US2428757A - Attachment means for conveyer flights - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1947. A. c. LIND ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR coNvEYBR FLIGHTS Filed June 29 Patented Oct. 7, 1,947

ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR CONVEYER FLIGHTS Arthur C. Lind, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin.

Application June 29, 1944, serial No. 542,701

Claims. l

The invention relates to means for readily detachably securing baskets, buckets, flights and similar elements to conveyor chains, and for pur- ;poses of disclosure it has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing in connection with the mounting of the screen baskets of endless traveling water screen of the type disclosed in prior U. S. Patents No. 1,781,223 granted Nov. 11, 1930, and No. 1,856,381 granted May 3, 1932, on applications led by Francis P. Gary. The invention also constitutes a further development of the atprovision of a simple and effective construction for the attachment of water screen baskets and similar elements to the endless chains which carry them, which construction may not only be produced and assembled relatively inexpensively, but also strengthens the assembly and substantially eliminates undesirable play therein which would tend to hasten wear on the parts. At the same time, should such wear ultimately occur, or should the chains, baskets or attachment means become damaged whereby replacement of any of the elements be necessary, the baskets and/or the parts of the .attachment means may be readily removed and replaced in the eld without the use of any special tools or machines.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this speciiication, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of one unit of a traveling water screen of the type mentioned above, showing one end of the screen basket assembly of such unit secured to a link of one of the endless supporting chains by one form of attachment means constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on approximately the plane indicated by the line .2-2 of Fig.

1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a, `partial front elevational View of the unit, as seen from the right of Fig. 2;`

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken respectively on the planes indicated by the lines 4--4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking down;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the attachment blocks which are carried by each of the chain links.

Fig. '7 is a rear elevational view of a slightly modiiled form of attachment bracket;

Fig. 8 is a central vertical sectional view of the bracket shown in Fig. 7; and

2 Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a modified link-carried pin or block for use with the bracket shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

As in the several prior patents referred to above, the screen basket assembly comprises laterally spaced end plates I0 (of which only one is here shown) which are rigidly connected by the vertically spaced transverse members ll and l2 to form a hollow rectangle within which the screen I3 is secured by the clamping bars lli and bolts l5. To the outer face of each end plate i0' there is secured a projecting shelf I6, conveniently formed of stamped sheet metal and Welded as at il to the said -plate face. In the operation of the screen these shelves co-operate with iixed guides and prevent passage of trash, etc., around the ends of the screen baskets, as is more fully explained in the aforesaid Patents Nos. 1,781,223 and 1,856,381.

The spaced strands of chain to which the baskets are attached comprise relatively long-pitch links 20, each of which includes a pair of spaced side bars 2l inset at one end 22 where they are rigidly connected together by a press-tted bushing 23 upon which is journaled a chain roller 24. At their other end the side bars are provided with apertures 25 for registry with the bore of the bushing 23 of the next adjacent link whereby the links may be articulately connected by chain pins (not shown) passed through and suitably retained in the registering apertures and bushing bores.

As in the said prior patents, each screen unit is secured at' each of its ends to a link of the adjacent carrying-chain strand by connections between the shelves I6 and the said links 2U. In the form shown in Figs. 1-6 inclusive the present connections comprise a bracket 39, which may be of malleable iron or equivalent material, which is secured by rivets 3| against the rear face of the shelf I6 intermediate the ends of the latter. The rear face of this bracket is provided with a pair of vertically spaced projecting parallel flanges or lips 32 extending the full width of the bracket and providing between them an elongated rearwardly open partly-cylindrical or tapering socket 33 `which is adapted to snugly receive the body oi agenerally cylindrical block or bridging member 34, which however may be yprovided with a ilat surface 35 extending from end to end thereof. The end portions of the said block are also provided with short flats 35' disposed opposite to the said surface 35, and said end portions are press- 3 provided with a threaded hole 31 for reception of a securing bolt 38 whereby the parts may be detachably secured in the positions shown, with the body of `the block drawn into and firmly seated in the socket or recess 33 and the lips 32 in intimate engagement with the surfaceof the said body throughout substantially its entire'length.

Filler pads 45 of sheet metal are preferably in-y ,A Y

'maintaining them n operative engagement; the

havingan end member adjacent one of the chain links: a shelf member secured to and extending from said end member across said link; and

' means for readily detachably connecting the conterposed between the'rear face ofthe shelf I64 and the forward faces of the chain side bars 2t,-

intermediate the bracket 30 and the respective; ends of the shelf. The weld l l between the shelf 'necting means being unattached to said end memand the end plate I [i of the basket structure may.

extend throughout the length of the contact between the twomembers, but preferably such weld is omitted in the area between the filler-'padsV 40 veying element to the link, comprising intertting n members rigidly carriedfrespectively bythe link. and by a portion of said shelf membe'n'a'nd a bolt for drawing said intertting members into and yportion vof said shelf member adjacent said conberl f the conveying element whereby saidl shelf portion mayyield slightly as said bolt draws the Vinteritting members home.

2. In conveyer and like structure, a sprocket ychainhaving .a link comprising a pair of transso that the portion of the shelf between such pads.

' element disposed laterally adjacent said link and is freey to yield slightly as the bolt 38'is drawn home, thus placing this portion of the shelf under tension.

The block 34, being rigidly press-tted into the apertures 36 of the chain side bars 2| intermediate their ends, obviously strengthens'the chain construction by providing a. bridge or tie between such bars in addition to that normally provided by Ythe bushing 23. The said block also serves as a chain driving lug, being engageable by the teeth such-as d5 (Fig. 2) of the head and foot *Y sprockets of the screen. I The intimate engagement betweenvthe body o the block 34 Vand the elongated lips 32 takes vall shearing strains 01T the attachment bolt 38, and also prevents any twisting of the basket structure relative to the chain link about theV axis of such bolt. The basket units are readily demountable from the chains in case of necessity, by merely removing the Vone bolt 38 at each end of the unit, which may be accomplished by means of an ordinaryrsorcket wrench. So far as the attachment elements are concerned, no welding operations are employed so that such elements are easily removable and renewable if necessary.

in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the bracket 53 is provided with a frusto-conical socket 5I in lieu of the rectangular socket described above, and bridge or tie block 52 of the chain link is provided with a complementalfrusto-conical projection 53 extending outwardly from its flattened surface 54. As will be readily understood, the projection 53 will be received in the socket 5l and `Virmly seated therein when a bolt, such as 3B,-is passed through the aperture 55 and screwed into the threaded hole 56 of the'block. While still accomplishing the desired simple yet rm'attachment of the` screen baskets to the chain links, this modified construction will permit of lslight pivotal movement between the baskets and links'about the axes of the bolts 38, i. e., in a plane at substantially right v angles to that of link articulation, which relieves twisting strains upon the baskets vshould one strand of the carrying chains tend to run somewhat ahead of or behind the other strand, as Vthey sometimes do. c l Y. .I

While two forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obviousthat those skilled in the art may further vary thedetailsof constructionas well asV the precise arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention, and therefore it is notV wished to be limited tothe above disclosureexcept as may be required by the claims.Y r

What is claimed is: .Y

1. In conveyer orV like structure, `the combination of a chain, a material-conveying element versely .spaced side barsra material-conveying having a portion extendingjacross said side bars, Y

which portion isl provided with an Vopen Yfaced Y socket; a member bridgingthe'space betweenthe side bars and rigidly secured to the latter; and means for seating and readily detachably securing said bridging member in the socket.-

chain having a link comprising aA pair of transversely spaced side bars provided with alined apertures; a material-conveying element positioned laterally adjacent saidv link and having an gated socket having converging side Walls; Vasub- Y stantially cylindrical member bridging the space between the side bars and having its end portions rigidly securedto the latter; and'me'ans `for read- Y ily detachably retainingsaid bridging member in engagement with said side walls'of the socket.

5. In conveyer and likestructure, a 'sprocket chainhaving a link comprising a pair of transversely spaced side: bars; a materialconveying element'positioned laterally adjacent said vlink and having an vextension disposed .across the side.

bars, which extension is provided with a coniform socket; a member bridging the space between vthe side bars and rigidly secured to` the latter, said member having a coniformrprojection for reception in vsaid'socket; and means for readily detachably retaining said'projection seated in said socket for pivotal movement between the two. y

REFnnENoEscITED Y f rIfhe following Yreferences are of record infthe le of this patent: .A UNITED ySTATES PATENTS 'y f 3. In conveyer and like structure,` a sprocketk

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