GB2527078A - Movable chute for material processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A materials processing apparatus (10,fig.1), features a chute 18 which is linearly displaceable between an in use position, adjacent a materials processing device (12,fig.1), and a spaced apart maintenance position in which it is cantilevered from a frame 13 beam 30B. This may provide maintenance access to the chute 18, which may not be possible when it is adjacent to the materials processing device (12,fig.1).

Description

Movable Chute for Material Processing Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to chutes for material processing apparatus.

Background to the Invention

It is known for material processing apparatus to include chutes for transferring material from one part of the apparatus to another. Inaccessibility is often an impediment to carrying out maintenance on a chute. It can therefore be necessary to move the chute out of its use position for maintenance. This may be done by providing a platform around the chute and moving the chute onto the platform for maintenance. However, this increases the size and cost of the apparatus.

It would be desirable therefore to provide an improved chute.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a material processing apparatus comprising a material processing device carried by a frame, and a chute for receiving material from said material processing device, wherein said chute is movable substantially linearly between a use position in which it is located adjacent said material processing device in orderto receive material therefrom, and a maintenance position in which it is spaced apart from said material processing device, and wherein said chute includes a body and at least one beam, said at least one beam being coupled to an end of said frame to allow substantially linear movement of said at least one beam with respect to said frame, and wherein in said maintenance position at least part of said body is cantilevered from said end of said frame by said at least one beam.

Preferred features are recited in the dependent claims.

Preferred embodiments of the invention allow a movable chute to be provided in a compact and efficient manner, and in particular without the need to provide walkways, handrails or the like beyond the front of the chute.

Further advantageous aspects of the invention will be apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of a specific embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a material processing apparatus including a movable chute embodying one aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is an alternative perspective view of the chute and pad of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the chute shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the chute shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown, generally indicated as 10, pad of a material processing apparatus. In general, the material processing apparatus may be configured to perform any one or more of a plurality of processes, such as feeding, screening, separating, crushing, waste recycling or demolition and/or washing, on one or more types of aggregate or other material, for example rocks, stones, gravel, sand and/or soil, or any other material that is quarried, mined, excavated or recycled. To this end, the apparatus may include one or more material processing device 12 configured to perform one or more of the foregoing processes. In the illustrated embodiment, the material processing device 12 is a screening apparatus having two outlets 16, 17 for delivering screened material to a chute 18. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to screening devices and in alternative embodiments material processing device 12 may comprise a feeding, separating, crushing, waste recycling, demolition and/or washing device, or any other material processing device that delivers material to a chute via one or more outlets.

The material processing device 12 is typically carried by a frame 13, typically in the form of a chassis. The frame 13 may also carry one or more other components that facilitate use of the device 12, e.g. a feed assembly (not shown) for delivering material to the device and one or more conveyors (not shown) for transporting material to and/or from the device 12. The feed assembly may comprise a hopper 19. In any event, the chute 18 receives material from the device 12 and directs the received material to one or more destinations, for example another component of the material processing apparatus (such as a conveyor, chute or other material processing device), or to a stockpile. Figure 1 shows only the pads of the material processing apparatus, in particular the material processing device 12 and the chute 18, that are necessary to understanding the present invention.

The chute 18 comprises a body 20 having respective inlet 22,24 for each of the outlets 16, 17. In this example, the chute comprises two inlets 22, 24, but in alternative embodiments the chute may comprise one or more inlets, preferably a respective one for each outlet of the material processing device 12 with which it is intended for use. The body 20 has a respective outlet 26, 28 for each of its inlets 22, 24, and is shaped to define a respective internal passage (not visible) between the respective inlets 22, 24 and outlets 26, 28. In this example, the inlets 22, 24 face generally in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 10, which is typically substantially horizontal in use, and the outlets 26, 28 face generally downwards. Typically, the chute 18 is located at an end 29 of the frame 13.

The chute 18 is movable between a use position (not illustrated) in which it is located adjacent the outlets 16, 17 of the material processing device 12 in order to receive material from the outlets 16,17, and a maintenance positions (as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) in which it is spaced apart from the outlets 16, 17 to allow improved access to the chute 18 (in particularthe internal passages via the inlets 22, 24, which are normally obscured by the device 12 during use). In the use position, the inlets 22, 24 are aligned with and adjacent the respective outlets 16, l7so that material is delivered from the device 12 into the chute 16 via the respective outlets 16, 17 and inlets 22, 24.

The chute 18 is coupled to the frame 13 for substantially linear movement between the use and maintenance positions, typically in a longitudinal direction (indicated by arrow A) corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the frame 13. To this end, the chute 18 includes beams 30 which are coupled to the frame 13 to allow relative linear movement between the chute 18 and the frame 13. The movement may be sliding movement, and the beams 30 may be slidably mounted in respective tracks (not illustrated) provided on the frame 13, e.g. at a respective side of the frame. Preferably, however, the beams 30 are coupled to the frame 13 by means of rollers 32. In the preferred embodiment, a respective pair of spaced apart rollers 32A, 32B are provided on the frame 13 for each beam 30, the arrangement being such that the beam 30 fits between the rollers 32A, 32B and can move linearly back and forth, the movement being facilitated by the rollers 32A, 32B. To this end the rollers 32A, 323 are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the beam 30 and are rotatable about a respective axis that runs substantially transversely of the frame 13. One or more additional similar pairs of rollers (not shown) may be provided for each beam 30 if desired. Preferably at least one respective support roller 32C is provided for each beam 30, the support roller 32C being located beneath the beam 30 and rotatable about a respective axis that runs substantially transversely of the frame 13. Typically the support roller 32C is located between the rollers 32A, 323 and the end 29 of the frame 13. Optionally, a respective one or more guide rollers 32D are provided for each beam 30, the guide rollers 32D being rotatable about a respective axis that runs perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rollers 32A, 323, 32C and to the movement of the beams 30.

Typically, the frame 13 includes a pair of sides 40, 42 spaced apart in the transverse direction, the rollers 32 being carried by the sides 40, 42. In the preferred embodiment, there are two beams 30 and a respective set of rollers 32 provided at each side 40, 42 of the frame 13. Accordingly, in the preferred embodiment, the beams 30 are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction by an amount that is substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the sides 40, 42. Preferably, the respective sets of rollers 32 are provided at the inner faces of the sides 40, 42 (as illustrated), but in alternative embodiments may be provided at the respective outer faces of the sides 40, 42.

In the preferred embodiment, the beams 30 are sufficiently long that, in the maintenance position, the body 20 of the chute 18 at least partly, and preferably fully, projects beyond the end 29 of the frame 13 in a direction away from the device 12, i.e. cantilevered, or hanging, from the end 29 of the frame 13. In this position, the body 20 is supported by the coupling between the beams 30 and the respective rollers 32. Hence the beams 30 act as cantilevers supporting the body 20 suspended from the end 29 of the frame 13.

In the preferred embodiment, a portion 30A the beams 30 project from the body beyond the inlets 22, 24 in the longitudinal direction. This facilitates location of the entire body 20 beyond the end 29 of the frame 13 in the maintenance position. It is also preferred that a portion 30B of each beam 30 is coincident with the body 20 in the longitudinal direction. This facilitates location of at least some and preferably substantially all of the body 20 on the frame 13, i.e. not off the end 29, in the use position.

To this end, each beam 30 preferably has one end 31 located adjacent one end 21 of the body 20, and the other end 33 projecting beyond the other end 23 of the body. Preferably, the beams 30 are located at the in use bottom of the body 20. As illustrated the portion 30B of the beams 30 may be spaced apart from the bottom of the body 20. In the preferred embodiment, there are two beams 30 one at either side of the body 20. In alternative embodiments, only one, or more than two beams may be provided.

Preferred embodiments of the invention allow a movable chute to be provided in a compact and efficient manner, and in particular without the need to provide walkways, handrails or the like beyond the front of the chute.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.