A pipe chain conveyor's chain link direction calibration mechanism and pipe chain conveyor

Abstract

A link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor includes a calibration chain and multiple transmission elements and multiple calibration elements arranged circumferentially and alternately along the calibration chain. Both the transmission elements and calibration elements face outwards from the calibration chain. Each transmission element has a lever body for insertion into a compatible conveyor chain of the tubular chain conveyor, allowing the conveyor chain to drive the calibration chain to rotate synchronously via the lever body. Each calibration element has a calibration groove, the width of which corresponds to the link thickness of the conveyor chain. The groove encloses the links of the conveyor chain, thereby calibrating the link orientation of the conveyor chain to a position where it meshes with the conveyor sprocket of the tubular chain conveyor. This invention helps maintain the meshing of the conveyor chain links with the conveyor sprocket, ensuring the normal operation of the tubular chain conveyor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of tubular chain conveyors for bulk material conveying, specifically a chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor and a tubular chain conveyor. Background Technology

[0002] In food processing and wine production raw material transportation projects, due to the large number of sites and equipment, the material transportation routes between these devices are complex. Using a tubular chain conveyor can take advantage of the circular cross-section of the trough, the flexibility of the chains and scrapers in space, and the flexibility of the route layout.

[0003] Analysis revealed that while tubular chain conveyors have advantages, they also have some shortcomings and problems: In tubular chain conveyors, the internal cross-section of the casing and the shape of the scraper are both circular, and the conveying chain used is a ring chain. This makes it easy for the scraper and the conveying chain to twist. Once the conveying chain twists, the chain links and the conveying sprockets cannot mesh smoothly, leading to chain slippage, material blockage, and other adverse conditions. This further obstructs the operation of the conveying chain and can easily cause chain breakage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor and a tubular chain conveyor, which helps to maintain the meshing of the links of the conveying chain with the conveying sprocket and ensures the normal operation of the tubular chain conveyor.

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the specific solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: a link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor, comprising a calibration ring chain and a plurality of transmission elements and a plurality of calibration elements arranged circumferentially and alternately along the calibration ring chain. The transmission elements and calibration elements are all arranged facing the outside of the calibration ring chain. The transmission element has a lever body, which is used to insert into the conveying ring chain of the adapted tubular chain conveyor so that the conveying ring chain drives the calibration ring chain to rotate synchronously through the lever body. The calibration element has a calibration groove, the width of which corresponds to the link thickness of the conveying ring chain so that the link of the conveying ring chain is wrapped by the calibration groove, thereby calibrating the link orientation of the conveying ring chain to a position that meshes with the conveying sprocket of the tubular chain conveyor.

[0006] Preferably, the transmission element includes a lever clamp for fixing to the calibration chain and a lever body rotatably connected to the lever clamp. A torsion spring is provided at the rotatable connection between the lever body and the lever clamp. The torsion spring is used to keep the lever body pointing in the direction of the chain link of the conveying chain. A baffle is also provided on the lever clamp that partially overlaps with the lever body. The baffle is used to control the lever body to bend only in one direction.

[0007] Preferably, the transmission element includes two lever clamps, the lever body is clamped between the two lever clamps and rotatably connected to the two lever clamps via a pin, and the torsion spring is sleeved on the pin.

[0008] Preferably, the calibration element includes two fixed side plates for fixing to the calibration ring chain and calibration clamps respectively fixed to the fixed side plates at the ends away from the calibration ring chain, with the calibration groove formed between the two calibration clamps.

[0009] Preferably, the calibration clamp is fixedly connected to the fixed side plate by bolts, and the through holes for the bolts to pass through on the calibration clamp or the fixed side plate are strip holes.

[0010] Preferably, a rectangular support block is welded and fixed between the two fixed side plates.

[0011] Preferably, the ends of the calibration clamps away from the calibration chain are bent in the direction away from the calibration slot.

[0012] Preferably, the calibration chain is a double-plate chain, with the transmission element mounted on the inner link of the calibration chain and the calibration element mounted on the outer link of the calibration chain.

[0013] A tubular chain conveyor includes a conveying chain, scrapers spaced apart on the conveying chain, and a conveying sprocket for driving the conveying chain to rotate. It also includes any of the above-mentioned chain link orientation calibration mechanisms, wherein the calibration chain planes in the chain link orientation calibration mechanism are distributed perpendicular to the conveying chain plane, and the chain link orientation calibration mechanism is located on the outside of the corresponding conveying chain and close to the conveying sprocket.

[0014] Preferably, the lever body is used to cooperate with a link on the conveying chain that has a scraper, and the calibration groove is used to cooperate with a link on the conveying chain that does not have a scraper.

[0015] Beneficial effects

[0016] The tubular chain conveyor of the present invention has a link orientation calibration mechanism, which includes a calibration chain, a transmission element, and calibration elements. The transmission element transmits the power of the conveyor chain to the calibration chain, driving the calibration chain and all calibration elements on it to rotate synchronously with the conveyor chain. This allows the calibration elements to act on adjacent links on the conveyor chain and calibrate their orientation before they engage with the conveyor sprocket, forcing them to mesh smoothly with the sprocket. This invention avoids the problems of inaccurate meshing, chain slippage, and chain breakage that can occur when the scraper and conveyor chain are suspended or free in a tubular chain conveyor. In such cases, the scraper is subjected to forces from the material and the machine casing, causing it to twist around the central axis of the conveyor chain. This twisting of the conveyor chain and scraper leads to misalignment with the chain teeth, resulting in inaccurate meshing. Therefore, the present invention reduces the failure rate and maintains operational stability and reliability.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lever body in the aforementioned transmission element can only bend in one direction. When it encounters interference from the scraper, the lever body will bend. However, when the lever body is engaged with the conveyor chain, it will not bend and will remain rigid. This allows the conveyor chain to stably drive the calibration chain through the aforementioned transmission element, enabling the calibration chain to operate without power. Furthermore, for conveyor chains with different chain pitches, the transmission element is designed with a finger-like combination structure that can bend in one direction. When the chain pitch of the conveyor chain is small, causing the lever body to contact the scraper, the lever body can bend in one direction like a human index finger, avoiding hard interference between the lever body and the scraper. This allows the chain link direction calibration mechanism of the present invention to adapt to conveyor chains with a certain chain link pitch range and corresponding tubular chain conveyors. This broadens the applicability of the chain link direction calibration mechanism of the present invention to tubular chain conveyors with different chain link pitch ranges. Furthermore, when adapting to tubular chain conveyors, it can ignore the possible pitch accuracy errors of the conveyor chain and ensure the stability of the adapted use. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of a tubular chain conveyor with a chain link orientation calibration mechanism according to the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified schematic diagram of part C in the middle section;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A partial top-view structural diagram;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the calibration element in a link orientation calibration mechanism according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the side view structure;

[0023] Figure 6 To adjust via the strip hole Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the state after the spacing between the two calibration clamps;

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the transmission element in a chain link orientation calibration mechanism according to the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure;

[0026] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a tubular chain conveyor with a chain link orientation calibration mechanism according to the present invention;

[0027] The diagram is labeled as follows: A. Tubular chain conveyor; B. Chain link direction calibration mechanism; 1. Scraper; 2. Conveyor chain; 3. Calibration sprocket; 4. Calibration chain; 5. Calibration element; 501. Calibration groove; 502. Calibration clamp; 503. Support block; 504. Fixed side plate; 505. Strip hole; 6. Transmission element; 601. Lever clamp; 602. Pin; 603. Lever body; 604. Roller; 605. Baffle; 606. Torsion spring; 7. Conveyor sprocket; 8. Conveyor pipe; 9. Conveyor housing; 10. Calibration housing. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Figure 1 and Figure 9 An embodiment of the tubular chain conveyor A of the present invention is shown. Similar to a conventional tubular chain conveyor A, this embodiment includes a conveyor chain 2 and a plurality of scrapers 1 spaced apart on the conveyor chain 2. The conveyor chain 2 is supported by two spaced-apart conveyor sprockets 7, one of which is connected to a driving component such as a motor (not shown), while the other is driven. Links on the conveyor chain 2 without scrapers 1 can mesh with the teeth of the conveyor sprockets 7, thereby driving the conveyor sprockets 7 and the scrapers 1 thereon to move. The middle portion of the conveyor chain 2 is covered with... Figure 9 The conveying pipe 8 shown has an inlet and an outlet, which allow the material to be conveyed in the closed conveying pipe 8. The end of the conveying chain 2 and the corresponding conveying sprocket 7 are distributed in the conveyor housing 9 located at the end of the conveying pipe 8. The conveyor housing 9 has a necessary rotating shaft. The end of the rotating shaft extends out of the conveyor housing 9 and is connected to the motor drive. The middle part of the rotating shaft is connected to the conveying sprocket 7 via a key.

[0029] Unlike the conventional tubular chain conveyor A, this embodiment also includes a chain link orientation calibration mechanism B. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism B is used to calibrate the orientation of the chain links of the conveyor chain 2 before they are wound around the conveyor sprocket 7, forcing them to smoothly engage with the conveyor sprocket 7 and avoiding problems such as chain slippage or breakage. Figure 1 and Figure 9 As shown, the link orientation calibration mechanism B is housed in the calibration housing 10 located on the side of the conveyor chain 2 and close to the conveyor sprocket 7. It is not powered by itself but is driven by the conveyor chain 2. The link orientation calibration mechanism B includes a calibration chain 4, two calibration sprockets 3 for supporting the rotation of the calibration chain 4, and multiple transmission elements 6 and calibration elements 5 staggered on the calibration chain 4. The transmission elements 6 cooperate with the conveyor chain 2, driving the calibration chain 4 and calibration elements 5 to move synchronously via the transmission elements 6. During this movement, the calibration elements 5 correct the posture of the links of the conveyor chain 2 before they wrap around the conveyor chain 2, ensuring proper meshing with the teeth of the conveyor sprocket 7.

[0030] like Figure 2 and 3 As shown, in this embodiment, the calibration chain 4 is a double-plate chain, and its plane is perpendicular to the plane of the conveying chain 2. The transmission element 6 is fixed to the inner link of the calibration chain 4 with screws, and the calibration element 5 is fixed to the outer link of the calibration chain 4 with screws. Both the transmission element 6 and the calibration element 5 are distributed towards the outside of the calibration chain 4, so that they respectively cooperate with the links on the conveying chain 2 that are to enter the conveying sprocket 7 to complete the transmission and calibration operations.

[0031] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the transmission element 6 includes two lever clamping plates 601 and a lever body 603 disposed between the two lever clamping plates 601. The lever clamping plates 601 have through holes for screw connection with the calibration chain 4. The upper end of the lever body 603 is hinged to the two lever clamping plates 601 via a pin 602, and a torsion spring 606 is provided on the pin 602 to maintain the lever body 603 facing outwards towards the calibration chain 4, facilitating insertion of the lever body 603 into the links of the conveying chain 2. A baffle 605 is fixedly disposed between the two lever clamping plates 601 and on the right side of the lever body 603. The baffle 605 overlaps with the upper part of the lever body 603, thus allowing the lever body 603 to rotate only clockwise and not counterclockwise. This allows the transmission element 6 to form a finger-like structure. When it encounters interference from the scraper 1, the lever body 603 bends. However, when the lever body 603 is engaged with the conveyor chain 2, it remains rigid and does not bend. This allows the conveyor chain 2 to stably drive the calibration chain 4 through the transmission element 6, enabling the calibration chain 4 to operate without power. For conveyor chains 2 with different chain pitches, the transmission element 6 is designed as a unidirectional bending finger-like combination structure. When the chain pitch of the conveyor chain 2 is small, causing the lever body 603 to contact the scraper 1, the lever body 603 can bend unidirectionally like a human index finger, avoiding hard interference between the lever and the scraper 1. This allows the chain link direction calibration mechanism B of the present invention to be adapted to conveyor chains 2 with certain chain link pitches and corresponding tubular chain conveyors A. Furthermore, this expands the applicability of the link orientation calibration mechanism B of the present invention to tubular chain conveyors A with different link spacings. On the other hand, it can ignore the accuracy error that the conveying link chain 2 may have when adapting to the tubular chain conveyor A and ensure the stability of the adaptation.

[0032] In addition, a rotatable roller 604 is provided near the lower end of the lever body 603. Figure 3 When the lever body 603 of part D disengages from the corresponding link, it rotates through the pin 602 to avoid interference; on the other hand, the roller 604 rolls with the corresponding scraper 1 to reduce friction and noise.

[0033] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the corrective element includes two fixed side plates 504 and calibration clamps 502 respectively disposed on the fixed side plates 504. The fixed side plates 504 have an L-shaped cross-section, with through holes on their vertical sections for screw connection to the calibration ring chain 4 and through holes on their horizontal sections for bolt connection to the calibration clamps 502. A rectangular support block 503 is provided between the two fixed side plates 504, and the two sides of the support block 503 are welded and fixed to the two fixed side plates 504 for support. The calibration clamps 502 also have an L-shaped cross-section, with through holes on their horizontal sections for bolt connection to the fixed side plates 504. A calibration groove 501 corresponding to the thickness of the chain link of the conveying ring chain 2 is formed between the two vertical sections of the calibration clamps 501. The chain link of the conveying ring chain 2 is clamped through the calibration groove 501, thereby forcing the chain link to wrap around the conveying sprocket 7 in a specific posture and correctly mesh with the teeth of the conveying sprocket 7.

[0034] In this embodiment, the lower ends of the two calibration clamps 502 are bent outwards, forming an extended portion at the opening of the calibration slot 501. This facilitates the insertion of incorrectly oriented chain links into the calibration slot 501 for attitude correction. The perforation on the horizontal section of the calibration clamp 502 is a strip-shaped hole 505, which allows for adjustment. Figure 5 The calibration clamp 502 moves horizontally to adjust the width of the calibration slot 501 (e.g., ...). Figure 6 (as shown in the diagram), thus adapting to use with tubular chain conveyors A that correspond to different link thicknesses.

[0035] Based on the above structural features, this embodiment can be implemented as follows: Figure 3 As shown, when the conveyor chain 2 moves to the right in the direction of the straight arrow, the chain link on the conveyor chain 2 equipped with the scraper 1 pushes the corresponding lever body 603 to move to the right, thereby causing the lever body 603 to drive the calibration chain 4 to rotate in the direction of the arc arrow shown in the figure. During the rotation of the calibration chain 4, Figure 2 The calibration element 5 shown in section E rotates to a position close to the corresponding link of the conveyor chain 2. The connection in the incorrect state is moved by the extension of the calibration groove 501 of the calibration element 5 and put into the calibration groove 501, so that the corresponding link is kept in a horizontal position until it rotates to the position of the tooth of the conveyor sprocket 7 to form a mesh, thus completing the calibration of the link.

Claims

1. A chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor, characterized in that: The device includes a calibration chain (4) and multiple transmission elements (6) and multiple calibration elements (5) arranged circumferentially along the calibration chain (4). The transmission elements (6) and calibration elements (5) are both arranged facing the outside of the calibration chain (4). The transmission element (6) has a lever body (603) for inserting into the conveyor chain (2) of the adapted tubular chain conveyor (A) so that the calibration chain (4) can be driven to rotate synchronously through the conveyor chain (2) via the lever body (603). The calibration element (5) has a calibration groove (501) with a width corresponding to the thickness of the link of the conveyor chain (2) so that the link of the conveyor chain (2) is wrapped by the calibration groove (501) so that the link of the conveyor chain (2) is calibrated to mesh with the conveyor sprocket (7) of the tubular chain conveyor (A).

2. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission element (6) includes a lever clamp (601) for fixing to the calibration chain (4) and a lever body (603) rotatably connected to the lever clamp (601). A torsion spring (606) is provided at the rotatable connection between the lever body (603) and the lever clamp (601). The torsion spring (606) is used to keep the lever body (603) pointing in the direction of the chain link of the conveying chain (2). A baffle (605) is also provided on the lever clamp (601) that partially overlaps with the lever body (603). The baffle (605) is used to control the lever body (603) to bend only in one direction.

3. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission element (6) includes two lever clamps (601), the lever body (603) is clamped between the two lever clamps (601) and rotatably connected to the two lever clamps (601) through a pin (602), and the torsion spring (606) is sleeved on the pin (602).

4. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The calibration element (5) includes two fixed side plates (504) for fixing to the calibration ring chain (4) and calibration clamps (502) respectively fixed to the fixed side plates (504) away from the calibration ring chain (4), and the calibration groove (501) is formed between the two calibration clamps (502).

5. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The calibration clamp (502) is fixedly connected to the fixed side plate (504) by bolts, and the through hole (505) opened on the calibration clamp (502) or the fixed side plate (504) for the bolt to pass through is a strip hole.

6. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 4, characterized in that: A rectangular support block (503) is welded and fixed between the two fixed side plates (504).

7. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The ends of the calibration clamp (502) away from the calibration ring chain (4) are bent in the direction away from the calibration groove (501).

8. The chain link orientation calibration mechanism for a tubular chain conveyor as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The calibration chain (4) is a double-plate chain. The transmission element (6) is installed on the inner link of the calibration chain (4), and the calibration element (5) is installed on the outer link of the calibration chain (4).

9. A tubular chain conveyor, comprising a conveyor chain (2), scrapers (1) spaced apart on the conveyor chain (2), and a conveyor sprocket (7) for driving the conveyor chain (2) to rotate, characterized in that: It also includes a link orientation calibration mechanism (B) as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the plane of the calibration ring chain (4) in the link orientation calibration mechanism (B) is distributed perpendicular to the plane of the conveying ring chain (2), and the link orientation calibration mechanism (B) is located outside the corresponding conveying ring chain (2) and close to the conveying sprocket (7).

10. A tubular chain conveyor (A) as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The lever body (603) is used to cooperate with the chain link of the conveying ring chain (2) which is provided with a scraper (1), and the calibration groove (501) is used to cooperate with the chain link of the conveying ring chain (2) which is not provided with a scraper (1).

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