GB2165199A

GB2165199A - Conveying equipment support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2165199A
Application number: GB08425144A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Consultants Limited Handling; C E J Blackstone; G H Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-10-04
Filing date: 1984-10-04
Publication date: 1986-04-09
Also published as: GB8425144D0; GB2165199B

Abstract

Equipment for the conveying of goods and materials, using a wide range of transport means e.g. belts, rollers, slat or any similar means, comprises a stiff boom 1 carrying the conveying means 2. The stiff boom is counter balanced and supported in such a manner as to allow the height of both the infeed and outfeed ends to be readily changed by manual effort alone. Means e.g. telescopic struts 20 and clamps 21 are provided to lock the unit at any height or inclination within the working range. Such conveyor units may be linked with other similar units to form a complete conveyor system that may be readily rearranged to form a variety of configurations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements to conveying equipment This invention relates to equipment for the conveying of goods and materials.

Conveyors are widely used to transport bulk materials and unit loads. Often to accommodate variations of height required at the discharge end or of the receiving end of a conveyor, or a system of conveyors, means are provided to adjust the elevation of the discharge end or the receiving end.

Usually the means provided to adjust the elevation involve powered equipment, which increases cost, or manually operated devices which are slow to operate and inconvenient in use.

It is the object of this invention to provide a conveyor unit, or system of units, in which the height of the discharge end and height of the receiving end may be readily adjusted by manual action without the need for powered devices.

According to the present invention there is provided a conveyor assembly comprising a stiff boom sub-assembly carrying the conveying means, a pivot assembly with an axis positioned at or close to the centre of gravity of the boom subassembly, a support mechanism for said pivot assembly where counter balancing means are provided to balance, or substantially balance, the mass of the stiff boom sub-assembly and masses associated with the pivot and support mechanism, a frame-work or chassis to support and retain the mechanism and associated parts in the desired orientation, and means to lock the boom sub-assembly at any height or inclination within the ranges of movement provided by the mechanism.

The counter balancing means may be provided by any suitable method, for example: springs; masses; fluid pressure; or other methods or a combination of methods.

By providing a supporting mechanism with counter balancing means the height of the pivot assembly and hence the boom sub-assembly may be readily adjusted for height. In a similar manner the inclination of the boom sub-assembly may be readily adjusted since it is balanced, or substantially balanced, about the pivot assembly. By using a combination of the above two motions the height of either, or both, the receiving end and/or the discharge end may be readily adjusted.

The conveyor assembly may form a fixed installation or be mounted on a chassis that enables the conveyor assembly to be moved as required.

A number of such conveyor assemblies may be arranged together so as to form a complete conveying system.

The conveying means supported by the boom sub-assembly may take any form, for example: belt; roller; slat; chain; or any other type. The driving means, if any, may be supported by the boom sub-assembly.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1, which is a side elevation, suitably cut away, of a single conveyor assembly.

Referring to the drawing, the conveyor assembly comprises a structural stiff boom assembly 1 supporting the conveying means, in this example a belt 2 running over rollers 3 and 4 and supported by a bed plate 5 attached to the boom 1. The belt is driven by passing round rollers connected with a suitable motor. Said rollers, motor, and power transmission system are enclosed in a housing 6.

At or close to the centre of gravity of the complete boom sub-assembly there is provided a pivot mechanism 7.

The pivot mechanism 7 is supported by a pair of links 8. Said links are pivotally connected, at or near the mid point 9 to a lever assembly 10. The lower end 11 of links 8 are slidably connected to the main frame or chassis 12. Lever assembly 10 is pivotally connected at the lower end 13 to the main frame or chassis 12. Lever assembly 10 is suitably shaped to provide an attachment point 14 to which a cross bar 15 is pivotally connected. Between the cross bar 15 and an anchor bar 16 there is stretched a number of tension springs 17. The anchor bar 16 is attached by rods 18 to a suitable member 19 of the main frame or chassis 12.

By the correct design of the springs 17 and the lever assembly 10 a near constant vertical force may be provided at the pivot 7. This force resists and balances the weight of the complete boom assembly. By this means the pivot point at 7 may rise or fall under the influence of small forces. In the same manner the complete boom assembly may be rotated about pivot point 7 since pivot point 7 is at or close to the centre of gravity.

In order to allow adjustment of the balancing forces, the distance between pivot points 13 and 14 may be changed, and the distance between the anchor bar 16 and the member 19 may be altered.

It should be noted that there are a number of alternatives to tensions springs, for example, gas springs or counter masses.

In order to maintain a chosen height and inclination of the complete boom assembly there are provided a number of telescopic struts 20. These struts are pivotally connected to both the boom assembly and the main frame. The struts 20 are provided with clamping means 21 to readily lock each strut at the required extension.

1. A conveyor assembly comprising a stiff sub assembly, means to convey items or materials supported by said stiff boom sub assembly, a pivot assembly with an axis positioned at or close to the centre of gravity of said boom sub-assembly, a support mechanism for said pivot assembly where counter balancing means are provided to balance, or substantially balance, the mass of the stiff boom sub-assembly and masses associated with the pivot and support mechanism, a frame-work or chassis to support and retain the mechanism and associated parts in the desired orientation, and means to lock the boom sub-assembly at any height or inclination within the ranges of move

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements to conveying equipment This invention relates to equipment for the conveying of goods and materials. Conveyors are widely used to transport bulk materials and unit loads. Often to accommodate variations of height required at the discharge end or of the receiving end of a conveyor, or a system of conveyors, means are provided to adjust the elevation of the discharge end or the receiving end. Usually the means provided to adjust the elevation involve powered equipment, which increases cost, or manually operated devices which are slow to operate and inconvenient in use. It is the object of this invention to provide a conveyor unit, or system of units, in which the height of the discharge end and height of the receiving end may be readily adjusted by manual action without the need for powered devices. According to the present invention there is provided a conveyor assembly comprising a stiff boom sub-assembly carrying the conveying means, a pivot assembly with an axis positioned at or close to the centre of gravity of the boom subassembly, a support mechanism for said pivot assembly where counter balancing means are provided to balance, or substantially balance, the mass of the stiff boom sub-assembly and masses associated with the pivot and support mechanism, a frame-work or chassis to support and retain the mechanism and associated parts in the desired orientation, and means to lock the boom sub-assembly at any height or inclination within the ranges of movement provided by the mechanism. The counter balancing means may be provided by any suitable method, for example: springs; masses; fluid pressure; or other methods or a combination of methods. By providing a supporting mechanism with counter balancing means the height of the pivot assembly and hence the boom sub-assembly may be readily adjusted for height. In a similar manner the inclination of the boom sub-assembly may be readily adjusted since it is balanced, or substantially balanced, about the pivot assembly. By using a combination of the above two motions the height of either, or both, the receiving end and/or the discharge end may be readily adjusted. The conveyor assembly may form a fixed installation or be mounted on a chassis that enables the conveyor assembly to be moved as required. A number of such conveyor assemblies may be arranged together so as to form a complete conveying system. The conveying means supported by the boom sub-assembly may take any form, for example: belt; roller; slat; chain; or any other type. The driving means, if any, may be supported by the boom sub-assembly. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing Figure 1, which is a side elevation, suitably cut away, of a single conveyor assembly. Referring to the drawing, the conveyor assembly comprises a structural stiff boom assembly 1 supporting the conveying means, in this example a belt 2 running over rollers 3 and 4 and supported by a bed plate 5 attached to the boom 1. The belt is driven by passing round rollers connected with a suitable motor. Said rollers, motor, and power transmission system are enclosed in a housing 6. At or close to the centre of gravity of the complete boom sub-assembly there is provided a pivot mechanism 7. The pivot mechanism 7 is supported by a pair of links 8. Said links are pivotally connected, at or near the mid point 9 to a lever assembly 10. The lower end 11 of links 8 are slidably connected to the main frame or chassis 12. Lever assembly 10 is pivotally connected at the lower end 13 to the main frame or chassis 12. Lever assembly 10 is suitably shaped to provide an attachment point 14 to which a cross bar 15 is pivotally connected. Between the cross bar 15 and an anchor bar 16 there is stretched a number of tension springs 17. The anchor bar 16 is attached by rods 18 to a suitable member 19 of the main frame or chassis 12. By the correct design of the springs 17 and the lever assembly 10 a near constant vertical force may be provided at the pivot 7. This force resists and balances the weight of the complete boom assembly. By this means the pivot point at 7 may rise or fall under the influence of small forces. In the same manner the complete boom assembly may be rotated about pivot point 7 since pivot point 7 is at or close to the centre of gravity. In order to allow adjustment of the balancing forces, the distance between pivot points 13 and 14 may be changed, and the distance between the anchor bar 16 and the member 19 may be altered. It should be noted that there are a number of alternatives to tensions springs, for example, gas springs or counter masses. In order to maintain a chosen height and inclination of the complete boom assembly there are provided a number of telescopic struts 20. These struts are pivotally connected to both the boom assembly and the main frame. The struts 20 are provided with clamping means 21 to readily lock each strut at the required extension. CLAIMS

1. A conveyor assembly comprising a stiff sub assembly, means to convey items or materials supported by said stiff boom sub assembly, a pivot assembly with an axis positioned at or close to the centre of gravity of said boom sub-assembly, a support mechanism for said pivot assembly where counter balancing means are provided to balance, or substantially balance, the mass of the stiff boom sub-assembly and masses associated with the pivot and support mechanism, a frame-work or chassis to support and retain the mechanism and associated parts in the desired orientation, and means to lock the boom sub-assembly at any height or inclination within the ranges of move ment provided by the mechanism.

2. A conveying system comprising a number of conveying units substantially as claimed in claim 1.

3. A conveying unit substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.