The invention generally relates to mineral material processing. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to vibrating actuators in mineral material processing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mineral material, such as stone, is retrieved to be processed from the ground either by exploding or by digging. The mineral material may also comprise natural stone, gravel, and construction waste. Both mobile and fixed plants are used for processing. The material to be processed is fed with e.g., an excavator or a wheel loader into a feeder of the processing plant, from where the material is forwarded to be processed.

In mineral material processing vibrating arrangements are often used, for example in feeding and screening, a somewhat typical example of use of vibration being a vibrating feeder.

Vibration is often generated by attaching or mounting a separate vibrating mechanism to a support structure, such as a beam. Such arrangements can be cumbersome and require a lot of space as well as separate mounting arrangements.

The objective of the invention is to provide a vibrating arrangement integrated with a beam that mitigates the problems of the prior art, or enhance conduction of vibration to a processing apparatus, or to at least provide a new technical alternative. SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a vibrating arrangement, comprising: a beam having a first side and a second side at least one first eccentric arranged on a first axle, wherein the first axle traverses the first and the second side of the beam; at least one second eccentric arranged on a second axle, wherein the second axle traverses the first and the second side of the beam; and a first gear arranged on the first axle and a second gear arranged on the second axle, wherein the first and second gear are operatively connected to each other. At least one of the at least one first eccentric, the at least one second eccentric and the first and second gears may be arranged inside the beam between the first side and the second side.

The vibrating arrangement may comprise at least two first eccentrics arranged on the first axle.

The vibrating arrangement may comprise at least two second eccentrics arranged on the second axle.

The first and second gears may be arranged inside the beam between the first side and the second side and the at least one first eccentric and the at least one second eccentric may be arranged outside the first or the second side of the beam.

The at least one first eccentric and the at least one second eccentric may be arranged inside the beam between the first side and the second side and the first and second gears may be arranged outside the first or the second side of the beam.

The vibrating arrangement may further comprise an enclosure element between the first and the second side of the beam and surrounding the components arranged inside the beam.

The enclosure element may be configured to attach the first and the second side to each other and to reinforce the beam.

The first or the second axle may be configured to be operatively coupled to an actuator for rotating said first or the second axle.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vibrating feeder, comprising the vibrating arrangement of the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a mineral material processing plant comprising the vibrating arrangement of the first aspect of the invention and/or the vibrating feeder of the second aspect of the invention.

The mineral material processing plant may comprise a mobile plant.

Different embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated or have been illustrated only in connection with some aspects of the invention. A skilled person appreciates that any embodiment of an aspect of the invention may apply to the same aspect of the invention and other aspects

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a further schematic view of a vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a further schematic view of a vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a schematic partial view of an example of a mineral material processing equipment comprising a vibrating apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like numbers denote like elements. It should be appreciated that the illustrated figures are not entirely in scale, and that the figures mainly serve the purpose of illustrating embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. The vibrating arrangement comprises a beam 10 a length of which is shown, i.e., the beam in an embodiment is substantially longer than the length required by the further components of the vibrating arrangement. The beam 10 has a first side 10a and a second side 10b at a distance from each other, so that between the first side 10a and the second side 10b a certain amount of space is provided. In an embodiment illustrated by Fig. 1 , the beam 10 forms a frame for the vibrating arrangement. As such, the beam 10 may support vibration inducing parts (described in the following) and directly receive vibration from them without intermediate auxiliary frames or bodies and respective interfaces.

The vibrating arrangement further comprises at least one first eccentric 20a, 20c arranged on a first axle or shaft or spindle 30a. The at least one first eccentric 20a, 20c is arranged to rotate with the first axle 30a and therethrough configured to cause vibration due to the eccentricity thereof.

The vibrating arrangement further comprises at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d arranged on a second axle or shaft or spindle 30b. The at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d is arranged to rotate with the second axle 30a and therethrough configured to cause vibration due to the eccentricity thereof.

The first 30a and the second 30b axle traverse the beam 10, i.e., traverse, or pass through, the first side 10a and the second side 10b of the beam 10. The arrangement of the positions through which the first 30a and the second 30b axle pass through the beam are conventional and, in an embodiment, comprise elements such as bearings, bushings and seals.

The vibrating arrangement further comprises a first gear 40a arranged on the first axle 30 and a second gear 40b arranged on the second axle 30b. The first gear 30a and the second gear 30b are operatively connected with each other in a conventional manner so that rotation of one is relayed to the other.

The first 30a or the second 30b axle, or shaft, is configured to be operatively coupled to an actuator for rotating said first 30a or second 30b axle in a conventional manner, for causing the eccentrics 20a-d to rotate and produce vibration. The rotation of the eccentrics 20a-d, and therethrough the vibration produced, is in an embodiment controlled by controlling the rotation thereof. In a further embodiment, the vibration produced is adjusted by selecting the first 40a and second 40b gear in such a way that a desired vibration is produced. In an example embodiment, the vibration produced is in the range of 10 to 35 Hz with an amplitude of 2 to 20 mm depending on the application at hand.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the at least on first eccentric 20a, 20c and the at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d are arranged outside the first 10a or the second 10b side of the beam 10. In the embodiment of Fig. 1 there are two first eccentrics 20a, 20c and two second eccentrics 20b, 20d arranged respectively outside the first 10a or the second 10b side of the beam 10.

Furthermore, in the embodiment of Fig. 1 , the first 40a and the second 40b gear are arranged inside the beam 10 between the first side 10a and the second side 10b.

In a further embodiment, the arrangement of the eccentrics 20a-d and the gears 40a-b is opposite to the arrangement of Fig. 1 , i.e., the eccentrics 20a-d are arranged inside the beam 10 between the first side 10a and the second side 10b and the gears 40a, 40b outside the first side 10a or the second side 10b.

In a still further embodiment, at least one of the at least one first eccentric 20a, 20c, the at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d and the first 40a and second 40b gears is arranged inside the beam 10 between the first side 10a and the second side 10b.

In a still further embodiment, the first 40a and second 40b gears and the at least one first eccentric 20a, 20c and the at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d are arranged outside the first 10a or the second 10b side of the beam 10. In a still further embodiment, the at least one first eccentric 20a, 20c, the at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d and the first 40a and second 40b gears are arranged inside the beam 10 between the first side 10a and the second side 10b

The vibrating arrangement further comprises an enclosure element 50 between the first 10a and the second 10b side of the beam 10 and surrounding the components arranged inside the beam 10. In an embodiment, the enclosure element is configured to attach, or at least participate in attaching, the first 10a and the second 10b side to each other and to reinforce the beam. Furthermore, the enclosure element 50 is configured to protect the components inside the beam form e.g., dust as can be seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows a further schematic view of a vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the first 20a and second 20b eccentrics outside the first 10a and second 10b side of the beam 10. The at least one eccentric 20a, 20c and the at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d are arranged on the first 30a and the second 30b axle respectively and in such a manner that they do not hinder the rotation of each other, i.e., in the arrangement of Fig. 2 the at least one first eccentric 20a, 20c is further away from the side 10a, 10b than the at least one second eccentric 20b, 20d providing for a more compact arrangement in view of beam length.

Fig. 2 further shows that the gears arranged inside the beam 10 are enclosed by the enclosure element 50 and Fig. 3 shows the arrangement inside the beam.

Fig. 3 shows a further schematic view of a vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 3 shows the first gear 40a arranged on the first axle 30a and the second gear 40b arranged on the second axle 40b inside the enclosure element 50.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic partial view of an example of a mineral material processing apparatus comprising a vibrating arrangement. Fig. 4 shows the vibrating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention mounted on mineral material processing apparatus, for example a feeder or a screen. The vibrating arrangement is mounted between the sides of the frame, for example side plates 60a, 60b of the processing apparatus. Fig. 4 further shows support beams 70a, 70b configured to provide further structural support.

Fig. 4 shows the elements of the vibrating arrangement 10a-50 as hereinbefore explained with reference to Figs. 1-3. The vibrating arrangement is mounted between the side plates 60a, 60b of the processing apparatus and configured to provide structural support and sturdiness for the processing apparatus as well as configured in operation to provide the required vibration. In an embodiment, the vibrating arrangement is attached to the processing apparatus through the ends of the sides 10a, 10b of the beam 10, for example using bolts through the side plates 60a, 60b that attach to holes on the ends of the sides 10a, 10b. In an embodiment, the vibrating arrangement is attached to the processing apparatus through the sides of the sides 10a, 10b of the beam 10, for example using bolts and a suitable bracket or support on the side plates 60a, 60b through which the bolts are attached. In a further embodiment, the vibrating arrangement, i.e., the beam 10, is attached to the processing apparatus in a conventional manner such as welding.

Without in any way limiting the scope of protection, interpretation or possible applications of the invention, a technical advantage of different embodiments of the invention may be considered to be the provision of a space and weight saving solution for producing vibration. Further, a technical advantage of different embodiments of the invention may be considered to be the provision of easily adjustable vibration. Still further, a technical advantage of different embodiments of the invention may be considered to be providing vibration without separate support structures. In some embodiments of the invention, due to the beam forming the frame for the vibrating arrangement, a further technical advantage is also that an enhanced conduction of vibration to a processing apparatus may be provided.

The foregoing description provides non-limiting examples of some embodiments of the invention. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details presented, but that the invention can be implemented in other equivalent means. Some of the features of the above-disclosed embodiments may be used to advantage without the use of other features.

As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.