Abstract:
A bulk material handling assembly comprises a pair of spaced-apart walls, an elongate vibrator, a pair of saddle clamps, and a pair of locking members. The saddle clamps encircle and releasably secure the axial end portions of the vibrator to the spaced-apart walls of the bulk material handling assembly. The locking members are secured to the saddle clamps and to the end portions of the vibrator.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention pertains generally to bulk material handling assemblies including, but not limited to, bulk material feeders, screen separators, and chutes. More specifically, the present invention pertains to such assemblies that include vibrators used to shake the assemblies so as to prevent bulk material stagnation or to promote bulk material separation. In particular, the present invention pertains to a saddle clamp mounting system for attaching a vibrator to a bulk material handling assembly. 
         [0006]    2. General Background 
         [0007]    The use of vibrators on bulk material handling systems is well known. Vibrators are often used on assemblies such as bulk material feeders, screen separators, chutes, and hoppers. There are several common methods of attaching vibrators to such bulk material handling assemblies. One way of doing so is to configure the vibrator as an elongate tube that spans the distance between two spaced-apart walls of the assembly. An example of this type of mounting system is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,642, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another way of attaching vibrators to such bulk material handling assemblies is to provide the vibrators with a foot mounting system that is configured to mount the vibrator against a single flat surface. Such a vibrator is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/458,582, filed on Apr. 27, 1012, which also is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In either case, the weight of the vibrators makes it difficult for service personnel to align the vibrators properly during installation or replacement of such vibrators. Thus, there remains a need for a mounting system that facilitates the installation of vibrators and that is still robust. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In one aspect of the invention, a bulk material handling assembly comprises a pair of spaced-apart walls, an elongate vibrator, a pair of saddle clamps, and a pair of locking members. The elongate vibrator has a longitudinal axis and axially opposite end portions. The vibrator is configured to induce vibrations acting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vibrator. Each of the saddle clamps comprises first and second clamp halves that are releasably secured to each other. One of the pair of saddle clamps encircles and releasably secures one of the axial end portions of the vibrator to one of the spaced-apart walls of the bulk material handling assembly. The other of the pair of saddle clamps encircles and releasably secures the other of the axial end portions of the vibrator to the other of the spaced-apart walls of the bulk material handling assembly. One of the locking members is secured to one of the saddle clamps and to said saddle clamp&#39;s respective end portion of the vibrator. The other of the locking members is secured to the other of the saddle clamps and to said saddle clamp&#39;s respective end portion of the vibrator. 
         [0009]    Another aspect of the invention pertains to a method of securing an elongate vibrator to a bulk material handling assembly. The vibrator has a longitudinal axis and axially opposite first and second end portions. The vibrator is configured to induce vibrations acting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vibrator. The method comprises accessing a bulk material handling assembly having first and second spaced-apart walls. The method also comprises releasably securing the first end portion of the vibrator to the first wall of the bulk material handling assembly via a first saddle clamp. The first saddle clamp comprises first and second halves. The securing step comprises releasably attaching the first and second halves of the first saddle clamp to each other in a manner such that they collectively encircle the first end portion of the vibrator. The method further comprises releasably securing the second end portion of the vibrator to the second wall of the bulk material handling assembly via a second saddle clamp. The second saddle clamp comprises first and second halves. The securing step comprises releasably attaching the first and second halves of the second saddle clamp to each other in a manner such that they collectively encircle the second end portion of the vibrator. The method still further comprises releasably securing a first locking member to the first saddle clamp and to the first end portion of the vibrator, and releasably securing a second locking member to the second saddle clamp and to the second end portion of the vibrator. 
         [0010]    Yet another aspect of the invention pertains to a method of servicing a bulk material handling assembly. The bulk material handling assembly comprises a pair of spaced-apart walls, an elongate vibrator, a pair of saddle clamps, and a pair of locking members. The elongate vibrator has a longitudinal axis and axially opposite end portions. The vibrator is configured to induce vibrations acting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vibrator. Each of the saddle clamps comprises first and second clamp halves that are releasably secured to each other. One of the pair of saddle clamps encircles and releasably secures one of the axial end portions of the vibrator to one of the spaced-apart walls of the bulk material handling assembly. The other of the pair of saddle clamps encircles and releasably secures the other of the axial end portions of the vibrator to the other of the spaced-apart walls of the bulk material handling assembly. One of the locking members is secured to one of the saddle clamps and said saddle clamp&#39;s respective end portion of the vibrator. The other of the locking members is secured to the other of the saddle clamps and said saddle clamp&#39;s respective end portion of the vibrator. Each of the locking members is ring-shaped and has a central opening. Each of the end portions of the vibrator comprises an access cover. The access covers are removable through the central openings of the locking members. The method comprises removing at least one of the access covers from the vibrator by pulling the access cover through the central opening of one of the locking members. 
         [0011]    Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the operation of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the vibrators being lowered onto the fixed halves of the saddle clamps that are attached to the bulk material handling assembly. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the removable halves of the saddle clamps being attached to the fixed halves of the saddle clamps. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the locking members being attached to the assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the bulk material handling assembly with the vibrators fully installed thereon. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a top view of an elongate vibrator. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of the elongate vibrator shown in  FIG. 5 , and is taken about the line  6 - 6  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the vibrator shown in  FIG. 5 , and is shown with its end housings omitted. 
       
    
    
       [0019]    Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawing figures indicate corresponding items. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]      FIGS. 1-3  depict a preferred method of attaching elongate vibrators  10  to a bulk material handling assembly  12  using a pair of saddle clamps  14 .  FIG. 4  depicts the vibrators  10  fully installed on the bulk material handling assembly  12 . 
         [0021]    Each saddle clamp  14  preferably comprises a fixed half  16  and a removable half  18 . The fixed half  16  of one of the saddle clamps  14  is rigidly attached to a wall  20  of the bulk material handling assembly  12 , preferably via welding. The fixed half  16  of the other saddle clamp  14  is rigidly attached to another wall  20  of the bulk material handling assembly  12 . Each of the saddle clamp halves  16 ,  18  comprises one or more cradles  22 . The number of cradles  22  per clamp half is preferably equal to the number of vibrators  10  being attached to the bulk material handling assembly  12  (as shown, two). Each half of each saddle clamp  14  also preferably comprises a plurality of primary bolt-holes  24 . Preferably, each half comprises at least one or more primary bolt-holes  24  than it has cradles  22  such that a primary bolt-hole  24  is positioned on either side of each cradle  22 . More preferably and as shown, each half comprises two primary bolt-holes  24  for every cradle  22  it has such that the bolts passing therethrough (discussed below) will be evenly loaded. The primary bolt-holes  24  of the fixed half  16  of each saddle clamp  14  are preferably threaded and are configured to align with and face the primary bolt-holes of the removable half  18  (which preferably are not threaded) of that saddle clamp. Each half of each saddle clamp  14  also preferably comprises a plurality of threaded secondary bolt-holes  26 . Each cradle  22  preferably has a semi-cylindrical cradle surface  28  and the secondary bolt-holes  26  are preferably oriented parallel to and circumferentially about each semi-cylindrical cradle surface  28 . 
         [0022]    The attachment means also preferably comprises two locking members  30  per vibrator  10  being attached to the bulk material handling assembly  10 . Each locking member  30  preferably is in the form of a ring-shaped plate having a central opening  32 . Each locking member  30  preferably comprises a plurality of outermost bolt-holes  34  and a plurality of innermost bolt-holes  36 , all of which are oriented circumferentially around the central opening  32  of the locking member. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5-7  depict an example of an elongate vibrator  10  in accordance with the invention. The vibrator  10  has a longitudinal axis and comprises a drive mechanism  38  that is configured to rotationally drive a driveshaft  40  about the longitudinal axis. A pair of eccentric weights  42  are attached to the driveshaft  40  outboard of the drive mechanism  38  and on each axial side of the derive mechanism. As such, the vibrator  10  is configured to induce vibrations in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis when the driveshaft revolves. Each axial end of the vibrator  10  also comprises an end housing  44  that is attached to the respective end of the drive mechanism and that houses the respective eccentric weights  42  and end of the driveshaft  40 . Each end housing  44  also comprises an end portion  46  that is adjacent to an end face  48 . Still further, each end housing  44  further comprises a removable access cover  50  which is encircled by the end face  48 . The end portion  46  is preferably cylindrical or is at least configured to mate with the shape of the cradle surfaces  28  of the saddle clamps  14 . The access cover  50  is configured to provide service personnel access to the eccentric weights  42 . The end face preferably comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged bolt-holes  52 . 
         [0024]    The assembly of the vibrators  10  to the bulk material handling assembly  12  begins by simply lowering each vibrator onto the fixed halves  16  of the saddle clamps  14  in a manner such that the vibrator spans the distance between the walls  20  of the bulk material handling assembly. During this process, one of the end portions  46  of either vibrator  10  engages a cradle surface  28  on the fixed half  16  of one of the saddle clamps  14  and the other end portion of said vibrator engages a cradle surface  28  on the fixed half  16  of the other saddle clamp  14 . Since the cradle surfaces  28  and the end portions  46  of the vibrators  10  are preferably cylindrical, the rotational orientation of the vibrators about their longitudinal axes is not critical at this stage. With the vibrators  10  in position on the fixed halves  16  of the saddle clamps  14 , the removable halves  18  of the saddle clamps  14  are lowered onto the fixed halves of the saddle clamps in a manner such that each end portion  46  of each vibrator  10  is loosely sandwiched by a cradle  22  of the removable half of a saddle clamp  14  and a cradle of the fixed half  16  of said saddle clamp. Bolts are then passed through the primary bolt-holes  24  of the removable halves  18  of the saddle clamps  14  and are loosely threaded into the primary bolt-holes of the fixed halves  16  of the saddle clamps. 
         [0025]    Following the foregoing steps, the locking members  30  are then positioned adjacent the end faces  48  of the vibrators  10  and are rotated until the outermost bolt-holes  34  of each locking member aligns with the corresponding secondary bolt-holes  26  of the saddle clamps  14 . At this point, a few bolts  54  can be passed through the outermost bolt-holes of the locking members  30  and loosely threaded into the secondary bolt-holes  26  of the saddle clamps  14  so as to hold the locking members in place. Then, the vibrators  10  can be rotated about their longitudinal axes circumferentially to a desired orientation that aligns the innermost bolt-holes  36  of the locking members  30  with the bolt-holes  52  in the end faces  48  of the vibrators. Once again, a few bolts  54  can be passed through the innermost bolt-holes  36  of the locking members  30  and loosely threaded into the bolt-holes  52  in the end faces  48  of the vibrators  10  to lock the rotational orientation of the vibrators. The remaining bolts  54  can then be inserted into their respective holes and then all bolts can be tightened, thereby completing the assembly procedure. 
         [0026]    It should be appreciated that these steps need not necessarily be performed in the manner described to achieve the finished assembly. For example, the locking members  30  could be attached to the fixed halves  16  of the saddle clamps  14  prior to attaching the removable halves  18  of the saddle clamps. Thus, the above mentioned assembly procedure is one of several ways to assemble the vibrators  10  to the bulk material handling assembly  12 . Additionally, in order to initially align the fixed halves  16  of the saddle clamps  14  with each other prior to welding or otherwise attaching the fixed halves to the bulk material handling assembly  12 , it should be appreciated that semi-cylindrical cutouts can be made through the walls  20  of the bulk material assembly and then a vibrator having saddle clamps and locking members already attached can be lowered onto the cutouts. The fixed halves  16  of the saddle clamps  14  can then be welded to the walls  20  while still attached to the vibrator  10 . Thus a vibrator can be used to ensure that the fixed halves of the saddle clamps are aligned during welding. 
         [0027]    As assembled, vibrational loads generated by the vibrators  10  are carried by the saddle clamps  14 . The locking members  30  may also carry a portion of the loads. When service personnel need to service the eccentric weights  42  of one of the vibrators  10 , they can reach through the central openings  32  of the locking members  30  to remove the access covers  50  of the vibrator without disturbing the rest of the assembly. 
         [0028]    In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the invention achieves several advantages over prior art vibrator attachment means. For example, using the invention, vibrators can be attached to bulk material handling assemblies with relative ease, and likewise, can be replaced with relative ease. Additionally, using saddle clamps as described herein provides a robust load path between vibrators and bulk material handling assemblies. 
         [0029]    As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents. 
         [0030]    It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations. Still further, the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows are presented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order in which such steps must be performed.