GB2118123A - Pan conveyor system - Google Patents

Abstract

A pan conveyor system is formed by placing end-to-end a plurality of pans 11, each of which comprises two side sections 21 interconnected by a deck plate 19. The sections 21 have channels 16 which provide races for a chain conveyor, the latter serving to transport material along the upper surface of the deck plate 19. In order to prevent end portions of the deck plate 19 from becoming excessively worn by contact with flight bars of the chain conveyor, these end portions are provided on their upper surfaces with strips 25 of hard facing material. The end portions may take the form of inserts which are welded to the deck plate proper, so that the inserts can be replaced when they have become worn. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Pan conveyor system This invention relates to a pan conveyor system and to a pan for use in such a system.

A pan conveyor system typically comprises a chain conveyor which is guided by a plurality of pans disposed in end-to-end relation. Each pan includes a pair of laterally spaced side sections which define races for the chain conveyor and a deck plate which interconnects the side sections.

It is found that end portions of the deck plates are prone to excessive wear due to being struck by flight bars of the chain conveyor, which can substantially reduce the service life of a pan.

it is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate this problem.

According to one aspect of the invention, a pan conveyor system comprises a chain conveyor and a plurality of pans each including a pair of laterally spaced side sections which define races for the chain conveyor and a deck plate which interconnects the side sections, the pans being disposed in end-to-end relation with end portions of the deck plates of adjacent pans being juxtaposed, the pans in at least one adjacent pair having upper surfaces of their juxtaposed end portions provided with hard facing material.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a pan for a pan conveyor system comprises a pair of spaced side sections each of which defines upper and lower races for a chain conveyor, and a deck plate interconnecting the side sections and having end portions which are juxtaposed with the deck plates of adjacent similar pans in said conveyor system, the upper surface of at least one of the end portions being provided with a hard facing material.

Advantageously, one or both of the end portions is formed by an insert which is welded to the deck plate proper, such that when the insert becomes worn it can be removed and replaced by a new insert.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a pan conveyor system according to one aspect of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pan according to a second aspect of the invention, which forms part of the conveyor shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a pian view of the pan shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 2, also showing adjacent pans in the conveyor system; and Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional views of parts of the pan shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

In Fig. 1 there is shown an armoured face conveyor (A.F.C.) pan conveyor system of the type which is typically employed for conveying fossil fuel, ore, minerals or the like along a mining tunnel from a mining face. The conveyor system is composed of an endless chain conveyor 10 which is guided by a series of line pans 11 disposed in end-to-end relation and which is driven by a drive unit 12 provided in a head frame 13 at one end of the line of pans. A ramp pan 14 is interposed between the head frame 13 and the first pan 11 in the line to provide a change of gradient for the chain conveyor 10.The line pans 11 are mostly of a simple form producing an essentially linear conveyor which may be adjusted to accommodate lateral and vertical variations in strata by the inclusion of snake pans 11' and convex and concave pans 11" although the latter items are primarily used for stage loader duties.

One of the simple line pans 11 is shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it being understood that the snake pans 11' and concave/convex pans 11" are of similar construction although being of slightly different shape. The pan 11 is composed of a pair of laterally spaced side sections 1 5 each of which in cross-section has the general form of the Greek letter sigma. Upper and lower channels 1 6 are defined in each section 1 5 and provide races for the chain conveyor 10, the upper channels guiding the conveyor while the latter conveys the fossil fuei, ore, mineral or the like in one direction, while the lower channels guide the conveyor in the opposite direction in its return run.

The side sections 1 5 are normally interconnected by a deck plate 19 which is welded to projections 20 which separate the upper and lower channels 16, but may additionally be interconnected by a base plate 1 7 which is welded to bottom flanges 1 8 of the sections 1 5. A top flange 21 of each side section 1 5 defines a track or rail along which a mining machine (not shown) or similar equipment can travel.

Referring now also to Figs. 5 and 6, one end portion of the deck plate 1 9 is recessed on its underside at 22 to form a male connection, while the opposite end portion has its upper surface cut away at 23 to form a female connection. When the pans 11 are joined together in the conveyor system, the male connection on one pan engages the female connection on the next pan in the line, so that the end portions of the deck plates of these pans overlap slightly, as can be seen Fig. 4. In order to prevent these end portions from being excessively worn by contact with flight bars 24 of the conveyor 10 (see Fig. 1), a strip 25 of hard facing or wear-resistant material is recessed into the upper surface of each end portion so as to extend across the full width of the latter.The wear resistance provided by the strips 25 will thus increase the service life of the pan 11. It will be noted that the strip 25 in the end portion which defines the male connection lies over the recess 22, while the strip 25 in the end portion which defines the female connection is spaced from the end proper of the deck plate 19 to leave room for the cut away part 23 when the deck plate end portions of adjacent pans overlay as aforesaid, the two strips 25 are disposed closely adjacent one another.

Examples of materials which can be employed for the strips 25 are manganese materials, stainless steel materials, low alloy wear-resistant materials including those of the chrome manganese type, high alloy wear-resistant materials preferably of the chrome carbide type.

complex carbides including vanadium carbide, and tungsten carbide. The strips 25 may be produced by means of a manual metal arc using a stick electrode or by submerged arc welding: however, it is preferred to use a bulk welding technique because this enables the strips 25 to be given superior qualities.

In a modified arrangement (not shown), the end portions instead of being integral with the remainder of the deck plate 1 9 are provided as inserts which are welded to the deck plate proper, these inserts including the hard facing strips 25. In the event that an end portion becomes excessively worn, the insert can be removed and replaced by a new insert containing fresh hard facing material, thereby enabling the service life of the pan to be increased even further.

Claims (17)

1. A pan conveyor system comprising a chain conveyor and a plurality of pans each including a pair of laterally spaced side sections which define races for the chain conveyor and a deck plate which interconnects the side sections, the pans being disposed in end-to-end relation with end portions of the deck plates of adjacent pans being juxtaposed, the pans in at least one adjacent pair having upper surfaces of their juxtaposed end portions provided with hard facing material.

2. A pan conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 wherein one or both of said juxtaposed end portions is formed by an insert which is welded to the deck plate proper, such that when the insert becomes worn it can be removed and replaced by a new insert.

3. A pan conveyor system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one of said juxtaposed end portions is recessed on its underside to form a male connection, and the other end portion is recessed on its upper surface to form a female connection, the hard facing material being provided on said other end portion at a position on the opposite side of the recess to the end proper of the deck plate.

4. A pan conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the hard facing material takes the form of a strip which extends across the upper surface of the deck plate for substantially the full width of the latter.

5. A pan conveyor system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hard facing material is a manganese material, a stainless steel material, a low alloy wear-resistant material, a high alloy wear-resistant material, a complex carbide material or tungsten carbide.

6. A pan conveyor system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the low alloy wear-resistant material is of the chrome manganese type.

7. A pan conveyor system as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the high alloy wear resistant material is of the chrome carbide type.

8. A pan conveyor system as claimed in claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the complex carbide material is vanadium carbide.

9. A pan for a pan conveyor system, comprising a pair of spaced side sections each of which defines in use upper and lower races for a chain conveyor, and a deck plate interconnecting the side sections and having end portions which are juxtaposed in use with the deck plates of adjacent similar pans in said conveyor system, the upper surface of at least one of the end portions being provided with a hard facing material.

1 0. A pan as claimed in claim 9, wherein one or both of the end portions of the deck plate is formed by an insert which is welded to the deck plate proper, such that when the insert becomes worn it can be removed and replaced by a new insert.

1 A pan as claimed in claim 9 or 10. wherein one end portion of the deck plate is recessed on its underside to form a male connection, and the other end portion is recessed on its upper surface to form a female connection, the hard facing material when provided on said other end portion being positioned on the opposite side of the recess to the end proper of the deck plate.

12. A pan as claimed in claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the hard facing material takes the form of a strip which extends across the upper surface of the deck plate for substantially the full width of the latter.

13. A pan as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the hard facing material is a manganese material, a stainless steel material, a low alloy wear-resistant material, a high-alloy wear-resistant material, a complex carbide material or tungsten carbide.

14. A pan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the low alloy wear-resistant material is of the chrome manganese type.

15. A pan as claimed in claim 13 or 14 wherein the high alloy wear-resistant material is of the chrome carbide type.

16. A pan as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the complex carbide material is vanadium carbide.

17. A pan conveyor system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A pan for a pan conveyor system, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.