GB2261204A

GB2261204A - Roller supports for conveyors

Info

Publication number: GB2261204A
Application number: GB9222902A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Levison; Arthur Edward Bourlet
Original assignee: Interroll Ltd
Current assignee: Interroll Ltd
Priority date: 1991-11-06
Filing date: 1992-11-02
Publication date: 1993-05-12
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-02
Also published as: GB9123527D0; GB2261204B; GB9222902D0

Abstract

A support comprises a triangular base 2 fastened to a frame (not shown). and flanges 4. 8 projecting from the base 2. A slot 6 in the flange 4 supports a shaft 20 of a roller 24. The slot 6 has an open end at the periphery of the flange 4. A member 12 fastened to the flange 4 by a bolt 16 holds the shaft 20 captive in the slot 6, while a shaft 22 of an adjacent roller 26 is held captive in slot 10 in flange 8 by a member 14 fastened to flange 8 by a bolt 18. In Figure 2 member 14 has an extended portion to lie across open end of slot 6 and unfastening member 14 allows shaft 22 to be lifted out. In Figure 3 an alternative member (140) allows end of shaft to be raised/lowered with different positions of bolt (180) when tracking is necessary. Figure 4 illustrates a modified fastening member (240) and Figure 5 a tracking plate (340). <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: Roller Supports for Conveyors DESCRIPTION; Technical Field The invention relates to roller supports for conveyors having a continuous load conveying surface, that is, to supports for rollers which guide and carry the surface.

Conveyors of this type are used, for example, to carry stone away from a quarry face.

Background Art There are conveyors that have a belt as the load conveying surface, which are consequently commonly known as belt conveyors. The belt is either in the form of a trough or a tube, guided and carried by rollers.

Tubular belts are used to convey noxious or unpleasant materials, such as dust-heavy coal, for instance through a densely populated area. The enclosed tube protects the environment from exposure to the material.

The rollers surround the belt. Each roller rctates cn a bearing about a shaft. The ends of the shafts are fixed to supporting brackets on a frame. Once fixed, the shafts are not easy to remove. In the event that a roller fails or becomes worn, the currently preferred option is to replace the whole bracket complete with roller, rather than to become involved in the time consuming replacement of the roller alone.

The Invention The invention provides a belt conveyor roller support comprising a base, a flange projecting from the base, a slot in the flange, the slot having an open end at the periphery of the flange, and a member which is shaped to capture a roller shaft in the slot when fastened to the flange. The member can be unfastened in situ, so that an individual roller can be replaced when necessary.

The member is preferably fastened to the flange by bolt, and may have an aperture into which the shaft fits or may have an extended portion which lays across the open end of the slot. The position at which the member is fastened to the flange may be adjustable.

The support further preferably has another flange projecting from the base, one flange supporting an end of the shaft of one roller and the other flange supporting an end of the shaft of an adjacent roller. The other flange may have the same features as the first, or may only have an aperture for the shaft.

The Drawings Figure 1 is an end view of a belt conveyor roller and support arrangement, although not all of the necessary supports are shown; Figure 2 is a cross-section taken along the line I-I through one of the roller supports shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an alternative roller support construction; Figure 4 comprises side and end views of a modified fastening member or swivel plate which can be used in a roller support of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 5 comprises similar views of a tracking plate which can be used in the alternative support of Figure 3.

Best Mode The roller support shown generally at 1 in Figure 1 has a triangular base 2 fastened to a frame (nct shown) by bolts (not shown) through two bolt holes 28,30.

Projecting from each of two sides of the base are two flanges 4,8. A roller 24 for guiding and carrying a troughed belt (not shown) rotates about a shaft 20. In the flange 4 there is a slot 6 through which the shaft 20 extends. The shaft 20 has flat sides so as to prevent rotation in the slot 6. A member 12, fastened to the flange 4 by a bolt 16, holds the shaft 20 captive in the slot 6. A shaft 22 of an adjacent roller 26 is similarly held captive in a slot 10 in the flange 8 by a member 14.

A bolt 18 fastens the member 14 to the flange 8.

Figure 2 shows that the slot 10 has an open end at the periphery of the flange 8, remote from the base 2. The member 14 has an extended portion 15. When the member 14 is fastened to the flange 8 by the bolt 18, the extended portion 15 lies across the open end of the slot 10. As the shaft 22 (not shown) extends through and beyond the slot 10, the shaft 22 is trapped in the slot by the extended portion 15. Unfastening the member 14 enables the end of the shaft 22 to be lifted out through the open end of the slot 10.

In Figure 3 there is an alternative member 140 shown fastened to a flange 80 by a bolt 180. The member 1AC has an aperture 280. When the member 140 is fastened to the flange 80, a roller shaft (not shown ! is captured in a slot 100 by the aperture 280, through which the shaft extends. In this alternative, different positions of the bolt 180 relative to the slot 100 allow the end of the shaft to be raised or lowered, a feature which is desirable when tracking of the conveyor belt becomes necessary.

In the modified fastening member (24G) as shown in Figure 4, a bolt hole 280 is provided as n the earlier embodiments, while a recess 290, in which the shaft 22 is trapped, has a rounded distal corner 292. A fastening member 240 is normally provided at each end of a roller 24.

The tracking plate (340) of Figure 5 comprises a bolt hole 380, a recess 390 having rounded corners 392. A tracking plate 340 at one end only of a roller 24 is normally required.

Claims

1. A belt conveyor roller support comprising a base, a flange projecting from the base, a slot in the flange, the slot having an open end at the periphery of the flange, and a member which is shaped to capture a roller shaft in the slot when fastened to the flange.

2. A roller support according to claim 1 in which the member is fastened to the flange by a bolt.

3. A roller support according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the flange has an aperture into which the shaft fits.

4. A roller support according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the flange has an extended portion which lays across the open end of the slot.

5. A roller support according to any preceding claim in which the position at which the member is fastened to the flange is adjustable.

6. A roller support according to any preceding claim which has another flange projecting from the base, one flange supporting an end of the shaft of one roller and the other flange supporting an end of the shaft of an adjacent roller.

7. A roller support according to claim 6 in which the other flange has the same features as the first flange.

8. A roller support according to claim 6 in which the other flange has only an aperture for the shaft.

9. A roller support as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, or as modified by any of Figures 3 to 5, of the drawings.