The present disclosure relates to material conveyors, and particularly to chain and flight conveyors.
In one independent aspect, a link assembly is provided for moving material in a direction of movement from a first end of a conveyor toward a second end of the conveyor, the link assembly includes a first link and a second link. The first link includes a first side edge positioned between a first end and a second end of the first link, and the first link further includes a first indicator. The second link includes a second side edge extending between a first end and a second end of the second link. The second link includes a second indicator. The second link is coupled to the first link such that the first side edge of the first link overlaps with the second side edge of the second link in a direction transverse to the direction of movement. Elongation of the first link in the direction of movement causes the first indicator to move relative to the second indicator, and a position of the first indicator relative to the second indicator provides an indication of a wear condition of the first link.
In another independent aspect, a linkage is provided for moving material in a direction from a first end of a conveyor toward a second end of the conveyor. The linkage includes a link including a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface is configured to slide relative to a support surface of the conveyor as the linkage moves from the first end of the conveyor toward the second end of the conveyor. At least one of the first surface and the second surface includes a wear indicator representing a surface wear condition of the at least one of the first surface and second surface.
Other aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any independent embodiments of the disclosure is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “mounted,” “connected” and “coupled” are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mounting, connecting and coupling. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and can include electrical or fluid connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect.
With continued reference to
Each connecting link 78 includes a pair of lugs or side portions 122 and a bridge portion 126 connecting inner surfaces 130 of the side portions 122. Each side portion 122 includes a pair of apertures 134 extending through the inner surface 130 and an outer surface 138 of each side portion 122. The connecting link 78 also includes a drive pin 140 (e.g., protrusion) extending outwardly from the outer surface 138 of each side portion 122. Stated another way, each drive pin 140 extends laterally or transversely relative to the direction of travel 58 of the chain 70. As such, in the illustrated embodiment, each connecting link 78 is substantially an H-shaped link with the drive pins 140 extending outwardly from the side portions 122. The sprockets 66 (
With reference to
Each side portion 122 of the connecting link 78 includes four link indicators 142 with two link indicators 142 positioned adjacent an upper surface 146 of the side portion 122 and two link indicators 142 positioned adjacent an lower surface 150 of the side portion 122 (only three of the four link indicators 142 of one side portion 122 are illustrated in
With reference back to
Each side portion 122 of the connecting link 78 includes one wear indicator 162 formed in the upper surface 146 (
As best shown in
In other embodiments, the connecting link 78 can include one wear indicator 162 (e.g., the plurality of indicator apertures 166 or the graphic indicator 170) formed on the upper surface 146 and/or the lower surface 150 of each side portion 122. In further embodiments, the connecting link 78 can include both the plurality of indicator apertures 166 and the graphic indicator 170 on the upper surface 146 and/or the lower surface 150 of each side portion 122. In yet further embodiments, the wear indicator 162 can be formed in at least one of the flight link 74, the connecting link 78, and the swivel link 82.
With reference back to
The swivel link 82 further includes a pair of spherical bearings 214 (
In one embodiment, the first chain pin 218 is inserted through the connecting link side portions 122 in a first lateral direction, while the second chain pin 222 is inserted through the flight link side portions 90 in a second lateral direction opposite the first lateral direction. The chains pins 218, 222 are secured against axial movement relative to the connecting link 78 and the flight link 74 by retainers (not shown).
When the machine 10 is assembled and before the conveyor 42 operates under load, at least one link indicator 142 of the connecting link 78 aligns with the first notch 210a formed on the swivel link 82 (
During a cutting operation for the machine 10 illustrated in
Therefore, as the operation life of the conveyor 42 increases, the swivel link 82 may stretch and deform so that the series of swivel indicators 210 will move relative to the link indicator 142. Depending on which notch 210a, 210b, 210c the link indicator 142 aligns with, the operator can visually monitor the wear and remaining service life of the swivel link 82 without needing to provide direct contact with the chain 70. The notches 210 and link indicator 142 provide graduations that permit an observer to quantifiably measure the elongation of the swivel link 82. For example, in one embodiment, when the link indicator 142 aligns with the first notch 210a, the life of the swivel link 82 can be approximately 100%. When the swivel link 82 stretches during operation so that the link indicator 142 aligns with the second notch 210b, the life of the swivel link 82 can be approximately 50%. When the swivel link 82 stretches some more during operation so that the link indicator 142 aligns with the third notch 210c (
In other embodiments, the alignment of the link indicator 142 and the series of swivel indicators 210 can represent different life percentages to the operator. For example, when the link indicator 142 aligns with the second notch 210b, the life of the swivel link 82 can be greater than 50%, and when the link indicator 142 aligns with the third notch 210c, the life of the swivel link 82 can be less than 50% indicating to the operator that the swivel link 82 needs to be replaced with a new swivel link 82.
As shown in
With respect to the plurality of indicator apertures 166, the visibility of a particular indicator aperture 166 can identify the remaining life of the connecting link 78. In one embodiment, if the first aperture 166a is visible, the life of the connecting link 78 is greater than 75%. If the connecting link 78 begins to wear such that the first aperture 166a disappears but the second aperture 166b is still visible, the life of the connecting link 78 is less than 75% but greater than 50%. If the connecting link 78 continues to wear such that the second aperture 166b disappears but the third aperture 166c is still visible, the life of the connecting link 78 is less than 50% but greater than 25% (
The graphic indicators 170 function in a similar manner to the plurality of indicator apertures 166 to represent the remaining life of the connecting link 78. With continued reference to
In addition, because the main components of the chain 70 (the flight link 74, the connecting link 78, the swivel link 82, and the flight bars 86) are symmetric about a horizontal plane (i.e., the upper portions of the chain 70 components is symmetric with respect to the lower portions), the chain 70 can be uninstalled and reversed so that the upper surfaces are positioned adjacent the conveyor surface 68. Reversing or rotating the chain 70 in this manner increases the service life of the chain 70. In some embodiments, the disappearance of all or a portion of the indicator apertures 166 and/or the graphic indicator 170 can signify to an operator that the chain 70 should be rotated to facilitate even wear between the upper surface and the lower surface.
The illustrated chain 370 includes a flight link 374 including a pair of portions (a first flight link portion 374a and a second flight link portion 374b) and a connecting link 378 including a pair of portions (a first connecting link portion 378a and a second connecting link portion 378b). A swivel link 82 couples the flight link 374 to the connecting link 78. The connecting link portions 378a, 378b are separate from one another and not directly connected. Rather, the connecting link portions 378a, 378b are coupled to one another by chain pins 218 (
Each flight link portion 374a, 374b includes a body 390 having a pair of apertures 402 formed on an inner side surface 398 of the body 390. The flight bar 386 extends from an end of a drive portion 418 of the associated flight link portion 374a, 374b. In addition, each connecting link portion 378a, 378b includes a body 422 defining an upper surface 446 and a lower surface 450 and having a pair of apertures 434 formed on an inner side surface 430 of the body 422. Each connecting link portion 378a, 378b also includes a drive pin 440 extending outwardly from an outer surface 438 of the body 422.
Each body 390, 422 also includes link indicators 442, wear indicators 462 having indicator apertures 466 (e.g., apertures 466a, 466b, 466c, 466d), and graphic indicators 470. Each graphic indicator 470 includes a first side 474, a second side 478, and a sloping aperture 482 extending between the sides 474, 478.
Although the conveyor is described above with respect to a continuous mining machine, it is understood that the conveyor can be incorporated into other types of mining machines including but not limited to roadheaders, longwall mining machines, and entry drivers, as well as loading and hauling machines including but not limited to shuttle cars, battery haulers, or other types.
Although aspects have been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects as described. Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,761, filed Mar. 6, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,766, filed Mar. 6, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,767, filed Mar. 6, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,769, filed Mar. 6, 2017; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,770, filed Mar. 6, 2017; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/467,773, filed Mar. 6, 2017. The entire contents of each of these documents are incorporated by reference herein.
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