Automatic tensioning mechanism of bucket elevator

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of conveyor belt tensioning adjustment, and particularly relates to an automatic bucket elevator tensioning mechanism which comprises a shell, a head wheel assembly is arranged on the upper portion of the shell, a tail wheel assembly is arranged on the lower portion of the shell, a conveyor belt is connected to the shell in a sleeved mode through the head wheel assembly and the tail wheel assembly, and a plurality of bucket elevators are arranged on the conveyor belt. The tail wheel assembly is fixedly connected with a torque arm, the lower portion of the torque arm is connected with an air cylinder through a Y-shaped connector, the bottom of the air cylinder is connected with an air cylinder base through a Y-shaped connector, and the air cylinder base is fixedly installed at the bottom of the shell. The problems that the tensioning adjustment range is limited, the conveying belt cannot be protected during tensioning, the conveying belt is damaged due to sudden high-strength stress due to sudden increase of the tensioning force, the tensioning adjustment cannot be stopped in time by naked eyes, and even the conveying belt is broken when the tensioning force is serious are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of conveyor belt tension adjustment, specifically relating to an automatic tensioning mechanism for bucket elevators. Background Technology

[0002] Rubber conveyor belts have advantages such as good flexibility, light weight, easy installation, low cost, and adaptability to curved conveying, and are widely used in bucket elevators. However, rubber is prone to aging and is easily stretched, softened and deformed when conveying large amounts of materials under high tension for a long time. Therefore, bucket elevators need to be equipped with a tensioning mechanism to adjust the belt tension, prevent slippage, and ensure normal operation of the equipment.

[0003] Most bucket elevators on the market use a manual, one-end adjustable tensioning mechanism, meaning the tail pulley is fixed while the head pulley can be manually adjusted up and down. After prolonged use, the rubber conveyor belt stretches and deforms, causing slippage between the tail pulley and the belt. The speed detector on the tail pulley then alarms, alerting technicians that the belt is loose. They then climb to the top of the bucket elevator and manually adjust the tensioning mechanism. The drawback of this mechanism is that technicians need to periodically open the maintenance door to check the belt tension and determine if it needs tightening. If they only wait for the speed detector on the tail pulley to trigger a slippage alarm, by then the conveyor belt's conveying efficiency has already been affected, potentially leading to a loss of conveying capacity and disrupting coordination with other components. Furthermore, because the tail pulley is fixed, only one side of the head pulley can be adjusted, limiting the tensioning range. During tensioning, the belt is not protected; a sudden increase in tension can cause damage due to sudden high-intensity stress, which cannot be visually stopped in time, and in severe cases, can even lead to belt breakage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an automatic bucket elevator tensioning mechanism to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an automatic bucket elevator tensioning mechanism, comprising a housing, a head wheel assembly disposed above the housing, a tail wheel assembly disposed below the housing, and a conveyor belt sleeved between the head wheel assembly and the tail wheel assembly, wherein a plurality of bucket elevators are disposed on the conveyor belt; a torque arm is fixedly connected to the tail wheel assembly, a cylinder is connected to the lower part of the torque arm via a Y-joint, a cylinder seat is connected to the bottom of the cylinder via a Y-joint, the cylinder seat is fixedly installed on the bottom of the housing, pins are fixed at both ends of the torque arm, connecting plates are fixed on both the front and rear sides of the housing, a connecting block is fixed to one side of the connecting plate by bolts, a countersunk hole is provided in the middle of the connecting block, and a pin is inserted into the countersunk hole, and a reducer is disposed inside the countersunk hole.

[0006] The present invention further describes that the head wheel assembly includes a head wheel, a head wheel drive shaft, a drive reduction motor, and a shaft end plate. The head wheel, head wheel drive shaft, drive reduction motor, and shaft end plate are assembled into a head wheel structure. Both sides of the shaft end plate have oblong holes and are bolted to the housing for adjusting the head wheel assembly up and down along the oblong holes. An adjusting screw is provided above the shaft end plate and is locked by the adjusting screw. The shaft end plate is fixed by a nut for adjusting, fixing, and sealing the tension of the head wheel assembly. The tail wheel assembly includes a tail wheel, a tail wheel drive shaft, and a speed detector. The torque arm, tail wheel, tail wheel drive shaft, and speed detector are assembled into a tail wheel structure for moving together with the torque arm.

[0007] The present invention further describes that the reducer includes a reduction block, the reduction block being shaft-connected to a countersunk hole, and protrusions being provided on both the upper and lower sides of the pin shaft, and the protrusions contacting the reduction block after the pin shaft rotates; the inner edge curvature of the reduction block gradually increases, the inner wall of the countersunk hole is provided with two arc grooves, and the reduction block is located in the arc grooves; a support plate is provided in the middle of the inner wall of the arc grooves, and an elastic material is sleeved on the inner end of the support plate, and the reduction block contacts the elastic material after rotating.

[0008] The present invention further explains that the elastic material is one of lightweight elastic materials, general-purpose elastic materials, high-strength elastic materials, and special high-performance elastic materials.

[0009] The present invention further illustrates that the inner side of the deceleration block is provided with a groove, and the groove and the protrusion fit together.

[0010] The present invention further describes that the inner side of the connecting block is provided with a circular groove, and a cylinder is inserted into the circular groove. The interior of the connecting block is provided with a sliding groove, and the sliding groove communicates with the arc groove. The support plate is slidably connected in the sliding groove. A convex groove is opened on the outer side of the support plate. Several ball blocks are fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder. An output rod is fixed on one side of the cylinder. The output rod is connected to the output end of an external control motor. The cylinder is inserted into the convex groove, and after rotation, the ball blocks contact the protruding part of the convex groove.

[0011] The present invention further illustrates that the diameter of the spheres gradually increases sequentially.

[0012] The present invention further illustrates that the external control motor works in conjunction with the cylinder.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects achieved by the present invention are as follows: The present invention uses the extension and retraction of the cylinder to drive the torque arm to rotate through the pin shaft. The pin shaft rotates in the countersunk hole of the connecting block, thereby driving the tail wheel assembly to move up and down, realizing the tension adjustment of the tail wheel. When the equipment is working, when the conveyor belt is stretched and deformed after long-term use, the conveyor belt is naturally tensioned under the stable pulling force of the cylinder, thereby realizing the automatic tensioning of the bucket elevator conveyor mechanism. Furthermore, the tensioning process achieves buffer deceleration, preventing the tensioning conveyor belt from moving too fast and failing to stop in time, thus avoiding conveyor belt breakage and damage. By controlling the air intake of the cylinder through the throttle valve, a sudden tension is generated, which provides efficient protection for the conveyor belt and makes the tensioning process more stable. By setting grooves on the inside of the deceleration block, the compression is only applied at the beginning and end. When the compression reaches the middle part, the protrusions are embedded in the grooves, and the buffer deceleration intensity is reduced instantly. The buffer deceleration intensity changes from strong to weak and then back to strong. On the one hand, this protects the conveyor belt, and on the other hand, it avoids affecting the adjustment efficiency when the tension is increased significantly. Attached Figure Description

[0014] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the invention and form part of the specification. They are used in conjunction with embodiments of the invention to explain the invention and do not constitute a limitation thereof. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a front view of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a rear view of the present invention; Figure 4 This is an assembly drawing of the connecting block, pin, and connecting plate of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the connecting block of the present invention; Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the connecting block of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a plan view of the internal structure of the connecting block of the present invention; In the diagram: 1. Housing; 11. Head wheel; 12. Head wheel drive shaft; 13. Drive geared motor; 14. Shaft end sealing plate; 15. Tail wheel; 16. Tail wheel drive shaft; 2. Conveyor belt; 3. Torque arm; 4. Cylinder; 5. Cylinder seat; 6. Pin; 7. Connecting block; 71. Reduction block; 72. Support plate; 721. Convex groove; 73. Elastic material; 74. Cylinder; 75. Ball block; 76. Output rod; 8. Connecting plate. Detailed Implementation

[0015] The following detailed, non-limiting description of the technical solution of the present invention, in conjunction with preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings, is provided. Obviously, the described embodiments are merely some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0016] Please see Figures 1-7 The present invention provides a technical solution: an automatic bucket lifting tensioning mechanism, including a housing 1, a head wheel assembly is provided on the upper part of the housing 1, a tail wheel assembly is provided on the lower part, and a conveyor belt 2 is sleeved through the head wheel assembly and the tail wheel assembly, and a plurality of buckets are provided on the conveyor belt 2. The tail wheel assembly is fixedly connected to a torque arm 3. A cylinder 4 is connected to the lower part of the torque arm 3 via a Y-type connector. A cylinder seat 5 is connected to the bottom of the cylinder 4 via a Y-type connector. The cylinder seat 5 is fixedly installed on the bottom of the housing 1. Pins 6 are fixed at both the front and rear ends of the torque arm 3. Connecting plates 8 are fixed on both the front and rear sides of the housing 1. A connecting block 7 is fixed to one side of the connecting plate 8 by bolts. A countersunk hole is provided in the middle of the connecting block 7, and the pin 6 passes through the countersunk hole. A reducer is installed inside the countersunk hole.

[0017] The head wheel assembly includes a head wheel 11, a head wheel drive shaft 12, a drive reduction motor 13, and a shaft end sealing plate 14. The head wheel 11, head wheel drive shaft 12, drive reduction motor 13, and shaft end sealing plate 14 are assembled into a head wheel structure. Both shaft end sealing plates 14 have oblong holes and are bolted to the housing 1 to allow the head wheel assembly to be adjusted up and down along the oblong holes. An adjusting screw is provided above the shaft end sealing plate 14 and is locked by the adjusting screw. The shaft end sealing plate 14 is fixed by a nut to achieve tension adjustment, fixation, and sealing of the head wheel assembly. The tail wheel assembly includes a tail wheel 15, a tail wheel drive shaft 16, and a speed detector. The torque arm 3, tail wheel 15, tail wheel drive shaft 16, and speed detector are assembled into a tail wheel structure for moving together via the torque arm 3. The shaft end sealing plates 14 on both sides allow the head wheel assembly to be adjusted up and down along the waist-shaped holes. After the position is set, the adjusting screw on the shaft end sealing plate 14 is locked. Finally, the remaining nuts on the shaft end sealing plate 14 are tightened. This achieves the tension adjustment, fixation and sealing of the head wheel assembly. The tail wheel assembly rotates around the pin 6 through the torque arm 3. A protective cover is welded on the tail wheel assembly, and a steel plate is welded on the shaft end sealing plate 14 to form a sealing structure to prevent steel shot from splashing out. The cylinder 4 extends and retracts, driving the torque arm 3 to rotate through the pin 6. The pin 6 rotates in the countersunk hole of the connecting block 7, thereby driving the tail wheel assembly to move up and down, achieving the tension adjustment of the tail wheel 15. When the equipment is working, the head wheel assembly is fixed in a moderate position, leaving room for manual adjustment later. In the tail wheel assembly, the cylinder 4 retracts, and the tail wheel 15 moves downward, thereby tightening the conveyor belt 2. The cylinder 4 can adjust the air intake through the throttle valve to reasonably adjust the tension of the conveyor belt 2, so that it is neither too tight nor too loose. When the conveyor belt 2 stretches and deforms after long-term use, under the stable pulling force of the cylinder 4, the conveyor belt 2 is naturally tightened, thereby realizing the automatic tensioning of the bucket elevator conveyor mechanism.

[0018] The reducer includes a reduction block 71, which is shaft-connected to the countersunk hole. Both the upper and lower sides of the pin 6 are provided with protrusions, and after the pin 6 rotates, the protrusions and the reduction block 71 come into contact with each other. The inner edge of the deceleration block 71 gradually increases in curvature. The inner wall of the countersunk hole is provided with two arc grooves, and the deceleration block 71 is located in the arc groove. A support plate 72 is provided in the middle of the inner wall of the arc groove. An elastic material 73 is sleeved on the inner end of the support plate 72. After the deceleration block 71 rotates, it comes into contact with the elastic material 73. After cylinder 4 is activated, it tensions conveyor belt 2. At this time, pin 6 rotates, and the protrusion of pin 6 rotates to contact one end of deceleration block 71 and squeeze it. Deceleration block 71 is subjected to force and rotates through the shaft until it contacts elastic material 73. Elastic material 73 is supported by support plate 72 and deforms to generate a reaction force, which in turn generates a reaction force on pin 6, thereby achieving buffer deceleration and preventing the conveyor belt 2 from being unable to stop in time due to excessive tension, thus preventing the conveyor belt 2 from breaking or being damaged. By controlling the air intake of cylinder 4 through throttle valve, a sudden tension will be generated, which provides efficient protection for conveyor belt 2 and makes the tensioning process more stable.

[0019] Elastic material 73 is one of the following: lightweight elastic material, general-purpose elastic material, high-strength elastic material, and special high-performance elastic material; After the protrusion of the pin 6 contacts the upper end of the deceleration block 71, the upper end of the deceleration block 71 is subjected to force and contacts and squeezes the upper end of the elastic material 73 until it rotates to the lower end of the deceleration block 71, where the lower end of the deceleration block 71 contacts and squeezes the lower end of the elastic material 73, making the tensioning process more stable. Furthermore, the elastic material 73 is replaceable. Soft elastic materials have weak elasticity and are easily deformed, such as foam plastics, sponges, and soft rubbers such as latex. General-purpose elastic materials have moderate elasticity, balancing flexibility and resilience, such as natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber. High-strength elastic materials have strong elasticity and excellent mechanical properties, such as polyurethane elastomers and neoprene rubber. Special high-performance elastic materials have both elasticity and resistance to high temperatures and corrosion, such as fluororubber and silicone rubber. Replacement is convenient, and the elastic material 73 can be continuously supplied to maintain the cushioning and deceleration effect.

[0020] The inner side of the deceleration block 71 is provided with a groove, and the groove and the protrusion fit together; The air intake of cylinder 4 is controlled by a throttle valve, so that compression only occurs at the beginning and end. When compression reaches the middle part, the protrusion is embedded in the groove, and the buffer deceleration intensity is reduced instantaneously to improve tension efficiency without affecting the quality of conveyor belt 2. After the protrusion disengages from the groove again, the buffer deceleration intensity increases again. At this time, the air intake intensity of cylinder 4 is high, resulting in high-intensity buffer deceleration to improve the protection effect. The buffer deceleration intensity changes from strong to weak and then back to strong, which on the one hand ensures the protection of conveyor belt 2, and on the other hand avoids affecting the adjustment efficiency when the tension is greatly increased.

[0021] A circular groove is provided on the inner side of the connecting block 7, and a cylinder 74 is inserted into the circular groove. A sliding groove is provided inside the connecting block 7, and the sliding groove is connected to the circular arc groove. The support plate 72 is slidably connected in the sliding groove. A convex groove 721 is provided on the outer side of the support plate 72. Several ball blocks 75 are fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder 74. An output rod 76 is fixed on one side of the cylinder 74. The output rod 76 is connected to the output end of the external control motor. The cylinder 74 is inserted into the convex groove 721, and after rotation, the ball block 75 contacts the protruding part of the convex groove 721. When it is necessary to increase the force exerted by the elastic material 73 on the deceleration block 71 to enhance the buffer deceleration, the output rod 76 is driven to rotate by an external control motor. The output rod 76 drives the ball block 75 to rotate through the cylinder 74. The ball block 75 rotates until it contacts the convex groove 721 and they press against each other. The protruding part of the convex groove 721 is subjected to force, which drives the support plate 72 to move. The support plate 72 drives the elastic material 73 to move, thereby reducing the distance between the deceleration block 71 and the elastic material 73, thus enhancing the buffer deceleration. The adjustment is convenient, and the wear of the elastic material 73 can be compensated to maintain the buffer deceleration performance of the elastic material 73 at all times.

[0022] The diameter of the sphere 75 gradually increases; The change in the rotation angle of the external control motor causes a change in the ball block 75 that contacts the convex groove 721. As the external control motor rotates, the diameter of the ball block 75 gradually increases, which gradually increases the degree of compression of the convex groove 721, thereby gradually strengthening the force of the elastic material 73. Whether the wear degree of the elastic material 73 is different or the elastic strength requirement is different, it can be effectively adjusted, thereby maximizing the service life of the elastic material 73 and the buffering and deceleration effect.

[0023] The external control motor works in conjunction with cylinder 4; The higher the air intake intensity of cylinder 4, the greater the rotation angle of the external control motor. As a result, the two work together to achieve a greater tension amplitude and a higher buffering and deceleration strength of elastic material 73. This reduces the speed of the tensioning process, further protecting the conveyor belt 2 and preventing it from breaking or being damaged.

[0024] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this invention, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this invention.

[0025] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features, and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic bucket lifting tensioning mechanism, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that: A head wheel assembly is provided on the top of the housing (1), a tail wheel assembly is provided on the bottom, and a conveyor belt (2) is connected to the head wheel assembly and the tail wheel assembly. Several bucket lifts are provided on the conveyor belt (2). The tail wheel assembly is fixedly connected to a torque arm (3). A cylinder (4) is connected to the lower part of the torque arm (3) via a Y-type connector. A cylinder seat (5) is connected to the bottom of the cylinder (4) via a Y-type connector. The cylinder seat (5) is fixedly installed on the bottom of the housing (1). Pins (6) are fixed at both the front and rear ends of the torque arm (3). Connecting plates (8) are fixed on both the front and rear sides of the housing (1). A connecting block (7) is fixed to one side of the connecting plate (8) via bolts. A countersunk hole is provided in the middle of the connecting block (7), and the pin (6) is inserted into the countersunk hole. A reducer is provided inside the countersunk hole.

2. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The head wheel assembly includes a head wheel (11), a head wheel drive shaft (12), a drive reduction motor (13), and a shaft end sealing plate (14). The head wheel (11), head wheel drive shaft (12), drive reduction motor (13), and shaft end sealing plate (14) are assembled into a head wheel structure. Both sides of the shaft end sealing plate (14) have waist-shaped holes and are bolted to the housing (1) to realize the head wheel assembly up and down along the waist-shaped holes. An adjusting screw is provided above the shaft end sealing plate (14) and locked by the adjusting screw. The shaft end sealing plate (14) is fixed by a nut to realize the tension adjustment, fixation, and sealing of the head wheel assembly. The tail wheel assembly includes a tail wheel (15), a tail wheel drive shaft (16), and a speed detector. The torque arm (3), tail wheel (15), tail wheel drive shaft (16), and speed detector are assembled into a tail wheel structure for moving together via the torque arm (3).

3. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that: The reducer includes a reduction block (71), the reduction block (71) is axially connected to the countersunk hole, and the pin (6) is provided with protrusions on both the upper and lower sides, and after the pin (6) rotates, the protrusions and the reduction block (71) come into contact with each other. The inner edge curvature of the deceleration block (71) gradually increases. The inner wall of the countersunk hole is provided with two arc grooves, and the deceleration block (71) is located in the arc groove. A support plate (72) is provided in the middle of the inner wall of the arc groove. An elastic material (73) is sleeved on the inner end of the support plate (72). After the deceleration block (71) rotates, it comes into contact with the elastic material (73).

4. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The elastic material (73) is one of the following: lightweight elastic material, general elastic material, high-strength elastic material, and special high-performance elastic material.

5. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that: The inner side of the deceleration block (71) is provided with a groove, and the groove and the protrusion fit together.

6. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner side of the connecting block (7) is provided with a circular groove, and a cylinder (74) is inserted into the circular groove. The interior of the connecting block (7) is provided with a sliding groove, and the sliding groove is connected to the circular arc groove. The support plate (72) is slidably connected in the sliding groove. The outer side of the support plate (72) is provided with a convex groove (721). Several ball blocks (75) are fixed on the inner wall of the cylinder (74). An output rod (76) is fixed on one side of the cylinder (74). The output rod (76) is connected to the output end of the external control motor. The cylinder (74) is inserted into the convex groove (721), and after rotation, the ball block (75) contacts the protruding part of the convex groove (721).

7. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The diameter of the sphere (75) gradually increases sequentially.

8. The bucket elevator automatic tensioning mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The external control motor works in conjunction with the cylinder (4).

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