Crusher Unit for Use in a Mobile Crushing System

The invention relates to a crusher unit for use in a mobile crushing system of the type which includes a substructure that can be set down on &.he ground, a crusher, and a housing for the necessary control and supply devices and, if required, at least one endless conveyor.

The increasing size of such mobile crushing systems has mandated that they be separated into several individual units in order to retain or improve the mobility of the system. The unit carrying the crusher, which forms the central point of the system, is generally also the largest and heaviest of these units. In such a unit, in which the crushers have a considerable height, it has become known to accommodate the required control and supply devices for the crusher in a separate, tower-like housing disposed on the substructure of the crusher unit. The upper region of the housing accommodates, in particular, the electrical and control devices for controlling the crushing system. The drawback of such an arrangement is that vibrations occurring during operation of the crusher are transferred over the substructure to the housing, and are most noticeable in the upper region of the housing where they are least desired. Such vibrations may not only cause malfunctions in the control services but may also considerably annoy the operating crew employed there.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a crusher unit of the above mentioned type which is configured so that vibrations in the housing are avoided. This object is accomplished by providing a crusher unit in which the housing for the control and supply devices is disposed on a frame which, in operation, is set down on the ground. However, when the substructure carrying the crusher is lifted, the housing is supported by the substructure.

In a simple manner and without significant additional expenditures, the present invention prevents the transfer of vibrations from the crusher to the housing since the frame supporting the housing has no connection with the substructure during operation.

The present invention can be employed for various shapes and types of substructures; in each case only simple adaptation measures are required. The substructure may here have a portal shape so that it can be moved by means of a transporting vehicle that is equipped with lifting devices and drives underneath it, or the substructure itself may be equipped with moving or stepping mechanisms.

During transport of the crusher unit it is advisable to secure the housing against sliding or tilting.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a crusher unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the crusher unit seen in the direction of arrow II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view III of FIG. 1 to a larger scale.

FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a latch coupling for steadying the crusher unit when it is moved.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the illustrated crusher unit is part of a mobile crushing system. The crusher unit includes a substructure 1 forming a platform 3 which, when seen from the top, has a rectangular shape. Substructure 1 is provided with a supporting foot 2 at each corner. Platform 3 supports a crusher 4 configured as a gyratory crusher. Crusher 4 receives the material to be crushed over a conveyor belt 5, such as a plate conveyor, which is part of a further unit (not entirely shown) of the mobile crushing system. A conveyor belt 7 is part of an additional unit (not entirely shown) of the mobile crushing system. During operation of the system, one end of conveyor belt 7 is disposed below platform 3 of substructure 1 as illustrated and receives the crushed material via chute 6. The supporting feet 2 of substructure 1 form portal-like openings through which a transporting vehicle (not shown) equipped with a lifting device, preferably a tracked transporting vehicle, can drive underneath platform 3. The substructures of the units (not shown) supporting conveyor belts 5 and 7 have the same configuration. To lift and transport the crusher unit and the other units, the transporting vehicle lifts the respective unit approximately underneath its center of gravity. To accomplish this, chute 6 is first removed from substructure 1.

In the region of the end of substructure 1 facing away from conveyor belt 5, a box-shaped and tower-like housing 9 is provided on a frame 8. This housing accommodates the supply devices 25A and 25B for supplying power to operate the crusher unit 4 and the control devices 26 for the entire crushing system. A control cabin 10 is disposed on top of housing 9. From cabin 10, the entire crushing system is clearly visible during operation.

Frame 8 includes a platform 11 which supports the housing 9. On its underside, the platform 11 is provided with four downwardly oriented supports 12 arranged in a rectangle. In the operating state, the frame 8 is set down on the ground 14 by means of feet 13 disposed underneath supports 12. If the ground is too soft, special foundations 15 are provided which support feet 2 and feet 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, two supporting feet 2 are arranged in pairs at each end of platform 3, and are configured so that the feet 2 have downwardly sloping surfaces 16. The two supporting feet 2 at each end face one another in a mirror image. At the end of platform 3 lying beneath housing 9, and in the region of frame 8, each supporting foot 2 is provided with a projection 17 on its sloping surface 16. The projections 17 have flat tops. In the region of these projections 17, which are also symmetrically arranged in a mirror image, two supports 12 pass around the sides of each one of the two associated supporting feet 2. As a whole, frame 8 forms a portal which surrounds platform 3 of substructure 1. Above each projection 17, the supports 12 passing around the respective supporting foot 2 are connected with one another by means of a carrier 18 whose underside faces the top of the respectively associated projection 17. When substructure 1 is lifted, the carrier 18 is supported on the projection 17 as shown in FIG. 3. However, when the crusher unit is operating the feet 2 and the feet 13 are supported on the ground, in which case the projections 17 are beneath and spaced apart from the carriers 18.

FIG. 3 also shows that stops 19 are provided in the corners between carriers 18 and supports 12 at the underside of the respective carrier. If substructure 1 is lifted, i.e. if the crusher unit is transported, these stops 19 lie against the ends of projections 17 on the sides of supporting feet 2. Stops 19 have portions which slope downwardly and toward supports 12 in such a manner that they form a latching seat which, during transport, secures frame 8 against displacement in the longitudinal direction of the projection (which is also the longitudinal direction of the substructure). Substructure 1 is secured in the transverse direction in that the lower, inner edges of carriers 18 latch in the oppositely disposed corners formed by the upper faces of projections 17 and the exterior faces of supporting feet 2. For this purpose, a sufficiently large vertical abutment face (not visible in the drawing) may be provided.

Housing 9 is secured against tilting during transport by the provision of two latch couplings 20 (see FIG. 1) in the upper region of housing 9 and of crusher 4. These couplings 20 are released during operation of the system. The simplest form of such a latch coupling 20 is shown in FIG. 4, and includes a first member 27 which is attached to housing 9 and which includes a pin 28. Pin 28 is conically tapered toward its lower end. A second member 29 is immovably mounted with respect to substructure 1 and crusher 4 (and may be a pipe forming part of a frame-like housing 21 which surrounds crusher 4). Member 29 has a bore 30 into which pin 28 extends when substructure 1 is raised prior to moving the crusher unit to a different location. Similar latch couplings may also be employed additionally or instead of the latchable seats formed by stops 19 and projections 17.

The control and supply devices, such as electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic assemblies, accommodated in housing 9 are connected with the associated machines and assemblies by way of conduits 22 which pass through substructure 1. To avoid the transfer of vibrations through conduits 22, these conduits, which are preferably brought out through the underside of the housing 9, are equipped with flexible connections 23 such as hoses, cables or the like.

The present disclosure relates to the subject matter disclosed in Federal Republic of Germany application No. P 37 36 966.0 of Oct. 31st, 1987, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.