US3168188A - Portable power driven conveyor - Google Patents

Description

S. J. VERBAN PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYOR Feb. 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1962 SW'EPHEM A ATTORNEYS S. J. VERBAN PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYOR Feb. 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1962 R mm NA m e V H E H p u S ATTORNEY5 Feb. 2, 1965 5. J. VERBAN 3,163,188

PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYOR Filed April 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR i-rapuzu lVEzBAu ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1965 5. J. VERBAN 3,168,188

PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYOR Filed April 25, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR 85 STEPHEN JVEQBAM f m @wm ATTORNEKS United States Patent Ofiiice 3,168,188 Patented Feb. 2, 1965 3,168,188 PURTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYDR Stephen J. Verban, 1326 N. Kickapoo St., Lincoln, ill. Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,6ii3 Claims. (Cl. 198-413) This invention relates to power driven conveyors and more particularly to a small, folding conveyor capable of being transported and used in areas of limited space, such as private homes, small apartment buildings and smallsized commercial buildings.

Civil defense needs have resulted in an expanded and highly urgent program for the b-uiding of fallout shelters in homes, small apartments and small commercial buildtings. A variety of types of shelters have been designed but the trend has been to a prefabricated shelter built in one corner of an existing basement. The preferred shelter is one which is built of hollow, prefabricated metal panels which are erected against one existing wall of a basernent. These panels are connected edge to edge to form the wall of an enclosure, this wall extending to within approximately ten inches of the basement ceiling or floor joists. These hollow panels are then filled with loose sand. A roof is constructed over the wall panels and usually a layer of sand is placed between the roof panels and the ceiling of the basement.

The wall panels require a large volume of sand and the handling of the sand and transfer thereof to the upper edge of the wall panels has created a susb-tanti-al logistical problem. Since the shelters are largely being built in existing construction, the easy access of heavy equipment is not possible as it is in the case of new construction. In many cases access to the basement may be had only by narrow doorways and Stairways and small basement windows, and any equipment used in the construction project must be capable of clearing the tight turns and narrow passageways leading to the basement.

Portable conveyors have been known in .the art for many years but none of the known conveyors are capable of the work load involved in the construction of basernent fallout shelters while at the same time being cornpaot and maneuverable enough that they can be transported through a building, down basement stairs and then be used in the narrow confines of the basement area.

It is an object of the invention to provide a conveyor of relatively large capacity which can be folded into a cornpact assembly capable of navigating tight turns in building passageways.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor of large capacity which is particularly adapted to the filling of vertically disposed hollow panels which extend in close proximity to a basement ceiling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conveyor which is provided with wheels and specially located handle means whereby the conveyor in folded condition may be transported by one man, and which is further provided with auxiliary handle means so that the folded conveyor may be lifted and carried with ease by two men when clearances do not permit the transport of the con veyor on its wheels.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor which may be folded and unfolded without complex adjustments and without disconnecting the conveyor belt or loss of tension adjustment.

A further object is to provide an adjustable support for the outer frame section of the conveyor when it is in unfolded, extended position and a means (for supporting the lower end of the conveyor to prevent undesirable translation of the conveyor when it is in use and also, if desired, to raise the lower end of the conveyor a nominal distance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor with an improved, floating belt cleaner which cleans the back of the belt, preventing clogging of pulleys, wheels and other moving parts with sand or other material.

With the above and other objects in view that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the conveyor of the present invention showing the conveyor in position for actual use and supported by its telescopic post support;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the conveyor in folded condition with its telescopic supporting post removed and prepared for ready transport;

'FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the conveyor in unfolded condition ready for actual use;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the conveyor taken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in longitudinal section, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and further showing in dotted line the manner in which the upper section folds down upon the lower section of the conveyor;

FIG. 5A is a fragmentary view of the upper end of the conveyor, completing the view of FIG. 5 which was shortened because of the limitation of space, and showing the detail of the tension adjusting means for the belt, this view being taken on the line 5A5A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, isometric showing of the frame and bolt details at the hinge joint of the conveyor;

FIG 8 is an isometric View showing the conveyor being transported by two men in a confined area;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the conveyor being handled by one man in normal transport;

FIG. 10 is an perspective view of the conveyor in actual use in construction of a fallout shelter; and

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an additional support which is used when desired.

In the drawings, the reference numerals 20 and 21 indicate lower and upper frame sections respectively of the folding conveyor. The lower section has a main trough 22 which extends the full length of the lower section. A second and shorter backing trough 23 is secured back-to-back with the main trough 22. The upper frame section has a corresponding main trough 22a and a corresponding back-to-back trough 23a. The cross-sectional shape of these troughs is best shown in FIG. 6. Each of the main troughs has a bottom wall 24, side walls 25 and outwardly angled flanges 26. Each of the backing troughs has a bottom wall 27 and side walls 28. Portions of the bottom walls 24 and 27 may be cut away to lighten the structure.

At spaced points the side walls 25 and 28 are joined by short angle iron cleats 29 which stiffen the frame receive a bolt 32. When the conveyor is in unfolded,

extended position these bolts 32 are drawn tight to fasten together the lower and upper frame sections. The bolts 32 are removed when the frame sections are to be folded.

The outwardly angled flanges 2b of the lower frame section 29 are provided with ears 33 which have longitudinally projecting portions 34 which extend beyond the end of the lower frame section. The outwardly angled flanges 26 on the upper frame section have at the extreme lower end of the section ears 35 which also have projecting portions 36 that extend beyond the end of the upper section. The ears 33 and 35 and their projections are laterally offset so that they overlap in close relation. Hinge bolts 37 extend through the projections 34 and 35 respectively on each side of the conveyor and when the conveyor is folded as shown in FIG. 5, the bolts 32 are withdrawn and the sections pivot about the bolts 37;

At the lower end of the lower frame section are side plates 38 and 39. These plates project downwardly to carry an axle 40. The axle40 carries ground wheels 41. The plates 38 and 39 carry bearing blocks 42. In these blocks are journaled the shaft 43 of'a conveyor drive roller 44.

The upper end of the upper frame section is provided on each side with side plates 45; These plates are slotted as at 46, and'have guide strips 47. Between these guide strips move the slide plates'ds. Bolted to the slide plates are bearing blocks 49. In theseblocks are journaled an upper conveyorroller shaft for a roller 51. Each side plate 40 is provided with lugs 52 which are drilled to receivethreaded shafts 53. These shafts are elongated and have their upper ends welded to the slide plates 48. Nuts 54 on opposite sides of the lugs provide a means for axial movement to an adjusted fixed position of the slide plates 48. This causes the roller shaft 50 and roller 51 to be adjustable and the tension of the belt may thereby beregulated.

Secured to the side cleats 29 at the hinge joint of the sections 20 and 21 are handles 55. When the conveyor is folded, these handles project beyond'the frame, so that the conveyor may be portable on its wheels in wheelbarrow-like manner.

An endless, flexible belt 56 is stretched between the drive roller 44 and the upper roller 51. This belt has cleats 57 fastened thereto at spaced intervals. At the lower end of the conveyor is formed a feed hopper, comprising a transverse wall 58 and side walls 59. To prevent sand from drifting down into the drive roller 44 a flexible apron 64) of resilient material extends transversely of the conveyor belt at thefoot of wall 58 of the hopper; This flexible apron flexes as the cleats 57 move by it but rebounds into engagement with the belt 56 to prevent sand drift.

At the lower end of the lower frame section is a large plate 6 1-that supports. the conveyor drive mechanism. The drive includes an electric motor 62 that carries a relatively small drive pulleyi63. The plate further carries pillow blocks 64 for an idler shaft 65. The idler shaft 65 carries at one end the large pulley and a smaller pulley 67, both keyed to the idler shaft. The end of thedrive shaft 43 has keyed thereto a relatively large drive pulley68. Belts 69 and '70 complete the reduction drive system, the ratio of the pulleys making a substantial reduction in speed of the drive shaft 43 as compared with the speed of the drive motor.

jects upwardly, forming both a handle and a storage reel or cleat for winding the motor cord 74 thereon.

For convenient control of the drive mechanism for the conveyor belt, the large plate 61 has an electric switch 75 mounted thereon.

In order to prevent material from stocking to the back of the belt 56, a cleat 76 is secured to the main trough 22 of the lower frame section. Secured to the cleat 76 and extending diagonally of the belt 56 is a bar 77 which carries the resilient clean ng strip 78. This bar is pivotally mounted on the cleat 76 so that there is a floating action of the bar, enabling the resilient cleaning strip to follow the undulations of the belt.

For supporting the conveyor during use, the upper frame section 21 is provided on opposite sides with the strips 79 which project below the frame. An upper post 80 is provided with ears 81 which are spaced and suitably drilled to cooperate with openings drilled in the lower ends of the strips 79. Suitable bolts fasten the ears 81 to the strips 79 so that the post 86 is pivotally attached. A lower post section 82 slides within the upper post 80 and is provided with spaced holes 83. A pin 84 permits suitable adjustment of the telescopic upper post and lower post section. The said lower post section carries the ground plate 85. I v

For certain situations there is also provided a removable additional support 86. This support has spaced side plates 83, these plates being so positioned that they fall just inside of V the ground wheels, adjacent the hubs. Notches 88 in the plates receive the axle 46. Cross braces 89 tie the side plates together. This support not only prevents the conveyor from rolling on its ground wheels during actual use, but enables the entire conveyor to be raised to a better working height.

Operation it is efficiently organized, is a very fast operation, the

conveyor is in transport from job to job' a good portion of the time. The folding of the conveyor, therefore, in the present invention provides a capability efficiently suited to the need. The bolts holding the post 80 are Removable top panel 71 and side panel 72 protect the drive mechanism against damage and dirt. Secured to the large plate 61 is a rectangular lower handle 73. This handle is fastened to the plate at its lower end and proremoved, and two frame bolts 32 are likewise removed. The upper frame. section 21 is then folded forwardly anddownwardly until the section rests on the lower frame section 20. The cord for the motor is wrapped around the handle 73. Without any further disassembly the device is in condition to be transported by one man as shown in FIG. 9. Very little strain is involved and the compact package may be easily maneuvered. The wheels 41 are made large enough that any stair tread may be passed over without engagement of the frame with the stairs.

If narrow tight turns arefound and the device may not be manipulated as shown in FIG. 9, then an additional man may grasp the handle 73, and the compact unit may be easily tilted, twisted and maneuvered topass the tighest clearances.

When the conveyor is on location in the basement area, the sections are unfolded and the post quickly attached and adjusted to the working height of the panels, as shown in FIG. 10, by means of the pin 84. The switch 75 is thrown on and the drive motor 62 through the speed reduction arrangement of the belts 69 and 7t) drives the roller 44 at a relatively slow speed. 'T he top reach of the belt 56 travels upwardly, and the cleats 57 traveling through the hopper pick up a shallow portion of material and transport it to the dumping position at the top of the conveyor. This shallow layer falls into the hollow panels without undesirable spillage and operates without difficulty in the close clearances between the top of the panels and the ceiling of the basement.

If desired, instead of wheel chocks, the support 86 may be slipped under the axle 40. This raises the height of the conveyor to some degree, which can be helpful in certain basement areas.

While there are herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable conveyor including an elongated, relatively shallow lower frame section, an upper frame section of similar depth in alignment therewith and pivotally connected to the upper end of said lower frame section for pivoting forwardly and downwardly upon said lower frame section to fold said conveyor, said upper frame section being shorter than said lower frame section, .a drive roller and an idler roller at opposite ends of said conveyor, a flexible, endless belt having its upper reach supported on said frame sections, said belt being stretched between said drive roller and said idler roller, means for driving said drive roller, wheel means at the lower end of said lower frame section, the axis of said wheel means being relatively close to said lower frame section, and handle means on the upper end of said lower frame section extending beyond said upper end of said lower frame section whereby when said conveyor is folded the handles will be exposed for transport of the conveyor.

2. A portable conveyor including an elongated, relatively shallow lower frame section, an upper frame section of similar depth in alignment therewith and pivotally connected to the upper end of said lower frame section for pivoting forwardly and downwardly upon said lower frame section to fold said conveyor, said upper frame section being shorter than said lower frame section, a drive roller and an idler roller at opposite ends of said conveyor, a flexible, endless belt having its upper reach supported on said frame sections, said belt being stretched between said drive roller and said idler roller, means for driving said drive roller, wheel means at the lower end of said lower frame section, the axis of said wheel means being relatively close to said lower frame section, handle means on the upper end of said lower frame section extending beyond said upper end of said lower frame section whereby when said conveyor is folded the handles will be exposed for transport of the conveyor, and a second additional handle means at the lower end of said lower frame section.

3. A portable conveyor including an elongated, relatively shallow lower frame section, an upper frame section of similar depth in alignment therewith and pivotally connected to the upper end of said lower frame section for pivoting fonvardiy and downwardly upon said lower frame section to fold said conveyor, said upper frame section being shorter than said lower frame section, a drive roller and an idler roller at opposite ends of said conveyor, a flexible, endless belt having its upper reach supported on said frame sections, said belt being stretched between said drive roller and said idler roller, an electric motor on the lower end of said lower frame section rotatably connected to said drive roller, wheel means at the lower end of said lower frame section, said wheel means having its axis relatively close to said lower frame section, handle means on the upper end of said lower frame section extending beyond said upper end of said lower frame section whereby when said conveyor is folded the handles will be exposed for transport of the conveyor, and a second additional handle means at the lower end of said lower frame section, said second handle means including spaced portions extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of said conveyor whereby said additional handle means also serves as a wrapping cleat for the electrical cord of said motor.

4. A portable conveyor including an elongated, relatively shallow lower frame section, an upper frame section of similar depth in alignment therewith and pivotally connected to the upper end of said lower frame section for pivoting forwardly and downwardly upon said lower frame section to fold said conveyor, said upper frame section being shorter than said lower frame section, the side walls of said upper and lower frame sections including upwardly extending material guide flanges, said pivotal connection including overlapping ears on said guide flanges at the abutting ends of said lower and upper frame sections, pivot bolts extending through each set of ears respectively, releasable means at the lower edge of said side walls at said abutting ends for fastening the conveyor in extended position, a drive roller and an idler roller at opposite ends of said conveyor, a flexible, endless belt having its upper reach supported on said frame sections between said guide flanges, said belt being stretched between said drive roller and said idler roller, means for driving said drive roller, wheel means at the lower end of said lower frame section, the axis of said wheel means being relatively close to the said lower frame section, and handle means on the upper end of said lower frame section extending beyond said upper end of said section whereby when said conveyor is folded the handles will be exposed for transport of the conveyor.

5. A portable conveyor as set forth in claim 4 which further includes a second and additional handle means at the lower end of said lower frame section.

6. A portable conveyor including an elongated, relatively shallow lower frame section, an upper frame section of similar depth in alignment therewith and pivotally connected to the upper end of said lower frame section for pivoting forwardly and downwardly upon said lower frame section to fold said conveyor, said upper frame section being shorter than said lower frame section, the said walls of said upper and lower frame sections including upwardly extending material guide flanges, said pivotal connection including overlapping ears on said guide flanges at the abutting ends of said lower and upper frame sections, pivot bolts extending through each set of cars respectively, releasable means at the lower edge of said side walls at said abutting ends for fastening the conveyor in extended position, a drive roller at the lower end of said lower frame section and an idler roller at the upper end of said upper frame section, a flexible endless belt having its upper reach supported on said frame sections between said guide flanges, said belt being stretched between said drive roller and said idler roller, power means at the lower end of said lower frame section for driving said drive roller, a feed hopper adjacent the lower end of said lower frame section, wheel means at the lower end of said lower frame section, the axis of said wheel means being relatively close to said lower frame section, and handle means on the upper end of said lower frame section extending beyond said upper end of said section whereby when said conveyor is folded the handles will be exposed for transport of the conveyor.

7. A portable conveyor as set forth in claim 6 which further includes a second and additional handle means at the lower end of said lower frame section.

8. A portable conveyor as set forth in claim 6, wherein a flexible, resilient strip depends from the bottom of said feed hopper and engages the top face of said endless belt whereby material will be prevented from spilling down the conveyor from the feed hopper onto said power means.

9. A portable conveyor, including an elongated, relatively shallow lower frame section, an upper frame section of similar depth in alignment therewith and pivotally connected to the upper end of said lower frame section for pivoting forwardly and downwardly upon said lower frame section to fold said conveyor, a drive roller and an idler roller at opposite ends of said conveyor, a flexible, endless belt having its upper reach supported on said frame sections, said belt being stretched between said drive roller and said idler roller, means for driving said drive roller, wheel means at the lower end of said lower frame section, handle means on the upper end of said 7 lower frame section extending beyond said upperend of said section whereby when said conveyor is folded the handles will be exposed for transport of the conveyor,

and a scraper member supported on said frame in engagement with the inside face of said endless belt for keeping 5 said face free of adhering material.

10. A portable conveyor as set forth in claim 9, wherein said scraper is supported for floating movement where by it will follow the undulating movements of said belt.

References Qited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 35,543 3/30 France. 354,077 8/ 31 Great Britain. 948,816 8/49 France.

ERNEST A. FALLER, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM BL LA BORDE, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 2. A PORTABLE CONVEYOR INCLUDING AN ELONGATED, RELATIVELY SHALLOW LOWER FRAME SECTION, AN UPPER FRAME SECTION OF SIMILAR DEPTH IN ALIGNMENT THEREWITH AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION FOR PIVOTING FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY UPON SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION TO FOLD SAID CONVEYOR, SAID UPPER FRAME SECTION BETWEEN SHORTER THAN SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION, A DRIVE ROLLER AND AN IDLER ROLLER AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID CONVEYOR, A FLEXIBLE, ENDLESS BELT HAVING ITS UPPER REACH SUPPORTED ON SAID FRAME SECTIONS, SAID BELT BEING STRETCHED BETWEEN SAID DRIVE ROLLER AND SAID IDLER ROLLER, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID DRIVE ROLLER, WHEEL MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION, THE AXIS OF SAID WHEEL MEANS BEING RELATIVELY CLOSE TO SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION, HANDLE MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION EXTENDING BEYOND SAID UPPER END OF SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION WHEREBY WHEN SAID CONVEYOR IS FOLDED THE HANDLES WILL BE EXPOSED FOR TRANSPORT OF THE CONVEYOR, AND A SECOND ADDITIONAL HANDLE MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF SAID LOWER FRAME SECTION.

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