ANGULAR TRAVEL MODULATOR FOR CONVEYOR BELTS

MECANISME DE TRANSFERT DE LA CHARGE TRANSPORTEE DANS UN SYSTEME A DEUX COURROIES SUPERPOSEES DEFILANT PERPENDICULAIREMENT L'UNE PAR RAPPORT A L'AUTRE

English Abstract

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ANGULAR TRAVEL MODULATOR FOR CONVEYOR BELTS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
When it is necessary to change the direction of
travel of a loaded conveyor belt, it is usual to provide
two conveyor belt run one above the other with the upper
loaded belt run dumping the material over the end onto
the upper run of the lower belt run which extends in a
different direction. This prevents any adjustment of
the-angular relationship from taking place. The present
invention includes a shell slide block with balls journalled
for rotation thereon, adjustably mounted within limits,
upon a frame carrying a belt engaging roller at one end
spaced from the shell slide block. A single conveyor
belt includes the loaded upper run which passes over the
shell slide block changes direction and passes over the
roller and then passes under the shell slide block to
receive the load dumping from the upper run as it passes
over the shell slide block. The upper run can enter the
modulator at various angles to the exit direction and
the shell slide block can be adjusted by an hydraulic
or air operated cylinder. The return run of the belt
can be routed similarly or may be returned by other direc-
tional changing means.

Claims

- 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



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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


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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


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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.

Description

~ ~ 5~ ~6


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to new and useful improve-
ments in an~ular travel modulators for conveyor belts~
When it is desired to change the direction of
travel of an endless conveyor belt, it is conventional
to provide a second endless conveyor belt receiving material
dumped over the end of the upper conveyor and running
in a different direction. It will be appreciated that
this usually represents fixed or static structure so that
it is difficult to change the direction of travel of the
lower belt.
.- - ~ .
Changin~ devices have been proposed but they
suffer from several disadvantages, the prlnciple one of
which is that it is difficult to maintain the b~lt on
the changing component as it tends to creep one way or ~;
the other. Furthermore, conventional directi~n changing
deViCes are usuaIly fixed in place and cannot be adjusted
insofar as the entry and exit angles are concerned.
The present invention overcomes these disadvantages
by providing a single erdless belt which can be routed ;~
over a modulator to~chan~e the direction of at least the
upper run thereof with the lower run being returned over
similar apparatus mounted below the upper apparatus or,
by any other~direction changlng means. It permits material
conveyed by the upper~run, to be dumped over the end ~as

662
-- 2 --

the upper run enters the direction changing modulator
and to be picked up by the same portion of the belt once
the belt has been changed in the direction of travel by
the modulator.
In accordance with the invention there is provided
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
: 10 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 por-
tion, 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 substantially 180 degrees reverse
motion in a vertical plane parallel to t~le vertical plane
: ~ of the upper run entering said roller, whereby the upper : ~ :
run, after passing around said roller, passes under the :
reversing end o the entry portion o~f said upper run to
receive material conveyed by said:entry~portion and dis- :
charged as said entry portion passes over said shell slide :~
block~
~: Another advantage of the invention is to provide
:: ` a device of the character herewithin described in which : :


.; ': .

~L~S~66Z
-- 3 --

the shell slide block receiving the entry portion of the
upper run of the belt, c~n be changed angularly within
limits as desired.
A yet further advantage of the invention is
to provide a device of the character herewithin described
which includes means to prevent sideways creep which natur-
ally resultS fro~l the side pull on the entry portion of
the upper run as it passes over the shell slide block
. Yet another advantage of t'ne invention is to
provide a device of the character herewithin described
which is readily portable and can be removed and replaced
: readily and easily.
Another advantage of the invention is to provide
a device of the character herewithin described which is
simple in construction, economical in manufacture and
: otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed. .
: With the foregoing in view~ and other advantages
:
as will become apparent:to those skilled in the art to
which this invention relates as this speci~ication proceeds,~
the invention is herein describe~d by reference to the
: accompanying drawings formirg part hereo~, which includes :: :
a descriptlon of the~preferred typical:embodiment of the~
principles of the present invention~ in which~
DESCRIPTION OF HE DRAWINGS
Figure:l~is~partiaLly schematic isometric view


: . ~

~L51~ ;Z


showing the route followed by an endless belt as it passes
over the modulator.
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the modulator
per se.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of one of the
shell slide blocks per se.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but taking
- from the rear theref and showing the centralizing roller.
Figure 5 is a frag~entary top plane view of
-Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view
showing one of the shell slide block mounts.
Figure 7 is an enlarged cross;sect.ional view
of a portion of the shell wall showing the mounting of
.
one of the balls therein. -
In the drawings like cha~racters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the diferent figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
~: : : :
Proceeding therefore to describe the inven~ion
in detail, reference~should first be~ made~to Figure 1
in which 10 illustrates an endless conveyor belt having
an upper run ll and a lower or return run 12~ It passes
over a roller 13 at one end thereof and over a~ further
roller 14 at the other~end thereof with the portion in
; between showing a change in direction~ The upper or load

.


1~5~66;~
-- 5 --

carrying run 11 of the belt includes an upper run entry
portion 15 which changes direction to become a further
entry portion 16 and which then changes direction through
approximately 180 degrees to become an exit upper run
portion 17 passing under the end of the entry portion
15 to receive material dumped over this end as the belt
changes direction as will hereinafter be described. The
longitudinal axis of the entry portion is at an angle
to the portion 16 with the portion 17 being parallel to
the portion 16.
The return run 12 may change direction in a
similar manner in apparatus situated below the apparatus
- changing t~e direction of the upper run or, alternatively,
may be returned by other direction changing means depending
upon design parameters. ~ ;
The modulator permitting these direction changes
is collectively designated 18 and shown in Figure 2.
It consists of a ~rame collectively designated 19 including ;~
spaced and parallel longitudinally extènding members 20
~0 and 21 maintained in spaced apart relationship by means
of vertical struts 22 and it may be secured in position
where desired, by any conventional means such as clamps
extending around the rame members. Although Figure 2
shows structure collectively designated 23 and 2~ for
:
~ changing the directlon~of the upper run 11 o~ the belt,
:: . . :
.

~5~662
-- 6 --

it also shows similar structure collectively designated
23A and 24A for changing the direction of the return or
lower run of the belt. However, as such structure is
similar, it is not believed necessary to describe to same
separately but the structure of the lower run has been
given corresponding reference characters but with the
suffix A being appended thereto.
The structure Z3 consists of a shell slide block
which is shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4. It is an
arcuately curved shell 25 extending throu&h approximately
200 degrees of arc and including the main shell portion
26 with outwardly curved or belled ends 27 formed on either
end thereof. The main shell body 26 is provided with
a plurality of freely rotating balls 28, the details of
these balls being shown in Figures 4 and;7.
A plurality of apertures Z9 are formed through
the shell wall 26 and a hemispherical cup 3Q is secured
- : . .
over the underside of each aperture 29 by means of small
- screws 31 or other conventional fastening means.
A steel or~plastic ball 32 is journalled for
.
rotation within the cap 30 with the pèrlphery 33 thereof
~ protruding through the aperture 29 and just above the
`~; outer surface 34 of the shell wall 26. It will be apprec~
ated that the dlameter of the upper si.de 29B of the apert~re
2g has a diameter less than the diameter of the ball so

~5(;~662
-- 7 --

that it is retained within the cap yet is free to rotate
therein.
A spindle 35 is secured tc, the inner surface
Of the shell and extends upon either side thereof and
is down turned at the ends as indicated by reference char-
acter 36. Anti-friction roller 37 are secured on the
down turned ends and slidably engage arcuate slots 38
formed or secured upon either side of the longitudinal
fràme members 20 thus mounting the shell slide block trans-
versely of the frame members. Hydraulic or pneumatic
piston and cylinder assemblies 39 operatively extend between
the down turned ends 36 of the spindle 35 and the frame
members 20 and are connected to a source oE fiuid under
pressure so that the shell slide block can~ be pivotally
moved relative to the frame members 20 due~ to the mounting ~:
of the spindle end 36 within the arcua~tely curved slots
38-thus permitting adjustment of the:angle of the shell ::~
~slide block within limits relative to the longitudinal :~
axis of the frame~. It will be noted that the shell sl1de
~lock is mounted substantially vertic~ally when in position
with :the open~side faclng`the~entry p~ortion 15~ of the
upper run of the belt ~lO.
A roller 40 is journalled or rotation transversely ;~
of the ends of the frame members 20~and spaced from the :~
shell slide block 23.




.. , . . ~, . . .- .. .

5~ ~6 2
-- 8 --

In operation, the entry portion 15 of the upper
run engages over the shell slide block and passes through
180 degrees reverse motion in the vertical plane exiting
at the portion 16 at an angle from the longitudinal axis
of the entry portion and in a plane spaced from but horizon-
tal or paraIlel to the plane of the entry portion. This
upper run portion 16 then passes over roller 40 through
180 degrees reverse motion in a vertical plane with the
por~ion 17 being spaced below and parallel to the portion
16 and being situated immediately below the position where. .
the entry portion 15 changes direction by passing over
the shell slide block. This means that any material carried
by the upper run 11~ is dumped over the end of the entry
portion 15 and i5 received by the upper run portion 17 ~ ~.
running at an angle to the entry portion, said angular :
relationship being controlled by the relati:ve position :-
of the shell slide block within the slot 38.
The belled ends 27 of the sLide block retain
the belt upon the~sllde block and any creep which may
be evident is counteracted by a further centralizing ro].ler
collectively designated 41. This is: mounted upon a shaft
transversely across~the upper end 42 of the shell s].îde
block with brackets~43 pivoting the shaft to the ends .
27 of the shell by means of pivot pins 43~ This roller ~ :
may be moved upwardly or downwardly relative to the end ~ ;


:~
~:
: . .:. ... .

66Z
_ 9 _

42 by means of hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder
assemblies 44 operatively extending between the shell
and the arms 43B.
This permits pressure to be applied, upon the
underside of the entry portion 15 of the belt and assists
in centralizing same and preventing creep from occurring.
The angular adjustment of the shell slide block
is readily accomplished by the piston and cylinder assemblies
39-to ensure the best angle of entry of the entry portion
150
This device allows an endless conveyor belt
to travel at various angles,from parallel so that it can
convey material from àround corners~of either side of
the main belt. This eliminates the need for the installation
of an additional conveyor belt particularly~when conve:yor:
belts are not in tandem~ The device is particularly adapted ~:
for material handling systems such as used ln mining where
the source of feed material for the belts is usually some
distance~frm a parallel running belt.
~:~: :: 20~ - Since various;modifications can be made in my~
invention as herelnabove described, and many apparently ;~
widely different embodiments of same made within the splrit
and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit
and scope, it is lntended~that all~matter contained in
the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as
illustratlve only and not in a llmiting sense~