The invention generally relates to a frame of a crusher. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to installing a wear part to the upper frame of a cone crusher. 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 feed hopper of the processing plant, from where the material is forwarded to be processed.

A mineral material processing plant comprises one or more crushers and/or screens and possibly further devices such as conveyors. The processing plant may be fixed or mobile. In particular mobile processing plants are used in urban surroundings in processing recyclable material such as construction waste.

Installing wear parts to the crusher is a time consuming and tedious process. Furthermore, as the wear parts are subjected to the crushing forces during operation they need be properly installed so as to function in the desired manner.

In a cone crusher, the outer wear part, or installation components thereof, are commonly attached to the top frame of the crusher with bolts. This requires threaded holes in the frame, and tedious work in replacing the part as the bolts are subjected to wear during operation. Furthermore, in installing the wear part, the centering thereof requires attention. The objective of the invention is to provide a wear part and installation method mitigating the problems of existing systems.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cone crusher, comprising:

a frame;

an outer wear part;

an intermediate element;

backing material for attaching the intermediate element to the frame; and a support member attached to the intermediate element and configured to support the intermediate element on the frame. The crusher may further comprise a seal member attached to the lower end of the intermediate element and configured to prevent the backing material from flowing therebeyond.

The outer wear part may be attached to the frame with bolts.

The intermediate element may comprise a one piece element.

The intermediate element may comprise a protrusion configured to support the seal member.

The support member may comprise several separate elements.

The seal member may comprise silicone, an O-ring, sealing tape or quick cement.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a mineral material processing plant comprising a crusher according to the first aspect of the invention. The mineral material processing plant may comprise a mobile plant.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of installing a wear part of a crusher, comprising

lowering an intermediate element on a centering element;

providing a seal element on the lower edge of the intermediate element on the opposite side to the centering element;

lowering a frame of a crusher on the intermediate element and centering element and attaching the centering element to the frame;

attaching a support member to the intermediate element, the support member being configured to support the intermediate element on top of the frame;

applying backing material between the intermediate element and the frame so as to attach the intermediate element to the frame;

disengaging the centering element from the frame and raising the frame with the intermediate element away from the centering element; and

lowering the frame with the intermediate element on a wear part and attaching the wear part to the frame. The method may further comprise placing strips between the intermediate element and the centering element for providing a desired clearance; and

removing the strips prior to lowering the frame with the intermediate element on a wear part and attaching the wear part to the frame. The centering element may comprise a wear part.

The method may further comprise a subsequent replacement of the wear part carried out by disengaging the wear part from the frame and raising the frame with the intermediate element away from the wear part; and lowering the frame with the intermediate element on a new wear part and attaching the new wear part to the frame.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of assembling a frame of a crusher, comprising lowering an intermediate element on a centering element and placing strips therebetween for providing a desired clearance;

providing a seal element on the lower edge of the intermediate element on the opposite side to the centering element;

lowering a frame of a crusher on the intermediate element and centering element and attaching the centering element to the frame;

attaching a support member to the intermediate element, the support member being configured to support the intermediate element on top of the frame;

applying backing material between the intermediate element and the frame so as to attach the intermediate element to the frame;

disengaging the centering element from the frame and raising the frame with the intermediate element away from the centering element; and

removing the strips.

The method may further comprise placing strips between the intermediate element and the centering element for providing a desired clearance; and

removing the strips after disengaging the centering element from the frame and raising the frame with the intermediate element away from the centering element.

The centering element may comprise a wear part.

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 cross-sectional view of a cone crusher comprising a wear part according to an example embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cone crusher comprising a wear part according to an example embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a mineral material processing plant comprising a crusher comprising a wear according to an example 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 cross-sectional view of a cone crusher comprising a wear part according to an example embodiment of the invention. A cone crusher comprises an outer crushing shell fixedly mounted to an upper frame and an inner crushing shell, a mantle, fixedly mounted on a crusher head. The head is eccentrically moved and mineral material such as stones entering between the inner and outer crushing shells is crushed to smaller particles and fine particles as dust. There are two types of cone crushers, the one with a fixed main shaft and without a top bearing in the upper part of the shaft and the one with a movable main shaft and with a top bearing connected to the upper frame of the crusher. Fig.1 shows an upper crusher frame 6 whereto is attached an outer wear part 18 (attachment elements not shown) according to an example embodiment of the invention. An inner wear part 2 is attached to a crusher head 4. The inner and the outer wear part define therebetween a crushing chamber in to which the mineral material to be crushed is fed. Fig. 1 further shows an intermediate cone, or intermediate element, 16 placed between the outer wear part 18 and the crusher frame 6. The intermediate cone 10 is attached to the crusher frame 6 with backing material 10. A seal element 8 configured to prevent the backing material from flowing downwards while installing the intermediate cone is also shown in Fig. 1 . The intermediate cone 16 is supported from the top part thereof on the frame 6 with a support element 12 attached to the intermediate cone 16 e.g. with a bolt 14. A skilled person appreciates that the wear parts, the intermediate element 16 and the seal element 8 are circular, in an embodiment one-piece elements, since Fig. 1 only shows a cross-section parallel to the radius thereof.

Although a cone crusher is shown in Fig. 1 , the wear part and the installation method according to the invention is applicable to further crushers having an outer wear part that is attached to the frame from the lower end thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

The backing material 10 comprises commonly used backing material that can be applied, for example poured or injected, in between the crusher frame 6 and the intermediate element 16 for attaching them together. In an embodiment, the backing material 10 comprises a two component material comprising of a resin and a hardener known to a skilled person, such as Loctite(c) Nordbak(c) High Impact Backing Material. As the backing material 10 is evenly distributed around the intermediate cone, the pressure caused by the crushing forces is evenly distributed and lifetime of the frame of the crusher is increased. The seal element 8 configured to keep the backing material at place while hardening comprises for example a sealing tape, a sealing ring, quick cement, silicone or a further seal arrangement applicable to the surface of the intermediate element 16. Furthermore, the sealing element, or parts thereof, are in an embodiment formed as a part of the intermediate element.

The intermediate cone 16 is supported on top of the crusher frame with a support element 12 that is attached to the intermediate cone with bolts 14 and extends on top of the frame 6. In an embodiment, the support element is circular and spans the whole circle of the intermediate cone 16. In a further example embodiment, there are several support elements 12 around the diameter of the intermediate cone 16. As the support elements are only attached to the intermediate cone 16, the crusher frame 6 does not require threaded holes for attaching the intermediate cone 16. Furthermore, the crusher frame is not exposed to crushing forced through the attachment of the intermediate cone through a bolt attachment.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a cone crusher comprising a wear part according to an example embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 shows an upper crusher frame 6 whereto with bolts 24 is attached an outer wear part 18 according to an example embodiment of the invention. An inner wear part 2 is attached to a crusher head 4. The inner and the outer wear part define therebetween a crushing chamber in to which the mineral material to be crushed is fed. Fig. 2 further shows an intermediate cone, or intermediate element, 16 placed between the outer wear part 18 and the crusher frame 6. The intermediate cone 10 is attached to the crusher frame 6 with backing material 10. A seal element 8 configured to prevent the backing material from flowing downwards while installing the intermediate cone is also shown in Fig. 1 . The intermediate cone 16 is supported from the top part thereof on the frame 6 with a support element 12 attached to the intermediate cone 16 e.g. with a bolt 14.

Fig. 2 further shows the intermediate cone 16 having a protrusion 22 at the lower edge thereof, the protrusion being configured to support the seal element 8 and to increase the sealing effect for keeping the backing material 10 at place while installing the intermediate cone 16. Furthermore, Fig. 2 shows installations strips 20, such as metal strips, used in a first time installation of the intermediate cone 16 and later removed as hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 3. The strips 20 are in an example embodiment attached or removably attached to a centering element used in installation, or to the wear part 18 or to the intermediate cone 16. Furthermore, in an example embodiment, the wear part 18 or the centering element corresponding thereto has protrusions corresponding to the strips to provide the required clearance.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer wear part 18 is attached to the crusher frame 6 with bolts 24 (shown only in Fig. 2) and is supported by at least two surfaces of the frame 6 and the intermediate cone 16. In an example embodiment, the outer wear part 18 is supported by three surfaces of the frame 6 and the intermediate cone 16.

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to an example embodiment of the invention. The method shows the installation of the intermediate cone, or element, 16 and the wear part 18 for the first time. It is to be noted that Fig. 3 similarly shows a method of manufacturing, or assembling, the frame of a crusher, i.e. the combination of the intermediate element 16 and the upper frame 6, i.e. the wear part need not be installed at the end of the method. In an example embodiment, as the method is used to assemble the frame of the crusher, either the wear part 18 is used in the method, or an alternative tool, i.e. a centering element substantially corresponding to the shape of a wear part, and configured to be attached to the frame in a way similar to the wear part, is used instead.

At step 300, the intermediate cone 16 is lowered on the wear part 18 and the strips 20 are placed therebetween in order to provide a suitable clearance. In an example embodiment, three metal strips are placed with an interval of 120 degrees around the wear part. In an example embodiment the strips 20 need not be separate elements, but are attached or removably attached to the centering element used in installation, or to the wear part 18 or to the intermediate cone 16. Furthermore, in an example embodiment, the wear part 18 or the centering element corresponding thereto has protrusions corresponding to the strips to provide the required clearance, and accordingly the step of placing and removing the strips may be omitted. At 310, the seal element 8 is provided on the lower edge of the intermediate cone 16 on the opposite side of the cone 16 from the wear part 18, in an embodiment on the protrusion 22, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

At step 320, the upper frame 6 of the crusher is lowered on the package formed by the intermediate cone 16 and the wear part 18, and the wear part 18 is attached to the frame with the bolts 24 from the lower end thereof. At 330, the support member or members 12 are attached to the intermediate cone 16 with the bolts 14. At 340 the backing material 10 is applied between the cone 16 and the frame 6 and allowed to harden as needed resulting in the intermediate cone 16 being attached to the frame 6 therewith.

At 350, the wear part 18 is disengaged from the frame, by loosening the bolts 24, and the frame 6 with the intermediate cone 16 attached is raised away from the wear part 18. Finally, at 360, the strips 20 are removed, frame 6 with the intermediate cone 16 is lowered on the wear part, and the wear part is attached to the frame 6 with the bolts 24. A skilled person appreciates, that in the method of Fig. 3, also when installing the wear part 18, a centering element substantially corresponding to the shape of the wear part is used in an embodiment until step 350, and only at the end the actual wear part 18 is used. The above installation method is followed in the first time installation of the wear part and the intermediate cone of an embodiment of the invention. When the wear part 18 needs replacing, only the steps 350 and 360 need be carried out, i.e. the old wear part 18 is disengaged from the frame 6, the frame 6 and the intermediate cone 16 are raised away from the old wear part and lowered on a new wear part which is then attached to the frame 6. This results in a quicker replacement of the wear part 18 compared to a system in which all elements need be removed. Although the first time installation is time consuming, further use of a crusher with the system of the invention is safer and less time consuming. Furthermore, the intermediate cone results is subsequent wear parts being oriented correctly, i.e. centered, having enough clearance at the top and contact at desired surfaces, immediately after having been attached as no extra installation elements need be inserted between the frame and the wear part during replacement. In an embodiment, the backing material 10 is replaced with regular intervals, which are substantially longer than the interval for replacement of the wear part 18.

Fig. 4 shows a mineral material processing plant 400 according to an example embodiment. The mineral material processing plant 400 comprises a cone crusher 100 according to an example embodiment. The crusher can be used as a primary crusher, or for example as an intermediate or secondary crusher, furthermore the crusher can be used in fine crushing. In an example embodiment, the mineral material processing plant 400 further comprises a feeder 410 and conveyors 41 1 ,430. The mineral material processing plant according to an example embodiment is a mobile mineral material processing plant and comprises a track base 440. Furthermore, a skilled person appreciates that the mineral material processing plant may comprise other parts and/or units not shown in Fig. 4, such as a motor and hydraulic circuits, and/or that some parts shown in Fig. 4 may not be present.

The material to be crushed is in an example embodiment fed to the feeder 410 and therefrom by the conveyor 41 1 to the crusher 100. The feeder 410 may also be a so called scalper feeder. The material to be crushed coming from the conveyor is directed to the feed opening 421 . In a further example embodiment, the material to be crushed is fed to the feed opening directly, for example by a loader.

The skilled person appreciates that the mineral material processing plant 400 can, in a further example embodiment, be a stationary mineral material processing plant comprising crushing, screening and conveying units. In a further example embodiment, the mobile processing plant may, instead of tracks depicted in Fig. 4, comprise wheels, legs, skids or other suitable support means. 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 quicker and more precise replacement of wear parts. Further, a technical advantage of different embodiments of the invention may be considered to be lessened wear of the crusher frame. Still further, a technical advantage of different embodiments of the invention may be considered to be increased lifetime of the crusher. Still further, a technical advantage of different embodiments of the invention may be considered to be increased safety of wear part replacement. 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.