Abstrict A mobile crusher includes a caterpillar-type undercarriage and
a chassis frame mounted on the undercarriage. A motor-driven crushing
tool is mounted in the chassis frame. A hopper is connected to the
chassis frame, so as to be swingable relative to the undercarriage
about a horizontal axis. At least one conveyor for discharging crushed
material from the crushing tool is connected to the chassis frame.
A downwardly connected kingbolt which can be coupled to a coupling
member of a tractor is attached to the underside of the hopper at
a location remote from the horizontal axis of the chassis frame.
A wheel unit with a plurality of wheels is connected to a conveyor
frame which supports the conveyor.
Claims I claim:
1. A mobile crusher comprising a caterpillar type undercarriage,
a chassis frame mounted on the undercarriage, a motor-driven crushing
tool mounted in the chassis frame, the chassis frame having a horizontal
axis at a side thereof and adjacent the undercarriage, a hopper
connected to the chassis frame at the axis of the chassis frame
such that the hopper is swingable relative to the undercarriage,
at least one conveyor for discharging crushed material from the
crushing tool, the at least one conveyor being connected to the
chassis frame so as to be pivotable relative to the chassis frame
and being supported by a conveyor frame, the hopper having a bottom
side, a downwardly directed kingbolt adapted for coupling with a
coupling member of a tractor, the kingbolt being attached to the
bottom side at a location remote from the horizontal axis, and a
wheel unit comprising a plurality of wheels being connected to the
conveyor frame.
2. The mobile crusher according to claim 1 wherein the crushing
tool comprises a pair of essentially vertically arranged crushing
plates and means for oscillating the crushing plates relative to
each other.
3. The mobile crusher according to claim 1 wherein the wheel unit
comprises a wheel unit frame, a plurality of wheel axles spring-mounted
in the wheel unit frame, the wheel axles being arranged next to
each other, the wheel unit frame having an upper side and a longitudinal
direction, a pair of bearing lugs being attached to the upper side
of the wheel unit frame and approximately in the middle of the longitudinal
direction of the wheel unit frame, the conveyor frame having a bottom
side, bearing lugs being attached to the bottom side of the conveyor
frame, the bearing lugs of the conveyor frame and the wheel unit
frame being connected to each other by means of bolts extending
through the lugs.
4. The mobile crusher according to claim 3 wherein the bolts connecting
the conveyor frame and the wheel unit frame extend parallel to the
horizontal axis of the chassis frame.
5. The mobile crusher according to claim 1 wherein the hopper
has an upper edge, wherein at least a portion of the upper edge
adjacent the crushing tool is inclined downwardly toward the chassis
frame, wherein an angle of inclination of the inclined portion of
the upper edge essentially corresponds to an angle of inclination
of the kingbolt relative to the vertical.
6. The mobile crusher according to claim 1 comprising a piston-cylinder
unit for pivoting the conveyor relative to the chassis frame, the
conveyor frame comprising at least two sections extending in longitudinal
direction thereof, the two sections being pivotally connected to
each other, wherein the wheel unit is connected to the conveyor
frame essentially at a location at which the piston-cylinder unit
is connected to the conveyor frame.
7. The mobile crusher according to claim 1 wherein the hopper
and the conveyor are mounted on opposite sides of the chassis frame.
8. The mobile conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor
is mounted stationary relative to the chassis frame, further comprising
an essentially vertically adjustable mechanism connecting the conveyor
and the wheel unit.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile crusher with an undercarriage,
particularly a caterpillar-type undercarriage, and a motor-driven
crushing tool mounted in a chassis frame connected to the undercarriage.
The crushing tool may be in the form of a pair of crusher plates
which oscillate relative to each other and extend essentially in
a vertical direction. The mobile crusher further includes a hopper
and at least one conveyor belt for discharging the crushed material,
wherein the conveyor belt is mounted so as to be adjustable relative
to the chassis frame, and wherein the hopper is mounted so as to
be swingable relative to the chassis frame about a horizontal axis.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile crushers of the above-described type are known in the art.
They are used in quarries for comminuting the produced stone. The
crusher is also used for comminuting material from demolished buildings.
Units of this type are extremely large and heavy. They may have
a height of up to and above 4 meters, a length of approximately
16 meters, and a weight of approximately 45 tons. The crushers can
be moved at the location where they are used by means of their undercarriage,
which usually is constructed as a caterpillar-type undercarriage.
However, these undercarriages are not suitable for traveling on
roads. In the past, crushers of this type could only be transported
on public roadways on flat-bed trucks with special permits and in
a convoy. During such a transport, not only the enormous weight
of the crusher acts on the roadway, but the high weight of the flat-bed
truck used for transportation additionally acts on the roadway.
DE-OS 39 04 501 describes a mobile crusher for the comminution
of demolition material and other rubble. A jaw crusher is mounted
in an essentially vertical position, and a feeding device for the
crushed material is arranged in the region of the upper crushing
mouth of the jaw crusher. The feeding device has a feed hopper and
a vibrating conveyor. The undercarriage is additionally provided
with a discharge conveyor whose feeding end is arranged in a low
position underneath the crusher outlet. The feeding device for the
crushed material is mounted so as to be vertically adjustable and
can be lowered by means of a lifting device from a high position
for feeding material into the jaw crusher into a low position in
which it does not project or only insignificantly projects above
the jaw crusher. The jaw crusher is arranged on a caterpillar-type
undercarriage. It is the purpose of this known construction to provide
a mobile crusher which has relatively compact dimensions during
transportation and which particularly has a reduced transportation
height, as compared to older units, so that the mobility of the
crusher is increased. However, this object is only insufficiently
met by the known construction because, for transporting this known
unit on public roadways, it is still required to use flat-bed trucks
and to obtain special permits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide
a mobile crusher of the above-described type which is capable in
a simple manner of traveling on public roadways without requiting
special permits for each individual transport and without increasing
the load acting on the roadway.
In accordance with the present invention, a kingbolt of a tractor/trailer-type
coupling is fastened to the underside of the hopper, wherein the
kingbolt is located in the longitudinal center plane of the hopper
and at an end of the hopper remote from the axis about which the
hopper is swingably mounted. The conveyor belt is supported by a
frame to which is connected in an articulated manner a unit with
preferably a plurality of wheels.
In accordance with a useful development of the present invention,
the wheel unit has a plurality of wheel axles which are located
adjacent to each other and are spring-mounted in a frame. The frame
of the wheel unit has on its upper side and preferably in its longitudinal
center area a pair of bearing lugs which can be connected by means
of bolts or shafts to bearing lugs attached to the frame of the
conveyor belt. This configuration makes it possible to distribute
and support the substantial weight of such a crusher over a large
surface area and to effect the connection between the frame of the
conveyor belt and the frame of the wheel unit in a very simple manner
because, when the connection is to be made, only the bolts or shafts
have to be inserted and secured by cotter pins.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the bolts
or shafts connecting the frame of the conveyor belt and the frame
of the wheel unit extend parallel to the axis about which the hopper
is swingable. As a result, the manipulations and measures required
for preparing the crusher for travel on roads are reduced to a minimum.
In accordance with another advantageous feature, the upper edge
of the hopper facing the crushing tool extends downwardly inclined
toward the chassis frame which includes the crushing tool and the
drive motor therefor, and the angle of inclination of the inclined
upper edge of the hopper corresponds essentially to the angle of
inclination of the kingbolt relative to the vertical. As a result,
the crusher has in its position of transportation its lowest possible
structural height.
Another advantageous feature of the present invention for reducing
the length of the crusher for transportation provides that the frame
supporting the conveyor belt is composed in its longitudinal direction
of at least two sections which are swingable relative to each other.
The frame of the wheel unit is connected to the conveyor belt in
or near the area of the portion of the conveyor belt where a piston-cylinder
unit acts on the conveyor belt for vertically pivoting the conveyor
belt.
In order to ensure that a wide and free pivoting range is available
for the hopper, the hopper and the conveyor belt are mounted on
opposite sides of the chassis frame and the crushing tool mounted
in the chassis frame. As a result, the hopper can be changed without
problems and without requiring additional assembly or disassembly
operations from its position of operation into its transportation
position.
Even though it is advantageous to mount the conveyor belt and its
frame so as to be pivotable in a vertical plane, so that during
operation the point of discharge of the crushed material can be
adjusted and can be adapted to the respective operating conditions
as much as possible, the present invention could also be utilized
in a crusher in which the conveyor belt is mounted fixed relative
to the chassis frame if the mechanism connecting the conveyor belt
and the wheel unit is constructed so as to be vertically adjustable.
In this case, the wheel unit may remain arranged connected to the
frame of the conveyor belt even during operation of the crusher
because, if the frame of the conveyor belt is mounted so as to be
pivotable, the adjustments of the conveyor belt required by the
operation can be achieved by means of this vertically adjustable
mechanism.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention
are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and
forming a part of the disclosure. For a better understanding of
the invention, its operating advantages, and specific objects attained
by its use, reference should be had to the drawing and descriptive
matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational side view of the crusher according
to the present invention in its position of operation; and
FIG. 2 is a side view of the crusher of FIG. 1 shown in its position
of transportation and coupled to a tractor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 of the drawing shows the crusher according to the present
invention during operation. A chassis frame 2 is connected to a
caterpillar-type undercarriage 1. The chassis frame 2 includes a
high-power drive unit, not shown in detail. The actual crushing
tool 3 is composed of two plates which extend essentially perpendicularly
relative to the plane of the drawing and which are indicated by
broken lines in FIG. 1. One of the two plates of the crushing tool
3 is mounted stationary in the chassis frame 2. The above-mentioned
drive unit, which is not illustrated, a fly wheel, and a V-belt
drive are used for imparting an oscillating movement on the other
plate of the crushing tool 3 so that this plate is moved periodically
back and forth within the plane of the drawing relative to the stationary
plate. The fly wheel and the V-belt drive are covered by a housing
4.
A hopper 5 is provided on one side of the crushing tool 3. The
specific configuration of the crushing tool is not significant in
connection with the present invention. The upper portion 11 of the
hopper 5 is formed by outwardly directed end walls 6 which define
a funnel-shaped filling area, wherein a portion of the upper edge
7 which faces the crushing tool 3 extends obliquely downwardly toward
the chassis frame 2. A horizontal grid which permits small material
to fall through is arranged within the upper portion 11 of the hopper
5 and above the upper edge of the crushing tool 3. The upper portion
11 of the hopper 5 may be vibrated by means of a vibrator 8. The
upper portion 11 of the hopper 5 is supported relative to its support
part 10 by means of elastic support members 9. Within the scope
of the present invention, the hopper 5 is formed by the upper portion
11 and the support part 10.
The hopper 5 or its support part 10 is mounted so as to be swingable
about a horizontal axis 12. The axis 12 is located adjacent the
undercarriage 11 and approximately in the middle third of the length
of the undercarriage 1. The hopper 5 is swingable by means of a
piston-cylinder unit 13 which is hinged to the support part 10
on the one hand, and to the chassis frame or undercarriage frame,
on the other hand. On the side of the hopper 5 or its support part
10 facing away from the axis 11 and in the vertical longitudinal
center plane of the hopper 5 a kingbolt 14 which is inclined relative
to the vertical is attached to the underside of the hopper 5. The
kingbolt 14 forms part of a coupling of the type used for connecting
tractors and trailers. The angle by which the kingbolt 14 is inclined
to the vertical corresponds to the angle of the inclination of the
upper edge 7 of the upper portion 11 of the hopper 5.
A conveyor belt 15 is pivotally attached to the side of the chassis
frame 2 which faces away from the hopper 5. The conveyor belt 15
is pivotable about a horizontal axis located at the undercarriage
1. The conveyor belt 15 extends into the outlet area of the crushing
tool 3 and picks up the material comminuted by the crushing tool
3 at this outlet area. The conveyor belt 15 additionally picks up
the material which fell through the grid of the upper portion 11
of the hopper 5. The frame of the conveyor belt 15 is composed of
two sections 16 and 17 which are pivotable relative to each other
about a horizontal axis 18. The section 16 is supported by a piston-cylinder
unit 19 and the front section 17 of the conveyor belt 15 or of
the frame thereof is hinged to a link member 20 which, with its
other end, is attached to a cantilever arm 21 of the chassis frame
2.
A wheel unit 22 is connected in an articulated manner to that portion
of the section 16 which is acted on by the piston-cylinder unit
19. In the illustrated embodiment, the wheel unit 22 includes three
spring-mounted wheel axles 23 which are arranged next to each other
and which are received by a frame 24. Beating lugs 25 are welded
to the upper side of the frame 24. The beating lugs 25 receive bolts
or shafts which extend parallel to the axis 12 about which the hopper
5 is swingable. The connection between the wheel unit 22 and the
section 16 of the frame of the conveyor belt 15 is constructed in
such a way that it can be easily separated without requiting special
tools. The structural height of the crusher illustrated in the drawing
is more than four meters. The total length of the crusher is approximately
16 meters, and the weight of a crusher of this type is approximately
45 tons.
As mentioned above, FIG. 1 shows the mobile crusher of the present
invention in its position of operation. A tractor 26 which is illustrated
in FIG. 2 is used when the crusher is to be transported on public
roadways. The tractor is moved toward the crusher on the side of
the hopper 5. By actuating the piston-cylinder unit 13 the hopper
5 is lowered about the axis 12 in a counterclockwise direction,
as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, until the kingbolt 14 engages
a coupling member of the tractor.
By actuating the piston-cylinder unit 19 the conveyor belt 15
is lowered, and the end section 17 of the conveyor belt 15 is folded
upwardly by means of the link member 20. The conveyor belt 15 or
its frame are lowered by means of the piston-cylinder unit 19 until
the wheel unit 22 rests on the ground. A further actuation of the
above-mentioned piston-cylinder units 13 and 19 has the result that
the middle portion of the entire mobile crusher is raised, so that
the undercarriage 1 is raised above the ground. The crusher can
now travel in the same manner as a tractor/trailer.
In the illustrated embodiment, the wheel unit 22 is connected directly
to the section 16 of the conveyor belt or its frame by means of
bolts or shafts. It is basically also possible to arrange a vertically
adjustable mechanism between the section 16 and the wheel unit 22
so that the wheel unit 22 rests on the ground even when the crusher
is in operation and the frame of the conveyor belt 15 is supported
relative to the wheel unit 22. In this case, the piston-cylinder
unit 19 is not required. However, the vertically adjustable mechanism
must be constructed in such a way that it can absorb without torsion
any lateral forces acting on the wheel unit during travel on a road.
In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the wheel unit 22 is attached
to the conveyor belt 15 even if the conveyor belt 15 is raised.
The connection between wheel unit 22 and section 16 of the frame
of the conveyor belt 15 can also be constructed in such a way that
this connection can be separated when the conveyor belt is lowered,
so that the conveyor belt can then be raised during the operation
of the crusher without the wheel unit being attached thereto.
The drawing also shows that hopper 5 crushing tool 3 chassis
frame 2 and conveyor belt 15 as well as undercarriage 1 are located
in a plane, i.e., they do not extend at an angle relative to each
other. However, crushers of this type are known in which the aforementioned
units are arranged at an angle relative to each other. The proposal
according to the present invention can also be used in such a case,
however, it is then necessary to arrange those components which
are arranged at an angle relative to the undercarriage, so as to
be pivotable about vertical axes, so that all these components are
in a vertical plane during travel on a road or can be folded or
pivoted into such a vertical plane.
It should be understood that the preferred embodiments and examples
described are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed
as limiting the scope of the present invention which is properly
delineated only in the appended claims.
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