Abstract:
A rotating feed distributor for use in connection with rock crushers and other devices is disclosed. The feed distributor has a platform for receiving rocks and a chute having an inlet and outlet wherein the rocks pass through. The feed distributor is designed to reduce wear and evenly distribute rocks into the crusher by providing a sheaveless drive system that efficiently rotates the chute.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to cone crushers used for crushing rocks and, more specifically, feed distributors used in combination with rock crushers and other devices. 
   Generally, a belt conveyor or feeder delivers rocks and stones into a crusher. The rocks will ride up the conveyor, located above the input of the crusher. The rocks will be dumped under the force of gravity into the crusher, which will then crush the rocks into a predetermined size. Preferably, the rocks will pass through a feed distributor, which will assist in dispersing the rocks into the crusher. 
   Since rocks fed into the crusher are not always of the same size and shape, they will not necessarily be crushed to a final uniform size. However, it is preferable to have the crushed rocks be within a relative range and size, which may mean that the rocks and stones need to be recrushed. Furthermore, the final crushed rock product should have a uniform gradation of rock sizes and shapes, rather than having a batch of stones that may contain very fine dust as a product and another batch that only contains larger rocks. Such segregation of the rocks is not advantageous as it can lead to a less saleable end product. In the event the rocks are too large for specifications, the rocks will be recycled back into the crusher to be crushed again. 
   To alleviate problems of nonuniformity, previous designs and inventions have focused on improving the crushers so that the resultant crushed rocks will be more uniform in size. However, it has been observed that one of the reasons for inconsistent rock gradation is that the feed rocks are not evenly distributed into the crusher and arrive in the crusher in a segregated fashion. Rocks will generally fall into the feeder under the force of gravity, which means small rocks will fall together and larger rocks will separately fall together. Consequently, the rocks may not be evenly distributed, which leads to potentially uneven crushing of the rocks. Rocks outside of a predetermined range will need to be recycled, which is not necessarily the most efficient process. 
   Wear of the specific parts of prior feed distributors is also a problem. When rocks-fall upon the distributors and the chutes used in the distributors, the force of gravity tends to wear and erode the distributor components. As a result the components need to be replaced, which leads to more downtime of the system and, consequently, reduces the efficiency of the overall system. 
   Previous inventions, such as Ryan et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,472, discuss devices that will spin rocks into the sides of the crusher. However, the device in Ryan causes buildup within the device, and, since the device is located within the crusher, is not easily cleaned or serviced. Other devices, such as Kemnitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,106,707, contemplate feed distributors, but do not allow for control and efficiency as is found in the present invention. Furthermore, prior art designs have been observed to comprise drive means that are susceptible to dust and dirt and may unduly slip when driving the feed distributor, such as Gasparac et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,720. The present invention addresses this issue by introducing a system for evenly distributing feed rocks into a crusher. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a feed distributor for use in connection with rock crushers. The distributor sits beneath the top end or output end of a conveyor or feeder used in conjunction with a rock crusher. The conveyor or feeder delivers rocks from a supply source to the distributor that is positioned over the crusher input. The distributor receives the rocks onto its feed platform, where the rocks travel from the feed platform into a feed chute comprising an inlet and an outlet. The feed chute has an outer and inner tube, with the outer tube rotating and the inner tube being relatively stationary. The outer tube is driven by a motor coupled to a gear reducer. The use of the two tubes lessens the wear on the feed distributor. The rotating outer tube allows the rocks to be evenly distributed throughout the rock crusher and reduces segregation of the rocks, which improves the efficiency of the rock crusher. 
   The distributor provides for an even distribution of the rocks before entering the crusher, thereby minimizing uneven rock buildup within the crusher and further minimizing the need for recycling of rocks that are not crushed within predetermined limitations. The feed distributor is further designed to protect the power means and other moving parts from dust and other particles, thereby reducing the overall wear on the distributor. The arrangement of the belts and drive means of the distributor also provides for a secure and low maintenance drive system, without the necessity of using a sheave around the rotating outer tube. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of the present invention in combination with a rock crusher and a feed conveyor. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 4A–4B  are sectional side views of the present invention and feedbox receiving rocks. 
       FIG. 5  is overhead view of a crusher used in connection with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims. 
     FIG. 1  shows a side view of a rock crushing system  10  employing the present invention. A plurality of rocks  12  is fed upwards on a conveyor  14 . The conveyor  14  delivers the rocks  12  through a feedbox  16  and into a feed distributor  18 , which is the focus of the present invention. The feed distributor  18  is designed for 360° rotation and delivers the rocks  12  uniformly to the crusher  20 . The distributor  18  may be mounted to the crusher, the conveyor, or may be mounted independently. A frame or mount  19  holds the feed distributor  18  in place over the crusher  20 . The frame  19  can encompass a wide range of shapes and sizes that will adequately mount the distributor  18  over the crusher  20 . The feedbox  16  should be considered a stand-alone feature that is not part of the present invention. The feed distributor  18  passes the rocks  12  into a crusher  20 , which rotates or gyrates and crushes the rocks  12 . The rocks  12  exit below the crusher  20 , possibly onto a second conveyor  22 , which will then take the crushed rocks  12  away to be further sorted, or to be recycled and reprocessed in the rock crushing system  10 . 
     FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the feed distributor  18 . A power means  24  of any sufficient design or size that will adequately allow the distributor  18  to operate powers the feed distributor  18 . The output of the motor  24  is rotationally coupled to a gear reducer  24   a , which in turns drives the necessary components of the feed distributor  18 . The distributor  18  has three main areas that the rocks will encounter when proceeding towards the crusher: a feed platform  26 , an inlet  28 , and an outlet  30 . The inlet  28  and the outlet  30  generally are opposing sections of a tubular chute  32  containing a coextensive bore within the chute  32 , which will be described in more detail with respect to the subsequent figures. When rocks  12  enter into the distributor  18 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the rocks  12  first fill up on the feed platform  26 . After enough rocks have accumulated on the platform  26 , the rocks  12  will pass into the inlet  28 , further traveling through to the outlet  30 , where they will eventually end up in the crusher  20  (see  FIG. 1 ). The inlet  28  comprises a reinforced lip  34 , which helps to extend the life of the inlet  28 . Similarly, a second lip  36  is located around the outlet  30  to also extend the life of the outlet  30 . The lips  34  and  36  may be designed in any fashion, such as from a metal rod or similar material that may be welded to the inlet  28  and the outlet  30 , that will reduce wear on the feed box  16 . 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , the feed distributor  18  comprises a housing  38 , which prevents dust and other debris from interfering with internal components of the feed distributor  18 . The housing  38  may be of any shape that will efficiently protect the internal components and not interfere with the functions of the distributor  18 . Preferably, the housing  38  is designed so that it seals off the inner parts of the distributor  18  from the outside elements. A plurality of brackets  40  is provided on the outside of the housing  38 . The brackets  40  provide an area for the distributor  18  to be mounted onto the frame  19  over the crusher  20  (see  FIG. 1 ). The brackets  40  should be understood to encompass any mounting means that will sufficiently secure the distributor  18  to the crusher  20 . Similarly, the brackets  40  together with the frame  19  may be of any design. For instance, the distributor  18  does not necessarily need to be firmly bolted down, but may be held in place with stop blocks (not shown). 
     FIG. 3  shows a bottom view of the distributor  18 . The output shaft of gear reducer  24   a  (shown in phantom) is coupled to a drive wheel, sheave, or pulley  50 , which is connected to a drive belt  52 . The drive belt  52  surrounds the tubular chute  32 . The drive belt  52  is preferably of a design, such as a micro V-belt, that allows the chute  32  to rotate without a sheave being located on the outside of the chute  32 . As the drive belt  52  passes around the drive wheel  50  to the tubular chute  32 , the drive belt  52  encounters tensioning wheels or pulleys  54 . The tensioning wheel  54 , which may or may not be grooved to more closely resemble the shape of the drive belt  52 , are connected by a crossbar  55  that may be adjusted to fine-tune the overall tension of the drive belt  52 , but generally is not necessary under ordinary operating conditions. The crossbar  55  holds the tensioning wheels  54  close to the chute  32 , which minimizes deflection of the drive belt  52  away from the chute  32 . The biased arrangement of the tensioning wheels  54  allows the drive belt  52  more completely to surround the chute  32 . The more inclusive wrap design of the drive belt  52  is advantageous over previous feed distributors. Because the belt makes more contact with the chute  32 , there is less chance that the belt  52  will slip, which improves the efficiency of the distributor  18 . Furthermore, the arrangement provides for a sheaveless arrangement not found in the prior art. Consequently, less dirt and debris has a chance to interfere with the movement of the belt  52 , thereby lessening the need for maintenance on the system and providing for a more consistent rotation of the chute  32 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tensioning wheels  54  are kept lubricated by corresponding grease fittings  56  located on the outside of the housing  38  (also shown in  FIG. 1 ), which are connected to the tensioning wheels  54  by corresponding hoses or conduits  58  (shown in phantom). Thus, the tensioning wheels  54  may be kept lubricated without having to expose the tensioning wheels  54  and other internal contents of the distributor  18  to dirt and other harmful elements. Likewise, the lubrication means, together with the arrangement of the crossbar  55 , provides for a system that greatly reduces any need to adjust the drive belt  52  or the tensioning wheels  54 . It should be noted that preferably the drive wheel  50  and the gear reducer  24   a  are designed so that they are slidable forward or backwards towards the chute  32  prior to installation within adjusting slots  59 , thereby providing the necessary tension for the drive belt  52 . Once the proper tension is achieved and the gear reducer  24   a  and the drive wheel  50  are secured, minimal adjustments and maintenance are required for the distributor  18  during normal operation. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 3 , a plurality of vertical support means  60  are shown mounted to the housing  38 . The support means  60  preferably are designed as rollers, and are arranged circumferentially around the chute  32 , resting upon an exterior radial flange section  32   a  of the chute  32 . The rollers  60  preferably are arranged in an equally spaced arrangement. Furthermore, the rollers  60  provide vertical support for the chute  32  and assist to keep the chute  32  properly aligned when in use. Combined with the tensioning wheels  54 , which provide horizontal support for the chute  32 , the rollers  60  contribute to the overall stability and efficiency of the feed distributor  18 . Because of the support offered by the tensioning wheels  54  and the rollers  60 , the chute  32  may operate with minimal adjustments during the operating process. 
     FIG. 4  shows a side view of the feed distributor  18 . As discussed in  FIG. 2 , the inlet  28  and the outlet  30  comprise the tubular chute  32 . Located within the inlet  28  is a wear sleeve  62 . The wear sleeve  62  preferably extends a distance above the inlet  28  and also a distance below the inlet  28 . Previously stated, the lip  34  helps to extend the life of the inlet  28 . When the wear sleeve  62  is employed in the feed distributor  18 , the previously described lip  34  is located at the top of the wear sleeve  62 . While the wear sleeve  62  may be secured to the inlet  28 , it preferably rests upon the feed platform  26 . A laterally extending flange  64  assists in the wear sleeve  62  resting on the feed platform  26 . When worn down, the wear sleeve  62  may be easily removed and replaced with a new sleeve. 
   The platform  26 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , preferably has a square shape, with the inlet  28  and the wear sleeve  62  centered within the platform  26 . The height of the platform  26  is shown as being approximately the same height that the wear sleeve  62  extends upwardly from the inlet  28 . However, any height that will allow the platform to operate as a rock bed for the distributor  18  will suffice. 
   Further in  FIG. 4 , the outlet  30  has a base  66 , an open side  68 , and at least one closed side  70 . The open side  68  and the closed side or sides  70  extend laterally upward from the base  66 . Preferably, the closed side  70  has a curvilinear shape (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), which prevents rocks from unnecessarily building up in the corners of the outlet  30 . However, the outlet  30  may have straight sides  70 , forming such other geometric shapes, and still fall within the scope of the invention. The outlet  30  is relatively large, thereby increasing throughput capacity of the distributor  18 . 
   Referring further to  FIG. 4 , the motor  24  and the gear reducer  24   a  are shown connected to a shaft  72 , which drives the drive wheel  50 . The drive wheel  50  rotates the drive belt  52 , which passes the tension wheels  54  and passes around the chute  32 , causing the chute  32  to rotate. As the chute  32  rotates, the wear sleeve  62  preferably remains stationary, which contributes to even wear of the sleeve  62 , thereby extending the life of the wear sleeve  62 . 
     FIG. 4A  shows a side view of the distributor  18  with rocks  12  being fed into the distributor  18 . As previously shown in  FIG. 1 , the feedbox  16  is located directly over the platform  26 . A suitable feedbox  16  will securely fit onto the platform  26  in a way that will contribute to the platform  26  acting as an accumulator or “dead bed”  74  for the distributor  18 . The dead bed  74  decreases wear on the distributor  18 , the chute  32 , and the wear sleeve  62 . Because the rocks  12  build up on the platform  26  as opposed to constantly falling down upon the chute  32  and the wear sleeve  62 , the wear will be reduced, because there is rock on rock sliding, as opposed to rock on distributor sliding. 
     FIG. 4B  shows the distributor  18  of  FIG. 4A  after more rocks  12  have fed been into the distributor  18 . A second dead bed  76  is formed in the outlet  30 , defined by the base  66  and the closed side  70 . The second dead bed  76  further reduces wear on the chute  32  and the base  66 . Furthermore, the sloped shape of the dead bed  76  allows the rocks  12  to easily exit the outlet  30  without unnecessary wear on the chute  32 . However, the rotation of the chute  32  still provides that the rocks  12  are evenly distributed. 
     FIG. 5  shows an overhead view of the crusher  20  and the chute  32 . Because of the arrangement of the present design, the rocks  12  are evenly distributed throughout the crusher  20 . Because the rocks  12  are fed into the crusher  20  with less size segregation, the crusher  20  will more efficiently crush the rocks  12 . Likewise, it is advantageous that the chute  32  is centered over the crusher  20  for further uniformity of the rocks  12 . 
   The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.