Modular Symmetric Chain Conveyor for Lateral Turns and Easy Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional chain conveyors in mining machines face challenges in maintaining efficiency and reducing maintenance costs, particularly in navigating lateral turns and replacing worn-out components, as they often require complex reassembly and dedicated scraper flights.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a symmetric conveyor chain with removable links and flight bars that can be easily disassembled and replaced, featuring sprocket-engaging pins and coupler links for flexibility in installation and operation, along with hardened scraper portions for reduced wear and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional chain conveyors use fixed scraper flights, then material pushing efficiency is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chain conveyor is divided into modular links, each containing integrated scraper flights. These links can be independently removed and replaced, allowing maintenance without disassembling the entire conveyor system. The segmentation enables easy replacement of worn scraper flights while maintaining material pushing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper flight and chain link are merged into a single integrated component. The scraper flight is attached to the chain link such that it moves with the chain, eliminating the need for separate scraper mechanisms. This merging simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective material pushing capability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If conventional chain conveyors require dedicated scraper flights, then material scraping function is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor chain is segmented into replaceable links, each with its own scraper flight. When a scraper flight becomes worn or damaged, only that specific link needs to be removed and replaced, not the entire conveyor system. This segmentation dramatically improves ease of repair while maintaining the material scraping function.
Solution Approach 2:
The scraper flight is extracted as a separate, removable component attached to the chain link. This allows the scraper flight to be easily detached and replaced independently from the main chain structure, simplifying maintenance operations while preserving the material scraping capability.
3Strength
If chain conveyor links are permanently assembled, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability and ease of replacement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The chain link assembly transitions from a permanent fixed state to a dynamic state where links can be easily connected and disconnected. The design incorporates removable fastening mechanisms that maintain strong structural integrity during operation but allow quick assembly and disassembly for maintenance or reconfiguration, balancing strength with adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, a conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link coupled between the first link and the second link. The first link includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion oriented parallel to and laterally spaced apart from the first portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging pin protruding laterally, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging pin protruding laterally. The second link includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a first sprocket-engaging portion protruding laterally, and the second portion includes a second sprocket-engaging portion protruding laterally. A flight bar is positioned adjacent an end of the first sprocket-engaging portion of the first link.