Dual Recirculating Chute Reconfiguration for Oversized Rock Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile rock crushing and screening plants face downtime and safety hazards due to accumulation of oversized unwanted material, which interferes with the screening process and requires manual removal, leading to lengthy shutdowns and potential safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A mobile material processing plant equipped with a dual positionable chute and actuators that can pivot from a closed to an open configuration, allowing for safe and efficient removal of oversized material from the recirculating conveyor by redirecting it outside the plant using hydraulic pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual removal of oversized unwanted material is implemented, then the material can be removed from the plant, but the plant must be shut down and locked out/tagout, causing lengthy downtime and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The reject chute is extracted from the closed circuit configuration and repositioned to an open configuration, allowing oversized unwanted material to be diverted out of the recirculating conveyor cycle and discharged separately, eliminating the need for plant shutdown and manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The reject chute is made dynamically reconfigurable between closed circuit and open configurations through hydraulic actuators, enabling the system to adapt its structure in real-time to handle different material flow conditions without manual intervention or shutdown
2Productivity
If the reject chute remains in closed circuit configuration, then the plant can operate continuously, but oversized unwanted material accumulates and interferes with screening process
Solution Approach 1:
The reject chute configuration is dynamically changed from closed to open position using hydraulic actuators when oversized material is detected, allowing continuous operation while periodically diverting accumulated unwanted material without interrupting the overall plant productivity
3Loss of time
If manual removal of oversized material is performed without proper shutdown, then downtime is reduced, but safety hazards increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically diverting oversized unwanted material through hydraulic actuation of the reject chute, eliminating the need for operator intervention and thereby removing the safety hazard associated with manual removal while maintaining continuous operation
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
Significantly reduces downtime and enhances safety by enabling the automatic redirection of oversized material, preventing machinery damage and allowing continuous operation without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
manipulating hydraulic pressure to one of said plurality of actuators coupled to a portion of said dual positionable chute and to a member; so that said dual positionable chute is caused to hinge from a closed circuit configuration to an open circuit configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A dual positioned recirculating chute that would allow the operator to run the plant in either closed circuit or open circuit position. While in closed circuit position, the plant will run rock through and the chute will provide as a recirculating chute for oversized rock to travel from the recirculating conveyor back into the feeder hopper for re-crushing. The operator can then reposition the chute to the open circuit position, which will change the direction of the chute away from the feeder hopper and discharge material off the side of the plant. This can be oversized rock material to form an additional stock pile or be redirected to an off-plant conveyor. This can also allow for the removal of trash and unwanted material from the plant cycle without the need for a full plant shutdown, locking out the proper equipment, and manually removing before restarting the crushing process again.