CA1124673A - Wheel assembly - Google Patents

Wheel assembly

Info

Publication number
CA1124673A
CA1124673A CA338,925A CA338925A CA1124673A CA 1124673 A CA1124673 A CA 1124673A CA 338925 A CA338925 A CA 338925A CA 1124673 A CA1124673 A CA 1124673A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
liner
rim
portions
spider
load
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
Application number
CA338,925A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
James A. Carwile
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1124673A publication Critical patent/CA1124673A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G17/00Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
    • B65G17/02Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriers; Endless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising a load-carrying belt attached to or resting on the traction element
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G39/00Rollers, e.g. drive rollers, or arrangements thereof incorporated in roller-ways or other types of mechanical conveyors 
    • B65G39/02Adaptations of individual rollers and supports therefor
    • B65G39/07Other adaptations of sleeves
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16HGEARING
    • F16H55/00Elements with teeth or friction surfaces for conveying motion; Worms, pulleys or sheaves for gearing mechanisms
    • F16H55/32Friction members
    • F16H55/36Pulleys
    • F16H55/50Features essential to rope pulleys
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/04Bulk

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Rollers For Roller Conveyors For Transfer (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A supporting idler wheel assembly for a belt-type coal or ore conveyor includes a spider, apparatus for mounting the spider on an axle, a rim divided into two rim halves, each attached to one axially facing side of the spider, and a two-piece liner or tire for the rim. Each of the two tire pieces includes a portion for positioning between one of the rim halves and a corresponding axial face of the spider. The tire halves are thereby fixed to the assembly by the same bolts, rivets, etc., which fix the rim halves to the spider.
The improved assembly facilitates repair or replacement of the tire halves when they become worn.

Description

~467~

This invention relates to wheel assemblies generally, and specifically to an improved type of idler or drive wheel assembly for supporting a load, such as a load-bearing stretch or run of an elongated Elexible conveyor.
Certain types of conveyors currently in use carry mined coal and ore over relatively long distances from mines to loading terminals. The conveyors convey the coal or ore, for example, onto barges, which transport the coal or ore along waterways to receiving terminals.
Frequently, such conveyors are several miles long. The flexible conveyor belts of such conveyors are typically constructed~from rubber-like materials, such as rubber-impregnated textiles, with the longitudinal edges of the flexible belt being reinforced by, e.g., a woven natural or synthetic fiber cable or woven wire cable. The cross-section of such a belt thus is somewhat dumbbell-shaped, owing to the web of flexible material with edges reinforced by cable.
Such conveyor belts are generally supported upon large numbers of idler wheel assemblies which bear the load of the conveyor belt and the material carried thereon.
In the past, such wheel assemblies have all been of one general type.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wheel assembly for such a conveyor.
According to the invention, a wheel assembly includes a spider, means for mounting the spider on an axle, a wheel rim including means for mounting the rim from the spider, and a wheel rim liner, or tire, including a first portion for positioning between the rim and the .~

~.2~6~73 load, and a second portion permitting attachment of the liner to the rim and spider, the second portion being interposed between the rim and spider and including means cooperating with the mounting means to position the liner properly on the rim and to mount the liner from the spider.
Further according to the invention, the rim includes first and second rim portions, and the mounting means including means mounting one rim portion axially on one side of the spider and the other rim portion axially on the other side of the spider. The liner defines a concave contour within the rim. A load-carrying conveyor includes a flexible belt having two longitudinal belt edges, with a reinforcing cable adjacent each edge. The cable has a cross-sectional shape corresponding in part generally to the concave cross-sectional shape of the liner, to be received by the liner in load-bearing engagement.
Additionally according to the invention, each rim portion includes a radially outer, load supporting portion and a radially inner flange portion. The flange portion includes a plural~ity of peripherally spaced passageways. The spider includes a plurality of correspondingly peripherally spaced passageways, and the mounting means includes a plurality'of bolts for insertion through the passageways of the rim portion flanges and spider, and nuts threadable on the bolts to capture the rim portions on the spider.
Also according to the invention, the liner includes two liner portions, each provided with a first ~.2~L~73 portion permitting attachment of the liner to the rim and spider, and a second portion for positioning between the rim and the load. The liner second portions comprise generally radially extending flanges for interposition between respective rim flange portions and the spider. Each liner second portion flange includes a plurality of corresponding peripherally spaced passageways to receive the bolts and capture the liner second portions between their respective flanges and the spider. Each liner first portion comprises a concave surface cooperating with the corresponding concave surface on a cooperating liner first portion to define the concave contour.
In one illustrative embodiment, both the liner first portions and liner second portions are constructed from a plastic material. The plastic material is injection moldable. Illustratively, the material includes polyurethane.
In another illustrative embodiment, the liner second portions are constructed from metal, such as thin sheet stock. The liner second portions comprise generally radially extending, axially thin flanges for interposition between respective rim flange portions and the spider.
Illustratively, the liner second portion flanges include peripherally spaced, radially outwardly projecting, tooth-like portions for molding into the plastic material of the liner first portions to prevent peripherai movement of said liner first portions relative to said liner second portions.
In another embodiment, the liner second portion peripheries are provided with one or more axial passageways through which the moldable liner first portion material flows and hardens to capture the liner first portions against movement relative to the liner second portions.
A substantial benefit is derived from the structure according to either of the illustrated embodiments, in that the injection moldable plastic portions can be reclaimed after they have become worn out. In the embodiment utilizing the metal liner second portions, the second poxtions can also be reclaimed. Both the liner second portions and the reclaimed plastic material can be recycled into new wheel rim liners according to the invention, achieving a significant economy.
The invention may best be understood by referring to the following description and accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention. In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a conveyor system including wheel assemblies constructed according to the prior art;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a conveyor system according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a wheel rim liner as shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the wheel rim liner of Figs. 2-3;
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of another structure for a wheel rim liner according to the invention;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a conveyor system including another wheel assembly according to the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of ~.2~73 the wheel rim liner of Fig. 6; and, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a coal conveyor mechanism of a type in connection with which the instant invention is useful.
A prior art type of wheel assembly for use with a coal conveyor is shown in Fig. 1. That assembly includes a spider 12 having a center opening 14 for mounting the spider on an axle 16. The axle 16 is mounted in suitable bearings (not shown) from a coal conveyor supporting framework 20 tFig. 8). The prior art assembly further includes a wheel rim 22 divided into two axially spaced rim halves 24, 26. The spider 12 includes a radially outwardly projecting flange 28. Each of the rim halves 24, 26 includes a radially inwardly projecting cooperating flange 30 r 32, respectively. Each flange 30, 32 includes a plurality of peripherally spaced passageways 34. The flange 28 includes a plurality of correspondingly peripherally spaced passageways 36. Bolts 38 are inserted through the passageways of the flanges 30, 32 and the mating passageways of flange 28, and nuts 40 are threaded onto the bolts to capture the rim halves 24, 26 on the spider 12.
~ The prior art wheel assembly further includes a wheèl rim liner 42 positioned between the rim 22 and a load, the longitudinal edge-supporting cable 44 of a flexible conveyor belt 46. The prior art wheel rim liner 42 is. constructed from a material, typically a plastic, to minimize wear on the cable 44 and line 42 resulting from movement of the conveyor belt cable 44 over the wheel assembly 10.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the prior art liner 42 is applied directly to the concave contoured inner surface 48 of each rim half 24, 26. The contoured inner surfaces 48 of the prior art are prepared, e.q., by application of an adhesive, and the liner 42 is pour-molded directly onto the inner surraces 48. After the liner 42 material hardens, the rim halves 24, 26, with the liner material attached, are placed on a lathe and the liner material 42 is turned to the desired contour,indicated generally at 50. After installation, as the liner 42 wears, it is necessary to remove the rim halves 24, 26 from the spider 12, in order that the worn liner material 42 can be removed from the rim halves 24, 26 and new liner material pour-molded on the rim halves. Then the rim halves are turned on the lathe again to machine the liner material to the desired contour.
As will be immediately appreciatedr this prior art apparatus and procedure requires that a substantial stock of extra rim halves 24, 26 with prepared liners 42 be maintained at all times. Under ordinary circumstances, on a 19-mile long coal conveyor, 50 sets of ri~ halves 24, 26 can become worn out each day. Typically, the locations at which the liners 42 are refurbished are located some distance from the conveyor sites. This means that substantial turn-around time is required to send the rim halves 24, 26 to the renewal facilities, have the rather expensive pour-molding and lathe-turning operations performed to refurbish the liners 42, and then transport the renewed rim halves 24, 26 back to the conveyor site.

7 ~ 3 Turning to Figs. 2-7, those elements numbered identically with the elements discussed in connection with the prior art structure of Fig. 1 perform the same or similar functions.
Referring now particularly to Figs. 2-4, each liner 4~ is provided by two identical liner portions 52, 54 associated with rim halves 22, 24, respectively. Division of the liner 42 into the two axially spaced halves 52, 54 is convenient in view of the construction of the rim 22 in two halves 24, 26. Each liner portion 52, 54 includes a first portion 56 for positioning between the rim 22 and the load 46. The cooperating first portions 56 of liner portions 52, 54 provide generally concave surfaces 58 which in turn cooperate to define the contour for receiving the cable 44 in load-bearing engagement The first portions 56 include outer contours 60 which engage the innercontours 48 of the radially outer, load-supporting portions 64 of the rim halves 24, 26.
Each of liner portions 52, 54 includes a second portion 66 permitting attachment of the liner portions 52, 54 to the rim 22 and spider 12.
The liner second portions 66 are provided by generally radially extending, axially thin metal rings 68.
Each of the metal rings 68 is provided with a plurality of peripherally spaced passageways 70 to receive the bolts 38 to capture the liner portions 52, 54 between their respective rim flange portions 30, 32 and the sp:ider 12 surfaces 72, 74. The rings 68 are sandwiched between their respective flanges 30, 32 and the opposite axial surfaces 72, 74, respectively, of spider 12. The bolts 38 and nuts 40 thereby capture the liner portions 52, 54 on respective sides of the spider 12 between the spider and their respective rim halves 24, 26 as the wheel 10 is assembled.
Further, as best illustrated in Figs. 3-4, each of the flat metal rings 68 is provided with peripherally spaced, radially outwardly projecting, tooth-like portions 76. As illustrated, the tooth-likeportions 76 provide cavities 78 in the molded liner first portions 56 to prevent peripheral movement of the liner portions 56 relative to the flat metal rings 68.
It will be immediately appreciated that this assembly permits simple and rapid replacement of worn liner portions 52, 54. All that needs to be kept on hand is a stock of liner portions 52, 54. The rim halves 24, 26 need not be sent away for renewal.
Worn out liner portions 52, 54 can be completely recycled. The worn out liner first portions 56 can be removed from the flat metal rings 68 and ground for reuse. The flat metal rings themselves can also be reused, with new liner first portions 56 being injection molded onto them.
Also as illustrated in Fig. 5, an alternative structure to the tooth-like portions 76, holes 80 can be provided in the flat metal ring 68 adjacent the outer periphery 82 thereof. The plastic material of the liner first portions 56, during injection molding, flows through the holes 80 and hardens to prevent peripheral movement of the liner first portions 56 relative to the flanges 68.
In another structure according to the invention, _g_ G~3 illustrated in Figs. 6-7, each second portion 66 comprises a generally radially extending, axially thin, injection molded 1ange for interposition between a respective rim flange 30, 32 and the corresponding surface of spider 12.
Each second portion 66 flange is molded from the same material, illustratively polyurethane, at the same time as its respective liner first portion 56. Each flange is provided with a plurality of corresponding peripherally spaced passageways 70. The worn out liner portions 52, 54 may be returned to a reworking facility, where the plastic 56 is ground and the grindings are used in injection molding of new liner first portions 56. There is no waste, either of time or resources, with the inventive wheel assembly of Figs. 2-7.

Claims (17)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A wheel assembly for supporting a load, the wheel assembly includ-ing a spider, means for mounting the spider on an axle, and a wheel rim including means for mounting the rim from the spider, and a wheel rim liner including a first portion for positioning between the rim and the load, and a second portion permitting attachment of the liner to the rim and spider, the liner second portion being interposed between the rim and spider and including means cooperating with the rim mounting means to position the liner properly on the rim and to mount the liner from the spider.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the rim includes two rim portions, the mounting means including means mounting one rim portion axially on one side of the spider and the other rim portion axially on the other side of the spider.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the liner defines a generally concave portion within the rim and the load is a conveyor.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the liner defines a generally concave portion within the rim and the load is a conveyor; and wherein the conveyor includes a flexible belt having two longitudinally extending belt edges, and a reinforcing region adjacent each edge, the reinforcing region having a cross-sectional shape corresponding in part generally to the cross-sectional shape of the generally concave portion of the liner, to be received therein in load-bearing engagement.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each rim portion includes a radial-ly outer load-supporting portion and a radially inner flange portion, the flange portion including a plurality of peripherally spaced passageways, the spider including a plurality of correspondingly peripherally spaced passageways, and the mounting means including a plurality of bolts for insertion through the passageways of the rim portion flanges and spider, and nuts threadable on the bolts to capture the rim portions on the spider.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the liner includes two liner portions, each provided with one of said liner first portions and one of said liner second portions.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said liner second portions comprise generally radially extending, axially thin flanges for interposition between respective rim flange portions and the spider, each liner second portion flange including a plurality of corresponding peripherally spaced passageways to receive said bolts to capture said liner portions between their respective flanges and the spider.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each said liner first portion comprises a concave surface cooperating with a corresponding concave surface of a cooperating liner first portion to define a peripheral groove receiving a conveyor.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the conveyor includes a flexible belt having two longitudinally extending belt edges, and a reinforcing region adjacent each edge, the reinforcing region having a cross-sectional shape corresponding in part generally to the cross-sectional shape of the peripheral groove, to be received therein in load-bearing engagement.
10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said liner first portions are constructed from a plastic material.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the liner second portions are constructed from the plastic material.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 or 11 wherein the plastic material is injection moldable.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 or 11 wherein the plastic material is injection moldable and includes polyurethane.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the liner second portions are constructed from metal.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the liner second portions com-prise generally radially extending, axially thin flanges for interposition between respective rim flange portions and the spider, each liner second portion flange including a plurality of corresponding peripherally spaced passageways to receive said bolts to capture said liner portions between their respective rim flange portions and the spider.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the liner second portion flanges include peripherally spaced, radially outwardly projecting, tooth-like por-tions for molding into said plastic material to prevent movement of said liner first portions relative to said liner second portions.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the liner second portion flanges include peripherally spaced passageways for receiving said plastic material during forming of said liner first portions on said liner second portions to prevent movement of said liner first portions relative to said liner second portions.
CA338,925A 1978-12-12 1979-11-01 Wheel assembly Expired CA1124673A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US96876178A 1978-12-12 1978-12-12
US968,761 1992-10-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1124673A true CA1124673A (en) 1982-06-01

Family

ID=25514734

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA338,925A Expired CA1124673A (en) 1978-12-12 1979-11-01 Wheel assembly

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1124673A (en)
GB (1) GB2036919B (en)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2144514B (en) * 1983-08-03 1987-07-01 Wyrepak Ind Inc Pulley or sheave having wear resistant surfaces
AU615476B2 (en) * 1987-08-28 1991-10-03 Harry Anthony Thomas Jones Pulley tyre rim configuration
AU757844B2 (en) 1999-07-08 2003-03-06 Freshfield Properties Pty Ltd Pulley tyre and rim
CN102963672A (en) * 2012-11-14 2013-03-13 天津三岛输送机械有限公司 Novel pinch roller device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2036919B (en) 1982-07-21
GB2036919A (en) 1980-07-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US6733093B2 (en) Split wheel and method for installing endless track
EP0006301B1 (en) Track mounting assembly for crawler vehicles
EP0679131B1 (en) Track roller assembly having a replaceable flange
CA1124673A (en) Wheel assembly
US11130639B2 (en) Modular pulley for continuous belt conveyor system
EP0776756A3 (en) Manufacture of pneumatic tyres for vehicles
US3494212A (en) Pulleys
US20120056472A1 (en) Track with rotating bushings for track-type vehicles with improved sliding bearings
US6635000B2 (en) Roller for a running-gear mechanism or for a roller battery
US2920885A (en) Hollow bodies for air cushioning in particular for vehicles
US6883876B2 (en) Crawler type traveling apparatus, sprocket for crawler belt and segments thereof
US5302012A (en) Composite tread ring for track roller
WO1990003911A1 (en) Track carrier roller with resilient and replaceable tread
EP0738674B1 (en) Set of modular elements for the construction of a driving pulley for a belt conveyor
US5040855A (en) Isolated rim roller assembly
EP0312256A1 (en) Pulley wheel tyre
US6280009B1 (en) Sound reducing carrier roller
US4439173A (en) Replaceable lagging for drum-type pulleys
US2917347A (en) Cushion for endless tracks
US6796919B2 (en) Pulley tire and rim
CN216888484U (en) Novel waste material transportation belt protection device and waste material transportation device
US5135644A (en) Belt for magnetic separator
US3437383A (en) Replaceable compactor wheels and mounting apparatus thereof
US2779454A (en) Flight conveyor with renewable flights
KR960008897Y1 (en) Assembling pully

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEX Expiry