Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- 10 -
WHAT I CLAIM AS MY INVENTION IS:
(1) An angular travel modulator for an endless
conveyor belt having a load carrying upper run and a lower
return run comprising in combination a frame, a shell
slide block mounted in said frame for routing at least
the Upper run of the entry portion of the endless belt
through 180 degrees reverse motion in a vertical plane
and at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the entry
portion and in a plane spaced from but horizontal to the
plane of the entry portion, and roller means at one end
of said frame over which said upper run engages to change
the direction of travel of said upper run through substan-
stantially 180 degrees reverse motion in a vertical plane
parallel to the vertical plane of the upper run entering
said roller, whereby the upper run, after passing around
said roller, passes under the reversing end of the entry
portion of said upper run to receive material conveyed
by said entry portion and discharged as said entry portion
passes over said shell slide block.
(2) The modulator according to Claim 1 in which
said shell slide block is arcuately curved through approxi-
mately 200 degrees.
(3) The modulator according to Claim 1 in which
said shell slide block includes a plurality of balls freely
mounted For rotation in the surface of said shell and
- 11 -
protruding slightly above the outer surface of said shell.
(4) The modulator according to Claim 2 in which
said shell slide block includes a plurality of balls freely
mounted for rotation in the surface of said shell and
protruding slightly above the outer surface of said shell.
(5)) The modulator according to Claim 2 in
which said shell slide block includes outwardly curved
flanged ends to retain the conveyor belt thereon.
(6) The modulator according to Claim 4 in
which said shell slide block includes outwardly curved
flanged ends to retain the conveyor belt thereon.
(7) The modulator according to Claim 1 which
includes a transverse roller extending across the upper
end of said shell slide block and spaced therefrom, means
to pivotally mount said roller to said shell slide block
and means to raise and lower said roller relative to the
upper end of said shell slide block, said last mentioned
means including a piston and cylinder assembly operatively
extending between said shell slide block and said means
to pivotally mount said roller.
(8) The modulator according to Claim 2 which
includes a transverse roller extending across the upper
end of said shell slide block and spaced therefrom, means
to pivotally mount said roller to said shell slide block
and means to raise and lower said roller relative to the
- 12 -
upper end of said shell slide block, said last mentioned
means including a piston and cylinder assembly operatively
extending between said shell slide block and said means
to pivotally mount said roller.
(9) The modulator according to Claim 3 which
includes a transverse roller extending across the upper
end of said shell slide block and spaced therefrom, means
to pivotally mount said roller to said shell slide block
and means to raise and lower said roller relative to the
upper end of said shell slide block, said last mentioned
means including a piston and cylinder assembly operatively
extending between said shell slide block and said means
to pivotally mount said roller.
(10) The modulator according to Claim 4 which
includes a transverse roller extending across the upper
end of said shell slide block and spaced therefrom, means
to pivotally mount said roller to said shell slide block
and means to raise and lower said roller relative to the
upper end of said shell slide block, said last mentioned
means including a piston and cylinder assembly operatively
extending between said shell slide block and said means
to pivotally mount said roller.
(111 The modulator according to Claim 5 which
includes a transverse roller extending across the upper
end of said shell slide block and spaced therefrom, means
- 13 -
to pivotally mount said roller to said shell slide block
and means to raise and lower said roller relative to the
upper end of said shell slide block, said last mentioned
means including a piston and cylinder assembly operatively
extending between said shell slide block and said means
to pivotally mount said roller.
(12) The modulator according to Claim 6 which
includes a transverse roller extending across the upper
end of said shell slide block and spaced therefrom, means
to pivotally mount said roller to said shell slide block
and means to raise and lower said roller relative to the
upper end of said shell slide block, said last mentioned
means including a piston and cylinder assembly operatively
extending between said shell slide block and said means
to pivotally mount said roller.
(13) The modulator according to Claim 1 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
- 14 -
(14) The modulator according to Claim 2 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of-one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(15) The modulator according to Claim 3 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(16) The modulator according to Claim 4 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
- 15 -
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block suppport
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(17) The modulator according to Claim 5 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(18) The modulator according to Claim 6 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
- 16 -
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(19) The modulator according to Claim 7 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including a
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected between
said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(20) The modulator according to Claim 8 which
includes means to mount said shell in said frame for limited
angular adjustment relative to the longitudinal axis of
said frame, said last mentioned means including arcuately
curved mounting slots on each side of said frame, shell
slide block support means sliding mounted within said
slot and means to move said shell slide block support
means along said arcuately curved slots independently
of one another, said last mentioned means including
- 17 -
piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected bet-
ween said shell slide block support means and said frame.
(21) The modulator according to Claim 1 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemisphe-
rical cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference ex-
tending through said aperture, the diameter of said aper-
ture being less than the diameter of said ball.
(22) The modulator according to Claim 2 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemisphe-
rical cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference ex-
tending through said aperture, the diameter of said aper-
ture being less than the diameter of said ball.
(23) The modulator according to Claim 3 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemisphe-
rical cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference ex-
- 18 -
tending through said aperture, the diameter of said aper-
ture being less than the diameter of said ball.
(24) The modulator according to Claim 4 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(25) The modulator according to Claim 5 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(26) The modulator according to Claim 6 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
- 19 -
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(27) The modulator according to Claim 7 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(28) The modulator according to Claim 8 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said balls.
(29) The modulator according to Claim 9 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
- 20 -
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(30) The modulator according to Claim 10 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(31) The modulator according to Claim 11 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(32) The modulator according to Claim 12 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
- 21 -
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(33) The modulator according to Claim 13 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(34) The modulator according to Claim 14 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(35) The modulator according to Claim 15 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
- 22 -
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(36) The modulator according to Claim 16 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(37) The modulator according to Claim 17 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(38) The modulator according to Claim 18 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
- 23 -
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(39) The modulator according to Claim 19 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(40) The modulator according to Claim 20 which
includes means to journal said balls in said shell, said
last mentioned means including a substantially hemispheri-
cal cup for each ball secured to the underside of said
shell, an aperture through said shell and a ball freely
rotatable within said cup with the circumference extend-
ing through said aperture, the diameter of said aperture
being less than the diameter of said ball.
(41) The invention according to Claims 1, 2
or 3 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(42) The invention according to Claims 4, 5
- 24 -
or 6 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(43) The invention according to Claims 7, 8
or 9 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(44) The invention according to Claims 10, 11
or 12 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(45) The invention according to Claims 13, 14
or 15 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(46) The invention according to Claims 16, 17
or 18 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
- 25 -
(47) The invention according to Claims 19, 20
or 21 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(48) The invention according to Claims 22, 23
or 24 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(49) The invention according to Claims 25, 26
or 27 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(50) The invention according to Claims 28, 29
or 30 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(51) The invention according to Claims 31, 32
or 33 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
- 26 -
endless belt.
(52) The invention according to Claims 34, 35
or 36 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(53) The invention according to Claims 37, 38
or 39 which includes a similar structure within said
frame and immediately below said shell slide block, for
receiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.
(54) The invention according to Claim 40
which includes a similar structure within said frame
and immediately below said shell slide block, for re-
ceiving and re-routing the return or lower run of said
endless belt.