US1505907A - Conveyer - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1924.

L' E. .1. MCCLAUGHERTY CONVEYER Filed Abrila 18 1923 2 Sheets-Shen l @Warnung Aug.' 19, 1924.

E. J. MCCLAUGHERTY CONVEYER Filed Avril 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet lill Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES conversa.

Application filed April 18, 1923. Serial No. 632,973.

To alll whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. MQCLAUGH- ERTY, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at Princeton, in the county of Mercer and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers; and 1 do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in conveyers, having for an object to provide a novel form of conveyer andcleaner therefor especially adaptable for use in poultry houses and the like as 'fa-dropping board, the device being of such construction as to provide a substantially solid and plane surfaced platform, which platform is of sectional arrangement, whereby when the conveyer is moved for cleaning, the same will be permitted to move about the bearing means supporting it.

It is also an object of the invention to provide the device with cleaners or` brushes so constructed and mounted as to allow the same to automatically adjust themselves to the surface of the platform or dropping board moving thereby and in consequence, effectually lfree it 0f any matter adhering thereto.

@ther objects will be in part obvious and in part' pointed 'out hereinafter,

In order that the invention and its inode of operation may be readily understood by persons skilled in the art, I have in the accompanying illustrative drawings, and in the detailed following description based thereon, set out one possible embodiment of the same.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the device;

Figure Lis an end elevation thereof; and, Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in section showing` the mounting of the cleaning. or brush element upon one of the pivotal arms.

` Hav-ing more particular reference to the drawings, in connection with which like characters of reference will designate correspQllding parts throughout, the improved device may be stated to comprise a substantially rectangular frame indicated in its entirety by the numeral 1, having portions of the end walls thereof cut away and provided with horizontally aligned oppositely disposed bearing brackets 2 which serve to rotatably support thereupon shafts 3 having spaced sprocket wheels i iiXedly mounted thereon; one of these shafts 3 being extended and having a crank handle or other similar device 5 secured thereto, as shown in the Figure 4.

Engaged with and adapted to pass about thesev sprocket wheels t are endless sprocket chains 6, the same, obviously, being disposed longitudinally of the rectangular frame 1 and extending through the opening formed in the opposite vend walls thereof. A platform or dropping board is secured to certain of the sides of 'the endless sprocket chains 6 and may be stated to comprise transversely disposed slats or bars generally indicated by the numeral 7, said bars' being of substantially AZ-shaped formation or shape as shown in the Figure 3 and having their upper portions protected or tappetwith sheathings of sheet metal indicated by the vnumeral 8. Because of the Z-shaped formation of these bars or slats, it will be understood that they rwill have an interlocking engagement when arranged in juxtaposed position, as is shown'in the Figure' 3, and in consequence, when the platform is in a sub-` stantially horizontal position with respect to the rectangular frame 1 the tapped upper portions of said bars will provide a substantially solid plane surfaced platform or dropping board, devoid of crevices or similar.

spaces between which mattermay pass.

However, with movement of the endless sprocket chains 6 about their respective sprocket wheels 4, it will be likewise understood that'because ofthe sectional construction of the platform, the bars 7 will be permitted to freely pass in their semi-orbital path of movement about the sprocket wheels 4l, assuming those positions as shown in the Figures 1, 2 and 3. When the platform or a portion thereof is arranged upon the under sides of the sprocket chains 6, they again present a substantiallv solidplane surface andl in consequence, with engagement of the cleaning means,'hereinafter more fully described, will be thoroughly cleaned or freed of such matter as may be adhering thereto at such time.

Longitudinally disposed guide bars 9 and 10 are provided the device, the bars 9 being secured adjacent to the upper marginal portions of the opposite sides of said frame, while the bars 10 are secured to the opposite sides of the frame directly below the endless sprocket chains 6. The opposite ends of these bars 9 and 10 are bevelled, as indicated at 11, and are so spaced with relation to the endless sprocket chains as to afford effectual guide Imeans for the sectional platform or dropping board, causing it, when passing thereby, to have the various sections or bars thereof arranged in proper juxtaposed relation whereby to provide the solid plane surface hereinbefore referred to. Also, idler rollers 12 arev mounted in suitable bearings in the opposite side walls ofthe rectangular frame 1 directly below the upper sides of the endless sprocket chains 6, and as will be understood, will serve to provide effectual supporting means therefor, whereby with movement of the sectional platform or dropping board 7 under the longitudinal guides 8, the same will be retained in the desired horizontal position and likewise, the stability of the same accordingly increased. I I

Pivotally mounted in the lower portions of the opposite ends of the rectangular frame 1.are arms 13 and 14 interconnected at their upper ends by means of a longitudinally disposed connecting bar 15. These arms 13 and 14 are of lengths approximately corresponding to the width of the sectional platform or dropping board and receive upon the upper portions of their outer sides bars 16 having transversely disposed slots 17 formed therein and adapted to receive locking screws 18 therethrough, suchlocking screws being engaged in adjacent portions ofthe arms `13 and 14 and in consequence,

' serving to lock the bars 16 in adjusted relation with respect to their particular arms. Thus, vertical'adjustment of the bars 16 may be effected, so that the same may be moved towards or away from the endless sprocket chains 6. Brushes or cleaning elements 19 are carried in the upper marginal portions of the several bars 16 and are adapted to be engaged with the metal sheathed outer surfaces of the various transverse bars constituting the platform or dropping boa-rd of the device in order that any matter adhering thereto may be removed from the same during movement of the platform thereby.

To permit of swinging movement of the pivotally mounted arms 14 in either direction, arcuate slots 20` are formed in the opposite end portions of the several sides of the frame 1 and freceive therethrough, fingers or pins 21, the outer ends of certain of which are connected through the con- Ilecting bar 15, while the outer ends of the be permitted to have pivotal movement.-

However, inv order that the arms 13 and 14 with their cleaning elements -may r-be normally maintained -in substantially upright positions, as shown in the Figure 3,1 connect a contractile coiled spring 23 at one end to a portion ofthe connectingbarfl as indicated at 24,while the opposite end thereof is yconnected to a portion -ofthe adjacent side wall of the frame 1:'as at 25. Also, a pivoted catoh26 ismounted upon the said side of the frame 1 and is adapted to have the lower end thereof engaged in a notch vor seatformed in one portion of thev connectingbar 15 1n the manner indicated" in the Figure 1; avcontraotile. coiledsprlngl 27 being connected at one end to the remain'- ing or free portionof the catch 26` and at its oppositeA end,as at 28, to an adjacent portion of the corresponding side walll of the frame 1. Hence, the opposite end of said catch" 26 will be normally retained in` a position whereat it will engage in or be prepared to engage in the seat or notch formed in the connecting bar 15. With kengagement of the catch 26 in the seat or notch in the connecting bar 15, the arms 13 and 14 will be retained" in theirv vertical or' upright positions. However, with application of pressure to the cleaning devices, the catch 26 will be caused to disengage from-the'bar 15,

counteracting the tension of the contractile` coiled springl 27 and thereby preventingo-f pivotal movement of the arms 13 andv 14 in that direction corresponding to the pressure applied thereto. Because of theconnection of the contractile coiled spring 23 thereto, it will be understood that when the endless chains 6 are moved in the direction indicated by the arrows in the Figure k3,*ivthe cleaning elements 19 will be retained" in yieldable engagement with the outer surface of the sectional platformor -dropping board. If desired, a second coiled spring, corresponding tothe spring 23, vmay be en-y gaged with the opposite connecting bar 22, so that when the arms 13 and 14Kare moved in an opposite direction, tension may be likewise applied thereto for retaining thev cleaning elements 19 in yieldable engage' ment with the outer surface of the sectional platform ory dropping board. f

When the device is used as la dropping board for poultry,'I may and preferably dov provide supporting shoulders 29 in the opposite ends of the opposite portions of the frame 1 and engage thereon suitable roosts consisting of longitudinally disposed interconnected bars 30, the arrangement of the roosts, as will be noted upon reference to the Figures 2 and 3, being directly over the sectional dropping board.

In operation of the improved device, the dropping board or platform is arranged in its horizontal position directly below the roosts 30 and upon the upper sides of the sprocket chains 6. When it is desired to clean the surface of the boards, rotary motion is imparted to the sprocket chains 6 by way of the crank handle 5 mounted upon the extended end of one of the shafts 3 and said dropping board is then caused to pass over the sprocket wheels at one end of the frame l and downwardly thereabout, whereat the cleaning devices 19 will be engaged with the sheet metal sheathed outer portions of the bars 7 thereof, thus removing any matter adhering thereto and as hereinbefore stated, being permitted to have pivotal movement whereby said cleaning devices will be permitted to automatically ad just themselves with respect to the surface being cleaned and likewise, be retained in vieldable engagement therewith in order that the surface will be effectually cleaned. Also, if desired, a suitable receptacle, indicated in dotted lines by the numeral 31 may be arranged adjacent one end of the endless conveyer, directly beneath it, whereby to receive such matter as may be removed from the platform by the adjacent cleaning device. v

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, bea-rings rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said frame, endless carriers engaged about and movable over said bearings, a sectional platform secured to said carriers, arms pivotally mounted in the lower portions of the opposite ends of said frame, bars interconnecting said arms, spring means connected to said bars and to the adjacent sides of said frame, means engaging one of said bars for retaining the pivotal arms in normally upright positions, and cleaning means carried by said arms adapted to be engaged with the surface of said platform with movement of the same.

2. A device of the character described comprising a frame, bearings rotatably mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said frame, endless carriers engaged about and movable over said bearings, a sectional platform secured to said carriers, arms pivotally mounted in the lower portions of the opposite ends of said frame having their upper portions arranged in proximity to the under sides of said endless carriers, the opposite end portions of the sides of said frame having arcuate slots formed therein, lingers extending from the opposite upper end portions of said arms engaged in said slots, longitudinally disposed connecting bars arranged adjacent the outer portions of the opposite sides of said frame and connected to said lingers, spring means connected to said bars, meansvengageable with one of said bars for locking the same in position and normally retaining said pivotal arms in upright positions, and cleaning devices adjustably carried upon the upper portions of said arms adapted tobe engaged with the surface of said platform with movement of the same.

3. A device of the character described comprising a frame, shafts mounted in the opposite ends of said frame, sprocket wheels mounted in spaced relation upon said shafts, endless sprocket chains engaged with and adapted to be moved about said sprocket wheels, a sectional platform secured to said chains comprising transversely arranged bars substantially Zshaped in cross section adapted to have interfitting engagement when arranged in juxtaposed relation, metal sheathing covering the upper portions of said Z-shaped bars, arms pivotally mounted in the lower portions of the opposite ends of said frame, the opposite end portions of the sides of said frame having arcuate slots formed therein, lingers extending from the opposite end portions of said arms engaged in said slots, longitudinally disposed connecting bars engaging said lingers at their opposite ends, spring means connected tov said bars and to the adjacent sides of said frame, a pivotal catch mounted upon one side of the frame adapted to be engaged in a notch formed in the adjacent connecting bar, cleaning devices adjustably mounted upon the upper portions of said pivotal arm and adapted to be adjusted vertically with relation thereto, and a roost received in the open upper portion of said frame directly above the sectional platform.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD JOSEPH McCLAUGHERTY.

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