Patent Application
20050103688
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to adjustment devices for wet and dry magnetic drum separators and particularly to external adjustment apparatus.
2. Relevant Art
A wide variety of adjustment devices exist for adjusting the clearance between the interior surface of a rotating drum and a stationary magnet array. What is desired is a device that provides for adjustment externally of the drum, especially in applications employing a wet drum separation system.
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided an adjustment apparatus for adjusting the clearance between the interior surface of a rotatable drum having spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a magnet array having an outer surface supported by a fixed shaft having an outer surface in a relatively fixed position and disposed inside such drum, the apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical sleeve having interior and exterior surfaces and opposite end portions and means for mounting the sleeve between such shaft and one such end plate, the means for mounting includes adjustment means carried by the sleeve and located externally of the end plates for varying spatial distance between the interior surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum relative to the longitudinal axis of such magnet array and to provide a generally uniform clearance space between the interior surface of such drum and an outer surface of such magnet array. The sleeve includes a plurality of spaced threaded radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior surfaces, and the adjustment means includes a plurality of elongate screws threaded into the holes and contacting the outer surface of such shaft, each screw being operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to move the sleeve with respect to such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum. The shaft has a plurality of flat surface areas formed on the outer surface thereof for engagement with a respective screw.
The means for mounting includes a bearing surface formed on one end portion of the sleeve for engagement with an end plate for supporting a drum thereon. The holes are spaced at approximately 60 degrees apart. The sleeve includes a first and second set of spaced radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior surfaces, the adjustment means including a plurality of elongate posts located in the first set of holes and contacting the outer surface of such shaft, each installed post operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to move the sleeve with respect to such shaft for vertically moving the longitudinal axis of such drum. The holes have internal threads and each post has external threads matching the threads in the holes.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided adjustment apparatus for adjusting the clearance between the interior surface of a rotatable drum having spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a magnet array having an outer surface supported by a fixed shaft having an outer surface and opposite end portions in a relatively fixed position and disposed inside such drum, the apparatus comprising a pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves each having interior and exterior surfaces and opposite end portions and means for mounting each sleeve between one end portion of such shaft and one such end plate, the means for mounting including adjustment means carried by the sleeve and located externally of the end plates for varying spatial distance between the interior surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of a respective end portion of such shaft and for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum relative to the longitudinal axis of such magnet array and to provide a generally uniform clearance space between the interior surface of such drum and an outer surface of such magnet array. The sleeve includes a plurality of spaced threaded radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior surfaces, the adjustment means including a plurality of elongate screws threaded into the holes and contacting the outer surface of the end portion of such shaft, each screw operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to move respective sleeve with respect to such shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of such drum. The shaft has a plurality of flat surface areas formed on the outer surface thereof for engagement with a respective screw. The means for mounting includes a bearing surface formed on one end portion of each sleeve for engagement with an end plate for supporting a drum thereon. The holes are spaced circumferentially at approximately 60 degrees apart.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided adjustment apparatus for adjusting the clearance between an interior surface of a hollow drum rotatably mounted on a shaft having an outer surface, the drum having spaced end plates connected to a cylindrical shell and a magnet array supported by the shaft in a relatively fixed position with respect to the drum and shaft and disposed inside the drum, the apparatus comprising a pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves each having interior and exterior surfaces and opposite end portions and means for mounting the respective sleeve between the shaft and respective end plates. The means for mounting includes adjustment means carried by the sleeve and located externally of the end plates for varying spatial distance between the interior surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the shaft and for moving the longitudinal axis of the drum relative to the longitudinal axis of the magnet array and to provide a generally uniform clearance space between the interior surface of the drum during its rotation with respect to an outer surface of the magnet array. The sleeve includes a plurality of spaced threaded radially disposed holes extending between the interior and exterior surfaces, the adjustment means including a plurality of elongate screws threaded into the holes and contacting the outer surface of the end portion of the shaft, each screw operable inwardly and outwardly in respective hole to move respective sleeve with respect to the shaft for moving the longitudinal axis of the drum. The shaft has a plurality of flat surface areas formed on the outer surface for engagement with a respective screw. The means for mounting includes a bearing surface formed on one end portion of each sleeve for engagement with the end plate for supporting the drum thereon. The holes are spaced circumferentially at approximately 60 degrees apart.
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Introduction
In the production of high-intensity magnetic drum separators there is a need to place the internal magnet assembly as close as possible to the inside surface of the drum. Due to manufacturing tolerances this must be accomplished with an adjustment apparatus. This apparatus has always been located within the drum. That has necessitated access holes in the drum endplates and created a difficult, sometimes unsafe adjustment procedure. Further, in drums used for wet processing, the access holes in the endplates are unacceptable as they provide an inevitable leak path which will cause serious damage to the magnet assembly. This invention eliminates the need for these access holes.
The present apparatus provides a means of adjustment external to the drum. This results in an easier, safer adjustment procedure. The device is a hollow cylinder which has a section of the outer surface machined to create a bearing seat, and a series of threaded, radial holes which allow for jacking screws. These screws are used to position the cylinder relative to a shaft having machined flats on the outer surface, which supports the magnet assembly. An appropriate bearing is placed on the seat and the assembly is mated to a drum endplate. The drum and cylinders are coaxial. Thus the axis of the drum can be moved relative to the axis of the magnet assembly.
With respect now to the drawings, an adjustment cylinder or sleeve according to the present invention is shown at 10 in
As illustrated in
With regard to
Fixed shaft 23, mounted on supports 23′, has pairs of flats 27 spaced 120 degrees apart on each end portion machined thereon for engagement with interior ends 20 of the spaced jacking screws 18 used in a particular application. Magnet array 28 is held in a fixed position via posts 33 and is spaced away from the interior surface 22 of drum 21 by small clearance space or gap 29. Numeral 30 represents the longitudinal axis of shaft 23. Numeral 31 represents the longitudinal axis of sleeve 10 and numeral 32 represents the longitudinal axis of the magnet array 28.
With reference also to
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
