Patent Application
20190210033
The present teachings are related to crushing larger materials into smaller pieces, and in particular, to the apparatus, components, and methods for crushing within a controlled environment.
Impact crushing apparatuses are known and employed in various industries for reducing materials such as rock, concrete, brick, stone, and other earthly materials into smaller shapes and sizes for further use or disposal of. In a typical impact crushing apparatus, materials are fed into a chamber and onto a rotating feed disk. The material is thrown from the center of the rotating feed disk at high speeds against an impact surface, where due to the centrifugal forces, the material is broken into smaller pieces.
Over time and after repeated use, the impact surface of the impact crusher can become worn and require maintenance or replacement. Adjustment of the impact surface can prolong its life and reduce the number of times that maintenance or replacement is needed. Current adjustment techniques require internal access, manual removal, and precise replacement into the adjusted position. Adjustment can prove difficult because material buildup between the housing and the impact surface can cause it to become jammed. Large machinery including cranes may be necessary to release the jam. Because of this, the adjustment process can take time, require considerable effort, and be dangerous to personnel.
Based on these considerations, there is a need to improve the apparatus, components, and method for adjusting the impact surface. More specifically, there is a need for an impact crusher apparatus with quicker, safer, and easier impact surface adjustment.
In a first embodiment of this disclosure, an anvil adjustment assembly of a vertical shaft impactor includes an anvil ring configured to be disposed within a housing of the vertical shaft impactor, the anvil ring comprising at least one tab protruding outwardly; an elongate jack bolt having a first end and a second end, the bolt including a threaded portion formed between the first and second ends; a jack bolt housing having a cover and a door, the jack bolt housing configured to be coupled to the housing; a first locking collar and a second locking collar each coupled to the jack bolt, where the first locking nut is coupled to the jack bolt on one side of the at least one tab, and the second locking nut being coupled to the jack bolt on the opposite side of the at least one tab; wherein, the jack bolt is movable along a longitudinal axis within the jack bolt housing between a first position and a second position; further wherein, a movement of the jack bolt along the longitudinal axis induces longitudinal movement of the anvil ring.
In one example of this embodiment, a first locking nut is coupled to the first end of the jack bolt and a second locking nut is fixedly coupled to the jack bolt housing, wherein rotational movement of the first locking nut induces longitudinal movement of the jack bolt relative to the second locking nut. In a second example, the first and second locking collars are coupled to the jack bolt and move longitudinally with the jack bolt. In a third example, the jack bolt moves longitudinally between an upper limit and a lower limit, where at the upper limit the at least one tab contacts the jack bolt housing and at the lower limit the at least one tab is configured to contact the housing.
In a fourth example, the jack bolt housing includes a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first wall, and a second wall, wherein the second side includes at least three edges that define an opening through which the at least one tab is received in the jack bolt housing. In a fifth example, the at least one tab includes a plurality of tabs circumferentially and equidistantly spaced from one another. In another example, the at least one tab defines an opening through which the jack bolt is inserted. In a further example, the anvil ring includes an inner surface that defines a plurality of slots, where each of the plurality of slots is configured to receive an anvil.
In another embodiment of this disclosure, a vertical shaft impactor includes a housing including an outer wall that defines an interior chamber, the outer wall further defining a cutout portion; a lid coupled to the housing for closing off the interior chamber; an anvil ring disposed within the interior chamber; a bolt assembly coupled to the housing, the bolt assembly comprising a bolt housing and a bolt that moves in a longitudinal direction within the bolt housing; wherein, the bolt housing comprises at least one side having an open face for receiving the anvil ring; wherein, the bolt is coupled to the anvil ring such that longitudinal movement of the bolt induces longitudinal movement of the anvil ring.
In a first example of this embodiment, the bolt assembly is coupled to the outer wall at the cutout. In a second example, the anvil ring protrudes through the cutout and through an opening defined in the bolt housing. In a third example, an indicator plate is coupled to the housing at a location below the bolt assembly, the indicator plate including a plurality of markings indicative of length dimensions. In a fourth example, at least one tab of the anvil ring protrudes outwardly and is configured to be coupled to the bolt.
In another example, a first locking collar and a second locking collar are each coupled to the bolt, where the first locking nut is coupled to the bolt on one side of the at least one tab, and the second locking nut is coupled to the bolt on the opposite side of the at least one tab. In yet another example, the first and second locking collars move longitudinally with the bolt. In yet another example, the bolt moves longitudinally between an upper limit and a lower limit, where in the upper limit the at least one tab contacts the bolt housing and in the lower limit the at least one tab is configured to contact the housing.
In a further embodiment of this disclosure, a vertical shaft impact crushing apparatus includes a housing; a chamber defined within the housing, the chamber having a central region and an outer periphery; a lid for closing the chamber, wherein the lid defines a plurality of openings positioned about the perimeter of the lid; an anvil ring configured to be disposed within a housing of the vertical shaft impactor, the anvil ring comprising at least one tab extending radially outwardly; an elongate jack bolt having a first end and a second end, the bolt including a threaded portion formed between the first and second ends; a jack bolt housing having a cover and a door, the jack bolt housing configured to be coupled to the housing; and a first locking collar and a second locking collar each coupled to the jack bolt, where the first locking nut is coupled to the jack bolt on one side of the at least one tab, and the second locking nut being coupled to the jack bolt on the opposite side of the at least one tab; wherein, the jack bolt is movable along a longitudinal axis within the jack bolt housing between a first position and a second position; further wherein, a movement of the jack bolt along the longitudinal axis induces longitudinal movement of the anvil ring.
In one example of this embodiment, a first locking nut is coupled to the first end of the jack bolt and a second locking nut is fixedly coupled to the jack bolt housing, wherein rotational movement of the first locking nut induces longitudinal movement of the jack bolt relative to the second locking nut and the jack bolt housing. In a second example, the first and second locking collars are coupled to the jack bolt such that both collars move longitudinally with the jack bolt but do not move relative to one another. In a third example, the jack bolt moves longitudinally between an upper limit and a lower limit, where at the upper limit the at least one tab contacts the jack bolt housing and at the lower limit the at least one tab is configured to contact the housing. In another example, the housing includes an outer wall with a defined cutout; the jack bolt housing is coupled to the housing at the location of the defined cutout, the jack bolt housing including a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, a first wall, and a second wall; and the second side includes at least three edges that define an opening such that the at least one tab extends through the defined cutout and opening and is received in the jack bolt housing.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the teachings of the present disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
During operation of a vertical shaft impactor assembly, material such as rock, brick, stone, and the like is inserted into a rotating impellor which rotates at a high speed. The impellor may “throw” the material from a central portion of the assembly outwardly towards one or more anvils. The anvils are often secured to the housing and arranged such that an impact surface of each anvil is oriented in a direction facing the impellor. As such, the material is thrown by the impellor towards the anvils and contacts the anvils at a high speed to break apart or crush the material into smaller pieces. The smaller pieces may be further broken into even smaller pieces until the smaller pieces are transported out of the assembly.
The anvils are subject to damage as a result of the contact between their impact surface and the material. Thus, the anvils are routinely inspected and maintained. The conventional vertical shaft impactor may have an upper lid through which maintenance personnel accesses the interior of the impactor to repair, replace, or maintain the anvils and other components of the impactor. This can often require rotating the lid and lifting the existing anvil or anvils. In some cases, the anvils are held by an anvil ring, and the personnel must lift the entire anvil ring. These rings can be heavy and require the personnel to exert great energy and stress to perform maintenance.
Due to damage or wear to the anvils, the plurality of anvils may need regular adjustment for continued operation. This can be difficult to do on a conventional impactor due to limited space, small clearances, and dangerous surrounding environments. In other words, it is often difficult to adjust the plurality of anvils and/or anvil ring without accessing the interior of the impactor. In the present disclosure, a newly designed impactor is provided for adjusting the anvils in such a way that there is no need for accessing the interior of the impactor to accomplish the adjustments.
In
Referring to
The adjustable jack bolt assembly 106 may further include a jack bolt housing 204. The jack bolt housing includes a first wall 214, a second wall 216, a first side 218, a second side 220, a bottom 222, and a top 224 as shown in
Referring to
The VSI housing 102 further includes a plurality of latches 304. The plurality of latches may be spaced circumferentially about the VSI housing 102 and configured to secure the lid 104 in place once the VSI 100 is ready for use.
Referring now to
The tab 402 of the anvil ring 110 may include a jack bolt hole 406. The jack bolt hole 406 is configured to couple the tab 402 of the anvil ring 110 to the jack bolt 202 of the jack bolt assembly 106. As illustrated in
Referring still to
The interior portion 502 of the adjustable jack bolt assembly 106 may include the plurality of anvils 108 and the anvil ring 110. The plurality of anvils 108 may be coupled to the anvil ring 110 in the manner described above such that the anvil ring 110 maintains the plurality of anvils 108 in a substantially stationary position while the VSI 100 is in use. In other words, the plurality of anvils 108 may remain within the slots 406 defined in the anvil ring 110, but each anvil may have limited movement within the corresponding slot as rock or other material contacts the anvil.
The jack bolt housing portion 504 of the adjustable jack bolt assembly 106 may include the anvil ring tab 402, the jack bolt 202, a first locking collar 508, a first non-metal washer 510, a first metal washer 512, a second metal washer 514, a second non-metal washer 516, a second locking collar 518, a cover 520, a door 522, and the jack bolt housing 204. The components of the jack bolt housing portion 504 can be seen in an assembled form in
As shown in
The first metal washer 512 and the first non-metal washer 510 may be coupled to the jack bolt 202 between the first locking collar 508 and the tab 402. The first metal washer 512 may be disposed closer to the tab 402 and the first non-metal washer 510 may be disposed closer to the first locking collar 508 as illustrated in
Referring to
The cover 520 may also include a sealing piece 528 configured to couple the cover 520 with the lid 104 of the VSI 100. The sealing piece 528 can fit between a pair of sealing strips 530 on the lid 104 to maintain the lid 104 in the closed position. The pair of sealing strips 530 can line the perimeter of the lid 104 to couple with the cover 520 and the edge of the VSI housing 102. The latches 304 of the VSI housing 102 can provide additional stabilization in securing the lid 104 in the closed position.
The door 522 may be removably coupled to the first side 218 of the jack bolt housing 204 via screws, bolts, rivets, clamps or any other coupling mechanism known in the art. The door 522 may include a handle 534 configured to facilitate removal of the door 522. The door 522 may be removed from the jack bolt housing 204 to allow for maintenance or replacement of the components of the adjustable jack bolt assembly 106. For instance, the door 522 can be removed so that dust and debris may be cleared from behind the plurality of anvils 108.
The exterior portion 506 includes the first end 206 of the jack bolt 202, a first locking nut 210, a flat washer 212, a second locking nut 536, and an indicator plate 538. As described above, the first locking nut 210 may be fixedly coupled to the first end 206 of the jack bolt 202. The first locking nut 210 may be configured to be a means by which a user adjustably moves the jack bolt 202 along the jack bolt axis 525. For instance, a user may use a separate tool (not shown) such as a wrench to grip the first locking nut 210 and rotate the jack bolt 202. Because the jack bolt 202 is threaded, it may adjustably move in the positive or negative direction along the jack bolt axis 525 depending on which way the user the rotates the jack bolt 202. For instance, a user may rotate the jack bolt 202 in a counterclockwise direction so that the jack bolt 202 moves in the positive direction 523. In another embodiment, rotating the jack bolt 202 in a clockwise direction may move the jack bolt 202 in the positive direction 523.
The flat washer 212 may be coupled to the jack bolt 202 and the first locking nut 210 via welding, glue, or any other means known in the art. As illustrated in
The second locking nut 536 may be threadably coupled to the jack bolt 202 and fixedly coupled to the bottom 222 of the jack bolt housing 204. The flat washer 212 may become flush with the second locking nut 536 when the jack bolt 202 is in the upper limit position 532 as shown in
Referring now to
While an exemplary embodiment incorporating the principles of the present application has been disclosed hereinabove, the present application is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the application using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this present application pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular illustrative embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations).
