe endless conveyor 3 and actuated by a stripping device 12 controlled from an operating panel 18, before the scraper leaves the apparatus. This prevents its progress from being impeded. The strippers 13 are so disposed as not to impede the discharge process when they are at rest. The distance ofthe grid rods from one another is selected in accordance with the debris to be conveyed. As a rule, the distance is about 400 mm.

The apparatus is moved on to another place in accordance with the progress of open-castworking orthe like by shifting its individual demounted parts, which slide overthe ground ontheirskids 8. Usecan be made of the scrapers themselves or separate conveying vehicles such as are generally used in open-castworking. If required by special demands, the parts ofthe apparatus, more particularlythe heavier central frame, can also be provided with travelling gearwhich can in known manner be lifted from the ground and/or demounted. More particularly with very heavy constructions, it is also possible to provide the apparatus with at leastthree lifting elements which enable itto be lifted high enough for a caterpillar-type or other conveying vehicle to be driven in below for its further transportation. Such a construction is also convenient if such caterpillar-type vehicles are in any case being used in the particular open-cast working.

Ifthe apparatus is used on particularly uneven terrain,to even out irregularities of the ground the approach ramps are articulated to the platform members 6 and the frame 2 with provision for vertical adjustment. As a rule the number of the pairs of approach ramps, which depends mainly on the conveying capacity, is two and at most four.

Claims (13)

1. An apparatus fortransferring raw ore or the like from a self-loading scraper to a belt conveyor, more particularly in open-castworking,wherein an endless conveyor which can be adjusted transversely in relation to the belt conveyor is covered by a grid adjoined on both sides and transversely in relation to the endless conveyor by platform members lengthenable by at least one approach ramp.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform members are at least as high above the ground as the grid, whose rods extend in the conveying direction of the endless conveyor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, having a stripper device to clean the grid which passes over the grid in the conveying direction.

4. An apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, having skids.

5. An apparatus according to one ofthe preceding claims, wherein at least a proportion of its individual components, preferably the approach ramps, can be readily demounted.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the assembly connections used are bolt-insertion connections.

7. An apparatus according to one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the approach ramps are articulated to the platform members with provision for vertical ajdustment.

8. An apparatus according to one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the endless conveyor rises in the conveying direction beyond the grid and is vertically adjustable.

9. An apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one set of travelling gearwhichcan be lifted from the ground and/or demounted.

10. An apparatus according to one ofthe preceding claims, which can be lifted by at least three lifting members to enable a transporting vehicle to drive in below.

11. An apparatus according to one ofthe preceding claims, which is at least partly of a lightweight trellis structure.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lower flanges of its vertical divisions are at least partly constructed in the form of skids.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1 - 11, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.