Belt conveyor

Abstract

To provide a suspension type belt conveyor which can withstand side wind.SOLUTION: A belt conveyor 100 includes: a conveyor body 40 supported by a plurality of cables 20 and 30 stretched in a cargo conveyance direction; an endless conveyor belt 90 which is laid around a plurality of rollers of the conveyor body 40 in the conveyance direction in an infinitely circulatable manner; and a swing preventive wire 80 of which one end is connected to at least a part out of arrangement places of the conveyor body 40, and the other end is suspended and fixed to the ground surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suspension belt conveyor supported by a cable stretched along a conveying direction.

Background Art

[0002] As this type of belt conveyor, for example, the technique described in Patent Document 1 is known. The belt conveyor described in the same document includes at least a pair of columns, and the conveyor frame is supported along the conveying direction by two upper cables and two lower cables stretched between the pair of columns so as to draw a catenary curve.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, a suspension belt conveyor without a rigid frame, such as the belt conveyor described in the same document, has a problem of being vulnerable to crosswinds. Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a suspension belt conveyor capable of withstanding crosswinds.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a belt conveyor according to one aspect of the present invention includes a conveyor body supported by a plurality of cables stretched along the load conveying direction, an endless conveyor belt that is endlessly looped along the conveying direction around a plurality of rollers of the conveyor body, and a stay wire having one end connected to at least one location among the locations where the conveyor body is disposed and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground surface. According to the belt conveyor according to one aspect of the present invention, since it includes a stay wire having one end connected to at least one location among the locations where the conveyor body is disposed and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground surface, the conveyor body has a structure that can withstand crosswinds.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] As described above, according to the present invention, a suspension type belt conveyor that can withstand crosswinds can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with appropriate reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are schematic, and it should be noted that the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, ratios, etc. are different from the actual ones, and there are also parts where the dimensional relationships and ratios are different between the drawings. Also, the embodiments shown below exemplify devices and methods for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the technical idea of the present invention does not specify the materials, shapes, structures, arrangements, etc. of the components as in the following embodiments.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment is a suspended belt conveyor, and includes a pair of main cables 20 stretched along the load conveyance direction, and a plurality of pairs of hanger wires 30 suspended from positions facing each other in the width direction from each of the pair of main cables 20. The conveyor body 40 of the belt conveyor 100 is supported along the conveyance direction by a plurality of pairs of hanger wires 30 at an intermediate portion of the conveyance path.

[0010] The conveyor body 40 includes a cylindrical header roller 41 disposed at the tip of the conveyance path and a cylindrical footer roller 42 disposed at the tail end. The conveyor belt 90 is wound around between the header roller 41 and the footer roller 42 so as to be infinitely circulatable along the conveyance path. The conveyor belt 90 is wound around the conveyor body 40 in a flat and spread state near the header roller 41 and near the footer roller 42.

[0011] A drive device 43 is attached in the vicinity of the header roller 41. Further, a hopper 44 is provided on the side of the header roller 41 so that loads such as excavated earth and sand can be dropped. An input device 45 for inputting loads such as excavated earth and sand onto the conveyor belt 90 is disposed on the footer roller 42 side. Also, on the footer roller 42 side, equipment such as a tensioning mechanism, a counterweight, and a cleaning device (not shown below) of the conveyor belt 90 are disposed.

[0012] The belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment includes a plurality of main towers 10. Each main tower 10 is constructed of steel or reinforced concrete on the foundation at intervals in the width direction. In the case where the foundation is located underwater, the main tower 10 can sink a caisson underwater and pour concrete to construct the foundation. Anchors 11 are constructed at both ends of the main towers 10 located at both ends. The anchor 11 is a concrete block constructed at both ends of the suspension type belt conveyor 100, and functions as an anchor for connecting and fixing the main cable 20. When there are topographical constraints or strong bedrock, the supporting force of the natural ground can also be utilized.

[0013] In the belt conveyor 100 of this embodiment, as shown in the enlarged view in Fig. 2, the main cable 20 is stretched between at least two adjacent main towers. As shown in the perspective view in Fig. 3, the main cable 20 is composed of a pair of main cables 20L and 20R that are separated in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction and draw a catenary curve. Hereinafter, when the pair of main cables 20L and 20R are not particularly distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as "main cable 20". Normally, the main cable 20 is formed by bundling a plurality of steel wires (piano wires) in parallel. The main cable 20 can be surface-treated with rubber or paint to prevent corrosion (rust).

[0014] In this embodiment, the pair of main cables 20L and 20R are spanned between each main tower 10 and the anchor 11 shown in Fig. 1, and between a pair of adjacent main towers 10. The main cable 20 is hung on the top saddle 10s of each main tower 10, and the conveyor body 40 is suspended along the conveying direction through the hanger wire 30. A plurality of pairs of hanger wires 30L and 30R are suspended from appropriate positions of the pair of main cables 20L and 20R at positions facing each other in the width direction. Similar to the "main cable 20", hereinafter, when the paired hanger wires 30L and 30R are not particularly distinguished from each other, they are simply referred to as "hanger wire 30".

[0015] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the hanger wire 30 is set to have different lengths depending on the arrangement position in the conveyance direction in order to connect the main cable 20 that draws a suspension line and the roller bracket 60 so that the arrangement postures of the plurality of roller brackets 60 are substantially horizontal. A stranded wire is used for the hanger wire 30. The plurality of hanger wires 30 hang down from the main cable 20 and support the conveyor body 40 substantially horizontally. The hanger wire 30 hangs down from the main cable 20 at a predetermined interval.

[0016] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, for each of the hanger wires 30L and 30R, the upper end portions of the hanger wires 30L and 30R are respectively connected to the corresponding main cables 20L and 20R by cable bands 33, and the hanger wire 30L and the hanger wire 30R hang down from the pair of main cables 20L and 20R at a predetermined interval. Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the lower end portion 32 of the hanger wire 30 is fixed to the upper surface of the cross beam 50. On the upper surface of the cross beam 50, a return roller set 62 that constitutes a return path is provided among the plurality of guide rollers. A pair of vertical beams 72 are respectively spanned between both side portions of the plurality of cross beams 50.

[0017] Among the pair of vertical beams 72, roller brackets 60 are provided at positions facing each other in the width direction between the inner vertical beams 72, and the carrier roller set 61 is supported by each roller bracket 60. The carrier roller set 61 constitutes the forward path among the plurality of guide rollers. Specifically, in the conveyor body 40 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, as a plurality of guide rollers in the middle part of the conveyance path, it has a plurality of upper carrier roller sets 61 and a plurality of lower return roller sets 62. Each carrier roller set 61 and return roller set 62 is configured to have a plurality of cylindrical guide rollers, and both ends of each guide roller are rotatably supported around its own axis.

[0018] In this embodiment, the upper carrier roller set 61 is provided on a portal-shaped roller bracket 60. The carrier roller set 61 of this embodiment is equipped on the roller bracket 60, and each roller bracket 60 is formed into a portal shape by a thin prism member so as to be less affected by the wind. The left and right support columns 60h of the roller bracket 60 are respectively fixed to the inner surfaces of a pair of inner vertical girders 72 at their lower ends. The upper carrier roller set 61 is supported in a U-shaped manner upward by connecting, for example, five guide rollers (carrier rollers) in a bead shape with a roller support wire 61w connected to the roller bracket 60, while holding each guide roller rotatable about its axis. In this embodiment, both ends of the roller support wire 61w are fixed to the fixing portion 61j of the roller bracket 60, thereby supporting a plurality of guide rollers so as to be freely rollable.

[0019] Further, the lower return roller set 62 supports, for example, two guide rollers (return rollers) in a V-shaped state that is nearly flat by a support bracket 62b, while holding each guide roller rotatable about its axis. Accordingly, in this embodiment, each of the plurality of upper carrier roller sets 61 provided on the roller bracket 60 conveys the conveyor belt 90 in a semi-circular arc-shaped support state with a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens upward in the forward path, and in the return path, the conveyor belt 90 is conveyed in a substantially flat state by the plurality of lower return roller sets 62.

[0020] Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the forward path guide pitch Pc in the forward path by the carrier roller sets 61 adjacent in the conveyance direction and the return path guide pitch Pr in the return path by the return roller sets 62 adjacent in the conveyance direction are configured such that the forward path guide pitch Pc is smaller than the return path guide pitch Pr (Pc < Pr). In the example of this embodiment, the forward path guide pitch Pc is set to 1 / 2 of the return path guide pitch Pr (that is, 2×Pc = Pr). As a result, the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment increases the number of carrier roller sets 61 in the forward path that receives a large load of the load, and minimizes the number of return roller sets 62 in the return path that does not receive the load of the load as much as possible, while maintaining a stable conveying capacity, the entire conveyor facility is simply configured.

[0021] Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor body 40 of the belt conveyor 100 has an insulating structure DS that does not have a firm connection to each other by not being connected by a vertical girder 72 at at least one adjacent location among a plurality of horizontal girders 50. The figure shows one insulating unit in which the front and rear of one vertical girder 72 are separated from other adjacent vertical girders 72 in the conveying direction. Note that the floor plate 70 and the vertical girder 72 can be a split structure or a joined structure at appropriate locations in the conveying direction. This split structure or joined structure can be provided at the location of the horizontal girder 50 or at the location between adjacent horizontal girders 50. It is preferable to arrange the split structure portions of the floor plate 70 and the vertical girder 72 at the location where the insulating structure DS is provided. In particular, in the present embodiment, the split structure portions of the floor plate 70 and the vertical girder 72 are arranged at the location of the horizontal girder 50.

[0022] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, so that an operator can walk, a floor plate 70 such as a punching metal is placed and fixed on the upper surfaces of two vertically adjacent vertical girders 72 of the conveyor body 40 of the belt conveyor 100, and a corridor serving as a work passage W is provided. The corridor serving as the work passage W is arranged along the conveying direction and protrudes laterally in the width direction from the left and right columns 60h of a plurality of roller brackets 60. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, two anti-sway wires 80L and 80R are provided for the lower surfaces of all the horizontal girders 50 of the conveyor body 40 at intervals in the width direction. In other words, each of the anti-sway wires 80L and 80R is provided at the location where a plurality of suspension wires 30L and 30R are arranged. Hereinafter, when the two anti-sway wires 80L and 80R are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as "anti-sway wire 80".

[0023] In the present embodiment, among the installation locations of the belt conveyor 100, at least one location in the middle part of the conveying path of the conveyor main body 40 is provided with a stabilizer wire 80, one end of which is connected and the other end of which hangs down and is fixed to the ground surface. Note that the stabilizer wire 80 is not limited to a configuration provided at all the installation locations of the hanger wires 30, and can be provided at a ratio of one location for every plurality of locations among the installation locations of the plurality of hanger wires 30 (for example, it can be arranged every other location or every two locations). The upper end 83 of each stabilizer wire 80 is fixed to the lower surface of the cross beam 50, and the anchor 82 at the lower end of the stabilizer wire 80 is buried in the ground surface and firmly fixed. In the present embodiment, the stabilizer wire 80 is provided in the same configuration for the lower surfaces of all the cross beams 50.

[0024] Next, the operation and effects of the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment will be described. When the header roller 41 is driven by the driving device 43 in the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, the conveyor belt 90 starts an infinite circulation between the leading header roller 41 and the trailing footer roller 42. The conveyor belt 90 is wound in a flattened state in the vicinity of the cylindrical header roller 41 and in the vicinity of the cylindrical footer roller 42. Also, in the middle part of the conveying path, in the upper forward path, the conveyor belt 90 is conveyed in a semi-circular arc-shaped support state with a cross-section that is substantially U-shaped and open upward by a plurality of carrier roller sets 61 of the roller brackets 60. Further, in the lower return path, it is conveyed in a substantially flat state by a plurality of return roller sets 62.

[0025] Accordingly, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, the endless conveyor belt 90 is circulated in a supported state forming a substantially U-shape in the forward path. Therefore, spillage during conveyance can be prevented. Also, since it is conveyed in a substantially flat state on the forward path side, the height of the conveyor main body 40 can be configured compactly. Therefore, it is suitable for simplifying the entire conveyor facility. Although not shown in the above embodiment, it is preferable to cover the upper part of the roller bracket 60 with a roof or a cover.

[0026] Here, for example, the suspension type belt conveyor described in Patent Document 1 has a problem of being vulnerable to crosswinds. On the other hand, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, as described above, at least one location in the middle part of the conveyance path of the conveyor main body 40 has a stabilizer wire 80 with one end connected and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground surface. Therefore, the lateral sway of the conveyor main body 40 is significantly reduced. That is, the suspension conveyor has a drawback of being easily swayed by wind or load. In contrast, the stabilizer wire 80 pulls the conveyor main body 40 downward, and the main cable 20 and the hanger wire 30 pull the conveyor main body 40 upward. Therefore, even if the conveyor main body 40 is exposed to wind from the side, it does not move easily, and the lateral sway of the belt conveyor 100 can be significantly reduced.

[0027] Here, the suspension type belt conveyor described in Patent Document 1 is so-called a "catenary type conveyor", while the suspension type belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment is so-called a "suspension type conveyor". That is, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, the conveyor main body 40 is supported along the conveyance direction by a plurality of pairs of hanger wires 30 hanging down from a pair of main cables 20L and 20R. Therefore, even when the conveyance path by the conveyor main body 40 is arranged to be horizontal, it is possible to make the tension of the pair of main cables 20L and 20R as small as possible, and the entire conveyor facility constituting the belt conveyor 100 can be configured simply.

[0028] In particular, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, since the conveyor main body 40 has an insulating structure DS that does not have a firm connection to each other at at least one adjacent location among the plurality of horizontal beams 50, even when the conveyance path by the conveyor main body 40 is arranged horizontally, the tension of the pair of main cables 20L and 20R can be minimized, which is suitable for simplifying the entire conveyor facility. Furthermore, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, the conveyor main body 40 has a work passage W that is arranged along the conveyance direction, protrudes laterally in the width direction beyond the conveyor belt 90, and serves as a walkway where workers can walk. Therefore, while simplifying the entire conveyor facility, it has excellent maintainability.

[0029] As described above, according to the belt conveyor 100 of the present embodiment, since the conveyor main body 40 is provided with a stabilizer wire 80 having one end connected to at least one location in the middle part of the conveyance path and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground surface, it can withstand crosswinds. Note that the belt conveyor according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0030] For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration example in which the horizontal beam 50 is supported by the hanger wire 30 is shown, but it is not limited to this. For example, without providing the horizontal beam 50, the carrier roller set 61 and the return roller set 62 can be directly supported by the hanger wire 30. Even with such a configuration, even when the conveyance path by the conveyor main body 40 is arranged horizontally, the tension of the pair of main cables 20 can be minimized while simplifying the entire conveyor facility.

[0031] Also, for example, in the above embodiment, as an example of a suspension type belt conveyor, the "suspension conveyor" was described as an example, but the configuration with a stabilizer wire is not limited to this. For example, a configuration with a stabilizer wire can also be provided for a "catenary conveyor". That is, as shown in FIG. 5, this catenary conveyor 100B includes at least two main towers 10B, main cables 20B, 20B that are spanned between the two main towers 10B along the conveying direction and are spaced apart from each other in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction to form a pair, a conveyor body 40B that is supported by the paired main cables 20B, 20B so as to draw a catenary curve, and an endless conveyor belt 90B that is wound around rollers supported by the conveyor body 40B along the conveying direction.

[0032] In the example of the figure, the anti-sway wire 80 is suspended and fixed from an arbitrary point on the conveyor frame 40f constituting the conveyor body 40B to the ground surface GL. Thus, the present invention can also be provided with an anti-sway wire 80 having one end connected to at least one location in the middle part of the conveying path of the conveyor body 40B and the other end suspended and fixed to the ground surface with respect to the "catenary conveyor" as shown in the figure.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0033] 10 Main tower 11 Anchor 20 Main cable 30 Hanger wire 40 Conveyor body 41 Header roller 42 Footer roller 43 Driving device 44 Hopper 45 Feeding device 50 Cross girder 60 Roller bracket 61 Carrier roller set 62 Return roller set 70 Floor board 71 Fence 72 Vertical girder 80 Anti-sway wire 90 Conveyor belt 100 Belt conveyor DS Insulation structure W Working passage (corridor)

Claims

1. At least two main towers, a conveyor body supported by a plurality of cables stretched along the load conveyance direction between the two main towers, an endless conveyor belt endlessly looped along the conveyance direction around a plurality of rollers of the conveyor body, a stabilizer wire having one end connected and the other end hanging down and fixed to the ground at at least one location in the middle part of the conveyance path of the conveyor body along the conveyance direction and the width direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction, and a belt conveyor characterized by comprising the same.

2. A pair of main cables stretched between the two main towers so as to be spaced apart in the width direction and form a catenary curve, a plurality of pairs of hanger wires hanging down from respective positions of the pair of main cables facing each other in the width direction, and the conveyor body supported at a middle part in the conveyance direction by the plurality of pairs of hanger wires. The belt conveyor according to Claim 1, comprising the same.

3. The conveyor body includes a plurality of cross girders horizontally supported along the width direction by each pair of the plurality of pairs of hanger wires, a pair of longitudinal girders respectively spanned between both side portions of the plurality of cross girders, a carrier roller set provided at a position facing each other in the width direction between the pair of longitudinal girders and constituting an outgoing path among the plurality of rollers, and a return roller set provided on the cross girders and constituting a return path among the plurality of rollers. The belt conveyor according to Claim 2, comprising the same.

4. The stabilizer wire is provided at the location where the plurality of pairs of hanger wires are arranged. The belt conveyor according to Claim 2 or 3.

5. The stabilizer wire is provided at a ratio of one out of a plurality of locations among the locations where the plurality of pairs of hanger wires are arranged. The belt conveyor according to Claim 4.

6. A pair of main cables stretched along the conveyance direction between the two main towers and spaced apart in the width direction, and the conveyor body supported so as to form a catenary curve by the pair of main cables. The belt conveyor according to Claim 1, comprising the same.

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