SELF-LOCKING FOLDING HOPPER AND A LOCKING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A folding feeder hopper includes a locking assembly and side walls, which are configured to lock themselves when unfolded or deployed for operation. The locking assembly has a first locking device provided on the side wall and configured to engage with a second locking device provided on a support assembly. The second locking device includes an elastic element and retaining members on front and rear ends of the hopper for providing alignment to the side walls when they move between locked and unlocked positions. A method for locking the side walls in a deployed position is also provided.

Claims

1. A folding feeder hopper for a bulk material processing apparatus comprising: at least one side wall pivotably mounted to a support frame having a front end and a rear end, the side wall being mounted on the support frame via at least one pivot mount; a rear wall mounted to the support frame at the rear end; at least one support assembly of the side wall mounted on the support frame and including a first bracket housing a slide actuator and a second bracket housing a rotation actuator; and a locking assembly including a first locking means provided at a lower surface of the side wall and a second locking means mounted at the support assembly such that the first locking means is configured to engage with the second locking means to immobilize the side wall, wherein the second locking means comprises a material which has a higher degree of elasticity a material of the first locking means.

2. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes a first guiding groove configured to receive a first pivot pin and a second guiding groove configured to receive a second pivot pin, the first guiding groove being parallel to the second guiding groove, wherein the first and the second pivot pins are configured to move synchronously in response to a translational actuation from the slide actuator.

3. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second locking means comprises an elastic member positioned between a front metal plate and a rear metal plate.

4. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side wall is provided with a pivot positioned axially above the first locking means.

5. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide actuator is configured to provide translational movement to the side wall between a locked transport position and an unlocked transport position.

6. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotation actuator is configured to provide pivoting of the side wall between an unlocked transport position and an unlocked working position.

7. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking means is configured to engage with the second locking means when the slide actuator moves the side wall from an unlocked working position to a locked working position enabling the side wall to be locked in the locked working position.

8. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support assembly includes a first liner assembly mounted on the upper surface of the support assembly.

9. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first locking means is provided with a second liner assembly mounted on the lower surface of the first locking means-.

10. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first liner assembly is configured to make a sliding contact with the second liner assembly when the slide actuator causes the side wall to move translationally between an unlocked working position and a locked working position.

11. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 10, wherein a line of action of the sliding contact between the first liner assembly and the second liner assembly is parallel to a line of action of the slide actuator when it provides translational movement to the side wall between the unlocked working position and the locked working position.

12. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking means is in the form of a wedge protruding from the lower surface of the side wall.

13. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and the second liner assemblies are made of a material having a friction coefficient lower than a friction coefficient of the material of the wall.

14. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking assembly includes at least one retaining member mounted on the front end of the support frame and at least one retaining member mounted on the rear wall.

15. The feeder hopper as claimed in claim 14, wherein an engagement plane of the at least one retaining members is parallel to the first and the second guiding grooves.

16. A method for locking at least one side wall of the feeder hopper of a bulk material processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: a first translational movement by a slide actuator enabling the side wall to move from a locked transport position to an unlocked transport position; a rotational movement by a rotation actuator enabling the side wall to move from the unlocked transport position to an unlocked working position; and a second translational movement by the slide actuator enabling the side wall to move from the unlocked working position to a locked working position, wherein a locking assembly is configured to lock the side wall in the locked working position, wherein the locking assembly includes the first locking means provided at a lower portion of the side wall and the second locking means mounted at the support assembly, and wherein the first locking means mechanically engages with the second locking means when the slide actuator moves the side wall from the unlocked working position to the locked working position enabling the side wall to be locked in the locked working position.

17. A mobile bulk material processing apparatus comprising: a support frame; a processing unit supported at the support frame; tracks or wheels arranged to allow the apparatus to move over the ground; a discharge conveyor; a primary motor output; and a folding hopper as claimed in claim 1, arranged to contain material to be fed to the processing unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0048] 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:

[0049] FIG. 1 is an external side elevation view of a mobile bulk material processing apparatus embodying one aspect of the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the feeder hopper of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the side walls unfolded for operation and FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the feeder hopper showing the side walls in folded state for transport, according to one of the aspects of the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the support assembly according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the locking assembly according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the locking assembly when the side wall is in locked transport position A according to one of the aspects of the present disclosure;

[0054] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the locking assembly when the side wall is in unlocked transport position B according to one of the aspects of the present disclosure;

[0055] FIG. 5C is cross-sectional view of the locking assembly when the side wall is in unlocked working position C according to one of the aspects of the present disclosure;

[0056] FIG. 5D is a cross-sectional view of the locking assembly when the side wall is in locked working position D according to one of the aspects of the present disclosure.

[0057]

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals: Mobile bulk processing apparatus 100 Hopper 101 Main frame/Support frame 104 Endless tracks 105 Crusher/Processing unit 102 Primary motor input 106 Front end of support frame 107 Rear end of support frame 108 Discharge conveyor 103 Side door 200 Rear door 201 Support assembly 202 First bracket 203 Second bracket 204 Slide actuator 205 Rotation actuator 206 Coupling pin 209 First pivot pin for slide actuator 210 Second pivot pin for slide actuator 211 Frame of support assembly 212 Base of support assembly 213 Pivot pin 220 First locking means (wedge) 301 Second locking means (shock attenuating 302 elastic member) Locking assembly 300 First liner assembly 401 Second liner assembly 402 Door-retaining members 403a and 403b Locked transport position of side door A Unlocked transport position of side door B Unlocked working position of side door C Locked working position of side door D

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0058] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing. Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile bulk material processing apparatus 100 comprises a support frame 104 that supports an undercarriage to mount a pair of endless tracks 105 to enable apparatus 100 to be self-propelled over the ground. Apparatus 100 further comprises a primary motor 106, an input feed hopper 101, a material processing unit like a crusher 102 and a discharge conveyor 103. Feed hopper 101 comprises folding hopper side walls 200 which are movable between a raised working position when they are unfolded and a lowered transport position when they are folded. More specifically, the side walls 200 are configured to move between four positions A, B, C and D, as described in FIGS. 5A-5D, wherein A is locked transport position, B is unlocked transport position, C is unlocked working position and D is locked working position.

[0060] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B illustrate the unfolded and folded states of the side walls 200 respectively. Referring to FIG. 2A, feeder hopper 101 comprises of a pair of side walls 200 aligned generally with a longitudinal axis of the mainframe 104. The side walls 200 are shown to be unfolded in locked working position D which is the preferred position when the material processing apparatus 100 is in operation. The feeder hopper 101 is mounted on the support frame 104 which has a front end 107 and a rear end 108, wherein the front end 107 is proximal to the material processing unit 102 and the rear end is distant or away from the material processing unit 102. Support assembly 202 is mounted on the support frame 104, at least one on each side of the frame 104, and coupled with the side walls 200. According to a preferred embodiment, two or more support assemblies 202 are provided for each side wall 200 of the hopper 101. In addition to providing support to the unfolded side walls 200, the support assembly 202 houses the slide actuator (205) and rotation actuator (206) (not shown in this figure) which cause the side walls 200 to move between the locked transport position A and the locked working position D.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 2B, the feeder hopper 101 is shown with the side walls 200 in folded state in the locked transport position A which is the preferred position for the side walls 200 when the material processing apparatus 100 is not in operation or being transported to the site of operation. A rear wall 201 is mounted on the rear end 108 of the support frame 104. According to an alternate embodiment, the rear wall 201 may be integrated with the support frame 104 i.e. rear wall 201 may be part of the support frame 104. Support assembly 202 is mounted on the support frame 104, and coupled to the side wall 200. One retaining member 403a is mounted on the front end 107 of the support frame 104 and one retaining member 403b is mounted on the rear wall 201. The retaining members 403a and 403b form an important part of the self-locking mechanism of the side walls 200. These retaining members 403a and 403b offer alignment to the side wall 200 and serve as guide for the side wall 200 especially when the side wall 200 is in locked working position D. When the side wall 200 unfolds and undergoes the second translational motion to move from unlocked working position C to locked working position D, the retaining members 403a and 403b engage with the respective ends of the side wall 200 enabling the locking mechanism to conclude. Thus, at the end of the second translational motion, the side wall 200 gets immobilized in the position D.

[0062] According to an alternate embodiment, the retaining member 403b may also be mounted on the rear end 108 of the support frame 104.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 3, the support assembly 202 comprises a frame 212, installed on a base 213, with a first bracket 203 for housing a slide actuator 205 and a second bracket 204 for housing a rotation actuator 206. The brackets 203, 204 and the rotation actuator 206 are mounted in such a way that they pass through the opening in the base 213. The support assembly 202 is coupled with the side wall 200, and the actuators 205, 206 are responsible for the movements of the side wall 200 between folded and unfolded states. The slide actuator 205 provides a first translational motion to the side wall 200 when the side wall 200 moves between the locked transport position A and an unlocked transport position B, and a second translational motion when the side wall 200 moves between the unlocked working position C and the locked working position D. The rotational actuator 206 provides pivoting of the side wall 200, causing it to rotate between folded and unfolded states, particularly between unlocked transport position B and unlocked working position C. According to a preferred embodiment, the slide actuator 205 and the rotational actuator 206 are hydraulic cylinders.

[0064] The support assembly 202 further comprises a pair of first guiding grooves 207 which are configured to receive first pivot pins 210, such guiding grooves 207 being parallel to each other and located in the walls of the frame 212. The pins 210 slide along the grooves 207, in response to actuation from slide actuator 205, thereby resulting in the translational motion of the side wall 200, particularly between the locked transport position A and an unlocked transport position B, and also between unlocked working position C and locked working position D.

[0065] The support assembly 202 further comprises a pair of second guiding grooves 208 located in the wall of the frame 212 below the base 213, such guiding grooves 208 being parallel to each other and configured to receive the second pivot pins 211. The first and second pivot pins 210, 211 are configured to move synchronously and parallelly in response to the translational actuation from the slide actuator 205.

[0066] Further, the pivot pin 210 also enables the rotation of the side wall 200 in response to the actuation from rotational actuator 206. Pivot pin 209 couples the slide actuator 205 to the main fame 212.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 3 along with FIGS. 5A-5D, the hydraulic cylinder of slide actuator 205 exerts pressure to move the pivot pins 210, 211 upwards in their guiding grooves 207, 208 enabling a translational actuation, thereby causing the folded side wall to move from locked transport position A to unlocked transport position B. This is the first translational movement by slide actuator 205. Thereafter, rotational actuator 206 exerts pressure on the pivot pin 210, enabling a rotational actuation, thereby causing the unfolding of the side wall 200 as it changes its position from unlocked transport position B to unlocked working position C. Then, hydraulic cylinder of the slide actuator 205 retracts causing the pivot pins 210, 211 to move downwards in the guiding grooves 207, 208 thereby moving the side wall 200 from unlocked working position C to locked working position D. This is the second translational movement caused by the slide actuator 205. As the side wall 200 slides down, it immobilizes itself with the help of locking assembly 300 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 4, locking assembly 300 comprises of first locking means 301 which is protruding from the lower surface of the side wall 200, second locking means 302 which is mounted on the support assembly 202, and the retaining members 403a and 403b (as shown in FIG. 2B). According to a preferred embodiment, the first locking means 301 is in the shape of a wedge, as shown in the FIG. 4. The wedge shape is favourable to engage with the second locking means 302. The first locking means 301 is provided with a lining, referred to as the second liner assembly 402, on its lower surface, which is preferably made of a material having a friction coefficient which is lower than the friction coefficient of the side wall 200. One preferred example of such a material is polyethylene.

[0069] The support assembly 202 also has a similar lining referred to as the first liner assembly 401 mounted on its upper surface. The first liner assembly 401 is also preferably made of a material having a friction coefficient which is lower than the friction coefficient of the side wall 200. The first and the second liner assemblies 401, 402 are preferably made of the same material, for facilitating the downward sliding movement of the first locking means 301 when it comes into physical contact with support assembly 202 to eventually engage with the second locking means 302.

[0070] As can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5A-5D, the side wall 200 is provided with a pivot 220 which is positioned axially above the first locking means 301.

[0071] The second locking means 302 mounted on the upper surface of the support assembly 202 further comprises of three elements, namely two metallic plates, a front metallic plate 304a and a rear metallic plate 304b and an elastic element 303 which is pressed between the metallic plates 304a and 304b. The front metallic plate 304a is in direct contact with the support assembly 202 and the rear metallic plate is configured to face the first locking means 301 when it slides down to engage with the second locking means 302 to lock the side wall 200 in unfolded working position D.

[0072] The steps for locking the side wall 200 are shown in FIGS. 5A-5D. Referring to FIG. 5A, in the first step, the side wall 200 is in folded state or the locked transport position A. In this position, the fist locking means 301 is directed upwards. The pins 210, 211 are at the bottom of the guiding grooves 207, 208 respectively. Referring to FIG. 5B, in the second step, the side wall 200 acquires the unlocked transport position B, when the pins 210, 211 move upwards in their respective guiding grooves 207, 208. This movement, also referred to as the first translational movement, is a result of actuation provided by the slide actuator 205. Further, referring to Figure C, the third step is shown, where the side wall 200 is now in opened or unfolded state. This is a result of the rotational actuation provided by the rotational actuator 206, which causes the side wall 200 to pivot on the pin 210 and acquire the unlocked working position C. For the fourth and last step for locking the side wall 200, the FIG. 5D shows that the second translational movement takes place, with the pins 210, 211 sliding downwards in their respective guiding grooves 207, 208 from the unlocked working position C to the locked working position D. At this point,

[0073] the first locking means 301 slides downwards while establishing physical contact between first liner assembly 401 and second liner assembly 402. Being made of low friction material, the liner assemblies 401 and 402 provide smooth sliding interaction between the first locking means 301 and the upper surface of the support assembly 202. Further, as it slides down, the first locking means 301 pushes the second locking means 302, and receives a back pressure owing to the presence of the elastic element 303 which forms a part of the second locking means 302. When the contrasting forces from first and second locking means 301, 302 get balanced, the side wall 200 achieves a state of immobilization in the locked working position D. In this way, the self-locking of the side wall 200 occurs.

[0074] Reverse order of the steps described above would cause unlocking and folding of the side walls 200.