Wheel bucket excavator and excavating method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a wheel bucket excavator and an excavating method thereof. The wheel bucket excavator comprises a supporting vehicle; the cross beam is pivotally connected to the supporting vehicle through a slewing mechanism, and the cross beam can do swing adjusting motion relative to the supporting vehicle; the door-shaped bracket is fixedly connected to the cross beam; the bucket-wheel arm is connected with the cross beam in a relative movement mode through a driving assembly, and the bucket-wheel arm is configured to be driven by the driving assembly to move in a switching mode between a forward extending position and a backward retracting position; the bucket wheel assembly comprises a bucket wheel and a driving motor, the bucket wheel is pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm, and the driving motor is connected with the bucket wheel and is configured to drive the bucket wheel to rotate so as to dig materials; and the conveyor assembly is arranged on the bucket-wheel arm and is configured to be used for conveying the materials excavated by the bucket-wheel assembly to a designated place.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of open-pit mining equipment, and more particularly to a bucket wheel excavator and its excavation method. Background Technology

[0002] Bucket wheel excavators are widely used in open-pit mining stripping and extraction processes due to their high efficiency, long service life, and low power consumption. Current mainstream bucket wheel excavators mainly consist of a C-frame, bucket wheel, bucket wheel boom, amplitude adjustment mechanism, receiving conveyor, unloading conveyor, slewing device, and traveling device. The pursuit of high output has led to the following main problems in the use of current bucket wheel excavators: First, the large bucket wheel size results in low torque and digging force, making it difficult to excavate harder materials. Second, the large product size leads to slow swinging, traveling, and centering processes, affecting mining efficiency. Third, the non-extendable bucket wheel boom requires frequent movement during mining, wasting working time. Fourth, the external bucket wheel drive motor affects power transmission and also results in numerous devices around the bucket wheel, increasing the risk of malfunctions. Therefore, this invention proposes a "compact" bucket wheel excavator that, while ensuring output, increases cutting force, expands the application range, improves work efficiency, and reduces equipment complexity. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This solution addresses the problems and needs raised above by proposing a bucket wheel excavator and its excavation method. Due to the adoption of the following technical features, it is able to achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives and bring about several other technical effects.

[0004] One object of the present invention is to provide a bucket wheel excavator, comprising: Support vehicle; The crossbeam is pivotally connected to the support vehicle via a rotary mechanism, and the crossbeam is capable of swinging and adjusting relative to the support vehicle. A portal-shaped bracket is fixedly connected to the crossbeam; The bucket wheel arm is movably connected to the crossbeam via a drive assembly and is fitted with the portal bracket. It is configured to switch between an extended position (forward extension) and a retracted position (retracted rearward extension) relative to the crossbeam under the drive of the drive assembly. A bucket wheel assembly includes: a bucket wheel and a drive motor, the bucket wheel being pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm, and the drive motor being installed inside the bucket wheel and configured to drive the bucket wheel to rotate in order to dig up material; A conveyor assembly, mounted on the bucket wheel arm, is configured to transport the material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly to a designated location via the bucket wheel arm.

[0005] In addition, the bucket wheel excavator according to the present invention may also have the following technical features: In one example of the present invention, the rotary mechanism includes: A slewing platform, which is fixedly connected to the support vehicle; The support plate is pivotally connected to the rotary platform via a drive device and rotates relative to the rotary platform under the drive of the drive device. The crossbeam is hinged to the support plate and can swing back and forth in the vertical plane around the hinge point with the support plate.

[0006] In one example of the present invention, the lower end face of the crossbeam has an arc-shaped structure; It also includes: amplitude regulating hydraulic cylinders, The hydraulic cylinders are respectively located at both ends of the crossbeam, with one end hinged to the lower end face of the crossbeam and the other end hinged to the support plate. They are configured to adjust the swing amplitude of the crossbeam in the vertical plane through telescopic movement.

[0007] In one example of the present invention, the driving component includes: Multiple fixed pulleys are respectively arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the bucket wheel arm on both sides of the gantry bracket; A bidirectional hydraulic winch is fixedly connected to the portal frame, and the bidirectional hydraulic winch is connected to multiple fixed pulleys via steel cables. It is configured to move the bucket wheel arm forward and backward by rotating the bidirectional hydraulic winch in either the forward or reverse direction.

[0008] In one example of the invention, the drive assembly further includes: a geared track and a plurality of pulley gears. Of the bucket wheel arm and the crossbeam, one is provided with a toothed rail along its length, and the other is provided with a pulley gear that is pivotally mounted. The pulley gears are spaced apart along their length, and a plurality of the pulley gears mesh with the toothed rail.

[0009] In one example of the invention, the bucket wheel includes: A bucket wheel frame, which is pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm, and a drive motor located within and connected to the bucket wheel frame, configured to drive the bucket wheel frame to rotate; Buckets are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the bucket wheel frame and configured to excavate materials as the bucket wheel frame rotates.

[0010] In one example of the invention, the bucket includes: The first bucket and the second buckets are located on both sides of the first bucket, and the scooping surface formed by the first bucket and the second bucket is an arc-shaped structure.

[0011] In one example of the invention, the conveyor assembly includes a receiving conveyor and a discharging conveyor. The receiving conveyor is located on the side of the bucket wheel arm where the bucket wheel assembly is located, and is capable of conveying the material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly in a direction from the side close to the bucket wheel assembly to the side away from the bucket wheel assembly; The unloading conveyor is located on the side of the bucket wheel arm where the bucket wheel assembly is not located, and is capable of transporting the material on the receiving conveyor to a designated location; The receiving conveyor includes a horizontal section and an inclined section connected thereto. The inclined section is located close to the gantry bracket, and the output end of the inclined section is located at the upper end of the unloading conveyor.

[0012] In one example of the invention, it further includes: a discharge arm assembly, which comprises: a discharge arm and a pull rod. One end of the unloading arm is connected to the gantry bracket, and the other end extends in a direction parallel to the bucket wheel arm; One end of the pull rod is connected to the gantry bracket, and the other end is connected to the end of the unloading arm that is away from the gantry bracket. The unloading conveyor is arranged along the extension direction of the unloading arm, and is located at the upper end of the horizontal section and the lower end of the inclined section.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a digging method for a bucket wheel excavator as described above, comprising the following steps: S10: The support vehicle moves the bucket excavator to the designated construction site, the slewing mechanism adjusts the angle of the bucket wheel arm in the circumferential direction, and under the drive of the drive assembly, the bucket wheel arm can switch between an extended position and a retracted position to adjust the position of the bucket wheel assembly in the front-rear direction. S20: By adjusting the swing angle of the crossbeam and starting the drive motor, the bucket wheel is driven to rotate to dig up the material; S30: The material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly is transported to a designated location via the conveyor assembly.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention features a central shaft connection at the bottom and a three-layer portal frame support at the top, avoiding the C-shaped support frame of traditional excavators and lowering the overall center of gravity. The concealed design of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder further reduces the overall height, resulting in a compact structure. The telescopic hydraulic cylinder, in conjunction with a bidirectional hydraulic winch, enables precise adjustment of the bucket wheel boom's extension and retraction. The telescopic bucket wheel boom design allows for flexible digging trajectory. The built-in bucket wheel drive motor reduces equipment size and also helps prevent motor dust accumulation. The small-diameter bucket wheel increases digging force, while high speed ensures production capacity. The rear unloading method effectively reduces equipment weight. The combined bucket design allows for more balanced digging force, reducing the impact of swing digging and improving unloading concentration. The biggest advantages of this excavator are: firstly, increased digging force; and secondly, reduced excavator travel time through bucket wheel boom extension and retraction, increasing effective working time.

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to facilitate an understanding of the features and advantages of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention will be briefly described below. The drawings are merely illustrative of some embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to all embodiments.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a bucket wheel excavator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the crossbeam and the bucket wheel arm according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a portal frame according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the bucket wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a bucket according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 100 bucket wheel excavators; Support vehicle 10; 20mm crossbeam; Rotary mechanism 30; Slewing platform 31; Support level 32; 40-type gate bracket; Portal frame unit 41; Lower portal frame 411; Intermediate portal frame 412; Upper portal frame 413; Connecting shaft 42; Bucket wheel boom 50; Collection trough 51; Guide wheel 52; Driver component 60; Fixed pulley 61; 62-way hydraulic winch; Steel cable 63; Gear 64; Pulley gear 65; Bucket wheel assembly 70; Bucket wheel 71; Bucket wheel frame 711; Bucket 712; First bucket 7121; Second bucket 7122; 7123 shovels; Drive motor 72; Conveyor assembly 80; Material receiving conveyor 81; Unloading conveyor 82; Amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90; Unloading arm assembly 110; Unloading arm 111; Lever 112; Telescopic hydraulic rod 113. Detailed Implementation

[0019] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same components. It should be noted that the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the described embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used herein shall have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terms “first,” “second,” and similar terms used in this patent application specification and claims do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, “an” or “a” and similar terms do not necessarily indicate a quantity limitation. Terms such as “comprising” or “including” mean that the element or object preceding the word encompasses the element or object listed following the word and its equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Terms such as “connected” or “linked” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect. Terms such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” and “right” are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; these relative positional relationships may change accordingly when the absolute position of the described object changes.

[0021] From a methodological perspective, there's a problem with layered excavator cycles. Existing bucket excavators don't have extendable bucket arms. Considering two-stage excavation, the excavator's workflow is as follows: ① Excavator moves to position and excavates the first section of the upper layer; ② Excavator reverses, adjusts the bucket arm downwards, and excavates the first section of the lower layer; ③ Excavator adjusts the bucket arm upwards, moves forward, and excavates the second section of the upper layer; ④ Excavator reverses, adjusts the bucket arm downwards, and excavates the second section of the lower layer; ⑤ This cycle repeats. It's clear that the excavator moves once for each section of a layer, and each movement requires re-aligning the unloading arm with the subsequent transport equipment, resulting in a low percentage of effective working time.

[0022] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bucket wheel excavator 100, such as Figure 1 As shown, it includes: Support vehicle 10; The crossbeam 20 is pivotally connected to the support vehicle 10 via a rotary mechanism 30, and the crossbeam 20 is capable of swinging adjustment relative to the support vehicle 10. A portal frame 40 is fixedly connected to the crossbeam 20; The bucket wheel arm 50 is movably connected to the crossbeam 20 via a drive assembly 60 and passes through the portal bracket 40. It is configured to switch between an extended position (forward extension) and a retracted position (retracted) relative to the crossbeam 20 under the drive of the drive assembly 60. Bucket wheel assembly 70 includes: a bucket wheel 71 and a drive motor 72, wherein the bucket wheel 71 is pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm 50, and the drive motor 72 is mounted inside the bucket wheel 71 and configured to drive the bucket wheel 71 to rotate in order to dig material; for example, as Figure 4 As shown, the bucket wheel 71 is pivotally connected to the bucket wheel arm 50 via the bucket wheel axle.

[0023] Conveyor assembly 80, located on bucket wheel arm 50, is configured to transport the material excavated by bucket wheel assembly 70 to a designated location via bucket wheel arm 50.

[0024] The working principle of the bucket wheel excavator 100 is as follows: the support vehicle 10 moves the bucket wheel excavator 100 to the designated construction site; the slewing mechanism 30 adjusts the angle of the bucket wheel arm 50 in the circumferential direction, and under the drive of the drive assembly 60, the bucket wheel arm 50 can switch between an extended position and a retracted position; by adjusting the swing angle of the crossbeam 20 and starting the drive motor 72, the drive motor 72 drives the bucket wheel 71 to rotate to dig materials; the materials dug by the bucket wheel assembly 70 are transported to the designated location via the conveyor assembly 80.

[0025] The operating procedure of the excavator of this invention is as follows: ① The excavator travels to the designated position and excavates the first section of the upper layer; ② The bucket arm is retracted and adjusted downwards to excavate the first section of the lower layer; ③ The excavator is adjusted upwards and extended to excavate the second section of the upper layer; ④ The bucket arm is retracted and adjusted downwards again to excavate the second section of the lower layer; ⑤ This process is repeated until the bucket arm reaches its maximum extension length. It can be seen that only the bucket arm needs to be extended or retracted when switching between excavating layers and sections, allowing the excavator to continuously excavate in one position for a long time, significantly increasing the effective working time.

[0026] This invention features a central shaft connection at the bottom and a three-layer portal frame support at the top, avoiding the C-shaped support frame of traditional excavators and lowering the overall center of gravity. The concealed design of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 further reduces the overall height, resulting in a compact structure. The telescopic hydraulic cylinder, in conjunction with the bidirectional hydraulic winch 62, enables precise adjustment of the bucket wheel boom 50's extension and retraction. The telescopic bucket wheel boom 50 design allows for flexible digging trajectory. The built-in bucket wheel drive motor 72 reduces equipment size and also helps prevent motor dust. The small-diameter bucket wheel 71 increases digging force, while high speed ensures production capacity. The rear unloading method effectively reduces equipment weight. The combined bucket 712 design allows for more balanced digging force, reducing the impact of swing digging and improving unloading concentration. The biggest advantages of this excavator are: firstly, increased digging force; and secondly, reduced excavator travel time through the extension and retraction of the bucket wheel boom 50, increasing effective working time.

[0027] In one example of the present invention, the rotary mechanism 30 includes: The slewing platform 31 is fixedly connected to the support vehicle 10; The support plate 32 is pivotally connected to the rotary platform 31 via a drive device and rotates relative to the rotary platform 31 under the drive of the drive device. The crossbeam 20 is hinged to the support plate 32 and can swing back and forth in the vertical plane around the hinge point with the support plate 32. For example, the rotary platform 31 is a circular turntable, and the outer edge of the rotary platform 31 is provided with gears. The driving device includes a motor and a drive wheel fixedly connected to its output shaft. The drive wheel meshes with the gear. The motor is fixedly connected to the support disk 32. During the rotation of the motor, the drive wheel drives the support disk 32 to rotate around the rotary platform 31.

[0028] For example, the rotary platform 31 is connected to the support vehicle 10 via a central shaft.

[0029] In one example of the present invention, the lower end face of the crossbeam 20 is an arc-shaped structure; Also includes: amplitude regulating hydraulic cylinder 90, The hydraulic cylinders are respectively located at both ends of the crossbeam 20, with one end of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 hinged to the lower end face of the crossbeam 20 and the other end of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 hinged to the support plate 32. The configuration is to adjust the swing amplitude of the crossbeam 20 in the vertical plane through telescopic movement.

[0030] In other words, adjustable hydraulic cylinders 90 are provided on both the front and rear ends of the crossbeam 20. When the bucket wheel arm 50 tilts forward, the adjustable hydraulic cylinder 90 on the rear end extends, while the adjustable hydraulic cylinder 90 on the front end retracts.

[0031] The upper part of the support plate 32 is a crossbeam 20. The lower surface that contacts the support plate 32 is arc-shaped, with the midpoint of the arc tangent to the center of the support plate 32 and hinged together. The amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 is connected to the crossbeam 20. When the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 on one side extends and the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 on the other side retracts, the crossbeam 20 can swing up and down around the hinge point.

[0032] In one example of the present invention, the driving component 60 includes: Multiple fixed pulleys 61 are respectively arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the bucket wheel arm 50 on both sides of the portal frame 40; for example, one fixed pulley 61 is arranged on each side of the portal frame 40.

[0033] A bidirectional hydraulic winch 62 is fixedly connected to the portal frame, and the bidirectional hydraulic winch 62 is connected to a plurality of fixed pulleys 61 via steel cables 63. It is configured to move the bucket wheel arm 50 forward and backward by rotating the bidirectional hydraulic winch 62 in either the forward or reverse direction. A portal frame 40 is installed above the crossbeam 20, consisting of three layers: upper, middle, and lower. The middle layer is reinforced with a steel crossbar to form a portal frame unit 41. The bucket wheel arm 50 passes through the lowest portal frame and is connected to the portal frame side via a slide rail. A toothed rail 64 is installed at the bottom of the bucket wheel arm 50, meshing with a sliding gear on the crossbeam 20. Fixed pulleys 61 are installed at the middle and end of the bucket wheel arm 50, respectively. A steel cable 63 passes through the fixed pulleys 61 and connects to a bidirectional hydraulic winch 62. The bidirectional hydraulic winch 62 rotates, thereby extending or retracting the bucket wheel arm 50 for precise adjustment. The sliding gear can both rotate and be remotely locked for easy adjustment and locking.

[0034] In one example of the present invention, such as Figure 2 As shown, the drive assembly 60 further includes: a gear train 64 and a plurality of pulleys and gears 65. Of the bucket wheel arm 50 and the crossbeam 20, one is provided with a toothed rail 64 along its length direction, and the other is provided with a pulley gear 65 pivotally. The pulley gears 65 are spaced apart along their length direction, and a plurality of the pulley gears 65 mesh with the toothed rail 64.

[0035] For example, a toothed rail 64 is provided on the bucket wheel arm 50 along its length direction, and a plurality of pivotable pulley gears 65 are provided at intervals on the crossbeam 20 along its length direction, and the plurality of pulley gears 65 mesh with the toothed rail 64.

[0036] For example, a toothed rail 64 is provided on the crossbeam 20 along its length direction, and a plurality of pivotable pulley gears 65 are provided at intervals on the bucket wheel arm 50 along its length direction, and the plurality of pulley gears 65 mesh with the toothed rail 64.

[0037] When the bucket excavator is traveling at 100 km / h, the bucket wheel arm is retracted to 50 km / h, allowing the machine to self-balance. During operation, the arm extends as needed to complete the task, expanding the working range. This design makes the digging trajectory flexible: 1) it can extend the arm to dig horizontal trenches; 2) it can swing back to dig concentric circles; and 3) it can adjust the amplitude to dig vertical trenches.

[0038] Understandably, since the bucket wheel arm 50 and the crossbeam 20 move back and forth relative to each other via the drive assembly 60, excessive relative movement between them can be avoided. For example, a toothed rail 64 can be installed on the bucket wheel arm 50, and a pulley gear 65 can be installed on the crossbeam 20. To further improve safety, limit baffles can be installed at both ends of the bucket wheel arm 50 to limit the displacement of the bucket wheel arm 50, thereby further improving overall safety.

[0039] In one example of the present invention, such as Figure 5 As shown, the bucket wheel 71 includes: A bucket wheel frame 711 is pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm 50, and a drive motor 72 is located inside and connected to the bucket wheel frame 711 and configured to drive the bucket wheel frame 711 to rotate. Buckets 712 are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the bucket wheel frame 711 and are configured to excavate materials as the bucket wheel frame 711 rotates.

[0040] The bucket wheel is installed at the end of the bucket wheel boom 50. The bucket wheel 71 consists of a bucket wheel frame 711, an outer bucket 712, a built-in variable frequency drive motor 72, and a reduction gear set. The bucket wheel frame 711 is generally circular with a small diameter to facilitate the provision of large digging force.

[0041] The built-in drive motor 72 is a variable frequency motor, deployed inside the bucket wheel frame 711. It directly drives the bucket wheel frame 711 to rotate precisely, thereby driving the bucket 712 to dig materials. The design ensures that there are no dead zones during digging when swinging back in any direction. The built-in drive motor 72 reduces the size of the equipment and also helps to prevent dust from entering the motor.

[0042] In one example of the present invention, such as Figure 4 As shown, the bucket 712 includes: The first bucket 7121 and the second bucket 7122 are located on both sides of the first bucket 7121, and the scooping surface 7123 formed by the first bucket 7121 and the second bucket 7122 is an arc-shaped structure.

[0043] In other words, three buckets are arranged in a row to form a combined bucket 712, and multiple combined buckets 712 are arranged around the bucket wheel frame 711. In each combined bucket 712, the middle bucket is approximately rectangular, the two side buckets are symmetrically arranged, and the outer edge is arc-shaped. This allows for more balanced digging force, which helps reduce the impact force of swinging digging, and also improves the concentration of unloading. Of course, the invention is not limited to this; the buckets 712 and the scooping surface 7123 can also have other structures and shapes, which can be designed according to the characteristics of the material.

[0044] In one example of this invention, a high rotational speed is used to compensate for the impact of the small diameter of the bucket wheel 71 on output. The rotational speed should meet certain conditions: it cannot be too low, ensuring that the material does not fall when it is at the top of the bucket wheel 71 but falls only when it is at the rear of the bucket wheel 71; nor can it be too high, causing the material to be thrown away horizontally. Traditional bucket wheel excavators 100 use a side-discharge method, which causes the center of gravity of the bucket wheel 71 to shift off the central axis of the bucket wheel arm 50. Balancing the torque of the bucket wheel arm 50 requires adding counterweights, and the increased weight of the working device leads to a significant increase in the overall weight of the machine. The rear-discharge method of this invention can effectively reduce the weight of the equipment. The relationship between the rotational speed W of the bucket wheel 71 and the radius R of the bucket wheel 71 is as follows: In the formula: R is the diameter of bucket wheel 71, m; w is the rotational speed of bucket wheel 71, revolutions / s.

[0045] For example, according to the above design, with a bucket wheel radius R=5m, rotation speed w=0.2, bucket capacity 0.3, number of buckets 16, and loading capacity 0.96m3 / s, the theoretical capacity is 3456m3 / h.

[0046] Based on data calculations using the bucket wheel 71, assuming a maximum extension length of 40 meters for the bucket wheel boom (50mm), a step height of 20 meters, a mining zone width of 50 meters, and a single advance depth of 5 meters, the step capacity for one trip is 5000m³. 3 It can meet the excavation volume of 2 hours. Based on an estimated 16 hours of operation per day, the daily production capacity can reach 40,000 cubic meters, and the annual capacity can reach 12 million cubic meters, equivalent to 15 million tons of coal. The equipment output can meet the production needs of large open-pit mines.

[0047] In one example of the invention, the conveyor assembly 80 includes a receiving conveyor 81 and a discharging conveyor 82. The receiving conveyor 81 is located on the side of the bucket wheel arm 50 where the bucket wheel assembly 70 is located, and is able to convey the material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly 70 in a direction from the side close to the bucket wheel assembly 70 to the side away from the bucket wheel assembly 70. The unloading conveyor 82 is located on the side of the bucket wheel arm 50 where the bucket wheel assembly 70 is not located, and can transport the material on the receiving conveyor 81 to a designated location; for example, both the receiving conveyor 81 and the unloading conveyor 82 are belt conveyors.

[0048] The receiving conveyor 81 includes a horizontal section 811 and an inclined section 812 connected thereto. The inclined section 812 is located near the gantry bracket 40, and the output end of the inclined section 812 is located at the upper end of the unloading conveyor 82. That is, the horizontal section 811 is arranged along the extension direction of the bucket wheel arm 50, and the inclined section 812 is inclined upward at an angle to the horizontal section 811, so that the output end of the inclined section 812 is higher than the unloading conveyor 82, thereby facilitating the distribution of the conveyor assembly 80 and the material conveying. When the bucket wheel arm 50 is in the extended position or the retracted position, the inclined section of the receiving conveyor 81 is always located at the upper end of the unloading conveyor 82.

[0049] In one example of the present invention, a material collection trough 51 is also provided on the bucket wheel arm 50 near the bucket wheel assembly 70 for collecting the material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly 70, wherein the receiving conveyor 81 is located at the lower end of the material collection trough 51.

[0050] The collecting trough 51 adopts a scraper bottom (structure similar to a flat escalator with a scraper chain similar to a rope ladder), slightly inclined towards the middle. The receiving conveyor 81 passes through the gantry frame and is arranged inside the bucket wheel arm 50. The receiving conveyor 81 is a wide-width flat belt conveyor (a flat belt conveyor is used because the conveyor length is short and cannot effectively form a trough), with side guards on both sides (structure similar to the handrails of an escalator, rotating at the same frequency as the conveyor belt) to prevent material spillage. The head connects to the bottom of the collecting trough 51 to receive the material inside the collecting trough 51, and the tail passes through the gantry frame. The receiving conveyor 81 is raised near the gantry support 40 to the uppermost gantry frame 413 and can unload material.

[0051] In one example of the invention, it further includes: a discharge arm assembly 110, which includes: a discharge arm 111 and a pull rod 112. One end of the unloading arm 111 is connected to the gantry bracket 40, and the other end extends in a direction parallel to the bucket wheel arm 50; One end of the pull rod 112 is connected to the gantry bracket 40, and the other end is connected to the end of the unloading arm 111 that is away from the gantry bracket 40; for example, the other end is connected to a position near the middle of the unloading arm.

[0052] The unloading conveyor 82 is arranged along the extension direction of the unloading arm 111, and is located at the upper end of the horizontal section 811 and the lower end of the inclined section 812. Preferably, in order to facilitate the connection between the tie rod 112 and the gantry bracket 40, a connecting shaft 42 is fixedly connected to the gantry bracket 40. One end of the unloading arm 111 is hinged to the intermediate gantry frame 412 (corresponding to the position of the receiving conveyor 81 near the gantry support 40, raised to the uppermost gantry frame 413, so that the unloading conveyor 82 on the unloading arm 111 is located at the lower end of the receiving conveyor 81). The other end of the unloading arm 111 extends away from the gantry support 40, and is supported by a tie rod 112, which also allows the unloading arm 111 to swing horizontally. At the 1 / 3 position of the unloading arm 111 near the gantry frame, it is connected to the connecting shaft 42 at the top of the gantry support 40 via the tie rod 112. A telescopic hydraulic rod 113 is connected to the middle of the tie rod 112, allowing for dynamic adjustment of the length of the tie rod 112. The unloading arm 111 is equipped with an unloading conveyor 82. The head of the unloading conveyor 82 is located below the raised part of the receiving conveyor 81 and is used to receive the materials transferred from the receiving conveyor 81. Its tail is connected to a transfer vehicle to transfer the materials to other transportation vehicles.

[0053] Preferably, the unloading arm 111 and the unloading conveyor 82 (e.g., a belt conveyor) are designed with a flat structure to reduce the climbing height of the inclined section of the receiving belt conveyor on the bucket wheel arm.

[0054] In one example of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, at least two vertically arranged portal frame units 41 are formed on the portal frame 40 to facilitate the installation of the bucket wheel arm 50 and the unloading arm 111. For example, the portal frame 40 includes three portal frame units 41 arranged vertically: a lower portal frame 411, a middle portal frame 412, and an upper portal frame 413. The bucket wheel arm 50 passes through the lower portal frame 411, and guide wheels 52 are pivotally mounted on the side wall of the bucket wheel arm 50 or the lower portal frame 411 to reduce the friction between the bucket wheel arm 50 and the lower portal frame 411. Preferably, guide wheels 52 are pivotally mounted on both sides of the wheel arm 50. One end of the unloading arm 111 is hinged in the middle portal frame 412, and the other end is connected to the connecting shaft 42 via a tie rod 112. The inclined section 812 of the receiving conveyor 81 extends into the upper portal frame 413, thereby realizing the conveying of materials to the unloading conveyor 82.

[0055] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a digging method using a bucket wheel excavator 100 as described above includes the following steps: S10: The support vehicle 10 moves the bucket excavator 100 to the designated construction site. The slewing mechanism 30 adjusts the angle of the bucket wheel arm 50 in the circumferential direction. Under the drive of the drive assembly 60, the bucket wheel arm 50 can switch between an extended position and a retracted position to adjust the position of the bucket wheel assembly 70 in the front-rear direction. S20: By adjusting the swing angle of the crossbeam 20 and starting the drive motor 72, the bucket wheel 71 is driven to rotate to dig up materials; S30: The material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly 70 is transported to a designated location via the conveyor assembly 80.

[0056] The operating procedure of the excavator of this invention is as follows: ① The excavator travels to the designated position and excavates the first section of the upper layer; ② The bucket arm is retracted and adjusted downwards to excavate the first section of the lower layer; ③ The excavator is adjusted upwards and extended to excavate the second section of the upper layer; ④ The bucket arm is retracted and adjusted downwards again to excavate the second section of the lower layer; ⑤ This process is repeated until the bucket arm reaches its maximum extension length. It can be seen that only the bucket arm needs to be extended or retracted when switching between excavating layers and sections, allowing the excavator to continuously excavate in one position for a long time, significantly increasing the effective working time.

[0057] The excavator used in this excavation method features a central shaft connection at the bottom and a three-layer portal frame support at the top, avoiding the C-shaped support frame of traditional excavators and lowering the overall center of gravity. The concealed design of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90 further reduces the overall height, resulting in a compact structure. The amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder 90, in conjunction with the bidirectional hydraulic winch 62, enables precise adjustment of the bucket wheel boom 50's extension and retraction. The telescopic bucket wheel boom 50 design allows for flexible digging trajectory. The built-in bucket wheel drive motor 72 reduces equipment size and also helps prevent motor dust. The small-diameter bucket wheel 71 increases digging force, and the high speed ensures production capacity. The rear unloading method effectively reduces equipment weight. The combined bucket 712 design allows for more balanced digging force, reducing the impact of swing digging and improving unloading concentration. The biggest advantages of this excavator are: firstly, increased digging force; and secondly, reduced excavator travel time through the extension and retraction of the bucket wheel boom 50, increasing effective working time. For example: Considering a conventional bucket wheel with a 50mm boom, a 40m long excavation zone, a 50m wide mining zone, a 5m layer height, and a 1m excavator depth, the excavation volume per trip is 250m³. 3 Theoretical production capacity 3000m 3 A standard bucket excavator can operate continuously for 5 minutes, requiring a travel every 3-5 minutes. The new bucket excavator of this invention, with a 50mm boom length of 40m, a telescopic range of 20m (10m effectively utilized), a step height of 15m, and a mining zone width of 40m, can excavate 6000m³ per trip. 3 Theoretical production capacity 3000m 3 A bucket excavator with a capacity of 100 units per hour can operate continuously for 2 hours.

[0058] The foregoing description, with reference to preferred embodiments, details an exemplary implementation of the bucket wheel excavator 100 and its excavation method proposed in this invention. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and alterations can be made to the above specific embodiments without departing from the concept of this invention, and various combinations can be made to the various technical features and structures proposed in this invention without exceeding the protection scope of this invention, which is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A bucket wheel excavator, characterized in that, include: Support vehicle (10); A crossbeam (20) is pivotally connected to the support vehicle (10) via a rotary mechanism (30), and the crossbeam (20) is capable of swinging relative to the support vehicle (10). A portal frame (40) is fixedly connected to the crossbeam (20); The bucket wheel arm (50) is movably connected to the crossbeam (20) via a drive assembly (60) and passes through the portal bracket (40). It is configured to switch between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the crossbeam (20) under the drive of the drive assembly (60). Bucket wheel assembly (70) includes: bucket wheel (71) and drive motor (72), the bucket wheel (71) being pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm (50), the drive motor (72) being mounted inside the bucket wheel (71) and configured to drive the bucket wheel (71) to rotate to dig material; A conveyor assembly (80), located on the bucket wheel arm (50), is configured to transport the material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly (70) to a designated location via the bucket wheel arm (50).

2. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotary mechanism (30) includes: A slewing platform (31) is fixedly connected to the support vehicle (10); The support plate (32) is pivotally connected to the rotary platform (31) via a drive device and rotates relative to the rotary platform (31) under the drive of the drive device. The crossbeam (20) is hinged to the support plate (32) and can swing back and forth in the vertical plane around the hinge point with the support plate (32).

3. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lower end face of the crossbeam (20) is an arc-shaped structure; Also includes: amplitude regulating hydraulic cylinder (90). The two ends of the crossbeam (20) are respectively located at the two ends of the crossbeam (20), and one end of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder (90) is hinged to the lower end face of the crossbeam (20), and the other end of the amplitude-adjusting hydraulic cylinder (90) is hinged to the support plate (32), configured to adjust the swing amplitude of the crossbeam (20) in the vertical plane by telescopic movement.

4. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drive component (60) includes: Multiple fixed pulleys (61) are respectively arranged at intervals in the extension direction of the bucket wheel arm (50) on both sides of the portal frame (40); A bidirectional hydraulic winch (62) is fixedly connected to the portal frame (40), and the bidirectional hydraulic winch (62) is connected to a plurality of fixed pulleys (61) via steel cables (63), configured to move the bucket wheel arm (50) forward and backward by rotating the bidirectional hydraulic winch (62) forward or backward.

5. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The drive assembly (60) also includes a toothed rail (64) and a plurality of pulleys and gears (65). Of the bucket wheel arm (50) and the crossbeam (20), one is provided with a toothed rail (64) along its length direction, and the other is provided with a pulley gear (65) pivotally. The pulley gears (65) are spaced apart along their length direction, and a plurality of the pulley gears (65) mesh with the toothed rail (64).

6. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bucket wheel (71) includes: A bucket wheel frame (711) is pivotally connected to one end of the bucket wheel arm (50), and a drive motor (72) is located inside and connected to the bucket wheel frame (711) and configured to drive the bucket wheel frame (711) to rotate. Buckets (712) are spaced apart along the circumferential direction of the bucket wheel frame (711) and configured to excavate materials as the bucket wheel frame (711) rotates.

7. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The bucket (712) includes: The first bucket (7121) and the second bucket (7122) are located on both sides of the first bucket (7121), and the scooping surface (7123) formed by the first bucket (7121) and the second bucket (7122) is an arc-shaped structure.

8. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveyor assembly (80) includes a receiving conveyor (81) and an unloading conveyor (82). The receiving conveyor (81) is located on the side of the bucket wheel arm (50) where the bucket wheel assembly (70) is located, and is able to convey the material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly (70) in a direction from the side close to the bucket wheel assembly (70) to the side away from the bucket wheel assembly (70). The unloading conveyor (82) is located on the side of the bucket wheel arm (50) where the bucket wheel assembly (70) is not located, and can transport the material on the receiving conveyor (81) to a designated location; The receiving conveyor (81) includes a horizontal section (811) and an inclined section (812) connected thereto. The inclined section (812) is located near the gantry bracket (40), and the output end of the inclined section (812) is located at the upper end of the unloading conveyor (82).

9. The bucket wheel excavator according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes: unloading arm assembly (110), which includes: unloading arm (111) and pull rod (112). One end of the unloading arm (111) is connected to the gantry bracket (40), and the other end extends in a direction parallel to the bucket wheel arm (50); One end of the pull rod (112) is connected to the gantry bracket (40), and the other end is connected to the end of the unloading arm (111) that is away from the gantry bracket (40); The unloading conveyor (82) is arranged along the extension direction of the unloading arm (111), and the unloading conveyor (82) is located at the upper end of the horizontal section (811) and at the lower end of the inclined section (812).

10. A digging method using a bucket wheel excavator as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S10: The support vehicle (10) moves the bucket excavator (100) to the designated construction site. The slewing mechanism (30) adjusts the angle of the bucket wheel arm (50) in the circumferential direction. Under the drive of the drive assembly (60), the bucket wheel arm (50) can switch between the extended position and the retracted position to adjust the position of the bucket wheel assembly (70) in the front-rear direction. S20: By adjusting the swing angle of the crossbeam (20) and starting the drive motor (72), the bucket wheel (71) is driven to rotate to dig up the material; S30: The material excavated by the bucket wheel assembly (70) is transported to a designated location via the conveyor assembly (80).

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