Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a gyratory crusher used for crushing, and can be
suitably used in the construction and mining industries.
Background Art
[0002] Upon fine crushing of hard material, e.g. stone blocks or ore blocks, material is
crushed that has an initial size of approx. 100 mm or less to a size of typically
approx. 0-25 mm. Crushing, e.g. fine crushing, is frequently carried out by means
of a gyratory crusher. Said crusher has an outer shell that is mounted in a stand.
An inner shell is fastened on a crushing head. The inner and outer shells are usually
cast in manganese steel, which is strain hardening, i.e. the steel gets an increased
hardness when it is exposed to mechanical action. The crushing head is fastened on
a shaft, which at the lower end thereof is eccentrically mounted and which is driven
by a motor. Between the outer and the inner shell, a crushing gap is formed into which
material can be supplied. Upon crushing, the motor will get the shaft and thereby
the crushing head to execute a gyratory pendulum motion, i.e., a motion during which
the inner and the outer shell approach each other along a rotary generatrix and retreat
from each other along another diametrically opposite generatrix.
[0003] A material to be crushed is introduced into a feed hopper working as an inlet of
the crusher receiving the material and leading it down to the crushing gap to be crushed
between the first crushing shell and the second crushing shell as a result of the
gyrating movement of the crushing head, during which movement the two crushing shells
alternately approach and move away from one another. Furthermore, the crushing head,
and the first crushing shell mounted thereon, will be in rolling engagement with said
second crushing shell by way of the material to be crushed and all of the inner surfaces
of the parts of the crusher being subjected to wear by the material are protected
by a lining that is replaceable in a way known per se. The lining works as replaceable
wear parts made of robust liners of e.g. special alloy steel. However, some parts
and construction elements are not satisfactory protected from wear or dust/dirt.
[0004] The lower portion of the feed hopper is connected to the upper portion of the crusher.
The lower portion of the feed hopper and the upper portion of the crusher are to some
extent protected from wear by an inner rim lining. However, the connection between
these parts is not protected and thus is subject to wear and accumulation of crushing
material fragments and dust.
[0005] Moreover, prior art feed hoppers are mounted onto the upper portion of the crusher
after the inner rim lining are put on the upper portion. The inner rim lining has
an upper foot-like base part that is fitted into a groove in an upper end surface
of the upper crusher portion, which upper crusher end surface forms a flange. Hence,
firstly the inner rim lining is put onto this flange and fitted in the groove when
assembling the crusher, and then the feed hopper is put on the flange outside the
inner rim lining but over the toes of the foot of the inner rim lining being flush
with the upper edge of the groove, and, lastly, the feed hopper is detachably attached
to the flange of the crusher securing that the inner rim lining is held in place.
This assembly is delicate as the inner rim lining is casted and often is difficult
to fit into the groove due to warps or misalignment due to the nature of casting.
After operating the crusher a certain time, the inner rim lining has to be replaced
due to wear and the feed hopper is detached from the crusher flange, the weared out
inner rim lining removed and new rim lining is to be fitted into the groove. Then,
difficulties arise due to both misalignment induced by the casting and dust or material
that has accumulated in the groove during crusher operation, as the inner rim lining
then must be machined into dimensions fitting into the groove, and the groove has
to be cleaned from material and dust for not obstructing the fitting in of the rim
lining. This on site extra work is demanding on man hours and also time consuming.
Summary of the Invention
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a feed hopper, which solve, or at least
lessen the problems mentioned above.
[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide a feed hopper enabling protecting the
connection between the feed hopper and the crusher from wear from the material to
be crushed.
[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a feed hopper enabling easy assembly
and replacement of the inner rim lining.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a feed hopper eliminating, or at least
reducing, the need for intricate cleaning and/or machining when replacing the inner
rim lining.
[0010] It is also an object of the invention to provide a feed hopper enabling easy assembly
of the feed hopper itself on the crusher, but also simplifies the securing of the
inner rim lining in place, as well as the fitting in of the feed hopper in relation
to both the inner rim lining and the crusher.
[0011] These objects are achieved by means of a feed hopper, an inner rim lining and a gyratory
crusher for wear protection as claimed in the associated independent claims, preferred
variants thereof being defined in the associated dependent claims.
[0012] The feed hopper according to the independent claim 1 protects the connection between
the feed hopper and the crusher from wear from material to be crushed.
[0013] The feed hopper according to the independent claim 1 facilitates the assembly and
replacement of the inner rim lining by providing a simple construction and a protected
connection between the feed hopper and the crusher, which connection is shielded from
crushed material and dust, which may be an obstacle when replacing the inner rim lining.
[0014] The feed hopper according to the independent claim 1 also improves the assembly and
replacement of the feed hopper itself, the inner rim lining and the fitting in of
the feed hopper in relation to both the inner rim lining and the crusher by providing
a simple construction reducing the demand on the tolerances for the fit at assembly
and disassembly and when manufacturing the feed hopper, inner rim lining and the crusher,
which makes the assembly and disassembly and manufacturing of these parts easier and
reduces the manufacturing and assembly and disassembly costs.
[0015] In some embodiments, the holding means is placed at a distance from the lower end
of the lower feed hopper portion. Since the holding means is placed at a distance
from the lower end of the lower feed hopper portion, the protection of the connection
between the feed hopper and the crusher is assured.
[0016] In some embodiments, the removable inner rim lining comprises a top end portion comprising
a projection extending downwards along the lower feed hopper portion, which projection
is supported by an upper portion of the crusher, which crusher upper portion comprises
an elevated shoulder and the projection is hooked on the crusher shoulder. Thereby,
the inner rim lining is secured in relation to the feed hopper and the crusher in
a safe and easy way by means of a simple construction. In addition, the replacement
of the inner rim lining is facilitated and the need for exhaustive cleaning as well
as machining in order to redefine the dimensions of the rim lining and to remove material
fragments and dust from the crushing are eliminated.
[0017] In some embodiments, the inner rim lining contact surface is arranged at a top end
portion of the removable inner rim lining. Thereby, the protection of the connection
between the feed hopper and the crusher is further improved and no pocket between
the feed hopper and the inner rim lining is present, which pocket could accommodate
and store material fragments and dust from the crushing material.
[0018] In some embodiments, the holding means is integrated in the feed hopper. This facilitates
the manufacturing of the feed hopper and strengthens the construction, since no specific/separate
part have to be manufactured.
[0019] In some embodiments, the holding means comprises a device for adjustment of the holding
means. Thereby, the demand on the tolerances when manufacturing the holding means
may be decreased, which makes the manufacturing easier and reduces the manufacturing
cost, since the holding means may be adjusted after assembly of the feed hopper on
the crusher and therefore does not have to have a perfect fit.
[0020] In some embodiments, the device for adjustment of the holding means is adapted to
bring the contact surfaces together. Consequently, the holding means contact surface
and the inner rim lining contact surface does not have to have a perfect fit derived
from the manufacturing of the surfaces. The contact surfaces do not have to be in
contact with each other directly when fitting the feed hopper on the crusher, which
facilitates both the manufacturing and the assembly. Instead, the contact surfaces
may be brought into contact with each other after the feed hopper has been fitted
on the crusher in order to bear against each other and thereby secure the inner rim
lining.
[0021] One effect of the invention is that the connection between the feed hopper and the
crusher is protected from wear from the material to be crushed. Further, the connection
between the feed hopper and the crusher is protected from material fragments and dust
from the material that is crushed, which means that the assembly and replacement of
the inner rim lining is made easier. In addition, the assembly and replacement of
the inner rim lining is facilitated because of the improved/simplified constructional
design.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0022] The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings,
which show examples of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a crusher with a feed hopper according to the invention
partly cut out for showing the inner parts of the crusher,
Fig. 2 is a perspective view in enlarged scale showing a part of the connection between
the feed hopper and the crusher assembled in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a perspective view in enlarged scale showing a part of the connected feed
hopper and the crusher in Figs. 1 and 2, and
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a removable inner rim lining for wear protection of
the inside of the crusher.
Detailed Description of the Invention
[0023] The gyratory crusher 10 with a feed hopper 20 according to the invention is shown
in Figs. 1 to 3. The crusher comprises a frame 40 comprising an upper frame portion
41 and a lower frame portion 42 comprising a hub 43. The feed hopper 20 is detachably
mounted onto the upper frame portion to function as a first inlet of material to be
crushed (see Fig. 1). A vertical central shaft 60 is supported by the lower frame
portion, via a spherical support in a cylinder-piston assembly 30 comprising a thrust
bearing arranged on a piston of a hydraulic cylinder disposed in the frame 40. An
eccentric 61 is rotatably arranged about the central shaft 60, i.e. mounted on the
shaft, which excenter is adapted to rotate about said shaft. A crushing head 70 is
mounted about the central shaft, and thus indirectly in the eccentric. A drive shaft
65 is arranged to cause the eccentric to rotate about the central shaft by means of
a conical gear wheel engaging with a gear rim connected to the eccentric. The gear
rim connected to the eccentric forms a drive ring 63 and is comparted in a drive ring
pocket from the shaft. The eccentric comprises a hole through which the shaft is arranged,
which hole is displaced in relation to a centre axis 80 of the hub 43 and is slightly
inclined relative to the vertical plane to accommodate the tilting shaft, which is
per se known in the art. Because of the displacement of the hole of the eccentric
and the shaft, the crushing head will also be slightly inclined relative to the vertical
plane.
[0024] A first crushing shell 71 is fixedly mounted on the crushing head 70 being fixedly
mounted to the shaft 60. A second crushing shell 72 is fixedly mounted on the upper
frame portion 41. Between the two crushing shells a crushing gap 73 is formed, i.e.
delimited, the width of which, in axial section as illustrated in Fig. 1, decreases
in the downward direction. When the drive shaft 65 (shown in Fig. 1), during operation
of the crusher 10, rotates the eccentric 61, the crushing head will execute a gyrating
movement that drives the first crushing shell being an internal cone. A material to
be crushed is introduced in the crushing gap 73 and is crushed between the first crushing
shell and the second crushing shell as a result of the gyrating movement of the crushing
head, during which movement the two crushing shells alternately approach and move
away from one another in a gyratory pendulum motion. The crushing head, and the first
crushing shell mounted thereon, will be in rolling engagement with said second crushing
shell by way of the material to be crushed. This rolling engagement causes the first
crushing shell, the crushing head and the shaft to rotate slowly together in a direction
of rotation that is substantially opposite to the direction of rotation of the eccentric
during crushing.
[0025] The feed hopper 20 according to the invention comprises a lower feed hopper portion
21 adapted for detachable mounting to the crusher 10. The lower feed hopper portion
comprises a lower end 22. The crusher is protected from wear by the material to be
crushed by means of a removable inner rim lining 50 supported by the cone crusher.
[0026] The lower feed hopper portion 21 comprises holding means 23 adapted to secure the
removable inner rim lining 50 in place. The holding means is an integrated edge on
the inside of the feed hopper and extending inwards of the feed hopper towards the
centre axis 80 extending through the crusher (see Fig 7). The holding means comprises
a contact surface 24 adapted to bear against a contact surface 53 of the removable
inner rim lining.
[0027] The holding means 23 is placed at a distance from the lower end 22 of the lower feed
hopper portion 21 in the direction of the centre axis 80. The holding means is placed
upstream of the lower feed hopper end 22 in the direction of flow for the material
to be crushed through the crusher 10.
[0028] The removable inner rim lining 50 comprises a top end portion 51 comprising a rim
lining projection 52 extending downwards along the lower feed hopper portion 21 in
the direction of the centre axis 80. The projection is supported by an upper portion
11 of the crusher, which comprises an elevated shoulder 12 and the rim lining projection
is hooked on the crusher shoulder and held in place inwards by the shoulder and outwards
by the feed hopper 20. This is shown in Figs 2 and 3. The inner rim lining contact
surface 53 is arranged at the top end portion 51 of the removable inner rim lining.
The inner rim lining 50 is shown in Fig 4 where its top end surface 53 and foot-like
base 52 in the form of projections are clearly shown. The foot-like base of the projection
52 has an underside, i.e. a lower contact surface 54 for bearing against the upper
portion of the crusher.
[0029] The holding means 23 is integrated in the feed hopper 20 but could also be a separate
device 25 detachably and/or adjustably connected to the feed hopper. The holding means
23 comprises the device 25 for adjustment of the holding means. This device 25 is
adapted to bring the holding means contact surface 24 together with the rim lining
contact surface 53 and/or away from each other. The holding means contact surface
24 is an underside of the holding means (see Figs 2 and 3) adapted to bear against
the upper side of the inner rim lining 50, i.e. the rim lining contact surface 53
faces the holding means 23 from below while the holding means contact surface 24 faces
the inner rim lining 50 from above.
[0030] The holding means 21 are integrated in the feed hopper 20 meaning that the feed hopper
is put down on the crusher 10 when assembling the crusher, such that the holding means
contact surface 24 bears against the upper contact surface 53 of the upper end 51
of the inner rim lining 50 while the feed hopper at the same time is supported by
the upper portion 11 of the crusher 10 in the form of a flange 13 (see Figs 2 and
3). Then, the feed hopper is attached for example by tightening screw passing through
holes in the feed hopper and into fastening holes on the crusher flange 13 for securing
the feed hopper.
[0031] The inner rim lining 50 is machined at the upper end 51 to get a contact surface
with a defined dimension and distance from the underside of the foot-like parts 52
to the upper bearing surface 53 for achieving a tolerance to faulty installation,
warped surfaces and misadjustment due to the casting of the inner rim lining. This
is important as the inner rim lining comprises separate segments around the inner
circumference of the crusher, i.e. the inner rim lining is divided in a plurality
of parts similar to separate arcs being a portion of a circular circumference, and
the inventors realized that to be able to simplify the assembly and the replacement
of the separate rim lining spare parts around the whole inside of the crusher and
the fitting of the feed hopper 20 against and over the rim lining to eliminate skewing
of the feed hopper and individual rim lining parts locally around the inner edge of
the crusher, the dimensions and contact surfaces between the feed hopper, the rim
lining and the crusher must be defined, and is done in accordance with the invention.
[0032] In one aspect of the invention, the detachable connection between the feed hopper
20 and the crusher 10 is protected from wear by the material to be crushed by means
of the removable inner rim lining 50. Hence, the lower feed hopper portion 21 is adapted
to secure the removable inner rim lining in place by the holding means 23 placed at
a distance from the lower feed hopper end 22.
[0033] In another aspect of the invention, the crusher 10 comprises an inlet for detachable
connection to the lower feed hopper portion 21, which inlet of the crusher supports
the feed hopper 20, whereby the detachable connection between the inlet of the crusher
and the feed hopper is protected from wear by the material to be crushed by means
of the removable inner rim lining 50, which removable inner rim lining is supported
by the inlet of the crusher, characterized in that the lower feed hopper portion is
adapted to secure the removable inner rim lining in place by means of the holding
means 23 placed at a distance from the lower end 22 of the lower feed hopper portion.
- 10
- gyratory crusher
- 11
- upper portion of crusher
- 12
- elevated shoulder on upper portion of crusher
- 13
- flange on upper portion of crusher
- 20
- feed hopper
- 21
- lower portion of feed hopper
- 22
- lower end of feed hopper
- 23
- holding means
- 24
- lower contacting surface of holding means
- 25
- device for adjustment of holding means
- 30
- cylinder-piston arrangement
- 40
- crusher frame
- 41
- upper crusher frame portion
- 42
- lower crusher frame portion
- 43
- crusher frame hub
- 50
- inner rim lining
- 51
- top/upper end portion of inner rim lining
- 52
- projection from upper end of inner rim lining
- 53
- top/upper contact/bearing surface of top end of inner rim lining
- 54
- lower contact/bearing surface of rim lining projection
- 60
- vertical shaft
- 61
- eccentric
- 62
- driving device
- 70
- crushing head
- 71
- first crushing shell
- 72
- second crushing shell
- 73
- crushing gap
- 80
- centre axis of feed hopper/crusher/hub
1. A feed hopper (20) for a gyratory crusher (10), which feed hopper comprises a lower
feed hopper portion (21) adapted for detachable mounting to the crusher, which lower
feed hopper portion comprises a lower end (22) supported by the crusher, whereby the
crusher is protected from wear by the material to be crushed by means of a removable
inner rim lining (50), which removable inner rim lining is supported by the cone crusher,
characterized in that the lower feed hopper portion (21) comprises holding means (23) adapted to secure
the removable inner rim lining (50) in place, which holding means comprises a holding
means contact surface (24) adapted to bear against an inner rim lining contact surface
(53) of the removable inner rim lining, which holding means protrudes inwards of the
feed hopper.
2. A feed hopper (20) according to claim 1, wherein the holding means (23) is placed
at a distance from the lower end (22) of the lower feed hopper portion (21).
3. A feed hopper (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the removable inner rim lining
(50) comprises a top end portion (51) comprising a rim lining projection (52) extending
downwards along the lower feed hopper portion (21), which projection is supported
by an upper portion (11) of the crusher, which crusher upper portion comprises an
elevated shoulder (12) and the rim lining projection is hooked on the crusher shoulder.
4. A feed hopper (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the inner rim lining
contact surface (53) is arranged at a top end portion (51) of the removable inner
rim lining.
5. A feed hopper (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding means (23)
is integrated in the feed hopper (20).
6. A feed hopper (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the holding means (23)
comprises a device (25) for adjustment of the holding means.
7. A feed hopper (20) according to claim 6, wherein the device (25) for adjustment of
the holding means (23) is adapted to bring the contact surfaces (24, 53) together.
8. An inner rim lining (50) for a gyratory crusher (10), which inner rim lining (50)
is adapted to be removably and securely attached to a feed hopper (20) according to
any of the preceding claims.
9. A gyratory crusher (10) comprising a feed hopper (20) according to any of the claims
1 to 7.