Belt conveyor for large particle size

Abstract

Belt conveyor for large particle size. The present invention relates to a belt conveyor (1) comprising a conveyor belt (5) extending along a longitudinal direction and having two lateral edges opposite each other, and a plurality of belt support stations (7) distributed along the conveyor belt (5), characterized in that each support station (7) comprises at least two pulleys (30) spaced apart along a transverse direction (Y) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and arranged transversely on either side of the conveyor belt (5), the belt (5) comprising two lateral reinforcements (12) extending longitudinally along the two lateral edges of the conveyor belt (5), the conveyor belt (5) being suspended by the lateral reinforcements (12) from the pulleys (30). Figure for the abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Belt conveyor for large grain size

[0001] The present invention relates to a belt conveyor of the type comprising a conveyor belt extending in a longitudinal direction and having two lateral edges opposite each other, and a plurality of belt support stations distributed along the conveyor belt.

[0002] A belt conveyor has the function of continuously transporting mixed or homogeneous bulk products, over distances ranging from a few meters to tens of kilometers. Such conveyors are for example used for transporting materials such as ore, or any other material that can be extracted from a mine or quarry, typically between the extraction area and a storage and shipping area.

[0003] These belt conveyors usually comprise a plurality of carrier stations equipped with rollers on which a conveyor belt rests.

[0004] However, belt conveyors with rollers are not suitable for transporting materials with blocks having a significant mass, such as for example certain raw materials from felling. The rollers can in fact be damaged and impair the proper functioning of the conveyor.

[0005] Thus, when walls in mines are broken down, the extracted materials are generally brought up by trucks to the top of the mine, then passed through crushers to make them transportable by belt conveyor. This solution has the disadvantage of being expensive because it requires time and resources.

[0006] An aim of the invention is then to propose a belt conveyor making it possible to limit the transfer by truck of materials with a large particle size.

[0007] To this end, the invention relates to a belt conveyor of the aforementioned type, characterized in that each support station comprises at least two pulleys spaced from each other in a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and arranged transversely on either side of the conveyor belt, the belt comprising two lateral reinforcements extending longitudinally along the two lateral edges of the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt being suspended by the lateral reinforcements from the pulleys.

[0008] Since the conveyor belt is held by pulleys placed on each side of the belt, the rollers can be eliminated. There is no longer any shock when the block passes over the rollers of the carrier stations, improving the operation of the conveyor. The pulleys transmit the forces and absorb less shock than the rollers, thus benefiting from a longer service life. As a result, more massive materials can be transported and the transfer by truck of the raw slaughter material is no longer necessary.

[0009] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the conveyor comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:

[0010] - the lateral reinforcements are made in one piece with the conveyor belt;

[0011] - the lateral reinforcements comprise a curved region cooperating geometrically with the pulley grooves;

[0012] - rollers press the side reinforcements onto the pulleys in order to fix the reinforcements lateral on the pulleys and keep the conveyor belt suspended;

[0013] - the support stations each comprise two frames on either side of the conveyor belt, facing each other in the transverse direction, and at least two pendulum systems each comprising a balance bar extending between two ends, a central part of the balance bar being mounted on the frames by a pivot connection around a transverse axis, the two ends each receiving a pulley, the pulleys of one and the other of the ends cooperating with the same lateral reinforcement of the conveyor belt;

[0014] - bent and / or assembled metal legs are fixed on each end of the swing bars of pendulum systems, each pulley and associated roller being fixed on the metal legs;

[0015] - each pulley is spaced from the neighboring pulley in the longitudinal direction of a distance between 25 cm and 1 m;

[0016] - the pulleys each have an axis of rotation forming a non-zero angle with the transverse direction, in projection in a plane containing the elevation direction and the transverse direction; and

[0017] - the conveyor belt comprises a set of braided metal cables.

[0018] The invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a front view of a belt conveyor according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a side view of the conveyor of [Fig.l],

[0021] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a front view of the belt conveyor of [Fig.l], zoomed in on the conveyor belt suspension system.

[0022] [Fig.l] shows a belt conveyor 1 intended to transport materials 10 such as ore, mining waste, rubble or any other type of materials.

[0023] The conveyor 1 connects, for example, a material loading station located near a quarry to a material unloading station located near a material processing or packaging plant.

[0024] The conveyor 1 comprises a conveyor belt 5 extending in a direction longitudinal X.

[0025] In all that follows, the terms "internal" and "interior" refer to the side of the belt 5 which receives the materials 10 to be transported.

[0026] Conversely, the terms “external” and “outside” refer to the side of the belt 5 opposite the side which receives the materials 10 to be transported, depending on the thickness of the belt 5.

[0027] The conveyor 1 also comprises a plurality of support stations 7 for the belt 5 distributed along the conveyor belt 5, notably visible in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0028] The conveyor belt 5 is arranged in a loop between two turning rollers, not shown in the figures. At least one of the two turning rollers comprises a motorized system intended to move the conveyor belt 5 between the two turning rollers.

[0029] The conveyor belt 5 thus comprises a forward strand extending from the first roller to the second turning roller and moving from the first roller to the second turning roller, and a return strand extending from the second turning roller to the first turning roller and moving from the second turning roller to the first turning roller.

[0030] The conveyor belt 5 does not necessarily follow a straight path between the first and second turning rollers. The first and second strands may each follow a sinuous path.

[0031] The longitudinal direction, for each section of the strip 5, corresponds substantially to the direction of movement of said section of strip 5. It may vary from one section of strip 5 to another, for example when the strip extends along a sinuous path between the first and second turning rollers.

[0032] The strip 5 has two lateral edges opposite each other.

[0033] The side edges opposite each other delimit the conveyor belt 5 of two opposite sides along a transverse direction Y. The transverse direction Y is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of each strip section 5.

[0034] The strip 5 comprises, for example, a matrix made of an elastic material and a reinforcement, also called a “carcass”, embedded in the matrix. The matrix is ​​typically made of synthetic or natural rubber or PVC.

[0035] The reinforcement comprises, for example, longitudinal metal cables or a textile weft made of polyester and / or polyamide fiber, for example, or any other textile. These cables extend over the entire length, taken between the two turning rollers, of the strip 5.

[0036] The reinforcement also comprises, for example, in addition to the longitudinal cables or equivalent textile, transverse metal cables or a textile weft in aramid or any other textile. The longitudinal and transverse cables are, for example, interwoven with each other according to a predetermined pattern.

[0037] With such characteristics, the mechanical strength of the conveyor belt 5 is increased and its rigidity is increased.

[0038] The belt 5 according to the invention is designed to support a load having a mass of up to one tonne per metre of belt. By "supporting" it is understood that the belt 5 is not subject to breaking or tearing when carrying a load of one tonne over a length of belt 5 of approximately one metre.

[0039] Band 5 can thus cover large distances (several kilometers for example) while minimizing the number of support stations 7 necessary to support band 5.

[0040] The belt 5 also comprises two lateral reinforcements 12 extending longitudinally along the two lateral edges of the conveyor belt 5.

[0041] The reinforcements 12 extend in particular over the entire length of the strip 5, taken between the two turning rollers.

[0042] The lateral reinforcements 12 form a bead along the two lateral edges of the strip 5, extending in projection towards the outside of the strip 5.

[0043] The part of the projecting lateral reinforcements 12 has a section, taken according to the thickness of the strip 5, which is substantially rectangular.

[0044] The lateral reinforcements 12 have a face 12A facing the ground.

[0045] The lateral reinforcements 12 are advantageously made in one piece with the trans band carrier 5. They are for example formed with the strip 5 by a vulcanization process.

[0046] The lateral reinforcements 12 may in particular have a thickness greater than the thickness of the conveyor belt 5 and are for example reinforced.

[0047] The conveyor belt 5 is open on its upper part, a hoop 13 covered with a tarpaulin (not shown) covering the belt 5, and more precisely the internal face of the belt 5, is arranged in order to prevent the fall of materials and in order to protect the belt 5.

[0048] Each support station 7 comprises a concrete support 16 resting on the ground.

[0049] The concrete support 16 advantageously extends from one end of the strip 5 to the other, along the transverse direction Y.

[0050] The concrete support 16 extends on the ground opposite the external face of the strip 5.

[0051] The support stations 7 each comprise two frames 17 on either side of the conveyor belt 5, facing each other in the transverse direction Y.

[0052] The frames 17 are fixed near the ends, in the transverse direction Y, of the concrete support 16 in order to be kept stable on the ground.

[0053] For example, the frames 17 have the shape of a cylindrical or parallel pylon. piped, extending in an elevation direction Z, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal directions X and transverse directions Y.

[0054] The height of the frames, taken according to the direction of elevation, is for example greater than 1 m.

[0055] The frames 17 are formed from a rigid material and their cooperation with the concrete support 16 thus ensures the mechanical strength of the support stations 7.

[0056] Two consecutive support stations 7 are separated two by two, in the longitudinal direction X, by a distance of between 0.5 m and 2 m, and typically 1 m.

[0057] The spacing between two consecutive support stations 7 is determined more precisely as a function of the nature of the soil and the topography of the terrain, the characteristic dimensions of the belt 5 (length, width, mass), and the density of the materials 10 transported.

[0058] The support stations 7 also comprise at least two pendulum systems 18 comprising a swing bar 20 extending between two ends 20A and 20B.

[0059] Each pendulum system 18 is fixed on a chassis 17.

[0060] Thus, two pendulum systems 18 of the same support station 7 are located on either side of the conveyor belt 5, facing each other in the transverse direction Y.

[0061] In particular, a central part 20C of the balance bar 20 is mounted on the frames 17 by a pivot connection around a transverse axis, parallel to the transverse direction Y.

[0062] Consequently, the swing bar 20 is free to rotate around the transverse axis passing through the geometric center of the swing bar 20.

[0063] For example, the swing bar 20 is capable of tilting, relative to the horizontal, by an angle of between 0° and 60°.

[0064] Advantageously, and as will be described in more detail later, the balancing bar 20 then follows the spatial evolution of the materials 10 transported on the conveyor belt 5.

[0065] Support devices 25 for the strip 5 are mounted on the pendulum systems 18. These support devices 25 ensure the suspension of the strip 5 and are shown in detail in [Fig.3].

[0066] More particularly, a support device 25 is fixed on each end 20A, 20B of the balance bar 20 of the pendulum systems 18.

[0067] In other words, each support station 7 comprises two pendulum systems 18 each comprising a support device 25 fixed to each end 20A, 20B of the swing bars 20. Thus, each support station 7 comprises four dis- positive support.

[0068] The support devices 25 of the strip 5 are fixed on the pendulum system 18 at a height above the ground greater than one meter.

[0069] The height of the support devices 25 depends in particular on the distance which separates two consecutive support stations 7 in the longitudinal direction X. In fact, the greater the distance between two neighboring support stations 7, the higher the support devices 25 of the strip 5 are fixed in relation to the ground, the strip hollowing out more pronouncedly between the two support stations 7.

[0070] Conversely, for regulatory, safety (falling materials with the wind), aesthetic (integration into the landscape) or economic (cost of materials) reasons, the height of the support devices 25 may be limited. In this case, the spacing between two neighboring support stations 7 is chosen to keep the support devices 25 below a maximum authorized height.

[0071] The swing bar 20 being pivotably mounted on the chassis 17 around a transverse central axis, it is possible to orient the support devices 25 of the strip 5 in a preferred direction, depending in particular on topographical constraints.

[0072] Thus, the movements of the balancing bar 20 around the pivoting connections are not imposed by any external constraint other than those of the conveyor belt 5 and depend for example on the mass and location of the material 10 present on the belt 5.

[0073] The pendulum system 18 then makes it possible to distribute the load between the support stations 7 and over the entire conveyor 1 in a more homogeneous manner. Thus, it is possible to minimize the hollow formed by the belt 5, also called “the arrow”, between the support stations 7 even when the belt 5 supports heavy loads.

[0074] Each support station 7 comprises at least two pulleys 30 spaced from each other in the transverse direction Y and arranged transversely on either side of the conveyor belt 5.

[0075] In particular, each pulley 30 is part of a support device 25 as previously described.

[0076] The conveyor belt 5 is suspended by the lateral reinforcements 12 from the pulleys 30.

[0077] For this purpose, the lateral reinforcements 12 comprise a curved region extending over the face 12A cooperating geometrically with the shape of the groove of the pulleys 30.

[0078] The curved region is for example formed by a protrusion projecting from the face 12A.

[0079] These curved regions present on each lateral reinforcement 12 advantageously prevent any shifting of the belt 5 during operation of the conveyor 1.

[0080] The curved regions also allow the relative movement of the belt 5 with respect to the support stations 7 by driving the pulleys 30 in rotation. The co operation between the lateral reinforcements 12 and the pulleys 30 makes it possible in particular to guide the relative movements in translation of the band 5 with respect to the support stations 7.

[0081] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, each support device 25 also comprises a support roller 34.

[0082] The rollers 34 press the lateral reinforcements 12 onto the pulleys 30 in order to fix the lateral reinforcements 12 onto the pulleys 30 and to keep the conveyor belt 5 engaged in the groove of the pulleys 30, even when the latter is supporting a load and when the latter is in relative movement with respect to the support stations 7.

[0083] In other words, the rollers 34 keep the conveyor belt 5 engaged in the groove of the pulleys 30 also when the pulleys 30 are rotating.

[0084] The rollers 34 are for example made of a metallic material, and may have a cylindrical or parallelepiped shape.

[0085] Each pulley 30 and associated roller 34 are assembled on one end 20A, 20B of a balance bar 20.

[0086] More precisely, the two ends 20A, 20B of each swing bar 20 each receive a pulley 30, the pulleys 30 of one and the other of the ends 20A, 20B cooperating with the same lateral reinforcement 12 of the conveyor belt 5.

[0087] In other words, the pulley 30 fixed on the end 20A of a swing bar 20 cooperates with a lateral reinforcement 12 located along an edge of the strip 5 and the pulley 30 fixed on the end 20B of the same swing bar 20 cooperates with the same lateral reinforcement 12 of the strip 5.

[0088] Thus, the lateral reinforcements 12 cooperate with the pulleys 30 so as to keep the conveyor belt 5 suspended and so as to guide the relative movements in each longitudinal direction of the belt sections 5 between the support stations 7 and the belt 5.

[0089] For this purpose, folded and / or assembled metal legs 32 are fixed on each end 20A, 20B of the balance bars 20 of the pendulum systems 18, each pulley 30 and associated roller 34 being fixed on the metal legs 32.

[0090] The metal legs 32 each have a first region 32A extending in the elevation direction and being fixed to one end 20A, 20B of a swing bar 20. The metal legs 32 also comprise at least one arm 32B, 32C, bent relative to the first region at a non-zero angle.

[0091] The first region 32A forms, for example, with the arm 32B, a metal part in the shape of an inverted U.

[0092] The first region 32A forms, for example, with the arm 32C, a metal part substantially in the shape of an inverted L.

[0093] In the example shown in [Fig.3], the swing bar 20 receives the first region 32A of a metal tab 32 having two arms 32B and 32C. On the arm 32B is fixed a pulley 30 and on the arm 32C is fixed a roller 34.

[0094] Alternatively, the pulley 30 and the associated roller 34 are fixed on two separate metal tabs 32, each metal tab 32 being mounted on one end 20A, 20B of the swing bar 20.

[0095] The pulleys 30 are each free to rotate about an axis of rotation R. In the example of [Fig.3], the axis of rotation R forms a non-zero angle with the transverse direction Y, in projection into a plane containing the elevation direction Z and the transverse direction Y.

[0096] For example, the axis of rotation R forms with the transverse direction Y an angle between 5° and 50°, in particular between 5° and 30°.

[0097] Such an inclination of the axis of rotation R of the pulleys 30 facilitates the insertion of the lateral reinforcements 12 into the groove of the pulleys 30 and limits the offsets of the band 5 outside the grooves of the pulleys 30.

[0098] The forces to which the pulleys 30 are subjected are concentrated at the level of the lateral reinforcements 12 of the band 5.

[0099] Such an inclination of the axis of rotation R of the pulleys 30 promotes the mechanical strength of the pulleys 30 which are thus in a configuration favorable to receiving the forces transmitted by the lateral reinforcements 12 directly along an axis substantially perpendicular to their axis of rotation R.

[0100] Each pulley 30 is spaced from the neighboring pulley 30 in the longitudinal direction X by a distance of between 25 cm and 1 m, and typically 50 cm.

[0101] The strip 5 is driven in movement between the two turning rollers by the motorized system of one of the two turning rollers, and translates relative to the support stations 7 thanks to the rotation of the pulleys 30.

[0102] Thus, the conveyor 1 can move materials 10 from one turning roller to another turning roller via the movements of the conveyor belt 5 relative to the support stations 7.

[0103] As a variant, not shown, the conveyor 1 is as described above, with the difference that the rollers 34 are replaced by pads pressing the lateral reinforcements 12 against the pulleys 30.

[0104] The pads are for example made of a rubber material.

[0105] In another variant, the balance bars 20 of the pendulum systems 18 are fixed in a non-pivoting manner on the frames 17. Other means of distributing the load along the support stations 7 are then envisaged.

[0106] In yet another variant, the conveyor does not comprise four support devices 25 fixed to each end 20A, 20B of the swing bars 20 of the two pendulum systems 18 of each support station 7, but only comprises two support devices 25 fixed on each support station 7, each support device 25 being fixed on one side, in the transverse direction Y, of the conveyor belt.

[0107] According to this variant, the conveyor no longer comprises a pendulum system 18. Other means of distributing the load along the support stations 7 can then be envisaged.

[0108] The invention has numerous advantages.

[0109] The use of pulleys 30 as a substitute for the rollers of the support stations 7 makes it possible to reduce the maintenance cost of the belt conveyor 1. In fact, the pulleys 30 are subjected to fewer shocks than the rollers of the support stations usually used, and therefore have a longer service life.

[0110] The substitution of the rollers by the pulleys 30 thus makes it possible to transport materials 10 of higher grain size. Thus, a reduction in the costs required for personnel, the number of trucks, and fuel consumption, useful for moving materials 10 of high grain size, such as raw materials from slaughter, by trucks is possible.

[0111] The axis of rotation R of the pulleys 30 being slightly inclined relative to the transverse direction Y, the pulleys 30 better withstand the forces transmitted by the lateral reinforcements 12 and thus have a longer service life, further reducing the maintenance costs of the conveyor 1.

[0112] The conveyor belt 5 having sufficient thickness and an advantageously reinforced structure (choice of material and / or metal reinforcements) is capable of supporting, without damage, such materials 10.

[0113] In addition, the increased mechanical strength of the conveyor belt 5 makes it possible to limit the number of support stations 7 and pulleys 30 supporting the belt 5. The pulleys 30 can then be spaced further apart, and a saving in time and cost of manufacturing and assembling the conveyor 1 is then generated.

[0114] The invention also has an ecological advantage in that it makes it possible to reduce the consumption of fossil energy by minimizing the number of vehicles necessary for transporting materials 10.

[0115] In addition, the cooperation of the lateral reinforcements 12 with the pulleys 30, by the curved region of the lateral reinforcements 12, prevents a potential belt shift during operation of the conveyor and therefore reinforces the safety of users and ensures the proper operation of the conveyor.

[0116] The use of rollers 34 pressing the lateral reinforcements 12 of the belt 5 against the pulleys 30 also ensures the proper functioning of the conveyor 1 by preventing, in a similar manner, a potential belt shift during operation of the conveyor 1.

[0117] Since the lateral reinforcements 12 are made in one piece with the strip 5, the mechanical strength of the suspension system is improved. There is in fact no junction zone between the reinforcements 12 and the strip 5 which could present insufficient mechanical strength.

[0118] In addition, this characteristic makes it possible to limit the manufacturing costs of the strip 5 since there is no need to graft a new part onto the strip 5.

[0119] The pendulum systems 18 advantageously distribute the load between the support stations 7 and over the entire conveyor 1 in a more homogeneous manner. Thus, it is possible to minimize the deflection formed by the belt 5 between the support stations 7. The presence of a deflection should be avoided because it concentrates the forces to which the belt 5 is subjected in the hollow of the deflection and can therefore cause local damage, or even tearing, of the belt 5.

[0120] Finally, the metal legs 32 make it possible to securely connect the pulleys 30 to the pendulum systems 18 in order to benefit from the advantages of the aforementioned pendulum systems 18.

[0121] The assembly of the conveyor 1 is facilitated thanks to the metal legs 32 which are not heavy to handle and which are thus easily fixed on the balancing bars 20.

Claims

Claims

1. Belt conveyor (1) comprising a conveyor belt (5) extending in a longitudinal direction (X) and having two lateral edges opposite each other, and a plurality of belt support stations (7) distributed along the conveyor belt (5), characterized in that each support station (7) comprises at least two pulleys (30) spaced from each other in a transverse direction (Y) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (X) and arranged transversely on either side of the conveyor belt (5), the belt (5) comprising two lateral reinforcements (12) extending longitudinally along the two lateral edges of the conveyor belt (5), the conveyor belt (5) being suspended by the lateral reinforcements (12) from the pulleys (30).

2. Conveyor (1) according to claim 1, in which the lateral reinforcements (12) are integral with the conveyor belt (5).

3. Conveyor (1) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the lateral reinforcements (12) comprise a curved region cooperating geometrically with the grooves of the pulleys (30).

4. Conveyor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein rollers (34) press the side reinforcements (12) onto the pulleys (30) in order to fix the side reinforcements (12) onto the pulleys (30) and to keep the conveyor belt (5) suspended.

5. Conveyor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the support stations (7) each comprise two frames (17) on either side of the conveyor belt (5), facing each other in the transverse direction (Y), and at least two pendulum systems (18) each comprising a balance bar (20) extending between two ends (20A, 20B), a central part (20C) of the balance bar (20) being mounted on the frames (17) by a pivot connection around a transverse axis, the two ends (20A, 20B) each receiving a pulley (30), the pulleys (30) of one and the other of the ends (20A, 20B) cooperating with the same lateral reinforcement (12) of the conveyor belt (5).

6. Conveyor (1) according to claim 5, in which folded and / or assembled metal legs (32) are fixed on each end (20A, 20B) of the balance bars (20) of the pendulum systems (18), each pulley (30) and associated roller (34) being fixed on the legs metallic (32).

7. Conveyor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each pulley (30) is spaced from the neighboring pulley (30) in the longitudinal direction (X) by a distance of between 25 cm Q 1 TYÏ

8. d 1 111. Conveyor (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the pulleys (30) each have an axis of rotation (R) forming a non-zero angle with the transverse direction (Y), in projection in a plane containing the elevation direction (Z) and the transverse direction (Y).

9. A conveyor (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the conveyor belt (5) comprises a set of braided metal cables.

Images