Self-indicating tensioner for a belt scraper

Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor having impinging fluid to feed – shift or discharge... – Having cleaning means

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Details

B65G 4516

Patent

active

060036575

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tensioning device for adjusting the force with which the blade of a conveyor belt scraper contacts the conveyor belt surface, and in particular, to such a device which provides an indication of the amount of force being applied by the tensioning device.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conveyor belt typically includes one or more scraper assemblies that are constructed and disposed along the belt for removing remnants of materials carried by the conveyor belt that adhere to the belt surface. A scraper assembly often includes one or more scraper blades arranged across the width of the conveyor belt. The blades are mounted on a support arm or arms that are affixed to and extend from a transversely mounted, rotatable support shaft. Rotation of the transverse support shaft moves the scraper blade or blades into and out of contact with the belt surface.
The cleaning efficiency of the scraper assembly depends on the magnitude of the force exerted by the scraper blade against the belt surface. If the contacting force is too great, the scraper blade will wear prematurely. On the other hand, if the contacting force is too low, the blade will not clean the belt efficiently. Torsional coil springs, torsion rod springs, air cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, and similar devices are used to adjust the force with which a scraper blade contacts a conveyor belt surface. In pneumatic and hydraulic systems a pressure gage provides an indication that can be correlated with the amount of force being applied. It would be highly desirable to have a tensioning device for a belt scraper assembly that provides an instantaneous indication that can be easily used to reproducibly set the amount of force with which the scraper blade contacts the belt surface.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a self-indicating tensioning device for adjusting the contacting force of a scraper blade against the surface of an endless conveyor belt. The self-indicating tensioning device according to this invention has a rotatable shaft which supports the scraper blade such that rotation of the rotatable shaft displaces the scraper blade vertically. A flat spring is coupled at one end to the rotatable shaft and at the other end to an adjusting mechanism. The adjusting mechanism exerts a force on the flat spring which thereby applies a torque to the rotatable shaft. The end coupled to the adjusting device is movable relative to the end affixed to the rotatable shaft. An indicator rod extends radially from the rotatable shaft with one end fixed to the rotatable shaft and the other end is free such that the force exerted on the flat spring does not cause deflection of the indicator rod. A graduated indicator plate is attached to the movable end of the flat spring and is movable relative to the indicator rod. As the flat spring deflects in response to the application of force thereto, the displacement of the graduated indicator plate relative to the free end of the indicator rod provides an indication of the amount of force exerted on the flat spring, the amount of torque applied to the rotatable shaft, or the amount of force with which the scraper blade contacts the conveyor belt.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary of the present invention, as well as the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, will be better understood by referring to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of a conveyor belt and a scraper assembly used in connection therewith in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tensioning device in accordance with the present invention for use with the scraper assembly shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a spring and indicator subassembly of the tensioning device shown in FIG. 2 when the torque applying mechanism is in the neutral position; and
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the spring and indicator subassembly of the t

REFERENCES:
patent: 2685808 (1954-08-01), Garvin
patent: 3631968 (1972-01-01), Ward
patent: 4233837 (1980-11-01), Canfield
patent: 4664250 (1987-05-01), Jakobs
patent: 4936439 (1990-06-01), Alexander, Jr. et al.
patent: 5007523 (1991-04-01), Morefield
patent: 5016746 (1991-05-01), Gibbs

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