MOVABLE-JAW CRUSHING MACHINE FOR RUBBLE AND THE LIKE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a movable-jaw crushing machine for rubble and the like. BACKGROUND ART

As known, movable-jaw crushing machines are machines capable of crushing rubble, rocks, quarry material, building and road demolition waste and similar materials by exploiting the mechanical action of a pair of jaws which are arranged facing each other so as to define the two sloping side walls of a downward converging hopper, and are cyclically moved towards each other so as to be able to crush the material trapped between the jaws, i.e. inside the hopper.

In particular, movable-jaw crushing machines generally consist of a structural casing or external machine body in which a crushing compartment or chamber is obtained, which is laterally delimited by two vertical side walls which extend reciprocally parallel and facing; of a pair of crushing jaws which are positioned facing each other within the crushing camber, crosswise with respect to the two vertical walls of the same, so as to define the two sloping side walls of a downward converging hopper; and finally of a jaw actuating device which is capable of cyclically moving the two jaws one against the other so as to crush the material which is trapped inside the hopper.

More specifically, the two vertical side walls which laterally delimit the crushing chamber of the machine define the two opposite vertical walls of the downward converging hopper, while the two crushing jaws are both formed by a front plate made of high-strength metal, normally named "armature", which extends perpendicularly to the two vertical side walls which delimit the crushing chamber, and by a rear supporting structure which, according to the type of jaw, is either rigidly fixed to the machine casing or is floatingly connected to the casing itself.

Currently, indeed, in most of the crushing machines, the rear supporting structure of one of the two crushing jaws, traditionally named "fixed jaw", is rigidly anchored to the machine casing; while the second crushing jaw of the machine, traditionally named "movable jaw", has the top part of the rear supporting structure fitted in a freely rotational manner on the eccentric segment of a horizontal supporting shaft which extends between the two vertical side walls which delimit the crushing chamber, perpendicularly to the same vertical side walls. The bottom part of the rear supporting structure of the "movable jaw" is instead floatingly connected to the machine casing by means of a collapsible structure which allows the "movable jaw" to freely oscillate about a horizontal reference axis under the bias of the eccentric segment of the supporting shaft, simultaneously allowing minor displacements in

horizontal and vertical directions.

Obviously, the armature of the crushing jaws is subject to strong mechanical stresses and tends to wear quickly, therefore the crushing jaws are normally provided with quick fastening and releasing systems which allow to detach and reattach the armature on the rear supporting structure of the jaw, so as to be able to quickly replace the component which has reached the end of its lifetime. Unfortunately, the quick fastening and releasing systems which are currently used to secure the armature to the rear supporting structure of the jaw, while excellently performing the purpose, are relatively complicated and always require the disassembly of at least part of the machine casing to complete the replacement of the armature. Disassembly which obviously considerably affects the machine maintenance costs and times .

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is thus the object of the present invention to make a movable-jaw crushing machine which allows an easier and quicker replacement of the jaw armatures.

According to the present invention, there is thus provided a movable-jaw crushing machine for rubble and the like as described in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the claims depending either directly or indirectly from claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a non-limitative embodiment thereof, in which: - figure 1 is a perspective view of a crushing machine for rubble and the like made according to the principles of the present invention, with phantom parts and parts removed for clarity;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of the crushing machine shown in figure 1 with parts in section and parts removed for clarity;

- figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the crushing machine for rubble and the like shown in figure 1, with parts in section, phantom parts and parts removed for clarity; and

- figure 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the detail of the crushing machine shown in figure 3, seen from a different angle and with parts in section, phantom parts and parts removed for clarity. BEST MODE FOR CARRYNG OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to figure 1, numeral 1 indicates as a whole a movable-jaw crushing machine 1 which is particularly advantageously used in crushing rubble, rocks, quarry material, building and road demolition waste and similar materials.

Crushing machine 1 essentially consists of a rigid, structural casing 2, within which it is formed a crushing compartment or chamber 3 which is provided with

a top opening through which the material to be crushed flows in and a bottom opening through which the crushed material flows out; a pair of crushing jaws 4 and 5 placed inside the crushing chamber 3 reciprocally facing one to the other so as to define the two sloping side walls of a downward converging hopper; and a jaw actuating device 6 which is capable of cyclically moving the two crushing jaws 4 and 5 against each other so as to crush the material which is trapped between the jaws themselves, i.e. inside the hopper.

More specifically, the crushing chamber 3 is laterally delimited by two reciprocally facing, parallel extending, substantially vertical sides or side walls 7, while each of the two crushing jaws 4 and 5 is essentially formed by a front flat plate 8 made of high- strength metal which extends between the two side walls 7 of casing 2 perpendicularly to the same side walls 7, and by a rear supporting structure 9 which, according to the type of jaw, is either rigidly fixed to the machine casing 2 or is floatingly connected to casing 2 by means of actuating device 6.

Each of the two crushing jaws 4 and 5 is further provided with quick fastening and releasing means, structured so as to be able to lock the front flat plate 8 onto the corresponding rear supporting structure 9 in a stable but easily releasable manner.

In the example shown, in particular, rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 4 is rigidly

fixed to machine casing 2, consequently the crushing jaw 4 is the "fixed jaw" of the machine. The rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 5, instead, is cantilevered inside casing 2 on the central eccentric segment of a supporting shaft 10 which is capable of freely rotating about a rotation axis A which is horizontal and perpendicular to the two side walls 7 of casing 2, and therefore the crushing jaw 5 is the "movable jaw" of the machine . More specifically, with reference to figure 1, the central eccentric segment of supporting shaft 10 is freely and rotationally inserted in a transversal through hole which extends through the top part of the rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 5 maintaining itself coaxial to a horizontal axis parallel to axis A, so that the rotation of supporting shaft 10 about the axis A makes the entire crushing jaw 5 oscillate.

In addition to supporting shaft 10, in the example shown, the actuating device 6 further comprises a flywheel 11 rigidly keyed onto an end of supporting shaft 10 so as to be able to rotate about axis A along with the shaft; a motor (electric, hydraulic or the like) capable of rotationally driving flywheel 11 and the supporting shaft 10 connected to it about axis A; and finally a collapsible connecting member 12 which is adapted to floatingly connect the bottom part of the rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 5 to machine

casing 2, so as to allow the entire crushing jaw 5 to freely oscillate about a horizontal reference axis under the bias of supporting shaft 10, simultaneously allowing minor translations in horizontal and vertical directions.

Supporting shaft 10, flywheel 11, the drive unit of the shaft and collapsible connection member 12 are well known in the field and therefore will not be further described. With reference to figure 1, instead, the rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 4 essentially consists of an essentially rectangular, ribbed, rigid platform 13, which reciprocally connects the two side walls 7 of casing 2 maintaining itself locally perpendicular to the latter, has the two sides rigidly anchored onto side walls 7, and is finally provided with a front flat face 13a on which the front flat plate 8 of the jaw is adapted to be laid and locked.

More specifically, the front face 13a of rigid platform 13 slopes by a few degrees with respect to the vertical so that the front flat plate 8 of crushing jaw 4, once laid on front face 13a, tends to slide towards the bottom of the crushing chamber 3 maintaining itself always adherent to front face 13a. As regards to the anchoring means of the front flat plate 8 onto the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw, with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4, crushing jaw 4 is provided with one or more passive stop members 14 which

are structured so as to prevent the front flat plate 8 from slipping downwards on the front face 13a of rigid platform 13, beyond a fastening position in which the front flat plate 8 of crushing jaw 4 faces and is aligned with the front flat plate 8 of the immediately- facing crushing jaw 5; and with one or more removable- type locking members 15, which are instead structured so as to be able to maintain the front flat plate 8 adherent to the front face 13a of rigid platform 13 , by preferably but not necessarily exerting also a mechanical force which tends to push the front flat plate 8 downwards against the stop members 14.

With reference to figure 2, specifically in the example shown, each stop member 14 of crushing jaw 4 consists of a tooth or hooked protruding ridge 14 which overhangingly extends from the front face 13a of rigid platform 13 and is shaped so as to be able to engage a corresponding seat or blind cavity 14a obtained on the rear face of the front flat plate 8, during the downward slipping of the front flat plate 8 on the front face 13a of rigid platform 13 , then stably fastening the body of the front flat plate 8 when it reaches the mentioned fastening position.

With specific reference to figures 3 and 4, each locking member 15 of crushing jaw 4 essentially consists of a preferably, though not necessarily, arch-shaped rigid bracketing crossbar 16 which straddles between the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw and the front

flat plate 8, so as to have a first end abutting against the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw, and a second end abutting against the front face of the front flat plate 8 stopped on the front face 13a of rigid platform 13 in the fastening position; and of an anchoring and tensioning tie-rod 17, which is adapted to connect in a stable, but easily releasable, manner the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw to the central segment of crossbar 16, and is structured so as to be able to bring and then withhold the central segment of crossbar 16 close to the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw, so as to force the second end of crossbar 16 to press the front flat plate 8 against the rear supporting structure 9 underneath. Being the rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 4 rigidly fixed to the machine casing 2, the first end of crossbar 16 may be also arranged in abutment against casing 2. For the same reason, the anchoring and tensioning tie-rod 17 may connect in a stable, but easily removable manner, the central segment of crossbar 16 to casing 2.

More in detail, with reference to figure 4, in the example shown the anchoring and tensioning tie-rod 17 comprises a through screw 18 the shank of which crosses in sequence either the rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 4, or alternatively a part of the machine casing 2, and the central segment of crossbar 16; one or more fastening bolts 19 screwed to the end of the shank

of through screw 18 (two in the example shown) ; and finally a helical spring 20 or the like fitted on the shank of through screw 18, between crossbar 16 and bolt(s) 19, so as to have one end abutting against the body of the crossbar 16 and the other end abutting against bolt 19, directly facing the central segment of the crossbar 16 itself.

With reference to figures 1, 3 and 4, in the example shown, in particular, crushing jaw 4 is provided with two independent locking members 15 which are positioned on opposite sides of the front flat plate 8, at the side walls 7 of casing 2, each with the second end of crossbar 16 thereof arranged preferably, though not necessarily, abutting against the top ends of the side edge of the front flat plate 8 directly facing the side wall 7.

More specifically, in the example shown, the machine casing 2 is provided with two flat protruding shelves 21, which overhangingly extend from the two side walls 7 towards the outside of the machine, i.e. from the opposite side of the crushing camber 3, while maintaining themselves locally and essentially coplanar to the laying plane of the front face 13a of rigid platform 13, and each shelf 21 is intended to support a corresponding locking member 15.

In this case, with reference to figures 3 and 4, the crossbar 16 of each locking member 15 has the first end resting on shelf 21 of casing 2; extends along shelf

21 maintaining itself locally and essentially parallel to the laying plane of the same shelf 21; engages in a through manner an appropriate slot 21a formed on the side wall 7 of casing 2; and finally has the second end on the opposite side of side wall 7, abutting against the top corner of the front face of front flat plate 8, stopped on the front face 13a of rigid platform 13 in the fastening position.

The anchoring and tensioning tie-rod 17 of each locking member 15 is, instead, arranged on shelf 21 immediately close to side wall 7, i.e. outside- the crushing machine 1, and is adapted to withhold, in a stable but easily releasable manner, the central segment of crossbar 16 close to shelf 21, so as to force the second end of crossbar 16 to press the front flat plate 8 against the front face 13a of rigid platform 13.

In other words, the shank of through screw 18 crosses in sequence the shelf 21 and the central segment of crossbar 16, maintaining itself locally perpendicular to the laying plane of shelf 21, i.e. to the laying plane of the front face 13a of rigid platform 13.

With reference to figures 1, 3 and 4, each locking member 15 of crushing jaw 4 is finally and preferably, though not necessarily, further provided with a splaying wedge 22, which is fitted on the second end of crossbar 16, so as to be able to be interposed between the body of front flat plate 8 and a protrusion or protruding ridge 23 which overhangingly extends from the front face

13a of rigid platform 13, close to the edge of front flat plate 8.

Wedge 22 and protruding ridge 23 are shaped so as to reciprocally mesh under the pressure of the second end of crossbar 16 which tends to push wedge 22 onto the front face 13a of rigid platform 13, thus generating a mechanical force which also has a component developing along a directrix which is tangent to the front face 13a of rigid platform 13, and tends to push the front flat plate 8 downwards into the mentioned fastening position.

The operation of the crushing machine 1 may be easily inferred from the description above, and thus does not require further explanations.

It is apparent that the specific structure of locking members 15 allows many advantages: first of all the possibility of positioning the locking members 15 outside the machine, at the sides or side walls 7 of casing 2, so as to allow maintenance personnel to replace the front flat plate 8 of crushing jaw 4 in an extremely rapid manner, without disassembling any part of casing 2.

A further advantage of the locking members 15 described and illustrated above is to be highly easy to be disassembled, and to be formed by a small number of elements of proven mechanical reliability, available on the market at low costs .

It is finally apparent that changes and variations can be made to crushing machine 1 and to locking members

15 thereof, both described and illustrated above, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, an appropriate combination of the stop members 14 and of locking members 15 may be employed also for fixing the front flat plate 8 of crushing jaw 5 onto the corresponding rear supporting structure 9.

Obviously, in this case, due to the relative motion between casing 2 and the rear supporting structure 9 of crushing jaw 5, the crossbars 16 of locking members 15 should necessarily have the first end abutting against the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw, and the second end abutting against the front face of the front flat plate 8 of the same jaw. For example, crushing jaw 5 could be equipped with two locking members 15 of the removable type, positioned at the top side edge of the rear supporting structure 9 of the jaw, immediately over the through hole rotationally engaged by the central eccentric segment of supporting shaft 10 of the jaw actuating device 6.