BR-102024018182-A2 - MODULAR FALL PROTECTION DEVICE FOR RAW MATERIAL CONVEYOR ROLLERS IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION LINES, ITS ASSEMBLY PROCESS AND MAINTENANCE PROCESS

Abstract

“MODULAR FALL PROTECTION DEVICE FOR RAW MATERIAL CONVEYOR ROLLERS IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION LINES, THEIR ASSEMBLY PROCESS AND MAINTENANCE PROCESS” represented by an inventive solution that finds significant benefit when applied as an accessory in the protection of operators (Op) and/or passersby who operate or transit in the vicinity of operational units (machines and equipment) of industrial facilities, notably under the free span of mega-structures such as ore conveyor belts (where to eliminate the risk of accidents due to the free fall of rollers (Ro), the modular device (Di) was designed, applied along the entire lower part of these mega-structures, where each device module (Di) is essentially formed by a screen (1).

Inventors

• RAFAEL VICENTAINER

Assignees

• RAFAEL VICENTAINER

Dates

Publication Date

20260317

Application Date

20240904

Claims (4)

1. 1) “MODULAR FALL PROTECTION DEVICE FOR RAW MATERIAL CONVEYOR ROLLERS IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION LINES”, notably conveyor belts (Te) and (Tc) for ore and related materials, where the modular device (Di) is installed next to the lateral ends of the side floors (PP) of the conveyor belt (Tc), or in a structure positioned adjacent to the belt (Es) of these mega-structures, characterized by being composed of: - a receiving screen (1), with the function of receiving the detached rollers (Ro3), each of which must be mounted in such a way as to join the “receiving screens (1)” of adjacent modular fall protection devices (Di), made of stainless steel, and related materials, not susceptible to the humidity and acidity of a mining environment; - a plurality of connecting handles (1a), with the function of providing connection with respective connecting loops (1a) of the adjacent device (Di), made of stainless steel material; - connecting cable (10), with the function of providing the connection by “sewing” between the plurality of connecting loops (1a) of a device (Di) and the respective plurality of connecting loops (1a) of an adjacent device (Di), made of steel or related material; - washers (1b) positioned on the edges of the screen (1), with the function of providing tying of the ends of the connecting cable (10), made of metallic material; - lateral connecting loop (2), defined on the sides of the screen (1), with the function of providing the fixing of the device (Di) on the sides of the lateral floor structure (PP), for example; and - lateral connecting hook (3), defined on the lower sides of the lateral floor structure (PP), for example, with the function of providing fitting of the respective lateral connecting loop (2);
2. 2) “MODULAR FALL PROTECTION DEVICE” according to claim 1 wherein the inventive device (Di) is characterized as “modular” as a consequence of the need for a plurality of these modular devices (Di) to be mounted along the entire lower length of the conveyor equipment (Tc) to provide the required protection;
3. 3) “ASSEMBLY PROCESS” of the plurality of devices (Di) of claim 1, characterized by the sequential steps: - Step 1 Solidary positioning between the ends of the connecting loops (1a) of the inventive devices (Di1) and (Di2); - Step 2 Passing the connecting cable (10) through the aligned pairs of connecting loops (1a) of the inventive devices (Di1) and (Di2); and - Step 3 Fixing the ends of the connecting cable (10) to the washers (1b) defined on the edges of the screen (1); and
4. 4) “ASSEMBLY PROCESS” of the plurality of devices (Di) of claim 1 immediately below on the conveyor belt structure (Es) characterized by the sequential steps: - Step 1 Alignment of the side connecting handle elements (2) defined on the sides of the screen (1) of the device (Di) in relation to the side connecting hook elements (3), defined on the lower sides of the side floor structure (PP); and - Step 2 Fitting and locking of the side connecting handles (2) defined on the sides of the screen (1) of the device (Di) in relation to the side connecting hook elements (3), defined on the lower sides of the side floor structure (PP).

Description

TERMINOLOGY [1] For the purpose of better understanding the subject matter disclosed and claimed in this patent of invention, the meaning of some terms and acronyms frequently cited in the body of the descriptive report is presented, where: [2] - Industrial installation: for the purposes of the present invention, an industrial installation, defined here as the industrial installation of interest, is considered to be a mining installation for various raw materials, such as iron ore, rock salt, clays, among other related materials. [3] - Production line: can be understood as a form of mass production or continuous production process, where several workers, with the help of machines and/or equipment, specialized in various specific and repetitive functions, working sequentially or continuously. For the purposes of the present invention, equipment of the raw material conveyor belt type and conveyor belts are considered. [4] - Conveyor belt: facilitates the movement of raw materials, finished products or supplies. The conveyor belt is a fairly simple type of equipment, consisting of pulleys that move a surface over which various types of objects or materials are transported. [5] - Tubular conveyor belts: are defined as material transport systems characterized by being closed and continuous, enclosing these materials, a condition that is necessary when the transport structure in a mining field, for example, has a topography characterized by particularly tight curves. They are specified in industrial and mining applications that require relatively large inclines and tight curves in confined spaces and high mass flow rates. [6] Tubular belt conveyors save space thanks to their compact design and ability to make steep angles of up to 30°. At the material feed point, the conveyor belt is tapered and fed like a conventional conveyor belt. [7] Beyond the material feed point, the conveyor belt transforms into a closed belt tube, with specially configured finger rollers. Tension pulleys distributed along the conveyor route ensure that the belt will remain closed. Consequently, the transported material remains protected from the external environment. [8] - Machine element: is the unitary organ which together with other components forms the elementary parts of a machine or mechanism. Every mechanism or machine is composed of an indefinite number of items, this number being greater or lesser depending on the complexity of the design. Equipment may have embedded machine elements from both a static and a dynamic system; [9] - Static machine elements: these are formed by machine elements devoid of motion kinematics, such as oven doors and inspection and access hatch seals, among others. [10] For the purposes of the present invention, by way of example, but not limitation, a static machine element is defined as a structural chassis for a conveyor belt. [11] - Dynamic machine elements: are formed by machine elements provided with motion kinematics, such as, for the purposes of the present invention, by way of example but not limitation, the set formed by track rollers defined in equipment of the ore conveyor belt type is defined as dynamic machine elements. [12] - Conveyor belt rollers: these are parts designed to help reduce friction and wear on conveyor belts. These heavy-duty rollers are used in a wide variety of industries, including mining, manufacturing and logistics. [13] A roller conveyor can move loads to various segments with total ease. It is manufactured using cylindrical tubes, which can rotate on their own axis, ensuring that the movement will be carried out within the specified time. [14] Its swivel casters also make work easier for industry, which can transport loads of various sizes, their movement must be done by gravity or manual force, this makes the roller even more economical and efficient. [15] - NR12 Standard: Brazilian standard, published in 1978, intended to regulate occupational safety and quality in Brazil, and concerns the use and inspection of machines and equipment whose operation may expose operators and/or passersby to the danger of accidents or incidents in all sorts of production lines and/or operations. [16] It helps reduce the risk of accidents and promote the well-being of employees, mitigating labor lawsuits, as well as the application of fines resulting from the inefficiency of production processes due to misuse and lack of maintenance of equipment. [17] NR 12 requires complete information on the entire life cycle of machines and equipment, including transportation, installation, use, maintenance and even their disposal at the end of their useful life. [18] - C.I.P.A.: acronym for Internal Commission for Accident Prevention. [19] - Ergonomics: is the science that studies the adaptations of work so that employees can carry out activities in a safe and efficient manner. [20] - Maintenance: for the purposes of this patent, it is defined as the action of maintaining, sustaining, repairing or p