Patent Publication Number: US-2022234835-A1

Title: Chain conveyor and link for same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/142,989, filed Jan. 28, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/159,652, filed Mar. 11, 2021. The entire contents of each of these documents are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to material conveyors, and particularly to chain and flight conveyors. 
     SUMMARY 
     Mining machines such as continuous miners and chain haulage units may include chain conveyors that are capable of deflecting laterally in order to travel through lateral turns. The chain conveyors may include flight members for pushing or urging material along a pan. The chain may be driven by one or more sprockets. 
     In one independent aspect, a link for a chain conveyor includes a link body including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a first opening proximate the first end and extending in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the link, a second opening proximate the second end and extending in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the link, and a relief opening extending through the link body and positioned between the first end and the second end. The first opening is configured to receive a first connecting member, and the second opening is configured to receive a second connecting member. 
     In another independent aspect, a link for a conveyor chain includes a body having an inner surface, and a flight bar extending laterally away from the body opposite the inner surface. The inner surface including at least one opening therein, and the at least one opening is configured to receive a coupling pin. The flight bar including a leading side and a trailing side. A lower surface of the flight bar including a first edge proximate the leading side and a second edge proximate the trailing side. The flight bar further includes a recess disposed between the first edge and the second edge and extending at least partially along a length of the flight bar. 
     In yet another independent aspect, a conveyor chain includes a first flight link including an arcuate inner surface facing a centerline of the conveyor chain and a flight bar extending laterally away from the centerline of the conveyor chain. The flight bar including a recess defining two edges configured to scrape material along a conveyor deck. The conveyor chain further includes a second flight link disposed laterally opposite the first flight link. The second flight link including an arcuate inner surface facing the centerline of the conveyor chain and a flight bar extending laterally away from the centerline of the conveyor chain in a direction opposite the flight bar of the first flight link. The flight bar including a recess defining two edges configured to scrape material along the conveyor deck. The conveyor chain further includes a connecting link positioned between the first flight link and the second flight link, and at least one pin coupling the first flight link, the connecting link, and the second flight link. The connecting link including a relief opening extending therethrough. 
     Other aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mining machine with a portion of a gathering head cutaway. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a chain conveyor unit. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the chain conveyor unit of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of the chain conveyor unit of  FIG. 2 , viewed along section  4 - 4 . 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of a side link, viewed along section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a section view of a chain conveyor unit of  FIG. 2 , viewed along section  5 A- 5 A. 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the chain conveyor unit of  FIG. 2 , viewed along section  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a section view of a flight according to another embodiment, viewed along a similar section as  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a connecting link. 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the connecting link of  FIG. 3 , viewed along section  8 - 8 . 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the chain conveyor unit of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 10  is a section view of a chain conveyor unit with a connecting link oriented at an angle relative to the flights. 
     
    
    
     Before any independent embodiments of the disclosure is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. 
     Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “mounted,” “connected” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a mining machine  10 , such as a continuous mining machine. In the illustrated embodiment, the mining machine  10  includes a frame or chassis  18 , a boom  22  pivotably coupled to the chassis  18 , and a cutter head  26  supported on the boom  22 . The chassis  18  may be supported for movement relative to a support surface (not shown) by a traction mechanism (e.g., crawlers  30 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a collecting mechanism or gathering head  34  is positioned adjacent a first end or forward end  38  of the chassis  18 , and a conveyor  42  extends in a continuous loop from the forward end  38  of the chassis  18  toward a second or rear end  46  of the chassis  18 . The gathering head  34  is positioned below the cutter head  26  and includes a deck  50  and a device (e.g., rotating arms  54 ) that directs dislodged material onto the conveyor  42 . The conveyor  42  transports the cut material along a direction of travel A from the forward end  38  toward the rear end  46  of the chassis  18 , from the area below the cutter head  26  to another conveyor or a haulage machine (not shown) positioned proximate the rear end  46  of the chassis  18 . 
     The conveyor  42  is a chain conveyor formed by chain link connected sequentially in a continuous loop. The conveyor  42  drives cut material along a chain pan or deck. The conveyor  42  is driven by a drive assembly. In some embodiments, the drive assembly includes a shaft oriented laterally relative to the chassis  18  and is driven (e.g., by one or more motors) to rotate relative to the chassis  18 , and a sprocket  62  ( FIG. 1 ) is coupled to the shaft and drives the conveyor  42  due to rotation of the shaft. 
       FIG. 2  shows a unit of a chain  82  that forms the conveyor  42 . In the illustrated embodiment, the chain  82  includes a pair of flight links  86 , a pair of side links  90 , and a coupler link or connecting link  94  coupling the flight links  86  to the side links  90 , and flights or flight bars  98  positioned laterally outward from the flight link  86 . Each flight link  86  is coupled to the adjacent connecting links  94  by flight pins  102 , and each side link  90  is coupled to the adjacent connecting links  94  by pins  106 . A gap  108  is formed between adjacent connecting links  94 , and the teeth of the sprocket  62  pass into the gap  108  between the connecting links  94  to engage and drive the conveyor chain  82 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the conveyor chain  82  includes a sequence of alternating flight links and connecting links, each joined to one another by swivel links. In other embodiments, the chain  82  may include a different sequence of links—for example, multiple connecting links may be positioned between one flight link and the subsequent flight link. Various permutations of the link sequence are possible. Also, in the illustrated embodiment, the spacing between each flight pin  102  and an adjacent connecting pin  106  is different from the spacing between each flight pin  102  and an adjacent flight pin  102 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the flight pins  102  extend through the connecting link  94  and each end of the flight pins  102  is received within an end portion of one of the flights  86 . Similarly, the connecting pins  106  extend through the connecting link  94  and each end of the connecting pins  106  is received within one of the side links  90 . Each of the flight pins  102  and the connecting pins  106  includes a peripheral groove  122 ,  124 , each of which extends around an outer surface adjacent an end of the associated flight pins  102  and connecting pins  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the ends of the connecting pins  106  are positioned within openings in the side links  90 , each peripheral groove  124  of the connecting pins  106  is aligned with a hole  126  extending between the opening in the associated side link  90  and an outer surface of the side link  90 . The groove  124  is also aligned within a complementary groove  128  extending at least partially along the perimeter of the opening. A retainer (e.g., an elongated wire, not shown) can be inserted into the hole  126  to wrap around the peripheral groove  124 , thereby engaging the groove  124  and the groove  128  to retain the connecting pin  126 . In some embodiments, the retainer may be formed from a polymeric material (e.g., plastic, nylon) that can be broken by an operator to facilitate removal of the pins  106  for replacement/servicing. 
     Each flight  86  includes an inner surface  208  including a pair of openings  134 , each of which receives an end of one of the flight pins  102 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , each of the openings  134  is formed as a blind hole, and the end of the flight pins  102  are enclosed within the flight  86 . Similar to the engagement between the side links  90  and the connecting pins  106 , when the ends of the flight pins  102  are positioned within the openings  134  of the flights  86 , each peripheral groove  122  of the flight pins  102  is aligned with a hole  130  and a groove  138  extending around an inner surface of the opening  134 . It is understood that the flight pins  102  and the end portions of the flights  86  are coupled in a similar manner to the connecting pins  106  and side links  90 . In some embodiments, the retainer may be formed from a polymeric material (e.g., plastic, nylon) that can be broken by an operator to facilitate removal of the pins  102  for replacement/servicing. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , each flight  86  includes a recess  142  extending substantially along the length of the flight bar  98 . In some embodiments, the recess  142  extends along a portion of the length of the flight bar  98 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the recess  142  may have an arcuate (e.g., elliptical) profile relative to a transverse section of the flight  86 , and the recess  142  tapers such that the recess  142  becomes narrower toward the distal end of the flight  86 . In addition, the flight  86  includes two edges  146  on each side of the recess  142 , and the edges  146  provide multiple engagement regions for scraping material along the conveyor deck. Also, in other embodiments the recess  142  may have a differently shaped profile (e.g., rectangular shaped, V-shaped, etc.). 
     In addition, rather than being planar, the sides  148  of the flight bar  98  protrude outwardly at a middle section and taper inwardly toward the upper and lower surfaces. Stated another way, the side surfaces  148  of the flight bar  98  are convex such that the flight bar  98  is widest near a center portion. In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the side surfaces  148  of the flight bar  98  are concave such that the flight bar  98  is narrowest near a center portion. The concave shape provides an X-shaped profile, which may require less material and be lighter while still maintaining sufficient strength. In some embodiments, the flight bar  98  is symmetric about a plane encompassing the direction of travel A (e.g., about a horizontal plane). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the connecting link  94  includes a first end  190  and a second end  194 , and a link axis  198  extended between the first end  190  and the second end  194 . The link  94  includes shoulders or ridges  200  that protrude from the portions adjacent the ends  190 ,  194 . In addition, a first opening  202  and a second opening  206  extend laterally from one side of the connecting link  94  to another opposite side of the connecting link  94 . In the illustrated embodiment, the first opening  202  has a substantially circular profile, while the second opening  206  has an oblong or oval profile. The oblong profile of the second opening  206  permits pivoting movement of the connecting link  94  relative to the flight pins  102  ( FIG. 4 ). As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the inner surface  208  of the flight links  86  may have an arcuate or concave profile to facilitate pivoting movement of the connecting link  94 . 
     The connecting link  94  has an increased outer wall thickness compared to conventional links, thereby providing greater strength and durability. In addition, the connecting link  94  has a unitary or single-piece construction to reduce the number of parts and reduce wear. 
     In addition, the connecting link  94  includes a relief opening  210  extending between one side of the link  94  to the other side. In the illustrated embodiment, the relief opening  210  extends through the connecting link  94  from an upper surface  214  to a lower surface  218  (e.g., in a substantially vertical direction). The relief opening  210  may be tapered outwardly from a center of the link  94  in each direction, toward the upper surface  214  and the lower surface  218 . In addition, the relief opening  210  at least partially intersects the second opening  206 , such that the second opening  206  provides communication with the relief opening  210 . During operation of the conveyor, particulate material (e.g., dirt) may accumulate in the second opening  206 . The relief opening  210  permits removal or evacuation of the particulate material from the second opening  206 . 
     Although the conveyor is described above with respect to a continuous mining machine, it is understood that the conveyor may be incorporated into other types of machines including but not limited to roadheaders and entry drivers, as well as loading and hauling machines including but not limited to shuttle cars, battery haulers, or other types. 
     Although aspects have been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects as described.