Apparatus and method for a tramp iron relief system

1. A tramp iron relief system for a jaw crusher having a movable jaw and a stationary jaw defining a crushing chamber for crushing aggregate material and a plurality of seals of a tramp iron relief cylinder, said tramp iron relief system comprising:

(a) the tramp iron relief cylinder having a base end and a rod end and being adapted to limit pressure on the movable jaw of the jaw crusher when tramp iron is present in the crushing chamber, said tramp iron relief cylinder being adapted to receive oil to exert pressure on the movable jaw during crushing operations, said tramp iron relief cylinder including a relief valve adapted to provide when open a discharge path for oil in said tramp iron relief cylinder, said relief valve being adapted to open when oil pressure within said tramp iron relief cylinder exceeds a pre-designated limit;

(b) a tramp iron relief cylinder manifold block adapted to control the flow of oil into and out of said tramp iron relief cylinder, said tramp iron relief cylinder manifold block having a pressure reducing valve;

(c) a tension cylinder adapted to provide tension force to keep said tramp iron relief cylinder in operative contact with the movable jaw of the jaw crusher during crushing operations, said tension cylinder being adapted to receive oil;

(d) a tension cylinder manifold block adapted to control the flow of oil into and out of said tension cylinder;

(e) a tension cylinder accumulator, said tension cylinder accumulator being adapted to automatically supply said oil to the base end of the tramp iron relief cylinder in order to pressurize the base end of the tramp iron relief cylinder;

(f) a tank line accumulator adapted to receive and hold oil discharged from said tramp iron relief cylinder when said relief valve is open; and

(g) a hydraulic network to convey oil between said tank line accumulator, said tramp iron relief cylinder, and said tension cylinder;

wherein the tramp iron relief system pressurizes the base end of the tramp iron relief cylinder during normal crushing operations; and wherein said pressure reducing valve is adapted to automatically control and adjust pressure in the base end of the tramp iron relief cylinder; and wherein the tramp iron relief system reduces movement of the tramp iron relief cylinder during normal crushing operations; and wherein the tramp iron relief system reduces wear on the plurality of seals of the tramp iron relief cylinder by reducing the movement of a cylinder rod in relationship to the base end of the tramp iron relief cylinder.

2. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 wherein said tramp iron relief system comprises two tramp iron relief cylinders.

3. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 wherein the tramp iron relief cylinder further comprises a check valve.

4. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 wherein said tramp iron relief cylinder manifold block comprises a counterbalance valve, the pressure reducing valve, a check valve, a pressure release valve, and at least one of a pressure transducer and a pressure gauge.

5. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 further comprising a two-way solenoid valve.

6. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 wherein the tension cylinder manifold block comprises a counterbalance valve, an adjustable relief valve, and at least one of a pressure transducer and a pressure switch.

7. The tramp iron relief system of claim 6 wherein the pressure transducer conveys a signal to a controller in the event a pre-determined minimum pressure level is present.

8. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 further comprising a tank.

9. The tramp iron relief system of claim 1 further comprising an orifice fitting.