Crushing machines

Abstract

A crushing machine that includes a crusher, a feed conveyor for feeding material to the crusher, a detector for detecting metal in the material on the feed conveyor, and a bypass chute for the crusher. The feed conveyor being movable between a normal operating position in which the material is fed to the crusher and a bypass position in which the material is fed to the bypass chute. Upon detection of metal in the material, the feed conveyor is stopped and moved from the normal operating position to the bypass position so that the material with the metal is discharged into the bypass chute.

Claims

1. An aggregate crushing machine comprising a base on which are mounted a feed conveyor, a screening unit, a crusher and a main conveyor, an arrangement of the machine being such that a material comprising an aggregate to be crushed will be fed from the feed conveyor to the screening unit for separation so that a finer material will be passed onto the main conveyor without passing through the crusher and a coarser material will be fed via the crusher to the main conveyor, the screening unit comprising a screen that vibrates when operative, the screening unit comprising a frame on which the screen is mounted, the frame being movable between an inoperative position in which the frame is substantially horizontal and an operative position in which the frame is angled relative to the substantially horizontal inoperative position.

2. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 further comprising a detector for detecting metal in the material on the feed conveyor, and a bypass chute, the feed conveyor being longitudinally movable between a normal operating position in which the material is fed to the crusher and a bypass position in which the material is fed to the bypass chute, the arrangement of the machine being such that on detection of metal in the material, the feed conveyor is equipped to be stopped and moved longitudinally from the normal operating position to the bypass position so that the material with the metal can be discharged into the bypass chute.

3. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 2 further comprising an arrangement such that once the material containing the metal has been discharged into the bypass chute, the feed conveyor can be stopped and moved back into a normal operating position associated with conveying the material to the crusher.

4. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 2 in which the metal detector is mounted on the feed conveyor.

5. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 2 in which the detector is arranged to send a signal to an operator when metal is detected.

6. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 in which the feed conveyor is movable between an operating position and a bypass position by operation of at least one of a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly and a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly.

7. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 further comprising an arrangement such that crushed material which exits the crusher will fall, in use, onto the main conveyor.

8. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 further comprising a bypass chute that is moveable to divert material away from the crushed material.

9. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 in which the bypass chute moves rearwardly from a normal operating position to a bypass position.

10. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 in which the screening unit further comprises a screen conveyor.

11. The aggregate crushing machine of claim 1 wherein the crusher is further defined as a cone crusher.

12. A method of forming a machine for crushing and screening aggregate material, the method comprising: mounting a feed conveyor, a screening unit, a crusher and a main conveyor on a base and arranging the feed conveyor, the screening unit, the crusher and the main conveyor such that a material comprising an aggregate to be crushed is fed from the feed conveyor to the screening unit and separated by the screening unit so that a finer material passes onto the main conveyor without passing through the crusher and a coarser material is fed via the crusher to the main conveyor; and supporting a screen of the screening unit with a frame such that the screen of the screening unit can vibrate when operative and the frame on which the screen is mounted is movable between an inoperative position in which the frame is substantially horizontal and an operative position in which the frame is angled relative to the substantially horizontal inoperative position.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising positioning a detector for detecting metal in the material on the feed conveyor and operatively connecting the detector to a bypass chute.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein mounting the feed conveyor is further defined as mounting the feed conveyor to be longitudinally movable relative to the base between a normal operating position in which the material is fed to the crusher and a bypass position in which the material is fed to the bypass chute; and arranging the machine such that on detection of metal in the material, the feed conveyor can be stopped and moved longitudinally from the normal operating position to the bypass position so subsequent operation of the feed conveyor discharges material with metal into the bypass chute.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising stopping the feed conveyor and moving the feed conveyor back to the normal operating position after discharge of the material with metal into the bypass chute so that the feed conveyor is aligned to discharge material to the crusher.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising mounting the metal detector on the feed conveyor.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising connecting one of a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly and a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly between the base and the feed conveyor such that operation of the one of a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly and a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly moves the feed conveyor between an operating position and a bypass position.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising directing crushed material which exits the crusher to fall, during use, onto the main conveyor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The two aspects of the invention are illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of a mobile crushing machine in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and in a normal operating position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a detail of the machine of FIG. 1 showing the bypass position;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side view of a mobile crushing machine which illustrates both aspects of the invention, and shows the machine in a transport position;

(5) FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but shows the machine in an operating position; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a detail of the machine of FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The machine of FIG. 1 is a mobile crushing machine for crushing stone, aggregate and the like. The machine comprises a base 1, on which are mounted a feed conveyor 2, crushing means 3, a power unit 4 including a control unit, and a main conveyor 5.

(8) The base 1 has tracks 6 and an elongate platform 7 on which the other parts are mounted with the feed conveyor 2 at the rear end, and the main conveyor 5 at the front end.

(9) The feed conveyor 2 is of a known design having a frame S for a powered belt 9 and a feed chute 10 at the rear end of the belt 9 to receive material to be crushed.

(10) The frame 8 is mounted on the platform 7 by two pairs of hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies 11, 12. The assemblies 11 act vertically to raise and lower the forward end of the frame 8 with the cylinder 13 being attached to the platform 7, and the pistons 14 pivotally mounted to the frame 8. The assemblies 12 act to move the frame 8 in the longitudinal direction between the normal operating position of FIG. 1, and a bypass position of FIG. 2. The cylinders 15 are pivotally attached to an upstand 16 on the platform 7, while the pistons 17 are connected to an abutment 18 on the underside of the frame 8. The piston and cylinder assemblies 11, 12 are double-acting, and have load-holding valves (not shown) to lock the pistons in any desired position. The feed conveyor 2 also carries a metal detector 19, mounted near the forward end of the belt, and adapted to send a signal to the control unit when metal is detected in the material on the feed conveyor 2.

(11) The crushing means 3 comprises a cone crusher of known design, which need not be described further here. Material fed into the top of the crusher 3 from the forward end of the feed conveyor 2 is crushed, and fails out of the bottom of the crusher 3 onto the main conveyor 5.

(12) The main conveyor 5, mounted on the front end of the platform 7, is also of a known design, and will not be described further here.

(13) The power and control unit 4 is also mounted near the front end of the platform 7, and includes a diesel engine (not shown) as the power source for the machine, an hydraulic system (not shown) for operating the piston and cylinder assemblies 11, 12 and all other hydraulic components, and controls (not shown) for the machine. These are housed in a control area 20 for the machine operator. The controls include manual controls and electronic controls for automatically performing some operations.

(14) A bypass chute 21 is mounted on the platform 7 between the feed conveyor 2 and the crusher 3. Material fed into the top of the chute 21 will not fall onto the main conveyor 5, but instead will be discharged to the side of the machine, to fall onto the ground, or into a suitable container.

(15) FIG. 1 shows the machine in its normal operating position.

(16) The feed conveyor 2 is raised by means of the assemblies 11, and the pistons 17 of the assemblies 12 are extended, so that the conveyor 2 is ready to discharge into the crusher 3. Then, in operation, material placed in the feed chute 10 is carried upwards by the feed conveyor 2, and discharged into the crusher 3. The crushed material falls out of the bottom of the crusher 3 onto the main conveyor 5, and is discharged at the forward end of that conveyor into a suitable container. The operator controls the conveyors 2, 5 and the crusher 3 from the control area 20.

(17) If the metal detector detects the presence of metal in the material on the feed conveyor 2, it sends a signal to the electronic controls, which operate to stop the feed conveyor 2. The operator then actuates the assemblies 12, to retract the pistons 17, causing the feed conveyor 2 to move rearwardly into the bypass position shown in FIG. 2, where the material on the feed conveyor is discharged into the bypass chute 21, rather than the crusher 3. The operator then starts the feed conveyor 2 again, so that the material including the metal is discharged into the bypass chute to fall on the ground at the side of the machine. Once the operator is satisfied that the metal is no longer on the belt 9, he stops the conveyor 2 and actuates the assemblies 12 to extend the pistons 17 again, thus moving the feed conveyor 2 back into the normal operating position. The feed conveyor 2 can then be restarted, and normal operation resumed.

(18) It will be appreciated that the machine is therefore able to deal with metal in the material quickly and easily, and without the operator needing to leave the control area 20.

(19) FIG. 3 shows the machine of FIG. 1 in a position in which it can be transported on a low loader or the like, and also illustrates the second aspect of the invention. In relation to the first aspect of the invention, however, it will be noted that for transport, the feed conveyor 2 is in the bypass position.

(20) The additional component of the machine shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a screening unit 30. The remainder of the machine is as shown in FIG. 1, and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts. Only the screening unit 30 will now be described.

(21) The screening unit 30 is mounted on the platform 7 between the crusher 3 and the control area 20. It comprises a rectangular frame 31 that carries a vibrating mesh screen 32 and a screen conveyor 33. The screen 32 is removably mounted in the frame 31, since different sizes of mesh may be needed to screen different materials. The screen conveyor 33 is located above the screen 32, and is mounted on the frame 31 by a pair of piston and cylinder assemblies 34. This is best seen in FIG. 5, which shows the detail of the screening unit 30. The cylinders of the assemblies 34 are attached to the frame 31, while the pistons are pivotally attached to the screen conveyor 33. Actuation of the assemblies 34 enables the angle of the screen conveyor 33 to be adjusted relative to the screen 32, to facilitate changing of the screen 32.

(22) The screening unit 30 also has a chute 35, as shown in FIG. 4, for directing material passing through the screen 32 onto the main conveyor 5.

(23) The frame 31 is mounted on the platform 7 by two further pairs of piston and cylinder assemblies 36, 37. The pair 36 is at the rear end of the frame 31, and acts vertically. The cylinders 38 of the assemblies 36 are attached to the platform 7, while the piston 39 is pivotally attached to a projection 40 at the rear of the frame 31. The assemblies 37 act at an angle on the front end of the frame 31. The cylinders 41 of the assemblies 37 are attached pivotally to a step 42 on the platform 7, and the pistons 43 are pivotally attached to the front end of the frame 31.

(24) In FIG. 3 the screening unit 30 is in a horizontal position, for ease of transportation. FIG. 4 shows the machine in its normal operating position, with the screening unit 30 raised by the assemblies 36, 37, and the assemblies 34 extended to raise the screen conveyor 33 relative to the screen 32. The screening unit 30 is then at an angle to the horizontal. The rear end of the screen conveyor 33 is below the discharge point of the feed conveyor 2, while the discharge point at the front end is above the end of the screen 32. The rear, lower end of the screen 32 is above the top of the crusher 3.

(25) Thus, in operation, material discharged from the feed conveyor 2 falls onto the screen conveyor 33, which in turn discharges it onto the vibrating screen 32. The finer material passes through the screen 32 and falls through the chute 35 onto the main conveyor 5, while the coarser material, which does not pass through the screen 32, slides or rolls down the screen 32 and into the crusher 3, crushed material, as in the embodiment for FIG. 1, then falls onto the main conveyor 5.

(26) FIG. 5 shows how the screen 32 is changed. For this, with the screening unit 30 in its inoperative position, the operator actuates the assemblies 34 to extend the pistons, causing the screen conveyor 33 to be raised as shown. The operator can then easily reach the screen 32 to remove it and to insert a different screen. The assemblies 34 are then actuated to lower the screen conveyor 33 again, returning the unit 30 to its inoperative position.

(27) The advantage of the screening unit 30 is that it limits the proportion of finer material that passes through the crusher 3, which then operates more efficiently. It will be appreciated that the advantages of including the screening unit 30 on the machine, rather than using a separate screening unit, are that capital and running costs (including transport costs) are reduced, as is set-up time. The time needed to change a screen is also minimized.

(28) Clearly, the two aspects of the invention may be used independently. If they are both incorporated in one machine it will increase efficiency accordingly.