GB1403598A - Conveyor and tow cart therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

1403598 Conveyer systems SEATECH ENG Inc 27 Nov 1972 [26 Nov 1971] 54693/72 Heading B7L A tow cart 10 for a tow line conveyer having a powered conveyer chain 146 with driving dogs 148 thereon comprises a load carrying body 12, a tow pin 46 having a free end movable between a driven position in which it is engaged by a dog 148 and a non-driven position in which the free end is raised just clear of the dogs 148, the pin 46 being mounted for free rotation in a sleeve 75 having permanently secured thereto transverse upper and lower sleeves supporting shafts 84, 94, the shaft 84 being connected by links 86, 88 to a shaft 90 on the body 12 and the shaft 94 to a shaft 102 on the body by links 100 the mounting being such that the pin 46 moves in an are of a circle between the driven and non-driven positions, as illustrated by the dotted line positions in Fig. 4, so that driving forces imparted by the dogs 148 will either bias the pin towards or away from the chain 146 depending whether the free end of the pin is disposed below or above the medial position d shown in Fig. 4, thus helping to maintain the pin in engagement with the chain or aiding positive disengagement therewith. Collars 76, 78 on the pin 46 retain it in the sleeve 75 and in the driven position the links 100 extend horizontally and the links 86, 88 which are shorter than the links 100 extend forwardly and downwardly relative to the horizontal. A bumper 44 is carried at the front of the body 12 on brackets 60 pivotally mounted on a shaft 62 and coupled by way of a link 108 to the link 88 so as to raise the pin 46 to its non-driven position when the bumper 44 contacts an actuating element 32 on the rear of a preceding cart 10, an angular recess 72 in the brackets 60 resting on the element 32 when this occurs. A stop element 54 limits movement of the brackets 60. At positions where it is desired to maintain the pin 46 in engagement with both driving and holdback dogs 148, 150 of the chain, e.g. on inclines, a cam element 138 is provided and this engages a portion 120 of a dog 118 mounted on the shaft 94 to move it to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4, wherein an arcuate surface 122 thereof will engage a fixed stop 132 to prevent movement of the pin 46 from its driven position. Laterally projecting lugs 104 (Fig. 1) are provided on the links 100 to engage with ramps to raise the pin 46 to its non-driven position at zones where it is desired to disconnect the drive to the cart 10, a slot 116 in the link 108 allowing the pin 46 to be raised without movement of the bumper 44. The cart runs on castors 20 and wheels 22 along a floor 134 and the cart is guided by the pin 46 engaging in a slot 136 in the floor above the chain 146 with the pin in both its driven and non-driven positions. However, a toggle clamp 144 is provided on the cart 10 connected to the link 88 by a cable 140 and movement of this toggle clamp raises the pin 46 to a further raised position in which it is clear of the slot 136 so that the cast can be moved freely by hand.