Chain Conveyor Link Structure for Lateral Turns and Material Scraping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chain conveyors in mining machines face challenges in efficiently navigating lateral turns and maintaining material transport efficiency due to limitations in link design and flight bar configuration, which affect the conveyor's ability to deflect and scrape material effectively.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a link body with specific openings for connecting members, a flight bar with a recess for material scraping, and a connecting link with a relief opening for particulate evacuation, enhancing the conveyor's ability to navigate turns and maintain material transport efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional link design is used, then the structure is simple, but the conveyor cannot effectively navigate lateral turns and scrape material
Solution Approach 1:
The link body is segmented into multiple functional zones with different opening configurations. First links have a first opening configuration, second links have a second opening configuration, allowing different sections of the conveyor chain to perform specialized functions for navigating lateral turns while maintaining overall structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the link body are given different properties through varied opening configurations. The first opening (transverse direction) enables lateral deflection, while the second opening (longitudinal direction) allows articulation, creating local quality variations that enhance turn navigation capability without complicating the entire link structure
2Productivity
If flight bar without recess is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but material scraping efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is pre-formed in the flight bar during manufacturing, creating a built-in scraping edge that automatically performs the scraping function when the conveyor operates. This preliminary structural preparation eliminates the need for additional scraping mechanisms and maintains manufacturing simplicity while enhancing scraping efficiency
3Reliability
If connecting link without relief opening is used, then the structure is more robust, but particulate accumulation reduces durability
Solution Approach 1:
The relief opening extracts the harmful function of particulate accumulation by providing an escape path for debris. This opening removes the problem of material buildup that would otherwise compromise link durability, allowing the rest of the link structure to remain robust without additional complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Mining machines such as continuous miners and chain haulage units may include chain conveyors that are capable of deflecting laterally in order to travel through lateral turns. The chain conveyors may include flight members for pushing or urging material along a pan. The chain may be driven by one or more sprockets. In one independent aspect, a link for a chain conveyor includes a body including a first end a second end opposite the first end, a first opening proximate the first end and extending in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the link, a second opening proximate the second end and extending in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the link, and a relief opening extending through the link body and positioned between the first end and the second end.