Field of invention

The present invention relates to a crushing jaw of a jaw crusher having a retainer that projects from a mount face of the jaw to prevent a jaw mounted plate falling downwardly into the crusher during mounting and dismounting procedures.

Background art Jaw crusher units typically comprise a fixed jaw and a movable jaw that together define a crushing zone. A drive mechanism is operative to rock the movable jaw back and forth in order to crush material within this zone.

The crushing zone is generally convergent towards its lower discharge end so that crushable material, fed to an upper and wider end of the zone, is capable of falling downward under gravity whilst being subject to repeated cycles of crushing movement in response to the cyclical motion of the movable jaw. The crushed material is then discharged under gravity through the lower and narrower discharge end onto a conveyor belt for onward processing or discharge from the crusher unit to a suitable stock pile.

Commonly, the frame that supports the fixed jaw is referred to as the front frame end. The movable jaw is connected to what is typically referred to as a back frame end v ia a mechanically actuated link mechanism that serves to control and stabilise the oscillating mov ement o the jaw relative to the stationary jaw. Being common to ja crushers o this type, crushing plates are remov ably mounted at both the fixed and movable jaws and represent wear parts that require replacement following periods o use. Conventionally. the wear plates are mounted at respective support frames o the fixed and mov able jaw s v ia wedges that abut regions o the crushing plate and are secured at a rearward projecting side of the jaw s via anchorage bolts or the like. Example jaw crushers are described in US 2,302,723: DE 4108517; WO 00/4 1 8 1 2; WO 02/36262 and WO 2008/0461 27. Conventional jaw assemblies typically employ an intermediate wear or shim plate positioned immediately behind the crushing plate and in contact w ith the jaw mount face. Typically, these wear or shim plates are held in place between the crushing plate and the jaw via the primary jaw mounting wedges that clamp the crushing jaw into position.

However, it is a common occurrence for the wear plate to adhere temporarily to the rearward face o the crushing plate and to be pulled and remov ed from the jaw mount face when the crushing plate is li ted during maintenance or replacement procedures. The wear plate is accordingly susceptible to then falling from the crushing plate downward into the crushing jaw where it may be difficult to recover and/or cause damage to the crusher or injure service personnel operating in or below the crushing jaw. Accordingly, there is a need for improved crushing jaw and assembly that addresses the abov e problems.

Summary of the Inv ention

It is an objectiv e o the present invention to provide a jaw o a jaw crusher configured to fasten and lock a wear plate behind the crushing plate so as to prevent the wear plate accidently falling from the jaw assembly during dismounting o the crushing plate. It is a further objectiv e to allow a degree of positional adjustment o the wear plate at the jaw to accommodate different thickness of wear or shim plates and to allow correct mating of such plates at the jaw mount surface.

The objectives are achiev ed by prov iding at least one retainer extending from the mount surface of the j w that firstly does not interfere with the secure mounting o the crushing plate at the jaw and secondly is effective to prevent complete decoupling o the intermediate wear plate unintentionally when the crushing plates are interchanged. In particular, the present retainer adv antageously comprises a body portion that is rigidly and fixed at the jaw so as to extend a fixed distance from the mount lace. The retainer body is configured to be load bearing to prov ide a means on which to hang or pin the wear plate at the mount face. Locking o the wear plate at the mount face is achieved via a retainer head portion that is removably and or adjustably mounted at the retainer body via at least one coupling element. The retainer head comprises at least one region, element, flange or projection that extends beyond a perimeter o the retainer body so as to overhang the body to be positioned immediately opposed to a part o the wear plate. Accordingly, the wear plate is prevented from decoupling beyond the retainer v ia contact with the enlarged retainer head.

According to a first aspect o the present invention there is provided a crushing jaw of a jaw crusher comprising: a support frame hav ing a mount face for mounting a crushing plate against which material is crushed when passing through the crusher: at least one retainer body fixed at the support frame to project from the mount face to support an intermediate plate intended to be positioned between the mount face and the crushing plate: characterised by: at least one retainer head extending laterally from the body such that a part o the head is positioned opposed to the mount face and; at least one coupling element to removably or adjustably mount the head at the body such that the head is configured to engage a region o the intermediate plate and prev ent said plate from tailing from the support frame. Preferably, the at least one retainer body is formed integrally with the support frame o the jaw . However, the at least one retainer body may be substantially permanently fixed at the support frame via conventional attachment means including bolts, screws, pins, locking elements, welding or bonding. Accordingly, and preferably the retainer body is rigidly mounted at or formed integrally with the support frame.

Preferably, the at least one retainer body and head are positioned within an upper half of the support frame closest to an upper end relative to a lower end of the support frame.

Optionally, the crushing jaw comprises two retainers extending from the mount face. A first retainer is positioned within an upper half of the support frame closest to an upper end and a second retainer is positioned in the lower half of the support frame closest to a lower end. Each retainer comprises a retainer body and a retainer head having at least one region that overhangs the retainer body to be positioned opposed to the intermediate plate.

Preferably, the mount face comprises a pair of lengthwise edges and respective upper and lower widthwise edges and the retainer body and head are positioned between the lengthwise edges. Preferably, the retainer is positioned substantially centrally between the lengthwise edges.

Optionally, the part of the head that extends from the body is orientated to extend upwardly from the body towards the upper edge. Optionally, the head is enlarged relative to the body such that the head extends downwardly from the body towards the lower edge.

Optionally, the head extends from the body beyond the entire perimeter of the body including overhanging from the side edges. Optionally, the head extends from the body from one or both side edges only. Preferably, the head comprises a plate. Preferably, the plate is substantially planar. Optionally, the plate may comprise a curved end region or regions wherein the curvature is directed towards the support frame and or the retainer body.

Optionally, the coupling element comprises at least one bolt or screw. Optionally, the retainer body comprises at least one bore to receiv e the bolt or screw. Preferably, the bolt or screw comprises screw threads and the bore comprises corresponding screw threads. Optionally, the head may be remov ably or adjustably secured to the body via twist lock couplings involv ing at least one piv ot pin or may be slidably mounted at the retainer body via a tongue and groove, a pin and slot or bolt and hole arrangement.

Preferably, in a plane substantially parallel to the mount face, a cross section of the head is greater than the cross section of the body such that the part of the head overhangs the body.

According to a second aspect of the present inv ention there is provided a crushing jaw assembly o a jaw crusher comprising: a crushing jaw as claimed herein;

a crushing plate having a rear face and a crushing face against which material is crushed when passing through the crusher, the crushing plate mounted at the mount face v ia the rear face; an intermediate plate mounted at the mount face and positioned betw een the crushing plate and the support frame, the intermediate plate hav ing at least one aperture through which the at least one retainer body projects; the part of the head that e tends laterally from the body positioned opposed to a face o the intermediate plate.

Optionally, the intermediate plate comprises two apertures through which project two respective retainer bodies.

According to a third aspect of the present inv ention there is provided a jaw crusher comprising a jaw as claimed herein or a jaw assembly as claimed herein.

Brief description of drawings

A specific implementation of the present invention will now be described, by way o example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspectiv e view o a jaw crusher comprising a mov able jaw and a fixed jaw according to a specific implementation o the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspectiv e view of the movable jaw of figure 1 with the crushing plate and wear plate remov ed to illustrate the mount surface from which extends parts o an upper and a lower retainer according to a specific implementation of the present invention; Figurc 3 is a perspective view of the fixed jaw and upper retainer o figure 2 with the fully assembled upper retainer extending over a region o a wear plate according to a specific implementation of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a magnified view o the upper retainer and wear plate of figure 3. Detailed description of preferred embodiment of the inv ention Referring to figure 1 , a jaw crusher 100 comprises a main frame 102 upon which is mounted a movable jaw 105 and a substantially fixed jaw 104. The movable jaw 105 is mounted eccentrically at a rotatable shaft 107 (extending from underneath an end cap 109) and is positioned separated and opposed to fixed jaw 104. The orientation of fixed jaw 104 and mov able jaw 105 relative to one another is convergent along their respective lengths such that a separation distance between a mount face 1 1 1 of fixed jaw 104 and a corresponding mount face 1 10 of movable jaw 105 decreases in the downward lengthwise direction. A crushing plate 1 13 is removably attached to mount face 1 1 1 of fixed jaw 104 and a corresponding crushing plate 1 14 is removably attached to mount face 1 10 of movable jaw 105. Main frame 102 comprises two opposed frame wails 102 that support the front frame end 108, which is aligned substantially perpendicular to frame walls 102. Side walls 102 extend either side of fixed jaw 104 and movable jaw 105 to collectively define a crushing zone 103. The opposed fixed 104 and movable 105 jaws are oriented to be inclined relative to one another and are spaced apart further at their respective upper ends than their lower ends. Accordingly, the crushing zone 103 is conv ergent from an upper feed region 1 1 5 to a lower discharge region 1 1 2.

A pair of flywheels 1 01 a e mounted either end of shaft 107 at an external facing side of side frame walls 102 being external to the crushing zone 103. Movable jaw 105 is thereby configured for gyroscopic or eccentric motion with respect of fixed jaw 104 as flywheels 101 and shaft 107 are rotated via mating between v-beit grooves at the flywheels 101 and a suitable drive belt (not shown) which in turn is attached to a driv e motor (not shown). This movement of jaw 1 05 provides the necessary crushing action for material within zone 103 between the opposed plates 113 and 1 14. A plurality of removably mounted side liners 106 are attached to each side frame wall 102 at the region f crushing zone 103. Mov able jaw 105 is supported by a back frame end 1 16. In particular, back frame end 1 16 provides a mount for a mechanically actuated linkage (not shown) that is coupled to a lower region of movable jaw 105 so as to support and stabilise the oscillating movement of jaw 105.

Referring to movable jaw 105 for illustrative purposes, jaw 105 comprises support frame 118 hav ing an upper end 120 and a lower end 1 19. Frame 1 18 terminates at crushing zone 103 via mount surface 110 being substantially planar. Face 110 is orientated towards the opposed jaw 104 whilst an opposite face 123 is rearward facing towards back frame end 1 16. Crushing plate 114 is mounted at frame 1 1 8 via a rearward facing surface 121 whilst an opposite crushing face 122 is orientated towards zone 103 and opposed to the corresponding jaw 104. Crushing plate 114 comprises a length and a width corresponding to a length and a width of mount surface 1 10. As will be appreciated, features 1 19 to 123 are common to both jaws 104, 105. Each crushing plate 1 13, 1 14 is held in position at each respectiv e jaw 104, 105 v ia a lower attachment 126 positioned towards lower end 1 19 and a pai of locking wedges 1 25 positioned towards upper end 120. Wedges 125 are anchored at each frame 108, 1 18 via attachment bolts 124 that project rearwardly from each frame rear face 123. As will be appreciated, wedges 125 trap the plates 113, 1 14 against the respective lower mountings 126.

Figure 2 illustrates the mov able jaw 105 with the crushing plate 1 14 removed for illustrated purposes. Mount face 110 comprises a pair of lengthwise edges 201 and a corresponding pair of widthwise edges 200, 202. Edge 202 is uppermost and positioned closest to upper end 120 whilst edge 200 is lowermost and is positioned approximately at lower end 119 of frame 118. According to the specific implementation, jaw 105 comprises a first upper retainer projecting from mount face 1 10 being positioned towards upper end 1 20 and a second retainer 207 extending from mount face 1 10 within a lower half positioned towards lower end 1 19. Each retainer 206. 207 comprises a retainer body 204 that projects from mount face 110. In particular, the body 204 of upper retainer 206 is positioned towards upper edge 202 whilst the body 204 of lower retainer 207 is positioned towards lower edge 200. Each body 204 comprises a generally cuboid configuration and is formed integrally with frame 1 18 which is typically welded or cast. In particular, body 204 of retainer 206 is positioned approximately at the upper third of frame 1 18 and projects towards the crushing /one 103, whilst body 204 of lower retainer 207 is positioned approximately in the lower third of frame 1 18 and also projects towards the crushing zone 5 1 03. Four bore holes 203 extend through each body 204 from an exposed attachment face 205. Each face 205 is spaced apart from mount face 1 10 by a thickness of each body 204. According to the specific implementation, each body 204 extends rigidly from frame 1 18 and are therefore fixed and non-movable relative to frame 1 1 8.

10 Further details of the upper 206 and lower 207 retainers are described referring to figures 3 and 4 with reference to the upper retainer 206. As will be appreciated, all features described referring to figures 3 and 4 apply equally to the lower retainer 207. A retainer head 301 comprises a plate-like configuration being substantially linear and having an upper widthwise edge 403, a lower widthwise edge 404 and two opposed lengthwise edges

1 5 405. Head 301 is secured to body 204 via fou bolts 302 hav ing screw threads that

cooperate with corresponding screw threads (not shown) formed within each respective bore 203. Accordingly, a part of an abutment face 400 of head 301 is mated against attachment face 205 such that head 301 is removably but securely mounted at body 204. Body 204 also comprises an upper edge 401 and a lower edge 402 that, in part, define 0 attachment face 205. A length between upper and lower edges 403, 404 o the plate-like head 301 is greater than the corresponding length between upper and lower edges 401 , 402 of retainer body 204. Accordingly, an upper and a lower lengthwise region 303 of head 301 extends laterally beyond the respective upper and lower edges 401 , 402 so as to overhang body 204. That is, an upper and a lower region of the abutment face 400 are 5 exposed beyond body 204 to be orientated opposed to mount face 1 10.

A wear or shim plate 300 is mounted at mount face 1 10 to be positioned between frame 1 18 and crushing plate 1 14. Plate 300 is also substantially planar with corresponding lengthwise edges and upper and lower edges having dimensions approximately equal to the 0 corresponding edges 200 to 202 of mount face 1 10 such that plate 300 may be mounted at frame 1 1 8 v ia mount lace 1 1 0. When mounted at face 1 1 0, wear plate 300, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4 comprises an exposed support face 305 orientated towards the crushing zone 1 03. Accordingly, crushing plate 1 14 and in particular the rearward face 121 is positioned in contact with support face 305 to provide the assembly configuration of figure 1 . Two cavities (not shown) project inwardly from rearward face 1 2 1 of crushing plate 1 14 and are sized to accommodate the respective upper and lower retainers 204, 301 such that the opposed faces 121 , 305 can be positioned in close touching contact.

A first (upper) and second (lower) aperture 304 are provided through wear plate 300 and are dimensioned to be slightly greater than each body 204 so as to allow plate 300 to be mounted at face 1 10 such that each body 204 projects through each respective aperture 304. The mounting of wear plate 300 at mount face 1 10 is undertaken without each head 301 in position at each body 204. With plate 300 secured in position, at least one head 301 is then attached to body 204 via bolts 302. That is, each aperture 304 comprises a length and a width being less than a corresponding length and width o head 301 such that head 301 , when mounted at body 204, cannot pass through aperture 304. Accordingly, the assembled retainer configuration o figure 4, with head 304 mounted at body 204, prevents complete decoupling of wear plate 300 from mount surface 1 10.

In particular and in use, retainer 204, 301 is configured to prevent wear plate 300 falling unintentionally from frame 1 1 8 when crushing plate 1 14 is interchanged during maintenance or repair procedures. In particular, existing jaw assemblies are

disadvantageous as wear plate 300 is susceptible to being dislodged from mount face 1 10 when crushing plate 1 14 is removed. Retainer 204, 301 is therefore effective to prevent plate 300 decoupling completely from mount face 1 10 via the abutment regions 303 o head 301 that extends beyond a perimeter o body 204. In particular, abutment face 400 is configured to contact support face 305 of plate 300 should plate 300 adhere temporarily to crushing plate 1 14 when removed from jaw 105.

As ill be appreciated, whilst each retainer 204, 301 is illustrated and described with reference to movable jaw 105, one or a plurality of corresponding retainer arrangements 204, 301 are provided at fixed jaw 104. According to further specific implementations, head 301 may be coupled to body 204 v ia any coupling means that allow respective positional adjustment of head 301 at body 204. For example, head 301 may be attached to body 204 via a twist lock mechanism such that head 301 is rotatable relative to body 204. That is, in a first rotation position, head 301 may be aligned with aperture 304 to allow mounting of plate 300 at face 1 10 whilst in a second rotation position, head 301 may overhang the perimeter of body 204 so as to prov ide the locking regions 303 as shown in figures 3 and 4 to prevent complete dismounting. According to further embodiments, each head 301 may be mounted at each body 204 v ia a sliding mechanism so as to slide beyond the perimeter of head 204 to provide the overhanging regions 303 with at least one region o abutment face 400 positioned opposed to a region of support face 305. Such rotational and slide mechanisms may be implemented using con figurations known in the art optionally involving pivot pins or tong and groove arrangements for example.