GB2625330A

GB2625330A - Integrated excavator loader

Info

Publication number: GB2625330A
Application number: GB2218842.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Smith Luke; Mark Soley Nigel
Original assignee: Anglo American Technical and Sustainability Services Ltd
Current assignee: Anglo American Technical and Sustainability Services Ltd
Priority date: 2022-12-14
Filing date: 2022-12-14
Publication date: 2024-06-19
Also published as: GB202218842D0

Abstract

A material handling apparatus (10), taking the form of an integrated excavator loader, typically utilised in above-ground mining and/or construction operations. The apparatus (10) comprises an excavator (12), typically in the form of a hydraulically actuated backhoe excavator, having an adjustable excavation arrangement (20) associated with a bucket (26). A loader (14)in the form of a conveyor 76 and drive motor is fixed to and supported by the excavator (12). The loader (14) comprises a feed portion (38) with a feed entry (42) which is accessible to the bucket (26) and a discharge portion (40). A sensor may be fitted to classify raw material based on at least one of ore grade, minerology and/or lithology, and further including at least one of a divertor gate and an air ejector, operatively to sort the material based on the classification by rejecting material identified by the first sensor.

Description

S

INTEGRATED EXCAVATOR LOADER

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of raw materials handling. More particularly, the present invention relates to an integrated excavator loader, typically utilised in above-ground mining and/or construction operations.

Increased focus on energy efficiency and environmental impact, also in the mining and construction industries, calls for efficiency improvements in excavation and raw materials handling processes. To this end, focus is shifting towards smaller and more efficient haul trucks (smaller in this case facilitates implementation of more energy efficient technologies, greater autonomy and, in some cases, renewable energy).

Decreasing the size of haul trucks, however, is not trivial and is not necessarily akin to a simple scaling of current equipment. For example, in many cases, smaller hauling vehicles are not compatible with current or larger loading equipment, such as shovels.

Furthermore, reduced size haul trucks require raw material fragments to be below predetermined sizes to prevent or reduce fatigue caused by shock loading and ensure a sufficient fill factor, thereby ensuring efficient loading and hauling within the parameters of the reduced hauling capacity.

Some of the above may theoretically be addressed by coupling smaller haul trucks with size-appropriate loading equipment. However, a balance still needs to be struck between the size of excavation and loading equipment on the one hand, and the speed and efficiency of excavation, material handling and mining development, on the other.

Mucking or hagg loaders, typically used during underground excavation and tunnel mining, could potentially provide a means for loading smaller trucks. However, typical sizes of such loaders and, particularly their lack of agility and manoeuvrability, render these loaders unfit for use in open-pit applications. Furthermore, unless handling large quantities of material, these loaders do not excel at accurately controlling the amount of material loaded.

Typically, a hopper associated with such a loader extends vertically, and takes the form of a separate unit, again negating the efficiency, agility and manoeuvrability thereof.

Introduction of surge loaders to decouple the loading of material could pose a potential solution to some of the above stated problems but remains lacking in terms of agility and manoeuvrability.

Furthermore, in view of the objective of reducing the size of haul trucks, current equipment do not provide for integrated sorting or classifying of material according to permissible fragment size or ore characteristics (such as ore grade, minerology and/or lithology).

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an integrated excavator loader that will, at least partially, address the above disadvantages.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an integrated excavator loader which will provide a useful alternative to existing excavation and/or loading equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a raw material handling apparatus, comprising: an excavator, comprising an adjustable excavation arrangement associated with a bucket; and a loader fixed to and supported by the excavator and comprising: a feed portion having a feed entry accessible to the bucket; and a discharge portion.

The excavator may include an undercarriage and an upper carriage or main body. The loader may be fixed to and supported by the undercarriage. The undercarriage may be associated with a propelling arrangement in the form of wheels or tracks. A part of the loader may extend through an interspace defined between opposite sides of the propelling arrangement.

The loader may define a material displacement path typically extending underneath the undercarriage and through the interspace.

The excavation arrangement may be fitted relative to the upper carriage or main body. The upper carriage or main body may, on the other hand, be piyotably displaceable relative to the undercarriage.

The excavation arrangement may comprise a link arrangement in the form of a pivotably linked boom and arm fitted to the upper carriage. The bucket, in turn, may be fitted to the arm.

The feed portion may be associated with a structural base, which may be displaceably fixed relative to the excavator such that the feed entry is displaceable towards and away from a surface on which the apparatus is supported, in use.

The feed portion may comprise a feed displacement arrangement provided for transporting materials from the feed entry towards the discharge portion.

The feed displacement arrangement may comprise an apron feeder. The apron feeder may include a conveyor arrangement driven by a drive motor.

The feed entry may define an entry passage of predetermined dimension, thereby to preclude material fragments exceeding a predetermined dimension from being received by the feed portion. The entry passage may be defined between bottom, side and upper structural portions associated with the feed entry. The bottom and side structural portions may be defined by a floor and sidewalls of a feed chute of the feed entry, while the top structural portion may comprise a cross-extending structural member.

The feed portion may comprise an outfeed portion situated opposite the feed entry and provided in material feed communication with the discharge portion.

The discharge portion may comprise towards a first end thereof, an infeed in communication with the feed portion, and towards an opposite second end thereof, a discharge.

The discharge portion may be associated with a structural base, which is pivotably displaceable relative to the excavator, such that a height of the discharge may be adjustable. The structural base of the discharge portion may have a substantially U-shaped cross-section. The structural base of the discharge portion may be fitted to an undercarriage of the excavator to be pivotable in a first direction, which is a substantially vertical direction. A first actuating arrangement may extend between the structural base of the discharge portion and the undercarriage of the excavator to adjust a height of the discharge portion.

The structural base of the discharge portion may be fitted to an undercarriage of the excavator to be pivotable in a second direction, which may be a substantially horizontal direction. A second actuating arrangement may extend between the structural base of the discharge portion and the undercarriage of the excavator to cause the structural base to articulate relative to (or through and therefore not along) a vertical plane associated with the excavator.

The discharge portion may take the form of a surge loader, having a conveyor arrangement driven by a drive motor and provided operatively for transporting material towards the discharge.

Typically, the excavator comprises a hydraulic configured backhoe excavator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a raw material handling apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the raw material handling apparatus of Figure 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted", "connected", "engaged" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings and are thus intended to include direct connections between two members without any other members interposed therebetween and indirect connections between members in which one or more other members are interposed therebetween. Further, "connected" and "engaged" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Additionally, the words "lower", "upper", "upward", "down" and "downward" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made.

The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned above, derivatives thereof, and words or similar import. It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the," and any singular use of any word, include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. As used herein, the term "include" and its grammatical variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the listed items.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like features, a non-limiting example of a raw material handling apparatus (or simply "apparatus") in accordance with the invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The apparatus 10 comprises an "integrated" or hybrid apparatus in that it combines several major functionalities, namely that of an excavator and that of a loader, into a single unit. Therefore, the apparatus comprises an excavator generally indicated by reference numeral 12 and a loader generally indicated by reference numeral 14.

To a large degree, the excavator 12 is of a conventional kind. Typically, the excavator is classified as a backhoe excavator which is hydraulically actuated. The excavator 12 comprises an undercarriage 16 and an upper carriage or main body 18. The undercarriage 16 and main body 18 are fixed together in pivoting fashion. The excavator 12 also includes an adjustable excavation arrangement 20, which includes a link arrangement comprising a boom 22, arm 24 and excavation bucket 26, all of which are pivotably interlinked, and supported relative to the main body 18. The different components of the adjustable excavation arrangement are actuated by means of a series of hydraulic piston arrangements 28. The excavator 12 is configured such that a digging direction of the excavation bucket 26 is towards an operator of the excavator 12 and the operator is therefore capable of observing the filling of the excavation bucket 26.

The undercarriage 16 includes a propelling arrangement 30, which, in the example shown in the figures, takes the form of a first and second tracks 32 which are spaced apart and located on opposite sides of the undercarriage 16.

An interspace 34 is defined between the first and second tracks 32. This interspace 34 is defined by the undercarriage 16 and specifically provided for accommodating the loader 14, as is discussed later. The undercarriage is therefore configured to lift the main body 18 away from a surface 36 on which the excavator 12 is supported. The interspace 34 is defined between the first and second tracks 32 and a cross-structural member of the undercarriage and/or a lower portion or floor of the main body 18.

The loader 14 is fixed to, supported by, or carried by the excavator 12, and more particularly, by the undercarriage 16 of the excavator 12.

The loader 14 comprises two main parts, namely a feed portion 38 and a discharge portion 40. The feed portion 38 has a feed entry 42, which is accessible to the bucket 26. The relevance hereof is discussed below.

The loader 14 defines a material displacement path, which is schematically indicated by the arrows marked 44. A part of the loader 14, and more particularly, a part of the feed portion 38 of the loader 14 extends through the interspace 34. Therefore, the material displacement path 44 also runs through the interspace 34.

The feed portion 38 has a structural base or support structure 46 which takes the form of a longitudinally extending structure having a U-shaped cross-section. The structure 46 is pivotably fixed relative to the undercarriage 16, such that the structure 46, and therefore the whole feed portion 38, is pivotably displaceable relative to the undercarriage 16, and therefore relative to the surface 36. An actuator (not shown) is provided for displacing the structure 46 between a lifted position (not shown in the figures) and a lowered position (as shown in the figures) (displacement direction shown by the arrow 48). The structure 46 is displaced towards the lifted position when the excavator needs to be propelled relative to the surface 36, and displaced towards the lowered position in use, when raw materials are processed.

The feed portion 38 includes a feed displacement arrangement (not shown) in the form of an apron feeder, which comprises a conveyor 74 and drive motor. The apron feeder displaces raw material 50 received through the feed entry along the feed portion and therefore along the material displacement path 44 and towards the discharge portion 40. The apron feeder therefore displaces raw material 50 through the interspace 34.

The feed entry 42 is formed by a feed chute, which defines an entry passage 52. The passage 52 is defined between a floor or bottom surface of the chute, two side walls of the chute, and an upper structural portion in the form of a cross-extending member 54. The entry passage 52 has predetermined and specifically selected and limited dimensions. Specifically, the entry passage has a limited height. The limited height of the entry passage 52 limits the permissible size of fragments of raw material 50 fed through the feed entry 42 and to the feed portion. In this way, a first level of material sorting and/or grading is performed. Fragments exceeding the permissible size are rejected and may first be further processed and/or fragmented before being loaded by the loader or may be discarded or hauled using alternative processes.

An outfeed portion 56 is situated at an end of the feed portion 38 opposite the feed entry 42. The outfeed portion 56 feeds material from the feed portion to an infeed portion 58 situated at a first end of the discharge portion 40. A discharge 60 is located towards a second end of the discharge portion 40.

The discharge portion 40 has a structural base or support structure 62 which takes the form of a longitudinally extending structure having a U-shaped cross-section. The structure 62 is pivotably fixed relative to the undercarriage 16, such that the structure 62, and therefore the whole discharge portion 40, is pivotably displaceable relative to the undercarriage 16 in a first and second (or vertical and horizontal) directions. Pivoting in a vertical direction allows height adjustment of the discharge 60 while pivoting in a horizontal direction allows articulation of the discharge portion 40 relative to the undercarriage 16.

A first structural member 64 extends between a lower portion of the discharge portion 40 and the undercarriage 16, while a first actuator 66 in the form of a first hydraulic cylinder arrangement extends between a relatively higher part of the discharge portion 40 and the undercarriage. The actuator 66 displaces the structure 62 in the first direction and facilitates height adjustment of the discharge portion 40 and more particularly the discharge 60 (direction of displacement shown by the arrow 68). The structure 62 is lifted or lowered depending on a height of a haul truck 70 into which material is loaded.

A second actuator (not shown) is provided for pivoting the structure 62 in the second or horizontal direction On the direction of the arrow 80). This allows the structure to be displaced depending on a position of the haul truck 70 relative to the apparatus 10, and therefore allows discharge of the raw material behind or to the side of the apparatus 10.

The discharge portion 40 also includes a feed displacement arrangement (not shown) in the form of a surge loader, which comprises a conveyor 76 and drive motor. The surge loader displaces raw material 50 received through the outfeed portion 56 along the discharge portion and therefore along the material displacement path 44 and towards and through the discharge 60, towards the haul truck 70.

In some cases, the apparatus includes on-board analysis and sorting equipment, to provide a further mechanism for effecting primary classification and sorting of the raw material 50. It is believed that such primary classification and sorting may alleviate pressure from downstream equipment and may provide yet a further improvement in terms of the overall efficiency of the raw material handling process.

The on-board analysis and sorting equipment are not shown in the figures. However, generally, this analysis equipment comprises various sensors and measuring devices of the known kind. These devices are typically advantageously installed relative to the loader 14, and typically relative to the feed portion 38. For example, the sensors and measuring devices may advantageously be located within the interspace 34, where they are relatively sheltered from contact with environmental objects. Furthermore, the relatively small and controlled fragment sizes of the material and the relative size of the loader make visual measuring and analysis of this kind possible.

The sensors and measuring devices classify the raw material based on ore grade, minerology and/or lithology. In some cases, analysis of the material may take place in flight.

The sorting equipment is provided for sorting or rejecting material based on the results obtained from the sensors and measuring devices. The sorting equipment typically comprise divertor gates and/or air ejectors, which are typically installed relative to the loader 14 at a location downstream On the material flow direction) of the measuring or sensor devices. The sorting devices may therefore typically be installed relative to the discharge portion 40. This location also enables material to be rejected or removed from the loader 14 without contact or interference with the main body 18. The rejected materials may therefore be removed from the loader 14 before the material moves through the discharge 60, and therefore, the material discharged may represent material which has been subjected to a primary sorting stage or process.

It is believed that the apparatus 10 provides various advantages over conventional excavation and loading equipment whilst facilitating use of smaller haul trucks 70.

Firstly, since the feed entry is arranged to be accessible to the bucket 26, the excavation arrangement 20 may be used to feed raw material towards the feed portion.

The apparatus 10 furthermore combines the excavation functionality, mobility, agility and advantages associated with the size factor of an excavator with the loading capabilities of apron feeders and surge loaders.

This enables the apparatus to move more easily on a site, whilst removing the need to manoeuvre multiple pieces of processing equipment into position.

By providing the entry passage 52 with a limited dimension, a first level of sorting and grading of material is achieved while loading the haul trucks. This has a number of benefits. For example, since fragment sizes of the material are necessarily below a predetermined size, shock loading and fatigue of the haul truck can be reduced. Because of the smaller fragment sizes, it is believed that haul trucks can more effectively be filled, and it is believed that a fill factor of ± 2% may be achievable. Furthermore, by the time the raw material is delivered by the haul truck to downstream processes, the material is also already sorted according to a maximum permissible size factor, which means downstream processes may be operated more effectively (for example, bottlenecks created in downstream processes by oversized fragments may be avoided or at least reduced).

By arranging the loader 14 to run through the interspace 34, a length of the material displacement path 44 can be limited or even minimised, resulting in energy efficient loading. Furthermore, displaced material is kept relatively close to the surface 36, resulting in a low centre of gravity and stability of the apparatus 10.

Furthermore, due to the overall size of equipment and the reduced number of independent pieces of equipment on a site, it is believed that the apparatus may lend itself to an application in more autonomous environments. Also, due in part to the overall size of the apparatus 10, same may potentially be powered by means of clean or renewable energy sources.

It will be appreciated that the above description only provides an example embodiment of the invention and that there may be many variations without departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the invention.

For example, it will be appreciated that the propelling arrangement 30 may take other forms, and may for example, include wheels rather than the tracks 32. In such a case, the first and second sides of the undercarriage 16 will be associated with a first and second set of wheels respectively, and the interspace 34 will be defined between the wheels.

Furthermore, the excavator may also take on an alternative form, such as a cable excavator, and the like. The present disclosure is therefore not limited by the specific type of excavator 12 used.

It will easily be understood from the present application that the particular features of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged and designed according to a wide variety of different configurations. In this way, the description of the present invention and the related figures are not provided to limit the scope of the invention but simply represent selected embodiments.

The skilled person will understand that the technical characteristics of a given embodiment can in fact be combined with characteristics of another embodiment, unless otherwise expressed or it is evident that these characteristics are incompatible.

Also, the technical characteristics described in a given embodiment can be isolated from the other characteristics of this embodiment unless otherwise expressed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A raw material handling apparatus, comprising: an excavator, comprising an adjustable excavation arrangement associated with a bucket; and a loader fixed to and supported by the excavator and comprising: a feed portion having a feed entry accessible to the bucket; and a discharge portion.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the excavator includes an undercarriage and an upper carriage or main body, and wherein the loader is fixed to and supported by the undercarriage.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the undercarriage is associated with a propelling arrangement in the form of wheels or tracks, and wherein a part of the loader extends through an interspace defined between opposite sides of the propelling arrangement.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the loader defines a material displacement path, which material displacement path extends underneath the undercarriage and through the interspace.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the excavation arrangement is fitted relative to the upper carriage.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the upper carriage is pivotably displaceable relative to the undercarriage. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11 13
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the excavation arrangement comprises a link arrangement in the form of a pivotably linked boom and arm, fitted to the upper carriage, and wherein the bucket is fitted to the arm.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed portion is associated with a structural base, which is displaceably fixed relative to the excavator such that the feed entry is displaceable towards and away from a surface on which the apparatus is supported, in use.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the feed portion comprises a feed displacement arrangement provided for transporting materials from the feed entry towards the discharge portion.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the feed displacement arrangement comprises an apron feeder.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apron feeder comprises a conveyor arrangement driven by a drive motor.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed entry defines an entry passage of predetermined dimension, thereby to preclude material fragments exceeding a predetermined dimension from being received by the feed portion.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the entry passage is defined between bottom, side and upper structural portions associated with the feed entry. 14.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the bottom and side structural portions are defined by a floor and sidewalls of a feed chute of the feed entry, and wherein the top structural portion comprises a cross-extending structural member.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed portion comprises an outfeed portion situated opposite the feed entry and provided in material feed communication with the discharge portion.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge portion comprises towards a first end thereof, an infeed in communication with the feed portion, and towards an opposite second end thereof, a discharge.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the discharge portion is associated with a structural base having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and which is pivotably displaceable relative to the excavator, such that a height of the discharge is adjustable.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the structural base of the discharge portion is fitted to an undercarriage of the excavator to be pivotable in a first direction.
The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first direction is a substantially vertical direction, and wherein a first actuating arrangement extends between the structural base of the discharge portion and the undercarriage of the excavator to adjust a height of the discharge portion.
The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the structural base of the discharge portion is fitted to an undercarriage of the excavator to be pivotable in a second direction.
21. The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the second direction is a substantially horizontal direction, and wherein a second actuating arrangement extends between the structural base of the discharge portion and the undercarriage of the excavator to cause the structural base to articulate relative to a vertical plane associated with the excavator.The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 21 wherein the discharge portion takes the form of a surge loader.The raw material handling apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the surge loader comprises a conveyor arrangement driven by a drive motor and provided operatively for transporting material towards the discharge.The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the excavator comprises a hydraulic configured backhoe excavator.The raw material handling apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, including at least a first sensor fitted relative to the loader to classify raw material based on at least one of ore grade, minerology and/or lithology, and further including at least one of a divertor gate and an air ejector, operatively to sort the material based on the classification by rejecting a portion of material identified by the first sensor. 22.