Abstract
A gyratory crusher shell has an annular wall extending around a longitudinal axis. A plurality of ears project radially outward from an annular rim of the topshell with each ear including a respective lug to sit within a corresponding recess at an annular rim of the topshell to rotatably lock the crushing shell at the topshell.
Claims
1. A crushing shell arranged to be mounted within a gyratory crusher topshell, the crushing shell comprising: an annular wall extending around a longitudinal axis, the wall being terminated at an axial end by an annular rim; a plurality of fastening ears projecting radially outward from the wall at a region of the rim, each ear being engageable with an annular rim of the topshell of a gyratory crusher, each ear having a notch; and a lock lug projecting from each ear and arranged to be received within respective recesses at the annular rim of the topshell to rotatably lock the crushing shell at the topshell, each lug having a length in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis that is less than half of a corresponding circumferential length of a respective ear, wherein the circumferential length of each lug is greater than a radial width of each lug, and the circumferential length of each lug is about half of a distance in the circumferential direction between an end face of the ear and the notch.
2. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein each notch is arranged to receive an attachment bolt for securing axially the crushing shell to the topshell.
3. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lug projects axially from a respective ear.
4. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein an abutment face of each lug is arranged to contact a corresponding face that in part defines each respective recess of the rim of the topshell.
5. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 4, wherein the abutment face is planar.
6. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lug extends across a full radial width of a respective ear.
7. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 1, wherein each lug has a cross section area in a plane perpendicular to the axis that is at least half of the corresponding cross sectional area of the ear.
8. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 1, comprising between two to six ears, each ear having a respective lug.
9. The crushing shell as claimed in claim 8, comprising between four to six ears symmetrically arranged around the axis and spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction by a uniform separation distance.
10. A gyratory crusher topshell assembly comprising: a topshell terminated at an axial end by an annular rim; a crushing shell including an annular wall extending around a longitudinal axis, the wall being terminated at an axial end by an annular rim, a plurality of fastening ears projecting radially outward from the wall at a region of the rim of the wall, each ear being engageable with the annular rim of the topshell, each ear having a notch, and a lock lug projecting from each ear and arranged to be received within respective recesses at the annular rim of the topshell to rotatably lock the crushing shell at the topshell, each lug having a length in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis that is less than half of a corresponding circumferential length of a respective ear, wherein the circumferential length of each lug is greater than a radial width of each lug, and the circumferential length of each lug is about half of a distance in the circumferential direction between an end face of the ear and the notch; a plurality of attachment bolts, each bolt being arranged to extend through each ear and the annular rim of the topshell to axially lock the crushing shell at the topshell; and a plurality of recesses provided at the annular rim of the topshell to receive the respective lugs.
11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one extractor mounted at the topshell and including an axially adjustable shaft having an engaging end positioned to contact respectively at least one of the lugs to force axially movement of the crushing shell relative to the topshell.
12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the topshell annular rim comprises an axially upper annular rim and an axially lower annular rim.
13. A gyratory crusher comprising a topshell assembly as claimed in claim 10.
14. The assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said crushing shell further comprises a first axially upper crushing shell secured via the ears, lugs and recesses to the upper annular rim of the topshell and a second axially lower crushing shell secured via the respective ears, lugs and recesses to the lower annular rim of the topshell.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is an upper external perspective view of a topshell assembly comprising an axially upper and lower outer crushing shell secured in position within a topshell via fastening ears and lock lugs according to a specific implementation of the present invention;
(3) FIG. 2 is a lower external perspective view of the topshell assembly of FIG. 1;
(4) FIG. 3 is a magnified view of one of the fastening ears and lock lugs positioned at an upper annular rim of the top shell assembly of FIG. 1;
(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the outer crushing shells of FIG. 1;
(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one of the fastening ears and lock lugs projecting radially outward from an upper annular rim of topshell of FIG. 4;
(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of a plurality of recesses formed in the upper annular rim of the top shell of FIG. 1;
(8) FIG. 7 is a further perspective view of one of the fastening ears and lock lugs of FIG. 5;
(9) FIG. 8 is a cross sectional perspective view through the topshell assembly of FIG. 1 at the region of an extractor mounted at the topshell to force axial movement of the crushing shell relative to the topshell according to a specific implementation of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
(10) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, shell assembly 100 comprises a topshell indicated generally by reference 102 having a generally annular configuration extending around central axis 110. Topshell 102 comprises an upper annular rim 103 separated axially from a lower annular rim 104. An annular tapper-fit collar 105 projects axially from a radially inner region of upper annular rim 103 and a corresponding tapper-fit collar 200 projects axially from lower annular rim 104. Collar 105 and rim 103 provide a mounting for a crusher spider (not shown) representing an upper region of the gyratory crusher. Similarly, lower annular collar 200 and rim 104 provide regions for mounting top shell 102 on a corresponding bottom shell (not shown) of the crusher. As with conventional topshell configurations, collars 105, 200 comprise a radial thickness being less than the respective rims 103, 104.
(11) Assembly 100 comprises a first outer crushing shell (concave) 101 secured at topshell 102 via rim 103 and collar 105. Assembly 100 further comprise a second crushing shell 101 secured to topshell 102 via the lower rim 104 and collar 200. Each crushing shell 101 comprises an end annular rim 106 and four fastening ears indicated generally by reference 107 projecting radially outward from rim 106 and being spaced apart from one another by a uniform separation distance in a circumferential distance around axis 110. Referring to FIG. 4, topshell 101 comprises an annular wall 405 extending around axis 110 to define a radially outward facing surface 402 for positioning against a radially inward facing surface of topshell 102. Shell 101 further comprises a radially inward facing crushing surface 403 for positioning opposed to an inner crushing shell and mounted on the gyratory crusher main shaft and shaft head (not shown). Each ear 107 comprises an axially projecting lock lug 400. Lock lug 400 is positioned at a first half of fastening ear 107 in a circumferential direction (around axis 110) relative to a second half or region 401 of ear 107. Lock lug 400 is separated from ear region 401 by a notch 302 representing a cut-out portion being recessed into ear 107 in a radially inward direction from a radially outer surface of ear 107. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the four ears 107 project radially outward from shell outer surface 404 at an axial position corresponding to rim 106. A corresponding opposite annular end of shell 101 is devoid of fastening ears 107 so as to sit in a mid-axial region within topshell 102 at an approximate mid-length distance between the upper and lower annular rims 103, 104.
(12) Each upper and lower outer crushing shell 101 is secured axially at each respective collar 105, 200 via ears 107 and a corresponding locking bolt 108. Each bolt 108 projects axially through a region of topshell 102 from each respective collar 105, 200. Each bolt 108 is received respectively within each ear notch 302 so as to be located within the body of each ear 107 circumferentially between each respective lock lug 400 and region 401. As each bolt 108 is tightened, each shell 101 is forced and compressed axially against topshell 102 and in particular each respective collar 105, 200. Additionally, crushing shell 101 is rotationally locked at topshell 102 via each ear 107 engaging with selected regions 109 of each rim 103, 104 as described in detail below. Topshell assembly 100 further comprises a shell extractor formed from a plurality of bolts 111 positioned immediately adjacent each locking bolt 108 so as to extend axially through topshell 102. Each extractor bolt 111 is configured to axially abut each respective lock lug 400 as described with reference to FIG. 8.
(13) Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, each ear 107 projects radially outward from rim 106 so as to comprise a radially inner region indicated generally by reference 300 and a radially outer region indicated generally by reference 301 such that notch 302 extends radially into ear 107 from region 301. Accordingly, and referring to the upper crushing shell 101 secured to upper collar 105, each ear 107 comprises a substantially planar upper face 502 and a corresponding substantially planar lower face 503. Ear 107 comprises a front face 500 and a rear face 501 (in a circumferential direction) and a corresponding radially outer face 504 positioned furthest from axis 110 such that notch 302 projects radially inward from outer face 504. Lock lug 400 extends axially downward from lower face 503 (when shell 101 is orientated for attachment to upper collar 105). Each lug 400 comprises an abutment face 506 that is substantially planar and extending in both a radial and axial direction so as to be generally perpendicular to upper and lower faces 502, 503 and substantially parallel with end faces 500, 501 of ear 107. Lug 400 comprises a transition region 507 that is flared outward in a circumferential direction from abutment face 506 at the junction with lower face 503. A curvature of transition region 507 is advantageous to minimise stress concentrations at lug 400 and ear 107 due to contact with collar 105. Lug 400 comprises a generally rectangular cross sectional profile in a plane perpendicular to axis 110. Additionally, ear 107 also comprises a generally rectangular cross sectional profile in the corresponding plane with the cross sectional area of lug 400 being of the order of one third of that of ear 107. As the relative axial thicknesses of lug 400 and ear 107 are approximately similar, a general size of lug 400 is approximately one third of the size of ear 107. Lug 400 is formed integrally with ear 107 that is in turn formed integrally with the annular wall 405 of shell 101. Accordingly, each lug 400 defines a stepped abutment at each ear 107 and represents a projection to extend axially into a region of the respective collars 105, 200. Each lug 400 therefore is configured to provide a rotational lock of shell 101 at topshell 102 that is effective to isolate locking bolts 108 from sheer forces that would otherwise result from forces transmitted to shell 101 from the rotating head within the crusher (not shown). Accordingly, the subject invention is advantageous to avoid sheering of bolts 108 and the detachment of shell 101 relative to topshell 102.
(14) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 6, four recesses indicated generally by reference 303 extend axially into collar 105 from an upper annular face 601 of collar 105 such that each recess 303 comprises an edge 600 (positioned at face 601) that defines a mouth to receive a respective lug 400. Four corresponding recesses 303 are similarly formed within collar 200 at lower rim 104. Each recess 303 extends radially outward from a radially inner face 602 of collar 105 to extend between collar inner and outer edges 603, 604. Each recess 303 comprises a generally rectangular cross sectional profile in a plane perpendicular to axis 110 and has an axial depth being less than the axial height by which collar 105 projects from annular rim 103. In particular, the axial depth of each recess 303 is approximately one third of the axial height of collar 105 relative to rim 103. Each recess 303 is defined by a first face 605 and a pair of opposed end faces 606 such that each recess 303 is open at collar upper face 601 and collar inner face 602 to define a pocket to receive a corresponding lock lug 400. Each recess 303 comprises a trough or base face 607 configured for positioning opposed to the underside face 505 of lug 400. Additionally, lug abutment face 506 is configured to abut one of the recess end faces 606 when lug 400 is accommodated within each recess 303 so as to rotational lock shell 101 within topshell 102. A depression 609 extends axially from recess base face 607 and is provided in communication with an axially extending bore 608 illustrated in more detail referring to FIG. 8.
(15) Referring to FIG. 7, a thickness F of ear 107 in the axial direction between upper and lower faces 502, 503 is approximately equal to and slightly greater than a corresponding axial thickness E of lug 400 as defined between lug underside face 505 and ear lower face 503. The combined thickness F and E is less than the axial thickness of collar 105 (the distance collar 105 projects axially from rim 103). A length C in a circumferential direction of lug 400 is approximately one third of the total circumferential length D of ear 107 between end faces 500, 501. Additionally, length C, as defined between abutment face 506 and ear end face 501 is approximately half of a distance B in the circumferential direction between ear end face 501 and notch 302. Notch 302 is positioned in a circumferential direction closer to end face 500 relative to end face 501 such that the relative size of the ear 107 from which lug 400 extends is greater than the size of ear region 401 (that is devoid of the lug 400). Each lug 400 extends substantially the full radial width A of each ear 107. Accordingly, the radial width of each lug (corresponding to length A) is less than the corresponding circumferential length C that is advantageous to strengthen lug 400 against sheer forces resulting from abutment between faces 506 and 606. Additionally, a width of each notch 302, in the circumferential direction, is greater than a diameter of each bolt 108 so as to provide a small circumferential gap between these two components 302, 108 when lugs 301 are located with the respective recesses 303. Such an arrangement is advantageous to isolate bolts 108 from rotational forces that are instead transmitted though each of the lugs 301.
(16) Referring to FIG. 8, topshell assembly 100 is configured for the convenient detachment of each crushing shell 101 from topshell 102. As an initial stage, locking bolts 108 untightened to release the clamping engagement of shell 101 at collar 105. As is common with outer crushing shells following use, each shell 101 becomes frictionally locked to the inner surface of the topshell 102 that prevents axial detachment. Accordingly, the present arrangement is advantageous to force each shell 101 axially from topshell 102 without the need for additional tools and aggressive agitation that may otherwise damage topshell 102. In particular, the plurality of lock bolts 111 extend through bores 608 between a mount region 804 that co-mounts one end of lock bolts 108. Each extractor bolt 111 comprises a tightening head 805 at a first end and an abutment flange 802 at a second end 806. Abutment flange 802 is formed as an annular collar being flared radially outward at end 806 and shaped to sit within depression 609 is close fitting contact. Flange 802 is secured to bolt end 806 so as to be axially movable with the main shaft of bolt 111. With shell 101 axially and rotationally locked at topshell 102, extractor bolts 111 are axially locked within each bore 608 via a fork washer 803 positioned between mount region 804 and bolt head 805. Once the lock bolts 108 have been removed, fork washer 803 is then removed to allow axial adjustment of extractor bolts 111 relative to each collar 105, 200 and in particular each recess 303. That is, with the lock lugs 400 accommodated with recesses 303, flange 802 is advanced axially to contact lug underside face 505. By axially advancing each extractor bolt 111 through bore 608, shell 101 is forced (via each lock lug 400 and ear 107) axially from topshell 102.
(17) According to further specific implementations, topshell assembly 100 may comprises a single outer crushing shell 101 secured only to the upper collar 105 and annular rim 103. The subject invention may be utilised to secure axially and rotational a crushing shell 101 at topshell 102 directly or via an intermediate spacer ring 800 as illustrated in FIG. 8. According to further embodiments, each crushing shell 101 may comprise 3, 5 or 6 lock ears and respective lugs to provide the separate axial and rotational lock mechanisms. The subject invention is advantageous to minimise sheer and stress forces at the axial locking bolts 108 so as to optimise the axial and rotational locking mechanisms by which the crushing shell 101 is maintained at topshell 102 and minimise the risk of lock failure.
