WO2010120342A1

WO2010120342A1 - Belt clamp

Info

Publication number: WO2010120342A1
Application number: PCT/US2010/000973
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sorin Ciobotaru
Original assignee: The Gates Corporation
Priority date: 2009-04-14
Filing date: 2010-04-01
Publication date: 2010-10-21
Also published as: US20100257705A1; JP2012520813A; CN102395521A; EP2419358A1

Abstract

A belt clamp comprising a first member (10), a second member (20) having a hinge engagement (30) with the first member, the second member having a recess (21) for receiving a belt, the belt wrapable about a clevis pin (C), a fastener (40) for clamping the first member to the second member, and the first member having a side portions (11, 12) for retaining the clevis pin in the recess.

Description

Belt Clamp

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a belt clamp, and more particularly to a belt clamp having a member having a recess for receiving a belt wrapped around a clevis pin and a fastener for clamping the first member to the second member.

Background of the Invention

Typically, forklifts comprise a mast to which is connected forks for lifting loads. The lifting mechanism typically comprises chain. The chain can be fixed to the mast by a clevis. Further, chain requires periodic maintenance, including cleaning and lubrication.

It is known to use belts in lift applications, for example, for elevators. Clamps are known for fastening the belt end to a pulley or anchor. The clamps comprise plates extending across the belt with bolts extending through the plates and belt.

Representative of the art is US patent 4,185,791 (1980) which discloses a device for preventing a belt from being pulled from a retractor comprises a clamp holder and a base member having closely spaced surfaces defining a gap through which the belt passes and from which the belt runs off forwardly at an angle away from the base member. The holder receives a clamp which has a gripping surface protruding slightly from the holder surface and, in part, defining the gap. The holder is pivoted on the base member, and the clamp and holder are spring-loaded about the pivot axis in a direction which holds the clamp out of engagement with the belt . An abrupt force tending to pull the belt abruptly forward through the gap forces the holder to pivot or rock rearwardly, thus engaging the gripping surface of the clamp with the belt. Forwardly oblique, transverse wedging surfaces on the clamp and clamp holder wedge the clamp tightly against the belt and prevent it from being pulled forward.

It is not previously known to easily retrofit a belt directly into a chain application on a forklift mast or similar application.

What is needed is a belt clamp having a member having a recess for receiving a belt wrapped around a clevis pin and a fastener for clamping the first member to the second member. The present invention meets this need.

Summary of the Invention

The primary aspect of the invention is a belt clamp having a member having a recess for receiving a belt wrapped around a clevis pin and a fastener for clamping the first member to the second member.

Other aspects of the invention will be pointed out or made obvious by the following description of the invention and the accompanying drawings. The invention comprises belt clamp comprising a first member, a second member having a hinge engagement with the first member, the second member having a recess for receiving a belt, the belt wrapable about a clevis pin, a fastener for clamping the first member to the second member, and the first member having a side portions for retaining the clevis pin in the recess. Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side view of the belt clamp. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the belt clamp. Fig. 3 is a front view of the belt clamp on a mast with a belt .

Fig. 4 is a side view of the belt clamp on a belt.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 is a side view of the belt clamp. Belt clamp 100 comprises a first member 10 in hinged relation to a second member 20. Hinge 30 is disposed at an end of member 20.

A recess 21 receives a clevis pin C. Clevis pin C is used to engage a loop at the end of a flat belt, see Fig. 3. The invention replaces the chain typically used in a forklift application so that a belt, see Fig. 3, can be used to replace the chain without any modification to the existing mast structure (not shown) . Further the retrofit for the belt can be accomplished without special tools or other modifications to the mast since the only load bearing connection for the belt is by way of a threaded fastener 50 engaged at hole 24.

Recess 21 is shaped such that it will accommodate a belt wrapped around the clevis pin C. Recess 21 has a depth sufficient to cause an axis A of clevis pin C to be disposed a distance Dl inward of a surface 23. This optimizes the load bearing capability of the belt clamp while minimizing the tendency of the load to force the belt clamp open. This in turn reduces the tensile load bearing requirement for the fastener 40. Clevis pin C is not fixedly attached to the belt clamp, instead it is inserted into recess 21 after the belt has been wrapper around clevis pin C.

Figure 1 shows the belt clamp in an open position. When closed member 10 covers member 20, thereby applying a clamping force to a belt. Consequently, the clamp can be rated at the full load capacity of the belt. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the belt clamp. Member 10 comprises side portions 11 and 12. Each side portion 11 and 12 extends from a center portion 14. Member 10 has a "C" shape in cross-section. Member 20 fits between side portions 11 and 12 when the belt clamp is closed. Each side portion 11, 12, is proximately alignable with the second member 20 by operation of the hinge 30.

A hole 13 in center portion 14 will accept a fastener such as a bolt 40, see Fig. 3. Bolt 40 clamps the belt clamp closed about belt B and clevis pin C. Further, surface 25 applies pressure to a belt by squeezing the belt against member 10, which enhances the clamp force of the device.

Member 20 comprises a hole 22 which will accommodate a fastener 40 extended from hole 13, see Fig. 3. The fastener passes through the belt and clamps together member 10 and member 20, thereby securing the belt within the clamp.

In order to attach the belt clamp to a machine such as a forklift, a threaded fastener is used to engage threaded hole 24.

In the alternative a fastener need not extend through the holes 13, 22 and instead may comprise a "C" clamp engaged across each member 10, 20. "C" clamps are known in the art. The inventive clamp allows a fastener 40 to be used to close the clamp while avoiding the need to make a hole in the belt to accommodate the fastener, which would diminish the tensile load capacity of the belt.

Fastener 40 may comprise any known bolt and nut 41 combination. In the alternative, hole 22 can be threaded to negate the need for a nut .

In yet another embodiment, first member 10 may be welded to second member 20 with the belt clamp in the closed position. To remove the belt the weld bead can be ground away .

Fig. 3 is a front view of the belt clamp on a mast with a belt. A threaded fastener (not shown) fixes the clamp to a mounting surface (MS) . Hinge 30 does not necessarily contribute to bearing a belt tensile load, although hinge 30 does act as a fulcrum to press member 20 against member 10. The majority of a belt tensile load is transmitted from the belt to the clevis pin C, and then to member 20 and then to a fastener 50, see Fig. 5. Member 10 provides clamping force to retain clevis pin C in recess 21.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the belt clamp on a belt. Two clamps 100 are show with a belt B connected between. The inventive design allows the full rated capacity of the belt to be utilized in a given application.

Although a form of the invention has been described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the construction and relation of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

Claims I claim:

1. A belt clamp comprising: a first member (10) ; a second member (20) having a hinge engagement (30) with the first member; the second member having a recess (21) for receiving a belt, the belt wrapable about a clevis pin (C) ; a fastener (40) for clamping the first member to the second member; and the first member having a side portions (11, 12) for retaining the clevis pin in the recess.

2. The belt clamp as in claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member each comprise a hole for receiving the fastener.

3. The belt clamp as in claim 1, wherein the first member further comprises a second side portion such that the first member has a "C" shaped cross section.

4. The belt clamp as in claim 1, wherein the recess has a depth sufficient to cause an axis A of the clevis pin C to be disposed a distance Dl inward of a surface 23.

5. The belt clamp as in claim 1, wherein the second member further comprises a second hole for receiving a fastener.

6. The belt clamp as in claim 1, wherein the second member further comprises a surface for squeezing a belt against the first member, the surface disposed such that hinge 30 acts as a fulcrum.