US2757784A - Flight interconnecting and drive means - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1956 G. F. H. VON STROH ET AL 2,757,784

FLIGHT INTERCONNECTING AND DRIVE MEANS -'''.'1. 6/ llllllllllll E QE INVENTORS Garza/0 F/v. Von Sf/"0h o Howard J. Thomas BY 1 S %M ATTORNEY Aug. 7, 1956 G. F- H. VON STROH Ef AL 2,757,784

FLIGHT INTERCONNECTING AND DRIVE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1, 1955 INVENTORS Ma ra mm Um V07 HJ. Ed

Z Y ATTORNEY 2,757,784 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 FLIGHT INTERCONNECTIN G AND DRIVE MEANS Gerald F. H. van Stroh and Howard J. Thomas, Huntington, W. Va., assignors to Bituminous Coal Research, Inc., Washington, D. 'C., a corporation of Delaware Application April 1, 1955, Serial No. 498,533 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-175) This invention relates to flight conveyor systems and more particularly to a convenient means of interconnection of the separate flights to the drag link chain used for propelling them, and also to improved means to drive such flights in the usual manner.

In the past, it has been common to employ link chain as the drive means for a series of flights in conveyors of this type; however, the manner of interconnection of the flight is usually cumbersome in the sense that the flights are more or less permanently afiixed to the drag chains and can not be removed or replaced without the greatest of difliculty. Furthermore, systems of the prior art employ flights which are spaced a given distance apart and so interconnected to the side propelling chain that such distance can not be readily varied.

In our structure, the linkage to the drag link chain is such that a broken flight can be readily replaced, the separate flights can be easily spaced at different distances when desired and new flights readily interconnected with the propelling means with the greatest of convenience.

The use of link chain may not be as common as other drive means in certain industries, particularly the coal mining industry. One reason is because the cog wheels generally employed to drive such chain become easily clogged by the debris or fines of coal necessarily present when machinery of this type is used. In our invention, we use this simple method of interconnection of the separate flights in conjunction with a drive sprocket which is self-cleaning in the sense that by reason of its construction, lumps or fines of coal are precluded from jamming in between the teeth of the sprocket in such fashion as to derail, create an undue amount of wear upon, or otherwise interfere with the proper functioning of the sprocket. The sprocket of our invention is of such design as to also offer the utmost support to link chains, providing for a close fit thereof without undesirable slack in between the links, and providing also for a substantial bearing surface for each link as it engages the driving teeth of the sprocket.

It is thus a primary object of our invention to provide an easy, convenient and simplified means and method of interconnection of flights in conveyor systems to drag link chains.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a unique drag interconnecting link by means of which each side of each flight can be easily connected and disconnected to the drag chain, thus permitting removal and replacement of flights and changing of spacing of flights at the desire of the conveyor operator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drive sprocket for drag chains which is self-cleaning during operation, thus prohibiting jamming of the sprocket in such fashion as to derail or otherwise interfere with that means as a driving media for such chain.

An additional objective of our invention is the provision of a sprocket for drag link chains which offers a complete and substantial bearing surface for each link of the drag chain as it encounters the several teeth of the sprocket when the latter is driving the system.

Having the foregoing objectives and advantages in mind, reference will now be made to the drawings of our invention which disclose a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

Figure l is a side elevation view of one side of the drive and linkage interconnection system, broken at the center thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention taken on v the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section view of the invention taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side view of the chain link drive sprocket; and

Figure 5 is a section view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Having more particular reference to these various figures, it will be seen that the particular type of flight, drag chain interconnection and drag chain sprocket can be utilized in almost any type of flight supporting means, here generally taking the configuration of two side plates 1 and 2 having lower supporting flanges 3 and upper flanges 4.

Centrally and in between such side plates is affixed a bed or supporting means for the individual flights in their longitudinal travel during the conveying operation, such bed being indicated by the numeral 5.

The flights as herein shown are, in cross-section, of T-formation and are generally indicated at 10 (Figure 1). This T-formation takes the shape of a horizontal element 12 and an upright piece 15 positioned at right angles to such base 12. It will be appreciated that the upright 15, as depicted in Figures 1 and 3, is the actual conveying means for such substances as are being conveyed, particularly coal or ores of various types.

Each of the flights is connected to the drag chain, generally indicated at 50, in the following manner: each upright 15 of each flight at the respective ends thereof is apertured with two openings 20 and 25, all four of such openings being' in alignment with each other as respects the flight itself. As will be appreciated from an inspection of Figure 3, these openings are in horizontal alignment as there shown.

In between each pair of such openings 20 and 25 are two additional openings or apertures 30, one disposed above the other or in vertical alignment with respect to each flight. Hence, each flight has four such apertures 30, located in the manner just described, on each side thereof. These series of openings are adapted to receive and maintain in position the drag link connectors generally indicated at 35.

The structure of each drag link connector 35 is peculiar in the, following respects: the greater portion 36 of each drag link connector is U-shape in formation with the overall Width of the U 36 being approximately the same as the width of the links of the driving chain 50. The rod diameter of the U-shaped interconnecting link 35 is approximately the same as that of the rod out of which individual links of the drag chain are made. Thus, each drag link connector can be easily inserted into the chosen link in the chain 50. This is done in the manner illustrated most clearly in Figure 2 of the above referred to drawings.

This main body portion 36 of each drag link connector 35, or the U-shaped portion thereof, terminates in two right-angular projections 37, as also clearly represented in Figure 2. The projections 37 are thus adapted to fit into the openings 30 previously described as being on each side of each flight as shown in Figure 3. It will be understood that when the connector link 35 is inserted into a link ofthe driving chain 50 and the projections 37 positioned as described, the link is then conveniently held in place as follows: shims or gibs 38, suitably apertured, are welded or otherwise aflixed in any usual manner to the upright portions 15 of each flight in such way that the apertures thereof, which are of the same size as the inner apertures 25, may coincide with the latter. Such shims are of a thickness which approximates the thickness of the rod used to make each link and preferably slightly in excess thereof. After positioning each drag link connector 36 in the manner shown and described, a surmounting plate 40 is placed over each shim 41 and over the U-shaped portion 36 of each connector. It is then secured in place by a series of bolts 46, as will be well understood.

Obviously the plates 40 are provided with bores in two places in such manner that the bores coincide with the apertures 20 and 25, respectively, previously described as being on each side of each flight. When so positioned and following the insertion of the usual type of bolts 45, a tightening of the nuts 46 of the latter results in firmly aflixing the individual connectors 35 between the upright 15 and plates 40. With the connector prongs or rightangular extensions 37 located in the appropriate apertures 30 and the assembly thus clamped in place, it is readily appreciated that a connecting structure results which is great in strength and durability, yet easily subject to removal and replacement.

As stated, the drag chain and flight assembly are driven by means of sprockets of a design conducive to elimination of any foreign matter such as lumps or fines of coal between the individual teeth of such sprockets and the drag chain 50 which is driven thereby.

The preferred embodiment of our sprocket is represented in Figures 4 and 5 where it is seen that the type herein shown has six teeth. These are circumferentially mounted upon the periphery of the usual type of hub 60, the latter being provided with the usual keyway 62. Such teeth are designed to assert the driving force by pressure exerted upon those links of the chain which lay flat with respect to the periphery of the hub. Such links are here designated by the letter A as contrasted by links B which may be said to rest vertically with respect to the bed 5. In other words, viewing Figure 1, it is seen that the centrally located, pyramidal shaped teeth are interposed around each end of a given link, the latter, as mentioned, being those links which, after leaving the sprocket, are horizontally disposed with respect to the bed 5 of the conveyor assembly.

The teeth of the drag chain sprockets are generally individually indicated at 61. Each of these have flat exterior side portions 65 and 66 which are disposed perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the hub. Each tooth 61 is split down the middle with a groove 62 which extends from the top surface of each tooth to the hub itself as indicated in Figure 5. This groove 62 is slightly greater in width than the outside diameter of the particular size rod used in the links of the drag chain and, as shown, is made with parallel, or approximately parallel, sides. The tooth 61 is thus segmented with each segment being provided with smaller teeth, the teeth which actually contact and drive the drag chain. These are indicated in Figure 5 at 65a and 66a. They are formed by cutting out segments 72 on each side thereof so as to form a drive tooth of the configuration shown in Figure 4. These elements, 65a and 66a, are thus formed with a terminating ridge 70 on each side thereof. In viewing Figure 4, the edges or ridges 70 of each separate tooth are in line with the same representative edges of an adjacent tooth. The portions 70 thus form a working surface upon which the horizontal links (or links A tangential to the hub) of the chain rest. It will further be appreciated that grooves 62, reaching down to the periphery of the hub, permit the vertical links H of the chain to remain in the position shown while being driven by this type of chain sprocket.

An additional groove 75 (Figure 4) also extends down to the hub. This groove, as seen in the referred to figure,

4 is cut in between each of the segments 61 and, as there appears, is formed parallel to the axis of rotation of the sprocket.

The purpose of the latter groove is to provide a substantial clearance between the horizontally positioned links A of the chain 50 and the periphery of the hub 60. This affords a substantial space between links and hub, thus facilitating the discharge of any particles, agglomerates of particles or lumps of coal or ore which become imbedded in between the chain and the teeth of the individual sprockets. Since the chain is driven by the hearing of the surfaces of the teeth 65a and 66a against the horizontal links A of the chain, such links are open and unobstructed during the drive procedure. This is, of course, unlike the usual type of sprocket drive wherein the teeth of the individual sprockets are designed to fit into the several openings of each link of chain. In such case, discharge of foreign matter between chain and sprocket is difficult, if not impossible, with consequent inordinate wear of the chain drive assemblies.

With both grooves 62 and formed in the sprocket in the manner indicated, and naturally intersecting in the center of the hub at points in between each tooth, consequent and natural vibration during operation of such an assembly causes loose granular material to pass along groove 75 and, fall out upon either side of the sprocket.

It is, of course, apparent that the sprockets are designed for mounting on the usual drive shaft and, to this end, keys 81 interlock shaft and sprocket in an appropriate manner.

Experience with the assembly hercinbefore described has proven the adaptability of this form of flight conveyor and chain drive therefor to heavy types of machinery. This is particularly true of mining machinery which is so clearly subject to contact with excessive amounts of loose earth, rock, lumps of coal or coal fines. In this particular field of industry, it is essential that such machinery, ofter difficult to lubricate in known ways, must be so designed that jamming does not take place under ordinary usage. As a practical matter, we have found that the use of the flight system here disclosed is not only convenient and economical but also saves many man hours by reason, of the simplicity with which the flights can be removed, replaced and interchanged.

Similarly, we have found that if such a drive and interconnecting System is used with flights of the described type, the. conjoint use of sprockets conforming to this invention produces an overall mechanism that is trouble free in all practical application and not subject to inordinate wear.

Although designs of flight interconnection and drive sprockets of related nature are known to the art, experience; has indicated that the combination herein described and, claimed, by reason of its relative simplicity and. ease of handling, is. far superior to those known to the art.

I claim:

1. In a flight drive and interconnecting assembly for flight conveyors, a. series. of flights, drag link chain of predetermined rod diameter on each side of said flights, means to drive said chain, and means to interconnect said flights to said, chain, said means including a drag chain interconnecting link having two opposed parallel arms spaced apart a distance approximating the width of the links of said chain, said. arms terminating in two respective projections right-angular to each of said arms, said flights having apertures on each side to receive said projections. and shim and bolt means in association with said interconnecting kin-k and said flights to maintain said projections in the apertures of said flights.

2. In a flight drive and interconnecting assembly for flight conveyors, a. series of flights, drag link chain of predetermined rod diameter on each side of said flights, means to drive said chain, and means to interconnect said flights to said chain, said means including a drag chain interconnecting link having two opposed parallel arms spaced apart a distance approximating the width of the links of said chain, said arms terminating in two projecto secure said shim, plate and projections in fixed retions right-angular to said arms, said flights having aperlationship.

tures on each side to receive said projections, additional bores on each side of said flights positioned inboard and References Cited in the file of this Patent outboard of said respective apertures, means to main- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS tain said interconnecting link in place comprising a shim 774,182 Johnston 8 1904 adjacent and inboard of said apertures, a removable plate on said shim having openings to coincide with said FOREIGN PATENTS bores, bolt means securing said projections in said aper- 19,753 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1899 tures and said arms between said plate and each side of 10 35,293 Sweden Aug. 6, 1913 said flights, and additional bolt means in said openings 454,781 Great Britain Oct. 7, 1936

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