AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): NELSON WILLIAMS LININGS, INC. and ARTHUR C OSTMAN Invention Title: PIVOTABLE CONVEYOR SKIRT BOARD ASSEMBLY The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 PIVOTABLE CONVEYOR SKIRT BOARD ASSEMBLY Background of the Invention Field of the Invention This invention relates to materials handling equipment and more particularly to a 5 pivotable side skirt support assembly for belt conveyors that allows ready access to the skirts, wear plates and conveyor rollers for ease of inspection, maintenance and repair. Description of the Related Art In Swinderman, U.S. Patent Number 5,048,669 issued September 17, 1991, the 10 frame must be removed to access the liner. The conveyor must be shut down during this long procedure. Further, adjusting the liner height requires shims which are difficult to install. Skirts of elastomeric material in use for retaining materials on conveyor belts wear out over time, particularly when abrasive materials are being transported on the 15 conveyor. The skirts have to be readjusted and replaced periodically. Conveyor systems for abrasive materials may also utilize ceramic wear plates on the skirts. If ceramic tiles are used they are subject to replacement over time. Hardened steel wear plates used on the walls also wear out and need replacing or adjustments over time. The supports for the skirts in prior designs were positioned on either side of the 20 conveyor and difficult to replace or adjust vertically as the skirts wore down. The Ostman Patent 6,328,156, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, describes an improved skirt assembly that allows ready adjustment of the elastomeric member as it wears due to frictional contact with a conveyor belt and the material being transported S:51232 - 3 thereon. Replacement of a worn-out liner on a skirt member may require a worker to climb onto the conveyor belt to effect removal. Also a maintenance worker would have to remove the supports for the skirts over the conveyor to access the skirt for inspections, adjustments or replacements. Further, the conveyor idler wheels used to support the conveyor along its length are 5 generally inaccessible when the supports for the skirts are located directly over the conveyor frame. Therefore adjustments and replacements of the idler wheels often require the removal of the skirt supports. Depending on their length the skirt support members may be too heavy and may require two men to lift. Removing frame member for inspection, adjustment and maintenance of the 10 conveyor idlers and the skirts is a slow, costly and potentially dangerous process and the conveyor must be shut down while the repairs are being made. The cost for running a conveyor with a skirt is thus unnecessarily high and this is especially true where the support structure for the skirts are welded in a fixed position or if they must be removed to maintain or replace liners, idlers,.skirts or other parts. 15 It is difficult to properly align the frame members when assembling the conveyor structure so that the wear plates and skirts have proper clearances. Summary of the Invention 20 In a first aspect, the present invention provides a pivotable conveyor sskirt board assembly comprising, a plurality of frame members supported above a conveyor belt, a top wall attached to the frame members, the top wall running parallel to the edge of the conveyor belt, 25 a frame side plate attached to the frame members, the frame side plate having a flange portion with a pivot aperture, a bottom wall having a flange at either end, the bottom wall flange pivotally attached to the flanges of two adjacent frame side plates such that the bottom wall engages the top wall when pivoted upright and pivots in an open position when desired, 30 a liner adjustabley attached to the bottom wall such that the liner position can be adjusted on the bottom wall relative to the 17618451 (GHMatters) 14/10/09 - 3a position of the underlying conveyor belt. The pivotable frame for supporting skirts, inner liners and wear plates adjacent the opposing sides of conveyor belts allows the frame to be pivoted on the supports while still attached to the conveyor 5 frame and allows a single worker to tilt the frame and 17618451 (GHMatters) 14/10/09 4 access the conveyor idlers and the skirt and/or wear plates for inspection, adjustments, and maintenance or replacement of parts. The frame when tilted for access forms a table for setting the liners, tools, parts and supplies thereon. 5 Since no disassembly and reassembly of the frame is required the costs of operating the system are reduced and the down time is likewise reduced. Further, since one man can tilt the frame down the number of laborers is reduced, and since no heavy parts need to be handled or removed injuries are avoided. The skirts or liners are easily adjusted vertically by moving the skirt relative to its 10 supporting bracket or by vertically moving the bracket itself. Since the top and bottom walls of the conveyor assembly are modular and easy to assemble and disassemble it is easier to construct and remove the conveyor assembly. Bushings on the pivotable walls ensure proper alignment of the pivotable walls so that the liners and skirts are in the proper position and there is less wear on the apertures 15 of the pivotable walls. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention reduced the costs of maintaining and replacing side skirts, liners and ceramic tiles used with conveyor belts for transporting abrasive bulk materials. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention increased 20 the safely of maintaining a conveyor belt skirt system of the type described. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention provided ready access to the inner wear liners and the rubber skirt member for inspection, adjustments, maintenance and replacement of parts. S:51232 5 It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention to provided a conveyor side skirt assembly that allows ready access to the conveyor idler rollers for inspection, maintenance adjustments and replacement of parts. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention eliminated 5 the need to remove the frame holding the skirts on the conveyor to gain access the inner wear liner, ceramic plates, skirt and conveyor idler wheels. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention to provided a construction that allows adjustment of the vertical position of the liner and skirt on the skirt support bracket more easily. 10 It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention enabled adjustment of the vertical position of the lower wall easily. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention to provided a conveyor belt side skirt assembly that dampens noise and dust. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention improved 15 safety. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention to made it easier to assemble and disassemble a conveyor system. It would be advantageous if at least one embodiment of the invention reduced dust and corrosion to increase the life of the conveyor system. 20 Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. S:51232 6 Brief Description of the Drawings Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 5 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor having the pivotable conveyor skirt board of the present invention, in the open position; Fig. 2 is view of a first embodiment of the pivotable conveyor skirt board; Fig. 3 is an end view of a second embodiment of the pivotable conveyor skirt board; Fig. 4 is a front view of the bottom wall of the pivotable conveyor skirt board; and 10 Fig. 5 is a front view of the top wall of the pivotable conveyor skirt board. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of a conveyor belt 20 used for transporting bulk materials thereon in conjunction with the pivotable conveyor skirt board 15 assembly 10 of the present invention. The pivotable conveyor skirt board assembly 10 is shown along the sides of the conveyor belt 20 without a structure on top of the frame. It is to be understood, however, that a hopper or other structure may use the pivotable conveyor skirt board assembly 10. The frame member of the conveyor structure 30 supports a frame side plate 33 20 having a flange portion 35 with a pivot aperture 32 and a locking aperture, 36 and an angled portion 37. As best seen in Fig. 2 and 3 an elongated top wall 40 which may be about five to ten feet in length is attached to the frame 30 and frame side plate 33. The top wall 40 has S:51232 7 an angled portion 43 which preferably is angled upward at about 30 degrees to the normal. However any other appropriate angle may be used. The top wall 40 is adjustably mounted on frame 30 by use of a vertical adjustment slot 47 in conjunction with a bolt 48 which passes through aperture 39 in frame 30. The bolt 48 can be loosened to adjust the 5 vertical position of the top wall 40. Bottom wall 50 having a flange 55 is pivotably attached to the frame side plate flange 35 at pivot aperture 32 by use of a bushing 54 and pivot aperture 52 on the bottom wall flange 55 allowing the bottom wall 50 to pivot in directions 90 as shown in Fig. 2. The bottom wall 50 has an angled portion 53 which is angled upward at a complementary 10 angle to the angled portion 43 of the top wall 53 such that they sealingly engage when the bottom wall is in the vertical position. As shown in Fig. 3, a rubber seal 80 may be used, between the angled portions 43 and 53 of the top and bottom walls 40 and 50 respectively to dampen vibrations and noise, and reduce dust or other emissions from between the top and bottom walls 40 and 50. Reducing dust and other particles can reduce wear and 15 corrosion on the conveyor system resulting in a longer life and less maintenance. Apertures 49 and 59 in the angled portions 43 and 53 of the top and bottom walls 40 and 50 may be used as a means of securing the two walls together by means of a bolt or other fastener passing therethrough. The bottom wall 50 may also have an aperture 56 (Fig. 3) for lockingly securing 20 the bottom wall 50 to the frame 30 by means of a safety lock, bolt or other fastener passing through aperture 36 in the frame side plate flange 35. In this manner the pivotable wall 50 may be secured in the vertical position on the frame 30. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4 serrated grooves 96 in the bottom wall 50 engage serrated grooves 92 on serrated S:51232 8 washer 94 to lock the liner 60 in position, which prevents the liner 60 from lowering onto conveyor belt 20 due to vibrations or impacts. When the bottom wall 50 is pivoted downward it may rest in a horizontal position by engaging stop bars 99 on the flange such that the bottom wall rests above conveyor 5 belt 20 forming a horizontal shelf surface making it convenient to work on. Because, when horizontal, the bottom wall 50 is spaced from the conveyor belt 20, adjustment or replacement of worn idlers 25 is facilitated. Moreover, inspecting, adjusting or replacing the wear liner 60 or ceramic plates 65 on the inside of the bottom wall 50 is facilitated. It is also easier to place the wear liners 60 on the bottom wall 50 and attach them when the 10 bottom wall 50 is flat since the wear liners 60 are heavy. It is also easier to attach the ceramic plates 65 to the wear liners 60 when the bottom wall 50 is in the horizontal position. It is much easier to work on the wear liners 60 and ceramic plates 65 and for inspecting, attaching, and adjusting them then they are horizontal on the horizontal bottom wall 50. 15 The bottom wall 50 has vertical adjustment slots 57 used in conjunction with bolts 58 on wear liner 60 to adjust the position of the wear liner 60 and optionally the ceramic tiles 65 such that they may be aligned into place to reduce vibration and wear thus increasing durability. The liners 60 and ceramic tiles 65 should be periodically inspected and adjusted for optimum performance of the conveyor system. 20 As shown in Fig. 3 an elastomeric skirt 70 can be attached to the bottom wall 50 in a manner described in the aforementioned Ostman patent. In this embodiment a welded flange 51 extends from the bottom wall and a skirt support 75 is attached to the flange 51 by a connector 77. The connector 77 releasably fastens the skirt support 75 to flange 51. S:51232 9 The wear liner 60 may be an elastomeric material preferably a reinforced rubber. When ceramic plates 65 are used, they may be attached to a fiberglass or other backing instead the rubber wear liner 60. The modular assembly of the top and bottom walls 40 and 50 allows for easy 5 assembly and disassembly of the conveyor system. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 10 It is to be understood that a reference herein to a prior art publication does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia, or any other country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, 15 the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including", i.e. the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention. S:51232