GB2162616A

GB2162616A - Universal joint for connecting separate frames in movable pipe conveyor

Info

Publication number: GB2162616A
Application number: GB08515626A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kunio Hashimoto
Original assignee: JAPAN PIPE CONVEYORS CO Ltd
Current assignee: JAPAN PIPE CONVEYORS CO Ltd
Priority date: 1984-07-31
Filing date: 1985-06-20
Publication date: 1986-02-05
Also published as: NL8501159A; KR860001253A; CA1207632A; IT8520557A0; FR2568639A1; DE3514559A1; JPS6134521U; ZA852894B; GB8515626D0; IT1200463B; AU4126385A

Abstract

A universal joint comprising a first connecting metal fitting 20, a combining metal fitting 16, a second connecting metal fitting 22, and a connecting pin 19. The universal joint may sufficiently endure large loads by thickening the connecting pin 19, and horizontal pins 18, and also thickening both the connecting metal fittings. In addition, the universal joint may be simple assembled and disassembled by engaging and disengaging the connecting pin 19. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Universal joint for connecting separate frames in movable pipe conveyor Background of the invention This invention relates to a universal joint for con necting each of a plurality of separate frames in a movable pipe conveyor which is used in a large scale reclaiming work and may exhibit a large ef fect.

Such a movable pipe conveyor as above is con structed by rolling an elongated belt-like material around a longitudinal axis thereof for enclosing an object to be conveyed therein, and superposing side ends of the belt-like material with each other or closing the side ends in a jointed hands manner, thereby conveying the object in the pipe conveyor.

General arrangement of this moveble pipe con veyor employable for a reclaiming work will be de scribed below with reference to Figure 4 to 6.

As shown in Figure 4 and 5, reference numerals 1, 2 and 3 designate a reclaiming ground, a proj ecting road temporarily constructed in the reclaim ing ground 1, and a fixed conveyor constructed on the projecting road 2. An elongated movable pipe conveyor 4 extending from an end of the fixed conveyor 3 and a self-propelling slewing conveyor 5 extending from the pipe conveyor 4 are disposed on a part of the reclaiming ground 1 which has been already reclaimed and leveled.

Soil and sand, etc. are conveyed by the convey ors 3, 4 and 5, and a heap 6 of the soil and sand as formed under a forward end of the slewing con 5 veyor 5 is leveled to complete the reclaiming work in a working area of the slewing conveyor 5. Then, the movable pipe conveyor 4-is trailed by a level ing bulldozer 7 and is rotated about a forward end of the fixed conveyor 3. At the same time, the slewing conveyor 5 is moved to carry forward the reclaiming work in the order of A, B and B' areas as shown in Figure 6.

The movable pipe conveyor 4 as is used in such circumstances as above is preferably slightly bend 5 able without strain for purposes of easy movement and conveyance irrespective of its long size. To this end, a frame of the conveyor 4 is divided to a plurality of separate frames 8 in a longitudinal di rection, and the separate frames 8 are connected in series with each other by means of universal joints. This invention particularly relates to such universal joints; Though various universal joints have been gen erally provided, they are intended to transmit 5 power of a machine and a device, etc. or connect relatively light-weight objects. Even if being large scale,-they are not applicable to such an area as above mentioned, that is, where they are stained with soil and sand, and must endure large load.

) Additionally, as-the movable pipe conveyor.4 is long and large-scale, it is required to discretely transport the separate frames 8 and connect the same with each other at a working place. There fore, it is preferred to simplify connecting work of the separate frames. Summary of the invention It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a universal joint with a simplified constitution for the above-mentioned purposes.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a universal joint which may be very simply assembled and disassembled by engaging and disengaging a connecting pin.

The universal joint for connecting separate frames in an movable pipe conveyor according to the present invention comprises a first connecting metal fitting comprising a pair of first parallel pieces which are horizontally opposed to each other, a first mount piece for connecting the pair ol first parallel pieces at their bases, and first coaxial through-holes formed at free ends of the pair of first parallel pieces; a combining metal fitting comprising coaxial horizontal pins projecting from both side surfaces thereof and adapted to be pivotably engaged with the first through-holes of the first connecting metal fitting, and a vertical pin hole formed therethrough; a second connecting metal fitting comprising a pair of second parallel pieces which are vertically opposed to each other, a second mount piece for connecting the pair of second parallel pieces at their bases, and second coaxial through-holes formed at free ends of the second parallel pieces, the second coaxial through-hoies having a diameter equal to that of the vertical pin hole, the second parallel pieces being adapted to be superposed on upper and lower surfaces of the combining metal fitting; and a connecting pin releaseable inserted into the second coaxial throughholes of the second connecting metal fitting and the vertical pin hole of the combining metal fitting, whereby the first and second mount pieces of the first and second connecting metal fittings are adapted to be fixed to desired parts of opposite surfaces of adjacent separate frames.

With this arrangement, the universal joint of the present invention may be freely turned in entire directions as is similar to known universal joints, and there is no possibility of trouble even when being stained with soil and sand, etc. owing to its simple constitution. Furthermore, the universal joint may sufficiently endure large load by thickening the connecting pin and the horizontal pins, and also thickening both the connecting metal fittings. In addition, the universal joint may be simply assembled and disassembled by engaging and disengaging the connecting pin. Accordingly, it is possible to discretely transport each of the separate frames having the connecting metal fittings as disassembled to a suitable working area, and simply and conveniently combine the separate frames with each other to construct a series of movable pipe conveyor.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description and appended claims when taken with the drawings.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the universal joint of one preferred embodilnent according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of a connecting portion of the separate frames; Figure 3 is a side view of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing circumstance where a reclaiming work is carried out with use of the movable pipe conveyor employing the universal joint of the present invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a schematic plan view showing proceeding of the reclaiming work.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment Referring to Figures 2 and 3 which show a connecting portion of the separate frames 8, each of the separate frames 8 is mounted on each of horizontal rectangular frames 9 which are slightly larger in size than the former. The horizontal frames 9 are sidewardly movably supported to sleighs 10 provided near both ends on a lower surface thereof Reference numerals 11 and 12 designate a pipe conveyor body and a shape retaining frame for guiding the pipe conveyor body 11, respectively, and other are rotatably provided a plurality of shape retaining rollers (not shown) inside of the shape retaining frame 12.

Rectangular frames 13 are oppositely mounted on both ends of adjacent horizontal frames 9, and are connected at their centers through mount frames 14 with each other by a universal joint 15 as shown in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1,a square block-like com bining metal fitting 16 is formed with a vertical through-hole 17 at a center thereof, and with a pair of coaxial horizontal pins 18 at a center of both side'surfaces thereof. A connecting pin 19-is-re- leaseably inserted into the vertical through-hole 17.

A first connecting metal fitting 20 is constituted of a pair of parallel pieces 20 which are horizontally opposed to each other at a distance slightly greater than a width of the combining metal fitting 16, a horizontally elongated mount piece 20b and a reinforcing piece 20c for connecting the pair of parallel pieces 20a with each other at base portions thereof. A pair of coaxial through-holes 21 for receiving the horizontal pins 18 are formed at free ends of the parallel pieces 20a.

In assembling the first connecting metal fitting 20, the combining metal fitting 16 is pivotably supported to both the free ends of the parallel pieces 20a as shown in Figure 2 with the horizontal pins 18 inserted in the through-holes 21.

A second connecting metal fitting 22 is constituted of a pair of parallel pieces 22a which are vertically opposed to each other at a distance slightly greater than a height of the combining metal fitting 16, a horizontally elongated mount piece 22b and a reinforcing piece 22c for connecting the pair of parallel pieces 22a with each other at base portions thereof. A pair of coaxial through-holes 23 having a diameter equal to that of the through-hole 17 are formed at free ends of the parallel pieces 22a.

Respective mount pieces 20b and 22b of both the first and second connecting metal fittings 20 and 22 are fixed to the opposed rectangular frames 13.

Adjacent separate frames 8 are connected with each other by inserting the combining meal fitting 16 pivotably connected to the first connecting metal fitting 20 between both the parallel pieces 22a of the second connecting metal fitting 22, and then inserting the connecting pin 19 from upperside into both the through-holes 23 and 17. With this arrangement, the separate frames 8 are per mitted to be turned about the connecting pin 19.

There are further provided stoppers 24 at both ends of opposed surfaces of adjacent horizontal frames 9, and restriction bolts 25 passing through the stoppers 24, so as to restrict a turning angle of the separate frames 8 within a range where no strain is applied to the pipe conveyor body 11.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiment, the description is illustrative and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A universal joint for connecting separate frames in a movable pipe conveyor comprising: a first connecting metal fitting comprising a pair of first parallel pieces which are horizontally opposed to each other, a first mount piece for connecting said pair of first parallel pieces at their bases, and first coaxial through-holes formed at free ends of said pair of first paralle pieces; a combining metal fitting comprising coaxial horizontal pins projecting from both side surfaces thereof and adapted to be pivotably engaged with said first through- holes of said first connecting metal filling, and a vertical pin hole formed therethrough;; a second connecting metal fitting comprising a pair of second parallel pieces which are verticaliy opposed to each other, a second mount piece for connecting said pair of second parallel pieces at their bases, and second coaxial through-holes formed at free ends of said second parallel pieces, said second coaxial through-holes having a diameter equal to that of said vertical pin hole, said second parallel pieces being adapted to be superposed on upper and lower surfaces of said combining metal fitting; and a connecting pin releaseably inserted into said sec ond coaxial through-holes of said second connecting metal fitting and said vertical pin hole of said combining metal fitting, whereby said first and second mount pieces of said first and second connecting metal fittings are adapted to be fixed to desired parts of opposite surfaces of adjacent separate frames.

2. The universal joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said combining metal fitting is of a square block.

3. The universal joint as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second mount pieces consist of first and second horizontally elongated mount members and first and second reinforcing members.

4. A universal joint substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.