阅读说明：本技术 带式输送机的维护方法、维护装置及相应的组件 (Maintenance method and maintenance device for belt conveyor and corresponding assembly ) 是由 勒内·布鲁诺内 于 2019-07-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：用于维护带式输送机(2)的方法,带式输送机包括纵向的输送带(3)和用于输送带(3)的多个支撑站(5),多个支撑站沿着输送带(3)分布,每个支撑站(5)包括托架(9),输送带(3)支撑在托架上；该方法包括以下步骤：-将处于收缩状态的可膨胀垫(27)在支撑站(5)中的一个支撑站附近的上升位置插入输送带(3)的下方；-使可膨胀垫(27)膨胀至膨胀状态,输送带(3)直接支撑在处于膨胀状态的可膨胀垫(27)上,而不再支撑在所述支撑站(5)的托架(9)上；-在所述支撑站(5)上执行维护操作；-使可膨胀垫(27)收缩至收缩状态。(Method for servicing a belt conveyor (2) comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt (3) and a plurality of support stations (5) for the conveyor belt (3), which are distributed along the conveyor belt (3), each support station (5) comprising a carrier (9) on which the conveyor belt (3) is supported, comprising the steps of-inserting an inflatable mat (27) in a deflated state under the conveyor belt (3) in a raised position near of the support stations (5), -inflating the inflatable mat (27) to an inflated state, the conveyor belt (3) being supported directly on the inflatable mat (27) in the inflated state without being supported on the carrier (9) of the support station (5), -performing a servicing operation on the support stations (5), -deflating the inflatable mat (27) to the deflated state.)

1. Method for maintenance of a belt conveyor (2) comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt (3) and a plurality of support stations (5) for the conveyor belt (3), distributed along the conveyor belt (3), each support station (5) comprising a cradle (9) on which the conveyor belt (3) is supported, the method comprising the steps of:

-inserting an expandable mat (27) in a contracted state under the conveyor belt (3) in a raised position near of the support stations (5);

-inflating the inflatable cushion (27) to an inflated state, the conveyor belt (3) being supported directly on the inflatable cushion (27) in the inflated state and no longer on the carrier (9) of the support station (5);

-performing maintenance operations on said support station (5);

-deflating the inflatable cushion (27) to a deflated state.

2. A maintenance method according to claim 1, wherein the carriage (9) comprises a plurality of support members (19) of the conveyor belt (3), the maintenance operation comprising replacing at least of the support members (19).

3. A maintenance method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor belt (3) is supported on the carrier (9) of the support station (5) by means of a support surface (23), the support surface (23) having a determined cross-sectional shape when the conveyor belt (3) is supported on the carrier (9) of the support station (5), the expandable mat (27) having a bearing surface (31) which is arranged to bear against the conveyor belt (3) in the expanded state, the bearing surface (31) having the determined cross-section in the expanded state without any stress.

4. The maintenance method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inflatable cushion (27) is inflated by a fan (29).

5. The maintenance method according to claim 4, wherein the inflatable cushion (27) and the fan (29) are mounted on a chassis (33) forming a single-piece portable sub-assembly.

6. The maintenance method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable mat (27) in the inflated state has a pressure between 1 and 3 bar absolute.

7. A maintenance method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor belt (3) comprises a conveyor chassis (17), the inflatable mat (27) being mounted on the conveyor chassis (17) in the raised position.

8. Maintenance device (25) of a belt conveyor (2) comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt (3) and a plurality of support stations (5) for the conveyor belt (3), distributed along the conveyor belt (3), each support station (5) comprising a cradle (9) on which the conveyor belt (3) is supported, the maintenance device comprising:

-an expandable mat (27) capable of selectively assuming a contracted state and an expanded state;

-an expansion member (29) arranged to expand the expandable mat (27) to an expanded state;

-said inflatable mat (27) is configured to be inserted under said conveyor belt (3) in an inflated condition in a raised position in the vicinity of of said support stations (5);

the inflatable cushion (27) is configured to raise the conveyor belt (3) in the raised position and in the inflated state such that the conveyor belt (3) is supported directly on the inflatable cushion (27) and no longer on the carrier (9) of the support station (5).

9. The maintenance device according to claim 8, wherein the conveyor belt (3) is supported on the carrier (9) of the support station (5) by means of a support surface (23), the support surface (23) having a determined cross-sectional shape when the conveyor belt (3) is supported on the carrier (9) of the support station (5), the expandable mat (27) having a bearing surface (31) which is arranged to bear against the conveyor belt (3) in the expanded state, the bearing surface (31) having the determined cross-section in the expanded state without any stress.

10. The maintenance device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the maintenance device (25) comprises a chassis (33) on which the inflatable cushion (27) and the expansion member (29) are mounted, forming a single-piece portable subassembly.

An assembly (1) of the kind , the assembly comprising:

-a belt conveyor (2) comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt (3) and a plurality of support stations (5) for the conveyor belt (3), distributed along the conveyor belt (3), each support station (5) comprising a carrier (9) on which the conveyor belt (3) is supported; and

-a maintenance device (25) of a belt conveyor (2) according to claim 8 or 9.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to conveyor belt maintenance.

Background

Such belt conveyors typically include a longitudinal conveyor belt and a plurality of support stations for the conveyor belt, distributed along the belt.

Each support station includes a carriage formed from or more support members.

The conveyor belt is supported on support members that give it a determined shape, usually a deep groove shape.

The support member is typically a roller or a pad.

The support member worn by contact with the belt needs to be replaced periodically.

This operation is not very convenient as the operator has to lift the belt to remove the support members and separate them from the chassis.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate maintenance of a belt conveyor.

According to an th aspect, the invention relates to a maintenance method of a belt conveyor, the belt conveyor comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt and a plurality of support stations for the conveyor belt, the support stations being distributed along the conveyor belt, each support station comprising a carrier on which the conveyor belt is supported, the maintenance method comprising the steps of:

-inserting the inflatable cushion in a deflated state under the conveyor belt in a raised position near of the support stations;

-inflating the inflatable cushion to an inflated state, the conveyor belt being supported directly on the inflatable cushion in the inflated state and no longer on the carriage of the support station;

-performing maintenance operations on said support station;

-deflating the inflatable cushion to its deflated state.

The inflatable cushion is thus able to raise the belt above the support station where maintenance operations must be performed.

Thus, an operator can easily intervene on the support station, particularly to replace of the support members of the strip.

The use of an inflatable cushion makes it possible to stably cushion the belt in a position in which the belt is no longer in contact with the support station.

Thus, the lifting of the belt is easily achieved without the need to implement a complicated mechanical system.

The inflatable mats may be easily moved along the conveyor belt to provide maintenance at different points of the conveyor.

The method is cost-effective, since it only requires simple and inexpensive means to implement.

The maintenance method can further exhibit or more of the following features that can be considered alone or based on all technically possible combinations:

the carriage comprises a plurality of support members of the conveyor belt, the maintenance operation comprising the replacement of at least of the support members;

-the conveyor belt is supported on the carrier of the support station by means of a support surface having a determined cross-sectional shape when the conveyor belt is supported on the carrier of the support station, the inflatable mat having a bearing surface arranged to bear against the conveyor belt in the inflated state, the bearing surface having the determined cross-section in the inflated state without any stress;

-inflating the inflatable cushion by means of a fan;

-the inflatable cushion and the fan are mounted on a chassis, forming a single portable subassembly;

-the inflatable cushion in the inflated state has a pressure between 1 bar absolute and 3 bar absolute;

the conveyor belt comprises a conveyor chassis on which the inflatable cushion is mounted in the raised position.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an maintenance device for a belt conveyor, the belt conveyor comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt and a plurality of support stations for the conveyor belt, the support stations being distributed along the conveyor belt, each support station comprising a carrier on which the conveyor belt is supported, the maintenance device comprising:

-an inflatable cushion capable of selectively adopting a deflated state and an inflated state;

-an inflation member arranged to inflate the inflatable cushion to its inflated state;

the inflatable cushion is configured to be inserted under the conveyor belt in an inflated state at a raised position adjacent of the support stations;

the inflatable cushion is configured to raise the conveyor belt in a raised position and in an inflated state such that the conveyor belt is supported directly on the inflatable cushion and no longer on the carrier of the support station.

The maintenance device may further exhibit or more of the following features that may be considered individually or based on all technically possible combinations:

-the conveyor belt is supported on the carrier of the support station by means of a support surface having a determined cross-sectional shape when the conveyor belt is supported on the carrier of the support station, the inflatable mat having a bearing surface arranged to bear against the conveyor belt in the inflated state, the bearing surface having the determined cross-section in the inflated state without any stress;

the maintenance device comprises a chassis on which the inflatable mat and the inflatable member are mounted, thereby forming a single-piece portable sub-assembly.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to assemblies, the assemblies comprising:

-a belt conveyor comprising a longitudinal conveyor belt and a plurality of support stations for the conveyor belt, distributed along the conveyor belt, each support station comprising a carrier on which the conveyor belt is supported; and

a maintenance device for a belt conveyor having the above-mentioned features.

Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of indicative and non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a schematic cross-section of an assembly according to the invention, with the inflatable cushion in a deflated state;

figure 2 is a front view of of the support stations of figure 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, with the inflatable cushion in its inflated condition;

figures 4 and 5 are a side view and a front view of the maintenance device of figure 1, the inflatable cushion being shown in an inflated condition; and

fig. 6 is a view similar to fig. 5, for an embodiment variant of the invention.

Detailed Description

The assembly 1 shown in fig. 1 comprises a belt conveyor 2.

The conveyor is typically intended to transport finely divided material, such as sand or ore from a mine.

The conveyor belt 2 comprises a longitudinal conveyor belt 3 and a plurality of support stations 5 for the conveyor belt, which are distributed along the belt.

The conveyor belt 3 is folded into loops and joined at its two ends around two turn-back rollers 6, 7.

Typically, of the two rollers are drives to provide drive for the belt 3.

The belt 3 is thus divided into an upper transport section 8 and a lower return section 8', which is only partially shown in fig. 1.

The station 5 supports the belt along the upper section 8 and also along the lower section 8'.

Each support station 5 comprises a carrier 9 on which the conveyor belt 3 is supported (see fig. 2). Each support station also comprises a support chassis 11 by means of which the station 5 is supported on the ground. For example, the chassis 11 of the different support stations 5 are structurally connected to each other by means of a connecting structure 15, as shown in fig. 1. The base frame 11 and the connecting structure 15 constitute a base frame 17 of the conveyor.

The carrier 9 comprises a plurality of support members 19 mounted on the support chassis 11.

The support members 19 are typically rollers mounted for rotation on the support chassis 11, or pads that are stationary relative to the support chassis 11.

In the case of a roller, the tamper protection 21 visible in fig. 2 hides the so-called re-entrant angle formed by the belt 3 and the support roller 19.

The conveyor belt is supported on the carrier 9 of the support station by a generally downwardly facing support surface 23.

The carrier 9 is arranged to support the conveyor belt 3 and give it a determined shape, for example a deep-groove shape of the type shown in fig. 2.

To this end, in the example shown, the support station comprises three support members 19, which are arranged laterally next to each other. The intermediate support member 19 is substantially horizontal. The other two support members 19 are inclined towards the intermediate support member.

Thus, the support surface 23 has a determined cross-sectional shape when the conveyor belt 3 is supported on the carriage 9.

This shape approximates the shape of the carrier 9.

The assembly 1 also comprises maintenance means 25 intended to facilitate maintenance of the belt conveyor. This device 25 is schematically shown in fig. 1 and 3, and in more detail in fig. 4 and 5.

The maintenance device 25 includes:

an inflatable cushion 27 capable of selectively adopting an inflated condition and a deflated condition;

an expansion member 29 arranged to expand the expandable pad 27 to its expanded state.

The cushion 27 is shown in a contracted state in fig. 1, and in an expanded state in fig. 3, 4 and 5.

The inflatable cushion 27 is an airtight bag. The inflatable cushion is made of any suitable flexible material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, polyurethane, or a coated and/or tight fabric.

In the contracted state, the pad 27 is in the form of a sheet, as shown in fig. 1.

Therefore, the inflatable cushion 27 is configured to be inserted under the belt 3 in an inflated state at a raised position near of the support stations 5, as shown in fig. 1.

Furthermore, the inflatable cushion 27 is configured to raise the conveyor belt 3 in the raised position and in the inflated state, so that the conveyor belt 3 is supported directly on the inflatable cushion 27 and no longer on the carrier 9 of the support station 5. This situation is illustrated in fig. 3.

For this purpose, the inflatable cushion has a bearing surface 31 which is arranged to bear against the conveyor belt 3 in the inflated state. Advantageously, the bearing surface 31 has the same determined cross-sectional shape as the support surface 23 of the conveyor belt 3 in the expanded state and in the absence of stress.

In the example shown, the bearing surface 31 has a deep groove shape. By "cross-section without stress" is meant here the cross-section of the support surface 31 when no external force is applied to the expandable mat 27, the shape of the support surface 31 being generated solely by the pressure inside the expandable mat 27, which pressure is nominal.

Because the support surface 23 of the belt 3 and the bearing surface 31 of the inflatable cushion 27 have the same cross-section, the inflatable cushion 27 fits easily under the belt 3 and can lift the belt without undue burden since the force applied to the inflatable cushion 27 does not cause significant deformation of the belt.

Thus, in the present invention, the bearing surface 31 only adopts the same cross section as the support surface 23, and is not affected by the expansion. No mechanical action is required.

The expansion member 29 is typically a fan. In variations, the inflation member is an electric pump, a blower, a manual pump, or any other device capable of injecting fluid into the inflatable cushion.

The use of a fan is particularly advantageous because such a device is inexpensive and lightweight. A compressor may also be used if it is desired to achieve high pressure within the inflatable cushion. However, this type of equipment is heavier and more expensive than fans.

The inflatable cushion 27 in the inflated state has a pressure between bar absolute to three bar absolute, this is here the internal pressure of the inflatable cushion 27.

The support surface 31 extends over the entire transverse width of the belt. The support surface extends between 10cm and 1m across the width, seen in the longitudinal direction.

The maintenance device 25 further comprises a chassis 33, the inflatable cushion 27 and the inflatable member 29 being mounted on the chassis 33.

For example, the lower face of the inflatable cushion opposite the support surface 31 is adhered to the chassis 33.

The expansion member 29 is rigidly secured to the chassis 33 by any suitable means.

The chassis 33 is, for example, an Omega (Omega) -shaped metal profile of the type shown in fig. 3 and 4.

In a variant, the chassis 33 may be of any other type.

Advantageously, the maintenance device 25 is arranged to be mounted on the base frame 17 of the belt conveyor when the maintenance device is placed in the raised position, as shown in fig. 1 and 3.

The invention also relates to a maintenance method for a belt conveyor 2, which belt conveyor 2 comprises a longitudinal conveyor belt 3 and a plurality of support stations 5 for the conveyor belt 3, which support stations are distributed along the belt.

Thus, a maintenance method is provided for the belt conveyor described above.

In particular, the maintenance method is carried out using the maintenance device 25 described above.

The maintenance method comprises the following steps:

inserting the inflatable cushion 27 in the deflated condition under the belt 3 in a raised position in the vicinity of of the support stations 5;

-inflating the inflatable cushion 27 to the inflated condition, the conveyor belt 3 being supported directly on the inflatable cushion 27 in the inflated condition and no longer on the carriage 9 of said support station 5;

-performing maintenance operations on said support station 5;

deflating the inflatable cushion 27 to its deflated state.

The inflatable cushion 27 generally operates as described above with respect to the assembly 1.

The inflatable cushion 27 is inserted beneath the belt 3 so that the bearing surface 31 is directly beneath the support surface 23 of the belt, the inflatable cushion being oriented so that the inflatable cushion 27 nests precisely on the support surface 23 once in its inflated condition because the support surface 23 and the bearing surface 31 have the same cross-section.

An inflatable mat 27 is mounted on the conveyor undercarriage 17 in an elevated position.

The inflatable cushion 27 is inflated as described with respect to the assembly 1 by means of the inflation member 29. The member 29 is typically a fan.

The raised position is chosen close enough to the support station 5 that, when the inflatable cushion 27 is inflated, the conveyor belt 3 rises above the carriage 9 and is no longer supported on it.

This situation is illustrated in fig. 3.

In the inflation step, the inflation member 29 is activated and delivers air to the interior of the inflatable cushion 27. The inflatable cushion gradually reaches its inflated state from its deflated state.

The inflatable cushion 27 and fan 29 are mounted on the chassis 33 as described above.

Thus, the inflatable cushion and fan advantageously form a one-piece portable subassembly.

The inflatable cushion and fan are supported on the conveyor chassis 17 by means of a chassis 33.

At the end of the expansion step, the expandable pad has a pressure between bar absolute to three bar absolute.

The inflatable cushion 27 is held during the inflation step throughout the maintenance step on the support station 5. Thus, the operator can easily access the support station without interference from the belt 3.

The maintenance step typically includes an operation of replacing one or more of the support members 19, the maintenance step may include other operations, such as procedures performed on other elements of the carrier 9 or on the chassis 11.

At the end of the maintenance step, the inflatable cushion 27 is deflated to its deflated state. This, in turn, enables the inflatable cushion to be withdrawn from its raised position.

Next, the maintenance device may be transported to other points of the belt conveyor to perform other maintenance operations.

During the steps already described above, the conveyor belt 3 is stopped, i.e. immobilized.

The invention has been described above with air inflating the pad in a variant where the pad is inflated with another gases according to another variant where the pad is inflated by a liquid such as water.

The present invention has been described with respect to inflatable cushions having a bearing surface with the same cross-section as the support surface of the belt in variations, the bearing surface has another shapes.

According to the embodiment variant shown in fig. 6, the maintenance device 25 comprises two inflatable cushions 27.

These pads 27 are preferably identical to each other and oriented in the same way.

Two inflatable mats 27 are mounted on two separate chassis 33, hi a variant, the two inflatable mats are mounted on the same chassis 33.

The two pads 27 each have two holes 35 so that the internal volume of the pad communicates with the outside.

The hole 35 of the th of the two mats 27 is fluidly connected to the of the holes 35 of the second mat 27 by a tube 37 the tube 37 is preferably removable the other of the th mat is connected to the vent of the inflation member 29 the other holes 35 of the second mat 27 are closed by a blocking member (not shown).

Thus, the expansion member 29 is able to immediately expand the two pads 27 when the tube 37 is connected to the hole 35.

The two cushions 27 are arranged to be able to be placed in a retracted state on either side of the support station 5 in the respective raised position in the expanded state of the two inflatable cushions 27, the conveyor belt 3 is supported directly on the two inflatable cushions 27 and no longer on the carrier 9 of the support station 5.

This arrangement is particularly suitable for very heavy conveyor belts or for belt conveyors that are stopped by a load, i.e. with products on the conveyor belt.

This arrangement also makes it possible to provide very rapid maintenance, since the carriages 9 of the support stations 5 are in fact released and accessible when the two sides of the belt are raised.

In a variant, a plurality of pads 27 is provided on each side of the support station 5, for example two pads or three pads or more than three pads on each side of the support station.

In a variant, a plurality of mats 27 are provided close to a plurality of consecutive support stations 5, for example or more mats are provided per station for two or more support stations 5 once the mats are inflated, which allows to maintain two or more support stations simultaneously.

All pads 27 are fluidly connected to each other by tubes 37 as described with reference to fig. 6. A single expansion member 29 is capable of expanding all of the pads 27 at once.

Alternatively, all of the pads 27 disposed on the same side of the support station 5 are fluidly connected to each other by tubing 37 as described with reference to FIG. 6 two expansion members 29 are sufficient to expand all of the pads 27.