Head bolt tightening tool for a cone crusher head assembly

A head bolt tightening tool for a cone crusher head assembly includes a support which is able to support the head assembly non-rotatably on the support, and a reaction arm equipment which is fitted to the support and which is able to hold a head bolt tightening wrench non-rotatably relative to the support.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a head bolt tightening tool for a cone crusher head assembly.

BACKGROUND

In a cone crusher, a crushing chamber is formed between a stationary outer blade and a movable inner blade. The inner blade is also called a mantle. The mantle is mounted on a movable head (support cone) which is bearing-mounted outside an eccentric. A crushing force is produced in the crushing chamber by moving the head assembly, i.e. the head with the mantle radially with help of the eccentric.

The mantle is forming a changeable inner wear part in the crushing chamber. The mantle is fixed on the movable head by screwing a head bolt through the mantle to the head. Up to now, the fixation of the mantle on the movable head was achieved by hitting a wrench with a hammer for tightening the head bolt. This process is dangerous because of the hazardous working conditions. The operator is in risk of slipping and hitting wrong targets with the hammer.

An object of the invention is to improve the tightening process of the mantle of the cone crusher. A particular object is to improve safety in the workplace.

SUMMARY

According to an example aspect of the invention there is provided a head bolt tightening tool for a cone crusher head assembly, wherein the tool comprises:a support which is able to support the head assembly non-rotatably on the support,a reaction arm equipment which is fitted to the support and which is able to hold a head bolt tightening wrench non-rotatably relative to the support.

Preferably the tightening tool comprises rotation preventing means which are mountable to the support for preventing rotation of the head. Preferably the rotation preventing means is distance adjustable corresponding to various head sizes. Preferably the tool comprises a plurality of pins which are intended to be placed in holes in the head and a support surface comprised by the support. Preferably the support surface comprises pin holes for lower portions of the pins at prescribed distances relative to each other corresponding to the sizes of various head sizes. Preferably the support comprises slides with holes corresponding to the pin holes in the support surface. Preferably the support comprises slides with holes corresponding to the pin holes in the support surface and the slides are lockable in the support opposite the pin holes which correspond to the size of the head involved in the tightening. Preferably the reaction arm equipment comprises a mast and a reaction arm fitted to the mast. Preferably the mast is fitted to the support. Preferably the mast comprises support stages on different heights for level adjustment of the reaction arm. Preferably the tool is intended for a head assembly which comprises a mantle mounted on the head. Preferably the tool comprises a drive sleeve to be placed between the head bolt and the tightening wrench. Preferably the tightening wrench is a torque wrench. Preferably the tightening wrench is a hydraulic wrench.

With the tool the head bolt can be tightened with lesser human force by using a wrench, for example a hydraulic wrench. The tool is simple and robust and can be moved with a fork lift, for instance. With the tool the working conditions during maintenance operations on this crushing equipment can be improved.

Working with the tool allows controlling the tightening torque of the head bolt.

The head bolt can be opened easier manually after the mantle is worn out because the inner thread for the head bolt in the movable head does not break during the controlled tightening of the head bolt.

Preferably the tool is forming a mechanical structure for holding in place the head assembly and simultaneously for holding in place a head bolt tightening linkage such as the wrench. Preferably the tool comprises an assembly of rigid bodies connected with rigid joints to manage tightening forces and movement of the head bolt and to hold the head assembly stationary. An assembly of the tool and the head assembly is preferably forming a closed kinematic chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like numbers denote like elements. It should be appreciated that the illustrated drawings are not entirely in scale, and that the drawings mainly serve the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1shows a head assembly1,2of a cone crusher aligned on a support11of a tool10for tightening of a head bolt4. The head assembly comprises a mantle1mounted on a head2(a support cone2). Part of the tool10is illustrated without the head inFIG. 2. The tool provides for a safe way for tightening the head bolt. With the tool the head can be held stationary during the tightening process of the head bolt. Further the tightening force of a tightening wrench50fitted to the tool10can be transmitted controlled to the head bolt.

The head bolt4is mounted through an upper opening of the mantle1to a threaded hole in the top of the head2shown inFIG. 1. The head bolt4comprises an outer thread which is screwed in an inner thread of the head. An interface5of the inner and outer threads is covered in the upper direction by a torch ring6which is mounted between the head bolt4and the mantle1. The torch ring is transmitting the tightening force from the head bolt to the mantle.

After the mantle1is worn out and shall be disassembled from the head2, usually the torch ring6is cut off wherein the forces in the interface5of the inner and outer threads are released. After that the head bolt is intended to be removed by hand.

The tool10comprises head rotation preventing means mounted to the support11. The support enables to support the head assembly non-rotatably on the support. Preferably the rotation preventing means comprise two pins21, more preferably two pin assemblies20, mounted to the support11(FIG. 1). Even more than two pins may be applied. The tool10further comprises a reaction arm equipment30,31,32which is intended to hold the tightening wrench50stationary (non-rotatably) relative to the support. Preferably the reaction arm equipment comprises a mast30to which a reaction arm32is fitted. The mast30is fitted to the support11. Preferably the mast comprises support stages31on different heights for level adjustment of the reaction arm32depending on the size of the head2. The tool10further comprises a drive sleeve40to be placed between the head bolt and the tightening wrench50.

The pins21are mounted to the support11for stopping the motion of the head2once the head is placed on the support and particularly during the tightening operation. The support11comprises a support surface12on which the head is placed. The pins21are mounted to the support at selected distances from each other depending on the size of the head2. The size (diameter, length etc.) of the pins21is preferably corresponding to the bottom holes3in the involved head size. Preferably the bottom holes3are formed of diametrically opposite oil discharge holes in the bottom portion of the head2. Preferably the pins21are marked with the name of the machine or the corresponding head size. For mounting of the pins at a desired distance there are made pin holes13in the support surface at desired locations. The pin holes13are receiving the lower portion22of the pins and the bottom holes3in the head2are receiving the upper portion of the pins21.

Preferably the pins21are formed as a pin assembly20comprising a body23as shown particularly inFIG. 2. Preferably the pin assemblies20comprise aligning means such as studs24in the body23which are inserted in corresponding stud holes of the support surface12. Preferably the support11comprises slides14which are mounted movable in channels15below the support surface12. The slides14comprise a hole14′ corresponding to the pin holes13in the support surface and the lower portion22of the pins. Preferably two slides14are positioned in place in the support11opposite the pin holes13which correspond to the size of the head involved. Each pin is inserted into the slides14through the support surface12so that the head-tool assembly is correctly in position. The support surface12comprises locking holes16for receiving the locking bolts17which are inserted through the support surface12and tightened in corresponding locking threads of the slides14. Preferably the pin assemblies20comprise fixing means such as fixing holes (not shown in the figures) for receiving the locking bolts17which are inserted through the support surface12and tightened in corresponding locking threads of the slides14. Preferably the locking holes16in the support surface12are longitudinal to enable sliding of the slides14without need to detach the locking bolts17.

The head2may be locked also vertically relative to the support11. The pin assemblies20can be fixed vertically to the support. Preferably the pin assembly20comprises a stop screw25in the body23which allows locking of the head vertically relative to the head assembly20. For aligning the head onto the support11the stop screw25is released to allow the head to be put in place.

After the head assembly1,2is fitted in place on the support11the lifting equipment is removed and the stop screws25are tightened. The head bolt4is screwed by hand to its end stop onto the head. The drive sleeve40is positioned on the head bolt4. Preferably the drive sleeve40is equipped with a lifting ring during lifting for handling the sleeve.

The reaction arm32is lifted on an appropriate level using lifting equipment and fitted on the support stage31of the mast30which is corresponding the size of the head assembly. The mast30may include for instance four distinct support stages31intended for various sizes of crushers.

The tightening wrench50is lifted in place preferably with the reaction arm32. After that the wrench is positioned on the drive sleeve40. During the tightening operation the tightening wrench can be held using lifting equipment to stop it from falling.

The wrench50is preferably hydraulic but also other types of wrenches may be used. Preferably the tightening wrench is torque adjustable. The hydraulic power transmission is safe and controllable because of the minor amount of moving machine elements under compression.

The torque of the hydraulic wrench50can be adjusted by adjusting the pressure of the supplied hydraulic medium. Preferably the operating pressure of the hydraulic wrench of the tool10is adjusted by energizing a hydraulic supply pump for the hydraulic wrench, referring to a pressure gauge of the hydraulic system and operating an adjustable safety valve of the hydraulic system till a prescribed hydraulic pressure is achieved. Preferably the torque adjustment is carried out before placing the torque wrench on the remaining tool equipment. The pressure and torque values are depending on the type of crusher.

The foregoing description provides non-limiting examples of some embodiments of the invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details presented, but that the invention can be implemented in other equivalent means.

Some of the features of the above-disclosed embodiments may be used to advantage without the use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.