Armored face conveyor extendable at head gate end
View Patent ↗A device is provided for detecting and adjusting the tension of the scraper chain. The device identifies broken chain as it leaves the return sprocket and enters the top race of the conveyor. When detected, the chain can be stopped automatically by the armored face conveyor control system, to avoid the potential for further damage, and warn the operators that repair of the chain is required. The device also provides a conveyor with sliding frames at both ends to allow the conveyor ends to be independently adjusted to each end of the coal block, whilst maintaining good chain tension and control.
1. A conveyor apparatus including
a first conveyor,
a frame having a return frame portion, an intermediate frame portion adjacent the return frame portion, and a drive frame portion adjacent the intermediate frame portion, the return and intermediate frame portions being movable with respect to each other generally along a longitudinal axis of the conveyor, the drive frame portion having a delivery end and being movable with respect to the intermediate frame portion generally along the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor,
a return sprocket mounted on said return frame portion for supporting one end of said first conveyor,
a drive sprocket mounted on said drive frame portion for supporting and driving the other end of said first conveyor,
a first actuator having a first end coupled to the drive frame portion and a second end coupled to the intermediate frame portion to move said drive sprocket and said intermediate frame portion with respect to each other,
a second actuator having a first end coupled to the return frame portion and a second end coupled to the intermediate frame portion to move the return sprocket relative to the drive sprocket,
an auxiliary conveyor receiving material discharged by the first conveyor, the auxiliary conveyor being positioned adjacent the delivery end of the first conveyor, the frame portion proximate the delivery end of the first conveyor being coupled to and movable with the auxiliary conveyor along the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor, and
a control system operable to
sense a tension of the first conveyor,
operate the first actuator and the second actuator to adjust a tension in the first conveyor,
operate at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to maintain a position of the delivery end of the first conveyor relative to the auxiliary conveyor during the advance of the first conveyor, and
operate the first actuator and the second actuator to maintain a position of the drive sprocket relative to the return sprocket in response to movement of one of the return frame portion and the drive frame portion.
2. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said drive frame portion is free to move relative to said intermediate frame portion.
3. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive system including a motor for operating the drive sprocket, the drive system being supported on the drive frame portion and movable with the drive sprocket relative to the intermediate frame portion.
4. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the drive frame portion and the intermediate frame portion.
5. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first actuator moves the drive frame portion in a telescoping manner relative to the intermediate frame portion.
6. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary conveyor is positioned proximate the drive frame portion.
7. A conveyor apparatus including
a first conveyor including a delivery end,
a frame having a return frame portion, an intermediate frame portion adjacent the return frame portion, and a drive frame portion adjacent the intermediate frame portion, the return and intermediate frame portions being movable with respect to each other, the drive frame portion being freely movable with respect to the intermediate frame portion, one of the return frame portion and the drive frame portion being positioned proximate the delivery end,
a return sprocket mounted on said return frame portion for supporting one end of said first conveyor,
a drive sprocket mounted on said drive frame portion for supporting and driving the other end of said first conveyor,
a first actuator mounted on said frame and spanning the return and intermediate frame portions to move said return and intermediate frame portions with respect to each other to move said return sprocket and said intermediate frame portion with respect to each other generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first conveyor,
an auxiliary conveyor receiving material discharged by the first conveyor, the auxiliary conveyor being positioned adjacent the delivery end of the first conveyor and defining an auxiliary conveyor axis that is positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor,
a second actuator mounted on said frame and spanning the drive and intermediate frame portions of said frame to move said drive sprocket and intermediate frame portions with respect to each other generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
a control system operable to
sense a tension of the first conveyor,
operate at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to adjust a tension in the first conveyor,
operate at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to maintain a position of the delivery end of the first conveyor relative to the auxiliary conveyor during the advance of the first conveyor, and
operate the first actuator and the second actuator to maintain a position of the drive sprocket relative to the return sprocket in response to movement of one of the return frame portion and the drive frame portion during advance of the conveyor.
8. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a motor for driving the drive sprocket, the motor being supported on the drive frame portion and movable with the drive sprocket relative to the intermediate frame portion.
9. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder.
10. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the second actuator slidably moves the drive frame portion relative to the intermediate frame portion.
11. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the delivery end is formed on the drive frame portion and the auxiliary conveyor is positioned proximate the drive frame portion.
12. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the frame portion proximate the delivery end of the first conveyor is coupled to and movable with the auxiliary conveyor along the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor.
13. A conveyor apparatus for a longwall system for extracting material from a mine wall, the conveyor apparatus comprising:
a first conveyor including a first end and a second end and defining a conveyor axis therebetween and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the mine wall,
a frame including a return portion, an intermediate portion, and a drive portion, the intermediate portion being positioned between the return portion and the drive portion, the return and intermediate portions being movable with respect to each other, and the drive portion being movable with respect to the intermediate portion in a direction generally parallel to the conveyor axis,
a return sprocket mounted on the return portion for supporting the first end of the first conveyor,
a drive sprocket mounted on the drive portion for supporting and driving the second end of the first conveyor,
a first actuator coupled between the drive and intermediate portions to move the drive and intermediate portions with respect to each other generally along the conveyor axis,
a second actuator coupled between the return and intermediate portions to move the return and intermediate portions with respect to each other generally along the conveyor axis,
an auxiliary conveyor receiving material discharged by the first conveyor, the auxiliary conveyor being positioned adjacent one of the first end and the second end along the conveyor axis, and
a control system operable to
sense a tension of the first conveyor,
operate at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to adjust a tension in the first conveyor by changing a distance between the first sprocket and the second sprocket,
operate at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to maintain a position of the delivery end of the first conveyor relative to the auxiliary conveyor during advance of the first conveyor, and
operate at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to maintain a position of the drive sprocket relative to the return sprocket in response to movement of one of the return frame portion and the drive frame portion.
14. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first actuator slidably moves the drive frame portion relative to the intermediate frame portion.
15. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the first actuator includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder having a first end coupled to the drive portion and a second end coupled to the intermediate portion.
16. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the auxiliary conveyor is positioned adjacent the second end of the first conveyor.
17. A conveyor apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the frame portion proximate the delivery end of the first conveyor is coupled to and movable with the auxiliary conveyor along the conveyor axis.
18. A method of operating a face conveyor, the method comprising:
providing a face conveyor defining a delivery end and supported by a first sprocket and a second sprocket, the first sprocket being supported by a first frame portion, the second sprocket being supported by a second frame portion, an intermediate portion being positioned between the first frame portion and the second frame portion;
providing an auxiliary conveyor for receiving material discharged from the face conveyor, the auxiliary conveyor being positioned proximate the delivery end;
sensing a tension in the face conveyor;
moving the first frame portion relative to the second frame portion to set a tension of the face conveyor at a predetermined level;
moving at least one of the first frame portion and the second frame portion to maintain a position of the delivery end of the face conveyor relative to the auxiliary conveyor as the face conveyor advances, and
moving one of the first frame portion and the second frame portion in response to movement of the other of the first frame portion and the second frame portion to maintain a predetermined distance between the first sprocket and the second sprocket.
19. A method according to claim 18 , wherein moving one of the first frame portion and the second frame portion includes maintaining one of the first sprocket and the second sprocket at a predetermined position relative to the auxiliary conveyor.