US3052341A - Articulated belt conveyor and propelling car therefor - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1962 R. T. SHEEHAN 3,052,341

ARTICULATED BELT coNvEYoR AND PROPELLING CAR THEREFOR Filed June 1s, 1959 Sept. 4, 1962 R. T. sHl-:EHAN

ARTICULATED BELT CONVEYOR AND PROPELLING CAR THEREFOR Filed June 18. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. /of/Pr /famq //ff/m/v Sept. 4, 1962 R. T. sHEEHAN 3,052,341

ARTICULATED BELT coNvEYoR AND PROPELLING CAR THEREFOR Filed June 18, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Unite 313552341 Patented sept. 4,- 1962 3,052,341 ARTICULATED BELT CGNVEYGR AND PRPELIIING CAR THEREFUR Robert T. Sheehan, 31530 Myrna Road, Livonia, Mich. Filed .lune 18, 1959, Ser. No. $211,228 2 Claims. (Cl. 19g-M9) This invention relates to conveyors and, in particular, to articulated belt conveyors.

One object of this invention is to provide an articulated laterally-yieldable belt conveyor wherein the conveying belt is composed of loosely-interlocked elongated multiplelooped links loosely and pivotally connected to one another for relative shifting out of parallelism with one another while remaining in a substantially common plane in turning a lateral bend, certain of the conveyor belt links having annularly-grooved hold-down guide rollers secured to their inner sides and engaging corresponding ribs on guide tracks in the conveyor car units, thereby providing a hold-down action which prevents the conveyor belt from jumping out of its normal conveying position,

Another object is to provide a propelling car for an articulated laterally-yieldable belt conveyor which is capable of providing smooth and uninterrupted propulsion of the conveyor car train over uneven ground or flooring.

Another object is to provide a propelling car for an articulated laterally-yieldable belt conveyor, as set forth in the object immediately preceding, wherein means is provided for raising and lowering the car-propelling ground wheels so as to enable the propelling car to be quickly and easily shifted by manual pushing into any desired position prior to applying po-wer to the propelling wheels to propel the conveyor car train.

Another object is to provide a propelling car as set forth in the last-recited object wherein the raising and lowering means for the propulsion wheels also serves in the lowered position of the propulsion wheels to limit the permissible rise and fall of the propulsion wheels so as to eifectively prevent jack-kning of the conveyor during operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE v1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the propelling `car of an articulated laterally-yieldable belt conveyor, together with the immediately adjacent portion of the next preceding car, with the propulsion wheels engaging the ground, taken along the line 1-1 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the lower portion of the propelling car of FIGURE 1, with the propulsion wheels and propulsion mechanism swung upward to raise the propulsion wheels off the ground;

FIGURE 3 is a right-hand or forward end elevation, partly in section, of the propelling car shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the coupling arrangement and adjacent guide track and guide roller portions of adjacent cars, looking in the direction of the arrows 5 5 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through one of the propulsion wheel raising devices taken along the line o in FIGURE 1;

FlGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the endless laterally-yieldable wire mesh conveyor belt used in the conveyor of FIGURES 1 to 6 inclusive; and

FIGURE `8 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 8--8 in FIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGURE l shows the rearward portion of an articulated laterally-yieldable tlexible belt conveyor, generally designated 10, according to one form of the invention, using an endless laterallyyieldafble wire mesh conveyor belt, generally designated 12, particular emphasis being placed upon the propelling car, generally designated 14, and the conveyor belt guiding mechanism, generally designated 16. The conveyor 1t? as a whole is of the type described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 495,650 filed March 21, 5 for Articulated Belt Conveyor, now United States Patent No. 2,859,861 issued November 11, 1958. Since a disclosure of the major features of a conveyor 10 of this type is found in the above patent, it is suticient herein to state that the conveyor 10 consists of a train of wheeled conveyor cars with a propelling car 14 at the rear, a

conveyed material discharge car (not shown) at the front,

and intermediate cars 1S pivotally coupled between the propelling car 14 and the discharge car. The discharge car (not shown) carries an electric motor and reduction gearing for driving the conveyor or belt 12, and may also be provided with a stacking conveyor, such as that described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 625,799 rtiled December 3, 1956 for Self-Propelling Articulated Stacking Conveyor, now United States Patent No. 2,990,938 issued July 4, 1961.

The endless laterally-yieldable wire mesh conveyor belt 12 consists (FIGURE 7) of laterally-elongated multiplelooped links 20 pivotally interconnected by elongated undulatory pivot rods 22. The links 20 are formed of heavy wire woven into the approximate shape of a attened helical spring with multiple loops or convolutions 24 arranged in a zigzag path around elongated central openings 26, which are -race-track-shaped in cross-section. The convolutions or loops 24 have upper and lower portions 28 and 3l)` arranged in substantially parallel planes, with arcuate or rounded junctionportions 332 interconnecting them.

The pivot rods 22 are of undulating shape (FIGURE 7) so as to provide, in effect, indentations or notches 34 disposed alternately in opposite directions (FIGURE 7) for receiving the rounded end portions or junction portions 32 of the links 20. The pivot rods 22 are secured as by Welding at 36 to the outermost convolution 24 of each link 20 so as to rigidly connect one pivot rod 22 to each link 2G. In this manner, the adjacent pivot rods 22 can move out of parallelism with one another within the openings 26 of the adjacent links 20 because of the fact that the adjacent curved portions of the adjoining link 29 loosely and movably engage the pivot rod 22 of the next link 20. As a result, in rounding a turn in the conveyor Ill when the cars 14 and 1S are arranged at an angle to one another, the ends of the pivot rods 22 adjacent the inside of the turn may closely approach one another on the side of the belt 12 adjacent the inside of the turn while remaining widely separated from one another on the opposite side of the belt at the outer side of the turn, thereby enabling the belt 12 to execute a turn in its own plane, without humping up or otherwise departing from a substantially flat-topped condition.

The zigzag arrangement of the upper and lower portions 28 and 30 of successive convolutions 24 of each link 20 provides tniangular spaces '38 (FIGURE 7) into which drive pins 40 (FIGURE 1) on laterally-spaced driven drums or spike pulleys 42 can enter in order to engage the conveyor belt 12. Similar laterally-spaced driving drums are provided on the forward end of the discharge car (not shown), and dniven by the electric motor and reduction gearing thereon. The drums 42 (FIGURE l) are mounted in axially-spaced relationship near the opposite ends of a shaft 44 journaled in bearings 46 secured to brackets 48 which in turn are bolted or otherwise secured to the side plates 50 of the upper frame 52 mounted on the lower frame 54 of the propelling unit 14. The upper and lower frames 52 and 54 collectively form a conveyor-supporting frame 55. The side plates 50 of the upper frame 52 (FIGURE 3) have right-angle base portions 56 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the lower frame 54. The side plates 50i at their opposite ends are provided with upright angle members 58 and are also interconnected between their upper and lower edges by tubular brace members 60 welded or otherwise secured thereto and having spaced guide plates 62 welded or otherwise secured to their .intermediate portions (FIG- URE 3). The guide plates 62 near their upper edges are provided with elongated guide ribs 64 (FIGURES l and Secured as by -Welding between the guide plates 62 at the forward end of the propelling car 14 are parallel coupling plates 66 spaced vertically apart from one another for receiving a coupling pin 68 which also passes through a similar but single coupling plate 70 disposed in the space beneath the upper and lower coupling plates 66, the coupling plates 66 and 70` being tapered to approximately triangular outline at their meeting ends and drilled in alignment to receive the coupling pin 68. The coupling plate 70 is similarly welded or otherwise secured between the guide plates 62 carried by the tubular cross members 60 of the upper frame 72 of the intermediate cars 18 which likewise have side plates 50 Welded to the outer ends of the cross members 60. In this manner (FIGURES 1 and 5), the propelling car 12 is pivotally coupled to its adjacent intermediate car 18 and the intermediate cars 18 coupled to one another and to the forward or discharge car (not shown).

.'I'he lower frame 54 of the propelling car 14 consists of an open crate-like arrangement of angle members (FIGURES 2 and 3), namely lower `angle members 74 interconnected at their opposite ends by angle cross members 76 welded thereto, the open lower frame portion thus formed carrying angle uprights 78 at its opposite ends which at their upper ends are interconnected by upper longitudinal `and cross Iangle members 80 and 82 respectively, the upper longitudinal members 80 being also connected by intermediate angle cross members 84 which support the side plates 50 of the upper frame 5-2.

Secured to and projecting outwardly from the lower frame members 74 and 76 (FIGURES l, 2 and 3) are caster brackets 8-6 which are notched out at 87 and welded or otherwise .secured thereto. The caster brackets 86 carry caster bearings 88 for rotatably supporting the vertical pivot pins 90 of the wheel yokes 92 of swivel casters 94 having axles 96 rotatably supporting caster Wheels 98. Mounted in and on the corner portions of the lower frame members 74 `and 78 Iat the rearward end of the propelling car 14 are supporting blocks 100 (FIG- URE l) which .in turn support a cross plate 102 welded or otherwise secured thereto. Bolted to the cross plate 102 at its opposite ends are bearing blocks 104 which tin turn tiltably support trunnion pins 106 on trunnion blocks 108. The trunnion blocks 108 (FIGURE 4) are Welded or otherwise secured to the longitudinal side angle members 110 of a tilting auxiliary frame, generally designated 112, open at its front end, the rearward end of which is closed by an angle cross member 114 extending thereacross. Intermediate angle cross members 116 additionally interconnect the side members 110, which at their forward ends have outwardly-extending angle brackets 118.

The angle brackets 118i (FIGURE 6) are provided with enlarged holes 126 receiving the reduced diameter threaded lower portions 122 of plungers 124 forming the movable parts of raising and lowering devices, 'gene erally designated 126. Each plunger 124 is of elongated cylindrical shape so as to be reciprocable vertically in the bore 128 of a cup-s`liaped cylinder or tubular member 130, the reduced diameter threaded end 132 of which extends through an enlarged hole 134 in the base portion 56 of one of the side plates 50 and is secured thereto by a threaded nut 136. The threaded end 132 is provided with a central bore 138 which loosely and slidably receives La rod 140. The lower end of the rod 140 is threaded as at 142 (FIGURE 6) to be received in the correspondingly-threaded central socket 144 of each plunger 124 `and at its upper end is threaded as` at 146 to receive an internally-threaded hand Wheel 148 adapted to bear against a washer 150 resting upon the reduced diameter portion 132. As a consequence, rotation of the hand wheel 148 in one direction raises the plunger 124 and in the opposite direction lowers it and the tilting frame 1.12 connected thereto.

Welded or otherwise secured to the top edges of the longitudinal and cross angle members 110 and 114 is a platform plate 152 (FIGURES l and 4), the forward edge 154 of which terminates short of the angle brackets 118 so as to provide an open space 156 between the longitudinal tilting framemembers 110 extending rearwardly approximately one-third of the length of the tilting frame 112. The latter is also further strengthened at approxi mately its midportion by a cross plate 158 and oppositely-facing angle cross members 160 (FIGURE l), so as to increase the rigidity of the tilting frame 112 adjacent its open forward end. Rising from Vthe forward ends of the longitudinal side members 110* are vertical angle members 162, the tops of which (FIGURE 3) are interconnected by an angle cross member 164. Extending rearwardly from the tops of the vertical `angle members 162 are horizontal longitudinal upper angle members 166 (FIGURE 1) secured to the upper ends of upstanding in termediate vertical angle members 1.68, the lower ends of which are secured to the longitudinal side angle memd bers 110 embraced by oblique angle braces 170 extending between the upper ends of the intermediate vertical members 168 and the approximate rearward ends of the longitudinal angle members 110. The foregoing angle members which collectively form the sides of the tilting frame 112 are preferably secured to one another by welding so as to form a substantially integral frame.

Mounted upon and bolted to the rearward portion of the platform plate `152 (FIGURES 1 and 4) is an electric motor 172, the armature shaft 174 of which drives through a jaw coupling 176 the input shaft 178 of a reduction gear box 180, the output shaft 182 of which has a drive sprocket 184 keyed thereto. The reduction gear box is bolted or otherwise secured to the platform plate 152 and its drive sprocket 184 meshes with a sprocket chain 186 which also meshes with a driven sprocket 188 (FIGURES 1 and 2). IThe latter is keyed or otherwise drivingly connected to an axle 190 which is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks or journal bearings 192 depending from and bolted to the undersides of the forward ends of the longitudinal members 110. The axle 19t) crosses the Ispace 156 between the forward ends of the longitudinal frame members 110 and carries multiple rubber-tired traction wheels or driving wheels 194 keyed or otherwise drivingly secured side by side to the axle 190. The forward or material-discharge car (not shown) of the conveyor contains control switches for the conveyor belt-driving motor thereon and also for the conveyor propelling motor 172 on the rearward propelling car 14, so that the operator can control all operations from the forward end of the conveyor 10, as explained above in connection with the previouslyunentioned Sheehan Patent No. 2,859,861.

The conveyor belt guiding mechanism 16 within each of the cars of the conveyor 10, in addition to the laterallyspaced guide plates 62 with their guide ribs 64, includes vertically-disposed belt hold-down guiding units, generally designated 196 (FIGURE 3) disposed at intervals along the inner side of the conveyor belt 12 in the central path thereof so as to pass through the space between the spike pulleys or drums 42. Each of the belt holdadown guiding units 196 consists of parallel upper and lower bars 198 and 200 drilled to receive a pair of parallel vertical roller axles 202 upon which laterally-spaced guide rollers 204 are rotatably mounted, preferably on anti-friction bearings (not shown). The opposite ends of the axle 202 are secured in any suitable manner to their respective bars 198 and 200, the bars '198 constituting attachment members -welded to the inner link portions 30 of certain of the chain belt linlcs at intervals around the entire extent of the conveyor belt 12 at separations suicient to provide adequate guidance for the belt 12, the bars or attachment members 198 being disposed transversely of the belt 12 in spaced parallel relationship with one another. lEach of the rollers 204 is provided with an annular groove 206 which loosely yet guidedly engages the guide ribs 64 near the upper edges of the guide plates 62 (FIGURE 3) so as to prevent vertical jumping of the upper course of the wire mesh belt 12 during operation.

The upper course of the wire mesh conveyor belt 12 (FIGURE 3) is supported by elongated upper rollers 208, the outer ends 210 of which (FIGURE 1) are rotatably supported in the side plates 50 and the inner ends in the guide plates 62 (FIGURE 3). The lower course of the conveyor belt 12, on the other hand, is supported by single elongated lower rollers 212, the opposite ends 214 of which are rotatably supported in the side plates 50. As is evident from FIGURE 3, the guide plates 62 extend only partway through the vertical space between the side plates 50, leaving beneath their lower edges 216 a space across which the lower elongated guide rollers 212 extend. A similar conveyor belt supporting and hold-down guiding arrangement is provided on the intermediate cars 18 and also on the forward or discharge car (not shown).

In the propelling car 14, as actually constructed, heavy weights in the form of rectangular metal slabs of cast iron or other suitable material, tare secured to the auxiliary frame 112 in the rectangular space between the upper and lower angle members 166 and 110 and the vertical angle members 162 and 168 in spaced vertical parallel planes. These weights (not shown) are for the purpose of imparting greater traction to the traction wheels 194 and have been omitted in order to avoid concealing the drive chain -186 and other portions of the mechanism lying between the spaces where these weights are attached.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the propelling car 14 has been coupled to a train of intermediate cars 18 and these coupled to a materialdischarging car (not shown) as described above and more fully disclosed in the above-mentioned Sheehan Patent No. 2,859,861. If it is desired to push the conveyor manually for a certain distance, as in transporting it from place to place, the operator rotates the hand wheels 148 to raise the plungers 124 and with them the forward end of the tilting frame 112, causing the traction wheels 194 to move upward from their ground-engaging positions of FIGURE 1 to their retracted positions of FIGURE 2. The propelling car 14 can then be pushed freely around by the operator or loaded upon a truck, trailer or other means of transportation, without involving the propelling mechanism thereof. Y'

When the operator desires to move the conveyor by selfpropulsion, he rotates the hand wheels 148 in reverse directions to lower the plungers `124 and with them the traction wheels 194 so that these engage the ground or `floor, as shown in `FIGURE `1. The operator then starts the propulsion motor 172, so as to cause the ground wheels to be driven in a forward direction, while he steers the conveyor by swinging the forward car to one side or the other. As the propelling car 14 travels over an uneven floor or ground, the tilting frame 112 rises and falls while maintaining the traction -wheels constantly in driving engagement with the oor or ground as the propelling car 14 propels the remaining cars of the conveyor 10 in a forward direction. By reversing the motor 172, the conveyor can also be backed. When the conveyor 10 has been propelled to its desired position, the operator stops the motor 172, consequently halting the conveyor 10.

The operator then starts the conveyor belt driving motor on the forward or material-discharge car (not shown), causing the conveyor belt 12 to travel in an orbital path over the rollers 208 and 212 (FIGURE 3) while being guided by the parallel vertical rollers 204 of the belt hold-down guiding units 196, the grooves 206 of which engage the guide ribs 64 to prevent jumping of the conveyor belt while the rollers 204 themselves engage the vertical guide plates 82 to prevent undesired lateral motion. The loose link construction of the conveyor belt 12, as described above, enables the conveyor 10 to be arranged in an arcuate or sinuous path, according to the loading or unloading conditions for which the conveyor 10 is being used. For loading freight cars, for example, the forward car of the conveyor 10 is moved into the freight car through one of the side doors thereof to a location adjacent one of the ends of the freight car.

When one row of articles, such as sacks of grain, has been conveyed by the conveyor belt 12 from the end thereof adjacent the spike pulleys 42, which is the loading end of the conveyor 10, and stacked adjacent the inner wall of the freight car end, the operator actuates the propelling motor 172 in reverse to cause the traction wheels 194 to rotate reversely, backing the conveyor 10 away from the stacked articles to a location where it will be conveniently used to stack the second row of articles, and so on until the one end portion of the freight car is completely filled. The operator then operates the propelling motor 172 in a forward direction to propel the conveyor 10 to the opposite end of the freight car, repeating the stacking procedure and backing off the conveyor 10 each time a stack of articles has been completed. When the freight car has been completely lled, the operator backs the conveyor 10 out of the freight car, completing the loading operation. The swivel casters 94 enable the cars to be moved sidewise or endwise freely when the traction Wheels 194 have been retracted upward, as shown in FIGURE 2.

What I claim is:

1. A conveyor supporting car adapted to support and guide the endless conveyor belt of a portable belt conveyor apparatus, said car comprising a conveyor-supporting frame having ground-engaging supporting wheels rotatably mounted thereon, a shaft mounted transversely of said frame in the upper portion thereof, a pair of conveyor belt supporting wheels mounted on said shaft in axially-spaced relationship, a pair of laterally-spaced elongated substantially straight guide members mounted on said frame in laterally-spaced relationship and having elongated substantially straight horizontal guide roller-retaining ribs thereon facing one another in laterally-spaced relationship, and a plurality of conveyor belt hold-down guiding units disposed between said guide members and ribs in retained engagement with said ribs, said units being adapted to be secured to the inner side of the conveyor belt at intervals therealong in spaced parallel relationship transversely of the belt; each belt hold-down guiding unit including a conveyor belt attachment member adapted to be secured to the conveyor belt, a pair of guide roller axles secured to each attachment member in laterallyspaced parallel relationship, and extending perpendicularly thereto into the space between said guide members and retaining ribs, and a pair of axially-spaced guide roller portions rotatably mounted on each axle in guided engagement with said guide members, each said pair of guide roller portions having an annular recess therebetween, one of said retaining ribs projecting into said recess in retaining engagement with said guide roller portions.

2. A conveyor supporting car for a laterally-yieldable belt conveyor, according to claim 1, wherein said guide members comprise vertical plates disposed in laterallyspaced parallel relationship with inner sides facing one another, wherein spacing brace members are disposed be- 8 tween and connected to said plates with their opposite end portions secured to said conveyor supporting frame, and wherein said roller-retaining ribs are secured to said inner sides and project inwardly toward one another into said recesses of said guide roller portions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 104,254 Bootsmann June 14, 1870 507,349 yBeerstecher Oct. 24, 1893 1,244,024 Brown Oct. 2,3, 1917 1,703,070 Barshell Feb. 19, 1929 2,357,549 Roberson Sept. 5, 1944 2,377,155 Jones May 29, 1945 2,787,366 Sykokis Apr. 2, 1957 2,818,965 Horth Ian. 7, 1958 2,859,861 Sheehan Nov. 11, 1958

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