Flight Bar Clamp With Sacrificial Anode For Mining Conveyor Corrosion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In underground mining, chain conveyor flight bars, clamps, and chains experience wear due to harsh environmental conditions, leading to potential conveyor chain breaks and mining installation standstills if not timely replaced.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of sacrificial anodes into the flight bar-clamp-chain link assembly with sheltered receptions to reduce or prevent contact corrosion, protected from applied loads to maintain functionality and prevent anode loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If flight bars, clamps and conveyor chains are used in harsh underground mining environments, then material transport function is achieved, but contact corrosion occurs leading to component wear and potential chain breaks
Solution Approach 1:
A sacrificial anode is introduced as an intermediary component between the flight bar/clamp and the conveyor chain. This anode acts as a mediator that preferentially undergoes corrosion through galvanic action, protecting the main structural components (flight bar, clamp, and chain) from corrosion. The anode is electrically connected to these components and sacrifices itself to prevent corrosion of the critical load-bearing parts, thereby maintaining conveyor chain continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial anode is designed as a consumable, short-lived component that is intentionally allowed to corrode and be consumed over time. This disposable element protects the more expensive and critical components (flight bars, clamps, and conveyor chains) from corrosion. When the anode is fully corroded, it can be easily replaced, while the main structural components remain intact and reusable, thus preventing chain breaks and maintaining operational reliability.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If sacrificial anodes are added to protect against corrosion, then component lifespan is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sacrificial anode is integrated and merged with the existing flight bar-clamp-chain link assembly rather than being a separate附加 component. The anode is electrically connected to the flight bar and clamp, forming a unified galvanic protection system. This merging approach extends component lifespan through corrosion protection while minimizing additional complexity, as the anode becomes part of the existing assembly structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sacrificial anode provides self-service corrosion protection to the flight bar, clamp, and chain components. Through galvanic action, the anode automatically and continuously protects these components from corrosion without requiring external intervention, monitoring, or control systems. This self-service mechanism extends component lifespan while adding minimal complexity, as the protection is automatic and requires no additional active components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sacrificial anodes effectively reduce contact corrosion, extending the lifespan of flight bar-clamp-chain link connections and preventing premature failure of conveyor chains, thus minimizing the risk of conveyor chain breaks and maintaining continuous mining operations.
Implementation Method 1
The chain link engaging portion of the flight bar clamp may include a sacrificial anode reception. The flight bar clamp may comprise a sacrificial anode body disposed in the sacrificial anode reception.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a flight bar clamp for connecting a flight bar to at least one chain link of at least one conveyor chain of a chain conveyor used in underground mining. The flight bar clamp comprises a clamp main body extending along a clamp longitudinal axis, and at least one chain link engaging portion disposed at the clamp main body configured to engage with one chain link. The at least one chain link engaging portion of the flight bar clamp includes a sacrificial anode reception, and a sacrificial anode body disposed in the sacrificial anode reception. The sacrificial anode body may protect the flight bar clamp, the flight bar and the chains from contact corrosion.