Patent GB-660207-A (GB)
Title: Loading machines
IPC: B65G21/14
Filed: 1948-10-22
Abstract: 660,207. Endless-chain conveyers. JOY MANUFACTURING CO. Oct. 22, 1948. [Nov. 3, 1947 ; Nov. 3, 1947] Nos. 27462/48 and 27463/48. Class 78 (i). In a loading machine for hard rock and ores having a pair of trough sections, one of which is swingable horizontally with respect to the other, and an endless conveyer extending along the two sections from end to end and having at its opposite ends drive means and guide or idler means respectively, means is provided for effecting bodily movement of one of these means during horizontal swinging movement of the trough to maintain substantially uniform tension on the conveyer during the movement. The forward end of the machine is shown in plan in Fig. 1 and the rearward end in plan in Fig. 3. The conveyer consists of an-endless chain 136 provided with flights 137 and has three sections, (a) an inclined section 15 between the gathering mechanism structure, (b) a section 140 pivoted to the first section by a hollow sleeve 128 so that it can be swung in a vertical plane by piston and cylinder mechanism, and (c) a section 145, Fig. 3, which can move in a vertical plane with the section 140 and is connected to it by a vertical pivot 164, Fig. 29, so that it can be swung in a horizontal plane by a pair of hydraulic jacks 251. The means for adjusting the position of the driving sprocket 146 as section (c) is swung comprises a cam 171, Fig. 29, which is bolted to the block 163 in which the pivot 164 is mounted and a member 262 which is actuated thereby and connected to the drive housing 147. The member 262 is welded to a member 271 which is clamped to an extension 275 of the housing 147 by bolts engaging slots 274. Casings 280, 281 at each side of the housing 147 contain worm gearing 303, each worm of which is connected by a universal joint 332 to one element 331 of an extensible shaft arrangement 330, the other element 329 of which is connected by a universal joint 328 to the shaft 327 of a motor 325. The worm gears 303 are keyed to separate shafts 306, the inner ends of which are keyed to a sleeve 308, Fig. 34, supporting annular end elements 309. These end elements receive between them and are bolted to a part 310 of the driving sprocket 146. The parts 308, 310 are grooved to receive friction clutch discs 312 which are forced together by springs 314. The main frame 2, Fig. 2, of the machine can be turned about a horizontal axis 4 by hydraulic piston and cylinder mechanism 5. The gathering head 3 is rigid with the frame 2 and includes arms 21 movable in an orbital path. The top plate 25 of the head is made in sections 26A, 26B and is cut away at 26 to provide access to a trough T, Fig. 15, in which the conveyer travels. The top section 26B is made of hardened armour plate to reduce wear and this material is used also for the plate 28A on which the conveyer travels. Crank pin carrying discs 31 are clisposed in circular openings in the top plate 26B and are fixed to sprockets which are connected by chain gearing to sprockets 88, Fig. 15. The shafts carrying the sprockets 88 carry worm wheels 65 which arc driven by worms 62, Fig. 12, on shafts 64. These shafts are connected by chain-and-sprocket gearing to a shaft 42, the chains 60 of the gearing being maintained at the desired tension irrespective of the adjustment of the gear casings 66 by the mechanism shown in Fig. 19. Chain tightener sprockets 80 are carried by arms 82 which arc pivoted on stub shafts 75. These shafts are clamped to the frame structure and carry abutments 77, between which and the arms 82 are placed springs 83. The shaft 42 can be connected by a friction clutch 47 to a bevel gear 41 which is driven from the motor 16 through shaft 35, gears 37, 38, shaft 39 and gear 40. The friction clutch is controlled by hydraulic mechanism and the gear casings 66 are adjustable along the gathering head by screw-and-nut mechanism. The discs 31 carry crank pins 95, Fig. 7, which engage recesses in the actuating arms 97 of the gathering elements 104. The arms 97 are formed with straight guideways 106 open at their bottoms and ends which co-operate with pivoted guide blocks 110. Each element 104 is secured by a bolt 102 to the part 97 and is made of alloy steel. The lower surface 115 of an element, Fig. 22, is curved and the top surface consists of a sloping part 117 which slopes forwardly and inwardly, Fig. 21, and ends at a wall 118 sloping inwardly. The top surface.11.9 of the end 121 is rounded. Each element is cored out at 120 to reduce weight. Sleeves 126, Fig. 11; are bolted to side frames 125 of the gathering head and receive bearing members 127 which are connected by a rod 129 and support a sleeve 128. This sleeve is welded to plates 130 which are bolted to flexible sideboards 246, Fig. 1, of section (b) of the conveyer. The rear end of this section is welded to a block 163, Fig. 29, which receives a tubular pivot 164. The side frame members 154 of section (c) of the conveyer are welded to plates 168, 169 which, in turn, are welded to the rearward portions of plate members 165, 166, Fig. 28. which straddle the block 163 and are pivoted to it by the pivot 164. The top plate 141 of section (b) overlies member 165 and is bolted to plates which are welded to flared side members 174 of a transverse vertical member 161. Longitudinal rib members 175 extend forwardly from the member 161 and support the sleeve 128. A lower transverse vertical member 162 supports a tubular pivot element 207 which is coaxial with the pivot element 164. The bottom cover plate 211 is supported by a plate 210 which is welded to a member 209 journalled on the pivot 207. Stiffening ribs 212 project forwardly from the member 162 and are welded to a cross member 213 which is welded to the members 174. The members 212, 213 support the plate 142 which carries the return run of the conveyer. The end 215 of this plate is curved downwardly to direct the chain on to the plate 29. The part 231 of the side frame members 154 of section (c) of the conveyer is curved outwardly at 233 to guide the return run of the chain between the flared portions of the side members 174. The idler sprocket 148, Fig. 16, at the forward end of the conveyer is supported by bearing bushings 149 on a tube 150 which is supported in tubular members 151. The outer ends of these members are closed by plugs 351 and the inner ends contain slidable plugs 352 which are urged towards the tube 150 by springs 357. Passages 354 connect the inside of tube 150 to the space between the bushings 149. Grease is fed into the tube 150 with sufficient force to move the plugs 352 apart. In operation the springs will move the plugs 352 towards each other and the grease will be fed slowly into the bearing. In a modification the driving sprocket is arranged at the forward end of the conveyer and is driven by the mechanism which actuates the gathering mechanism.