Abstract:
The present invention concerns a system for sealing between a rock processing equipment, such as a vibrating screen and a stationary cover or other part. A sealing strip is arranged between the vibrating screen and the stationary cover. The sealing strip is attached to snap profiles fixed to the vibrating screen and the stationary cover, respectively. The sealing strip is fixed to the snap profiles by means of grip strips. The sealing strip is placed slanted in relation to the sides of the vibrating screen and stationary cover, respectively.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Swedish Application No. 0701480-6 filed Jun. 15, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention concerns dust sealing between a rock processing equipment, such as a vibrating screen, feeder, hopper, chute, crusher or the like, and a cover or other part. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As used in this description the terms “upper”, “lower” and similar expressions are in relation to the directions as shown in the drawings. 
         [0004]    In rock processing systems, rocks and large stones are first fed to a crusher and then the crushed material is transported to a vibrating screen or the like. In the crushers, screens and in the transports in and out of the different machines, there is often a relatively extensive dust formation. There is a general ambition to encapsulate the dust in and between the different machines and transport devices. In order to have dust encapsulation, it is known to arrange some kind of cover on the rock processing equipment. 
         [0005]    It is further known to place a sealing strip between the rock processing equipment and the cover. The sealing strip is normally made of a polymeric material, such as rubber. During use, the sealing strip may flex alternately outwards and inwards, depending on possible movements of the rock processing equipment. As the sealing strip is flexing in several directions, it is likely to rupture after a relatively short time, due to the flexing back and forward. For example a vibrating screen will normally move about 8-12 mm back and forward. However at start and especially at stop, the vibrating screen may move considerably more, due to natural oscillation. 
         [0006]    For ease of description, the expression “vibrating screen” is mainly used in this description, but it should be construed broadly to also cover “feeder”, “hopper”, “chute”, “crusher” etc. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    One object of the present invention is to have a dust sealing in the form of a module system, for easy handling. No welding is used and no metal parts. The weight is kept low by not using metals. A further object is to control flexing of the sealing strip. According to the invention, this is done in that the sealing strip, is arranged slanted in relation to the sides of the vibrating screen and stationary cover, respectively. 
         [0008]    By the slanting of the sealing strip the flexing of the sealing strip will be limited to one direction, thus, it will not flex at random back and forth over a central position. 
         [0009]    Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obvious to a person skilled in the art when reading the detailed description below of at present preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be described further below by way of examples and with reference to the enclosed drawings. In the drawings, 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a vibrating screen, a stationary cover and a sealing to be placed between the vibrating screen and the stationary cover, 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a sealing according to the present invention, 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the vibrating screen, the stationary cover and the sealing of  FIG. 1  showing the parts in use, 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a part of a snap profile according to the present invention, and 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a part of a grip strip according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In  FIG. 1 , a vibrating screen  1 , a stationary cover  2  and a sealing strip  3  are shown schematically. The sealing strip  3  is to be placed between the vibrating screen  1  and the stationary cover  2  to seal against dust leaving the vibrating screen  1 . Normally, the stationary cover  2  has an opening through which the gravel etc. is fed to the vibrating screen  1  or feeder. 
         [0017]    To attach the sealing strip  3  to the vibrating screen  1  and the stationary cover  2 , respectively, snap profiles  4  are fixed on both the vibrating screen  1  and the stationary cover  2 . The sealing strip  3  is then mounted to the snap profiles  4  by way of grip strips  5 . 
         [0018]    The snap profiles  4  are fixed close to the edges of the vibrating screen  1  and stationary cover  2 , respectively. The snap profiles  4  have a base  8 , a rib  6  extending at right angles from the base  8 , and a bar  7  placed on top of the rib  6 . The snap profiles  4  are placed all around the vibrating screen  1  and stationary cover  2 , respectively. 
         [0019]    The rib  6  of each snap profile  4  is placed towards one end of the base  8 . In use, the snap profiles  4  are placed with the ribs  6  facing each other for snap profiles  4  placed across from each other on the vibrating screen  1  and stationary cover  2 , respectively. The bar  7  at the top of each rib  6  has a generally round cross section. The snap profiles  4  are both straight parts and parts having different curvatures, adapted to the curvatures of the vibrating screen  1  and the stationary cover  2 , respectively. Thus, snap profiles  4  of different shape are placed end to end along the edge of the vibrating screen  1  and the stationary cover  2 , respectively. 
         [0020]    The base  8  of each snap profile  4  is fixed close to an edge of the vibrating screen  1  or stationary cover  2  by way of a suitable adhesive. On the side facing the vibrating screen  1  or the stationary cover  2 , the base  8  of the snap profile  4  has a wave form. The wave form is given by a number of valleys and ridges, extending in the longitudinal direction of the snap profile  4 . By the wave form, the adherence to the different parts is enhanced. 
         [0021]    In other embodiments, the snap profiles are fixed to the vibrating screen  1  or stationary cover  2  by way of bolts, tapes etc. At the upper side of the base  8 , there is a raised portion  9  at the end remote from the rib  6 . Thus, a recess is formed between the rib  6  and the raised portion  9  of each snap profile  4 . The recess may be used as a guide for bands, washers etc. used for mechanical fixation of the snap profiles  4 . 
         [0022]    The grip strips  5  are to be snapped onto the snap profiles  4 . The grip strips  5  extend all the way along the snap profiles  4 . The grip strips  5  have an upper round part  10 , in the form of an open ring, having a gap  11 . An extension  13  protrudes downwards from one side of the opening of the upper round part  10 . The lower end  14  of the extension  13  is rounded. Also the part of the grip strip  5  at the other side of the opening has a rounded lower end, in order to guide the sealing strip  3 . The open space inside the round part  10  is to be placed on the round bar  7  of the snap profile  4 . The rib  6  of the snap profile  4  is to be placed in the gap  11  of the round part  10 . The grip strip  5  is made of an elastic material and the shapes of the round part  10  and its gap  11  is adapted to the bars  7  and ribs of the snap profiles  4  in such a way that the grip strips  5  can be snapped around the bars  7 . At the gap  11  of the round part  10 , edges  12  are placed on each side of the gap  11  and facing each other. The grip strips  5  will also give some shock absorption, due to the elastic material of the grip strips  5 . In the same way as for the snap profiles  4 , the grip strips  5  are alternating straight parts and parts having different curvatures. The grip strips  5  have identical cross section but are placed differently depending on where they are placed. 
         [0023]    The sealing strip  3  is either made in one piece, as a band, or in several pieces glued together. By making the sealing strip  3  of several pieces, it is easier to adapt the sealing strip  3  to different curvatures. The sealing strip  3  is normally made of a polymeric material, such as rubber. 
         [0024]    In use, the snap profiles  4  are first fixed to the sides of the vibrating screen  1 , or other rock processing equipment, and the stationary cover  2 , respectively. Then the sealing strip  3  is fixed to the snap profiles  4  by way of the grip strips  5 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , on the snap profile  4  of the vibrating screen  1 , the extensions  13  of the grip strips  5  are placed on the side directed towards the stationary cover  2 . The grip strips  5  are placed on the snap profiles  4  of the stationary cover  2  with the extensions  13  on the side directed away from the vibrating screen  1 . Thus, the sealing strip  3  will incline towards the vibrating screen  1 . In other embodiments, the grip strips  5  are turned 180°, whereby the sealing strip  3  will incline towards the stationary cover  2 . By controlling the lengths of the extensions  13  in direction towards the vibrating screen  1  or stationary cover  2 , it is possible to control the inclination of the sealing strip  3 . The sealing strip  3  is normally not held under tension between the vibrating screen  1  and stationary cover  2 , but is kept slightly loose. 
         [0025]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additions, deletions, modifications, and substitutions not specifically described may be made without department from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.