GB2138764A

GB2138764A - Fastening conveyor elements to endless chains

Info

Publication number: GB2138764A
Application number: GB08401372A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Rieger; Hans Dalferth
Original assignee: RUD Kettenfabrik Rieger und Dietz GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: RUD Kettenfabrik Rieger und Dietz GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1983-01-25
Filing date: 1984-01-19
Publication date: 1984-10-31
Also published as: DE3302755C1; AT390776B; IT1173151B; IT8419303A0; IT8420637V0; GB8401372D0; GB2138764B; ATA14784A; DE8302233U1

Abstract

In a chain conveyor with conveying elements (7) arranged between endless chains (1), coupling members are used for the connection of the conveying elements with the endless chains. These coupling members bifurcately surround chain links (4) orientated parallel to the axis (2) of the sprocket wheels (3) and have fastening flanges (10) arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the chain links (4) embraced by the coupling members. The fastening flanges in turn bifurcately embrace parts of the conveying elements (7) and are connectable with these by screw bolts (11) and nuts (12) so that the assembly and disassembly of the conveying elements is possible without releasing the endless chains. Various configurations of the projections (8) of the coupling members are described with the object of locking the projections in the links (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Chain conveyor The invention relates to a chain conveyor with at least two parallel endless chains consisting of oval links and travelling over sprocket wheels and with conveying elements arranged between them, which are connected to the endless chains by coupling members exhibiting pairs of projections which engage into the clear interior space of two consecutive links oriented at right angles to the sprocket wheel axis and which are connected detachably to the conveying elements by means of fastening flanges, whilst the coupling members can be fitted without destressing the endless chains and each pair of projections bifurcately embraces a link and whilst the projections are by virtue of their shape secured against slipping out of the links.

A chain conveyor of the above-mentioned type is known from German Offenlegungsschrift 2,925,046, wherein the projections are arranged substantially at right angles to their fastening flanges. Such a construction of the coupling elements, particularly in the case of drag conveyors, presupposes flange connection evices which render full utilisation of the space for the actual conveying elements available between adjacent endless chains impossible.

The underlying aim of the invention, in a chain conveyor of the type discussed, is to render the space between the endless chains fully useful for conveying purposes, without having to sacrifice the advantages of the conveyor chosen as a starting point. This aim is achieved according to the invention when the fastening flanges are arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the links embraced by the projections and bifurcately abut the ends of the conveying elements.

The chain conveyor according to the invention presents the advantages that conveying elements, such as drags, can extend from one endless chain to the other and that the fastening flanges are connectable mutually and to the conveying elements in a simple manner by means of screw bolts insertable through the conveying elements.

The invention is explained more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a plan of the essential parts of a chain conveyor with two endless chains; Figure 2 shows a part of a chain conveyor with three endless chains; Figure 3 shows a plan of a detail of the chain conveyor according to Fig. 1; Figure 4 shows the side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 3; Figure 5 shows the end elevation of the parts according to Figs. 3 and 4, the endless chain being omitted; Figure 6 shows a detail of the chain conveyor according to Fig. 2 in plan; Figure 7 shows the side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 6; Figure 8 shows a modified arrangement corresponding to Fig. 3; Figure 9 shows the side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 8;; Figure 10 shows the end elevation of the parts illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the endless chain being omitted; Figure 11 shows a plan of parts of a chain conveyor with modified entraining elements; Figure 12 shows the side elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 11; Figure 13 shows the end elevation of the parts illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, the endless chain being omitted; Figure 14 shows the plan of entraining elements with flattened parts to compensate play and Figure 15 shows the plan of parts of a chain conveyor with differently shaped entraining elements.

Fig. 1 shows a chain conveyor with two endless chains 1, which consist of links 4 oriented parallel to the axis 2 of sprocket wheels 3, and of links 5 oriented at right angles to the axis 2. The sprocket wheels 3 serve to drive the chain conveyor, whereas the sprocket wheels 6 are constructed as return wheels.

Conveying elements 7 constructed as drags are connected to the endless chains 1. The conveying elements fill virtually totally the interval between the endless chains 1.

Coupling elements with projections 8, which engage each into the clear interior space 9 (compare Fig. 4) of a link 5, serve to transmit forces from the endless chains 1 to the conveying elements 7. The projections 8 merge into fastening flanges 10 which are aligned at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the links 4 and 5 and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the conveying elements 7. Screw bolts 11, and nuts 1 2 associated with the latter, serve to connect the fastening flanges 10 to the conveying elements 7. Fig. 1 shows clearly that assembly and diassembly of the conveying elements 7 is possible without destressing the endless chains 1.

Fig. 2 illustrates part of a chain conveyor with three endless chains 1. The connection of the conveying elements 7 to the outer endless chains 1 occurs in the same manner as in the case of Fig. 1. On the other hand, projections 13, which are equipped each with two fastening flanges 10 and totally embrace a link 4, serve to connect the central endless chain 1 to the conveying elements 7.

Particulars of the construction and arrangement of the projections 8 and 1 3 and of their fastening flanges 10 are illustrated in Figs. 3 to 7.

In the exemplary embodiments hitherto described, the fastening flanges 10 abut plane lateral surfaces of the conveying elements 7.

On the other hand, Figs. 8 to 10 show a mode of fixing fastening flanges 10 to conveying elements 14 with guide grooves 1 5.

By virtue of the guide grooves 1 5 the fastening flanges 10 can be of shorter construction, and one screw bolt 11 and one nut 1 2 are sufficient to connect the flanges to the conveying elements.

Figs. 11 to 1 3 illustrate a detail of a chain conveyor which exhibits projections 1 6 with locking projections 17, which are oppositely oriented and prevent the projections 1 6 from slipping out of the links 5 of the endless chains 1. The securing means against slipping-out is constructed differently in this case from the cases previously described, in which the shortest interval a min between the free ends of the projections 8 in the operative position is shorter than the length L of the respective link 4 bifurcately embraced by the projections 8.

The projections 18 illustrated in Fig. 14 exhibit flattened parts 1 9 which can compensate the length tolerances of the conveying elements 7. The apices of the noses of the links 8 can abut the flattened parts 1 9 either further to the left or further to the right than shown in Fig. 14.

In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 15, projections 20 and 21 are employed, the cross-section of which is of unequal magnitude, namely the cross-section of the projection 20 located in front in the transport direction is greater than the cross-section of the projection 21 located behind in the transport direction. The described construction is found advantageous inasmuch as the projection 20 located in front has to absorb the principal forces and the projection 21 absorbs only intercepting bracing forces. The strength of the overall arrangement can be further increased when the interval of the apices 22 of the projections 20 and 21 from the planes in which the abutment surfaces 23 of the fastening flanges lie is of different magnitude, namely the interval p is greater than the interval q.

The projection 20 can therefore be of more stable construction for a shorter protruding length.

Claims

1. A chain conveyor comprising at least two substantially parallel endless chains formed of oval links and travelling over sprocket wheels with conveying elements arranged between them, the conveying elements being connected to the endless chains by coupling members having pairs of projecting which project into the clear interior space of two consecutive links orientated at right angles to the sprocket wheel axis and which are detachably connected to the conveying elements by means of fastening flanges, the coupling members being such that they can be fitted without destressing the endless chains with each pair of projections bifurcately embracing a link, and the projections being secured against slipping out of the links by virtue of their shape, in which the fastening flanges are arranged substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the links embraced by the projections and bifurcately abut the ends of the conveying elements.

2. A chain conveyor according to claim 1, in which a projection is connected to two fastening flanges in each case.

3. A chain conveyor according to claim 2, in which the fastening flanges of each projection are arranged mutually diametrically.

4. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1-3, in which the conveying elements are provided with guide grooves for the fastening flanges.

5. A chain conveyor according to claim 1, 2 or 4, in which the projections are provided with locking projections at their ends remote from the fastening flanges.

6. A chain conveyor according to claim 5, in which the locking projections are formed by the angled ends of the projections.

7. A chain conveyor according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which the locking projections of the projections associated with a conveying element point in opposite directions.

8. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1-7, in which the projections are provided with flattened parts on their sides facing the ends of the links embraced by them.

9. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1-8, in which the projections have cross-sections of unequal magnitude.

10. A chain conveyor according to claim 9, in which the projection of the relevant pair of projections located in front in the transport direction has a greater cross-section than the projection located between in the transport direction.

11. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1-10, in which the intervals of the apices facing the respective embraced link of the projections from a plane passing through the respective abutment surface of their fastening flanges are of unequal magnitude.

12. A chain conveyor according to claim 11, in which the interval between the apex of the projection located in front in the transport direction and the plane is greater than the interval between the apex of the projection located behind in the direction of transport and the plane.

1 3. A chain conveyor according to any one of claims 1-12, in which the centre lines of the conveying elements are arranged so as to be staggered in the transport direction with respect to the centres of the links embraced by the projections.

14. A chain conveyor substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 1-7, Figs 8-10, Figs. 11-13, Fig. 14 or Fig. 15 of the accompanying drawings.