Spider Arm Shield Fixating Ring Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gyratory crusher spider arm shields face issues with attachment failure due to exposed bolt heads and labor-intensive welding, which leads to increased maintenance time and stress concentrations in the spider arms.

Innovation Solution

A modular spider protection shield assembly that uses a fixating ring for attachment, eliminating the need for direct bolting or welding, allowing for easy mounting and dismounting without compromising the spider's integrity, and enabling the shields to be raised and lowered as a single unit with reduced crane operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If bolt attachment is used to secure shields to spider arms, then the shields can be easily mounted and dismounted, but the bolt heads become exposed to crushable material causing damage and attachment failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshield mounting and dismountingVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A fixating ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the shield and the spider arm. The fixating ring is bolted to the spider arm and provides a protected attachment interface for the shield, preventing direct exposure of attachment elements to crushable material while enabling easy shield installation and removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If welding is used to attach shields to spider arms, then the shields are securely fixed, but the process is labor and time intensive and creates stress concentrations in the spider arms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshield attachment securityVSAvoidshield installation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The welding process is replaced with a mechanical bolted connection system using a fixating ring. This substitution eliminates the need for labor-intensive welding operations, reduces installation time, and avoids creating stress concentrations in the spider arm structure while maintaining secure shield attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of repair

If each spider arm shield is raised and lowered independently for servicing, then individual shields can be replaced, but multiple crane operations are required increasing maintenance time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual shield replacementVSAvoidmaintenance time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual shields are merged into a single integrated shield assembly that is mounted as one unit on the spider arms. This allows the entire assembly to be raised and lowered by a single crane operation, significantly reducing maintenance time while still enabling individual shield replacement when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If welding is used to secure shields, then strong attachment is achieved, but the welding process compromises the strength characteristics of the spider by creating stress concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidspider structural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The fixating ring serves as a mediator that distributes attachment loads away from the spider arm structure. By providing a separate attachment platform that is bolted to the spider arm, the system maintains strong shield attachment while avoiding stress concentrations in the spider's structural members.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3204160B1Spider arm shield

Publication Date: 2019.09.18 SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB

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AI summary

A gyratory crusher spider arm shield for releasable mounting to a spider arm. The shield is mounted in position above and around the spider arm via locating feet and is maintained in position by a fixating ring extending circumferentially around the spider arms and positioned at and above a perimeter of the spider.