Apparatus for classification of material to be classified

Abstract

A device configured to classify material to be classified, preferably into two fractions, preferably of soil, such as sticky, clayey soil, especially intended for use in a quarry, having a machine frame and having at least two spiral shafts rotatably mounted on the machine frame. At least one spiral shaft includes a core tube having at least one outer screw helix and at least one bearing journal. The core tube is mounted elastically relative to the bearing journal by at least one elastic bearing.

Claims

1. An apparatus configured to classify material to be classified, comprising: a machine frame and having at least two spiral shafts rotatably mounted on the machine frame, wherein at least one spiral shaft of the at least two spiral shafts comprises a core tube having at least one outer screw helix and at least one bearing journal, wherein the core tube is mounted elastically relative to the bearing journal by at least one elastic bearing, the core tube being fixed on an inner side to a bearing housing, and the at least one elastic bearing being located between the bearing housing and the bearing journal, wherein the elastic bearing comprises at least one bearing plate having an elastic material, configured substantially as a ring and/or a hollow cylinder, and the at least one bearing plate is elastically operative between the core tube and the bearing journal of the spiral shaft.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spiral shaft is rotatably mounted on both sides by a respective bearing journal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic bearing allows an elastic yielding movement of the core tube transversely to the axis of rotation of the spiral shaft by up to 3 cm.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material is a soil.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing plate comprises a material reduction on at least one side surface in the area of the elastic material wherein a cross sectional area of the bearing plate is formed in mirror symmetry in the area of the material reduction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bearing journal is connected to the at least one bearing plate or the bearing journal is rotatably mounted relative to the bearing plate by a roller bearing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bearing plate is arranged in a bearing housing of the spiral shaft and is joined by positive locking to the bearing housing and the bearing housing is joined to the core tube.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the bearing housing has internal teeth on the inside and/or a toothed coupling is provided between the bearing housing and the elastic bearing and/or the at least one bearing plate has external teeth corresponding to the internal teeth of the bearing housing, wherein the internal teeth of the bearing housing engage with the external teeth of the at least one bearing plate.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elastic bearing comprises two bearing plates and the roller bearing is provided between the bearing plates, wherein the bearing plates are joined to the roller bearing.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a lubricating device is provided at the output end in the area of the elastic bearing for lubricating grease, and wherein at least one lubricating duct is provided in the bearing journal having at least one lubricating nipple on the external end face of the bearing journal, wherein the lubricating nipple is associated with a protective cap and/or protective screw.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spiral shafts comprise different core tubes, wherein the core tubes have varying diameters and/or a varying wall thicknesses.

12. An apparatus to classify material comprising: a machine frame; and at least two spiral shafts rotatably mounted on the machine frame, wherein at least one elastic bearing is provided at an output end of at least one of the at least two spiral shafts, the at least one elastic bearing having at least one bearing support, to enable an elastic yielding movement of the spiral shaft, wherein the bearing support comprises a bearing bush and a spring connected to the bearing bush, wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

13. A soil classification machine for a quarry comprising: a machine frame, the machine frame having at least two spiral shafts rotatably mounted on the machine frame, the at least two spiral shafts elastically movable relative to one another, at least one spiral shaft of the at least two spiral shafts comprises a core tube having at least one outer screw helix and at least one bearing journal, wherein the core tube is mounted elastically relative to the bearing journal by at least one elastic bearing located between the core tube and the bearing journal, and the elastic bearing comprises at least one bearing plate having an elastic material, the elastic material being substantially ring-shaped and/or a hollow cylinder, and the at least one bearing plate being elastically operative between the core tube and the bearing journal of the spiral shaft.

14. The machine according to claim 13, wherein the at least one spiral shaft is rotatably mounted on both sides by a respective bearing journal.

15. The machine according to claim 13, wherein the elastic bearing allows an elastic yielding movement of the core tube transversely to the axis of rotation of the spiral shaft by up to 3 cm.

16. The machines according to claim 13, wherein the at least one bearing plate comprises a material reduction area on at least one side surface in the area of the elastic material and wherein a cross sectional area of the bearing plate is formed in mirror symmetry in the area of the material reduction.

17. The machine according to claim 13, wherein the bearing journal is connected to the at least one bearing plate or the bearing journal is rotatably mounted relative to the bearing plate by a roller bearing.

18. The machine according to claim 13, wherein: the at least one bearing plate is arranged in a bearing housing of the spiral shaft and is joined by positive locking to the bearing housing, and the bearing housing is joined to the core tube.

19. The mac ne according to claim 13, wherein the spiral shafts comprise different size core tubes and/or the core tubes have differing wall thicknesses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, benefits and application possibilities of the present invention will emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of the drawing, and from the drawing itself. All described and/or depicted features in themselves or in any given combination form the subject matter of the invention, regardless of whether they are summarized in the claims or references to them.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a classifying apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further schematic perspective view of a classifying apparatus according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a spiral shaft according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective representation of the spiral shaft along section IV-IV of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective detail view A of the bearing means of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective detail view B of the bearing means of FIG. 4;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective representation of the bearing means;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a further schematic perspective representation of the bearing means;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of a further embodiment of a spiral shaft according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of detail C of FIG. 9;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a spiral shaft according to the invention;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a cross sectional view of a spiral shaft according to the invention per FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a cross sectional view of detail D of FIG. 12 of a spiral shaft according to the invention; and

(15) FIG. 14 shows a cross sectional view of detail E of FIG. 12 of a spiral shaft according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for classifying material to be classified having a machine frame 2 and having at least two spiral shafts 3 mounted rotatably on the machine frame 2, wherein at least one spiral shaft 3 comprises a core tube 5 having at least one outer screw helix 4 and at least one bearing journal 6. Not shown is that the apparatus 1 preferably performs a separation into two fractions, in particular wherein the one fraction is ejected beneath the spiral shafts 3. Also not shown is that the apparatus 1 is used preferably in a quarry, in particular wherein it is provided that the material to be classified is sticky, clayey soil and fine and/or coarser rocks. The apparatus 1 according to FIG. 4 is characterized in that the core tube 5 is elastically mounted by means of at least one elastic bearing means 7. The elastic mounting is done preferably in such a way that the core tube 5 can move relative to the bearing journal 6 on account of the elasticity of the elastic bearing means 7.

(17) FIG. 4 further shows that the elastic bearing means 7 is provided on the spiral shaft 3 at both ends. In another embodiment, not shown, it may be provided that the elastic bearing means 7 is mounted only at one end, especially the drive end or the output end. In the one-ended mounting of the elastic bearing means 7 on the spiral shaft 3, the other end of the spiral shaft 3 may likewise be supported. It is understood, of course, that it may be further provided that in the case of a one-ended elastic mounting of the spiral shaft 3 by an elastic bearing means 7, the opposite end of the spiral shaft 3 in the elastic bearing means 7 also can be unsupported and/or braced against the machine frame 2.

(18) Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows that the spiral shaft 3 is rotatably mounted at both ends by a respective bearing journal 6. In addition, FIG. 1 makes it clear that the spiral shaft 3 is braced against the machine frame 2.

(19) Moreover, it is not represented in the exemplary embodiments that the elastic bearing means 7 is designed such that it enables an elastic yielding movement of the core tube 5 transversely to the axis of rotation 8 (per FIG. 3) of the spiral shaft 3 by up to 3 cm.

(20) Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows that the elastic bearing means 7 comprises at least one bearing plate 9 comprising elastic material. The bearing plate 9 is elastically operative between the core tube 5 and the bearing journal 6 of the spiral shaft 3. FIG. 4 shows that the elastic interaction between the bearing plate 9 and the core tube 5 as well as the bearing journal 6 of the spiral shaft 3 is indirect, since the core tube 5 is separated by a bearing housing 14 from the bearing plate 9. The elastic bearing means 7 per FIG. 4 is arranged at both ends of the spiral shaft 3, wherein different configurations of the elastic bearing means 7 are provided at the ends of the spiral shaft 3.

(21) A detail view of the bearing plate 9 is afforded by FIG. 7 and/or FIG. 8, illustrating different embodiments of the elastic bearing means 7. FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the bearing plate 9 is configured to be at least substantially ring-shaped and hollow cylindrical.

(22) Moreover, FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the bearing plate 9 in the region of the elastic material has an encircling material reduction 11 in the form of a recess 12 on both side surfaces 10. Per FIG. 10, the recess 12 is formed in mirror symmetry in the cross-section surface of the bearing plate 9 in the region of the recess 12. It is not shown that in further variant embodiments of the apparatus 1 only one side surface 10 of the bearing plate 9 has a material reduction 11 in the region of the elastic material, in particular wherein this reduction is at least substantially encircling and preferably having the form of a recess 12.

(23) Furthermore, FIGS. 4 and 6 show that the bearing journal 6 is firmly connected to at least one bearing plate 9, especially per FIG. 6 to two bearing plates 9. This firm connection of the bearing journal 6 to the bearing plate 9 and thus to the spiral shaft 3 makes it possible for the bearing journal 6 to rotate together with the spiral shaft 3. On the other hand, FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the bearing journal 6, especially at the output end, is mounted rotatably relative to the bearing plate 9. Moreover, FIG. 5 makes it clear that a roller bearing 13 is provided between the two bearing plates 9. The bearing journal 6 at the output end per FIG. 5 has a stationary configuration in the exemplary embodiment shown, so that the bearing journal 6 does not co-rotate with the spiral shaft 3.

(24) Moreover, FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate how the bearing plate 9 is arranged in a bearing housing 14 of the spiral shaft 3, wherein the bearing housing 14 is firmly connected to the core tube 5. Accordingly, the bearing housing 14 co-rotates together with the bearing plate 9 with the spiral shaft 3 during the rotation.

(25) In all exemplary embodiments shown, it is provided that the bearing plate 9 is connected by positive locking to the bearing housing 14. According to the exemplary embodiments shown, the positive-locking connection of the bearing housing 14 to the bearing plate 9 is formed by a toothed coupling 16 between the bearing housing 14 and the elastic bearing means 7. Moreover, the figures illustrate how the toothed coupling 16 in the exemplary embodiments shown is formed by internal teeth 15, which the bearing housing 14 has on its inside, and by external teeth 17 of the bearing plate 9 corresponding to the internal teeth 15. FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the internal teeth 15 of the bearing housing 14 mesh with the external teeth 17 of the bearing plate 9.

(26) Furthermore, FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the bearing plate 9 is formed with rotational symmetry in the region of the recess 12. In addition, FIGS. 7 and 8 show that the rotational symmetry of the bearing plate 9 is also present as far as the external teeth 17, but excluding the external teeth 17 of the bearing plate 9.

(27) In the exemplary embodiments shown, the elastic bearing means 7 comprises two bearing plates 9, especially at both the drive end and the output end. However, it should be pointed out that it is also fundamentally possible to provide only one bearing plate or more than two bearing plates.

(28) Furthermore, FIG. 5 illustrates that the roller bearing 13 is provided between the bearing plates 9. The bearing plates 9 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 are firmly connected to the roller bearing 13.

(29) According to FIG. 5, a lubricating device 18 is provided in the bearing journal 6, especially at the output end. This lubricating device 18 may, in one exemplary use not shown, be utilized for lubricating grease. In particular, the region of the elastic bearing means 7 at the output end is at least substantially air-tight, so that only individual droplets of lubricating grease can be placed by the lubricating device 18 in the region of the roller bearing 13. The lubricating device 18 according to FIG. 5 comprises at least one lubricating duct 19 in the bearing journal 6 with at least one lubricating nipple 20 on the outer end face 21 of the bearing journal 6. FIG. 10 shows the lubricating device 18 in a cross-sectional view, wherein it is clear from FIG. 10 that a protective cap 22 is provided on the outer end face 21 of the bearing journal 6 to cover the lubricating nipple 20. Alternatively, in an exemplary embodiment (not shown), a protective screw 23 can be used to cover the lubricating nipple 20 of the lubricating device 18.

(30) Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for classifying material to be classified having a machine frame 2 and having at least two spiral shafts 3 mounted rotatably on the machine frame 2, wherein an elastic bearing means 7 is provided having at least one bearing support 24, in order to make possible an elastic yielding movement of the spiral shaft 3. According to FIG. 1, an elastic bearing means 7 is provided with at least one bearing support 24. In the exemplary embodiment shown, six bearing supports 24 are present at the output end. The apparatus 1 preferably comprises one of the previous variant embodiments. Furthermore, in one application (not shown), the apparatus 1 is used in a quarry for the classifying of soil, preferably sticky and clayey soil, and coarser and/or finer rocks.

(31) Moreover, the bearing support 24 of FIG. 1 comprises a bearing bush 25 for the elastic mounting of the spiral shaft 3 as well as a spring means, especially one designed as a leaf spring, connected to the bearing bush 25. Thanks to this spring means, an elastic movement of the spiral shaft 3 and/or the core tube 5 is likewise possible, specifically relative to the machine frame 2. The spring means connected to the bearing bush 25 may thus be realized, alternatively or additionally to the previously described embodiment of the elastic mounting of the core tube 5 by the elastic bearing means 7.

(32) The elastic mounting of the spiral shaft 3 by means of the elastic bearing means 7 with at least one bearing support 24 can also be designed as a joint (not shown). The joint and/or the elastic bearing means 7 make possible the resilience of the support bearing, in particular wherein it is required to assure a yielding movement (not shown) of the spiral shaft 3 transversely to its axis of rotation 8 and up to 3 cm.

(33) It is not shown that the bearing plate 9 comprises or consists of at least one material of a form-stable and elastically deformable plastic, especially an elastomer, preferably a rubber elastomer, more preferably an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and/or chloroprene rubber (CR) and/or ethylene-polypropylene-diene rubber (EPDM), and/or natural rubber (NR). The permissible compressive stress of the material of the bearing plate 9 is advantageously a permissible value of greater than 0.01 N/mm.sup.2, preferably greater than 1 N/mm.sup.2, more preferably between 1 and 50 N/mm.sup.2, more preferably still between 1 and 20 N/mm.sup.2 and especially at least substantially 15 N/mm.sup.2.

(34) Furthermore, FIG. 4 illustrates that the bearing means 7 at the output end (see detail view A) has two bearing plates 9 spaced further apart from each other than the bearing means 7 at the drive end (see detail view B). The greater spacing of the bearing plates 9 of the elastic bearing means 7 at the output end results in particular from providing a roller bearing 13 between the bearing plates 9 for the rotatable mounting of the spiral shaft 3 and/or the core tube 5.

(35) Furthermore, it is not shown in the exemplary embodiments that a bearing support 24, especially a rigid one, can be elastically mounted with a machine element, especially at the lower end and/or at the foot of the bearing support 24. Preferably, the machine element is designed as an elastomer bearing block. Furthermore, the machine element preferably comprises a form-stable and elastically deformable plastic as its material, especially an elastomer, preferably a rubber elastomer, more preferably an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and/or chloroprene rubber (CR) and/or ethylene-polypropylenediene rubber (EPDM), and/or natural rubber (NR). In particular, the material of the machine element may comprise the same material as the bearing plate 9 of the elastic bearing means 7, especially the means at the drive end.

(36) Moreover, in an exemplary application (not shown) of the apparatus 1, it is provided that the material to be classified has a dwell time of over 1 s, preferably over 3 s, more preferably between 4 and 20 s and especially at least substantially between 5 and 15 s. This dwell time in the range of seconds makes possible a clean classification of the material to be classified.

(37) It is clear with reference to FIG. 2 that the apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of spiral shafts 3. The spiral shafts 3 mesh with each other per FIG. 2, with the clear space between two adjacent spiral shafts 3 characterized by the core tubes 5 and the outer screw helices 4.

(38) Furthermore, it is provided per FIG. 2 that the bearing journal 6 at the drive end is covered by a housing of the drive 28, except for a bearing journal 6. A bearing journal 6 of a spiral shaft 3 protrudes out from the housing of the drive 28, in particular wherein this bearing journal 6 is provided for mounting on a motor. It is not shown that the spiral shafts 3 are joined together inside the housing of the drive 28, so that by driving one spiral shaft 3 by means of a motor all further spiral shafts 3 of the apparatus 1 are driven.

(39) It is provided that the spiral shafts 3 are rotated about their longitudinal axis and/or turning axis 8, in particular their axis of rotation. This rotation may be produced in particular by a motor (not shown). In another embodiment variant (not shown), it may be provided that a plurality of motors and/or drives are used, especially with a synchronization of the angles of rotation.

(40) Further, it is not shown that at least two adjacent spiral shafts 3 have the same direction of rotation and that the axes of rotation 8 of at least three spiral shafts 3 are not arranged in a common plane.

(41) The spiral shafts 3 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are braced at least at one end on the machine frame 2.

(42) Moreover, FIG. 1 shows that a classifying surface 26 formed by the spiral shafts 3 is curved in at least one partial region. In addition, the classifying surface 26 is curved in one partial region and flat in another partial region. The curvature of the classifying surface 26 is such that a trough 27 is formed. In an exemplary embodiment (not shown), the classifying surface 26 may also be part of a trough 27.

(43) According to FIGS. 1 and 2, it is provided that the spiral shafts 3 have different core tubes 5 in the apparatus 1. The core tubes 5 in the middle of the classifying surface 26 are provided with a larger diameter. In addition, the core tubes 5 in the middle of the classifying surface 26, especially in the region of the lowest point of the trough 27, may have a greater wall thickness.

(44) Furthermore, it is not shown that the spiral shafts 3 can be driven with the same velocity and different directions of rotation.

(45) FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the spiral shaft 3 and/or a front view of the spiral shaft 3 of FIG. 3. FIG. 12 represents a cross-sectional view of the spiral shaft 3 of FIG. 11. FIGS. 13 and 14 clarify the detail views D and E of FIG. 12. FIG. 13 shows, in contrast to FIG. 5, that at least one recess 29 in the form of a flattening is provided on the bearing journal 6 of the output end, wherein this recess 29 serves for mounting in the bearing bush 25.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(46) 1 Apparatus for classifying 2 Machine frame 3 Spiral shaft 4 Outer screw helix 5 Core tube 6 Bearing journal 7 Elastic bearing means 8 Axis of rotation 9 Bearing plate 10 Side surface of bearing plate 11 Material reduction 12 Recess 13 Roller bearing 14 Bearing housing 15 Internal teeth 16 Toothed coupling 17 External teeth 18 Lubricating device 19 Lubricating duct 20 Lubricating nipple 21 Outer end face of the bearing plate 22 Protective cap 23 Protective screw 24 Bearing support 25 Bearing bush 26 Classifying surface 27 Trough 28 Drive housing 29 Recess