Self-locking folding hopper and a locking method thereof

A method for locking at least one side wall of a feeder hopper of a bulk material processing apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the feeder hopper, the feeder hopper comprising:
• at least one side wall pivotably mounted to a support frame having a front end and a rear end, the side wall being mounted on the support frame via at least one pivot mount;
• a rear wall mounted to the support frame at the rear end;
• at least one support assembly of the side wall mounted on the support frame and including a first bracket housing a slide actuator and a second bracket housing a rotation actuator;
• and
• a locking assembly including a first locking means provided at a lower surface of the side wall and a second locking means mounted at the support assembly such that the first locking means is configured to engage with the second locking means to immobilize the side wall, wherein the second locking means comprises a material which has a higher degree of elasticity a material of the first locking means, wherein the rotation actuator is configured to provide pivoting of the side wall between an unlocked transport position and an unlocked working position;
• a first translational movement by the slide actuator enabling the side wall to move from a locked transport position to the unlocked transport position;
• a rotational movement by the rotation actuator enabling the side wall to move from the unlocked transport position to an unlocked working position;
• and
• a second translational movement by the slide actuator enabling the side wall to move from the unlocked working position to a locked working position, wherein the locking assembly is configured to lock the side wall in the locked working position, wherein the locking assembly includes the first locking means provided at a lower portion of the side wall and the second locking means mounted at the support assembly, and wherein the first locking means mechanically engages with the second locking means when the slide actuator moves the side wall from the unlocked working position to the locked working position enabling the side wall to be locked in the locked working position.

A mobile bulk material processing apparatus comprising:

• a support frame;
• a processing unit supported at the support frame;
• tracks or wheels arranged to allow the apparatus to move over the ground;
• a discharge conveyor;
• a primary motor output;
• and
• a folding feeder hopper arranged to contain material to be fed to the processing unit, the folding feeder hopper comprising:
• at least one side wall pivotably mounted to a support frame having a front end and a rear end, the side wall being mounted on the support frame via at least one pivot mount;
• a rear wall mounted to the support frame at the rear end;
• at least one support assembly of the side wall mounted on the support frame and including a first bracket housing a slide actuator and a second bracket housing a rotation actuator;
• and
• a locking assembly including a first locking means provided at a lower surface of the side wall and a second locking means mounted at the support assembly such that the first locking means is configured to engage with the second locking means to immobilize the side wall, wherein the second locking means comprises a material which has a higher degree of elasticity a material of the first locking means, wherein the rotation actuator is configured to provide pivoting of the side wall between an unlocked transport position and an unlocked working position.