Abstract:
A chain conveyor for gravimetrically measuring/dosing materials, especially bulk materials. The conveyor includes a housing/trough in which at least two chain conveyors with strip-shaped driving elements attached thereto rotate, wherein a measuring bridge that is supported on at least one force measuring device is arranged between the inlet and an outlet hole. The driving elements are mounted with multiple articulations on the conveyor chains, more particularly, said driving elements are inserted with positive-fit by lateral hinge bolts in the chain links located on the upper edge and configured to be placed flatly in the measuring bridge.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT/EP02/07018 filed Jun. 25, 2002 and claims priority to German Patent Application No. 101 30 022.0 filed Jun. 25, 2001, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The invention relates to a chain conveyor for gravimetrically measuring/dosing materials, especially bulk materials, with said conveyor comprising a housing/trough in which at least two conveyor chains with strip-shaped driving elements attached thereto rotate, as well as an inlet/filling opening and an outlet opening in the housing/trough, with at least one measuring bridge ( 2 ) which is supported on at least one force measuring apparatus is arranged between the inlet/filling and outlet opening. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Such chain conveyors are used especially for conveying and weighing bulk materials. Such chain conveyors are also used increasingly in the basic industry (e.g. in the production of cement) for dosing or detecting the conveying strength of bulk materials because they allow a wear-resistant configuration at high throughputs and high draw-off forces. Moreover, the chain conveyor is relatively cheap to produce and service and easy to mount, so that the same is also suitable as a bunker draw-off member for abrasive, coarse or adhesive bulk materials due to this sturdy configuration. 
   The disadvantageous aspect in the conventional arrangement of the chain conveyor is that the dosing precision can be relatively low when the conveyed material sticks to the driving element webs during the emptying or when disturbing forces from the conveyor chains alter the measurement. This can lead to significant deviations concerning the dosing precision, which is important however for mixtures of additives. Weighing machines are already known in conjunction-with belt conveyors or even discharging plate conveyors (e.g. according to DE 195 36 871 or DE 42 30 368), with the conveyor belt or the discharging plate conveyor belt extending over a stationary weigh-bridge. These conveyors come with disadvantages relating to the wearing behavior or the required power consumption because conveyor belts made of rubber materials are subject to high wear and tear even in reinforced configuration on the one hand, whereas on the other hand discharging plate conveyor belts show high friction due to the relative movement between the individual joints, especially under high load. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is therefore based on the object of improving the dosing precision of chain conveyors in combination with a simple design. 
   As a result of the multiple articulations of the “trailing” or dragging arranged driving elements, driving elements are “uncoupled” in respect of weighing from the conveyor chains. As a result of this at least double articulation of the driving elements on the conveyor chains, the driving elements rest flat on the sliding surfaces of the weigh-bridge. Moreover, disturbing forces on the conveyor chains (e.g. when grainy material is clamped between the driving elements and the weigh-bridge) are substantially avoided, so that the measuring section per se is free from external forces. As a result of this height-movable guidance of the driving elements (which are U-shaped in a top view) on the conveyor chains, a reliable and simple multiple uncoupling is obtained, with the driving elements being driven in a secure fashion by the conveyor chains in the rotating direction. In this way it is possible to securely avoid problems with uneven conveyance as can occur in the rigid arrangement of the driving elements. 
   An especially simple embodiment of the proposed chain conveyor is obtained in such a way that the driving elements of the chain conveyor are swivelably arranged on a guide-bar-like or bracket-like holding device. This arrangement is especially also suitable for retrofitting existing chain conveyors because the simple fastening of the lateral hinge bolts allow retrofitting the chain conveyor (and even chain trough conveyors) with the gravimetric force measuring apparatus. 
   The same applies for the movable mounting of the driving elements which are held in an uncoupled manner via further intermediate joints. By interposing such intermediate joints, especially simple hinges or chain links which are arranged in an upright fashion, a kind of “cardanic” mounting is obtained and thus an automatic centering of the driving elements as conveying tools. Moreover, when arranging lateral limits on the driving elements the conveyor chains run outside of the train of bulk material, so that wear and tear can be reduced substantially. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A special advantage is the recirculation of material which can thus be achieved, so that abraded pieces of bulk material and so-called ejected grain can be returned to the inlet opening. 
     Further advantageous arrangements are shown in the description below of embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  shows a chain conveyor scale in a side view; 
       FIG. 2  shows a sectional view of the chain conveyor scale according to  FIG. 1  in an enlarged perspective view; 
       FIG. 3  shows a pertinent top view according to  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows a further representation of the side region of the chain conveyor as shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows a further modified arrangement of the holding device according to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and 
       FIG. 6  shows a sectional view of the end zones of the chain conveyor in a side view. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  show a side view and a perspective view of a chain conveyor  1  in a housing or trough  3  which comprises a straight measuring section or measuring bridge  2  which is arranged on the upper run  5  of the belt. Conveyor chains  6  run along the measuring bridge  2  in a housing/trough  3 , which conveyor chains comprise U-shaped conveying tools (in the top view) or driving elements  7 . As a result of these drag-link driving elements  7 , the bulk material which enters the housing  3  through an opening E (which in this case is a bunker or silo) is conveyed along the measuring bridge  2  in the carrying run  5  of the belt and then along the lower run  4  in a clockwise manner to an outlet opening  9 , as is indicated here with the arrows. Between the inlet/filling opening E and the outlet opening  9  the plate-like measuring bridge  2  is held in a movable or slightly resilient fashion by means of flexible intermediate elements and is supported in this respect on a force measuring apparatus  12  which is arranged at least below the measuring bridge and supports in particular an approximately centrally arranged weighing cell. A drive  13  is provided adjacent to the left end of the measuring bridge, which drive is provided in the form of a chain wheel which engages in the conveyor chains  6 . 
   After the conveyance along the measuring section/measuring bridge  2 , the conveyed bulk material (which is indicated with the dotted line) reaches a wear-proof base plate in the front discharge end before the drive  13  in the region of the lower run  4  and finally the outlet opening  9  under horizontal conveyance with the mutually parallel extending conveyor chains  6  and the bracket-like drive elements  7  where it can fall out under the influence of gravity or can also be blown out. Notice must be taken that such a blow-out line (not shown) can be arranged in the housing  3  (especially in the case of a pressure-tight or dust-proof arrangement of the chain conveyor). No disturbing moments are exerted on the force measuring apparatus  12 . Moreover, it can be used to perform the cleaning of the conveyor chains  6  and/or the driving elements  7 . 
   Relevant is also the guidance along the housing bend  15  which is on the right in this case, because it can be used to upwardly recirculate any bulk material that may not have been ejected (cf.  FIG. 6 ). Transverse force sensors or weighing cells on inductive, capacitative or piezoelectric basis can be used as force measuring apparatuses  12  for the measuring bridge. Preferably, a virtually pathless measuring force measuring apparatus  12  (especially a strain-gauge weighing cell) is used because this allows limiting the bend angle of the measuring bridge  2  to a few angular minutes, so that the circulatory movement of the conveyor chains  6  is practically not obstructed. 
   The force measuring apparatus  12  conducts the measured values on the conveyed weight of the bulk material to a computer which calculates the momentary flow rate by forming the product from the measured values together with the speed values which are obtained for example from a tachometer generator on drive  13 . This actual value is compared for dosing purposes preferably with a predetermined setpoint value and in the case of deviations the controllable drive  13  is readjusted in the known manner. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3  show the side region of the driving elements  7  which are held on guide-rod-like holding devices  8 , with the “floating” plug-type connection of the hinge bolts  27  on one upright chain link each of the conveyor chain  6  being shown. 
   The relevant aspect is that the U-shaped driving elements  7  are height-movable or height-swivelable with respect to the conveyor chains  6  and the measuring bridge  2 , so that occurring disturbing forces, if any, are not included in the result of the measurement or can be eliminated by the measuring bridge  2 . The driving elements  7  can be additionally loaded by heavy-metal inserts or the like in order to achieve a defined bearing behavior. The conveyor chains  6  per se can be guided on both sides in guide elements  11  which are slotted in a cross-like manner, whereas the driving elements  7  are inserted with the hinge bolts  27  (see in particular  FIGS. 3 to 5 ) into the upright chain links  26  on the side with loose fit, so that disturbing forces cannot be passed on to the conveyor chains and the driving elements  7  rest in a plane and uncoupled in several ways (i.e. insat least two degrees of freedom) on the measuring bridge  2  or on their halves in the case of a bent bridge. 
   It is possible to also omit the lateral guide function of the guide elements  11 , so that the conveyor chain  6  can be hindered from lifting off from the measuring section in an upwardly manner for example by a smooth strip, whereas the lower side of the conveyor chains  6  can revolve on a PTFE strip on the measuring bridge  2 . Rollers or wheels can also be provided for the purpose of guiding and supporting the conveyor chains  6  on the measuring section. 
   As is indicated in  FIG. 1  by the broken line, the outlet opening  9 ′ can also be arranged below the filling opening E or close to the drive  13 . The outlet opening  9  can also be followed by a second measuring bridge. This allows detecting the weight of the driving elements, so that the actually occurring quantity of transported bulk material can be determined at the outlet opening  9  by differentiation following a comparison of the two measured values of the measuring bridges. If bulk material particles should adhere to the driving elements  7  or the conveyor chains  6 , only the bulk material quantity is detected which effectively leaves the chain conveyor  1 . 
   As indicated above, the vertical movement play of the driving elements  7  is relatively small, as also the slight lateral mobility, so that the rotary movement of the conveyor chains  6  is not obstructed. Instead, the driving elements  7  are centered in the lateral direction. As is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , drag-links  8 ′ are provided on the holding devices  8  as swivelable bearings for the driving elements  7 , which links also allow a certain lateral mobility of a few millimeters. In the most simple of configurations, the drag-link  8 ′ is formed by an upright chain link fastened to the holding device  8  in the manner of a cardanic mounting ( FIG. 4 ), with link bars of the parallelogram also being possible. In the arrangement according to  FIG. 5  the swivelability of the driving elements  7  in the direction of height (perpendicular to the drawing plane) about the axis of the drag-link  8 ′ is limited by a stop  8   b  which engages in an oblong hole of the holding device  8 . Instead of this bracket/bolt mounting it is also possible to provide other low-friction bearings for forming the drag-link  8 ′. It can also be seen that the hinge bolts  27  are inserted here into every fourth chain link of the conveyor chains, with the distance between the hinge bolts  27  also being allowed to be more than four chain links, so that the lateral boundaries  7 ′ can extend in the manner of a boundary plate in a mutually overlapping manner along the measuring bridge  2  in order to prevent any lateral discharge of the conveyed bulk material towards the conveyor chains  6 . 
     FIG. 6  shows the two deflection regions of the chain conveyor  1 . An excessive tilting of the driving elements  7  can be provided in the right region (drive wheel  13 ) during the transition from the upper run to the lower run by the said stops  8   b . Excessive friction on the housing can thus be excluded. At the opposite end (deflection wheel  14 ), the limited swiveling movement of the driving elements  7  in combination with the housing bend  15  is used for the upward recirculation of material. A defined contact of the driving elements  7  on the housing bend  15  can also be achieved in this case. 
   Notice must be taken that the measured values of the force measuring apparatus(es)  12  are supplied to a known electronic evaluation system with a computer for calculating the momentary conveying strength compiled of measuring bridge load and conveying rate and are compared there with the defined set-point values. By accelerating or braking the drive  13  of the chain conveyor  1  (e.g. with electronic speed control) the desired conveying or dosing quantity (conveying strength or conveying capacity) can be adhered to precisely, even in the case of materials that are difficult to convey such as clinker or hot bulk materials. The chain conveyor in the form of scales can also be provided with a configuration that is completely dust-proof.