GB2081367A

GB2081367A - Clamping devices

Info

Publication number: GB2081367A
Application number: GB8124029A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Champion Conveyor Components Ltd
Current assignee: Champion Conveyor Components Ltd
Priority date: 1980-08-06
Filing date: 1981-08-06
Publication date: 1982-02-17
Also published as: GB2081367B

Abstract

In order to attach a flexible side skirt 11 to a side skirt plate 10 in a conveyor belt assembly a clamp is employed. This comprises a clamp element 24 bearing bar 18 at one end and an abutment heel 16 at the other; and also a cam actuating element 22 pivoted on trunnions 20 attached to support 14. Support 14 is trapped in channel 12 welded to plate 10 so that the support may move along the channel to provide adjustment of the clamp position. Alternative embodiments disclose ways of attaching the cam to the support and of attaching clamping bar 18 to the clamp element 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamping devices This invention relates to clamping devices and more particularly concerns clamping devices for use in clamping skirts to guide plates used in conveyor assemblies.

It is frequently necessary to provide guide plates in association with a conveyor to ensure that articles or material being conveyed are directed to the desired area of the conveyor belt. Rigid guide plates can be used in some applications but these tend to cause wear of the belt if they are disposed close to its surface.

In orderto overcome this problem rigid guide plates are often provided with a flexible skirt which projects below the lower edge of the rigid plate and can be allowed to come into contact with the belt.

These skirts need to be replaced as they wear and it is the practice to provide clamps on the guide plates to releasably clamp the flexible skirt to the guide plate.

Such clamps cause problems however as they frequently need to be provided in areas where there is very little space between the guide plate and the marginal edges of the belt and contact between the belt and parts of the clamps should be avoided as this will cause undesirable wear. This problem is particularly acute with side skirt plates fitted adjacent feed hoppers where the space between the side skirt plates and the marginal portions of a troughed conveyor belt is very limited.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a clamping device for clamping a second article to a first article, particularly a flexible skirt to a guideplate, which device comprises a clamp support element adapted to be retained on said first article by retaining means thereon, said support element carrying a clamp element and an actuating element, the arrangement being such that the actuating element is movable between a first position in which the clamp element is released and a second position in which the clamp element is urged into a clamping position.

Preferably the support element is movable relative to the retaining means on the first article. In one embodiment of the invention the retaining means comprises an open channel along which the support element can slide. Alternatively, the retaining means can be provided to retain the support element at one or more discrete positions on the first article.

Conveniently, the retaining means comprises an open-channel section in which an enlarged portion of the support element is retained by flanges defining the opening in the channel. The support element is conveniently a threaded-rod having an enlarged head for retention in the channel.

Advantageously, the actuating element includes an actuating lever movable in one plane between its first and second positions and also movable in a plane perpendicularto said one plane whereby it may be disposed in a convenient location when in the second position.

In one embodiment of the invention the actuating element includes a lever pivotable about a member located on the threaded rod and having a cam surface which engages with the clamp element so that movement of the lever between its first and second positions causes the clamp element to move from its released to its clamping position. The actuating element may be rotated through 360 about the threaded rod so that it may be disposed in a convenient location when in the second position, for example in a location which causes minimum obstruction.

Preferably, the clamp element is apertured to receive the support element and comprises a heel portion for engagement with the plate when in the clamping position and a clamping portion to engage the member to be clamped. The clamping portion may be suitably profiled to receive a shaped clamping bar.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of a clamp device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the clamp shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of the clamp shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative form of the invention; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a cross-section through one form of clamping bar; Figure 7 is a part cross-section of a modified form of clamping element; Figure 8 is a cross-section of an alternative form of clamping bar for use with the clamping element of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of actuating element.

In clamping a flexible side skirt to a side skirt plate in a conveyor assembly a number of clamps would normally be used. Only one clamp device is shown in the drawings.

The side skirt plate is indicated by reference 10 and the flexible side skirt to be attached thereto is indicated by the reference 11.

The side skirt plate 10 is provided with a longitudinal channel member 12, secured to the plate 10 for example by welding, the channel having an open face remote from the plate 10 with inturned flanges 13. The channel 12 and flanges 13 serve to retain a bolt 14with the bolt head 15 being engaged beneath the flanges 13 so as to be slidable along the channel 12.

A clamp element 24 of generally U-shaped cross section is located on the threaded portion of the bolt 14 and includes at one end an abutment heel 16 and at the opposite end a clamping portion including a recess 17to receive a clamping bar 18. In the embodiment shown the recess 17 is of triangular cross section to receive an angle-section clamping bar 18. The clamp element may be located on the bolt 14 by means of a hole or by means of an elongate slot which permits longitudinal adjustment of the clamp element relative to the bolt.

A cam member for applying pressure to the clamp element 24 comprises a central boss 19 having a screw-threaded bore for engagement with the threads of the bolt 14. The boss 19 carries a pair of trunions 20 extending axially from each end thereof and the trunions are received in recesses 21 in an actuating member 22 having a cam surface 23. Thus, by pivoting the actuating member 22 about the trunions 20 the cam surface 23 bears upon the clamping element 24 to urge the clamping bar 18 into contact with a flexible side skirt 11 and hold it in position on the side skirt plate 10.

According to a further aspect of the invention the activating member may be made captive on the clamp member. One way of achieving this is shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

The actuating member is provided with apertures 25 instead of recesses 21 and thus after assembly cannot be removed from the central boss 19. This construction is assembled by inserting a pin 26 through the apertures 25 and through a transverse bore in the boss 19.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement has the advantage that the actuating members are retained permanently on the boss 19 thereby avoiding accidental loss but the functioning is exactly the same as that described above with reference to Figures 1,2 and 3.

According to yet a further aspect of the invention the clamping bar may also be made captive in the clamp elements. This is convenient as it avoids the necessity for locating the clamping bar in the recess in the clamp element but the arrangement should be such as to permit relative sliding. One way of achieving this slidable captivation is shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The recess 17 in Figure 5 includes a part circular recess 17a which can receive the part circular extension 1 8a on the angle-section clamping bar 18. It can be seen that this arrangement will prevent the clamping bar 18 from lateral movement relative to the clamp element 24 but will permit relative sliding.

Alternative forms of slidable captivation are of course possible and one such form is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this embodiment of the invention the end of the clamping bar 24 is provided with a trapezoidal recess 17b and is arranged to receive a clamping bar having a section 18b as shown in Figure 8.

Referring to Figure 9, the modified form of actuating element 30 is a metal pressing including a transverse slot 31 which extends into the side walls 32 to receive the boss 19. A longitudinai slot 33 which communicates with the slot 31 serves to permit movement of the actuating element 30 relative to the bolt.

It will be appreciated that a number of clamping devices may be used with a single channel 12 and a single clamping bar 18. The number of clamping devices can readily be chosen on site as they can be added or removed simply by locating the heads 15 of the bolts of each clamping device in the channel.

The clamping devices of the present invention also have the considerable advantage that their position relative to the side skirt can be adjusted in two ways.

Firstly, the axial position along the side skirt can be adjusted by sliding the bolt along the channel and secondly, the actuating member 22 can be turned through 360 so as to project in' any radial direction from the bolt 14. This is extremely convenient when the side skirt has to be secured in a confined space where conventional non-adjustable clamps frequently cause problems.

Where longitudinal adjustments of the clamping devices is not required retaining means may be provided at discrete positions longitudinally of the guide plate.

If desired, the clamp element may be of adjustable length, for example by constructing the element from two or separate components which can slide relative to one another.

CLAIMS j 1. Aclamping device for clamping a second article to a first article, such as a flexible skirt to a guide plate, which device comprises; a clamp support element adapted to be retained on said first article by retaining means thereon, said support element carrying a clamp element and an actuating element, the arrangement being such that the actuating element is movable between a first position in which the clamp element is released and a second position in which the clamp element is urged into a clamping position.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the support element is movable relative to the retaining means on the first article.

3. A device according to Claim 2 in which the retaining means comprises an open channel along which the support element can slide.

4. A device according to claim 1 in which the retaining means is arranged to retain the support element at one or more discrete positions on the first article.

5. A device according to claim 3 in which the support element has an enlarged portion which is retained by flanges defining the opening in the open channel of the retaining means.

6. A device according to claim 5 in which the support element is a threaded rod having an enlarged head for retention in the channel.

7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the actuating element includes an actuating lever movable in one plane between its first and second positions and also movable in a plane perpendicular to said one plane whereby it may be disposed in a convenient location when in the second position.

8. A device according to claim 7 in which the actuating element includes a lever pivotable about a member located on the threaded rod and having a cam surface which engages with the clamp element so that movement of the lever between its first and second positions causes the clamp element to move from its released to its clamping position.

9. A device according to claim 8 in which the clamp element is apertured to receive the support element and comprises a heel portion for engagement with a surface of the first article when in a clamping position and a clamping portion.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. element 24 comprises a central boss 19 having a screw-threaded bore for engagement with the threads of the bolt 14. The boss 19 carries a pair of trunions 20 extending axially from each end thereof and the trunions are received in recesses 21 in an actuating member 22 having a cam surface 23. Thus, by pivoting the actuating member 22 about the trunions 20 the cam surface 23 bears upon the clamping element 24 to urge the clamping bar 18 into contact with a flexible side skirt 11 and hold it in position on the side skirt plate 10. According to a further aspect of the invention the activating member may be made captive on the clamp member. One way of achieving this is shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. The actuating member is provided with apertures 25 instead of recesses 21 and thus after assembly cannot be removed from the central boss 19. This construction is assembled by inserting a pin 26 through the apertures 25 and through a transverse bore in the boss 19. It will be appreciated that this arrangement has the advantage that the actuating members are retained permanently on the boss 19 thereby avoiding accidental loss but the functioning is exactly the same as that described above with reference to Figures 1,2 and 3. According to yet a further aspect of the invention the clamping bar may also be made captive in the clamp elements. This is convenient as it avoids the necessity for locating the clamping bar in the recess in the clamp element but the arrangement should be such as to permit relative sliding. One way of achieving this slidable captivation is shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The recess 17 in Figure 5 includes a part circular recess 17a which can receive the part circular extension 1 8a on the angle-section clamping bar 18. It can be seen that this arrangement will prevent the clamping bar 18 from lateral movement relative to the clamp element 24 but will permit relative sliding. Alternative forms of slidable captivation are of course possible and one such form is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this embodiment of the invention the end of the clamping bar 24 is provided with a trapezoidal recess 17b and is arranged to receive a clamping bar having a section 18b as shown in Figure 8. Referring to Figure 9, the modified form of actuating element 30 is a metal pressing including a transverse slot 31 which extends into the side walls 32 to receive the boss 19. A longitudinai slot 33 which communicates with the slot 31 serves to permit movement of the actuating element 30 relative to the bolt. It will be appreciated that a number of clamping devices may be used with a single channel 12 and a single clamping bar 18. The number of clamping devices can readily be chosen on site as they can be added or removed simply by locating the heads 15 of the bolts of each clamping device in the channel. The clamping devices of the present invention also have the considerable advantage that their position relative to the side skirt can be adjusted in two ways. Firstly, the axial position along the side skirt can be adjusted by sliding the bolt along the channel and secondly, the actuating member 22 can be turned through 360 so as to project in' any radial direction from the bolt 14. This is extremely convenient when the side skirt has to be secured in a confined space where conventional non-adjustable clamps frequently cause problems. Where longitudinal adjustments of the clamping devices is not required retaining means may be provided at discrete positions longitudinally of the guide plate. If desired, the clamp element may be of adjustable length, for example by constructing the element from two or separate components which can slide relative to one another. CLAIMS j

1. Aclamping device for clamping a second article to a first article, such as a flexible skirt to a guide plate, which device comprises; a clamp support element adapted to be retained on said first article by retaining means thereon, said support element carrying a clamp element and an actuating element, the arrangement being such that the actuating element is movable between a first position in which the clamp element is released and a second position in which the clamp element is urged into a clamping position.

10. An arrangement comprising a plurality of

devices according to any of claims 1 to 9 and a clamping bar with which each clamp element can engage.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10 in which the clamping bar is captive in at least one of the clamp elements.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11 in which at least one clamp element is provided with a formation profiled to receive the clamping bar.

13. A clamping device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. An arrangement comprising a piurality of clamping devices and a clamping bar substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.