GB2234482A

GB2234482A - Conveyor belt

Info

Publication number: GB2234482A
Application number: GB8917946A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William John Woodall; Kenneth Alan Whitehouse; John Eric Hobson
Original assignee: DUDLEY FABRICATIONS Ltd
Current assignee: DUDLEY FABRICATIONS Ltd
Priority date: 1989-08-04
Filing date: 1989-08-04
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Also published as: GB8917946D0

Abstract

A conveyor belt installation having a trough-shaped transport strand 11 enclosed by side and top panels 30 and 37 respectively to define a tunnel 41 for confining material carried by the transport strand 11 to prevent spillage and/or contamination by air-born particles. The side panels 30 extend on opposed sides of the transport strand 11 and provide inclined support ledges 35 for the marginal edges of the transport strand 11 with strip members 36 arranged between the underside of the transport strand 11 and the support ledges 35 to seal the marginal edges and reduce wear of the transport strand 11. The panels 30, 37 are assembled in modular sections with a top panel 37 extending between a pair of opposed side panels 30 whereby any number of sections can be assembled to suit different lengths of transport strand 11. The invented arrangement for enclosing the transport strand 11 has application to new and existing installations. <IMAGE>

Description

BELT CONVEYOR This invention concerns belt conveyors that are commonly used for conveying bulk material such as sand, cement, flour, grain and other particulate or granular material to transport same from one location to another in a plant or installation It is already known to provide such belt conveyors in which the belt is supported so as to form a trough-shape so that the material is confined in the bottom of the trough whilst it is being carried by the conveyor belt.

Traditionally, such trough conveyor utilise a series of spaced apart roller sets to support the load supporting length of the belt, and these rollers define the trough-shape to which the belt material conforms.

Conventionally, in the conveyor, each roller set extends transverse to the direction of advancement of load supporting length of belt (the transport strand) whilst empty return length of belt (the return strand) merely runs underneath the transport strand with suitable guide or limited support rollers as may depend on the overall length of the return strand of the belt.

For the transport of particulate materials there are special problems which arise, and one of these is the way in which the material may be loaded onto the conveyor transport strand, and in some instances the loading is not done evenly so that the belt is overloaded and spillage can arise over the edges of the belt.

Another problem is that a belt conveyor system often has to transport materials of different volumetric density and volumetric weights, for instance, different grades of sand, or wet and dry sand. The load-weight carrying capacity of belt conveyors has to be carefully controlled, and often the original support structure cannot be modified or reinforced without great cost and disruption.

It is an object of this invention to provide a belt conveyor of the trough kind suitable for transportins such materials but providing advantages in operation and installation.

According to the broadest aspect of this invention, we provide in or for a conveyor installation comprising a belt having a transport strand supported so as to form a trough-shape, an arrangement for enclosing the transport strand.

Preferably, the centre section of the transport strand is supported in the required trough-shape by a series of longitudinally spaced apart transverse support members, for example rollers, and the marginal edges are supported by longitudinally extending support ledges.

Advantageously, the support ledges are inclined to extend the trough-shape and the inclination of the support ledges may be the same as or different from that of the support members.

Conveniently, the support ledges are provided by one or more side panels extending lengthwise of the installation on each side and one or more top panels extends between the side panels on opposed sides of the installation to enclose the transport strand.

Preferably, an elongate strip member is interposed between each support ledge and the underside of the marginal edge of the transport strand to provide a smooth support surface for sealing the edges of the belt and reducing wear.

Other features and advantages of the invented arrangement will be understood from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIGURE 1 is a perspective view (partly broken away) of the arrangement for the transport strand of the belt in the conveyor; FIGURE 2 is a sectional view across the transport strand of the belt in the conveyor as shown in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a side view taken in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2; and FIGURE 4 is a further view of the transport strand of the belt in the conveyor taken in the direction B-B as shown in Figure 2.

With reference to the invented arrangement shown in the Drawings, the conveyor installation for conveying bulk material such as sand or the like particulate or granular material includes two opposed main support members 1,2 that extend substantially parallel and which would be mounted on rigid structure in known manner.

Support beams 3 extend between the support members 1,2 at spaced apart positions and each beam 3 carries a bearer rail 4 of inverted angle welded at each end to L-shaped brackets 5,6 bolted through the beam 3 at each end to the support members 1,2.

Each bearer rail 4 mounts a transverse roller set 7 comprising three similar rollers 8,9,10 arranged to support the centre section of the transport strand 11 of a continuous belt 12 in a trough shape. The return strand (not shown) of the belt 12 would, in known manner, extend underneath or below the installation for empty return travel supported by any suitable means (not shown) as required.

The centre roller 8 comprises a right cylindrical roll 13 mounted for free rotation on an axial spindle 14 of which the opposed ends engage respective upright medial bearers 15,16 welded to the bearer rail 4 to locate and support the centre roller 8 substantially horizontal and parallel to the bearer rail 4.

Each side roller 9,10 also comprises a respective right cylindrical roll 17 mounted for free rotation on a respective axial spindle 18 of which the opposed ends engage an angled medial bearer 19 and an angled upper part 20 of a side bearer 21 welded to the bearer rail 4 to locate nnd support each side roller 9,10 at the required inclination. A respective bracing strut 22 extends between and is welded to each side bearer 21 and the bearer rail 4 adjacent to the associated angled medial bearer 19.

A respective side support 23 of channelsection is bolted to an upright lower part 25 of each side bearer 21 and has a support bracket 26 welded to the upper end.

Each support bracket 26 has an upright side flange 27 and a downwardly inclined base flange 28 terminating in a dependent bottom edge flange 29.

The inclination of the base flange 28 is similar to that of the adjacent side roller 9,10 and the side support 23 is bolted on the side bearer 21 to position the base flange 28 generally in alignment with the upper support surface of the adjacent side roller 9,10.

On each side of the installation, the brackets 26 mount a respective series of similar side panels 30 each having an upright side wall 31 terminating in an outwardly directed top edge flange 32 and a downwardly inclined base wall 33 terminating in a dependent bottom edge flange 34.

Each side panel 30 extends between and is bolted at each end to two successive brackets 26 with the side and base walls 31,32 seating against the side and base flanges 27,28 of the brackets 26 and the respective dependent bottom edge flanges 29,34 abutting.

The assembled side panels 30 define, on each side of the installation, a continuous side wall and a continuous base wall with the base wall defining a support ledge 35 forming an extension of the trough shape of the roller sets 7. The opposed marginal edges of the transport strand 11 extending beyond the roller sets 7 are supported on these support ledges 35 with a respective elongate strip member 36 interposed therebetween to provide a continuous seal along each lateral edge of the transport strand 11 and to reduce wear of the edges of the belt 12.

A series of top panels 37 extends between opposed pairs of side panels 30 and each top panel 37 has its transverse edges supported by respective spaced apart bridge members 38 bolted at each end to the respective top edge flanges 32 of the opposed side panels 30.

Each top panel 37 is bolted at each end through the bridge members 38 to the respective top edge flanges 32 of the opposed side panels 30 and is formed to provide a central apex 39 like a pitched roof with the bridge members 38 having inclined upper support faces 40 matching this pitched form.

As will now be appreciated, the central section of the transport strand 11 of the belt 12 is supported in a trough shape by the roller sets 7, and the marginal edges are supported in an extension of the trough shape by the support ledges 35 provided on each side of the installation by the base walls 33 of the side panels 30 and are sealed on the underside by the strip members 36 positioned therebetween. The side panels 30 and top panels 37 totally enclose the transport strand 11 of the belt 12 and material loaded on the belt 12 is confined within the tunnel 41 formed by the belt 12, the side panels 30 and top panels 37.The edges of the transport strand 11 are in continuous sealing engagement with the strip members 36 and any material loaded on the transport strand 11 that is carried up the sides of the trough-shape cannot fall of the edges of the belt 12 and is confined within the tunnel 41. Similarly, any air born fines or dust created by disturbance of the material is confined within the tunnel 41. As a result, spillage or contamination is avoided by the invented arrangement of the side and top panels 30,37 enclosing the transport strand 11.

It will be understood that the invented arrangement has application both for new original installations as well as for modifying or converting an existing belt conveyor to totally enclose the transport strand of the belt. For such modification or conversion, the side and top panels together with the bridge support members, the side support members and the strip members may be provided as a separate kit of parts for attachment to an existing installation and, if required, a wider belt provided to extend beyond the edges of the existing trough-shaped support means to engage the strip members for sealing the edges of the belt.In this way, not only is the transport strand of the belt totally enclosed as described above but the load carrying capacity of the installation is increased by the use of a wider belt thereby improving throughput and hence efficieny whilst retaining the essential support structure of the original installation.

As will be appreciated, the assembly of the side panels and top panels in sections bolted to the side supports enables the same basic components to be used for installations of different lengths. This has important advantages both for the manufacturer and for the user in reducing the number of components required.

It will be understood that the invented arrangement is not limited to the embodiment above-described. For example, the trough-shape imparted to the belt by the roller sets may be provided by any construction and arrangement of rollers or by any other suitable support means.

The base walls of the side panels may be inclined at the same angle as the adjacent side rollers or at a different angle. For example, in the above embodiment, the inclination of the base walls and side rollers is substantially the same but the inclination of the base walls to the horizontal could exceed that of the side rollers to resist further the displacement of material loaded on the belt up the sides of the trough shape. Alternatively, the inclination of the base walls to the horizontal could be less than that of the side rollers where displacement of the material up the sides of the trough-shape is not a significant problem.

Claims

Claims:

1. In or for a conveyor installation comprising a belt having a transport strand supported so as to form a trough-shape, an arrangement of one or more side panels extending lengthwise of the installation on each side and one or more top panels extending between the side panels on opposed sides of the installation to enclose the transport strand.

2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the side panels provide respective support ledges extending lengthwise of the installation on each side for the marginal edges of the transport strand.

3. An arrangement according to Claim 2 wherein the support ledges are inclined to extend the trough shape.

4. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein the support ledges extend the trough shape at the same angle.

5. An arrangement according to Claim 3 wherein the the support ledges extend the trough shape at a different angle.

6. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein an elongate strip member is interposed between each support ledge and the underside of the associated marginal edge of the transport strand.

7. An arrangement according to Claim 6 wherein the strip members provide a smooth support surface for sealing the edges of the belt and reducing wear.

8. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein support brackets for the side panels are provided on each side of the installation.

9. An arrangement according to Claim 8 wherein the side panels extend between and are releasably secured at each end to the support brackets.

10. An arrangement according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 wherein the support brackets are arranged at the upper ends of side supports detachably mounted on each side of the installation.

11. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein each top panel extends between opposed side panels and has its transverse edges supported by respective bridge members secured at each end to the opposed side panels.

12. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the transport strand is supported in the trough shape by a series of longitudinally spaced roller sets each comprising a centre roller disposed between a pair of side rollers inclined upwardly and outwardly relative to the centre roller.

13. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the side and top panels are adapted for assembly as modular sections each comprising a top panel and a pair of side panels.

14. In or for a conveyor installation comprising a belt having a transport strand supported so as to form a trough shape, an arrangement for enclosing the transport strand.

15. In or for a conveyor installation comprising a belt having a transport strand supported so as to form a trough shape, an arrangement for enclosing the transport strand substantiallly as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. A kit of parts comprising side and top panels for assembly in modular sections to enclose a trough-shaped transport strand of a conveyor belt wherein the side panels extend on opposed sides of the transport strand with the or each top panel extending between a pair of opposed side panels above the transport strand, and the side panels providing support ledges for the marginal edges of the transport strand with the support ledges being inclined to extend the trough shape of the transport strand, the arrangement being such that the side and top panels define with the transport strand a tunnel for confining material carried by the transport strand.