ROLLER MILL WITH A SYNCHRONIZING DEVICE

Abstract

A roller mill for comminuting bulk material may include a first grinding roller and a second grinding roller that are arranged opposite one another and can be driven in opposite directions. A grinding gap exists between the grinding rollers. A floating bearing unit may be configured to receive the first grinding roller, and a fixed bearing unit may be configured to receive the second grinding roller. The floating bearing unit includes two bearings, each of which receives one end of the first grinding roller. Hydraulic actuators are mounted on the floating bearing unit for applying a force to the floating bearing unit. The bearings of the floating bearing unit are connected to one another via a synchronization device that includes a coupling element, which in a coupling position prevents a relative movement of the bearings and in a free position permits a relative movement of the bearings.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A roller miller for comminuting bulk material, comprising: a first grinding roller and a second grinding roller that are arranged opposite one another and are configured to be driven in opposite directions, wherein a grinding gap exists between the first and second grinding rollers; a floating bearing unit configured to receive the first grinding roller, wherein the floating bearing unit includes two bearings, each of the two bearings being configured to receive an end of the first grinding roller; a fixed bearing unit configured to receive the second grinding roller; hydraulic actuators mounted on the floating bearing unit, the hydraulic actuators being configured to apply a force to the floating bearing unit; and a synchronization device, wherein the two bearings of the floating bearing unit are connected to one another via the synchronization device, wherein the synchronization device includes a coupling element that in a coupling position prevents a relative movement of the bearings and in a free position permits a relative movement of the bearings.

13. The roller mill of claim 12 wherein the synchronization device includes a rotatable shaft and at least two thrust rods, wherein a first end of each thrust rod is connected to the rotatable shaft and a second end of each thrust rod is connected to a respective bearing of the floating bearing unit, wherein the at least two thrust rods are connected to the respective bearing of the floating bearing unit and/or the rotatable shaft via the coupling element in each case.

14. The roller mill of claim 12 wherein the coupling element comprises a linear guide.

15. The roller mill of claim 12 wherein the synchronization device includes a rotatable shaft and at least two thrust rods, wherein a first end of each thrust rod is connected to the rotatable shaft and a second end of each thrust rod is connected to the floating bearing unit, wherein the thrust rods and/or the rotatable shaft comprises the coupling element.

16. The roller mill of claim 15 wherein the coupling element comprises a linear guide, wherein the linear guide includes a stop configured to delimit the relative movement of the bearing relative to the thrust rod.

17. The roller mill of claim 15 wherein the coupling element is a first coupling element that is disposed at least partially in a first of the thrust rods, wherein a second of the thrust rods includes a second coupling element.

18. The roller mill of claim 12 wherein the coupling element comprises a hydraulic actuator.

19. The roller mill of claim 18 wherein the coupling element is a first coupling element, the roller mill comprising a second coupling element, with the first and second coupling elements being hydraulically connected to one another.

20. The roller mill of claim 12 wherein the synchronization device includes a rotatable shaft and a thrust rod, wherein the coupling element comprises a hollow cylinder in an end region of the thrust rod, wherein a first end of the thrust rod is connected to the rotatable shaft and a second end of the thrust rod is connected to a bearing of the floating bearing unit.

21. The roller mill of claim 12 wherein the synchronization device includes a rotatable shaft and at least two thrust rods, wherein a first end of each thrust rod is connected to the rotatable shaft and a second end of each thrust rod is connected to a respective bearing of the floating bearing unit, wherein the at least two thrust rods are connected to the respective bearing of the floating bearing unit and/or the rotatable shaft via the coupling element in each case, wherein the rotatable shaft includes a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion that are connected to one another via the coupling element.

22. The roller mill of claim 21 wherein the coupling element is configured as a claw coupling.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of several exemplary embodiments with reference to the appended figures.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a roller mill with a synchronization device in a longitudinal sectional view according to one exemplary embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a roller mill with a synchronization device in a sectional view according to a further exemplary embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a roller mill with a synchronization device in a sectional view according to a further exemplary embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a roller mill 10 with a first grinding roller 12 and a second grinding roller 14, the grinding rollers 12, 14 being arranged opposite one another and being rotatable in opposite directions. A grinding gap 16 is formed between the grinding rollers 12, 14. The grinding rollers 12, 14 each have a substantially cylindrical roller basic body 18, 20 and a drive shaft 22, 24 arranged coaxially therewith, the ends of which preferably extend beyond the respective roller basic body 18, 20 in the axial direction. Each of the grinding rollers 12, 14 is received in a bearing unit, the bearing units being supported, for example, on a machine frame 29, which is not illustrated in full in FIG. 1. The first grinding roller 12 is received in a floating bearing unit 26, the second grinding roller 14 being received in a fixed bearing unit 28. The fixed bearing unit 28 comprises two bearings 30, 32, each of which is arranged at opposite roller ends and receives the drive shaft 24. The bearings 30, 32 are fixedly mounted on the machine frame 29, with the result that they take up forces in particular in the axial and radial direction of the grinding roller 14 and are not movable. The floating bearing unit 26 comprises two bearings 34, 36, each of which receives one end of the drive shaft 22 of the first grinding roller 12. The bearings 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26 are received on the machine frame 29 in such a way that they are movable linearly, in particular horizontally, preferably in a sliding manner. The bearings 34, 36 are also preferably fixedly mounted in the axial direction of the first grinding roller 12. The bearings 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26 are each mounted so as to be able to move in the radial direction of the grinding rollers 12, 14 and are each connected to one, preferably in each case two, hydraulic actuators 38, 40. The hydraulic actuators 38, 40 each serve to apply a grinding force in the direction of the second grinding roller 14 to the first grinding roller 12, which is mounted in the floating bearing unit 26. The grinding force is preferably aligned in a direction orthogonal to the feed of the material into the grinding gap 16, in particular the grinding force is horizontal. The floating bearing unit 26 is movable in particular in the direction of the grinding force applied by means of the hydraulic actuators 38, 40.

[0025] The hydraulic actuators 38, 40 are each supported by way of their one end on a bearing 34, 36 and by way of their opposite, other end on the machine frame 29. A movement of the respective bearing 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26 results in a corresponding movement of the hydraulic actuator 38, 40 mounted on it in each case. Each hydraulic actuator 38, 40 preferably has a cylinder and a piston mounted movably therein, the movement of the hydraulic actuator being understood to mean a movement of the piston within the cylinder, for example.

[0026] The roller mill 10 also has a synchronization device 42. The synchronization device 42 serves to couple, in particular to synchronize, the movement of the bearings 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26, with the result that the bearings 34, 36 move synchronously and in particular skewed running of the grinding roller 12, 14, in the event of which they are not aligned parallel to one another, is avoided or preferably limited. The synchronization device 42 has a shaft 44, on each end of which a lever 46, 48 is mounted, each of which extends in the radial direction of the shaft 44. By way of example, the shaft 44 is fastened to the machine frame 29 via two fastening means 50, 52, the shaft 44 being connected rotatably to the fastening means 50, 52, for example by means of respective bearings, with the result that the shaft 44 can rotate relative to the fastening means 50, 52 about its central longitudinal axis. A thrust rod 54, 56 is mounted on each of the levers 46, 48 and each thrust rod is connected to a bearing 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26. Preferably, the thrust rods 54, 56 are each mounted on the housing of the respective bearing 34, 36. The thrust rods 54, 56 of the synchronization device 44 are mounted in particular on the bearings 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26 in such a way that the bearings 24, 36 and the respective thrust rod 54, 56 are movable relative to one another, preferably in the direction of the grinding force or in the direction of extent of the thrust rods 54, 56. The thrust rods 54, 56 are preferably each connected to the respective bearing 34, 36 via a fastening element 58, 60, the thrust rod 54, 56 being fastened by way of its one end to the respective lever 46, 48 and by way of the other end to the fastening element 58, 60. The fastening elements 58, 60 and the thrust rods 54, 56 are connected to one another in such a way that they are movable relative to one another. By way of example, a coupling element 62, 64 is provided which serves to couple the fastening element 58, 60 to the thrust rod 54, 56. The coupling element 62, 64 is, for example, a linear guide that permits only a linear movement, preferably in the direction of the grinding force, in the radial direction of the grinding rollers 12, 14 or in the direction of extent of the thrust rod 54, 56.

[0027] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, by way of example the coupling element 62, 64 comprises a hollow cylinder which is formed in an end region of the thrust rod 54, 56. A piston is arranged within the hollow cylinder and forms an end region of the fastening element 60. The piston is arranged so as to be able to slide within the hollow cylinder. The hollow cylinder and the piston are designed in such a way that the piston stroke is approximately 1 mm to 20 mm, preferably 10 mm. The coupling element 62, 64 shown in FIG. 1 is in a coupling position, in which the relative movement of the thrust rods 54, 56, in particular of the grinding rollers 12, 14, is prevented in at least one direction, specifically in the direction in which the extent of the skewed running is increased.

[0028] The hydraulic actuators 38, 40 fastened to the bearings 34, 36 are optionally connected to a respective damper unit 66, 68 for optional generation of the grinding force. The damper units 66, 68 are each connected to the hydraulic actuators 38, 40 via one of the hydraulic lines. The damper units 66, 68 preferably have a substantially identical form. Each damper unit 66, 68 is in particular in the form of a single-action hydraulic cylinder and has in each case a cylinder with a piston 74, 80, which separates a gas chamber 70, 76 from a hydraulic chamber 72, 78 and is movable within the cylinder. The gas chamber 70, 76 is preferably filled with a compressible gas, such as nitrogen, for example, wherein the hydraulic chamber 72, 78 is filled with a non-compressible hydraulic oil and connected to the respective hydraulic line, with the result that hydraulic oil can flow from the respective hydraulic line into the hydraulic chamber 72, 78. The damper unit 66, 68 serves as a spring for the hydraulic actuators 38, 40.

[0029] During operation of the roller mill 10, the hydraulic actuators 38, 40 each initially have the same hydraulic pressure applied to them. In the event of skewed running of the grinding rollers 12, 14, which can be caused by uneven loading of the grinding rollers during the grinding process, for example, one of the bearings 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit moves away from the grinding gap 16, with the result that the hydraulic cylinders 38 or 40 connected to the respective bearing 34 or 36 are moved with the bearing 34, 36. A movement of at least one of the bearings 34, 36 results in a movement of the respective fastening element 50, 52 connected to the bearing 34, 36 relative to the respective thrust rod 54, 56. If the relative movement exceeds the piston stroke in the respective coupling element 62, 64, this results in a movement of the respective thrust rod 54, 56. Each thrust rod 54, 56 is connected to the shaft 44 via a radial lever 46, 48 so that a movement of a thrust rod 54, 56 results in a rotation of the shaft 44, as a result of which the movements of the thrust rods 54, 56 are coupled. As a result, skewed running of the grinding rollers 12, 14 relative to one another is allowed and delimited.

[0030] Such delimited skewed running prevents damage to the grinding roller, in particular damage being prevented at the edge elements mounted on the roller ends. As soon as the uneven loading, for example due to variabilities in the material composition, has gone, the hydraulic pressure is automatically adjusted back to the initial value by the damper unit 66, 68 and the hydraulic actuators 38, 40.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a roller mill 10 with a synchronization device 42, the same elements being provided with the same reference signs. By contrast to the roller mill of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the roller mill 10 of FIG. 2 has an alternative coupling element 62, 64. The coupling elements 62, 64 of FIG. 2 each comprise a hydraulic actuator with two hydraulic chambers, which are separated from one another by a piston. The hydraulic chambers of the coupling unit 62, 64 are preferably filled with a non-compressible hydraulic oil. The piston is preferably formed on one end of the fastening element 58, 60. The roller mill 10 preferably has two coupling elements 62, 64, each of which is arranged for the purpose of coupling one of the thrust rods 54, 56 to one of the bearings 34, 36 of the floating bearing unit 26 in each case. By way of example, the coupling elements 62, 64 are connected to one another via hydraulic lines, each hydraulic chamber of a coupling unit 62, 64 being connected to the corresponding hydraulic chamber of the other coupling element 62, 64 via a hydraulic line, with the result that, in the event of skewed running of the grinding rollers 12, 14, a movement of one of the pistons results in the respective other piston moving in the opposite direction, skewed running of the grinding rollers 12, 14 being permitted and delimited to the piston stroke.

[0032] It is likewise conceivable that the coupling elements 62, 64 in the form of hydraulic actuators are not connected to one another via a hydraulic line, but are each connected to an additional pretensioning element, not illustrated, such as a hydraulic cylinder, for example. The pretensioning element applies a pretensioning force to the respective hydraulic cylinder.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a roller mill 10 with a synchronization device 42, the same elements being provided with the same reference signs. By contrast to the roller mill of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the roller mill 10 of FIG. 3 has an alternative coupling element 82, which is arranged in the shaft 44. By way of example, the shaft 44 has two shaft portions which are connected to one another via the coupling element 82. In particular, the coupling element 82 is in the form of a claw coupling, which has an inner coupling shaft 84 and an outer hollow shaft 86 arranged concentrically thereto. By way of example, the coupling shaft 84 has projections on its outer circumference, which interact with cutouts in the inner circumference of the hollow shaft 86. The cutouts are larger than the projections, with the result that a clearance is formed between them and a rotation relative to one another through a certain angle is allowed. For example, the inner coupling shaft 84 is connected to one portion of the shaft 44 and the outer hollow shaft 86 is connected to the respective other portion of the shaft 44, with the result that a certain relative rotation of the shaft portions is permitted in order to allow a certain extent of skewed running of the grinding rollers 12, 14.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0034] 10 Roller mill [0035] 12 First grinding roller [0036] 14 Second grinding roller [0037] 16 Grinding gap [0038] 18 Roller basic body [0039] 20 Roller basic body [0040] 22 Drive shaft [0041] 24 Drive shaft [0042] 26 Floating bearing unit [0043] 28 Fixed bearing unit [0044] 29 Machine frame [0045] 30 Bearing [0046] 32 Bearing [0047] 34 Bearing [0048] 36 Bearing [0049] 38 Hydraulic actuator [0050] 40 Hydraulic actuator [0051] 42 Synchronization device [0052] 44 Shaft [0053] 46 Lever [0054] 48 Lever [0055] 50 Fastening means [0056] 52 Fastening means [0057] 54 Thrust rod [0058] 56 Thrust rod [0059] 58 Fastening element [0060] 60 Fastening element [0061] 62 Coupling element [0062] 64 Coupling element [0063] 66 Damper unit [0064] 68 Damper unit [0065] 70 Gas chamber [0066] 72 Hydraulic chamber [0067] 74 Piston [0068] 76 Gas chamber [0069] 78 Hydraulic chamber [0070] 80 Piston [0071] 82 Coupling element [0072] 84 Coupling shaft [0073] 86 Hollow shaft