ELECTRIC VIBRATION MACHINERY FOR MINERAL MATERIAL PROCESSING DEVICE

Abstract

A belt or chain driven mineral material processing device vibrator. The vibrator includes a vibrator shaft drive wheel configured to reside at least partially in a radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of a mineral material processing device. An eccentric is configured to be mounted to the vibrator shaft so that the eccentric extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel outwards of the device frame. A method for vibrating a mineral material processing device by a belt or chain, a method for producing a belt or chain driven mineral material processing device vibrator, a method for controlling a belt or chain driven mineral material processing device vibrator, and a mobile mineral material processing plant including the mineral material processing device vibrator are also disclosed.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A vibrator for a mineral material processing device, comprising: a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of the mineral material processing device; a bearing of the vibrator shaft configured to rotatably support the vibrator shaft; a vibrator shaft drive wheel configured to reside at least partially in radial direction around the bearing of the vibrator shaft; and an eccentric configured to be mounted to the vibrator shaft so that the eccentric extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel outwards of the device frame, wherein the drive wheel is configured to rotate the eccentric for inducing vibration through inertia of the eccentric.

17. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the drive wheel is a pulley for a belt or a chain sprocket.

18. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the bearing comprises a bearing case.

19. The vibrator shaft drive wheel according to claim 18, wherein the vibrator shaft drive wheel is configured to reside at least partially in radial direction around the bearing case.

20. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the eccentric comprises a recess configured to radially align the vibrator shaft pulley with the eccentric.

21. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the vibrator shaft pulley comprises a cylindrical part and two peripheral flanges supported by the cylindrical part and configured to define a belt groove.

22. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the vibrator shaft drive wheel is integrated with the eccentric.

23. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein device is a screen; a feeder; and / or a conveyor.

24. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the eccentric comprises a semi-circular plate part.

25. The vibrator according to claim 24, wherein the eccentric comprises an arc part.

26. The vibrator according to claim 25, wherein the arc part and the plate part are radially aligned.

27. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the eccentric comprises a shaft attachment structure.

28. The vibrator according to claim 16, wherein the eccentric is mounted such that its centrifugal force vector is formed at a proximate distance to a bearing point of the bearing, the proximate distance being at most 115 mm.

29. A method for vibrating a mineral material processing device by a belt or chain, comprising: supporting a vibrator shaft drive wheel at least partially in radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of a mineral material processing device; supporting an eccentric to the vibrator shaft so that the eccentric extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel outwards of the device frame; and rotating the eccentric by the vibrator shaft drive wheel to cause vibration through inertia.

30. A method for producing a belt or chain driven mineral material processing device vibrator, comprising: mounting a vibrator shaft drive wheel at least partially in radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of a mineral material processing device; and mounting an eccentric to the vibrator shaft so that the eccentric extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel outwards of the device frame and wherein the drive wheel will rotate the eccentric for inducing vibration through inertia of the eccentric.

31. A method for controlling a belt or chain driven screen mineral material processing device vibrator, comprising: measuring a speed of the belt or chain driven screen vibrator or obtaining a current driving target of the belt or chain driven screen vibrator that comprises an eccentric driven by a shaft drive wheel at least partially in radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of a mineral material processing device; and performing at least one of the following for controlling vibration induced by the vibrator through inertia: controlling driving of the belt or chain driven screen vibrator based on at least one of the measured speed of the belt or chain driven screen vibrator; or controlling the driving of the belt or chain driven screen vibrator based on the obtained current driving target of the belt or chain driven screen vibrator.

32. A mineral material processing device comprising the vibrator according to claim 16.

33. The mineral material processing device of claim 32, wherein the vibrator further comprises a cradle for an electric motor for driving the vibrator; the cradle may be attachable to an outward side of a frame of the mineral material processing device; and the cradle may be configured to attach the electric motor to the device frame so that a shaft of the electric motor is spaced apart from the device frame by a motor gap; and the motor gap is at most 40 mm.

34. The mineral material processing device of claim 32, wherein the motor gap is at most 20 mm.

35. A mobile mineral processing plant comprising the mineral material processing device vibrator according to claim 16.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] Some example embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0037] FIG. 1a schematically shows a belt driven mineral material processing device vibrator according to an example embodiment from one perspective;

[0038] FIG. 1b schematically shows a belt driven mineral material processing device vibrator according to an example embodiment from another perspective;

[0039] FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-section of an eccentric according to an example embodiment;

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a method for vibrating a mineral material processing device by a belt or a chain according to an embodiment;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a method for producing a belt or chain driven mineral material processing device vibrator according to an embodiment; and

[0042] FIG. 4 schematically shows a system according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In the following description, like reference signs denote like elements or steps.

[0044] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a belt driven mineral material processing device vibrator 100. FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show the same belt driven mineral material processing device vibrator from two different perspectives. The belt driven mineral material processing device vibrator 100 comprises an eccentric 110 and a vibrator shaft drive wheel 120. In the example embodiment of FIGS. 1a and 1b, the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 is a vibrator shaft pulley. The vibrator 100 comprises vibrator shaft 102 and a bearing 102 for rotatably supporting the vibrator shaft. The vibrator shaft 102 supports the eccentric 110 and the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120. The vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 is configured to reside at least partially in radial direction around the bearing 102. The vibrator shaft 104 extends through a device frame 106. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the device vibrator is chain driven and the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 is a chain sprocket.

[0045] The eccentric 110 is configured to be mounted to the vibrator shaft 104. The eccentric 110 extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft 104 beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 outwards of the device frame 106. The centre of a drive medium (belt, chain) of the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 is configured to reside closer to the device frame 106 than the centre of mass of the eccentric 110 in an axial direction of the vibrator shaft 104. The vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 is attached to the eccentric 110.

[0046] In an embodiment, the bearing 102 comprises a bearing case. In an embodiment, the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 is configured to reside at least partially in a radial direction around the bearing case.

[0047] The vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 comprises a cylindrical part 122 and two peripheral flanges 124 (FIG. 1b) that define a belt groove therebetween. In an example embodiment, the belt groove is configured to reside between the device frame 106 and the eccentric 110. In an example embodiment, the belt groove is configured to reside closer to the device frame 106 than (the mass of) the eccentric 110. In other words, the eccentric of the vibrator 100 may be configured by its entire mass to induce vibration resides beyond the belt groove in an axial direction of the vibrator shaft 104 outwards from the device frame 106.

[0048] The belt groove is adapted for a two-rib belt. A two-rib belt is relatively durable and strong, although requires more axial space than a one-rib belt does. Due to the increased axial space requirement, the vibrator 100 shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b is particularly advantageous in bringing a mass centre of the eccentric 110 closer to the bearing 102. Alternatively, the vibrator may comprise one belt. The vibrator may comprise two belts. The vibrator may comprise three belts. The vibrator may comprise four belts. The vibrator may comprise 1-4 belts. The vibrator may be chain-driven. The vibrator may comprise the chain or a plurality of chains, if more than one chains are used to drive the vibrator.

[0049] The eccentric 110 comprises a semi-circular plate part 112 and an arc part 114 that are attached or integrated together. In an example embodiment, the plate part 112 defines the recess 118. In FIG. 1a, the plate part 112 integrally forms the shaft attachment structure. The arc part 114 is attached to the plate part 112. In FIG. 1a, the arc part 114 is semi-circular. The arc part 114 and the plate part 112 are radially aligned.

[0050] FIG. 1b also shows that the eccentric 110 defines a recess 118. The recess is indicated in FIG. 1b with an additional dashed line for clarity. The recess 118 is configured to radially align the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 with the eccentric 110. The recess 118 is semi-circular. The recess further enables bringing the eccentric 110 closer to the device frame 106.

[0051] FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-section of the cylindrical part 122 partly recessed into the arc part 114 of the eccentric.

[0052] In an example embodiment, the eccentric 110 comprises a shaft attachment structure, such as a clamp 116. The clamp 116 is configured to attach the eccentric 110 to the vibrator shaft 104. The shaft attachment structure also couples the vibrator shaft drive wheel 120 to the vibrator shaft 104.

[0053] In an example embodiment, the vibrator 100 further comprises a cradle 130 for an electric motor 140. The cradle 130 is attached to an outward side of the device frame 106, e.g., by bolts. In FIG. 1a, the cradle 130 defines a partial drive wheel case. The electric motor 140 is attached to the cradle 130 by its front end through which rotating drive is provided by the electric motor 140. The cradle 130 attaches the electric motor 140 to the device frame 106 so that a shaft of the electric motor is spaced apart from the device frame 106 by a motor gap (not shown). The cradle 130 comprises pulley tightening mechanism that is implemented in FIG. 1a using two pulley tighteners 132. In FIG. 1a, the pulley tightening mechanism further comprises a motor attachment plate 134. In FIG. 1a, the motor attachment plate 134 slidably attaches the electric motor 140 to a counter surface provided by the cradle 130. In an example embodiment, the motor attachment plate 134 comprises a pivot attachment configured to pivotably attach the electric motor 140 to the counter surface. The counter structure may be defined by the pulley case.

[0054] In an example embodiment, the cradle comprises a belt tensioner. In an example embodiment, the belt tensioner comprises a rotatable tension adjustment element that may be threaded. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the cradle comprises a chain tightening mechanism. In a further alternative example, the chain tensioner comprises a rotatable tension adjustment element that may be threaded.

[0055] The motor may comprise a motor shaft (not shown). The motor shaft may drive the eccentric 110 by the belt. Alternatively, the motor may drive the eccentric 110 by the chain. The motor shaft may extend axially beyond the bearing 102.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a method 200 for vibrating a mineral material processing device by a belt. The mineral material processing device may be a screen, a feeder, or a conveyor. In an alternative embodiment, the mineral material processing device is vibrated by a chain. The method 200 comprises a first step 210 of supporting a vibrator shaft drive wheel at least partially in radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of a mineral material processing device and a second step 220 of supporting an eccentric to the vibrator shaft so that the eccentric extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel outwards of the device frame. The method 200 may comprise a step 230 of coupling the vibrator shaft drive wheel and the eccentric so that the vibrator shaft drive wheel and the eccentric are at least partially interlaced. Finally, the method 200 comprises a step 240 of rotating the eccentric by the vibrator shaft drive wheel.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a method 300 for producing a belt or chain driven mineral material processing device vibrator. The method 300 comprises a first step 310 of mounting a vibrator shaft drive wheel to at least partially in radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft that extends through a device frame of a mineral material processing device. Finally, the method 300 comprises a step 320 of mounting an eccentric to the vibrator shaft so that the eccentric extends in axial direction of the vibrator shaft beyond the vibrator shaft drive wheel outwards of the device frame.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a system according to an embodiment. The system comprises a mobile mineral material processing plant 400 comprising a mineral material screen 410, and a belt-driven screen vibrator 100. The mineral material processing plant 400 may be self-propelling. The mineral material processing plant 400 may be towable. The belt-driven screen vibrator 100 may vibrate the screen 410.

[0059] Without limiting the scope and interpretation of the patent claims, certain technical effects of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein are listed in the following. A technical effect is smaller transport width of the mineral material processing device and improved space-saving due a vibrator shaft drive wheel configured to reside at least partially in radial direction around a bearing of a vibrator shaft. Another technical effect of some embodiments is reduced weight and more compact design in comparison to the prior art solutions. Another technical effect of some embodiments is reducing dynamic forces occurring in the bearing during the operation of the mineral material processing device under vibration. Yet another technical effect of some embodiments is reducing eccentric loads on the bearing. Still another technical effect of some embodiments reducing complexity and/or manufacturing cost.

[0060] Various embodiments have been presented. It should be appreciated that in this document, words comprise; include; and contain are each used as open-ended expressions with no intended exclusivity.

[0061] The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples of particular implementations and embodiments a full and informative description of the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented in the foregoing, but that it can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the invention. Furthermore, some of the features of the afore-disclosed example embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.