Anti-collision and limiting device for bucket excavator

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of material taking head anti-collision limiting device for chain bucket ship unloader, belong to the technical field of port bulk cargo handling machinery and equipment. Including detection component, telescopic link, first compression spring, outer tube and universal wheel component, it is set to include telescopic link, spring and mechanical type detection mechanism of universal wheel in material taking head both sides, and cooperate gear and pin rack transmission and rotary encoder, the relative displacement of material taking head and hold bottom is converted into electric signal, to accurately detect distance in real time, effectively prevent rigid collision. The utility model uses mechanical structure, will not be disturbed by dust water mist, can guarantee the safety and continuous high efficiency of cleaning operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the technical field of port bulk cargo loading and unloading machinery and equipment, and in particular to a material handling head anti-collision limiting device for a chain bucket unloader. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of continuous unloading equipment technology for bulk cargo, chain bucket unloaders have emerged. This equipment uses a ring chain to drive a series of fixed buckets to perform a cyclical tipping action, thereby continuously excavating materials from the ship's hold and transporting them to the dock. Its feature is that the vertical material handling head has translation and lifting functions during operation, which can adapt to changes in the distribution of materials in the ship's hold.

[0003] In related technologies, the downward material handling operation of vertical material handling heads usually relies on operators to visually determine the relative position of the material handling head and the bottom of the tank, or to use machine vision systems for detection and positioning.

[0004] However, the aforementioned positioning methods based on manual visual inspection or visual detection have the problem of judgment errors due to the limitation of the field of view. At the same time, machine vision is easily interfered with and fails in complex environments such as dust and water mist, causing the chain bucket to have a rigid collision with the bottom of the hull during descent, affecting equipment safety and operational efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] In response to the shortcomings of the existing production technology, the applicant provides a collision prevention and limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader, which can accurately detect the distance between the material handling head and the bottom plate of the ship's hold, thereby effectively preventing the chain bucket from hitting the bottom.

[0006] The technical solution adopted in this utility model is as follows: A collision prevention and limiting device for the feed head of a chain bucket unloader includes a detection component, a telescopic rod, a first compression spring, an outer cylinder, and a caster wheel assembly; The outer cylinder is fixedly connected to the frame of the material receiving head via a connector; The telescopic rod is inserted into the outer cylinder and can move up and down along the axial direction of the outer cylinder; There is an annular region between the telescopic rod and the outer cylinder, and the first compression spring is disposed within the annular region and cooperates with the telescopic rod; The detection component is fixedly connected to the upper end of the telescopic rod; The omnidirectional wheel assembly is fixedly connected to the lower end of the telescopic rod.

[0007] As a further improvement to the above technical solution: In one embodiment, the detection assembly includes a rack, a gear, a swing arm, a guide rod, a second compression spring, a first pin, a base, and a rotary encoder; the rack is fixed to the frame of the material handling head; the swing arm is rotatably mounted on the base via the first pin; the gear is rotatably mounted in a hole in the upper part of the swing arm; the rotary encoder cooperates with the gear to record the angular displacement of the gear; the second compression spring is disposed between the base and the swing arm.

[0008] In one embodiment, the swing arm has a guide rod at its center, which passes through a second compression spring.

[0009] In one embodiment, the rotary encoder engages with a gear via an encoder shaft.

[0010] In one embodiment, the caster wheel assembly includes a housing, a bearing, a bracket, a roller, a pivot, and a second pin; the housing is fixedly connected to the lower part of the telescopic rod; the bearing is installed inside the housing; the pivot passes through the inner ring of the bearing and is rotatable about the pivot axis; the bracket is fixedly connected to the pivot; the roller is connected to the bracket via the second pin and is rotatable about the axis of the second pin.

[0011] In one embodiment, the outer cylinder is connected to the frame of the feed head by bolts.

[0012] In one embodiment, the detection component is fixedly connected to the upper end of the telescopic rod by bolts.

[0013] In one embodiment, the caster wheel assembly is fixedly connected to the lower end of the telescopic rod by bolts.

[0014] In one embodiment, the first compression spring is configured to position the telescopic rod at its lowest point when the caster wheel assembly does not encounter any obstruction.

[0015] In one embodiment, the anti-collision limiting device of the material receiving head is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the material receiving head.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: This utility model features a compact structure and employs a detection mechanism that combines mechanical transmission with an encoder. When the material handling head descends and its lower universal wheel assembly contacts the bottom of the hull, it triggers the relative movement of the entire telescopic rod mechanism. This movement is then converted into angular displacement measurable by a rotary encoder through the meshing of gears and racks. This mechanical detection and sensing mechanism fundamentally overcomes the limitations of human visual judgment and the problem of traditional machine vision failing in dusty or water-mist environments. It enables continuous, stable, and accurate monitoring of the distance between the material handling head and the bottom of the hull under harsh working conditions, allowing for timely warnings or triggering control signals. This effectively prevents rigid collisions between the chain bucket and the bottom of the hull, protecting the equipment's safety.

[0017] This utility model also has the following advantages: This invention incorporates a caster wheel assembly at the bottom of the telescopic rod, transforming the contact between the device's bottom and the bilge floor from potential sliding friction to rolling friction. The caster wheel not only allows for free rolling to accommodate the translational movement of the material handling head, but the overall structure also enables it to traverse obstacles protruding from the bilge floor. Simultaneously, the upper telescopic rod and compression spring mechanism provide cushioning and freedom, allowing the entire device to be passively raised and subsequently reset upon encountering obstacles. This prevents structural damage or operational interruptions due to jamming or obstruction, significantly improving the device's adaptability and reliability in complex bilge environments. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall layout of this utility model.

[0019] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the anti-collision limiting device of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the detection component of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Sectional view along direction AA.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a structural schematic diagram of the universal wheel assembly of this utility model.

[0023] Among them: 10. Material handling head; 1. Detection assembly; 2. Telescopic rod; 3. First compression spring; 4. Outer cylinder; 5. Caster wheel assembly; 101. Pin rack; 102. Gear; 103. Swing arm; 104. Guide rod; 105. Second compression spring; 106. First pin; 107. Base; 108. Rotary encoder; 109. Encoder shaft; 501. Housing; 502. Bearing; 503. Bracket; 504. Roller; 505. Shaft; 506. Second pin. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The specific embodiments of this utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more complete description will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Preferred embodiments of this utility model are shown in the drawings. However, this utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the disclosure of this utility model.

[0026] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and / or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0027] When using the terms “including,” “having,” and “comprising” as described herein, another component may be added unless explicitly qualifying terms such as “only,” “consisting of,” etc. are used. Unless otherwise stated, singular terms may include plural forms and should not be construed as having a quantity of one.

[0028] It should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this invention, a first element may be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element may be referred to as a first element.

[0029] Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to a 1:1 scale, and the relative dimensions of the components are shown in the drawings only as examples and not necessarily to actual scale.

[0030] like Figures 1-5 The accompanying drawing shows a schematic diagram of the structure of a material handling head anti-collision limiting device for a chain bucket unloader according to an embodiment of the present invention; for ease of description, the drawing only shows the structure related to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] This application provides a collision prevention and limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader, including a detection component 1, a telescopic rod 2, a first compression spring 3, an outer cylinder 4, and a caster wheel assembly 5.

[0032] In some embodiments, the anti-collision limiting devices of the material handling head are symmetrically installed on both sides of the frame of the material handling head 10, and together they undertake the detection and anti-collision functions; The outer cylinder 4 is fixedly connected to the frame of the material receiving head 10 by bolts; The telescopic rod 2 is inserted into the internal cavity of the outer cylinder 4 and can move up and down along the axial direction of the outer cylinder 4. A first compression spring 3 is installed in the annular area between the telescopic rod 2 and the outer cylinder 4, and the first compression spring 3 cooperates with the telescopic rod 2; The detection component 1 is fixedly installed on the upper end of the telescopic rod 2 by bolts, while the universal wheel assembly 5 is fixedly installed on the lower end of the telescopic rod 2 by bolts.

[0033] In the initial state or when the caster wheel assembly 5 is not in contact with an obstacle, the preload of the first compression spring 3 causes the telescopic rod 2 to be at its lowest point relative to the outer cylinder 4. When the material handling head 10 descends as a whole to perform the material handling operation, the universal wheel assembly 5 will contact the bottom of the hull before the material handling head 10; Subsequently, if the material take-up head 10 continues to descend, the outer cylinder 4 will descend accordingly, and the telescopic rod 2, supported by the bottom of the hull, will have a relative displacement with the outer cylinder 4, causing the first compression spring 3 to be compressed.

[0034] like Figures 3-4 As shown, in some embodiments, the detection component 1 includes a rack and pinion 101, a gear 102, a swing arm 103, a guide rod 104, a second compression spring 105, a first pin 106, a base 107, and a rotary encoder 108. Among them, the pin rack 101 is fixedly installed on the frame of the material taking head 10, and the base 107 is fixedly connected to the upper part of the telescopic rod 2; A swing arm 103 is rotatably mounted on a base 107 via a first pin 106; A gear 102 is rotatably mounted in the hole at the upper part of the swing arm 103; A rotary encoder 108 engages with a gear 102 via an encoder shaft 109, enabling the rotation of the gear 102 to be accurately recorded as an angular displacement signal by the rotary encoder 108.

[0035] Understandably, in order to ensure that the gear 102 and the rack 101 always maintain reliable meshing, a second compression spring 105 is provided between the base 107 and the rocker arm 103; A guide rod 104 is provided in the middle of the swing arm 103. The guide rod 104 passes through the second compression spring 105 and guides the compression and rebound process of the spring to prevent instability.

[0036] The working principle of detection component 1 is as follows: When the telescopic rod 2 moves relative to the outer cylinder 4, the pin rack 101 fixed on the frame will be displaced relative to the rotatable gear 102; Under the continuous pressure applied to the rocker arm 103 by the second compression spring 105, the gear 102 is pressed tightly against the tooth surface of the rack 101, thereby forcing the gear 102 to rotate as the relative displacement occurs. The rotational motion is captured by the rotary encoder 108 through the encoder shaft 109. The angular displacement value recorded by the rotary encoder 108 can be converted into the linear displacement of the telescopic rod 2 through a pre-set conversion relationship, thereby calculating the actual distance between the bottom of the material pick-up head 10 and the bottom of the cabin in real time.

[0037] In practical applications, this electrical signal can be transmitted to the PLC control system to trigger early warning or automatic control programs, thereby achieving active collision avoidance.

[0038] like Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments, the omnidirectional wheel assembly 5 is used to ensure the continuity of detection and the ability to overcome obstacles, including a housing 501, a bearing 502, a bracket 503, a roller 504, a pivot 505, and a second pin 506; The housing 501 is fastened to the lower end of the telescopic rod 2 by bolts; The bearing 502 is installed inside the housing 501, and the rotating shaft 505 passes through the inner ring of the bearing 502 and can rotate freely around its own axis. A bracket 503 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 505 by bolts; The roller 504 is connected to the bracket 503 via the second pin 506 and can rotate freely around the axis of the second pin 506.

[0039] In the caster wheel assembly 5, the roller 504 can rotate around the second pin 506, enabling forward and backward movement. The entire assembly of the roller 504 and the bracket 503 can rotate within the bearing 502 along with the pivot 505, achieving flexible steering. Therefore, when the material handling head 10 performs translational operations, the roller 504 can always contact the bottom of the tank through rolling friction, effectively reducing resistance. When encountering obstacles such as local protrusions on the bottom of the tank, the caster wheel assembly 5 can overcome or avoid them thanks to its multi-degree-of-freedom structure. At the same time, the telescopic rod 2 and the first compression spring 3 above provide buffering and reset capabilities, preventing damage to the mechanism or interruption of operation due to device jamming.

[0040] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0041] The embodiments described above merely illustrate the implementation of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A collision prevention and limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader, characterized in that, It includes a detection component (1), a telescopic rod (2), a first compression spring (3), an outer cylinder (4), and a caster wheel assembly (5); The outer cylinder (4) is fixedly connected to the frame of the material receiving head (10) via a connector; The telescopic rod (2) is inserted into the outer cylinder (4) and can move up and down along the axial direction of the outer cylinder (4); There is an annular area between the telescopic rod (2) and the outer cylinder (4), and the first compression spring (3) is disposed in the annular area and cooperates with the telescopic rod (2); The detection component (1) is fixedly connected to the upper end of the telescopic rod (2); The universal wheel assembly (5) is fixedly connected to the lower end of the telescopic rod (2).

2. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection assembly (1) includes a rack and pinion (101), a gear (102), a swing arm (103), a guide rod (104), a second compression spring (105), a first pin (106), a base (107), and a rotary encoder (108); The pin rack (101) is fixed on the frame of the take-up head (10); The swing arm (103) is rotatably mounted on the base (107) via the first pin (106); The gear (102) is rotatably mounted in the hole on the upper part of the swing arm (103); The rotary encoder (108) cooperates with the gear (102) to record the angular displacement of the gear (102); The second compression spring (105) is disposed between the base (107) and the swing arm (103).

3. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 2, characterized in that, The swing arm (103) is provided with a guide rod (104) in the middle, and the guide rod (104) passes through the second compression spring (105).

4. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotary encoder (108) is coupled to the gear (102) via the encoder shaft (109).

5. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 1, characterized in that, The universal wheel assembly (5) includes a housing (501), a bearing (502), a bracket (503), a roller (504), a pivot (505), and a second pin (506); The housing (501) is fixedly connected to the lower part of the telescopic rod (2); The bearing (502) is installed inside the housing (501); The rotating shaft (505) passes through the inner ring of the bearing (502) and is able to rotate around the axis of the rotating shaft (505); The bracket (503) is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft (505); The roller (504) is connected to the bracket (503) via the second pin (506) and is able to rotate around the axis of the second pin (506).

6. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer cylinder (4) is connected to the frame of the feeding head (10) by bolts.

7. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 1, characterized in that, The detection component (1) is fixedly connected to the upper end of the telescopic rod (2) by bolts.

8. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 1, characterized in that, The universal wheel assembly (5) is fixedly connected to the lower end of the telescopic rod (2) by bolts.

9. The anti-collision limiting device for the material handling head of a chain bucket unloader according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first compression spring (3) is configured to keep the telescopic rod (2) at its lowest point when the caster wheel assembly (5) does not encounter any obstruction.

10. The anti-collision limiting device for the feed head of a chain bucket unloader according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The anti-collision limit device of the material taking head is symmetrically arranged on both sides of the material taking head (10).

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