Claims
- 1. A gyratory crusher for crushing material, comprising:
- (a) a lower frame portion;
- (b) an upper frame portion supported by said lower frame portion;
- (c) a bonnet threadably supported by said upper frame portion, said bonnet having a replaceable bowl liner with an upper opening for receiving the material;
- (d) an eccentric member;
- (e) a crusher head having a replaceable mantel;
- (f) a mounting mechanism structured to pivotally mount said eccentric member on said lower frame portion about a first axis spaced centrally and vertically relative to said lower frame member, and to pivotally mount said crusher head on said eccentric member about a second axis spaced generally centrally and vertically relative to said lower frame portion wherein said second axis is angularly offset from said first axis and intersects said first axis above said crusher head and wherein a crushing chamber is formed between said bowl liner and said mantel; said crushing chamber having a gap comprising a closed side setting at a lower extremity thereof;
- (g) electric motor apparatus structured to rotate said eccentric member about said first axis; and
- (h) a control mechanism structured to:
- (1) automatically control the width of said gap during operation of said gyratory crusher by monitoring the magnitude of current drawn by said electric motor apparatus and by threadably advancing said bonnet relative to said upper frame portion; and
- (2) to operatively detect a pre-defined bowl float condition of said crusher.
- 2. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism includes at least one separation sensor configured to operatively detect separation of said upper frame portion from said lower frame portion.
- 3. The crusher according to claim 2, wherein said at least one separation sensor is structured to generate a signal that is proportional to the magnitude of separation of said upper frame portion from said lower frame portion adjacent to said at least one separation sensor.
- 4. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism is configured to responsively increase said width of said gap upon detection of said bowl float condition of said crusher.
- 5. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism includes a monitoring mechanism configured to operatively control magnitude and direction of changes in width of said gap by monitoring rotation of said bonnet relative to said upper frame portion.
- 6. The crusher according to claim 5, wherein said control means includes a ring gear mounted to said bonnet and a drive motor mounted to said frame having a pinion engaging said ring gear, said monitoring mechanism including a pair of proximity switches configured to operatively interact with said said pinion.
- 7. The crusher according to claim 6, wherein said control mechanism includes a calibrating mechanism structured to determine the spacing of said bonnet relative to said upper frame portion as said gap has a minimal width.
- 8. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism is configured to operatively compensate for a wearing rate of said bowl liner and said mantel by responsively displacing said bowl liner relative to said mantel.
- 9. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism is configured to operatively determine an updated wearing rate of said bowl liner and said mantel.
- 10. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said crusher includes a drive mechanism, and said control mechanism includes a load sensor responsive to said drive mechanism and wherein said control mechanism is configured to operatively adjust said width of said gap in response to changes in signals from said load sensor.
- 11. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism is configured to operatively and threadably adjust said bonnet such that said bonnet is vertically hoistable from said upper frame portion.
- 12. The crusher according to claim 11, wherein said control mechanism includes an indicator mechanism structured to operably indicate whereat said bonnet is vertically hoistable from said upper frame portion.
- 13. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism includes a tracking mechanism structured to track a quantity of bowl float conditions that occur within a selected time interval.
- 14. The crusher according to claim 1, wherein said control mechanism includes a shutdown mechanism structured to shut down said crusher in the event that a quantity of bowl float conditions occurring within a selected time interval exceeds a pre-determined quantity thereof.
- 15. A control system for a gyratory crusher, wherein said crusher includes an upper frame portion having a bowl liner and a crushing head having a mantel such that a crushing chamber having a gap is formed between the bowl liner and the mantel, said control system comprising:
- a) a detecting mechanism structured to detect a predefined bowl float condition of the crusher; and
- b) an adjusting mechanism structured to automatically adjust a width of the gap to thereby eliminate said bowl float condition.
- 16. The control system according to claim 15, wherein said adjusting mechanism includes a monitoring mechanism structured to determine magnitude and direction of changes in the width of the gap by monitoring rotation of the bowl liner relative to the upper frame portion.
- 17. The control system according to claim 15, wherein said adjusting mechanism is structured to automatically adjust the width of the gap to operatively compensate for a wearing rate of the bowl liner and the mantel.
- 18. The control system according to claim 15, including a shutdown mechanism structured to responsively shut down the crusher in the event that a quantity of bowl float conditions occurring within a selected time interval exceeds a pre-determined quantity thereof.
- 19. A gyratory crusher for crushing material, comprising:
- (a) a lower frame portion;
- (b) an upper frame portion supported by said lower frame portion;
- (c) a bonnet adjustably supported by said upper frame portion, said bonnet having an upper crushing surface and an upper opening for receiving the material;
- (d) an actuator connected to said bonnet for adjusting the position of said bonnet relative to said upper frame portion;
- (e) a crusher head supported by said frame, said crusher head being operatively connected to a motor, said crusher head being spaced relative to said bonnet such that a gap is formed therebetween; and
- (f) a controller operatively connected to said actuator for controlling the width of the gap during operation of said crusher, said controller including a separation sensor for detecting a bowl float condition, said controller adjusting the position of said bonnet relative to said upper frame to thereby eliminate the bowl float condition.
- 20. The crusher of claim 19, wherein said separation sensor includes a position sensor for measuring the gap.
- 21. The crusher of claim 19, wherein said separation sensor includes a current sensor for monitoring the magnitude of current drawn by the motor, said separation sensor generating a signal proportional to the width of the gap.
- 22. The crusher of claim 19, wherein said bonnet is threadably mounted to said upper frame.
- 23. The crusher of claim 22, wherein said actuator includes a ring gear mounted to said bonnet and a drive motor mounted to said frame having a pinion engaging said ring gear, said drive motor and said pinion cooperating to rotate said bonnet.
- 24. The crusher of claim 23, including a position monitor for monitoring changes in position of said bonnet relative to said frame due to said actuator, said position monitor having a pair of proximity switches operatively interacting with said pinion.
- 25. The crusher of claim 19, wherein said crusher head is supported on said frame by hydrostatic thrust bearings, and further including a lubrication system for supplying lubricant to said thrust bearings, said lubrication system including a pressure sensor operatively connected to said controller for terminating operation of said crusher in response to a malfunction of said lubrication system.
- 26. The crusher of claim 19, wherein said controller compensates for a wearing rate of said bowl liner and said crusher head by adjusting the position of said bonnet relative to said crusher head.
- 27. The crusher of claim 19, wherein said controller includes a load sensor operatively connected to the motor, said load sensor for generating a signal indicative of the load on the motor, and wherein said controller adjusts the width of the gap in response to said signal.
Parent Case Info
This is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/617,624, filed Mar. 18, 1996, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (4)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2676660 |
Nov 1992 |
FRX |
6-154630 |
Jun 1994 |
JPX |
1416181 |
Aug 1988 |
SUX |
2357432 |
May 1975 |
GBX |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
617624 |
Mar 1996 |
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