Patent GB-1116428-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to reclaiming machines
Inventor: YOUNG WILLIAM
IPC: E02F3/20
Filed: 1965-03-22
Abstract: 1,116,428. Reclaiming material from piles. GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Ltd. 22 March, 1966 [22 March, 1965], No. 12040/65. Heading B8E. [Also in Division E1] A reclaiming machine comprises a plurality of drum-shaped bucket wheels 3 mounted in axial alignment beneath a bridge 1 supported at each end on a carriage 2 for movement relative to a pile of material and mounting harrow means 5. The bridge 1 has attached thereto a plurality of spaced, vertical depending plates 9 having aligned apertures 11 therein and interconnected by a plurality of cylinders 12 aligned with said apertures and having upper and lower longitudinally extending slots 13, 14. The cylinders 12 form an axis for the drum-shaped bucket wheels 3 rotatably mounted at each end to the plate 9 by a bearing (33), (34), (37), (Fig. 6, not shown), and a flexible coupling (39), (41). The dum-shaped bucket wheels 3 comprise annular end plates 15 interconnected by a plurality of equispaced radially extending dividing members 16 forming buckets 17 therebetween. The dividing members 16 have two walls 18 converging outwardly to mount a double-edged lifting plate 19 whereby the bucket wheel is suitable for use in either direction of rotation. The bucket wheels 3 discharge their load into the upper slot on to an endless conveyer 4 running therein and extending longitudinally of the bridge. The harrow means 5 comprises tines 48 mounted on a pair of triangular frames 46, 47 pivotally connected to the bridge at 49 and adjustable in inclination by means of a pulley 62. The frames (46), (47), (Fig. 7, not shown), are connected to pendulum arms (56), (57) and (58), (59) driven by a motor (51) through linkages (54), (61), whereby the frames oscillate in opposition and thus cancel out reactive forces. The machine is applicable for use in selectively operating against opposite faces of spaced piles of ore or similar material and is provided with harrow means 5 on each side thereof (one being shown) and a reversible drive means for the drum. The drive means (Fig. 2, not shown), for the drums comprises a motor (43) and a drive shaft (44) extending along the bridge and connected by chains to sprockets (42) mounted on the bearing (34) at one end of each bucket wheel. The gear ratio being adapted to suit requirements, e.g. the centre bucket wheel may rotate faster than the end bucket wheels. An alternative bucket wheel (Fig. 5, not shown), comprises a pair of annular end plates (23) interconnected by concentric cylinders (21), (22) with a plurality of equi-spaced longitudinal slots therein and radial extending plates (24) between the cylinders to form side walls of the slots. A plurality of equi-spaced end plate extensions (28) corresponding to the slots mount at their outer extremities a double-edged lifting plate (29) spaced from and in radial alignment with the slots. A plate (31) pivotally connected on the lifting plates (29) extend into the slots (26) to rest against a side thereof, which side depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel. Means (not shown) are provided to move the plates (31) in unison and to lock them in their respective positions.