CA1091627A - Conveyor belt shifting apparatus - Google Patents
Conveyor belt shifting apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1091627A CA1091627A CA287,978A CA287978A CA1091627A CA 1091627 A CA1091627 A CA 1091627A CA 287978 A CA287978 A CA 287978A CA 1091627 A CA1091627 A CA 1091627A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rail
- frame
- coupling device
- conveyor belt
- conveyor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66C—CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES
- B66C23/00—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes
- B66C23/18—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes
- B66C23/36—Cranes comprising essentially a beam, boom, or triangular structure acting as a cantilever and mounted for translatory of swinging movements in vertical or horizontal planes or a combination of such movements, e.g. jib-cranes, derricks, tower cranes specially adapted for use in particular purposes mounted on road or rail vehicles; Manually-movable jib-cranes for use in workshops; Floating cranes
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
- E21F13/00—Transport specially adapted to underground conditions
- E21F13/08—Shifting conveyors or other transport devices from one location at the working face to another
- E21F13/083—Conveyor belts removing methods or devices
Abstract
CONVEYOR BELT SHIFTING APPARATUS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In order to facilitate the relocation of conveyor belt apparatus of the long run type mounted on skids, such as may be found transporting vast quantities of mined materials in open pit mining operations, a crawler tractor is fitted with a frame carrying a hydraulic cylinder which is cable-coupled to the conveyor. Relocating is effected by driving the tractor back and forth parallel to the conveyor and employing the shifting apparatus to provide a lifting effort in conjunction with a sideways pull to urge the conveyor toward the desired new location.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
In order to facilitate the relocation of conveyor belt apparatus of the long run type mounted on skids, such as may be found transporting vast quantities of mined materials in open pit mining operations, a crawler tractor is fitted with a frame carrying a hydraulic cylinder which is cable-coupled to the conveyor. Relocating is effected by driving the tractor back and forth parallel to the conveyor and employing the shifting apparatus to provide a lifting effort in conjunction with a sideways pull to urge the conveyor toward the desired new location.
Description
Specification This invention relates to the art o-f handling conveyor belts, and, more particularly, to apparatus -for shifting long runs of large conveyor belts.
Large conveyor belt systems are frequently employed to transport mined materials in an open pit mine from the mining point to a processing or transfer position. By way of example, a large conveyor belt system is employed at the Great Canadian Oil Sands mine in Northern Alberta, Canada, to transfer tar sands mined by two giant bucketwheel e~cavators to the processing plant where the tar sancls are processed to e~tract synthetic crude oil.
At the GCOS mine, the ore body is divided into two layers or benches, each on the order o-E 75' in height.
The pit floor and the dividing plane between the upper and lower benches are roughly hori70ntal. ~lining is )916Z7 carried out by two bucketwheel excavators, and tar sands loosened from the face of each bench by the bucketwheel are discharged onto a crawler-mounted belt wagon. The belt wagons, in turn, discharge onto movable conveyors which are advanced from time to time in the direction of mining. The movable conveyors discharge onto trunk conveyors which feed a main conveyor. As the mining proceeds, both the trunk conveyors and the main conveyor must also be repositioned.
It is the practice to move the conveyor belts, which are mounted on skids, by attaching a large crawler-type tractor to the conveyor which is then pulled a foot or two transversely as the tractor is repeatedly driven along the length of the conveyor until the whole system has been urged into the new position. The somewhat makeshift prior art apparatus by which the tractor is coupled to the conveyor to be moved is characterized by its difficulty of attachment to the tractor and by poor performance which often results in damage to the conveyor being hand]ed.
As a result, the moving process becomes remarkably time consuming and requires an inordinate amount of labor.
Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it would be highly desirable to provide means for sa-Eely and quickly shiEting long conveyor belt lengths, and the present invention is directed to achieving this result.
It is thereEore a broad object o-f this invention to provide improved means for shifting the position oE
long conveyor belt systems which are supported on skids.
lasl627 It is another object of this invention to provide such means by which the conveyor belt shifting operation is accom-plished quickly and without subjecting the conveyor belt system to undue strain.
It is a more specific object of this invention to provide such means by which a large crawler-tvpe tractor is coupled to a rail which runs along the length of the conveyor belt system such that the conveyor belt may be urged in the desired direction as the tractor is driven along the length of the conveyor belt system.
In accordance with the present teachings, there is provided in a system for moving a skid mounted conveyor belt which is provided with a rail along the length thereof, a shifting apparatus for applying a pulling and lifting force to the rail and hence the conveyor belt which comprises a vehicle, a frame affixed to the vehicle with the frame including a lower portion and an overhead portion with the overhead frame portion extending outwardly beyond the lower frame portion on a first side of the vehicle, a hydraulic cylinder is provided carried by the frame on second side of the vehicle opposite the first side thereof, a coupling device is provided situated on the first side of the vehicle and is adapted for detachable rolling engagement with the rail with the coupling device including at least one pair of rollers adapted to engage opposite sides of the rail at least one of the rollers of the pair being further adapted, by manual operable means, for selective lateral movement toward and away from the rail to facilitate engagement and disengagement between the coupling device and the rail with the manually operable means including a handle, a linkage arm pivotally connected to and in axial alignment with the handle and the linkage arm having its other end pivotally fixed with a rocker member carrying, at its .
~Ogl6~7 lowex end, the laterally moveable roller with the rocker member being pivotally fixed intermediate along its length and pivotally connected to its upper end to the handle intermediate the length thereof, a cable is provided connected between the hydraulic cylinaer and the coupling device with first and second pulleys affixed to the frame overhead portion and adapted to constrain the cable to extend from the hydraulic cylinder upwardly to the first pulley across the frame overhead portion to the second pulley and generally downwardly to the coupling device at a generally horizontal brace means provided pivotally fixed at a first end to the frame lower portion and at a second end to the coupling device.
The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the 8pecification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompany-ing drawing of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crawler type tractor ~itted with the conveyor belt shifting apparatus according to the pre~ent invention:
Figure 2 is a front plan view of the shifting apparatus illustrating the manner in which it is coupled to a rail affixed ~o ~he conveyor belt system;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of an adjustable pivot arm con~tituting an integral part of the shi~ting system;
Figure 4 illustrates the mechanism by which the shi~ting system is rollably affixed to the rail; and Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sequential views illustrating an exemplary procedure for shifting a conveyor belt system employ-ing the apparatus of the present invention.
-3a-1~91~
Briefly, the foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished by affixing a frame to a crawler type tractor, which frame includes an overhead portion which carries, at an outboard position, suspension means for a coupling device which is adapted to rollably engage a rail. A first section of the frame extends forwardly from both sides of the tractor and around its front where support is provided by hydraulic cylinder means.
Another hydraulic cylinder is positioned on the side of the frame away from the coupling means and is adapted for vertical motion. A cable extends from the vertically translating hydraulic cylinder upwardly and across guide pulleys which suspend the cables across the frame top and down to the coupling device which may be fixed to ~he rail.
The coupling device is lever actuated for quick connect/
disconnect operation.
When a conveyor belt system is to be moved, the tractor is brought into position parallel to and near thè conveyor belt such that the coupling device can be fixed to the rail. Thereafter, the vertically translating cylinder is actuated to slightly lift the rail, and hence the skids, and the tractor is driven along the length of the conveyor at a distance on the order of one or two feet. When the tractor reaches the end o:E the conveyor run being moved, the tractor is moved outboard another Eoot or two and backed down the length of the conveyor; and this procedure is continued until the desired new position of the system is obtained. The apparatus of the present invention may then be removed from the tractor and stored until it is again desired to move a conveyor belt system.
~9162~
For a more detailed understanding of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, attention is directed to the drawing and specifically first to Figure 1 wherein a crawler-type tractor 1 is shown fitted with the li~ting apparatus 2 which constitutes the present invention. ~ frame structure of the lifting apparatus includes a generally horizontal portion 3 which extends from one side of the tractor 1 forwardly, around the front of the tractor, and rearwardly to the other side of the tractor. The rearmost ends of the horizontal frame portion 3 are each pivotally affixed to the tractor at pivot points 4, and the forward end of the horizontal frame portion 3 is supported by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 5 situa-ted on either side o-E the tractor 1. Those knowledgeable of crawler tractors will appreciate that the hydraulic cylinders 5 are common appurtenance to such a tractor and are routinely employed to support and control other tractor fixtures such as grading blades. Thus, the cylinders S simply constitute a ready means for supporting
Large conveyor belt systems are frequently employed to transport mined materials in an open pit mine from the mining point to a processing or transfer position. By way of example, a large conveyor belt system is employed at the Great Canadian Oil Sands mine in Northern Alberta, Canada, to transfer tar sands mined by two giant bucketwheel e~cavators to the processing plant where the tar sancls are processed to e~tract synthetic crude oil.
At the GCOS mine, the ore body is divided into two layers or benches, each on the order o-E 75' in height.
The pit floor and the dividing plane between the upper and lower benches are roughly hori70ntal. ~lining is )916Z7 carried out by two bucketwheel excavators, and tar sands loosened from the face of each bench by the bucketwheel are discharged onto a crawler-mounted belt wagon. The belt wagons, in turn, discharge onto movable conveyors which are advanced from time to time in the direction of mining. The movable conveyors discharge onto trunk conveyors which feed a main conveyor. As the mining proceeds, both the trunk conveyors and the main conveyor must also be repositioned.
It is the practice to move the conveyor belts, which are mounted on skids, by attaching a large crawler-type tractor to the conveyor which is then pulled a foot or two transversely as the tractor is repeatedly driven along the length of the conveyor until the whole system has been urged into the new position. The somewhat makeshift prior art apparatus by which the tractor is coupled to the conveyor to be moved is characterized by its difficulty of attachment to the tractor and by poor performance which often results in damage to the conveyor being hand]ed.
As a result, the moving process becomes remarkably time consuming and requires an inordinate amount of labor.
Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that it would be highly desirable to provide means for sa-Eely and quickly shiEting long conveyor belt lengths, and the present invention is directed to achieving this result.
It is thereEore a broad object o-f this invention to provide improved means for shifting the position oE
long conveyor belt systems which are supported on skids.
lasl627 It is another object of this invention to provide such means by which the conveyor belt shifting operation is accom-plished quickly and without subjecting the conveyor belt system to undue strain.
It is a more specific object of this invention to provide such means by which a large crawler-tvpe tractor is coupled to a rail which runs along the length of the conveyor belt system such that the conveyor belt may be urged in the desired direction as the tractor is driven along the length of the conveyor belt system.
In accordance with the present teachings, there is provided in a system for moving a skid mounted conveyor belt which is provided with a rail along the length thereof, a shifting apparatus for applying a pulling and lifting force to the rail and hence the conveyor belt which comprises a vehicle, a frame affixed to the vehicle with the frame including a lower portion and an overhead portion with the overhead frame portion extending outwardly beyond the lower frame portion on a first side of the vehicle, a hydraulic cylinder is provided carried by the frame on second side of the vehicle opposite the first side thereof, a coupling device is provided situated on the first side of the vehicle and is adapted for detachable rolling engagement with the rail with the coupling device including at least one pair of rollers adapted to engage opposite sides of the rail at least one of the rollers of the pair being further adapted, by manual operable means, for selective lateral movement toward and away from the rail to facilitate engagement and disengagement between the coupling device and the rail with the manually operable means including a handle, a linkage arm pivotally connected to and in axial alignment with the handle and the linkage arm having its other end pivotally fixed with a rocker member carrying, at its .
~Ogl6~7 lowex end, the laterally moveable roller with the rocker member being pivotally fixed intermediate along its length and pivotally connected to its upper end to the handle intermediate the length thereof, a cable is provided connected between the hydraulic cylinaer and the coupling device with first and second pulleys affixed to the frame overhead portion and adapted to constrain the cable to extend from the hydraulic cylinder upwardly to the first pulley across the frame overhead portion to the second pulley and generally downwardly to the coupling device at a generally horizontal brace means provided pivotally fixed at a first end to the frame lower portion and at a second end to the coupling device.
The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the 8pecification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompany-ing drawing of which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a crawler type tractor ~itted with the conveyor belt shifting apparatus according to the pre~ent invention:
Figure 2 is a front plan view of the shifting apparatus illustrating the manner in which it is coupled to a rail affixed ~o ~he conveyor belt system;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of an adjustable pivot arm con~tituting an integral part of the shi~ting system;
Figure 4 illustrates the mechanism by which the shi~ting system is rollably affixed to the rail; and Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sequential views illustrating an exemplary procedure for shifting a conveyor belt system employ-ing the apparatus of the present invention.
-3a-1~91~
Briefly, the foregoing and other objects of the invention are accomplished by affixing a frame to a crawler type tractor, which frame includes an overhead portion which carries, at an outboard position, suspension means for a coupling device which is adapted to rollably engage a rail. A first section of the frame extends forwardly from both sides of the tractor and around its front where support is provided by hydraulic cylinder means.
Another hydraulic cylinder is positioned on the side of the frame away from the coupling means and is adapted for vertical motion. A cable extends from the vertically translating hydraulic cylinder upwardly and across guide pulleys which suspend the cables across the frame top and down to the coupling device which may be fixed to ~he rail.
The coupling device is lever actuated for quick connect/
disconnect operation.
When a conveyor belt system is to be moved, the tractor is brought into position parallel to and near thè conveyor belt such that the coupling device can be fixed to the rail. Thereafter, the vertically translating cylinder is actuated to slightly lift the rail, and hence the skids, and the tractor is driven along the length of the conveyor at a distance on the order of one or two feet. When the tractor reaches the end o:E the conveyor run being moved, the tractor is moved outboard another Eoot or two and backed down the length of the conveyor; and this procedure is continued until the desired new position of the system is obtained. The apparatus of the present invention may then be removed from the tractor and stored until it is again desired to move a conveyor belt system.
~9162~
For a more detailed understanding of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, attention is directed to the drawing and specifically first to Figure 1 wherein a crawler-type tractor 1 is shown fitted with the li~ting apparatus 2 which constitutes the present invention. ~ frame structure of the lifting apparatus includes a generally horizontal portion 3 which extends from one side of the tractor 1 forwardly, around the front of the tractor, and rearwardly to the other side of the tractor. The rearmost ends of the horizontal frame portion 3 are each pivotally affixed to the tractor at pivot points 4, and the forward end of the horizontal frame portion 3 is supported by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 5 situa-ted on either side o-E the tractor 1. Those knowledgeable of crawler tractors will appreciate that the hydraulic cylinders 5 are common appurtenance to such a tractor and are routinely employed to support and control other tractor fixtures such as grading blades. Thus, the cylinders S simply constitute a ready means for supporting
2~ the front end of the horizontal frame portion 3, and it will be ~mderstood that other support means or this area may be substituted should the lifting apparatus be :Eitted to a tractor which does not have hydraulic cy:linders corresponding to the cylinders 5 already in place.
Upwardly extending frame sections 6 and 7 rest on the after regions on each side of the horizontal frame portion 3, and the upper ends of the upwardly frame portions 6 and 7 are connected by a horizontal beam 8. The horizontal beam 8 includes an outboard section 9 which extends well beyond the upwardly extending frame member 7, and this outboard portion 9 is supported near its outer end by an angularly upwardly and outwardly extending frame member 10.
1()9~L627 A vertically oriented linear motion means comprising a hydraulic cylinder 11 rests on a platform 12 which extends outwardly from the horizontal frame member 3 and is positioned such that the cylinder 11 is generally in alignment with the vertical frame member 6.
The upper end of the actuator 13 of the hydraulic cylinder 11 is connected to a cable 1~ which passes over a first guide pulley 15, across the top of the beam 8, around a second guide pulley 16 and down to coupling apparatus to be described below. The hydraulic cylinder 11 receives hydraulic fluid through the lines 17 and 18 from control means (not shown) under conventional control from the operator's cab o~ the tractor 1.
Referring now to Figure 2, it will be observed that the end of the cable 14 which passes over the pulley 16 is connected, by means of a clevis 19, to support structure 20 for a coupling mechanism 21. The distance between the coupling mechanism 21 and the bottom of the frame members 7 and 10 is governed by an arm 22 which extends horizontally between the coupling mechanism 21 and the pivotal mounting means 23 disposed adjacent the junctions of the frame members 7 and 10. As best shown in Figure 3, the pivotal mounting means comprises a pair of spaced-apart plates 2~ 25, each of which is provided with three vcr~ically aligned bearing apertures. In Figure 3, the arm 22 is shown ixed to position on the lowermost pair of apertures by a shaft 26 held in place by pins 27 fixed outboard to the plates 2~ and 25. Thus, it will be understood that the vertical position of the tractor-6X~
mounted end of the arm 22 may be raised to either ofthe alternate positions represented by the aperture pairs 28 and 29 for reasons which will become more apparent as the description of the apparatus proceeds.
Referring again to Figure 2, and also to Figure 4, it will be seen that the coupling mechanism 21 includes a housing 30 with first and second manually operable levers 31 and 32 affixed at pivot points 33 and 34 to rocker members 39 and 40 which extend upwardly from the top of the housing 30. Rearwardly extending linkage arms 35 and 36 are pivotally fixed at one end to the respective handles 31 and 32 and at the other end to pivot points 37 and 38.
The rocker members 39 and 40 have affixed, at their respective lower ends, rollers 41 and 42, which rollers are adapted to engage one edge of a rail 43.
In Figure 4, the handle 31, and consequently the roller 41 which pivots about a pivot point 46, is shown in the coupled position in which the rail 43 is secured engaged by the roller 41 and a stationary roller 45. It will be understood that another roller, corresponding to the roller 45 is positioned opposite the roller 42 which is shown in the uncoupled position in Figure 4 merely :Eor purposes oE illustration. It will be understood that the handles 31, 32 and the rollers 41,42 are ordinarily in the same position depending upon whether or not the coupling mechanism 21 is engaged with the rail 43.
In order to couple the apparatus to the conveyor system, the tractor 1, fitted with the lifting apparatus 2, is maneuvered into position beside the conveyor such ~ ~91 6 ~
that coupling mechanism 21, with the handles 31 and 32 in the up position to provide clearance for the rail 43 between the rollers ~1, 42, 45, may be brought into position onto the rail. The handles 31, 32, are then pushed down to detent the rollers 41 and ~2 into engagement with the rail 43 by the slightly overcenter position o the pivot points 47 and 48 which couple, respectively, the rear of the handle 31 and the linkage arm 35 and the rear of the handle 32 and the linkage arm 36. I~
necessary, the pivotal mounting means 23, Figure 3, is adjusted to a different pair of apertures in order to maintain the arm 22 approxlmately horizontal when the rail ~3 is engaged.
Once the apparatus is coupled to the conveyor system, its use in urging the conveyor system to a new position is relatively straightforward. In practice, different operators may use somewhat diferent techniques, but the sequence shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is exemplary of one such technique. As shown in Figure 5, the coupling 2n mechanism 21 will have been connected to the rail ~3 at a position ~such as the point ~9) near one end 50 of the conveyor 51 which is to be repositioned. The tractor 1 is then backed at an angle :Eor a ew eet to pull the end 5n of the conveyor 51 a :Eoot or two in the d~ir~d direction. The tractor 1 is then straightened out, nnd driven, as shown in Figure 6? in the forward direction and parallel to the ori~inal position of the conveyor belt 51 which is slightly lifted and pulled toward the tractor l on the skids 52 a foot or two in the desired ~ ~3L~7 direction. When the end of the run is reached, the operator causes the tractor 1 to per~orm a maneuver similar to that shown in Figure 5 to urge that end into another increment of movement, and the tractor 1 is then backed toward the first end of the conveyor 51 to li-ft and urge the conveyor another ~oot or two in the desired direction on the skids. This process is repeated until the conveyor section has been repositioned as intended.
Therea-fter, the ram 13 (Figure 2) of the hydraulic cylinder 11 is extended to slacken the cable 1~, thereby permitting removal of the coupling mechanism 21 by lifting the handles 31 and 32 (Figure 4) to disengage the rollers 41 and 42 from the rail 43. Subsequently, the entire lifting apparatus 2 may be removed from the tractor and stored until it is again necessary to move a conveyor belt system.
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles.
g
Upwardly extending frame sections 6 and 7 rest on the after regions on each side of the horizontal frame portion 3, and the upper ends of the upwardly frame portions 6 and 7 are connected by a horizontal beam 8. The horizontal beam 8 includes an outboard section 9 which extends well beyond the upwardly extending frame member 7, and this outboard portion 9 is supported near its outer end by an angularly upwardly and outwardly extending frame member 10.
1()9~L627 A vertically oriented linear motion means comprising a hydraulic cylinder 11 rests on a platform 12 which extends outwardly from the horizontal frame member 3 and is positioned such that the cylinder 11 is generally in alignment with the vertical frame member 6.
The upper end of the actuator 13 of the hydraulic cylinder 11 is connected to a cable 1~ which passes over a first guide pulley 15, across the top of the beam 8, around a second guide pulley 16 and down to coupling apparatus to be described below. The hydraulic cylinder 11 receives hydraulic fluid through the lines 17 and 18 from control means (not shown) under conventional control from the operator's cab o~ the tractor 1.
Referring now to Figure 2, it will be observed that the end of the cable 14 which passes over the pulley 16 is connected, by means of a clevis 19, to support structure 20 for a coupling mechanism 21. The distance between the coupling mechanism 21 and the bottom of the frame members 7 and 10 is governed by an arm 22 which extends horizontally between the coupling mechanism 21 and the pivotal mounting means 23 disposed adjacent the junctions of the frame members 7 and 10. As best shown in Figure 3, the pivotal mounting means comprises a pair of spaced-apart plates 2~ 25, each of which is provided with three vcr~ically aligned bearing apertures. In Figure 3, the arm 22 is shown ixed to position on the lowermost pair of apertures by a shaft 26 held in place by pins 27 fixed outboard to the plates 2~ and 25. Thus, it will be understood that the vertical position of the tractor-6X~
mounted end of the arm 22 may be raised to either ofthe alternate positions represented by the aperture pairs 28 and 29 for reasons which will become more apparent as the description of the apparatus proceeds.
Referring again to Figure 2, and also to Figure 4, it will be seen that the coupling mechanism 21 includes a housing 30 with first and second manually operable levers 31 and 32 affixed at pivot points 33 and 34 to rocker members 39 and 40 which extend upwardly from the top of the housing 30. Rearwardly extending linkage arms 35 and 36 are pivotally fixed at one end to the respective handles 31 and 32 and at the other end to pivot points 37 and 38.
The rocker members 39 and 40 have affixed, at their respective lower ends, rollers 41 and 42, which rollers are adapted to engage one edge of a rail 43.
In Figure 4, the handle 31, and consequently the roller 41 which pivots about a pivot point 46, is shown in the coupled position in which the rail 43 is secured engaged by the roller 41 and a stationary roller 45. It will be understood that another roller, corresponding to the roller 45 is positioned opposite the roller 42 which is shown in the uncoupled position in Figure 4 merely :Eor purposes oE illustration. It will be understood that the handles 31, 32 and the rollers 41,42 are ordinarily in the same position depending upon whether or not the coupling mechanism 21 is engaged with the rail 43.
In order to couple the apparatus to the conveyor system, the tractor 1, fitted with the lifting apparatus 2, is maneuvered into position beside the conveyor such ~ ~91 6 ~
that coupling mechanism 21, with the handles 31 and 32 in the up position to provide clearance for the rail 43 between the rollers ~1, 42, 45, may be brought into position onto the rail. The handles 31, 32, are then pushed down to detent the rollers 41 and ~2 into engagement with the rail 43 by the slightly overcenter position o the pivot points 47 and 48 which couple, respectively, the rear of the handle 31 and the linkage arm 35 and the rear of the handle 32 and the linkage arm 36. I~
necessary, the pivotal mounting means 23, Figure 3, is adjusted to a different pair of apertures in order to maintain the arm 22 approxlmately horizontal when the rail ~3 is engaged.
Once the apparatus is coupled to the conveyor system, its use in urging the conveyor system to a new position is relatively straightforward. In practice, different operators may use somewhat diferent techniques, but the sequence shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7 is exemplary of one such technique. As shown in Figure 5, the coupling 2n mechanism 21 will have been connected to the rail ~3 at a position ~such as the point ~9) near one end 50 of the conveyor 51 which is to be repositioned. The tractor 1 is then backed at an angle :Eor a ew eet to pull the end 5n of the conveyor 51 a :Eoot or two in the d~ir~d direction. The tractor 1 is then straightened out, nnd driven, as shown in Figure 6? in the forward direction and parallel to the ori~inal position of the conveyor belt 51 which is slightly lifted and pulled toward the tractor l on the skids 52 a foot or two in the desired ~ ~3L~7 direction. When the end of the run is reached, the operator causes the tractor 1 to per~orm a maneuver similar to that shown in Figure 5 to urge that end into another increment of movement, and the tractor 1 is then backed toward the first end of the conveyor 51 to li-ft and urge the conveyor another ~oot or two in the desired direction on the skids. This process is repeated until the conveyor section has been repositioned as intended.
Therea-fter, the ram 13 (Figure 2) of the hydraulic cylinder 11 is extended to slacken the cable 1~, thereby permitting removal of the coupling mechanism 21 by lifting the handles 31 and 32 (Figure 4) to disengage the rollers 41 and 42 from the rail 43. Subsequently, the entire lifting apparatus 2 may be removed from the tractor and stored until it is again necessary to move a conveyor belt system.
While the principles of the invention have now been made clear in an illustrative embodiment, there will be immediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials, and components, used in the practice of the invention which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operating requirements without departing from those principles.
g
Claims (3)
1. In a system for moving a skid mounted conveyor belt which is provided with a rail along the length thereof, shifting apparatus for applying a pulling and lifting force to the rail, and hence the conveyor belt, comprising:
a) a vehicle;
b) a frame affixed to said vehicle, said frame in-cluding a lower portion and an overhead portion, said overhead frame portion extending outwardly beyond said lower frame portion on a first side of said vehicle;
c) a hydraulic cylinder carried by said frame on a second side of said vehicle opposite said first side thereof;
d) a coupling device situated on said first side of said vehicle and adapted for detachable rolling engage-ment with the rail, said coupling device including at least one pair of rollers adapted to engage opposite sides of the rail; at least one roller of said pair being further adapted, by manually operable means, for selective lateral movement toward and away from the rail to facilitate engagement and disengagement between said coupling device and the rail, said manually operable means including:
i) a handle;
ii) a linkage arm pivotally connected to and in axial alignment with said handle, said linkage arm having its other end pivotally fixed; and iii) a rocker member carrying, at its lower end, said laterally moveable roller, said rocker member being pivotally fixed intermediate along its length and pivotally connected at its upper end to said handle intermediate the length thereof;
e) a cable connected between said hydraulic cylinder and said coupling device;
f) first and second pulleys affixed to said frame overhead portion and adapted to constrain said cable to extend from said hydraulic cylinder upwardly to said first pulley, across said frame overhead portion to said second pulley, and generally downwardly to said coupling device; and g) a generally horizontal brace means pivotally fixed at a first end to said frame lower portion and at a second end to said coupling device.
a) a vehicle;
b) a frame affixed to said vehicle, said frame in-cluding a lower portion and an overhead portion, said overhead frame portion extending outwardly beyond said lower frame portion on a first side of said vehicle;
c) a hydraulic cylinder carried by said frame on a second side of said vehicle opposite said first side thereof;
d) a coupling device situated on said first side of said vehicle and adapted for detachable rolling engage-ment with the rail, said coupling device including at least one pair of rollers adapted to engage opposite sides of the rail; at least one roller of said pair being further adapted, by manually operable means, for selective lateral movement toward and away from the rail to facilitate engagement and disengagement between said coupling device and the rail, said manually operable means including:
i) a handle;
ii) a linkage arm pivotally connected to and in axial alignment with said handle, said linkage arm having its other end pivotally fixed; and iii) a rocker member carrying, at its lower end, said laterally moveable roller, said rocker member being pivotally fixed intermediate along its length and pivotally connected at its upper end to said handle intermediate the length thereof;
e) a cable connected between said hydraulic cylinder and said coupling device;
f) first and second pulleys affixed to said frame overhead portion and adapted to constrain said cable to extend from said hydraulic cylinder upwardly to said first pulley, across said frame overhead portion to said second pulley, and generally downwardly to said coupling device; and g) a generally horizontal brace means pivotally fixed at a first end to said frame lower portion and at a second end to said coupling device.
2. The shifting apparatus of Claim 1 in which said coupling device includes a second pair of rollers adapted to engage opposite sides of the rail and in which rollers of each pair abutting a common side are further adapted in like manner for selective lateral movement toward and away from the rail to facilitate engagement and disengagement between said coupling device and the rail.
3. The shifting device of Claim 3 which further includes angular brace means extending from said frame lower portion to a position on said frame overhead portion proximate the end thereof from which said coupling device is suspended by said cable.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA287,978A CA1091627A (en) | 1977-10-03 | 1977-10-03 | Conveyor belt shifting apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA287,978A CA1091627A (en) | 1977-10-03 | 1977-10-03 | Conveyor belt shifting apparatus |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1091627A true CA1091627A (en) | 1980-12-16 |
Family
ID=4109687
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA287,978A Expired CA1091627A (en) | 1977-10-03 | 1977-10-03 | Conveyor belt shifting apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1091627A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1350742A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2003-10-08 | René Brunone | Mobile transportsystem and method for moving the mobile transportsystem |
| CN103982234A (en) * | 2014-05-14 | 2014-08-13 | 山西东华机械有限公司 | Crawler type multidirectional mounting transporter for middle chute |
-
1977
- 1977-10-03 CA CA287,978A patent/CA1091627A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1350742A1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2003-10-08 | René Brunone | Mobile transportsystem and method for moving the mobile transportsystem |
| CN103982234A (en) * | 2014-05-14 | 2014-08-13 | 山西东华机械有限公司 | Crawler type multidirectional mounting transporter for middle chute |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |