MOVABLE ATTACHMENT FOR ROLLER PRESSES AND A METHOD FOR REMOVING CERTAIN PARTS THEREOF

Abstract

A roller press arrangement, a connection device for movably attaching certain parts to the roller press and a method for more easily performing maintenance on such parts is disclosed. The roller press comprises a frame assembly and a force generation device. The force generation device configured to move so that it is removable when top members of the frame assembly are connected to the side members of the frame assembly and fixed in a closed horizontal position. The connection device for attaching a force generation device to the frame assembly comprises a mounting plate and a hinge. The hinge is rotatable so that the force generation device is removable when top members of the frame assembly are connected to side members of the frame assembly and the top members of the frame assembly are fixed in a closed horizontal position.

Claims

1. Roller press (1) comprising: a frame assembly comprising one or more of a plurality of top members (2) selectively separable from one or more of a plurality of side members (3) selectively separable from one or more of a plurality of bottom members (4); and a force generation device (5) movably attached to one or more of a plurality of said side members (3); wherein said force generation device (5) is configured to move so that said force generation device (5) is removable when said plurality of top members (3) are connected to said side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position.

2. Roller press (1) according to claim 1, wherein said force generation device (5) is movably attached to one or more of a plurality of said side members (3) by a mounting plate (6) and a connection device (7).

3. Roller press (1) according to claim 2, wherein said connection device (7) is comprised of a hinge (8).

4. Roller press (1) according to claim 2, wherein said connection device (7) is comprised of a sliding device (9).

5. Roller press (1) according to claim 3, wherein said hinge (8) is rotatable about the y-axis (y).

6. Roller press (1) according to claim 3, wherein said hinge (8) is rotatable about the z-axis (z).

7. Roller press according to claim 4, wherein said sliding device is slidable in the x-z plane (12).

8. A connection device (7) for attaching a force generation device (5) to the frame of a roller press comprising: a mounting plate (6) and a hinge (8), said force generation device (5) being disposed on said mounting plate (6), said hinge (8) being disposed on said mounting plate (6) and being movably attached to said frame (3); wherein said hinge (8) is rotatable so that said force generation device (5) is removable when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position.

9. The connection device of claim 8 wherein said hinge (8) is rotatable about the y-axis (y).

10. The connection device of claim 8 wherein said hinge (8) is rotatable about the z-axis (z).

11. A connection device (7) for attaching a force generation device (5) to the frame of a roller press comprising: a mounting plate (6) and a sliding device (9), said force generation device (5) being disposed on said mounting plate (6), said sliding device (9) being disposed on said mounting plate (6) and being movably attached to said frame (3); wherein said sliding device (9) is slidable so that said force generation device (5) is removable when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position.

12. The connection device of claim 11 wherein said sliding device (8) is slidable in the x-z plane (12).

13. A method for performing maintenance on a force generation device (5) of a roller press (1) comprising the steps of: moving a force generation device (5), said force generation device movably attached to one or more of a plurality of side members (3) of a frame assembly of said roller press (1) by a mounting plate (6) and a connection device (7), in the x-z plane (12); removing said force generation device (5) from said roller press (1) when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said connection device is comprised of a sliding device (9).

15. A method for performing maintenance on a force generation device (5) of a roller press (1) comprising the steps of: moving a force generation device (5), said force generation device movably attached to one or more of a plurality of side members (3) of a frame assembly of said roller press (1) by a mounting plate (6) and a connection device (7), about the y-axis (y) or z-axis (z); removing said force generation device (5) from said roller press (1) when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said connection device is comprised of a hinge (8).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention will be described below, with reference to the enclosed drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first present embodiment of a roller press according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second present embodiment of a roller press according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third present embodiment of a roller press according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a planar view of a Cartesian 3-dimensional coordinate system. FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the moveable bearing housings and the grinding rollers of a roller press according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 6 represents FLSmidth's HPGR frame design wherein the top member of the frame assembly hinders access to the force generation device(s).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a roller press (1) is comprised of a frame assembly comprising one or more of a plurality of top members (2) selectively separable from one or more of a plurality of side members (3) selectively separable from one or more of a plurality of bottom members (4). The top, bottom and side members can be attached to one another using, for example, pins and bushings, bolted connections, and other similar means of mechanical fastening. The roller press (1) is also comprised of one or more of a plurality of force generation devices (5). The force generation device (5) is movably attached to one or more of a plurality of the side members (3), meaning for example, that the force generation device (5) is configured to move so that the force generation device (5) is removable when the plurality of top members (2) are connected to the side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position. When the plurality of side members (3) are connected to the plurality of top members (2) and are fixed in a closed horizontal position the frame assembly together with the pins and bushings are in place.

[0019] Force generation devices (5) may be any devices capable of applying force to the moveable bearing housings (10) (i.e.—the housings which contain the grinding rollers (13)) or to the grinding rollers (13) in order to widen or narrow a nip. (See e.g. FIG. 5). The force generation devices (5) may further be capable of absorbing forces from the grinding rollers (13) and may be configured to help maintain a resultant width of the nip between the grinding rollers (13) when comminuting crushable material. For example, force generation devices (5) may be devices such as hydraulic cylinders or rams, springs and the like. A specific object of the present invention is that the force generation device (5) can be configured to move so that the force generation device (5) is removable when the plurality of top members (3) are connected to the side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position. Such an arrangement, as opposed to the arrangement shown in FIG. 6, permits the force generation device (5) to be more easily accessed for replacement or repair without removing or rotating the entire overhead frame, resulting in less operational downtime, higher throughput, safer maintenance conditions and a smaller footprint during such a process, without limitation.

[0020] As further shown in FIGS. 1-3, a force generation device (5) can be movably attached to one or more of a plurality of said side members (3) with a mounting plate (6) and a connection device (7). The mounting plate (6) may be an integral part of the force generation device (5), or may be attached to it by mechanical fastening means. In an exemplary embodiment, the mounting plate (6) is integral to the force generation device (5) and the mounting plate (6) is bolted to the side members (3). In other exemplary embodiments, the mounting plate (6) is bolted, welded or pinned to the force generation device (5) and to the side members (3).

[0021] As further shown in FIG. 1, the connection device (7) can be comprised of a hinge (8). The hinge can be made of metal, or like material and can be fastened to the mounting plate (6) by for example, screws, pins or bolts or other similar means of mechanical fastening. The hinge (8) may be rotatable about the z-axis (z), as shown in FIG. 1, or may be rotatable about the y-axis (y), as shown in FIG. 2. Such rotation allows the force generation device (5) to be removed or accessed when the plurality of top members (2) are still connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position. In other embodiments, the hinge (8) can be directly connected to the force generation device (5).

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the connection device (7) can be comprised of a sliding device (9). The sliding device (9) operates so that the mounting plate (6) holding the force generation device (5) slides so that the force generation device (5) is removable without opening the top member (2) of the frame assembly. For example, the mounting plate (6) can slide in a tongue and groove arrangement or on tracks. As shown in FIG. 3, the sliding device can be slidable in the x-z plane (12).

[0023] In other embodiments, the sliding device (9) can be directly connected to the force generation device (5). In some embodiments, the mounting plate (6) can slide on a table-like surface (i.e.—one that is attached to the ground or the side of the machine that is approximately the full length of the force generation device (6)).

[0024] Another object of the invention is a connection device (7) for attaching a force generation device (5) to the frame of a roller press comprising a mounting plate (6) and a hinge (8), the force generation device (5) being disposed on the mounting plate (6), the hinge (8) being disposed on the mounting plate (6) and being movably attached to the frame (3); wherein the hinge (8) is rotatable so that the force generation device (5) is removable when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the hinge (8) may be rotatable about the z-axis (z) and about the y-axis (y). In another embodiment, the hinge (8) can be directly connected to the force generation device (5).

[0025] Yet another object of the invention is a connection device (7) for attaching a force generation device (5) to the frame of a roller press comprising: a mounting plate (6) and a sliding device (9), the force generation device (5) being disposed on the mounting plate (6), the sliding device (9) being disposed on the mounting plate (6) and being movably attached to the frame (3); wherein the sliding device (9) is slidable so that the force generation device (5) is removable when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position. As shown in FIG. 3, the sliding device (9) can be slid in the x-z plane (12). In another embodiment, the sliding device (9) can be directly connected to the force generation device (5).

[0026] Also provided is a method for performing maintenance on a force generation device (5) of a roller press (1) comprising the steps of: moving a force generation device (5) movably attached to one or more of a plurality of side members (3) of a frame assembly of a roller press, in the x-z plane (12) or about the y-axis (y) or z-axis; removing the force generation device (5) from the roller press (1) when a plurality of top members (3) are connected to side members (3) and fixed in a closed horizontal position. In some embodiments, the force generation device (5) is movably attached to one or more of a plurality of side members (3) of a frame assembly of a roller press by a mounting plate (6) and a connection device (7). In an exemplary embodiment the connection device is comprised of a hinge (8). In another exemplary embodiment the connection device is comprises of a sliding device (9).

[0027] While certain present exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and certain embodiments of methods of practicing the same have been shown and described, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE IDENTIFIERS 1 roller press 2 top member 3 side member 4 bottom member 5 force generation device 6 mounting plate 7 connection device 8 hinge 9 sliding device 10 moveable bearing housing 11 x-y plane 12 x-z plane 13 grinding roller y y-axis z z-axis