CA1220155A - Bulk material conveyor - Google Patents
Bulk material conveyorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1220155A CA1220155A CA000497533A CA497533A CA1220155A CA 1220155 A CA1220155 A CA 1220155A CA 000497533 A CA000497533 A CA 000497533A CA 497533 A CA497533 A CA 497533A CA 1220155 A CA1220155 A CA 1220155A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- paddles
- wheel
- tubular
- conveyor assembly
- 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
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- Pusher Or Impeller Conveyors (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pair of adjacent and relatively angulated tubular section ends open into a transversely enlarged hollow housing having a sprocket wheel journaled therein for rotation about an axis disposed transverse to the plane containing the tubular section ends. The endless flexible member of a conveyor extends through the tubular sections and about the wheel and has longitudinally spaced paddles mounted thereon having openings formed therein through which the elongated tension member is loosely received. The paddles additionally include slots communicating the openings with the outer periph-eries of the paddles and the tubular section end opening into the hollow housing includes a lengthwise extending and upstream tapering guide mounted therein and engageable by the surfaces of the paddles defining the opposite sides of the slots formed therein for guidingly engaging the paddles, and thus the adjacent tension member portions upon their final approach toward the wheel. The wheel may be driven from an adjacent location or a remote location and the paddles are of a plan shape corresponding to the inside cross-sectional shape of the tubular sections with the paddles being slightly smaller in dimension than the interiors of the tubular sections.
A pair of adjacent and relatively angulated tubular section ends open into a transversely enlarged hollow housing having a sprocket wheel journaled therein for rotation about an axis disposed transverse to the plane containing the tubular section ends. The endless flexible member of a conveyor extends through the tubular sections and about the wheel and has longitudinally spaced paddles mounted thereon having openings formed therein through which the elongated tension member is loosely received. The paddles additionally include slots communicating the openings with the outer periph-eries of the paddles and the tubular section end opening into the hollow housing includes a lengthwise extending and upstream tapering guide mounted therein and engageable by the surfaces of the paddles defining the opposite sides of the slots formed therein for guidingly engaging the paddles, and thus the adjacent tension member portions upon their final approach toward the wheel. The wheel may be driven from an adjacent location or a remote location and the paddles are of a plan shape corresponding to the inside cross-sectional shape of the tubular sections with the paddles being slightly smaller in dimension than the interiors of the tubular sections.
Description
~ ~'U~L~
An en masse conveyor is provided of the power driven type and including a tubular conveyor conduit having flexible flight structure dis-posed within the conduit and movable therealong. The conduit comprises two independent conduit sections having adjacent ends angularly disposed relative to each other and joined through the utilization of a hollow housing portion journaling a guide and driving wheel therein about which the flight structure is trained. The flight structure includes longitudinally spaced paddles mounted thereon for movement through the conduit and each paddle includes a central opening through which the flight structure is loosely received and a slot communicating the opening with a peripheral portion of the paddle, the flight structure being laterally receivable through the slot. Also, the periphery of the wheel about which the flight structure is trained is loosely receivable through each slot and that portion of the conduit opening into the hollow housing on the approach side thereof includes includes stationary guide structure tapering in width in an upstream direction and with which the side walls of the slots are engageable for proper position-ing of the paddles upon their final approach to the wheel about which the flight structure is trained.
Various en masse bulk material conveyor systems including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention are disclosed in ~I.S. patent Nos. 1,301,142, 2,170,934, 2,252,460, 2,339,491,
An en masse conveyor is provided of the power driven type and including a tubular conveyor conduit having flexible flight structure dis-posed within the conduit and movable therealong. The conduit comprises two independent conduit sections having adjacent ends angularly disposed relative to each other and joined through the utilization of a hollow housing portion journaling a guide and driving wheel therein about which the flight structure is trained. The flight structure includes longitudinally spaced paddles mounted thereon for movement through the conduit and each paddle includes a central opening through which the flight structure is loosely received and a slot communicating the opening with a peripheral portion of the paddle, the flight structure being laterally receivable through the slot. Also, the periphery of the wheel about which the flight structure is trained is loosely receivable through each slot and that portion of the conduit opening into the hollow housing on the approach side thereof includes includes stationary guide structure tapering in width in an upstream direction and with which the side walls of the slots are engageable for proper position-ing of the paddles upon their final approach to the wheel about which the flight structure is trained.
Various en masse bulk material conveyor systems including some of the general structural and operational features of the instant invention are disclosed in ~I.S. patent Nos. 1,301,142, 2,170,934, 2,252,460, 2,339,491,
2,559,614 and reissue patent Nos. 21,172 and 22,789.
The en masse bulk material conveyor system of the instant invention incorporates a tube ~cylindrical) conduit through which an endless elongated and flexible flight structure is driven and the flight structure includes longitudinally spaced paddles loosely but snugly received within the conduit.
The paddles include central openings therein through which the flight struc-ture passes as well as slots communicating the central openings with corre-sponding outer peripheral portions of the paddles. The flight structure is laterally receivable through the slots and the conduit includes at least two 2~
conduit sections including adjacent ends angularly disposed relative to each other and joined through the utilization of a hollow housing into which the adjacent ends open. The hollow housing journals a guide and drive wheel therefrom about which the flight structure is trained and the notches in the paddles loosely receive that peripheral portion of the wheel about which the flight structure passes. Further, the conduit section opening into the hollow housing in the direction of movement of the flight structure is equip-ped with stationary guide means which tapers in an upstream direction and with which the sides of the slots are engageable for proper positioning of the paddles immediately prior to those portions of the flight structure from which the paddles are supported being passed about the guide and drive wheel.
The main object of this invention is to provide a bulk conveyor system which may be utilized in numerous environments and which may be adapted for conveying numerous different bulk materials.
Another object of this invention is to provide a conveyor of the straight line type and including a pair of parallel and relatively braced conduit sections through which an endless flight structure is guided and driven with the flight structure being equipped with longitudinally spaced paddles loosely guidingly receivable through the conduit sections.
Still another important object of this invention is to provide a basic tube conveyor assembly including various components thereof which particularly well adapt the conveyor assembly for use in constructing a straight line conveyor or a loop conveyor system incorporating various turns.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a conveyor assembly in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
Figure l is a schematic elevational view of a typical loop-type conveyor system, including an elevatiang conveyor, for conveying bulk material and which may be constructed utilizing various combinations of the basic components of the conveyor of the instant invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a double tube straight line conveyor constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the inlet end of a straight line conveyor similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 but including a rotary torque drive input at the inlet end of the conveyor as opposed to the outlet end thereof;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a third form of straight line conveyor similar to that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 but utilizing a rotary torque input assembly adjacent the discharge end oE the conveyor;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the upper right hand portion of the loop portion of the conveyor assembly illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one closed end portion of a double tube straight line conveyor constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the material conveying paddles of the instant invention and the associated conveyor chain links.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conveyor system incorporating a loop conveyor refer-red to in general by the reference numeral 12 as well as an elevating con-veyor referred to in general by the reference n~mmeral 14. The loop conveyor 12 includes upper and lower horizontal cylindrical conduits 16 and 18 having corresponding ends connected by vertical conduits 20 and 22. The conduit 18 includes first and second inlets 24 and 26 and the inlet 24 may be disposed in the center portion of the lower end of a storage bin 28 while the inlet 5~
26 may be disposed to receive bulk material discharged downwardly thereinto from a truck or other vehicle 30 disposed on a vehicle support 32. In addi-tion, the upper conduit 16 may include outlets 34 and 36 for discharging the bulk material being conveyed downwardly into the bin 28 or into the vehicle 30.
The elevating conveyor 14 includes a pair of parallel conduits 38 and 40, an inlet 42 disposed at one pair of corresponding ends of the con-duits 38 and 40 and an outlet 44 disposed at the other pair of ends of the conduits 38 and 40. The outlet 44 discharges into the upper end of a gravity conveyor tube 46 discharging downwardly into the upper conduit 16 in registry with the outlet 34. The outlets 34 and 36 each may be of a type capable of being selectively closed and adjacent ends of the conduits 16 and 20 are joined by a hollow housing 48 equipped with a drive motor 50. Further, the adjacent ends of the conduits 18 and 20 are joined by a 90 bend conduit 52 while the adjacent ends of the conduits 18 and 22 are joined by a hollow housing 54 having a drive motor 56 operatively associated therewith. Finally, the adjacent ends of the conduits 16 and 22 are joined by a hollow housing 58 through which a transverse shaft 60 is journaled.
With reference now more specifically to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings it may be seen that the housing 48 has a transverse drive shaft 62 journaled therethrough and that a guide and drive sprocket wheel 64 is mounted on the shaft 62, the latter being driven at the desired speed by the motor 50 which comprises a constant or variable speed electric motor.
The housing 54 includes a motor driven sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64 and the housing 58 includes a non-driven sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64.
An endless chain 66 extends centrally through the conduits 16, 18, 20 and 22 and is trained about the sprocket wheel 64 as well as the similar sprocket wheels disposed within the housings 54 and 58. The chain, at points spaced longitudinally there along, includes bulk material conveying paddles 68 mounted therefrom and from Figure 8 of the drawings it may be seen that each of the paddles 68 is substantially circular in shape and includes a central opening 70 formed therethrough. The chain 66 is loosely received through the openings 70 and each of the paddles 68 includes a radial slot 72 laterally through which the chain 66 may be passed from the periphery of the paddles 68 into the openings 70. Those portions of the chain 66 immediately adjacent the paddles 68 include special side links 74 including extensions 76 which are secured to the corresponding paddles 68 by suitable fasteners 78.
Accordingly, the paddles 68 are mounted on the chain 66 for movement therewith through the conduits 16, 185 20 and 22 and the drive motors 50 and 56 serve to drive the chain 66 through the conveyor 12.
Inasmuch as the material to be conveyed through the conveyor 14 moves in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 oE the drawings, it is unnecessary for the conduit 52 to include a guide sprvcket wheel. The weight of the corresponding section of the chain 66 and the accompanying paddles 68 is sufficient to enable the chain and the paddles to pass through the conduit 52 without excess friction. However, the discharge end of the conduit 18 includes a motor driven sprocket wheel such as the sprocket wheel 64 and the motor driven sprocket wheel 64 is disposed at the discharge end of the conduit 16.
Of course, either of the inlets 24 and 26 may be selectively opened or closed and accordingly, bulk material may be conveyed from within the bin or storage container 28 and discharged through the outlet 36 into the truck 30 or material may be conveyed from the inlet 26 receiving bulk material from the truck 30 and discharged through the outlet 34 into the top of the bin 28.
Further, material may be conveyed from the inlet 42 through the elevator conveyor 14 and discharged from the outlet 44 through the conduit 46 and into the upper portion of the bin 28, the outlet 44 comprising a hollow housing joining the conduits 38 and 40 and also being equipped with a transverse journaled shaft 80 upon which a sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket ~22~5~i wheel 64 is mounted and driven by a constant or variable speed electric motor 82 corresponding to the electric motor 50.
With attention again invited to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings it may be seen that an elongated stationary guide 84 is provided. The station--ary guide 84 tapers in an upstream direction in relation to the direction of movement of the chain 66 and therefore has its narrow end 88 disposed within the conduit 16 and its wider notched end 86 disposed within the housing 48.
The notched end 86 loosely embraces the adjacent periphery of the guide and drive sprocket wheel 64 and the opposite side surfaces of each paddle defin-ing the corresponding slot 72 are engageable with the guide 88 in order toensure proper positioning of each paddle 68 as it approaches the sprocket wheel 64. Of course, proper positioning of the paddles 68 as they approach the sprocket wheel 64 also ensures proper positioning of the adjacent por-tion of the chain 66 during final movement toward the sprocket wheel 64.
Further, the guide 84 may be duplicated in the conduit 20 and include an arcuate connecting section within the housing 48. In this manner the motor, if also reversible, may drive the chain 66 in either direction and the chain 66 will be guided toward the sprocket 64 in either direction.
As may best be seen from Figure 5 of the drawings the paddles 68 are loosely received within the conduit 20 and thus are also loosely, but guidingly, received within the conduits 16, 18 and 22. Also, any suitable means may be used to stationarily mount the guide 84 within the conduit 16 and the housing 48. Of course, the housings 54 and 58 and the adjacent por-tions of the conduits 18 and 22 include guides corresponding to the guide 84.
With attention invited more speciEically to Figure 2 of the drawings, there may be seen a modified form of conveyor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The conveyor assembly 100 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart parallel conduits 102 and 104. One pair of corre-sponding ends of the conduits 102 and 104 are rigidly interconnected by a hollow housing 106 serving as a discharge housing and the other pair of ends of the conduits 102 and 104 are rigidly interconnected by a hollow housing 108 comprising an inlet housing and equipped with a tow hitch 110. The con-veyor assembly 100 includes supportive ground wheels 112 journaled therefrom and may thus be readily transported from one location to another.
The housings 106 and 108 include sprocket wheels (not shown) corresponding to the sprocket wheels 64 journaled therein and the sprocket wheel within the housing 106 is mounted on a transverse journaled shaft 112 while the sprocket wheel within the housing 108 is mounted on a transverse journaled shaft 114. A paddle-equipped chain corresponding to the chain 66 is trained about the sprocket wheels disposed in the housings 106 and 108 and the shaft 112 is driven from the output shaft 116 of a right angle drive assembly 118 by an endless flexible drive member 119. The right angle drive assembly 118 includes an input shaft portion 120 to which one end of a drive shaft 122 extending along and journaled between the conduits 102 and 104 is drivingly connected. The end of the drive shaft 122 remote from the right angle drive 118 has the output shaft 124 of a second right angle drive 126 drivingly coupled thereto and the right angle drive 126 includes an input shaft to which one end of a drive shaft 128 is drivingly coupled, the drive shaft 128 being adapted to be driven from the power take-off shaft of a farm tractor or other power take-off shaft.
With reference now more specifically to Figure 3 of the drawings, there may be seen another modified form of conveyor assembly reEerred to in general by the reference numeral 130. The conveyor assembly 130 is similar in construction to the conveyor assembly 100, but the drive shaft 132 corre-sponding to the drive shaft 128 is drivingly coupled to a transverse journaled shaft 134 corresponding to the shaft 114 by an endless flexible member 136.
The shaft 134 includes a guide and drive sprocket wheel (not shown) mounted thereon corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64. Hence, the conveyor assembly 100 is driven from the upper end thereof while the conveyor assembly 130 is driven from the lower end thereof.
~2~0~5~i With reference now more specifically to Figure 4 of the drawings, yet another form of conveyor assembly is reEerred to in general by the refer-ence numeral 140. The conveyor assembly 140 includes an inlet housing 142 corresponding to the inlet housing 108 and an outlet housing 144 correspond-ing to the outlet housing 106. The inlet housing 142 journals a non-driven sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64 and the outlet housing 144 journals a transverse shaft 146 therefrom upon which a sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64 is mounted. The shaft 146 is driven from a constant or variable speed electric motor 148. Of course, the conveyor assembly 140 also includes a pair of parallel laterally spaced apart conduits 150 and 152 corresponding to the conduits 102 and 104.
Thus, it may be seen that the basic conveyor assembly of the instant invention may be incorporated in the construction of various different types of conveyors.
With attention invited more specifically to Figure 7 of the drawings, there may be seen yet another form of conveyor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 160. The conveyor assembly 160 may be considered as substantially similar to the conveyor assembly 100, except that the correspond-ing ends of the conduits 162 and 164 thereof corresponding to the conduits 102 20 and 104 are rigidly interconnected by a closed hollow housing 168 corresponding to the housing 108. Further, the assembly 160 includes a guide 170 correspond-ing to guide 84 and which may be generally U-shaped and extend into both con-duits 162 and 164 to provided for guiding action on the corresponding chain 172 in either direction of movement thereof, the assemblies 14, 100, 130 and 140 also being provided with similar guides.
It will be noted from Figure 6 of the drawings that the diameter of the sprocket wheel 64 is sufficient to enable the paddles 68 to pass thereabout without interference between the paddles 68 and the shaft 62. Further, the various chain portions extending between the various conduits are disposed substantially along the centerlines of those conduits and those centerlines must lie substantially tangent to spaced peripheral portions of the associ-ated sprocket wheels. Further, the length of the guide 84 is greater than the spacing of adjacent paddles 68 along the chain 66~ This always assures that at least one paddle 68 will be disposed in position for guiding engagement by the guide 84. Further, in that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, a pair of drives are used at opposite corners of the loop conveyor 12 and in this manner the driving load is more evently distributed throughout the length of the chain 66.
Inasmuch as the chain 66 extends along the centerlines of the various conduits, the inlets and outlets for intaking or discharging bulk material from the conveyor assembly may be located on all sides of the corresponding conduits.
It is also to be noted that although a chain has been illustrated and described as the endless flight member utilized in the conveyor, a cable or similar elongated flexible tension member may be used in lieu of the chain 66.
By having the chain 66 pass centrally through the central opening 70, the driving load on each paddle 68 is substantially centered thereon.
The en masse bulk material conveyor system of the instant invention incorporates a tube ~cylindrical) conduit through which an endless elongated and flexible flight structure is driven and the flight structure includes longitudinally spaced paddles loosely but snugly received within the conduit.
The paddles include central openings therein through which the flight struc-ture passes as well as slots communicating the central openings with corre-sponding outer peripheral portions of the paddles. The flight structure is laterally receivable through the slots and the conduit includes at least two 2~
conduit sections including adjacent ends angularly disposed relative to each other and joined through the utilization of a hollow housing into which the adjacent ends open. The hollow housing journals a guide and drive wheel therefrom about which the flight structure is trained and the notches in the paddles loosely receive that peripheral portion of the wheel about which the flight structure passes. Further, the conduit section opening into the hollow housing in the direction of movement of the flight structure is equip-ped with stationary guide means which tapers in an upstream direction and with which the sides of the slots are engageable for proper positioning of the paddles immediately prior to those portions of the flight structure from which the paddles are supported being passed about the guide and drive wheel.
The main object of this invention is to provide a bulk conveyor system which may be utilized in numerous environments and which may be adapted for conveying numerous different bulk materials.
Another object of this invention is to provide a conveyor of the straight line type and including a pair of parallel and relatively braced conduit sections through which an endless flight structure is guided and driven with the flight structure being equipped with longitudinally spaced paddles loosely guidingly receivable through the conduit sections.
Still another important object of this invention is to provide a basic tube conveyor assembly including various components thereof which particularly well adapt the conveyor assembly for use in constructing a straight line conveyor or a loop conveyor system incorporating various turns.
A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a conveyor assembly in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.
Figure l is a schematic elevational view of a typical loop-type conveyor system, including an elevatiang conveyor, for conveying bulk material and which may be constructed utilizing various combinations of the basic components of the conveyor of the instant invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a double tube straight line conveyor constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the inlet end of a straight line conveyor similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 but including a rotary torque drive input at the inlet end of the conveyor as opposed to the outlet end thereof;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a third form of straight line conveyor similar to that illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 but utilizing a rotary torque input assembly adjacent the discharge end oE the conveyor;
Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the upper right hand portion of the loop portion of the conveyor assembly illustrated in Figure l;
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6--6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one closed end portion of a double tube straight line conveyor constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the material conveying paddles of the instant invention and the associated conveyor chain links.
Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conveyor system incorporating a loop conveyor refer-red to in general by the reference numeral 12 as well as an elevating con-veyor referred to in general by the reference n~mmeral 14. The loop conveyor 12 includes upper and lower horizontal cylindrical conduits 16 and 18 having corresponding ends connected by vertical conduits 20 and 22. The conduit 18 includes first and second inlets 24 and 26 and the inlet 24 may be disposed in the center portion of the lower end of a storage bin 28 while the inlet 5~
26 may be disposed to receive bulk material discharged downwardly thereinto from a truck or other vehicle 30 disposed on a vehicle support 32. In addi-tion, the upper conduit 16 may include outlets 34 and 36 for discharging the bulk material being conveyed downwardly into the bin 28 or into the vehicle 30.
The elevating conveyor 14 includes a pair of parallel conduits 38 and 40, an inlet 42 disposed at one pair of corresponding ends of the con-duits 38 and 40 and an outlet 44 disposed at the other pair of ends of the conduits 38 and 40. The outlet 44 discharges into the upper end of a gravity conveyor tube 46 discharging downwardly into the upper conduit 16 in registry with the outlet 34. The outlets 34 and 36 each may be of a type capable of being selectively closed and adjacent ends of the conduits 16 and 20 are joined by a hollow housing 48 equipped with a drive motor 50. Further, the adjacent ends of the conduits 18 and 20 are joined by a 90 bend conduit 52 while the adjacent ends of the conduits 18 and 22 are joined by a hollow housing 54 having a drive motor 56 operatively associated therewith. Finally, the adjacent ends of the conduits 16 and 22 are joined by a hollow housing 58 through which a transverse shaft 60 is journaled.
With reference now more specifically to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings it may be seen that the housing 48 has a transverse drive shaft 62 journaled therethrough and that a guide and drive sprocket wheel 64 is mounted on the shaft 62, the latter being driven at the desired speed by the motor 50 which comprises a constant or variable speed electric motor.
The housing 54 includes a motor driven sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64 and the housing 58 includes a non-driven sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64.
An endless chain 66 extends centrally through the conduits 16, 18, 20 and 22 and is trained about the sprocket wheel 64 as well as the similar sprocket wheels disposed within the housings 54 and 58. The chain, at points spaced longitudinally there along, includes bulk material conveying paddles 68 mounted therefrom and from Figure 8 of the drawings it may be seen that each of the paddles 68 is substantially circular in shape and includes a central opening 70 formed therethrough. The chain 66 is loosely received through the openings 70 and each of the paddles 68 includes a radial slot 72 laterally through which the chain 66 may be passed from the periphery of the paddles 68 into the openings 70. Those portions of the chain 66 immediately adjacent the paddles 68 include special side links 74 including extensions 76 which are secured to the corresponding paddles 68 by suitable fasteners 78.
Accordingly, the paddles 68 are mounted on the chain 66 for movement therewith through the conduits 16, 185 20 and 22 and the drive motors 50 and 56 serve to drive the chain 66 through the conveyor 12.
Inasmuch as the material to be conveyed through the conveyor 14 moves in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 oE the drawings, it is unnecessary for the conduit 52 to include a guide sprvcket wheel. The weight of the corresponding section of the chain 66 and the accompanying paddles 68 is sufficient to enable the chain and the paddles to pass through the conduit 52 without excess friction. However, the discharge end of the conduit 18 includes a motor driven sprocket wheel such as the sprocket wheel 64 and the motor driven sprocket wheel 64 is disposed at the discharge end of the conduit 16.
Of course, either of the inlets 24 and 26 may be selectively opened or closed and accordingly, bulk material may be conveyed from within the bin or storage container 28 and discharged through the outlet 36 into the truck 30 or material may be conveyed from the inlet 26 receiving bulk material from the truck 30 and discharged through the outlet 34 into the top of the bin 28.
Further, material may be conveyed from the inlet 42 through the elevator conveyor 14 and discharged from the outlet 44 through the conduit 46 and into the upper portion of the bin 28, the outlet 44 comprising a hollow housing joining the conduits 38 and 40 and also being equipped with a transverse journaled shaft 80 upon which a sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket ~22~5~i wheel 64 is mounted and driven by a constant or variable speed electric motor 82 corresponding to the electric motor 50.
With attention again invited to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings it may be seen that an elongated stationary guide 84 is provided. The station--ary guide 84 tapers in an upstream direction in relation to the direction of movement of the chain 66 and therefore has its narrow end 88 disposed within the conduit 16 and its wider notched end 86 disposed within the housing 48.
The notched end 86 loosely embraces the adjacent periphery of the guide and drive sprocket wheel 64 and the opposite side surfaces of each paddle defin-ing the corresponding slot 72 are engageable with the guide 88 in order toensure proper positioning of each paddle 68 as it approaches the sprocket wheel 64. Of course, proper positioning of the paddles 68 as they approach the sprocket wheel 64 also ensures proper positioning of the adjacent por-tion of the chain 66 during final movement toward the sprocket wheel 64.
Further, the guide 84 may be duplicated in the conduit 20 and include an arcuate connecting section within the housing 48. In this manner the motor, if also reversible, may drive the chain 66 in either direction and the chain 66 will be guided toward the sprocket 64 in either direction.
As may best be seen from Figure 5 of the drawings the paddles 68 are loosely received within the conduit 20 and thus are also loosely, but guidingly, received within the conduits 16, 18 and 22. Also, any suitable means may be used to stationarily mount the guide 84 within the conduit 16 and the housing 48. Of course, the housings 54 and 58 and the adjacent por-tions of the conduits 18 and 22 include guides corresponding to the guide 84.
With attention invited more speciEically to Figure 2 of the drawings, there may be seen a modified form of conveyor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 100. The conveyor assembly 100 includes a pair of laterally spaced apart parallel conduits 102 and 104. One pair of corre-sponding ends of the conduits 102 and 104 are rigidly interconnected by a hollow housing 106 serving as a discharge housing and the other pair of ends of the conduits 102 and 104 are rigidly interconnected by a hollow housing 108 comprising an inlet housing and equipped with a tow hitch 110. The con-veyor assembly 100 includes supportive ground wheels 112 journaled therefrom and may thus be readily transported from one location to another.
The housings 106 and 108 include sprocket wheels (not shown) corresponding to the sprocket wheels 64 journaled therein and the sprocket wheel within the housing 106 is mounted on a transverse journaled shaft 112 while the sprocket wheel within the housing 108 is mounted on a transverse journaled shaft 114. A paddle-equipped chain corresponding to the chain 66 is trained about the sprocket wheels disposed in the housings 106 and 108 and the shaft 112 is driven from the output shaft 116 of a right angle drive assembly 118 by an endless flexible drive member 119. The right angle drive assembly 118 includes an input shaft portion 120 to which one end of a drive shaft 122 extending along and journaled between the conduits 102 and 104 is drivingly connected. The end of the drive shaft 122 remote from the right angle drive 118 has the output shaft 124 of a second right angle drive 126 drivingly coupled thereto and the right angle drive 126 includes an input shaft to which one end of a drive shaft 128 is drivingly coupled, the drive shaft 128 being adapted to be driven from the power take-off shaft of a farm tractor or other power take-off shaft.
With reference now more specifically to Figure 3 of the drawings, there may be seen another modified form of conveyor assembly reEerred to in general by the reference numeral 130. The conveyor assembly 130 is similar in construction to the conveyor assembly 100, but the drive shaft 132 corre-sponding to the drive shaft 128 is drivingly coupled to a transverse journaled shaft 134 corresponding to the shaft 114 by an endless flexible member 136.
The shaft 134 includes a guide and drive sprocket wheel (not shown) mounted thereon corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64. Hence, the conveyor assembly 100 is driven from the upper end thereof while the conveyor assembly 130 is driven from the lower end thereof.
~2~0~5~i With reference now more specifically to Figure 4 of the drawings, yet another form of conveyor assembly is reEerred to in general by the refer-ence numeral 140. The conveyor assembly 140 includes an inlet housing 142 corresponding to the inlet housing 108 and an outlet housing 144 correspond-ing to the outlet housing 106. The inlet housing 142 journals a non-driven sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64 and the outlet housing 144 journals a transverse shaft 146 therefrom upon which a sprocket wheel corresponding to the sprocket wheel 64 is mounted. The shaft 146 is driven from a constant or variable speed electric motor 148. Of course, the conveyor assembly 140 also includes a pair of parallel laterally spaced apart conduits 150 and 152 corresponding to the conduits 102 and 104.
Thus, it may be seen that the basic conveyor assembly of the instant invention may be incorporated in the construction of various different types of conveyors.
With attention invited more specifically to Figure 7 of the drawings, there may be seen yet another form of conveyor assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 160. The conveyor assembly 160 may be considered as substantially similar to the conveyor assembly 100, except that the correspond-ing ends of the conduits 162 and 164 thereof corresponding to the conduits 102 20 and 104 are rigidly interconnected by a closed hollow housing 168 corresponding to the housing 108. Further, the assembly 160 includes a guide 170 correspond-ing to guide 84 and which may be generally U-shaped and extend into both con-duits 162 and 164 to provided for guiding action on the corresponding chain 172 in either direction of movement thereof, the assemblies 14, 100, 130 and 140 also being provided with similar guides.
It will be noted from Figure 6 of the drawings that the diameter of the sprocket wheel 64 is sufficient to enable the paddles 68 to pass thereabout without interference between the paddles 68 and the shaft 62. Further, the various chain portions extending between the various conduits are disposed substantially along the centerlines of those conduits and those centerlines must lie substantially tangent to spaced peripheral portions of the associ-ated sprocket wheels. Further, the length of the guide 84 is greater than the spacing of adjacent paddles 68 along the chain 66~ This always assures that at least one paddle 68 will be disposed in position for guiding engagement by the guide 84. Further, in that embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, a pair of drives are used at opposite corners of the loop conveyor 12 and in this manner the driving load is more evently distributed throughout the length of the chain 66.
Inasmuch as the chain 66 extends along the centerlines of the various conduits, the inlets and outlets for intaking or discharging bulk material from the conveyor assembly may be located on all sides of the corresponding conduits.
It is also to be noted that although a chain has been illustrated and described as the endless flight member utilized in the conveyor, a cable or similar elongated flexible tension member may be used in lieu of the chain 66.
By having the chain 66 pass centrally through the central opening 70, the driving load on each paddle 68 is substantially centered thereon.
Claims (14)
1. A conveyor assembly including a pair of generally straight co-planar tubular sections including adjacent relatively angulated ends extending along centerline paths, said assembly including an enlarged cross-sectional area hollow housing section joining the adjacent ends of said tubular sections, wheel means journaled within said housing section for rotation about an axis normal to the plane in which said adjacent tubular section ends are disposed and including spaced peripheral portions with which said paths are generally tangent, an elongated flexible tension member extending through said sections generally along said paths and trained about said wheel, a plurality of fluent material conveying paddles mounted on and spaced along said tension member, said paddles each including a central opening therein through which said tension member is loosely received and a slot through which said chain is laterally receivable opening into said central opening and through at least one outer peripheral portion of the paddle, said tension member being driven for movement in one direction through said housing and tubular sections with one of said adjacent tubular section ends defining an approach section end and opening into said housing section and the other tubular section end defining a departure section end extending away from said housing section, and an elongated guide member mounted from at least one of said sections and disposed lengthwise within at least said approach section end and longitudi-nally tapered in the other direction, said guide member being guidingly receivable through said slots during the approach of said paddles toward said wheel for ensuring proper alignment of said paddles and tension member with said wheel, the outer periphery of said wheel being loosely receivable through said slots.
2. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein the included angle between said tubular section ends is generally 180°.
3. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein the included angle between said tubular section ends is generally 90°.
4. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein the plan area of the outer boundary of each paddle is generally circular and said tubular section ends are generally cylindrical in interior shape.
5. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein the included angle between said tubular section ends is generally 180°, said tubular sections being substantially straight throughout their length, a second hollow housing section interconnecting the ends of said tubular sections remote from the first-mentioned hollow housing section and into which said tubular sections also open, and a second wheel journaled in said second hollow housing section, said tension member being endless and also trained over said second wheel.
6. The conveyor assembly of claim 5 wherein one of said hollow housing sections includes an upwardly opening inlet for receiving fluent material to be conveyed by said assembly and the other housing section includes a downwardly opening outlet for discharging fluent material conveyed by said assembly.
7. The conveyor assembly of claim 5 including drive means drivingly connected to the wheel journaled in said one housing section.
8. The conveyor assembly of claim 5 including drive means drivingly connected to the wheel journaled in the other housing section.
9. The conveyor assembly of claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a drive shaft journaled from and extending along at least one of said tubular sections.
10. The conveyor assembly of claim 8 wherein said drive means includes a drive motor mounted from said other housing section.
11. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly includes more than two tubular sections and said flexible tension member comprises an endless tension member, said more than two tubular sections together defining a loop-type conveyor, said loop-type conveyor including at least two remote hollow housing sections joining adjacent ends of adjacent tubular sections, each of said housings including a wheel journaled therein about which said tension member is trained, each of said wheels being driven.
12. The conveyor assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of said tubular sections includes a plurality of upwardly opening inlets and another of said tubular sections includes a plurality of downwardly opening outlets.
13. The conveyor assembly of claim 12 including an elevator con-veyor incorporating a lower inlet and an upper outlet as well as conveying means for conveying loose bulk material from the last-mentioned inlet to the last-mentioned outlet, said last-mentioned outlet being gravity communicated with one of said two outlets.
14. The conveyor assembly of claim 1 wherein the length of said guide member is greater than the spacing between adjacent paddles.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US68673184A | 1984-12-26 | 1984-12-26 | |
| US686,731 | 1984-12-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1220155A true CA1220155A (en) | 1987-04-07 |
Family
ID=24757507
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000497533A Expired CA1220155A (en) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-12-12 | Bulk material conveyor |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1220155A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101983903A (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2011-03-09 | 江苏兴达环保设备工程有限公司 | Link plate of tubular link plate conveyor |
-
1985
- 1985-12-12 CA CA000497533A patent/CA1220155A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN101983903A (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2011-03-09 | 江苏兴达环保设备工程有限公司 | Link plate of tubular link plate conveyor |
| CN101983903B (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2015-02-25 | 江苏兴达环保设备工程有限公司 | Link plate of tubular link plate conveyor |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |