System for inverting buckets in reclaimers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for inverting buckets (1) in reclaimers, more specifically for inverting buckets (1) mounted on bucket wheels (5) of reclaimers. Said system comprises at least one bearing (2) attached to the radial structure of the bucket wheel (5), a shaft (4) supported by the bearing (2) in order to allow rotary movement of the shaft (4) relative to the bearing (2), the bucket (1) being attached to the shaft (4) and also being provided with the rotary movement relative to the bearing (2), and at least one torque limiter (3) attached to the bearing (2) and associated with the shaft (4) in order to limit the rotary movement of the bucket (1) relative to the bearing (2).

Description

[0001] "SYSTEM FOR INVERTING BUCKET CONTAINERS IN A RECLAIMER" Field of the Invention

[0002]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system for reversing buckets applied to a reclaimer, more specifically the buckets applied to a bucket wheel of this equipment, enabling their reversal in a practical and safe manner.

[0003] Background of the Invention

[0004]

[0002] Reclaimers are widely used equipment in the mining industry, more specifically for extracting ore from stockpiles and feeding transport systems, such as conveyor belts. Reclaimers play a crucial role in material storage yards, seaports, and other locations where the efficient transport of large quantities of ore is required.

[0005]

[0003] The main types of reclaimers used in mining include the drum reclaimer, the boom reclaimer, and the bridge reclaimer, all of which have in common a component known as the bucket wheel. The bucket wheel is the main component of the reclaimer, consisting of a plurality of buckets spaced apart on a wheel, performing a rotary motion of the wheel with said buckets to collect and dump the material to be moved by the reclaimer.

[0006]

[0004] The bucket wheel of the reclaimer can be rotated clockwise and counterclockwise, so that the direction of rotation of the bucket wheel is defined according to the orientation of its buckets. To this end, said buckets comprise a symmetrical structure, making it possible to change their orientation for use of the bucket wheel in the opposite direction, this change of orientation being known as inversion.

[0007]

[0005] In the prior art, buckets are held in specific positions by means of an adjustment arm fixed to the bucket wheel by means of pins with keys, causing said adjustment arm to prevent the bucket from changing orientation and having to be removed for the bucket to be inverted. The bucket inversion operation is performed by removing the pin of the adjustment arm associated with the bucket wheel by means of hammer blows, demanding great physical effort on the part of the worker, as well as exposure to accidents from the hammer blows.

[0008]

[0006] After removing the pin, the bucket can be inverted, where the adjustment arm is again fixed at another point on the bucket wheel by inserting the pin, causing the bucket to now be in a different orientation and completing the bucket inversion process. This bucket inversion process must be repeated for each of the buckets on the bucket wheel, requiring significant physical effort from the employees to remove and fix the pin associated with the adjustment arm, as well as a considerable execution time until the inversion of all buckets is completed, impacting productivity.

[0009]

[0007] Still within the state of the art, some documents related to bucket inversion are known, see document CA3021864A1 which describes an assembly to enable the automatic inversion of buckets applied to bucket wheels, avoiding the need to perform this activity manually for each bucket. The assembly described in this document, in a very summarized way, comprises a plurality of tie rods and two pivoting joints, in which each bucket is associated with the bucket wheel in a pivoting manner, so that its orientation is carried out by means of the tie rods and the pivoting joints.

[0010]

[0008] The tie rods comprise a first end connected to a pivot joint of the next bucket and the other end connected to another pivot joint of the bucket, connecting all the buckets of the wheel of buckets. Reversal is performed by moving the tie rod in relation to the pivot joints, allowing the bucket to be rotated in relation to the wheel and, consequently, the reversal to be performed.

[0011]

[0009] However, although Canadian document CA3021864A1 allows for the automatic inversion of buckets, it still requires the use of multiple tie rods to guide the bucket, making it impossible for the inversion to be performed solely through the pivoting joints or by the movement of the bucket wheel itself.

[0012]

[0010] Another document, still in the state of the art, is CN203514372U, which describes a new bucket construction applied to reclaimers, enabling the reclaimer to be inverted in a practical way to increase its service life and avoid frequent replacement. In short, the bucket construction disclosed in this document comprises a bucket associated with an eyelet on the bucket wheel and equipped with a left pressure plate and a right pressure plate.

[0013]

[0011] The bucket's connection to the bucket wheel via the eyelet with pin allows for its rotational movement, enabling its inversion through this movement. When performing this movement, the bucket is connected to the left or right pressure plate, preventing the bucket from being improperly inverted and ensuring its use in the correct orientation.

[0014]

[0012] However, although the Chinese document CN203514372U reveals a bucket with a mounting to enable its inversion, it still does not allow the bucket to be inverted directly by means of the component responsible for its rotary movement, requiring the presence of a left or right pressure plate for fixing and orienting the bucket.

[0015]

[0013] Thus, there is no state-of-the-art system for reversing buckets in reclaimers that allows this bucket reversal activity to be carried out in a practical and safe manner, enabling the bucket reversal to be performed by the bucket wheel's own movement.

[0016] Objectives of the Invention

[0017]

[0014] The present invention aims to provide a system for reversing buckets in a reclaimer that allows the buckets of the reclaimer's bucket wheel to have their orientation reversed in a practical and safe manner.

[0015] The present invention also aims to provide a system for reversing buckets in a reclaimer that allows the buckets of the reclaimer's bucket wheel to be reversed by the movement of the bucket wheel itself, without requiring external components or elements.

[0018] Summary of the invention

[0019]

[0016] According to the teachings of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system for reversing buckets in a reclaimer is described herein, the reclaimer comprising a bucket wheel having a plurality of buckets fixed to its radial structure, the system comprising: at least one bearing fixed to the radial structure of the bucket wheel; a shaft supported on the bearing to allow rotary movement of the shaft relative to the bearing; a bucket being fixed to the shaft and also having rotary movement relative to the bearing; and at least one torque limiter fixed to the bearing and associated with the shaft to limit the rotary movement of the bucket relative to the bearing.

[0020]

[0017] The system comprises two bearings, one arranged at each longitudinal end of the radial structure of the bucket wheel, and the shaft disposed in the space defined between the two bearings, also comprising a torque limiter in each bearing. The shaft comprises at least one means of association configured to transmit the rotary motion of the shaft to the bucket.

[0021]

[0018] The torque limiter is configured to prevent rotational movement of the shaft and bucket from occurring when the shaft torque is less than the minimum torque value of the torque limiter, the torque limiter consisting of a friction torque limiter.

[0022]

[0019] The torque required for reversing the bucket on the bucket wheel is generated by moving the bucket wheel in the opposite direction to the bucket's orientation and forcing the rear portion of the bucket into contact with a pile of material or the ground, generating a torque greater than the minimum torque of the torque limiter. In its preferred configuration, the system is installed on each of the buckets of the bucket wheel.

[0023] Brief Description of the Figures

[0024]

[0020] The present invention is described in more detail based on its figures.

[0025]

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bucket inversion system in a reclaimer of the present invention in its preferred configuration.

[0026]

[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the bucket inversion system in the reclaimer of the present invention in its preferred configuration.

[0027]

[0023] Figure 3 is a side view of the bucket inversion system in the reclaimer of the present invention in its preferred configuration.

[0028] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0029]

[0024] The material required in the present invention will be detailed hereafter by way of example and not limitation, since both the materials and methods per se disclosed herein may comprise different details and procedures, without departing from the scope of the invention, which will be defined in the claims.

[0030]

[0025] The present invention describes a system for reversing buckets 1 in a reclaimer which comprises, in its preferred configuration, at least one bearing 2, at least one torque limiter 3 and a shaft 4, as illustrated in Figure 1 and described in detail below.

[0031]

[0026] Bearing 2 consists of the component configured to connect the bucket 1 with the bucket wheel 5 of the reclaimer, being fixed to the radial structure of the bucket wheel 5. In its preferred configuration, bearing 2 comprises a base to be fixed to the radial structure of the bucket wheel 5 and a main portion to receive the shaft 4 and the torque limiter 3. Also in its preferred configuration, the system of the present invention comprises two bearings 2, arranged one at each longitudinal end of the radial structure of the bucket wheel 5, as illustrated in Figure 1. The space defined between one bearing 2 and the other, also in this preferred configuration, is configured to receive the shaft 4 and the bucket 1, where the shaft 4 is supported on the main portion of each bearing 2.

[0032]

[0027] Shaft 4, as described above, is supported by bearing 2 and, in its preferred configuration, comprises one end supported by bearing 2 and the other end supported by another bearing 2, enabling rotary movement of shaft 4 relative to bearings 2. Said shaft 4 is fixed to bucket 1, having a rotary movement relative to bearings 2 and transmitting this rotary movement to buckets 1, said movement being responsible for inverting bucket 1. Also in its preferred configuration, the transmission of the rotary movement from shaft 4 to bucket 1 is carried out through association means 4', more preferably by welding between shaft 4 and buckets 1. In alternative configurations, the association means may consist of keys or other components comprised by shaft 4, which are also associated with bucket 1 to transfer this rotary movement of shaft 4.

[0033]

[0028] 0 torque limiter 3 is fixed to shaft 4 and bearing 2, being configured to limit the rotary movement of shaft 4 in relation to bearing 2 and, consequently, the inversion movement of bucket 1 caused by this movement. In its preferred configuration, torque limiter 3 consists of a friction torque limiter, limiting the torque required to perform the rotary movement of shaft 4 and, consequently, the torque required to perform the inversion of bucket 1 associated with said shaft 4.

[0034]

[0029] Thus, to perform the inversion of the bucket 1 by the system of the present invention, it is necessary to apply a torque to the shaft 4 greater than the minimum torque value of the torque limiter 3, so that the inversion does not occur involuntarily, as well as dispensing with any external component such as tie rods or adjustment arms to prevent this inversion and maintain the desired orientation of the bucket 1.

[0030] In its preferred configuration, to perform the inversion of the bucket 1 by means of the system of the present invention, the bucket wheel 5 can be rotated in the opposite direction to the orientation of the buckets 1, causing the rear portion of the bucket 1 to come into contact with a pile of material or with the ground, generating a torque on the shaft 4 greater than that required by the torque limiter 3 and causing the inversion of the bucket 1, as illustrated in Figure 3.In this preferred configuration, the inversion of bucket 1 is performed by the rotary movement of the bucket wheel 5 itself, eliminating the need for external components and manual operations to perform the inversion.

[0035]

[0031] Still in its preferred configuration, the bucket inversion system 1 of the present invention is installed on each of the buckets 1 arranged on the bucket wheel 5 of the reclaimer, so that all buckets 1 can be inverted by means of the system, without the need to employ other components or devices to perform the inversion of the buckets 1.

[0036]

[0032] Thus, having been described in the system for reversing buckets 1 in the recovery machine of the present invention, it is evident that it fulfills the objectives it proposes, enabling the buckets 1 of the bucket wheel 5 of the recovery machine to be reversed in a practical and safe manner, as well as the reversal being motivated by the movement of the bucket wheel 5 itself, reducing the time required for this activity.

[0037]

[0033] Therefore, it must be understood that the applications and constructive configuration of the system for inverting buckets 1 in a recovery machine described are only some of the modalities and examples of situations that could occur, the real scope of protection of the present invention is defined in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. SYSTEM FOR INVERTING BUCKET HUB (1) IN A RECLAIMER, the reclaimer comprising a bucket wheel (5) equipped with a plurality of buckets (1) fixed to its radial structure, characterized in that the system comprises: at least one bearing (2) fixed to the radial structure of the bucket wheel (5); a shaft (4) supported on the bearing (2) to allow rotary movement of the shaft (4) in relation to the bearing (2); a bucket (1) being fixed to the shaft (4) and also being equipped with rotary movement in relation to the bearing (2); and at least one torque limiter (3) fixed to the bearing (2) and associated with the shaft (4) to limit the rotary movement of the bucket (1) in relation to the bearing (2).

2. SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the system comprises two bearings (2), one arranged at each longitudinal end of the radial structure of the bucket wheel (5) and the shaft (4) disposed in the space defined between the two bearings (2).

3. SYSTEM, according to claim 2, characterized in that the shaft (4) comprises at least one linkage means (4') configured to transmit the rotary motion of the shaft (4) to the bucket (1).

4. SYSTEM, according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a torque limiter (3) in each bearing (2).

5. SYSTEM, according to claim 4, characterized in that the torque limiter (3) is configured to prevent rotary movement of the shaft (4) and bucket (1) from occurring when the torque of the shaft (4) is less than the minimum torque value of the torque limiter (3).

6. SYSTEM, according to claim 5, characterized in that the torque limiter (3) consists of a friction torque limiter.

7. SYSTEM, according to claim 6, characterized in that the torque required for reversing the bucket (1) on the bucket wheel (5) is generated by moving the bucket wheel (5) in the opposite direction to orientation of the bucket (1) and forcing the rear portion of the bucket (1) into contact with a pile of material or with the ground, generating a torque greater than the minimum torque of the torque limiter (3).

8. SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the system is installed in each of the buckets (1) of the bucket wheel (5).

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