DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR HOPPERS

Abstract: Device for a hopper (1) for crushed material. The hopper has a downwardly narrowing portion which leeds to an outlet (7) with arcuate lateral edges (6), at which outlet a discharge chute (8) is pivotable between a folded-down position for material discharge and a position for preventing discharge. The chute is provided at its opposite lateral edges (13) with a pair of wedge-shaped deflector plates (15) which, as the chute is pivoted, sweep under the arcuate lateral edges (6) to push material away and prevent it from being jammed between the chute and the lateral edges of the hopper.

Description: Discharge device for hoppers The present invention relates to a device in a hopper for crushed material such as ore and limestone, comprising a downwardly narrowing hopper with an outlet located at its lower end with facing circular arcuate edges and a discharge chute, which is mounted to pivot along a circular arcuate path concentric with the circular arcuate lateral edges between a folded-down position for discharging material from the hopper and a folded-up position to prevent material discharge, said discharge chute having arcuate edge portions conforming to the arcuate edges of the hopper and straight edge portions connected thereto. When such a chute is swung from the open to the closed position the straight portion of the edge of the chute follows a circular arcuate path from a down¬ wardly inclined position to a horizontal position, the straight edge forming the tangent to the arcuate edge of the hopper. A wedge-shaped gap is thereby formed between the edge of the hopper and the straight edge of the chute. Junks of material can jam in this gap and prevent the chute from moving all the way up. The purpose of the present invention is to achieve a device which prevents junks of material from jamming in the gap between the hopper edge and the edge of the chute when the chute is swung up to close the hopper outlet. This is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that the chute is provided at each lateral edge with a deflector plate which extends from the transition area between the arcuate and the straight edge portions and into the straight portion, and lies at least essentially in the same plane as the arcuate edge of the hopper with its upper edge proximate thereto. During the closing movement, the deflector plate sweeps across the underside of the arcuate hopper edge and any junks of material between it and the edge of the chute are pushed away by the front edge of the deflector plate, so that the chute can be moved unimpeded to its closed position. The invention will be described in more detail with reference to an example shown in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig 1 shows a longitudinal section through a schematically shown hopper with a device according to the invention, and Fig 2 shows a cross section through one half of said hopper. 1 designates the lower portion of an upwardly open hopper for crushed material such as ore and the like. The hopper has a rectangular cross section with inclined forward and rear walls 2 and 3 and side walls 4 to produce a downwardly narrowing shape. The side walls 4 have lower vertical portions 5 with circular arcuate edges 6, forming the lateral edges of the hopper outlet 7. A discharge chute generally designated 8, is arranged below the outlet. The chute has a bottom 9 and inclined side walls 10 attached thereto, which have an upper edge with an arcuate portion 11 and a straight portion 12. Vertical wall portions 13 are joined to the inclined side walls 10. The arcuate portion 11 is concentric with the arcuate lateral edges 6 of the hopper. The chute 8 is supported by a pair of supporting arms 14 pivotally mounted in the hopper, which arms are joined to hydraulic operating cylinders (not shown) . The pivot center of the supporting arms 14 coincides with the center of the arc of the lateral edges 6, so that the distance between the arcuate lateral edges 6 of the hopper and the arcuate edge portions 11 of the chute are kept constant as the chute is swung. To prevent junks of material from being jammed between the straight edge portions 12 of the chute and the arcuate lateral edges 6 of the hopper when the chute is swung up, a deflector plate 15 in the form of a wedge is welded at one end of each vertical wall portion 13 of the chute. The deflector 15 has an arcuate upper edge 16 which lies close to the arcuate lateral edge 6, as is clearly shown in Fig 1. When the chute is swung from the position shown in Fig 1 with solid lines to the position shown with dashed lines, the front edge 17 of the deflector will push material out of its way so that the chute can be swung unimpeded to its closed position, i.e. with bottom line horizon¬ tal. By virtue of the fact that the deflector 15 is wedge-shaped and extends backwards all the way to the arcuate edge portion 11 of the chute, there is no possibility of material being jammed behind the deflector and preventing the chute from being swung down. Material which is pushed forward by the deflector 15 when the chute is swung up can if needed be pushed into a gap 18 between the front wall 2 of the hopper 1 and a plate 19.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Arrangement in a hopper for crushed material such as ore and limestone, comprising a downwardly narrowing hopper with an outlet located at its lower end with facing circular arcuate edges and a discharge chute, which is mounted to pivot along a circular arcuate path concentric with the circular arcuate lateral edges between a folded-down position for discharging material from the hopper and a folded-up position to prevent material discharge, said .discharge chute having arcuate edge portions conforming to the arcuate edges of the hopper and straight edge portions connected thereto, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the chute (7) is provided at each lateral edge with a deflector plate (15) which extends from the transition area between the arcuate and the straight edge portions (11 and 12, respectively) and into the straight portion, and lies at least essentially in the same plane as the arcuate edge (β. of the hopper with its upper edge proximate thereto. 2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the deflector plate (15) is wedge-shaped with an upper edge (16) with a shape conforming to the arcuate edge (6) of the hopper and lying close to the hopper edge. 3. Arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deflector plate (15) when the chute (7) is folded-down, has one end at one end edge of the arcuate hopper edge (6) and in the folded- up position of the chute has its opposite end at the opposite end of the arcuate chute edge (6). 4. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the hopper (1) is provided at its lower end with a fixed plate (19) running transverse to the lateral edges and spaced from a transverse hopper wall (2), and having a lower edge which when the chute is folded-up lies close to the straight edge portion (12) of the chute.

Inventors: SANDWALL NILS, SANDWALL, NILS
Applicants: CONSILIUM MARINE AB
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B65G65
IPC codes: B65D90, B65G65