Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-14
2001-02-27
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
C198S826000, C198S830000, C198S861100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193055
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a support for a conveyor belt. Conveyor belts, at loading points, can be subjected to considerable impact forces. For example a conveyor belt which carries ore may be expected to withstand the impact of rocks with a nominal size in excess of 150 mm falling through heights of up to 4 meters. The impact force on a conveyor belt carrying in excess of 2000 tons per hour may therefore be substantial and, unless adequate measures are taken, the belt or the supporting structure may be damaged.
Shock absorbing devices, which are used to overcome the aforementioned adverse effects, must physically be of a size which enable them to be installed in the available space. In certain installations space is at a premium and, as a general rule, it can be said that the width of a shock absorbing system should not exceed the width of the normal supporting structure of the belt.
Another factor is that an impact absorbing structure, under normal operating conditions, should not affect the height of a belt once it has been set to a desired or optimum operating level.
Furthermore, it is frequently necessary to load a conveyor belt at or near a tail pulley, i.e. in a region where the belt is in transition from the flat tail pulley to the fully troughed carrying condition. A shock absorbing device should, therefore, provide a means of adjustment which takes into account the changing cross-sectional arrangement of the belt in the load zone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a support structure for a conveyor belt which includes at least one support member which supports at least one conveyor idler roller, and biasing means, which is biased to a predetermined load, and which acts on the support member in such a way that the support member is movable only when it exerts a force on the biasing means in excess of the predetermined load.
The support member may support the conveyor idler roller in any suitable way, directly or indirectly.
Means may be provided for adjusting the value or level of the predetermined load.
The biasing means may take on any suitable form and, for example, may comprise or include one or more elastomeric or metallic members.
In one form of the invention the biasing means includes a plurality of components which are assembled to provide a desired spring characteristic. Each component may for example comprise an elastomeric element.
In a preferred form of the invention the biasing means includes a number of elastomeric rings which are axially aligned with each other.
In an alternative arrangement use is made of metallic cup washers, or springs of any suitable type.
The biasing means may be biased to the said predetermined load by applying an axially directed force, equal to the said predetermined load, to the elastomeric rings.
Connection means may be provided between the biasing means and the support member. The connection means may be adjustable relatively to the biasing means to position the support member at a desired orientation.
The support member may be mounted to suitable supporting stringers and beams in any appropriate way and, preferably, the support member is pivotally attached thereto.
The support structure of the invention is particularly suited for supporting a garland of conveyor idlers although it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not confined to this particular application.
In a preferred embodiment the support structure of the invention includes a base member, at least one support member which is pivotally attached to the base member, means on the support member for engagement, with at least one conveyor idler roller, and biasing means, biased to a predetermined load, which acts between the base member and the support member and which is movable, in a first direction, when the support member exerts a force on the biasing means in excess of the predetermined load.
The first direction may be inclined downwards.
The support member may be adjustable in length in any suitable way, e.g. telescopically, to accommodate varying belt troughing angles.
The support structure may include adjustment means for adjusting the orientation of the support member relatively to the base member.
The invention also provides a support structure for a conveyor belt which includes two spaced support members, conveyor idler rollers positioned between, and secured to, upper ends of the support members, means pivotally connecting respective lower ends of the support members to underlying supporting structure, and, for each support member a respective biasing arrangement which is biased to a predetermined load and which permits pivotal movement of the respective support member, in a direction which is downwardly inclined from a side of the belt towards an underside thereof, only when the support member exerts a force on the respective biasing arrangement in excess of the said predetermined load.
The invention further extends to a support structure for a conveyor belt which includes two upwardly extending, pivotally mounted, support arms, a garland of conveyor idler rollers suspended between upper ends of the support arms and, for each support arm, respective biasing means which permits pivotal movement of the support arm, towards the other support arm, only when the support arm exerts a force on the respective biasing means in excess of a predetermined load.
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Ellis Christopher P.
Jones Tullar & Cooper P.C.
Scorpio Conveyor Products (Proprietary) Limited
Tran Khoi H.
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