GB834607A - Driving unit for bucket conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

834,607. Endless bucket conveyers. HAPMAN, H. J., and HUFFAKER, M. S. Oct. 10, 1957, No. 31665/57. Class 78 (1). A bucket conveyer, of the type having buckets which are mounted for swinging on axles extending between a pair of endless chains, is driven by a series of driving abutments 70 extending transversely of and secured to a pair of endless driving chains 58 arranged above the path of the buckets, the abutments 70 being caused to move in a sagging path so as to move gradually into and out of engagement with the buckets. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 4, the buckets 14 are adapted to carry loose material and consist of pans 15 having end walls 16 which are provided on their outer faces with ribs 17 for engagement by dumping apparatus (see below). A sleeve 18 extends between the end walls 16 for reception of axles 20 extending between a pair of endless chains composed of outer and inner links 22, 23. The axles 20 are extended beyond the conveyer chains and carry rollers 24 engaging U-shaped tracks 26. The abutments 70 engage the sleeves 18 to drive the conveyer. Two series of rollers 129 are positioned to engage the lower runs of the two driving chains 58 and hold the latter in their sagging paths where they engage the buckets. Two further series of rollers 104 freely rotatable on axles 102 engage the upper runs of chains 58 and maintain the latter in straight paths. The chains 58 are carried by sprockets 54, 56, the former being driven by a motor 92 via a gear-box 80, and the latter being adjustably mounted for tensioning the chains 58. In a second embodiment, Fig. 5, the buckets 170 are driven on an inclined portion of their path and the driving chains 58 are similarly inclined but are otherwise supported and guided exactly as in the first embodiment. In order to prevent the buckets from fouling the chains 58 they are provided with flanges 198 which engage a series of rollers 208 so as to forcibly tilt the buckets into line with their direction of movement. The buckets are divided into two compartments by partitions 186 so that each can carry two metal pegs. These are discharged by dumping apparatus consisting of two pairs of pegs 172, 174, the pegs forming each pair being carried on opposite sides of the conveyer guide framework. The first pair of pegs 172 engages ribs 176 formed on the ends of the buckets to partially tip the buckets, while the second pair of pegs engages the flanges 198 to complete the tipping of the buckets. As in the previous embodiment, sleeves 190 extend between the ends of the buckets and receive the swing axles 184 which are carried by endless chains composed of outer and inner links 180, 182. The axles are extended beyond the conveyer chains to carry rollers 210 engaging U- shaped tracks 143. At the upper reversal point of the elevator the upper and lower runs of these tracks are joined by arcuate track sections 144, while at the lower reversal point tensioning sprockets are provided (Fig. 7, not shown).