Abstract:
A horizontal shaft impact rock crusher having breaker plates which are adjustable by hand, using a novel tension rod adjustment nut locking device which employs several loose-fitting retaining devices which, in combination with a bridge to a frame member or another tension rod, hold the tension rod adjustment nut in place.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In the past, rock crusher designers have endeavored to improve the ease of operating and adjusting horizontal shaft impact rock crushers. While many improvements have been made to reduce the effort associated with adjusting such crushers, adjustment and locking of the tension bars for breaker plates on such crushers remains a non-trivial task. Most crushers usually have two breaker plates. A primary breaker plate is disposed nearest the feed opening and nearest the top of the crusher. These crushers typically have a secondary or rear breaker plate, which is generally located lower in the crusher and more toward the rear of the crusher. Both types of breaker plates typically employ one or more tension rods each to maintain the breaker plates at a set distance from the rotor of the crusher. Some attempt has been made to reduce unintentional changes in the setting for these breaker plates. 
     One example is the crusher shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,089,481 entitled APPARATUS FOR RELIEVING THE LOAD ON ADJUSTING RODS OF A CRUSHER, issued to Gregory A. Young. This patent shows a lower adjusting nut and an upper locking nut disposed on a tension rod. In this design, a large torque is typically applied to the locking nut to prevent unintentional movement of the breaker plates. The necessary level of torque generally requires the use of a wrench. Other designs have been used to reduce unintentional breaker plate setting changes during operation, such as bar type nuts which permit the locking nut to be hammered upon until tight. 
     While these approaches of using double nuts, etc. have been used extensively in the past, they do have some drawbacks. First of all, they generally require the use of a wrench, hammer or other tool to make the necessary adjustment. Secondly, in the cases of the high torque requiring double nuts, there is often difficulty in achieving the necessary torque. Consequently, these nuts can often be under-tightened, thereby allowing the breaker plate to self adjust. 
     Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for securely adjusting the setting of breaker plate adjusting tension rods in an efficient manner. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for adjusting a breaker plate setting in a horizontal shaft impact rock crusher in an efficient manner. 
     It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a nut rotation prevention device coupled with two nuts on a threaded tension rod. 
     It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in adjusting the settings of breaker plates in horizontal shaft impact rock crushers. 
     It is another advantage to permit breaker plate locking nut adjustments to be made without requiring the use of locking nut-engaging tools. 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for adjusting and securing the settings of breaker plates on horizontal shaft impact crushers, designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “tool-less” manner in a sense that the need to use a wrench or other tool to unlock an adjusting nut for a breaker plate tension rod has been eliminated. 
     Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a horizontal shaft impact crusher having a breaker plate tension rod nut rotation prevention device coupled to two nuts on the tension rod. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a horizontal shaft impact crusher of the present invention, employing a novel breaker plate adjusting tension rod nut locking assembly. 
     FIG. 2 is a close-up elevational view of a breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly which is shown in the dashed lines of FIG.  1 . The dashed lines in this figure show the underlying shaft. 
     FIG. 3 is a close-up top view of the breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 4 is a close-up elevational view of the breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly of FIG. 2 from an orthogonal direction with respect to FIG.  2 . The dashed lines in this figure show the underlying shaft. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a rock crushing system of the present invention generally designated  100 , including a horizontal shaft rotor  10 , a feed opening  12 , a primary breaker plate  14 , a secondary breaker plate  16  and a discharge opening  18 . Primary breaker plate  14  and secondary breaker plate  16  are coupled to the crusher  100  by primary breaker plate pivot shaft  24  and secondary breaker plate pivot shaft  26  respectively. Also shown in FIG. 1 are primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  and secondary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  46 , which are used to adjust the distance from rotor hammer circle  102  to primary breaker plate  14  and secondary breaker plate  16 , respectively. 
     A more detailed understanding of the present invention can be achieved by now referring to FIG. 2, which shows the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  in a close-up side or elevational view. Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  includes a primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod threaded shaft  440 , which is shown with a dashed line because it is disposed out of sight, which extends through a bore in the crusher  100  and couples to primary breaker plate  14 . Coupled to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod threaded shaft  440  is primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 , which is used to set or limit the distance between the rotor  10  and the rotor hammer circle  102 . Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  is shown disposed above primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  may be an elongated member extending between primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  and additional breaker plate adjusting tension rod assemblies (not shown) disposed a distance away from primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44 . Alternative primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  may be any member which couples to a portion of the crusher frame to prevent rotation of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  is shown, in cross-section, as a channel, but it may take various shapes, such as a tube, a Z, or an angle, cross-section, or the like. 
     Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod threaded shaft  440  has a primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  disposed thereon and attached thereto, which is preferably elongated so as to be readily grasped by a human hand and to completely cover the end of shaft  440 . Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  extends to meet with an inside portion of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . Coupled to the bottom of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  is breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448 , which can be any device having one or more internal surfaces which bear on primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445  so as to prevent it from rotating. Breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  can be fixed to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  by any suitable means, such as bolts, pins, clamps, rivets, welding, etc. In applications where primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  couples to additional breaker plate adjusting tension rod assemblies, the requisite timing or adjusting nut alignment between the two or more assemblies can be finer, the more flat bearing surfaces there are on the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . The requisite timing may be even finer if the breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  has an internal pattern that matches two or more patterns of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . 
     Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  is used to hold primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  in place, so that breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  does not separate from primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . However, due to the vibration of the crusher, primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  would be susceptible to loosening if not otherwise restricted. Breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  is preferably a loose retainer that slips over primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447 . Breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  bears, with one or more flat surfaces of its inside, against and prevents relative rotation with primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  and bears, with its outside, against and prevents relative rotation with a leg or other portion of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . The exterior shape of breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  may be rectangular or any shape which prevents it from rotating freely with respect to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . 
     Breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  may be prevented from jumping out of engagement with primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  by any means, including clamps, pins, bolts, chains, cables, or other loose fastening devices. Locking nut retainer retaining pin  450  is one example of a device employed to prevent breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  from sliding so far up primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  that breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  is above and, therefore, free of restrictive engagement with primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . Breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  need not be held tightly against primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  to prevent it from slipping over the top of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447 . Similarly, primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  need not be held tightly against primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . It is sufficient that it (primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447 ) be close enough to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  to prevent breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  from slipping off the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . 
     An even more detailed understanding of the present invention may be achieved by now referring to FIG. 3, which shows a close-up top or plan view of a portion of the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  of FIG. 4, which clearly shows the relationship of primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  with respect to breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449 . It also shows clearly the orientation of a locking nut retainer retaining pin  450  with respect to breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  and primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . 
     FIG. 4 is another close-up side or elevational view of the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  of FIG. 2 which is shown from an angle which is orthogonal to that of FIG.  2 . Shaft  440  is shown with dashed lines, as it is disposed inside nut  447 . 
     In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described in 
     FIGS. 1-4, could function as follows to permit an adjustment of a primary breaker plate  14 : 
     Firstly, primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly  44  is configured as shown in FIGS. 1-4. 
     Secondly, the load or weight on the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod nut  445  is reduced, in any appropriate manner, such as using a hydraulic assist system or tipping the crusher or a portion of it to reduce the weight. 
     Locking nut retainer retaining pin  450  is then removed by pulling it from an orifice in primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . Since breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  need not be held tightly against primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 , locking nut retainer retaining pin  450  should be free to be removed without tools. 
     With locking nut retainer retaining pin  450  removed, breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  is slipped above primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 , and the primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  is loosened or retracted by hand by a distance greater than the effective height of breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448 , plus any amount that primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445  may need to be retracted. (This assumes the adjustment is not calling for primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445  to be advanced.) 
     Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  and breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  are lifted off primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . 
     Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445  then is adjusted to a new position along primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod threaded shaft  440 , thereby defining a new setting for primary breaker plate  14 . 
     To secure the new setting, primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445  is aligned with a surface of breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448 , and primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  and breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  are slipped onto primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . 
     Primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  is advanced sufficiently close to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  that breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut retainer  448  is not able to move beyond its effective placement with respect to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod adjusting nut  445 . (Note: this need not be a highly tight relationship. It should be sufficient to have primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  merely touching, or even almost touching, primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 .) 
     Breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  is then slipped down primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  into primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446  (assuming primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  is properly aligned with respect to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 ). This prevents primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut  447  from rotating with respect to primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . 
     Lastly, locking nut retainer retaining pin  450  is replaced to assure that breaker plate adjusting tension rod locking nut retainer  449  does not move a distance sufficient to be free from engagement with primary breaker plate adjusting tension rod bridge  446 . 
     Following the above procedure, it is possible to adjust and re-secure at a new fixed position, primary breaker plate  14  without the use of tools. 
     Throughout this description, reference is made to primary breaker plates; however, it should be understood that the breaker plate adjusting tension rod assembly of the present invention is intended to be used with secondary and other breaker plates as well. 
     It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.