AU601772B2 - A conveyor gantry or gallery - Google Patents

Description

60177 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 2&F Ref: 19278 PATENTS ACT 1952 .iV i Class Int. Class Application Number: P COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: H 87 03 0 V ~0 Lodged; 27 October 1986 Accepted:, Published: Priority: Related Art: UNL HUNUIIEt UMAS~~ OLR TFN DOLLAf* Name and Address of Applicant: A P E W Down Engineering (NSW) Pty Ltd 24-2 6 Blaxland Road Campbelltown Otew South Males 2560

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor: Address for Service' Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys, Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia complete Specification for the invention entitled: A CONVEYOR. GANTRY OR ;A CRY The following statement Is a description of this Invention, including the best method of performing It known to me/us u- i-Yn~-~ 00 o 0 0 0

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0 2 The present invention relates to conveyor gantries and galleries.

In the construction of conveyor galleries and gantries, it is known to construct the galleries, or gantries, of a plurality of modules which are secured together in end to end abutting relationship to span a desired distance. These modules are constructed of a rigid frame covered by a sheet material to enclose the conveyor for environmental reasons such as noise and pollution reduction, However, it is a disadvantage of these known modules that they are generally hea.vy and therefore costly and difficult to install due to their weight. These known modules are also labour intensive to fabricate since they are of a welded construction. Accoralnqly their costs are high. They are also difficut to transport due to their weight. Still further, each module is designed for a particular installation and therefore economy due Jo to standardization are not tiken advantage of, °Ik It is the objection of the present invention to overcome or O: substantally ameliorate the above disadvantages.

There is disclosed herein a conveyor gallery or gantry module S comprising a plurality of sub-frames which in use are vertically oriented and extend transverse to the conveyor and which are located at spaced locations longitudinally of tie conveyor, and corrugated sheet fixed to the sub-frames so as to enclose the conveyor with corrugations of said sheet metal extending generally longitudinally of said conve:or, wherein each sub-frame consists of a generally horizontal base portion from which there upwardly extends a generally U-shaped portion, with the U-shaped portion having an outer peripheral surface contoured to matingly engage the corrugated sheet.

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a conveyor gantry or gallery iodule; FIgure 2 is a schematic end view of the module of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the module of Figure 1, In the accompanying drawing there is schematically depicted a conveyor gallery or gantry module 10. The module 10 is to be used In conjunction with a plurality of similarly formed modules which are arranged In end to end abutting relationship so as to span a desired distance, The 7noQdule 10 is formed of a plurality of sub-frames 11 which are spaced at KLN/9073M 4 oir~ i r CI Cn_-~illYIPI~ -3longitudinal disances along the conveyor and which extend in planes generally transverse of the conveyor. Each sub-frame 11 comprises a generally U-shaped portion 12 fixed to a base member 13. Extending between the base members 13 is a tray 14 to be located beneath the conveyor and a walkway Fixed to the U-shaped portions 12 is an outer skin 19 formed of corrugated metal with the corrugations extending generally parallel to the direction of extension of the conveyor. The end U-shaped portions 12 have 00 0 o oca 0 00 0000 o o P O O 00 O 00) db e *1OI

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Ar -1 ii i--l- L_ II~_ San outer periphery shaped so as to co-operate with the outer skin 19.

Accordingly, the U-shaped portions 12 are provided with a plurality of projections 1iA which are received within the longitudinally extending grooves 17 formed in the outer skin 19.

Extending longitudinally of the module 10 are brace beams -l -a 4 18 while extending transverse of each sub-frame 11 is a brace assembly It should be appreciated that the sheet material forming the skin 19 is corrugated so as to increase the first morent of inertia of the sheet metal to inhibit buckling thereof in use. More particularly, the skin 19 is fixed to the sub-frames 11 to overcome the necessity for a rigid frame.

Accordiigly, the skin 19 not only provides a covering for the conveyor, but also provides a structural member.

Preferably the skin 19 would be formed of sheet metal of 1.0 to a t 0 0T fll ickne p The forwarc wad rearward U-shaped portions 12 are provided with holes 20 through which rivets or other fasteners 21 pass to secure the skin 19 thereto. Additionally the forward and rearward U-shaped members 12 are S provided with apertures 22 through which bolts pass to secure adjacent modules together.

If so required, the forward and rearward edges 23 and 24 may be provided with a "tongue and groove" configuration to further aid in coupling adjacent modules.

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DG/0677t 4

Claims (3)

1. A conveyor gallery or gantry mc dule'comprising a plurality G' sub-frares which in use are vertically or'...ted and extend transverse the conveyor and which are located at spared locations longitudinally of the conveyor, and corrugated sheet fixed the sub-frames so as to enclose the conveyor with corrugations of said sheet metal extending generally longitudinally of said conveyor, wherein each sub-frame consists of a generally horizontal base portion from which there upwardly extends a generally U-shaped portion, with the U-shaped portion having an outer peripheral surface contoured to matingly engage the corrugated sheet.

2. The conveyor gallery or gantry module of Claim >2)wherein the module has end sub-frames, which are provided with apertures to enable adjacent modules to be secured together by means of threaded fasteners.

3, A conveyor gallery or gantry module substantially as Shereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATE. thi s TWELFTH day of JULY 1 989 A P E W~ Down Engineering (NSW) Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant KLN/1371 1