GB2191164A - Retaining means for channel cover - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to maintain a top plate 2 securely but "floatingly" in position on channel 1, the two limbs 3 of the channel each have open cruciform, slots extending the length thereof. Inserted in the slots are one or more retaining means 5 comprising a bar 6 with two lateral screw or nut holes 7 and a central hole 8 through which a resilient means 9 in the form of a rubber plug is inserted, to protrude from below the next bar 6. When the retaining means 5 is inserted in the slot 4, the rubber plug 9 is compressed slightly, and grips opposite sides of the slot 4. The retaining means 5 is thus resiliently held in the slot 4 at the required position. The top plate 2 can then be secured by inserting screws or nuts 11 through holes therein aligned with the holes 7. The channel 1 houses rollers and an air bag of arise and sink roller conveyor system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Retaining means The invention relates to retaining means.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for retaining a member in a slot in a body, comprising a retaining device adapted to engage a lockable part, a memberanda part of the body adjacent the slot.

The retaining device may comprise a resilient means.

The resilient means may comprise a cylindrical plug which may pass through a bore in the member and engage a part of the body adjacent the slot.

The bore maybe betweentwothrough holesfor receiving securing means for securing the member in the slot.

The retaining means may comprise a clamp device which has a limb which in use defines part of the slot and contacts the members to hold same in the slot.

The clamp device may be of substantially C-shape, one limb of which forms said part, and the other limb of which is engagable in a recess in the body adjacent the slot.

The body may comprise a wall of a channel-section member which may comprise an elongate housing for a pneumatic roller - conveyor device.

The slot may extend substantially longitudinally of the wall.

The invention may extend to a roller conveyor including an apparatus as herein before defined.

An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure lisa transverse sectional view of a channel member having a slot in opposite side walls; Figure2 is a schematic view of a channel member similarto Figure 1, with a retaining means according to the invention in one of the slots, holding a top plate in the channel member; and Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the retaining means of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an extruded aluminium channel section member 2 which is used in an air bag kind of rise andsinkroller conveyor system. The channel 1 houses the air bag and rollers (all not shown) (on a roller cradle) and is closed, two prevent ingress of dirt etc., and to obviate entry offoreign bodies such as wheels offork lift trucks by a top plate 2.

In orderto maintain the top plate 2 securely in position on the channel 1 ,the limbs 3 ofthe channel have open cruciform, in the embodiment, slots 4 extending the length thereof. Inserted in the slots 4 are several separate retaining means 5 comprising a bar6withtwo lateral screws or nut holes7 and a central hole 8 through which a resilient means 9 in the form of a rubber plug is inserted, to protrude from below the next bar 6. When the retaining means 5 is inserted in the slot 4, the rubber plug B is compressed slightly, and grips ps opposite sides of the slot4. The retaining means 5 is thus resiliently held in the slot 4 at the required position.The top plate 2 can then be secured by inserting screws or nuts 11 through holes therein aligned with the holes 7, which arethreadedto receive them.

Thetop plate 2 sometimes has atendencyto move slightly longitudinally when a load is drawn over it.

The plug 9 allows this movement by resiliently "giving", and returning to the original position when the load is removed. The plug 9 thus grips but allows "floating" ofthetop plate 2.

There are several retaining means 5 spaced apart along the channel member. Alternatively, there may be a single retaining means 5which extends over substantially the whole length of the slot 4, there being several plugs 9through such a means.

There will be, it wiil be understood, a retaining means in both slots 4.

Instead of a plug 9 of rubber, it may be of any other suitable material, or indeed may be replaced by a spring clip of U- or C-shape which extends round the nut 6 to spring against the opposite walls of the slot.

Figure3 also shows a clip-on stop 12which isof U-shape, one limb 13 being received in a notch 14in thelimbandtheotherforming one side of the slot 4, and being held in place by the top plate 2.

The stop 12then projects into the channel member and forms an abutment against which the roller cradle abuts when the air bag is inflated, to stop the cradle striking the top plate 2 from below, which could tend to buckle it, or remove it forcibly.

The load applied to the stop 12 is taken bythe rib or limb 13 and the limb 3. There will be a stop at each side of the channel.

1. Apparatus for retaining a member in a slot in a body, comprising a retaining device adapted to engage a lockable part, a member and a part of the body adjacent the slot.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the retaining device comprising a resilient means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the resilient means comprising a cylindrical plug which passes through a bore in the member and engages a partof the body adjacent the slot.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3,the bore being between two through holes for receiving securing means for securing the member in the slot.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 ,the retaining means comprising a clamp device which has a limb which in use defines partofthe slot and contacts the members two hold same in the slot.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the clamp device being of substantially C-shape, one limb of which forms said part, and the other limb of which is engagable in a recess in the body adjacent the slot.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the body comprising a wall of a channel-section member which comprises an elongate housing for a pneumatic roller-conveyor device.

8. Apparatus according to Clajm 7, the slot extending substantially longitudipally ofthewall.

9. Apparatus for retaining a member in a slot in a body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Retaining means The invention relates to retaining means. According to the invention there is provided apparatus for retaining a member in a slot in a body, comprising a retaining device adapted to engage a lockable part, a memberanda part of the body adjacent the slot. The retaining device may comprise a resilient means. The resilient means may comprise a cylindrical plug which may pass through a bore in the member and engage a part of the body adjacent the slot. The bore maybe betweentwothrough holesfor receiving securing means for securing the member in the slot. The retaining means may comprise a clamp device which has a limb which in use defines part of the slot and contacts the members to hold same in the slot. The clamp device may be of substantially C-shape, one limb of which forms said part, and the other limb of which is engagable in a recess in the body adjacent the slot. The body may comprise a wall of a channel-section member which may comprise an elongate housing for a pneumatic roller - conveyor device. The slot may extend substantially longitudinally of the wall. The invention may extend to a roller conveyor including an apparatus as herein before defined. An embodiment of the invention is hereinafter described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure lisa transverse sectional view of a channel member having a slot in opposite side walls; Figure2 is a schematic view of a channel member similarto Figure 1, with a retaining means according to the invention in one of the slots, holding a top plate in the channel member; and Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the retaining means of Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, there is shown an extruded aluminium channel section member 2 which is used in an air bag kind of rise andsinkroller conveyor system. The channel 1 houses the air bag and rollers (all not shown) (on a roller cradle) and is closed, two prevent ingress of dirt etc., and to obviate entry offoreign bodies such as wheels offork lift trucks by a top plate 2. In orderto maintain the top plate 2 securely in position on the channel 1 ,the limbs 3 ofthe channel have open cruciform, in the embodiment, slots 4 extending the length thereof. Inserted in the slots 4 are several separate retaining means 5 comprising a bar6withtwo lateral screws or nut holes7 and a central hole 8 through which a resilient means 9 in the form of a rubber plug is inserted, to protrude from below the next bar 6. When the retaining means 5 is inserted in the slot 4, the rubber plug B is compressed slightly, and grips ps opposite sides of the slot4. The retaining means 5 is thus resiliently held in the slot 4 at the required position.The top plate 2 can then be secured by inserting screws or nuts 11 through holes therein aligned with the holes 7, which arethreadedto receive them. Thetop plate 2 sometimes has atendencyto move slightly longitudinally when a load is drawn over it. The plug 9 allows this movement by resiliently "giving", and returning to the original position when the load is removed. The plug 9 thus grips but allows "floating" ofthetop plate 2. There are several retaining means 5 spaced apart along the channel member. Alternatively, there may be a single retaining means 5which extends over substantially the whole length of the slot 4, there being several plugs 9through such a means. There will be, it wiil be understood, a retaining means in both slots 4. Instead of a plug 9 of rubber, it may be of any other suitable material, or indeed may be replaced by a spring clip of U- or C-shape which extends round the nut 6 to spring against the opposite walls of the slot. Figure3 also shows a clip-on stop 12which isof U-shape, one limb 13 being received in a notch 14in thelimbandtheotherforming one side of the slot 4, and being held in place by the top plate 2. The stop 12then projects into the channel member and forms an abutment against which the roller cradle abuts when the air bag is inflated, to stop the cradle striking the top plate 2 from below, which could tend to buckle it, or remove it forcibly. The load applied to the stop 12 is taken bythe rib or limb 13 and the limb 3. There will be a stop at each side of the channel. CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for retaining a member in a slot in a body, comprising a retaining device adapted to engage a lockable part, a member and a part of the body adjacent the slot.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, the retaining device comprising a resilient means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, the resilient means comprising a cylindrical plug which passes through a bore in the member and engages a partof the body adjacent the slot.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3,the bore being between two through holes for receiving securing means for securing the member in the slot.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 ,the retaining means comprising a clamp device which has a limb which in use defines partofthe slot and contacts the members two hold same in the slot.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, the clamp device being of substantially C-shape, one limb of which forms said part, and the other limb of which is engagable in a recess in the body adjacent the slot.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the body comprising a wall of a channel-section member which comprises an elongate housing for a pneumatic roller-conveyor device.

8. Apparatus according to Clajm 7, the slot extending substantially longitudipally ofthewall.

9. Apparatus for retaining a member in a slot in a body substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A roller conveyor system including an apparatus according to any preceding claim.