Abstract:
A machine frame ( 1 ) for a roll press. This machine frame has an axial frame ( 2 ) for absorbing axial forces developing due to the operation and at least two radial frames ( 3 ) for absorbing radial forces developing due to the operation. The elements ( 36 ) of the radial frame ( 3 ), which absorb the radial forces, are mounted elastically in the machine frame ( 1 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2014 223 524.3 filed Nov. 18, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention pertains to a machine frame for a roll press. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Roll presses are machines for the size reduction of material beds with usually two rollers, which are also called rolls and are arranged in a machine frame. To reduce the size of beds of material, the particles are drawn into a roll gap, pressed against one another by the high pressure exerted by the rolls and they mutually reduce each other&#39;s size. One of the rolls is usually designed as a fixed roll and one as a movable roll. Roll presses are also called cylinder crushers or roller presses and are used in cement production as well as in mining. 
         [0004]    The machine frame must absorb the strong radial forces and, moreover, the occurring axial forces. A twisting of the machine frame is to be avoided, because such leads to incorrect positioning of the rolls and hence to an inhomogeneous pressure distribution accompanied by a deterioration of the result of size reduction. The rolls are guided with their bearings in the machine frame and are held in position in the axial direction, and an oblique position and the possibility of a horizontal motion of the rolls and the bearing thereof in the frame are at the same time made possible. The movable roll has a markedly greater freedom of motion than the fixed roll due to being supported by hydraulic cylinders. 
         [0005]    It is regularly necessary for maintenance and repairs to remove the rolls from the machine frame. End pieces that can be quickly removed, by means of which the frame can be opened on one side and the rolls can be removed in the horizontal direction, are frequently provided for this on at least one side of the frame. 
         [0006]    DE 10 2005 061 085 A1 describes a roll press, which has a cuboid, closed frame, comprising an upper chord and a lower chord. The radial forces are absorbed by the chords as pulling forces. The axial forces are introduced into supports, which are fastened laterally to the chords and axially define the rolls. The chords are also loaded now with a component of the weight of the rolls. The drawback of this machine frame for a roll press is the heavy weight and the great effort needed for disassembly for repair purposes. 
         [0007]    DE 10 2005 045 273 A1 shows a roll press, having a machine frame comprising a plurality of welded elements, which are connected to one another by a shearing pin screw connection. The mounted rolls, one being a movable roll with hydraulic support and the other being a fixed roll, are guided slidingly with low friction in the frame. The closed frame absorbs the pressing forces in the radial and axial directions and therefore has a correspondingly rigid design. The frame can be opened easily and rapidly on the fixed roll side, so that the mounted rolls can be rapidly removed and installed in the horizontal direction. The drawback is that the manufacture of this frame requires a large amount of material and is therefore cost-intensive. The repair of the frame is expensive as well. 
         [0008]    DE 10 2010 015 374 A1 also shows a machine frame for a roll press. The frame is likewise of a cuboid design, but the screw and pin connections were replaced by welded connections by means of a U-shaped connection piece having two legs (tuning fork shape). This frame has a markedly lower weight than the above-described one, but it can absorb the occurring axial forces to a limited extent only because of the “open” frame design on one side, which is dictated by the function, and it would therefore disadvantageously twist during operation. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    An object of the present invention is to propose a machine frame of a simple design for a roll press, which machine frame can be manufactured easily and mounted rapidly and which can absorb the radial and axial forces occurring without twisting. 
         [0010]    The object is accomplished by the machine frame being subdivided according to the acting forces into mutually intersecting frame parts. The machine frame according to the present invention for a roll press has an axial frame and at least two radial frames. The terms axial frame and radial frame mean that the axial frame absorbs the axial forces of the rolls, especially the weight, and forces that develop in case of an oblique position of the movable roll, and the radial frame absorbs the radial forces of the rolls, especially the pressing forces. The radial frame is consequently aligned at right angles to the axes of rotation of the rolls. The radial frames are of a rectangular design, i.e., they form a flat formation each with four support-like frame elements. The planes formed by the individual frames are connected in the assembled state such that they are arranged at right angles crosswise and thus form a cuboid. The means for absorbing the radial forces are not mounted rigidly but elastically in the machine frame. As a result, the radial forces are advantageously not transmitted to the axial frame. 
         [0011]    In another preferred embodiment of the machine frame according to the present invention, the upper part and the lower part of the axial frame have sliding means for the sliding motion of the mounted rolls, preferably guideways. The lower part of the axial frame thus absorbs the weight of the rolls, in addition to the axially acting operating forces. A horizontal, low-friction sliding of the hydraulically supported movable roll in the frame is preferably achieved by the Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE))/polished chromium sheet sliding pairing. Polished chromium sheets are preferably arranged on the upper part and lower part of the axial frame, and chambered sliding plates made of Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)) are located as an opposing sliding surface on the bearing housing. The individual elements of this sliding pairing are preferably screwed together and can thus advantageously be replaced in a simple manner as a part subject to wear. 
         [0012]    “Chambered” is defined such that the sliding plate made of Teflon is arranged in a depression in a support plate, so that the depression holds the sliding plate made of Teflon, and the edges of the opening in the support plate absorb the shear forces. The screw connection and/or bonding of the sliding plate must ensure as a result only the fixation of the sliding plate in the support plate. 
         [0013]    In another preferred embodiment, the upper part and the lower part of the axial frame have, extending parallel to the radial frame on the outside, carrier plates with sliding rails. 
         [0014]    Sliding and guide elements, via which the rolls are guided displaceably on the support plates, are arranged on the housings of the roller bearings, so that both the degree of freedom of the movable roll necessary during the operation of the roll press and the installation and removal of the rolls are possible. This sliding and guide system also contains outer guides, via which the occurring axial forces are introduced into the axial frame. 
         [0015]    In another preferred embodiment of the machine frame according to the present invention, the radial frames have long sides and short sides, the long sides being arranged horizontally in the assembled state and the short sides being vertical. In the radial frame, the long sides comprise a chord system each, which has, designated according to the site of installation, upper chords or lower chords (close to the floor in the installed state). The short sides of the radial frames are called vertical spars. The chords are mounted in the chord system in elastic damping elements. The radial operating force is introduced into the chords via the vertical spars. There is a positive-locking connection between the chords and the vertical spars. The machine frame according to the present invention has no shearing pin screw connection between the chords and the force absorption points (chord contact surfaces for the vertical spars). The chords are subjected to tension in the stretching direction by the radial operating forces. The chords are preferably manufactured from steel plate or wide flat steel. 
         [0016]    The radial frame preferably has the following design. The vertical spars comprise two vertically arranged, spar-like side parts extending parallel, which are connected to one another at the upper end by the axis of rotation of a hinge (vertical spar pair). The hinge is preferably fastened by means of an axis of rotation with slide bearing and slotted ground nuts. The axis of rotation carries a suspension hinge between the two spar-like side parts. The suspension hinge has a lower link. The lower link has a lower link catch hook. The upper end of the vertical spars is fastened to the axial frame by means of the lower link catch hook of the hinge. Due to these oscillating individual spars being connected via an axis of rotation and to the link geometry, the force absorption points of the chord systems are automatically contacted when these are suspended in the lower link catch hooks. The link geometry brings about a partial conversion of the vertically acting weight into a horizontal force component. The lower link catch hook, fastened to the axial frame, has a spherical mounting piece, which meshes with a complementarily shaped counterpiece of the lower link balls at the suspension hinge of the vertical spars, while preserving the degrees of freedom of motion. 
         [0017]    The lower end of the vertical frame end pieces is inserted into cavities, which are formed from the lower axial frame, a closing part and the lower chords. The side parts preferably have insertion surfaces for this at their lower end, preferably on the sides directed away from the hinge. These insertion surfaces facilitate the insertion of the side parts into the cavities. They are preferably shaped conically for this. The insertion surfaces especially preferably have sliding coatings (for example, Teflon). 
         [0018]    The upper and lower chords are preferably configured as two chords extending parallel to one another, which are called double chords. The chord system may also have an individual chord each with a forged head part welded to same. The double chords are connected to one another at their head ends with special hammer head-like welded constructions, the head connections. The chords extend through and between the two side parts of the vertical spars, which said side parts extend parallel. The vertical spars are supported on the head parts for head connections of the chords in the direction of the radial force. At the ends directed away from the vertical spars, the chords have an elastic damping element. The damping element of the chords is prestressed by an amount (path) that arises from the longitudinal stretching resulting from the operating force. The elastic mounting of the chords, which is prestressed by a defined path, is nearly relieved of load, i.e., stress-free during operation at nominal force. 
         [0019]    The complicated shearing pin screw connection between the chords and the force absorption points is replaced by a welded or forged connection in this embodiment of the frame and belongs to the chord system. The mechanical connection between the vertical spar and the chord can thus be considerably stabilized and the transmission of torque improved. 
         [0020]    The absorption of the radial forces and the absorption of the axial forces are advantageously separated to the greatest extent possible and a mutual influence was ruled out to the greatest extent possible due to the design according to the present invention of the machine frame. The shocks occurring during the operation are also reduced by the damping element. In addition, the machine frame has a simple design and individual parts of the frame can easily be replaced. Last but not least, the weight-optimized chord systems are kept parallel by the axial frame, and auxiliary supports are advantageously unnecessary. 
         [0021]    The chord systems absorb no weights from the mounted rolls and thus also have no sliding elements for moving the movable roll. The chords are thus advantageously purely tensioned by the radial forces and undergo a symmetrical stretching that is proper for the component. Due to the lack of sliding elements, the chord systems do not need to be machined over the length in a sliding-optimized manner and can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. 
         [0022]    In another preferred embodiment of the machine frame according to the present invention, at least one of the vertical spar pairs of the radial frame is detachable. The vertical spars can thus advantageously be removed rapidly for removing the rolls. 
         [0023]    In another preferred embodiment of the machine frame according to the present invention, the bearing housings of both rolls are supported in the radial frames in the horizontal direction. One of the two vertical spar pairs of a radial frame has a contact surface for this for mounting a movable roll and the other has a contact surface for mounting a fixed roll. Support is preferably ensured via a rubber thrust bearing on the fixed roll side and via a rubber thrust bearing and hydraulic cylinder on the movable roll side. 
         [0024]    In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a foundation plate is located under the machine frame. This foundation plate can form the support located close to the floor for the individual frames. The foundation plate is preferably manufactured by means of welded connections. Axial and radial frame parts can preferably be connected at the foundation plate by means of screw connections. The separate foundation plate, which can be aligned in a simple manner, advantageously offers a platform, which makes it possible to build up the drive and frame parts of a roll press in a simple manner and rapidly. 
         [0025]    In another preferred embodiment, the axial frame and the radial frame are screwed to one another each via the chord system of the radial frame. In addition to the above-described chords, a chord system comprises box-like frame elements. These preferably have parallel longitudinal beam elements, between which the chords extend. The longitudinal beam elements are screwed to the upper and lower parts of the axial frame, and the radial operating forces are not transmitted according to the present invention to the axial frame elements via the screw connection due to the elastic mounting of the chords in the box-like frame elements. Furthermore, the box-like frame elements of a chord system and the axial frame are connected to one another by a vertical pin as a plug-in centering connection. The machine frame can be assembled and disassembled in a simple manner because of the screw connections, and repairs are also simpler than in case of a multipart frame welded together from horizontal and vertical frame components. 
         [0026]    In another preferred embodiment, the radial frames are smaller than the axial frames, so that the radial frames are located within the axial frame in the assembled state. This means, so to speak, that the rolls fit through the axial frame in a direction at right angles to their axis of rotation. The removal of the rolls is thus advantageously simplified even more, because the axial frame does not have to be removed. 
         [0027]    The so-called cross frame according to the present invention advantageously makes it possible to clearly separate the forces into the frame components intended for them, i.e., the axial frame absorbs the axial forces and the radial frames absorb the radial forces. In addition, the radial frames no longer have to absorb any weights of the rolls due to the design of the roll mounts, so that no bending moments but, to a great extent, only tensile forces act on the radial frames. Due to the fact that the axial frame does not have to be designed for absorbing the radial operating forces, the axial frame can be configured as a markedly more lightweight frame than prior-art frame forms, and a weight reduction is achieved. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, the rolls can be removed in a very simple manner and preferably in the direction of the fixed roller because of the two large axial frames, through which the rolls can be passed. It is also preferable that removal is also possible in the direction of the movable roll. 
         [0029]    In addition, the design of the frame as a modular system is very advantageous, because different frame components can be used for roll presses of various sizes. 
         [0030]    The present invention will be explained below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures, without being limited to these. 
         [0031]    It is also useful for embodying the present invention to combine the aforementioned designs and embodiments with one another. Preferred variants of the present invention appear from the combinations of the claims or individual features thereof. 
         [0032]    The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    In the drawings: 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the design of a machine frame according to the present invention comprising individual frames, without the rolls; 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing one half of a machine frame according to the present invention, with rolls; 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of the lower chord system of a machine frame according to the present invention; and 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  is a side detail view of the fixed bearing side of the machine frame according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows the design of a machine frame  1  according to the present invention for a roll press. This machine frame  1  has an axial frame  2  with an axial frame upper part  21  and with an axial frame lower part  22 . Two radial frames  3  are arranged at right angles thereto and within the axial frame  2 . A foundation plate  4  is located under the axial frame lower part  22  near the floor. The radial frames have an upper chord system  32  each with an upper chord  321  configured as a double chord and a lower chord system  31  with a lower chord  311  configured as a double chord. The upper and lower chord systems are of identical design. The short sides of the radial frames  3  form vertical spars, which are arranged each as a vertical spar pair  33 . Parallel to the chord systems  31 ,  32 , support plates with sliding rails  23  are arranged at the axial frame upper part  21  and at the axial frame lower part  22 . The rigid components of the outer guides  24  are likewise fastened to the axial frame upper part  21  and to the axial frame lower part  22 . The housing  6  of the rolls, which prevents material being subjected to size reduction from entering the outside from the roll gap during the operation, is indicated at the axial frame lower part  22 . The upper chord system  32  is connected to the axial frame upper part  21  and the lower chord system  31  to the axial frame lower part  22  via screw connections (mounting holes are indicated) as well as via a centering pin  81  each (at the radial frame, hidden at the bottom) with an opposing hole  82  (at the axial frame, hidden at the top). 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  shows a view of one half of a machine frame  1  according to the present invention. Shown are one half of the axial frame  2  with the axial frame upper part  21  and of the axial frame lower part  22  as well as a radial frame  3 , comprising the lower chord system  31  with the lower chord  311 , the upper chord system  32  with the upper chord  321  and two vertical spar pairs  33 . A chord system  31 ,  32  comprises chords  311 ,  321 , which are configured as double chords extending parallel here, and box frame-like brackets, which have longitudinal beam elements  37 . The individual spars each of a vertical spar pair  33  mesh with the spaces between the chords  311 ,  321  and the longitudinal beam elements  37 . The chords  311 ,  321  have special welded constructions or forged head connections  38  at the respective ends. The chords are mounted in elastic damping elements  36  in the chord system. The fixed roll and the movable roll of a roll press usually have a fixed bearing and a movable bearing each. Shown is the fixed bearing-side view of the machine frame with the fixed bearing  51  of the movable roll and with the fixed bearing  52  of the fixed roll  5 , each with bearing housings. Both rolls are supported horizontally in the radial frame  3 . The contact surface for the movable roll bearing  51  can be seen in the form of a rubber thrust bearing with hydraulic cylinder  34 , which is fastened to the vertical spar pair  33 . The fixed roller-side contact surface in the form of a rubber thrust bearing is hidden in the figure. Within the framework of a force regulation, the hydraulic elements on the movable roll side set the gap size between the movable roll and the fixed roll during the operation (operating gap). Slideways  25 , which direct the weight of a roll around the chord systems  31 ,  32  into the axial frame lower part  22 , are arranged at the housings of the fixed bearings. Chambered sliding plates  251 , made preferably of Teflon, are arranged at the slideways  25  at the top and at the bottom (see  FIG. 4 ). Support plates with sliding rails  23 , made preferably of polished chromium sheets, are fastened as an opposing sliding surface on the axial frame upper part  21  and on the axial frame lower part  22 . The outer guide  24  has both rigid elements  241 , fastened to the axial frame upper part  21  or lower part  22 , as well as movable elements  242  fastened to the slideways  25  (see  FIG. 4 ), so that the horizontal motion and oblique position of the movable roll are made possible. The outer guides  24  hold the rolls axially in position and direct the axial forces into the axial frame  2 . The outer guides  24  are likewise preferably equipped with the Teflon/polished chromium sheet sliding pair. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a detail view of the lower chord system  31  of a machine frame  1  according to the present invention, comprising the lower chords  311 , which are connected by means of the welded construction  38  (head connection) and are configured a double chords extending in parallel, and the longitudinal beam elements  37  as a bracket of the chords  311 . The longitudinal beam elements  37  are connected to the axial frame lower part  22  via screw connections (mounting holes  39 ) and a centering pin  81  with opposing hole  82  (see  FIG. 1 ). The two individual spars of the vertical spar pair  33  are inserted between the chords  311  and the longitudinal beam elements  37 . The vertical spar pair  33  absorbs the radial operating forces and transmits them to the chords  311 . The chord heads with the force application surfaces  331  for introducing the radial forces from the vertical spars  33  into the chords  311  have no screw or pin connections. The chords  311  are mounted elastically in the chord system  31  via a damping element  36 . As a result, the radial operating forces are not transmitted to the longitudinal beam elements  37  and hence neither to the axial frame lower part  22 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the fixed bearing side of a machine frame  1  according to the present invention to illustrate the design of the roll mount in the machine frame  1 , by which the axial forces are advantageously introduced only into the axial frame  2 . Shown is a portion of a roll, here the fixed roll  5 , a portion of the axial frame upper part  21  and of the axial frame lower part  22  as well as the lower chord system  31 , the upper chord system  32  and a vertical spar pair  33  of the fixed bearing-side radial frame. Slideways  25 , which have chambered sliding plates  251 , preferably ones made of Teflon, at their upper and lower ends, are arranged at the bearing housing of the fixed bearing  52 . The sliding plates  251  located outside, which are parts subject to wear, can be advantageously replaced without mounted rolls having to the removed from the frame. Support plates with sliding rails  23 , preferably polished chromium sheets, are arranged as opposing sliding pieces at the axial frame upper part  21  and lower part  22 , preferably by tack welds and/or screws. The rigid components  241  of the outer guides  24  are fastened to the axial frame upper part  21  and lower part  22 . The movable components  242  of the outer guides  24  are arranged at the slideways  25 . The slideways  25  are likewise used, connected to a traverse, not shown, as stop means for transporting and lifting the rolls. 
         [0042]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.