A metering ship unloader suspension hopper fixing device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of port bulk cargo handling equipment, in particular to a metering ship unloader suspension hopper fixing device. The metering ship unloader suspension hopper fixing device comprises a suspension hopper support and a suspension hopper arranged on the metering ship unloader, the suspension hopper is hung below the suspension hopper support through a weighing sensor, and a horizontal limiting assembly is arranged on the suspension hopper support; the scheme realizes easy adjustment of a limiting gap, the position of a guide wheel can be accurately changed through rotation operation of an eccentric shaft. In this way, complex welding or other operations are no longer needed, and maintenance difficulty and shutdown cost are greatly reduced. The scheme can also set the gap at an optimal value, through the gap, the metering accuracy is ensured when the hopper has enough free suspension space and is not interfered, and reliable limiting protection is provided in time when the hopper shakes violently, so that collision is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of port bulk cargo handling equipment, and in particular to a fixed device for a suspended hopper of a metering unloader. Background Technology

[0002] To accurately measure bulk materials (such as ore and grain) at ports, metering unloaders commonly employ suspended hoppers. These hoppers are suspended by load cells and ideally should be completely free to ensure the weighing is unaffected by external forces, thus achieving high-precision measurement. However, in actual operation, these suspended hoppers can shake violently under the influence of wind and material impact, posing a risk of collision with surrounding equipment. Therefore, existing technologies typically use fixed guide wheels or sliders around the hopper as limiting devices, maintaining a fixed safety clearance between the guide wheels and the hopper.

[0003] However, this "fixed gap" solution has some drawbacks:

[0004] ① It is not adjustable and cannot be compensated for after wear. The gap is difficult to be precise during initial installation, and wear during use will cause the gap to widen, thus losing its limiting function. To repair this gap, it usually requires stopping the machine for complex welding or replacing parts, which is costly and affects efficiency.

[0005] ② If the gap is set too small, it will frequently contact the hopper, interfering with the weighing accuracy; if it is set too large, it cannot effectively prevent collisions, sacrificing safety. This fixed gap cannot achieve the best balance between the two.

[0006] Therefore, the market urgently needs a new solution that can easily adjust the limit gap, so as to ensure both high accuracy of measurement and high safety of operation in a low-cost manner. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this application is to provide a fixing device for the suspended hopper of a metering unloader, which solves the problem that the fixed gap in the existing weighing device affects the normal weighing of the hopper.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a suspended hopper fixing device for a metering unloader, including a suspended hopper support and a suspended hopper mounted on the metering unloader. The suspended hopper is suspended below the suspended hopper support by a weighing sensor. The device also includes a horizontal limiting component mounted on the suspended hopper support, the horizontal limiting component comprising:

[0009] An eccentric shaft is rotatably mounted on the suspension hopper support.

[0010] Guide wheel, the guide wheel is installed on the eccentric part of the eccentric shaft;

[0011] The locking mechanism is used to lock the eccentric shaft;

[0012] A horizontal gap is formed between the guide wheel and the outer wall of the suspended hopper, and the horizontal gap is adjusted by rotating the eccentric shaft.

[0013] Preferably, multiple sets of horizontal limiting components are symmetrically arranged around the periphery of the suspended hopper, each used to limit the displacement of the suspended hopper in at least two horizontal directions.

[0014] Preferably, two sets of horizontal limiting components are provided at different corners of the suspended hopper to limit its displacement in two orthogonal horizontal directions.

[0015] Preferably, the outer wall of the suspended hopper is provided with a reinforcing ring beam that cooperates with the guide wheel.

[0016] Preferably, the horizontal gap is 2mm to 7mm.

[0017] Preferably, the locking mechanism is a locking plate, which is used to fix the eccentric shaft after it has been adjusted to the correct position.

[0018] Preferably, the suspended hopper is suspended below the suspended hopper support by multiple weighing sensors and hydraulic damping components.

[0019] Preferably, it also includes a displacement alarm device, which is triggered and outputs an alarm signal when the horizontal displacement of the suspended hopper exceeds a preset safety threshold.

[0020] Preferably, the displacement alarm device is a pull-rope switch, with one end of the pull rope connected to the suspended hopper.

[0021] Preferably, the suspended hopper is a four-part hopper.

[0022] Compared to the aforementioned background technologies, this solution enables easy adjustment of the limit gap. The position of the guide wheel can be precisely changed by rotating the eccentric shaft. This eliminates the need for complex welding or other operations, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty and downtime costs. Furthermore, this solution allows the gap to be set to an optimal value. This optimal gap ensures that the hopper has sufficient free suspension space during normal weighing, free from any interference to guarantee metering accuracy, while also providing reliable limit protection to prevent collisions in the event of severe hopper shaking. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the suspended hopper fixing device in the embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a top view of the suspended hopper support in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 3 This is a front view of the suspended hopper support in an embodiment of this application;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic damping component in the embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a top view of the suspended hopper in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] The components include: 1. Suspended hopper support; 2. Suspended hopper; 3. Hydraulic damping assembly; 4. Horizontal limit assembly; 5. Reinforcing ring beam; 6. Displacement alarm device. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0032] It should be noted that the directional terms such as "upper end," "lower end," "left side," and "right side" used below are defined based on the accompanying drawings. To facilitate understanding and explanation of the embodiments of this application, a two-dimensional coordinate system is established in some of the drawings, with the X-axis and Y-axis perpendicular to each other.

[0033] Please see Figures 1 to 5 A device for fixing a suspended hopper of a metering unloader includes a suspended hopper support 1 and a suspended hopper 2 mounted on the metering unloader. The suspended hopper 2 is suspended below the suspended hopper support 1 by a weighing sensor. The device also includes a horizontal limiting component 4 mounted on the suspended hopper support 1, which includes an eccentric wheel, a guide wheel, and a locking mechanism. An eccentric shaft is rotatably mounted on the suspended hopper support 1, the guide wheel is mounted on the eccentric portion of the eccentric shaft, and the locking mechanism is used to lock the eccentric shaft.

[0034] By introducing a guide wheel driven by an eccentric shaft and a locking mechanism, precise adjustment of the limiting gap is achieved. The operator can set the optimal gap between the guide wheel and the suspended hopper 2 by rotating the eccentric shaft and then lock it. This adjustable optimal gap is crucial: it ensures that the hopper is completely free to float during weighing, free from any interference, thus guaranteeing accuracy, while also providing timely and effective physical restraint when the hopper shakes significantly, ensuring safety. Therefore, this solution fundamentally solves the inherent contradiction of traditional fixed gaps in simultaneously achieving both accuracy and safety, and can easily compensate for operational wear.

[0035] Multiple sets of horizontal limiting components 4 are symmetrically arranged along the periphery of the suspended hopper 2, each used to limit the displacement of the suspended hopper 2 in at least two horizontal directions. In some embodiments, two sets of horizontal limiting components 4 are respectively arranged at different corners of the suspended hopper 2 to limit its displacement in two orthogonal horizontal directions.

[0036] To achieve multi-dimensional limiting of the suspended hopper 2 in the horizontal plane, this solution arranges multiple sets of horizontal limiting components 4 symmetrically around the perimeter of the suspended hopper 2. (See attached diagram.) Figure 2 For the square suspended hopper 2, horizontal limiting components 4 are symmetrically arranged inside the suspended hopper support 1, corresponding to the side walls of the suspended hopper 2 in the X and Y axis directions, respectively. The operator can independently adjust the eccentric wheel in each limiting component, thereby changing the coordinates of the guide wheel at that position and precisely setting its gap with the hopper side wall. By adjusting all components, a uniform setting of the limiting gaps around the hopper can be achieved, thus constructing a frame for the suspended hopper 2 centered on its natural suspension position. This frame ensures that excessive displacement of the hopper in any horizontal direction (front-back, left-right) is effectively limited, thereby comprehensively guaranteeing the operational stability of the equipment under high wind load or impact conditions.

[0037] In some embodiments, the outer side wall of the suspended hopper 2 is provided with a reinforcing ring beam 5 that cooperates with the guide wheel.

[0038] See attached document Figure 5 The reinforced ring beam 5 provides a dedicated contact surface for the guide wheels, which absorbs impacts during collisions to protect the hopper body and withstands wear during long-term operation to reduce maintenance costs. By concentrating impact and wear on this easily replaceable component, this design effectively improves the reliability and economy of the equipment.

[0039] In some embodiments, the suspended hopper 2 is suspended below the suspended hopper support 1 by multiple weighing sensors and hydraulic damping components 3.

[0040] The suspended hopper 2 is suspended below the suspended hopper support 1 via a suspension system integrating a plurality of load cells and hydraulic damping assemblies 3, which adopts an integrated design of weighing and damping. The plurality of load cells are arranged in a suspended manner to form a bearing plane that ensures the stable posture of the hopper, and can also realize distributed acquisition of weight signals, thereby improving the accuracy and reliability of measuring the weight of the suspended hopper 2. The arranged hydraulic damping assemblies 3 are capable of absorbing and dissipating energy. When the hopper shakes due to the impact of material discharged by the grab, strong wind, or equipment start-stop, the hydraulic dampers can convert such kinetic energy into heat energy to achieve efficient vibration reduction. The synergistic effect of weighing and damping enables the system to suppress shaking rapidly, shorten the weighing stabilization time, and improve the cycle efficiency of weighing operations.

[0041] In some embodiments, the suspended hopper 2 is a four-compartment hopper.

[0042] With reference to the accompanying Figure 5 , the suspended hopper 2 is designed as a four-compartment structure in a shape of the Chinese character "tian", which can improve the efficiency and flexibility of operations. A single large hopper is transformed into four independent small bins, so that the discharging process is upgraded from the traditional serial "filling-weighing-emptying" mode to an efficient parallel assembly line mode. For example, while bins No.1 and No.2 are being weighed and discharging materials downstream, the grab can simultaneously fill materials into bins No.3 and No.4. This operation mode of simultaneous discharging and loading eliminates the waiting time between each link and realizes seamless connection of the processes. In addition, this structure enhances operation flexibility. When handling a variety of different goods, the four bins can serve as physical isolation zones to avoid material mixing contamination and realize independent metering.

[0043] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism is a locking clamping plate, which is used to fix the eccentric shaft after the eccentric shaft is adjusted in place.

[0044] In some embodiments, a horizontal gap is formed between the guide wheel and the outer side wall of the suspended hopper 2, and the horizontal gap is adjusted by rotating the eccentric shaft, wherein the horizontal gap is 2mm to 7mm.

[0045] The guide system is provided with a horizontal gap (2mm-7mm) that can be precisely adjusted by the eccentric shaft between the guide wheel and the hopper. The existence of this gap ensures that the suspended hopper 2 is in a non-contact free floating state during normal weighing, eliminating interference to metering; and the eccentric shaft adjustment mechanism provides a convenient and reliable fine adjustment means for initial installation and later wear compensation. The gap range of 2mm to 7mm is an optimal engineering setting that balances the weighing accuracy and the limiting protection effect, which not only avoids weighing errors caused by excessive constraint, but also ensures effective control of abnormal shaking.

[0046] The suspended hopper fixing device also includes a displacement alarm device 6. When the horizontal displacement of the suspended hopper 2 exceeds a preset safety threshold, the displacement alarm device is triggered and outputs an alarm signal. The displacement alarm device 6 is a pull rope switch, with one end of the pull rope connected to the suspended hopper 2.

[0047] To ensure equipment safety, a displacement alarm device 6 consisting of a pull-rope switch was added. This device serves as a safety barrier; one end of the pull rope is connected to the suspended hopper, and the other end, the switch body, is fixed to the support. When the hopper experiences an unexpected horizontal displacement exceeding a preset safety threshold, the pull rope is activated, triggering the switch. The switch signal not only activates the audible and visual alarms but also directly connects to the emergency stop circuit, forcibly stopping all associated equipment and effectively preventing equipment damage caused by hopper malfunction.

[0048] It should be noted that in this specification, relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity from several other entities, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities.

[0049] The above provides a detailed description of a suspended hopper fixing device for a metering unloader provided in this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are merely for the purpose of helping to understand the solution and core ideas of this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications to this application without departing from its principles, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A device for fixing a suspended hopper of a metering unloader, comprising a suspended hopper support (1) and a suspended hopper (2) mounted on the metering unloader, wherein the suspended hopper (2) is suspended below the suspended hopper support (1) by a weighing sensor, characterized in that, It also includes a horizontal limiting component (4) disposed on the suspended hopper support (1), the horizontal limiting component (4) comprising: An eccentric shaft is rotatably mounted on the suspended hopper support (1); A guide wheel is mounted on the eccentric portion of the eccentric shaft; A locking mechanism for locking the eccentric shaft; A horizontal gap is formed between the guide wheel and the outer wall of the suspended hopper (2), and the horizontal gap is adjusted by rotating the eccentric shaft.

2. The metering unloader suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The horizontal limiting components (4) are symmetrically arranged in multiple sets along the periphery of the suspended hopper (2), which are used to limit the displacement of the suspended hopper (2) in at least two horizontal directions.

3. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Two sets of horizontal limiting components (4) are respectively set at different corners of the suspended hopper (2) to limit its displacement in two orthogonal horizontal directions.

4. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the suspended hopper (2) is provided with a reinforcing ring beam (5) that cooperates with the guide wheel.

5. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The horizontal gap is 2mm to 7mm.

6. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The locking mechanism is a locking plate, which is used to fix the eccentric shaft after it has been adjusted to the correct position.

7. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The suspended hopper (2) is suspended below the suspended hopper support (1) by multiple weighing sensors and hydraulic damping components (3).

8. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a displacement alarm device (6), which is triggered and outputs an alarm signal when the horizontal displacement of the suspended hopper (2) exceeds a preset safety threshold.

9. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The displacement alarm device (6) is a pull rope switch, with one end of its pull rope connected to the suspended hopper (2).

10. The metering unloader's suspended hopper fixing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The suspended hopper (2) is a four-part hopper.

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