GB2233732A - Joining together the ends of bolting - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of joining together the ends 33, 34 of belting comprises providing a hinge member having first and second parts 35 and 36, attaching one hinge part to one end of the belting and attaching the other hinge part to another end of the belting. One hinge part 35 is of metal and the other 36 of plastics material e.g. glass filled acetal copolymer. The two parts are interconnected by means of a belt 40. The belt ends are trapped between plates 37, 38 which are secured together by screws 44 passing through reinforcing tape 45 and the belt material. A plurality of parallel cords (31 Fig 6 not shown) and an elongate woven tape (32) may be embedded in the belt. A jig for use in connecting together the ends of belting is disclosed (see Figs 3-5). <IMAGE>

Description

BELTING The invention relates to belting, for example drive belting and conveyor belting.

The invention is concerned with various improvements in or relating to belting.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a method of joining together the ends of belting comprises providing a hinged member having first and second parts, attaching one hinge part to one end of the belting, and attaching the other hinge part to another end of the belting.

One hinge part may be of metal, the other hinge part being of plastics material.

The plastics material may comprise a self lubricating plastics material.

The plastics material may comprise glass filled acetal co-polymer.

The parts of the hinge are preferably readily separable so that worn or broken parts can readily be replaced.

The parts of the hinge may be secured to the ends of the belting by trapping the ends of the belting, and the parts of the hinge, between two plates, arranged on each side of the belting.

Each pair of plates may be secured together by fastening members which pass through the belting.

Each plate may have at least one projecting member which projects into a socket in part of the hinge to hold that part of the hinge in position.

A connecting plate may have a cluster of pins which can be embedded in the belting to increase the grip of the plate on the belting.

Reinforcing tape may be provided at the ends of the belting.

The tape may be secured to the belting by means of adhesive.

Connecting members may be passed through the tape and the belting, and the connecting members may comprise screws.

The screws may pass through reinforcing plates.

The thickness of the belting may be reduced between the connecting members to increase the flexibility of the joined belting, for example by providing at least groove, channel or scallop.

The connecting members may be inserted by means of a jig.

The invention includes a belting joint when produced by the method according to the invention.

According to a second aspect of the invention, belting comprises an elongate body element, for example of rubber or synthetic rubber, in which is embedded a tension restraining element in the form of a plurality parallel elongate filaments, the elongate body element also having embedded therein a tape, for example of woven material, to support connecting members when used to connect ends of the belting together.

The invention includes a jig for use in connecting together the ends of belting, the jig comprising two components which, when fitted together, define a passageway having a cross-section similar to that of the belting, one of the components having at least one aperture therein, through which a connecting member can be passed to extend into the belting, that component being split along a plane which passes through the aperture, so that the component can be removed from around the connecting member.

One of the components of the jig may have a recess to receive a connecting plate which is to be attached to the belting.

The two parts of the split component may be connected together by at least one screw threaded member.

A screw threaded member may be screwable into a hole in one of the parts of the split component, to apply pressure to the other part, to force the two parts apart, when it is desired to remove the jig from the belting.

Figure 1 is a side view of the joint ends of an elongate body element, according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the joint shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view of an embodiment of jig according to the invention; Figure 4 is a side view of the jig; Figure 5 is a plan view of the jig; Figure 6 is a cross-section through a further embodiment of belting according to the invention; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing an alternative embodiment of belting; and Figure 8 is an exploded view of the hinge of the embodiment shown in Figure 7.

The belting which is shown joined in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an elongate body element with an elongate constraining element (not shown) embedded therein. The body element is of rubber or synthetic rubber embedded in canvas. In this embodiment, the ends 33 and 34 of the belting are connected together by hinge comprising a metal portion 35 and a plastics portion 36, which is made from glass filled acetal co-polymer.

Each hinge portion is secured to the associated end of the belting by a pair of fixture plates 37 and 38.

The metal portion 35 comprises a unitary block of steel, as can be seen from Figure 8, from which a lug 39 projects. This lug 39 has a hole therethrough and the lug is shaped to fit into a slot 41 in the plastics part 36.

The plastics part 36 has a hole 42 therethrough.

The hinge includes two small metal collars 10 and 11.

The collar 10 has a screw driver slot 12 therein.

The hinge can be assembled by fitting the lug 39 into the slot 41 and then passing the collars 11 and 12 into the ends of the hole 42 until the smaller diameter ends 13 of the collars engage in the hole in the lug 39. The collars can then be clamped together to secure the components of the hinge by inserting a bolt 40. This bolt 40 passes through a plain hole in collar 11 and then engages in a screw threaded hole in the collar 10. The head of the bolt 40 has a socket for an Allen key.

For the purpose of gripping the associated hinge portion, each pair of plates 37 and 38 is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting studs 43 which fit into sockets 14 in the hinge portions.

Each pair of plates 37 and 38 is urged together by a pair of screws 44. These screws pass firstly through the upper plate 37, then through an additional piece of reinforcing tape 45, then through the body element, including its internal reinforcements, and finally screw into threaded holes in the lower plate 38. The tips 46 of the screws may be ground off once the joint has been assembled.

The additional reinforcing tape 45 is glued into a recess in the associated end of the body element, the recess being provided by grinding away part of the body element. The tape is also held in position by screws 44, and by additional screws 47.

The glue may comprise Superglue.

The hinge parts 35 and 36 comprise a strong flexible connection between the ends of the belting. The hinge itself is self lubricating and has good resistance to wear. However if the glass filled acetal co-polymer, for example KEMATAL becomes worn or broken after prolonged use, parts of the hinge can be disassembled, and the KEMATAL can be replaced with new material.

The additional tape 45 increases the resistance to stretching of the joined ends of the belting. If the addition of the tape 45 tends to reduce the flexibility of the ends of the belting, this can be compensated for by grinding away a pair of scalloped portions 48, in the vicinity of the joint.

It is important that the screws 47 are not positioned too near to the ends of the tape 45. The tape 45 must extend at least a short distance beyond the screws 47, to avoid the risk that the screws 47 will pull out of the tape 45.

The plates 37 and 38 not only grip tightly together the components of the joint, but they also reduce the likelihood that the belting will stretch because of elongation of the joint. To ensure that there is no tendency for the plates 37 to move longitudinally with respect to the belting, each plate 37 has a cluster of six pointed pins 49 grouped around one of the screws 44. Each of these pins bites firmly through the reinforcing tape 45 into the body element. The constraining element may comprise a tape, or it may comprise a plurality of elongate cords. In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the body element 30 contains not only elongate parallel cords 31, but also an elongate woven tape 32. The cords 31 are particularly effective in preventing stretch of the entire body element.The woven tape 32 is particularly effective as a medium in which to embed and restrain the connecting screws.

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment of joint, which has resulted from further development of the invention.

As with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ends 33 and 34 of the belting are joined together by hinge members 35 and 36. These are again clamped between plates 37 and 38. The plates 37 have studs, clusters of pins and fixing screws, in the same manner as the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

However, it has been found that it is not essential to position the additional tape 45 in a prepared recess in the ends 33 and 34, although it is preferred that the upper surface of the ends 33 and 34 is roughened to make it more receptive to the Superglue.

Instead of simply using screws 47 pierce the tape 45 and belting, each screw 47 passes through an upper reinforcement plate 50 and a lower reinforcement plate 51.

To increase flexibility of the belting and compensate for any increased stiffness in the joint area, scalloped regions 52 are cut out of the lower surface of the belting.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, each end of the belting is provided with two fixing screws 47. The scalloped regions 52 are provided between adjacent screws 47 and between screws 47 and plates 37.

There are four conventional sizes of the belting, known as ABCD. The chart set out below, shows for each size, preferred lengths of the tape 45, the preferred number of fixings, the preferred size of screw 47, the preferred size of reinforcing plate 50 and, where more than two screws 47 are provided, the preferred distance apart of the screws 47.

SIZE LENGTH NO. OF SIZE OF SIZE OF DIST.

OF TAPE FIXINGS SCREW PLATE APART 45 47 50 A 1 1/2" 2 3 mm 516"s B 2" 3 3 mm 7/16"sq 3/4" C 5" 4 4 mm 5/8" sq 1 1/16" D 8" 5 6 mm 7/8" sq 1 1/2" If desired, the jig shown in Figures 3 to 5, modified as necessary, may be used to insert screws into the belting of the desired locations.

The ig has two components 16 and 17. When the two components are fitted together as shown in Figure 3, they define a space 18 which has the same cross-section -as the belting. The jig may be shaped to provide recesses such as 19 for connecting or reinforcing plates as necessary.

The component 17 defines a desired number of vertical apertures, such as 20, having a diameter slightly larger than the shank of the screws which are to be inserted into the belting.

The component 17 is split into two parts 17a and 17b.

The component is split along the plane 21 which bisects the two apertures 20. The two parts can be held together by a pair of Allen screws 22 which pass through plane holes in the part 17a and enter threaded holes in the part 17b. As can be seen from Figure 4, the part 17a also has a threaded hole 23.

Connecting or reinforcing plates may be gripped in a recess such as 19 by slackening the screws 22, moving the parts 17a and 17b apart slightly, fitting the plate into the recess 19 and then tightening the screws 22 to nip the plate in position. Superglue can then be applied to the appropriate surfaces of the belting and the belting can be laid in the recess 18 of the component 16 of the jig.

The component 17 is then placed on top. The belting is then moved back and forth to the desired position within the jig. If desired, lines can be marked on the belting before it is inserted in the jig, to assist in positioning the belting within the jig.

The two components of the jig are then clamped together in a vice and left for twenty minutes for the glue to harden thoroughly. This glues the desired components together, including any joining or reinforcing plates, and/or tape 45.

Once the glue has hardened pointed connecting screws can be driven through the apertures 20 and into the belting. Thus the jig positively locates the screws in the desired position.

Once the screws have been driven into the belting sufficiently to permanently and accurately position them, the jig is removed from the vice and the two parts 17a and 17b are separated. The vice is made of self-lubricating plastics material such as KEMATAL to reduce the likelihood of the parts sticking together. If however there is a tendency to stick the part 17a and 17b can easily be separated by screwing one of the screws into the hole 23.

There is no corresponding hole in the component 17b so the end of the screw will apply pressure to the part 17b and force it away from the part 17a.

Once the belting has been removed from the jig, the screw can be driven fully home and then be rotated to screw into a lower connection plate if desired. More Superglue can be applied to the belting to glue the belting to the lower plate.

The pointed ends of the screws can then be removed, for example by sawing them off or grinding and the joint is then complete.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (27)

1. A method of joining together the ends of belting, comprising providing a hinge member having first and second parts, attaching one hinge part to one end of the belting and attaching the other hinge part to another end of the belting.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which one hinge part is of metal, and the other hinge part is of plastics material.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the plastics material comprises a self-lubricating plastics material.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, in which the plastics material comprises glass filled acetal copolymer.

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the parts of the hinge are readily separable so that worn or broken parts can readily be replaced.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the parts of the hinge are secured to the ends of the belting by trapping the ends of the belting, and the parts of the hinge, between two plates, arranged on each side of the belting.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, in which each pair of plates is secured together by fastening members passing through the belting.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which each plate has at least one projecting member which projects into a socket in part of the hinge to hold that part of the hinge in position.

9. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, in which a connecting plate has a cluster of pins which can be embedded in the belting to increase the grip of the plate on the belting.

10. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, including the use of reinforcing tape at the ends of the belting.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the tape is secured to the belting by means of adhesive.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 10 or Claim 11, in which connecting members are passed through the tape and the belting.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 12, in which the connecting members comprise screws.

14. A method as claimed in Claim 13, in which the screws pass through reinforcing plates.

15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14, in which the thickness of the belting is reduced between the connecting members, to increase the flexibility of the joined belting.

16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, in which the thickness is reduced by providing at least one groove, channel or scallop.

17. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 16, in which the connecting members are inserted by means of a jig.

18. A belting joint when produced by any one of the preceding Claims.

19. Belting comprising an elongate body element, for example of rubber or synthetic rubber, in which is embedded a tension restraining element in the form of a plurality of parallel elongate filaments, the elongate body element also having embedded therein a tape, for example of woven material, to support connecting members when used to connect ends of the belting together.

20. A jig for use in connecting together the ends of belting, the jig comprising two components which, when fitted together, define a passageway having a crosssection similar to that of the belting, one of the components having at least one aperture therein, through which a connecting member can be passed to extend into the belting, that component being split along a plane which passes through the aperture, so that the component can be removed from around the connecting member.

21. A jig as claimed in Claim 20, in which at least one of the components of the jig has a recess to receive a connecting plate which is to be attached to the belting.

22. A jig as claimed in Claim 20 or Claim 21, in which the two parts of the split component are connected together by at least one screw threaded member.

23. A jig as claimed in Claim 22, in which a screw threaded member is screwable into a hole in one of the parts of the split component, to apply pressure to the other part, to force the two parts apart, when it is desired to remove the jig from the belting.

24. A method of joining together the ends of belting, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. A belting joint constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. Belting constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

27. A jig constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.