Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Endless conveyor
Patent
1994-07-27
1996-08-27
Terrell, William E.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Endless conveyor
482 37, B65G 1706
Patent
active
055491952
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates more particularly to a device for achieving a mobile surface of the conveyor belt type for the purpose of various applications. The invention applies notably, but not exclusively, to achieving a practice climbing wall.
STATE OF THE ART
Generally, most climbing walls are formed from a totally fixed structure. The climbing holds are fitted and secured on a vertical or inclined flat surface which is totally fixed.
Climbing surfaces subjected to drive means have also been proposed, to subject them to a continuous movement. These arrangements make it possible to move on the climbing surface in the opposite direction to that of its drive movement.
Different solutions have been proposed, both for the drive means and for the design as such of the climbing surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to achieve a mobile surface having a high speed of movement and a completely silent operation. In addition, and in the case of an application to a climbing wall, one of the problems arising is to be able to achieve a surface from articulated plates having the object of obtaining a totally flat and smooth active surface not leaving any rough edges on which the climber could catch a limb.
To solve these different problems, a device has been designed and developed for achieving a mobile surface by means of articulated plates assembled in combination with at least two drive drums supported by a framework. The plates present longitudinally, two by two, complementary guiding and articulation profiles defined to create at least one continuous flat face, said plates being coupled to one another by means of flexible links.
To solve the problem posed by guiding and articulating the plates, having the object of creating a flat face without any sunken or raised rough edges, the profiles are formed by sunken or raised imprints of rounded transverse cross-section, said imprints being joined on the one hand to one of the faces of the plates by a straight edge perpendicular to said face and on the other hand to the other face by a straight edge inclined with respect to this other face.
From this basic design, the plates can be achieved according to several embodiments.
According to a first embodiment, the plates are of a single type, the profiles of any one plate are formed on one side by the sunken imprint and on the other side by the raised imprint.
According to a second embodiment, the plates are of two types, the profiles of any one plate are formed, for each side, by the sunken imprints constituting the first type or, for each side, by the raised imprints constituting the second type.
According to another embodiment, the plates are of a single type, each of the sides presenting a sunken imprint designed to receive an inserted element in the form of a cylindrical part, to perform guiding and articulation between the plates.
To solve the problem posed of enabling articulation of the plates, notably with respect to the drive drum, the inclined straight edge is established withdrawn from the perpendicular straight edge to leave, after two plates have been coupled, a free space enabling the plates to be articulated up to the stop position of two inclined straight edges.
To solve the problem posed of performing coupling of the plates, in combination with the guiding and articulation profiles, the flexible links are engaged in slots provided in the thickness of the plates, from each transverse end and in a manner parallel to the faces of said plates, to form a continuous coupling.
The width of the link is greater than the depth of the slots, so as to extend beyond the plates in order to cooperate with a guiding path presented by the framework.
Advantageously, the links are formed by a notched belt made of flexible material, notably plastic. These arrangements enable differences in size between the plates to be taken into account and consequently a constant pitch to be kept. The plates can therefore be fixed according to a given pitch, prev
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Aulagner Michel
Esteveny Serge
Centre Stephanois de Recherches Mecaniques Hydromecaniques et Fr
Entre-Prises
Kelly Tamara
Terrell William E.
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