Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a gyratory crusher shell lifting tool adapted for
lifting a gyratory crusher shell.
[0002] Still further, the invention relates to a method of lifting a gyratory crusher shell.
Background of the Invention
[0003] A gyratory crusher may be utilized for efficient crushing of material, such as stone,
ore, etc. into smaller sizes. The gyratory crusher is provided with an inner crusher
shell and an outer crusher shell forming between them a crushing chamber. The outer
crusher shell is mounted in a frame of the crusher. The inner crusher shell is arranged
on a crushing head, which is made to perform a gyratory movement to effect crushing
of material in the crushing chamber.
[0004] WO 2014/019762 A1 discloses a gyratory crusher outer crushing shell for being mounted in a frame of
a gyratory crusher. The crushing shell is a heavy wear part, which could often have
a weight of half a metric ton and more. When lifting the crushing shell, for example
when lifting the crushing shell into its position in the crusher frame, it is common
practice to weld a plurality of lifting eyes to the upper edge of the crushing shell
and then use a hoisting crane for lifting the crushing shell by those lifting eyes.
When the crushing shell is in place and fixed to the crusher frame, the lifting eyes
are cut off from the crushing shell by means of a cutting torch.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a gyratory crusher shell lifting
tool which is more efficient than the lifting eyes used in the prior art.
[0006] This object is achieved by means of a gyratory crusher shell lifting tool adapted
for lifting a gyratory crusher shell, the shell lifting tool comprising:
a generally vertical central bar,
a lower hub arranged at a lower end of the central bar,
an upper hub arranged at the central bar above the lower hub,
at least one locking mechanism arranged on at least one of the upper and lower hubs
to make the at least one of the upper and lower hubs releasably fixed to the central
bar,
at least a first lifting leg and a second lifting leg that are provided with a respective
outwardly directed lifting portion adapted to come into contact with an inner periphery
of a gyratory crusher shell, wherein each of the first and second lifting legs are
mounted to the upper hub and being journalled therein to be turnable in a vertical
direction relative to the upper hub, and wherein each lifting leg is journalled to
a respective link extending to the lower hub,
said respective link being adapted to move the respective outwardly directed lifting
portion of the respective leg away from the central bar when at least one of the lower
and upper hubs is moved in the direction of the other one of the lower and upper hubs.
[0007] An advantage of this gyratory crusher shell lifting tool is that it can be mounted
easily and quickly to the crusher shell, with very limited efforts and without health
risks to the operating personnel. Thereby, a gyratory crusher shell can be lifted
and moved from one place to another efficiently and with low risks to personnel and
materials.
[0008] According to one embodiment the at least a first lifting leg and a second lifting
leg are evenly distributed around the periphery of the central bar. An advantage of
this embodiment is that a crushing shell can be lifted in a safe manner, without tipping
to one side during the lifting.
[0009] According to one embodiment the shell lifting tool comprises at least three lifting
legs. An advantage of this embodiment is that the crusher shell can be lifted in an
even safer and more stable manner.
[0010] According to one embodiment the shell lifting tool comprises 3 - 8 lifting legs.
This number of lifting legs has proven to provide for efficient lifting of the crusher
shell without adding undue cost and complexity to the shell lifting tool. More preferably
the shell lifting tool comprises 4 - 5 lifting legs. This number of lifting legs has
been found to provide for excellent stability and safety when lifting a crusher shell,
and also a low cost for manufacturing the shell lifting tool.
[0011] According to one embodiment the respective outwardly directed lifting portions of
the lifting legs are arranged at respective lower ends of the respective legs. This
provides for stable and safe lifting of a gyratory crusher shell, since it is lifted
at its lower portion, where the gyratory crusher shell normally has its widest inner
width.
[0012] According to one embodiment each lifting leg is journalled to the respective link
extending to the lower hub at a respective central portion of the respective lifting
leg. An advantage of this embodiment is that the lifting legs can be turned in a vertical
plane within a large angular span, to thereby make it possible to adjust the shell
lifting tool to shells of largely varying sizes. Preferably, the central portion of
the respective lifting leg is positioned within a central location CL of the full
length FL of the lifting leg, wherein the central location CL starts at a distance
from the upper end of the leg corresponding to about 5% of the full length FL of the
lifting leg, and ends at a distance from the upper end of the leg corresponding to
about 75% of the full length FL of the lifting leg. An advantage of this embodiment
is that a suitable combination of high movability of the legs and good physical strength
of the legs is achieved.
[0013] According to one embodiment the upper hub is provided with the locking mechanism
and is releasably fixed to the vertical central bar, and wherein the lower hub is
fixedly mounted to a lower end of the vertical central bar. An advantage of this embodiment
is that it becomes easy and efficient to handle the lifting tool and to adjust the
legs to a suitable position, since the locking mechanism is arranged at the upper
hub, which is normally easily accessible. Preferably, the locking mechanism is integrated
into the upper hub. This provides for an efficient and compact arrangement.
[0014] According to one embodiment the locking mechanism comprises at least one locking
member which is adapted to co-operate with the vertical central bar in a tooth-and-groove
arrangement in a locked state of the locking mechanism. An advantage of this embodiment
is that a tooth-and-groove arrangement provides for a reliable, strong and thereby
safe locking mechanism.
[0015] According to one embodiment a control handle of the locking mechanism is adapted
for switching the position of at least one locking member between a locked state in
which the locking member co-operates with the vertical central bar and a released
state in which the locking member and the vertical central bar are released from each
other. An advantage of this embodiment is that controlling the locking mechanism and
its current state becomes easy and safe.
[0016] According to one embodiment the locking mechanism is provided with a fail-safe device,
such as a spring device, which is adapted to bring the locking mechanism to a released
state unless a securing mechanism of the locking mechanism has been properly installed
to hold the locking mechanism in a locked state. An advantage of this embodiment is
that accidents are prevented, since the locking mechanism is either safely held in
its locked state, and is, if not safely locked, automatically returned to the released
state.
[0017] According to one embodiment the vertical central bar is provided with a lifting device,
such as a lifting eye, arranged in an upper end thereof. An advantage of this embodiment
is that standard lifts, such as cranes with lifting hooks, can be used for lifting
the lifting tool and the crusher shell. Furthermore, the vertical central bar is normally
a mechanically strong device that can support the load of the crusher shell.
[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of lifting a gyratory
crusher shell which is more efficient than the methods of the prior art.
[0019] This object is achieved by means of a method comprising placing a gyratory crusher
shell lifting tool inside the gyratory crusher shell, the shell lifting tool comprising:
a generally vertical central bar,
a lower hub arranged at a lower end of the central bar,
an upper hub arranged at the central bar above the lower hub,
at least a first lifting leg and a second lifting leg that are provided with a respective
outwardly directed lifting portion, wherein each of the first and second lifting legs
are mounted to the upper hub and being journalled therein to be turnable in a vertical
direction relative to the upper hub, and wherein each lifting leg is journalled to
a respective link extending to the lower hub,
the method further comprising:
moving at least one of the lower and upper hubs in the direction of the other one
of the lower and upper hubs to make the outwardly directed lifting portions of the
legs come into contact with an inner periphery of the gyratory crusher shell,
locking at least that hub that has been moved to the vertical central bar, such that
both hubs become fixed to the vertical central bar, and lifting the shell lifting
tool and thereby lifting the gyratory crusher shell together with it.
[0020] An advantage of this method is that a gyratory crusher shell can be lifted very quickly
and in a very safe manner.
[0021] According to one embodiment said step of moving at least one of the lower and upper
hubs in the direction of the other one of the lower and upper hubs includes moving
the upper hub downwardly in the direction of the lower hub, and wherein said step
of locking that hub that has been moved to the vertical central bar includes locking
the upper hub to the central bar. An advantage of this embodiment is that locking
the hub becomes easy, thereby making the handling of the lifting tool more efficient.
[0022] According to one embodiment the method further comprises lifting the shell lifting
tool by connecting a lift to a lifting device arranged at an upper end of the vertical
central bar. An advantage of this embodiment is that the shell lifting tool can be
lifted in a safe and efficient manner.
[0023] Further objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description and claims.
Brief description of the Drawings
[0024] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view illustrating a gyratory crusher shell
lifting tool placed inside of an outer crushing shell.
Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a locking mechanism of the shell lifting tool of
Fig. 1, wherein the locking mechanism is in a locked state.
Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of the locking mechanism of Fig. 2 wherein the locking
mechanism is in a released state.
Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of the shell lifting tool in a passive mode.
Fig. 5a is a schematic side view of the shell lifting tool in an active mode.
Fig. 5b is a schematic side view of the shell lifting tool in the active mode and
when being used for lifting an outer crushing shell.
Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of a shell lifting tool being used for lifting a large
outer crushing shell.
Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 arranged inside a circular
gyratory crusher outer crushing shell 2 for making it possible to lift the latter.
In Fig. 1 the shell 2 is shown in cross-section to better illustrate the details of
the shell lifting tool 1.
[0026] The gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 comprises a generally vertical central
bar 4, a lower hub 6 fixedly mounted at a lower end 8 of the central bar 4, and an
upper hub 9 arranged on the vertical central bar 4 above the lower hub 6 and comprising
a locking mechanism 10. By means of the locking mechanism 10 the upper hub 9 is releasably
fixed to the central bar 4 and can be moved to various positions along the central
bar 4, above the lower hub 6.
[0027] First, second, third and fourth lifting legs 12, 14, 16, 18 are, at respective upper
ends 20 thereof, mounted to the upper hub 9. The legs 12, 14, 16, 18 are, at their
respective upper ends 20, journalled in respective upper hub bracket and bearing devices
22, 24, 26, 28 of the upper hub 9, meaning that the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 may be turned
in a vertical direction relative to the upper hub 9. The four lifting legs 12, 14,
16, 18 are evenly distributed around the periphery of the central bar 4, meaning that
when viewed from above, since there are four legs, the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 are at
a 90° angle to each other.
[0028] Each leg 12, 14, 16, 18 is provided with a respective outwardly directed lifting
portion 30 arranged at a respective lower end 32, opposite to the respective upper
end 20, of the respective leg 12, 14, 16, 18. The respective lifting portion 30 is
adapted to come into contact with an inner periphery 34 of the gyratory crusher outer
crushing shell 2 when lifting the latter.
[0029] Each leg 12, 14, 16, 18 is, preferably at a respective central portion 36 thereof,
journalled to a respective link 38, 40, 42, 44 extending from the respective central
portion 36 to the lower hub 6. By "central portion 36" is meant a portion that is
positioned within a central location CL of the full length FL of the respective lifting
leg 12, 14, 16, 18. The central location CL preferably starts at a distance from the
upper end 20 corresponding to about 5% of the full length FL of the lifting leg 12,
14, 16, 18, and ends at a distance from the upper end 20 corresponding to about 75%
of the full length FL of the lifting leg 12, 14, 16, 18. In the embodiment of Fig.
1 the central portion 36 is located in the absolute middle of the lifting leg, i.e.
exactly in the middle between the upper end 20 and the lower end 32, meaning a location
of the central portion 36 corresponding to 50% of the full length FL of the respective
lifting leg 12, 14, 16, 18. At the lower hub 6, the respective link 38, 40, 42, 44
is journalled in respective lower hub bracket and bearing devices 46, 48, 50, 52 of
the lower hub 6.
[0030] The respective link 38, 40, 42, 44 is adapted for moving the respective outwardly
directed lifting portion 30 of the respective leg 12, 14, 16, 18 away from the central
bar 4 when the upper hub 9 is moved downwards in the direction of the lower hub 6.
Such movement downwards of the upper hub 9 is performed when the lifting tool 1 is
adjusted to the crushing shell 2, by the lifting portions 30 being brought into contact
with the inner periphery 34 of the outer crushing shell 2, just prior to lifting the
crushing shell 2.
[0031] Similarly, the respective link 38, 40, 42, 44 is adapted for moving the respective
outwardly directed lifting portion 30 of the respective leg 12, 14, 16, 18 toward
the central bar 4 when the upper hub 9 is moved vertically upwards and away from the
lower hub 6. Such movement upwards of the upper hub 9 is performed when the lifting
tool 1 is to be released from the outer crushing shell 2, by the lifting portions
30 being released from contact with the inner periphery 34 of the crushing shell 2,
after having lifted the crushing shell 2.
[0032] The vertical central bar 4 comprises, at an upper end 54 thereof, a lifting device,
which in this embodiment has the form of a lifting eye 56. A crane or similar device
can be connected to the lifting eye 56 to lift the gyratory crusher shell lifting
tool 1 and the gyratory crusher outer crushing shell 2.
[0033] Fig. 2 illustrates the vertical central bar 4 and the upper hub 9 with its locking
mechanism 10 in more detail. The locking mechanism 10 is integrated into the upper
hub 9 which provides for an efficient design with few parts. In the perspective illustrated
in Fig. 2 a cover plate and the bracket and bearing device 24 are not illustrated
to show the relevant internal details of the locking mechanism 10 more clearly.
[0034] The purpose of the locking mechanism 10 is to enable adjustment of the vertical position
of the upper hub 9 along the vertical central bar 4 and to thereby adjust the vertical
turning position of the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 between a passive mode, and a lifting,
or active, mode.
[0035] In the passive mode the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 are close to parallel to the vertical
central bar 4, such that the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 can be inserted
into, or removed from, the interior of the gyratory crusher outer crushing shell 2,
as will be described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 4. In this passive mode, as
will be described in more detail hereinafter, the upper hub 9 and the locking mechanism
10 have been slid to an upper position along the vertical central bar 4.
[0036] In the active mode the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 are inclined, in relation to the vertical
central bar 4, similar as is disclosed in Fig. 1, to make the respective outwardly
directed lifting portion 30 at the respective lower end 32 of the respective leg 12,
14, 16, 18 come into contact with the inner periphery 34 of the gyratory crusher outer
crushing shell 2 such that the crushing shell 2 can be lifted. In this active mode,
as will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to Figs. 5a, 5b and
6, the upper hub 9 and the locking mechanism 10 have been slid to a lower position
along the vertical central bar 4, wherein the exact position along the vertical central
bar 4 depends on the particular inner width of that crushing shell 2 that should be
lifted.
[0037] The vertical central bar 4 comprises a first and a second row 58, 60 of alternating
horizontal teeth 62 and horizontal grooves 64 extending in opposite directions. The
locking mechanism 10 comprises a first locking member 66 and a second locking member
68. Each locking member 66, 68 comprises horizontal teeth 70 and horizontal grooves
72 that are adapted to co-operate with the horizontal teeth 62 and horizontal grooves
64 of the vertical central bar 4 in a tooth-and-groove arrangement.
[0038] The locking mechanism 10 comprises a release mechanism 74, which in Fig. 2 is shown
in a locked state. The release mechanism 74 comprises a first and a second slide plate
76, 78. The slide plates 76, 78 can be moved upwards in a vertical direction, shown
by arrows RV, by means of a control handle 80, also shown in Fig. 1. Each slide plate
76, 78 is provided with inclined guiding tracks 82 cooperating with corresponding
pins 84 of the locking members 66, 68. Upon lifting the control handle 80 upwardly
the slide plates 76, 78 will move vertically upwards, in the direction of the arrows
RV. As an effect of such upward movement, the inclined guiding tracks 82 of the respective
first and second slide plate 76, 78 will cooperate with the pins 84 of the respective
locking member 66, 68 and press the locking members 66, 68 horizontally, in the direction
of arrows RH, away from the vertical central bar 4, thereby disengaging the teeth
70 and grooves 72 of the locking members 66, 68 from the teeth 62 and grooves 64 of
the vertical central bar 4.
[0039] The locking mechanism 10 is provided with a fail-safe device comprising, in this
embodiment, two springs 85. The springs 85 are connected to the respective slide plates
76, 78 and are adapted to bring the locking mechanism 10 from the locked state of
Fig. 2 to a released state, described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 3, unless
a securing mechanism of the locking mechanism 10 has been properly installed to hold
the locking mechanism 10 in the locked state. In Fig. 2 the securing mechanism 86
is schematically illustrated as two securing pins 86 that extend through the respective
slide plates 76, 78 and further through a side wall 87 of the locking mechanism 10
to secure the slide plates 76, 78 in the locked position. Hence, when setting the
locking mechanism 10 to its locked state, the control handle 80 is pressed downwards,
against the action of the springs 85, until the securing pins 86 can be inserted,
and in this locked state the locking members 66, 68 engage the vertical central bar
4 as illustrated in Fig. 2.
[0040] Fig. 3 illustrates the vertical central bar 4 and the upper hub 9, wherein the release
mechanism 74 of the locking mechanism 10 is in the released state. This state has
been reached by removing the securing pins 86, illustrated in Fig. 2, after which
the springs 85 have forced the slide plates 76, 78 upwards, thereby urging the locking
members 66, 68 away from the vertical central bar 4. In this released state, when
the locking members 66, 68 have been pressed horizontally away from engagement with
the vertical central bar 4, the locking mechanism 10, and thereby the upper hub 9
and the upper hub bracket and bearing devices 22, 24, 26, 28, can be moved freely
along the vertical central bar 4 to set the desired inclination of the legs 12, 14,
16, 18, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.
[0041] Fig. 4 illustrates how the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 has been set to
the passive mode, wherein the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 are close to parallel to the vertical
central bar 4, by transferring the locking mechanism 10 to its released state, illustrated
in Fig. 3, and moving the upper hub 9 and the locking mechanism 10 upwards to its
upper position, adjacent to the upper end 54 of the vertical central bar 4, and then
returning the locking mechanism 10 to its locked state, illustrated in Fig. 2, and
inserting the securing pins 86. The upper hub 9 may be provided with a lifting handle
88 to make it easier to move the upper hub 9 to its desired position. In this passive
state the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 has been inserted into the interior
of the gyratory crusher outer crushing shell 2, which lies on the ground GR.
[0042] Fig. 5a illustrates, in a perspective which is turned 90° compared to the perspective
of Fig. 4, how the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 has been set to the active
mode. The setting to the active mode has been made by transferring the locking mechanism
10 to its released mode, illustrated in Fig. 3, moving the upper hub 9 with the locking
mechanism 10 vertically downwards along the vertical central bar 4, in a direction
towards the lower hub 6, thereby making the lifting legs 12, 14, 16, 18 turn outwardly
in a vertical direction relative to the upper hub 9, such that the respective lower
ends 32 of the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 move outwardly until the respective outwardly directed
lifting portions 30 come into contact with the inner periphery 34 of the crushing
shell 2, and then returning the locking mechanism 10 to its locked state, illustrated
in Fig. 2. In this active state the angle α between the vertical plane and the respective
legs 12, 14, 16, 18 of the lifting tool 1 is, in this particular case, about 20°.
[0043] Fig. 5b illustrates how a crane CR having a lifting hook LH has been connected to
the lifting eye 56 of the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 and lifts the crushing
shell 2 from the ground GR.
[0044] When the shell lifting tool 1 and the crushing shell 2 have been lifted to the intended
position for the crushing shell 2, for example another position on the ground GR,
or to its intended position on a gyratory crusher, the locking mechanism 10 is adjusted
to its released state and the lifting tool 1 is set to the passive mode illustrated
in Fig. 4, and the shell lifting tool 1 may then be removed from the interior of the
crusher shell 2.
[0045] Fig. 6 illustrates how the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 is utilized for
lifting a circular gyratory crusher outer crushing shell 102 that is considerably
larger in inner diameter than the crushing shell 2 shown in Figs. 4, 5a and 5b. Similar
as with the above description, the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 has been
set to the active mode, by transferring the locking mechanism 10 to its released mode,
moving the upper hub 9 and the locking mechanism 10 vertically downwards along the
vertical central bar 4, in the direction towards the lower hub 6, thereby making the
respective lower ends 32 of the legs 12, 14, 16, 18 move outwardly until the respective
outwardly directed lifting portions 30 come into contact with the inner periphery
134 of the crushing shell 102, and then returning the locking mechanism 10 to its
locked state, whereby the crushing shell 102 can now be lifted from the ground. In
this state the angle α between the vertical plane and the respective leg 12, 14, 16,
18 is about 50°.
[0046] Hence, one size of gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1 can be utilized for lifting
gyratory crusher crushing shells having sizes that vary within wide ranges, from relatively
small crushing shells 2, as shown in Figs. 4, 5a and 5b, to relatively large crushing
shells 102, as shown in Fig. 6.
[0047] It will be appreciated that numerous variants of the embodiments described above
are possible within the scope of the appended claims.
[0048] Hereinabove a lifting tool 1 having four lifting legs 12, 14, 16, 18 has been described.
It will be appreciated that a lifting tool can also be arranged with other numbers
of lifting legs, as long as there are two or more lifting legs. For example 3-8 lifting
legs, more preferably 4-5 lifting legs have proven to result in an efficient lifting
tool 1 with low cost and safe properties when it comes to lifting a crushing shell
2.
[0049] Hereinbefore it has been described that the gyratory crusher shell lifting tool 1
comprises a lower hub 6, which is fixed to a lower end 8 of the vertical central bar
4, and an upper hub 9, which is arranged on the vertical central bar 4 above the lower
hub 6 and which comprises a locking mechanism 10, making it possible to move the upper
hub 9 to various positions along the central bar 4 to turn the lifting legs 12, 14,
16, 18 to suitable angular positions to obtain a passive mode or various active modes
suitable for various sizes of crushing shells 2. It will be appreciated that as alternative
to the lower hub 6 being fixed to the central bar 4 and the upper hub 9 being releasably
fixed to the central bar 4 by means of the locking mechanism 10, it is also possible,
according to an alternative embodiment, to arrange the upper hub 9 fixedly to the
central bar 4, at an upper end thereof, and arrange the lower hub 6 releasably fixed
to the central bar 4 by means of a locking mechanism, whereby the lower hub 6 can
be moved along the central bar 4, below the upper hub 9, after the locking mechanism
has been set to a released state. Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange both
the upper hub 9 and the lower hub 6 with a respective locking mechanism, such that
each of the upper hub 9 and the lower hub 6 can be moved along the central bar 4 when
the respective locking mechanism has been set to the released state.
[0050] To summarize, a gyratory crusher shell lifting tool (1) adapted for lifting a gyratory
crusher shell (2) comprises:
a generally vertical central bar (4),
a lower hub (6) arranged at a lower end (8) of the central bar (4),
an upper hub (9) arranged at the central bar (4) above the lower hub (6),
at least one locking mechanism (10) arranged on at least one of the upper and lower
hubs (9, 6) to make that hub (9) releasably fixed to the central bar (4),
a first lifting leg (12) and a second lifting leg (16) provided with a respective
outwardly directed lifting portion (30) adapted to come into contact with an inner
periphery (34) of the crushing shell (2), wherein the respective outwardly directed
lifting portion (30) is moved away from the central bar (4) when one hub (9) is moved
in the direction of the other hub (6).
1. A gyratory crusher shell lifting tool adapted for lifting a gyratory crusher shell
(2),
characterised in comprising:
a generally vertical central bar (4),
a lower hub (6) arranged at a lower end (8) of the central bar (4),
an upper hub (9) arranged at the central bar (4) above the lower hub (6),
at least one locking mechanism (10) arranged on at least one of the upper and lower
hubs (9, 6) to make the at least one of the upper and lower hubs (9, 6) releasably
fixed to the central bar (4),
at least a first lifting leg (12) and a second lifting leg (16) that are provided
with a respective outwardly directed lifting portion (30) adapted to come into contact
with an inner periphery (34) of a gyratory crusher shell (2), wherein each of the
first and second lifting legs (12, 16) are mounted to the upper hub (9) and being
journalled therein to be turnable in a vertical direction relative to the upper hub
(9), and wherein each lifting leg (12, 16) is journalled to a respective link (38,
42) extending to the lower hub (6), said respective link (38, 42) being adapted to
move the respective outwardly directed lifting portion (30) of the respective leg
(12, 16) away from the central bar (4) when at least one of the lower and
upper hubs (6, 9) is moved in the direction of the other one of the lower and upper
hubs (6, 9).
2. A shell lifting tool according to claim 1, wherein the at least a first lifting leg
(12) and a second lifting leg (16) are evenly distributed around the periphery of
the central bar (4).
3. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell
lifting tool (1) comprises at least three lifting legs (12, 14, 16).
4. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell
lifting tool (1) comprises 3 - 8 lifting legs (12, 14, 16, 18), more preferably 4
- 5 lifting legs (12, 14, 16, 18).
5. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective
outwardly directed lifting portions (30) of the lifting legs (12, 16) are arranged
at respective lower ends (32) of the respective legs (12, 16).
6. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each lifting
leg (12, 16) is journalled to the respective link (38, 42) extending to the lower
hub (6) at a respective central portion (36) of the respective lifting leg (12, 16).
7. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper
hub (9) is provided with the locking mechanism (10) and is releasably fixed to the
vertical central bar (4), and wherein the lower hub (6) is fixedly mounted to a lower
end (8) of the vertical central bar (4).
8. A shell lifting tool according to claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism (10) is integrated
into the upper hub (9).
9. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking
mechanism (10) comprises at least one locking member (66, 68) which is adapted to
co-operate with the vertical central bar (4) in a tooth-and-groove arrangement (62,
64, 70, 72) in a locked state of the locking mechanism (10).
10. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a control
handle (80) of the locking mechanism (10) is adapted for switching the position of
at least one locking member (66, 68) between a locked state in which the locking member
(66, 68) co-operates with the vertical central bar (4) and a released state in which
the locking member (66, 68) and the vertical central bar (4) are released from each
other.
11. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking
mechanism (10) is provided with a fail-safe device, such as a spring device (85),
which is adapted to bring the locking mechanism (10) to a released state unless a
securing mechanism (86) of the locking mechanism (10) has been properly installed
to hold the locking mechanism (10) in a locked state.
12. A shell lifting tool according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vertical
central bar (4) is provided with a lifting device (56), such as a lifting eye, arranged
in an upper end (54) thereof.
13. A method of lifting a gyratory crusher shell, the method comprising:
- placing a gyratory crusher shell lifting tool (1) inside the gyratory crusher shell
(2), the shell lifting tool (1) comprising:
a generally vertical central bar (4),
a lower hub (6) arranged at a lower end (8) of the central bar (4),
an upper hub (9) arranged at the central bar (4) above the lower hub (6),
at least a first lifting leg (12) and a second lifting leg (16) that are provided
with a respective outwardly directed lifting portion (30),
wherein each of the first and second lifting legs (12, 16) are mounted to the upper
hub (9) and being journalled therein to be turnable in a vertical direction relative
to the upper hub (9), and
wherein each lifting leg (12, 16) is journalled to a respective link (38, 42) extending
to the lower hub (6), the method further comprising:
- moving at least one of the lower and upper hubs (6, 9) in the direction of the other
one of the lower and upper hubs (6, 9) to make the outwardly directed lifting portions
(30) of the legs (12, 16) come into contact with an inner periphery (34) of the gyratory
crusher shell (2),
- locking at least that hub (6, 9) that has been moved to the vertical central bar
(4), such that both hubs (6, 9) become fixed to the vertical central bar (4), and
- lifting the shell lifting tool (1) and thereby lifting the gyratory crusher shell
(2) together with it.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said step of moving at least one of the lower
and upper hubs (6, 9) in the direction of the other one of the lower and upper hubs
(6, 9) includes moving the upper hub (9) downwardly in the direction of the lower
hub (6), and wherein said step of locking at least that hub (6, 9) that has been moved
to the vertical central bar (4) includes locking the upper hub (9) to the central
bar (4).
15. A method according to any one of claims 13-14, further comprising lifting the shell
lifting tool (1) by connecting a lift (CR) to a lifting device (56) arranged at an
upper end (54) of the vertical central bar (4).