Crusher thrust bearing Anti-lift protection

Abstract

A thrust bearing (300) for carrying a crusher head (170) of a cone crusher (100), a cone crusher (100), and a mobile mineral material processing plant comprising the same, in which an upper bearing is attached to the crusher head (170) A pressure plate (140) resides between the upper bearing (130) and the lower bearing (150). The pressure plate (140) defines a central opening (142). The lower bearing (150) integrally forms a central protrusion (152) that extends to the central opening (142) and inhibits elevating the pressure plate (140) along with the upper bearing (130) on lifting the head (170) out of the cone crusher (100).

Description

[0001] CRUSHER THRUST BEARING ANTI-LIFT PROTECTION

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure generally relates to a crusher thrust bearing anti-lift protection.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein representative of the state of the art.

[0006] Gyratory and cone crushers break up mineral material using a thrust bearing. In one solution, the thrust bearing is positioned below a main shaft, and the thrust bearing comprises a pressure plate between an upper and lower bearing. In that solution, the upper bearing is fixed to the main shaft. The pressure plate may become attached onto an upper bearing unreliably through adhesion of an oil film and atmospheric pressure such that on lifting the main shaft, the pressure plate may start to ascend along with the upper bearing, but suddenly fall, if not reliably secured or detached before lifting the main shaft away.

[0007] The detaching has been promoted by fixing a suitable releasing member to a vertical adjustment piston that supports the lower bearing. The releasing member has a lip that catches an edge of the pressure plate to prevent its ascending with the upper bearing when the main shaft is lifted out. However, such releasing members may break in extended operation with a risk of releasing small pieces of steel to the core of the crusher. Unfortunately, the releasing member is out of sight inside the crusher so fractures of the release member could practically be impossible to detect before stopping and dissembling the crusher.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to avoid or at least alleviate problems relating to the pressure plate becoming accidentally lifted and dropped on disassembly of the crusher.

[0009] SUMMARY

[0010] The appended claims define the scope of protection. Any examples and technical descriptions of apparatuses, products and / or methods in the description and / or drawings not covered by the claims are presented not as embodiments of the invention but as background art or examples useful for understanding the invention.

[0011] According to a first example aspect there is provided a thrust bearing for carrying a crusher head of a cone crusher; wherein the thrust bearing comprises an upper bearing attached to the crusher head; a lower bearing; and a pressure plate between the upper bearing and the lower bearing; the pressure plate defines a central opening; and the lower bearing integrally forms a central protrusion configured to extend to the central opening and to inhibit elevating the pressure plate along with the upper bearing on lifting the head out of the cone crusher.

[0012] According to a second example aspect there is provided a cone crusher comprising a crusher head; a thrust bearing; wherein the thrust bearing comprises an upper bearing attached to the crusher head; a lower bearing; and a pressure plate between the upper bearing and the lower bearing; the pressure plate defines a central opening; and the lower bearing integrally forms a central protrusion configured to extend to the central opening and to inhibit elevating the pressure plate along with the upper bearing on lifting the crusher head out of the cone crusher.

[0013] Advantageously, by binding the lower bearing to the pressure plate, the central protrusion may increase load weight beyond that oil film adhesion and atmospheric pressure could carry on lifting the crusher head.

[0014] The cone crusher may further comprise a main shaft for moving a crusher head to produce crushing movement. The main shaft may be stationarily supported.

[0015] The cone crusher may further comprise an eccentric that is rotatable around the main shaft to move the crusher head.

[0016] The lower bearing may be attachable to the main shaft or to a piston supported to the main shaft. The lower bearing may be attachable, e.g., by one or more bolts. The lower bearing may be attachable through an intermediate part that is attached to the main shaft or to the piston supported by the main shaft. The piston may be laterally supported to the main shaft. The piston may be laterally supported to the main shaft.

[0017] The central protrusion may be configured to inhibit elevating the pressure plate along with the upper bearing on lifting the crusher head out of the cone crusher, when the pressure plate is in a crushing position. The crushing position may refer to a position in which the pressure plate has become positioned by movement of the pressure plate relative to the lower bearing.

[0018] The central protrusion may be configured to engage with the pressure plate asymmetrically so that an oil film between the pressure plate and the upper bearing becomes opened on starting to lift the crusher head out of the cone crusher.

[0019] The central opening may have a bottom part and a top part. The bottom part may be narrower than the top part. The central opening may be shaped to form a shoulder between the top part and the bottom part. The bottom part of the central opening may have a first diameter.

[0020] The pressure plate may be circular. The pressure plate may have a double conical shape. The pressure plate may have concave bottom surface. The pressure plate may have concave top surface.

[0021] The central protrusion may comprise a lateral protrusion configured to engage with at least some portion of the shoulder. The lateral protrusion may extend to at least three different directions. The at least three different directions may differ by at most 140 degrees from an adjacent direction. The at least three different directions may differ by same amounts. The lateral protrusion may comprise one or more continuous portions. The lateral protrusion may form a lip. The lip may be a circular lip. The lip may be coaxial with the pressure plate. The lip may form a disc shape. The lip may extend along a top extreme of the central protrusion. The circular lip may have a second diameter. The second diameter may be smaller than the first diameter. The circular lip may have a planar bottom surface.

[0022] The lower bearing may comprise an annular shape configured to inhibit lateral movement of the lower bearing relatively to the main shaft unless elevated out from a nominal rest position.

[0023] The lower bearing may be made by casting such that the central protrusion is an integral part of the lower bearing. Advantageously, force concentrations may be avoided by avoiding focused heating and discontinuities in the lower bearing, which might result in welding or bolting the central protrusion to the lower bearing. The casting of the lower bearing may advantageously enhance lateral force endurance. The lower bearing may be machined after the casting.

[0024] The thrust bearing may be an axial thrust bearing.

[0025] The upper bearing may be made of steel. The pressure plate may be made of bronze. The lower bearing may be made of steel. Advantageously the pressure plate may be made of softer material than the upper bearing and the lower bearing so that the pressure plate would wear instead of the upper and lower bearings. The pressure plate may be relatively simple to manufacture in comparison to the bearings. Alternatively, the upper bearing and the lower bearing may be made of softer material than the pressure plate.

[0026] According to a third example aspect there is provided a mobile mineral material processing plant comprising the cone crusher of the second example aspect; and a mobile platform configured to support the cone crusher and enable transportation of the cone crusher.

[0027] Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments have been illustrated in the foregoing. The embodiments in the foregoing are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in different implementations. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0029] Some example embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0030] Figs. 1 to 4 schematically show some details of a cone crusher according to an example embodiment;

[0031] Fig. 5 further illustrates the cone crusher of Figs. 1 to 4; and

[0032] Fig. 6 schematically shows a mobile mineral material processing plant according to an example embodiment.

[0033] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In the following description, like reference signs denote like elements or steps. Reference signs are numbered to commence with a number of drawing.

[0035] Figs. 1 to 4 schematically shows some details of a cone crusher 100 according to an example embodiment, comprising a thrust bearing 300 for carrying a crusher head 170; wherein the thrust bearing 300 comprises an upper bearing 130 attached to the crusher head 170; a lower bearing 150; and a pressure plate 140 between the upper bearing 130 and the lower bearing 150. In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 defines a central opening 142.

[0036] In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 integrally forms a central protrusion 152 configured to extend to the central opening 142 and to inhibit elevating the pressure plate 140 along with the upper bearing 130 on lifting the crusher head 170 out of the cone crusher 100.

[0037] Fig. 1 further illustrates a main shaft 120; a piston 160 arranged to move axially inside the main shaft 120 for adjusting height of a crusher head 170; an eccentric 110 that is rotatable around the main shaft 120 to move the crusher head 170 for producing crushing movement; and a thrust bearing 300 between the main shaft 120 or the piston 120 and the crusher head 170.

[0038] Advantageously, by binding the lower bearing 150 to the pressure plate 140, the central protrusion 152 may increase load weight (combining the weights of the pressure plate and the lower bearing) beyond that oil film adhesion and atmospheric pressure could carry on lifting the crusher head 170. In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 is attachable to the main shaft 120 or to the piston 160. In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 is attachable by one or more bolts. In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 is attachable through an intermediate part 180 that is attached to the main shaft 120 or to the piston 160. The main shaft 120 and the piston 160 together form a main shaft assembly.

[0039] In an example embodiment, the central protrusion 152 is configured to inhibit elevating the pressure plate 140 along with the upper bearing 130 on lifting the crusher head 170 out of the cone crusher 100, when the pressure plate 140 is in a crushing position.

[0040] In an example embodiment, the central protrusion 152 is configured to engage with the pressure plate 140 asymmetrically so that an oil film between the pressure plate 140 and the upper bearing 130 becomes opened on starting to lift the crusher head 170 out of the cone crusher 100. Fig. 3 illustrates one example of an asymmetric central protrusion 152. Advantageously, the asymmetric central protrusion 152 can be left unmachined on one side, such as the left-hand side in Fig. 3 so as to further simplify the manufacturing. By leaving some play or tolerance between the lip 210 and an engaging part of the central protrusion 152, the adhesion force between the pressure plate 140 and the upper bearing 130 may become easier to terminate with resulting asymmetric force that is directed more onto one side of the pressure plate where the central protrusion inhibits further elevation. In an example embodiment, the central opening 142 has a bottom part 310 and a top part 320. In an example embodiment, the bottom part 310 is narrower than the top part 320. In an example embodiment, the central opening 142 is shaped to form a shoulder 330 between the top part and the bottom part. In an example embodiment, the bottom part 310 of the central opening 142 has a first diameter.

[0041] In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 is circular. In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 has a double conical shape. In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 has concave bottom surface. In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 has concave top surface.

[0042] In an example embodiment, the central protrusion 152 comprises a lateral protrusion configured to engage with at least some of the shoulder 330. In an example embodiment, the lateral protrusion extends to at least three different directions. In an example embodiment, the at least three different directions differs by at most 140 degrees from an adjacent direction. In an example embodiment, the at least three different directions differs by same amounts. In an example embodiment, the lateral protrusion comprises one or more continuous portions. In an example embodiment, the lateral protrusion forms a lip 210. In an example embodiment, the lip 210 is a circular lip. In an example embodiment, the lip 210 is coaxial with the pressure plate 140. In an example embodiment, the lip 210 forms a disc shape. In an example embodiment, the lip 210 extends along a top extreme of the central protrusion 152. In an example embodiment, the lip 210 is circular and has a second diameter. In an example embodiment, the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter. In an example embodiment, the lip 210 has a planar bottom surface.

[0043] In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 comprises an annular shape configured to inhibit lateral movement of the lower bearing 150 relatively to the main shaft unless elevated out from a nominal rest position.

[0044] In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 is made by casting such that the central protrusion 152 is an integral part of the lower bearing 150. Advantageously, force concentrations is avoided by avoiding focused heating and discontinuities in the lower bearing 150, which might result in welding or bolting the central protrusion 152 to the lower bearing 150. In an example embodiment, the casting of the lower bearing 150 advantageously enhances lateral force endurance.

[0045] In an example embodiment, the upper bearing 130 is made of steel. In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 is made of bronze. In an example embodiment, the lower bearing 150 is made of steel. Advantageously the pressure plate 140 is made of softer material than the upper bearing 130 and the lower bearing 150 so that the pressure plate 140 would wear instead of the upper and lower bearings 130, 150. In an example embodiment, the pressure plate 140 is relatively simple to manufacture in comparison to the upper and lower bearings 130, 150.

[0046] Fig. 5 further illustrates the cone crusher 100 of Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 5 shows a lower body 510 and an upper body 520 attached to the lower body 510. The lower body supports the rotating parts of the cone crusher through different sliding bearing surfaces, including the thrust bearing 300 (that comprises the upper bearing 130, the pressure plate 140, and the lower bearing 150). Fig. 5 further shows the wear parts or blades between which crushing takes place. An inner wear part 540 is supported by the crusher head 170. An outer wear part 550 is supported to the upper body 520, e.g., via a height adjustment system.

[0047] In an example embodiment, the main shaft 120 comprises an oil channelling 530 for distributing oil to lubricate sliding that occurs between the main shaft 120 and the eccentric 110 (optionally with an inner bearing bushing that resides between the main shaft 120 and the eccentric 110). The oil lubrication channelling is mentioned for understanding that some gaps in the main shaft appear because Fig. 5 shows the main shaft when sectioned at various parts of the oil channelling 530.

[0048] Fig. 6 schematically shows a mobile mineral material processing plant 600 according to an example embodiment, comprising the cone crusher 100 of the second example aspect; and a mobile platform configured to support the cone crusher 100 and enable transportation of the cone crusher 100.

[0049] In an example embodiment, the mineral material processing plant 600 is suited for instance for open-pit mines for crushing stone material. The cone crusher 100 shown with the examples in Figs. 1 to 6 may be usable as a middle or secondary crusher, e.g., in fine crushing. In an example embodiment, the mineral material processing plant 600 comprises a body 610. In an example embodiment, the mineral material processing plant 600 comprises a track base 620 is attached to enable independent movement. In an example embodiment, the mineral material processing plant 600 comprises a feeder 630 for feeding material for crushing, to the cone crusher 100. In an example embodiment, the feeder comprises a conveyor 640 and an emptying conveyor 650 for conveying the crushed material further, for instance to a heap beside the crushing plant. In an example embodiment, the mineral material processing plant 600 comprises a power source such as electric, diesel or other type of motor and transmission 660 from the power source to the cone crusher 100.

[0050] In an example embodiment, the feeder 630 is a lamella conveyor, belt conveyor or vibration feeder which can also be screening, separating fine aggregate from the material to be crushed before crushing.

[0051] In an example embodiment, instead of the track base 620, mobility is provided can be enabled with feet, skids or tires. In an example embodiment where the mineral material processing plant 600 is implemented with a track base, transportation on road on a cradle or equivalent transportation arrangement may be provided for. In an example embodiment where the mineral material processing plant 600 is implemented with tires, transportation on road may be enabled through towing, e.g., by a semi-trailer. Alternatively, the mineral material processing plant 600 may be a stationary crushing plant.

[0052] Various embodiments have been presented. It should be appreciated that in this document, words comprise; include; and contain are each used as open-ended expressions with no intended exclusivity.

[0053] The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples of particular implementations and embodiments a full and informative description of the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented in the foregoing, but that it can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the invention.

[0054] Furthermore, some of the features of the afore-disclosed example embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A thrust bearing (300) for carrying a crusher head (170) of a cone crusher (100), wherein the thrust bearing (300) comprises an upper bearing attached to the crusher head (170); a lower bearing; and a pressure plate (140) between the upper bearing (130) and the lower bearing (150); the pressure plate (140) defines a central opening (142); and the lower bearing (150) integrally forms a central protrusion (152) configured to extend to the central opening (142) and to inhibit elevating the pressure plate (140) along with the upper bearing (130) on lifting the head (170) out of the cone crusher (100).

2. The thrust bearing (300) of claim 1 , wherein the central protrusion (152) is configured to inhibit elevating the pressure plate (140) along with the upper bearing (150) on lifting the crusher head (170) out of the cone crusher (100), when the pressure plate (140) is in a crushing position.

3. The thrust bearing (300) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the central protrusion (152) is configured to engage with the pressure plate (140) asymmetrically so that an oil film between the pressure plate (140) and the upper bearing (130) becomes opened on starting to lift the crusher head (170) out of the cone crusher (100).

4. The thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims, wherein the central opening (142) has a bottom part and a top part; and the bottom part is narrower than the top part.

5. The thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims, wherein the central opening (142) is be shaped to form a shoulder between the top part and the bottom part.

6. The thrust bearing (300) of claim 5, wherein the central protrusion comprises a lateral protrusion configured to engage with at least some portion of the shoulder.

7. The thrust bearing (300) of claim 6, wherein the lateral protrusion forms a lip (210) that is circular.

8. The thrust bearing (300) of claim 7, wherein the lip (210) has a planar bottom surface.

9. The thrust bearing (300) of claim 7 or 8, wherein the bottom part of the central opening (142) has a first diameter;the lip (210) has a second diameter; the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter.

10. The thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims, wherein the lower bearing (150) is attachable to a main shaft assembly (120,160) that comprises a main shaft (120) and a piston (160) arranged to move longitudinally inside the main shaft (120).11 . The thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims, wherein the lower bearing (150) comprises an annular shape configured to inhibit lateral movement of the lower bearing (150) relatively to a main shaft (120) unless elevated out from a nominal rest position.

12. The thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims, wherein the lower bearing (150) is made by casting such that the central protrusion is an integral part of the lower bearing (150).

13. The thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims, wherein the pressure plate (140) is made of a softer material than the upper bearing (130) and the lower bearing (150).

14. A cone crusher (100) comprising a crusher head (170); a thrust bearing (300) of any one of preceding claims for carrying the crusher head (170).

15. A mobile mineral material processing plant comprising the cone crusher (100) of claim 14; and a mobile platform configured to support the cone crusher (100) and enable transportation of the cone crusher (100).

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