Abstrict In a low profile crusher which has first and second cylindrical
rolls journaled so that the rotational axis of the rolls are parallel
and an input conveyor and an output conveyor is improved by journaling
the first roll so that the distance from the axis of the first roll
to the product side of the output conveyor is slightly greater than
the radius of the first roll. The input conveyor is mounted over
the first roll so that the distance between the axis of the first
roll and the return side of the input conveyor is slightly greater
than the radius of the first roll. The second roll is journaled
above the first roll so that the maximum height of the second roll
is at least equal to the height of the product side of the input
conveyor and close enough to the first roll to produce a predetermined
maximum size of product. A scalping method for the above is formed
by mounting the input end of the input conveyor in substantially
the same plane as the output conveyor. The mounting for the input
of the output conveyor is under the input conveyor and a grating
is mounted under the input conveyor so that at least a portion of
the product of a predetermined maximum size or smaller on the input
conveyor falls to the output conveyor and does not pass to the crusher.
Claims What we claim is:
1. A low profile apparatus for scalping and crushing products comprising
first and second cylindrical roll crushers journaled so that the
rotational axes of said first and second cylindrical rolls are parallel
and having a first and second radius, respectively; an input conveyor
and an output conveyor each having a products side and a return
side; means for journaling said first cylindrical roll so that the
distance from the axis of said first cylindrical roll to the products
side of said output conveyor is slightly greater than the radius
of said first cylindrical roll; means for mounting said input conveyor
over said first cylindrical roll so that the distance between the
axis of said first cylindrical roll and the return side of said
input conveyor is slightly greater than the radius of said first
cylindrical roll; means for journaling said second cylindrical roll
above said first cylindrical roll so that the maximum height of
said second cylindrical roll is at least equal to the height of
the products side of said input conveyor and less than the maximum
height of any products on said products side of said conveyor; means
for mounting the input end of said input conveyor in substantially
the same plane as said output conveyor; means for mounting said
output conveyor under said input conveyor; and scalping means for
passing product of a predetermined maximum size or smaller from
said input conveyor to said output conveyor said input conveyor
conveying product above said predetermined size to said first and
second roll crushers wherein it is sized and passed to said output
conveyor.
2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said means for
passing said product of a predetermined maximum size or smaller
from said input conveyor to said output conveyor comprises:
a. a grid having sized openings therethrough;
b. means for mounting said grid under said input conveyor; and
c. means for pulling said product over said grid.
3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 including a storage hopper
surrounding the input to said input conveyor.
4. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said input and
said output conveyors comprise a single continuous belt.
5. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said input and
said output conveyors comprise a continuous pair of parallel chains
having a plurality of cross members spaced therebetween and secured
to said chains.
Description BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Scalping devices for crushers are exemplified by the following
patents: Nos. 1798433 to E. L. Rigdon et al; 2210093 to S. J.
Morrissey; 2468321 to J. Bland; 2631785 to N. H. Bogie; 3003708
to J. W. Leonard; U.S. Patents Nos. 3016203 and 3112078 to C.
G. Sears et al; 3493266 to E. D. Hazlitt et al; 3409235 to J.
N. Quinn; and 3510073 to R. P. Mailliard. All of the above patents
have one thing in common. The scalping units are either mounted
horizontally or inclined downard toward the crushing unit so that
as the conveyors move the material, they will be moving with gravity.
Some of the conveyors utilize bars to move the material over the
scalping unit, and some of the conveyors use vibration to move the
materials over the scalping unit. However, in all cases, the scalping
units are either horizontal or directed down toward the crushing
unit. Some of the prior art patents utilize conveyors to lift the
material to the scalping units. None of the patents, however, disclosed
illustrate a scalping unit which can be utilized with the two-roll
crusher so that the unit will provide minimum height for both the
scalping unit and the two-roll crusher.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
This invention describes a scalping unit which is utilized in conjunction
with a two-roll crushing unit which is designed to provide minimum
height so that the crushing unit can be used inside a mine tunnel.
The scalping unit utilized with the low profile tworoll crusher
has a specific placement of the inlet and outlet conveyors and the
first and second roll crushing units. In order to obtain minimum
profile, it is important that the return side of the outlet conveyor
and the product side of the inlet conveyor comprise the least height
possible. The conveyor of this invention is adapted to be positioned
in a coal mine following a coal digging machine so that the coal
can be sized from the digging machine and fed to a system for slurrying
the coal out of the mine. Such a possible slurry system is disclosed
in the patent to Eric Reichl U.S. Pat. No. 3260548. The scalping
unit is designed to pick the coal from a hopper or from a shuttle
car, or directly from the continuous mining machine and convey the
coal to the two-roll crusher. In the process of conveying the coal,
the smaller pieces of coal are separated out by the scalping unit,
thereby reducing the overall quantity directed to the two-roll crusher
and reducing the horsepower per ton required to size the coal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view with the exposed side removed showing
the scalping unit in conjunction with a two-roll crushing unit;
FIG. 2 illustrates a modification of the conveyor used in the system
described in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a schematic of a scalping unit in conjunction with a
surge hopper mechanism; and
FIG. 4 is an alternate method for driving the inlet and outlet
conveyor systems.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SCALPING UNIT
Referring to the drawings but in particular to FIG. 1 a perspective
view of the scalping unit in conjunction with a two-roll crusher
is illustrated. The scalping unit essentially comprises an input
conveyor 10 driven by a first roll 11 journaled on a shaft 12 and
a second roll 13 journaled on a shaft 14. The output conveyor generally
referred to by the number 20 comprises a belt 21 supported by a
first roller 22 journaled on a shaft 23 and a second roller 24 journaled
on a second shaft 25. Conveyor 10 is fed by conveyor 30 which is
supported by a roller 31 which in turn is journaled on a shaft 32.
The bearings for shaft 32 22 and 25 are not illustrated for purposes
of better illustrating the mounting and operation of the various
conveyors. A second roller for conveyor 30 is not shown but supports
the other end of conveyor 30. Conveyors 20 and 30 are illustrated
as belts. However, any form of conveyor can be used which can successfully
move the product such as a chain-driven conveyor, vibrator conveyor,
or other well known types. The input or scalping conveyor 10 comprises
a grid 35 which comprises a plurality of long support members 36
and a plurality of cross members 37. On each side of conveyor 10
is a chain 38 having attached there between a plurality of cross
members 39. These cross members 39 are such that they will ride
along the top of grid 35 pulling product 40 along the conveyor
in the direction of arrow 41. The terminus of conveyor 10 permits
the product to drop between two rolls 50 and 51 which are journaled
on shafts 52 and 53 respectively. Each of the rolls 50 and 51 contain
a plurality of peripheral teeth 55 used to break the product 40
as it passes between the rolls 50 and 51. The crushed product after
passing between rolls 50 and 51 falls onto conveyor 21 as a sized
product 60 which in turn passes over the terminus of output conveyor
20 and into a cart for example 61. The spacing between grid 36 is
such that the smaller product 62 falls through the holes or openings
in grid 36 and onto the upper surface of output conveyor 20. A guard
71 prevents crushed material or broken material which may tend to
be flung from the rollers from injuring personnel in the close vicinity
of the unit. The operation of the scavenge unit in FIG. 1 is as
follows: Product 40 on conveyor 30 passes from its terminus and
falls onto conveyor 10. Cross members 39 which are being pulled
by chain 38 move the product along grid 36. Any small product having
a dimension smaller than the spacing between vertical members 36
and cross members 37 will fall through the opening and onto the
upper surface of conveyor 20. This smaller product 62 will pass
to the terminus of conveyor 20 and into cart 61. The large product
40 will continue up grid 35 until it reaches roll 13 where it will
pass or fall between crusher rolls 50 and 51. Teeth 55 on each roll
will size the product as it passes between the rolls. The sized
product will fall onto conveyor 20 pass onto cart 61. It should
be noted at this point that conveyor 20 has its upper surface as
close as possible to the bottom of roll 50 and the upper surface
of conveyor 10 including the product does not exceed the height
of roll 51. Rolls 50 and 51 are positioned so that the height of
the overall unit will be minimum. A plurality of sprocket teeth
70 may be attached to roll 13 so that teeth 70 can engage the spacing
between the chain lengths of chain 38 thereby providing a drive
for the chain. The motors used in driving conveyors 30 10 20 and
rolls 51 and 50 are not illustrated for the purpose of simplicity.
The drive mechanisms for the conveyors and roll crushers or sizers
are well known in the art.
The device shown in FIG. 2 illustrates another method of providing
a grid in combination with a conveyor belt. Referring to the drawing,
a chain 38 is driven by roll 13 which has a plurality of sprockets
70 thereon which engage the links of chain 38. A plurality of hinged
grids 80 has one edge rod 81 pivotally attached at 82 to chain 38.
The remaining rods 83 have a plurality of projections 84 which provide
support for rods 83 against chain 38 when the small grids 80 are
on the top side of chains 38. When the grids 80 are on the underside
of chain 38 rods 84 no longer are supported by chain 38 and hang
in the manner illustrated in the drawing. This construction permits
the product to fall from the upper surface through the grid and
through the underside of the conveyor 10. Strips 85 retain the grid
rods 83 against roller 13 until the conveyor has passed to the underside
of roller 13. The construction prevents premature releasing of the
rods 83 from roller 13 and thereby controls the dropping point of
the product between rolls 50 and 51.
In order to control surge in a system such as that shown in FIG.
1 the scalping unit can be mounted as illustrated in FIG. 3 which
includes a hopper 100 having sidewalls 101 a rear wall 102 with
roller 11 journaled about shaft 12 in the sidewalls 101 of hopper
100. Guide wheels 103 and 104 help control the movement of conveyor
10. An underplate 105 prevents product 40 from falling through the
conveyor in hopper 100 and through conveyor 10 before conveyor 20
is reached; therefore, plate 105 extends to point 106 which is above
conveyor 20. The system as shown in FIG. 3 operates exactly the
same as the system shown in FIG. 1 except that an input conveyor
30 is not needed. It also provides a method for loading conveyor
10 on an intermittent basis while conveyor 10 can be operated on
a substantially continuous basis. As the product 40 moves up conveyor
10 over grid 35 the smaller products 62 will fall to conveyor 20.
In this figure, conveyor 20 is illustrated as having a chain drive
with cross members connected between the chains. The conveyor is
constructed in the identical manner as the conveyor illustrated
for the scalping unit 10. The only difference is that the conveyor
includes a bottom 107 which prevents materials 60 from falling through
conveyor 20.
FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative belt or chain drive for the conveyor
illustrated in FIGS. 2 or 3. In this instance, a continuous chain
or belt 110 being driven by rollers 12 guide wheels 103 roller
13 roller 22 and roller 24 such as that illustrated in FIGS. 1
and 3. In the instance of FIG. 4 plate 105 is positioned under
the conveyor and extends to 106 so that the scalping will not take
place until the conveyor is over conveyor 20.
A scalping unit for a two-roll crusher has been illustrated which
is compact and operates in a manner to separate the smaller product
from the large product prior to the entry of the larger product
to a two-roll crusher. The conveyors afford a unique positioning
with the two-roll crusher so that minimum height can be achieved
with the combination. The minimum height provides a means for making
a compact unit which can be taken into a mine. Such a system when
in the mine will afford a method for sizing product prior to its
entry into a slurry line. While a cart 61 has been disclosed, for
simplicity, it is obvious that other apparatus could receive the
output from the conveyor, for example, another conveyor, or a slurry
hopper, or the material could be piled and picked up either intermittently
or continuously. A particular embodiment has been disclosed. It
is obvious that other embodiments can be used which are well within
the skill of the art. Such alternate embodiments are fully contemplated
by this invention as disclosed in the specification and appended
claims.
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