Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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U~IVERSAL JOINT FOR CONNECTING SEPARATE FRAMES
IN MOVABLE PIPE CONVEYOR
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a universal joint for
connecting each of a plurality of separate frames in a
movable pipe conveyor which is used in a large-scale
rec].aiming work and may exhibit a large effect.
Such a movable pipe conveyor as above is constructed
by rolling an elongated belt-l.ike material around a
longitudianl axis thereof for enclosing an object to be
conveyed therein~ and superposing side ends of the belt-
like matPrial with each other or closing the side ends
in a jointed hands manner, thereby conveying the object
in the pipe conveyor.
General arrangement of this moveble pipe conveyor
employable for a reclaiming work will be described below
with reference to Fig. 4 to 6.
As shown in Fig. 4 and 5, reference numerals 1, 2
and 3 designate a reclaiming ground, a projecting road
temporarily constructed in the reclaiming ground 1,
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and a fixed conveyor constructea on the projecting road
2. An elongated movable pipe conveyor 4 extending from
an end of the fixed conveyor 3 and a self-propelling
slewing conveyor 5 extending from the pipe conveyor 4
are disposed on a part of the reclaiming ground 1 which
has been already reclaimed and leveled.
Soil and sand, etc. are conveyed by the conveyors
3, 4 and 5, and a heap 6 of the soil and sand as formed
under a forward end of the slewing conveyor 5 is leveled
to complete the reclaiming work in a working area of the
slewing conveyor 5. Then, the movable pipe conveyor 4
i5 trailed by a leveling bulldozer 7 and is rotated
about a forward end of the fixed conveyor 3. At the
same time, the slewing conveyor 5 is moved to carry
forward the reclaiming work in the order of A, B and B'
areas as shown in Fig. 6.
The movable pipe conveyor 4 as i5 used in such
circumstances as above is preferably slightly bendable
without strain for purposes of easy movement and convey-
~0 ance irrespective of its long size. To this end, aframe of the conveyor 4 is divided to a plurality of
separate frames 8 in a longitudinal direction, and the
separate frames 8 are connected in series with each other
by means of universal joints. This invention particu-
larly relates to such universal joints.
Though various universal joints have been generallyprovided, they are intended to transmit power of a
machine and a d~vice, etc. or connect relatively
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light-weight objects. Even if being large-scale, they
are not applicable to such an area a5 above mentioned,
that is, where they are stained with soil and sand, and
must endurP large load.
Additionally, as the movable pipe conveyor 4 is
long and large-scale, it is required to discretely
transport the separate frames 8 and connect the same
with e~ch other at a working place. Therefore, it is
preferred to simplify connecting work of the separate
framesO
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention
to solve the aforementioned problems.
It is another object of the present invention to
provide a universal joint with a simplified constitution
for the above-mentioned purposes.
It is a further object of the present invention to
pro~ide a universal joint which may be very simply
assembled and disassembled by engaging and disengaging
a connecting pin.
The universal joint for connecting separate frames
in an movable pipe conveyor according to the present
invention comprises a first connecting metal fitting
comprising a pair of first parallel pieces which are
horizontally opposed to each other, a first mount piece
for connecting the pair of first parallel pieces at
their bases, and first coaxial through-holes formed at
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free ends of the pair of first parallel pieces; a combin-
ing metal fitting comprising coaxial horizontal pins
projecting from both side surfaces thereof and adapted
to be pivotably engaged with the first through-holes of
the first connecting metal fitting, and a vertical pin
hole formed therethrough; a second connecting metal fit-
ting comprising a pair of second parallel pieces which
are vertically opposed to each other, a second mount
piece for connecting the pair of second parallel pieces
at their bases, and second coaxial through-holes formed
at free ends of the second parallel pieces, the second
coaxial through-holes having a diameter equal to that
of the vertical pin hole, the second parallel pieces
being adapted to be superposed on upper and lower
surfaces of the combining metal fitting; and a connecting
: pin releaseable inserted into the second coaxial through-
holes of the second connecting metal fitting and the
vertical pin hole of the combining metal fitting, whereby
the first and second mount pieces of the first and
second connecting metal fittings are adapted to be fixed
to desired parts of opposite surfaces of adjacent
separate frames.
With this arrangement, the universal joint of the
present invention may be freely turned in entire
directions as is similar to known universal joints, and
there is no possibility of trouble even when being
stained with soil and sand, etc. owing to its simple
constitution. ~urthermore, the universal joint may
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sufficiently endure large load by thickening the connect
ing pin and the horizontal pins, and also thickening
both the connecting metal fittings. In addition, the
universal joint may be simply assembled and disassembled
by engaging and disengaging the connecting pin.
Accordingly, it is possible to discretely transport each
of the separ~te frames having the connecting metal fit-
tings as disassembled to a suitable working area, and
simply and conveniently combine the separate frames with
each other to construct a sexies of movable pipe conveyor.
These and other objects and features of the inven-
tion will be more fully understood from the following
description and appended claims when taken with the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ~HE DRAWING!,
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the
universal joint of one preferred embodiment according
to the present invention;
Fig. ~ is a plan view of a connecting portion of
the separate frames;
Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic side view showing circumstance -
where a reclaiming work is carried out with use of the
movable pipe conveyor employing the universal joint of
the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4; and
~ig. 6 i5 a schematic plan view showing proceeding
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of the reclaiming work.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 which show a connecting
; portion of the separate frames 8/ each of the separate
frames 8 is mounted on each of horizontal rectangular
frames 9 which are slightly larger in size than the
former. The horizontal frames 9 are side~ardly movably
supported to sleighs 10 provided near both ends on a
lower surface thereof.
Reference numerals 11 and 12 designate a pipe
conveyor body and a shape retaining frame for guiding
the pipe conveyor body 11, respectively, and there are
rotatably provided a plurality of shape retaining rollers
(not shown) inside of the shape retaining frame 12.
Rectangular frames 13 are oppositely mounted on
both ends of adjacent horizontal frames 9, and are
connected at their centers through mount frames 14 with
each other by a universal joint 15 as shown in Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 1, a square block-like combining
metal ~itting 16 is formed with a vertical through-hole
17 at a center thereof, and with a pair of coaxial
horizontal pins 18 at a center of both side surfaces
thereof. A connecting pin 19 is releaseably inserted
into the vertical through-hole 17.
A first connecting metal Fitting 20 is constituted
of a pair of l~rA~ pieces 20 which are horizontally
opposed to each other at a distance slightly greater
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than a width of the combining metal fitting 16, a
horizontally elongated mount piece 20h and a reinforcing
piece 20c for connecting the pair of parallelpieces 20a
with each other at base portions thereof. A pair of
coaxial thxough-holes 21 for receiving the horizontal
pins 18 are formed at free ends of the parallel pieces
20a.
In assembling the first connecting metal fitting 20,
the eombining metal fitting 16 is pivotably supported to
both the free ends of the parallel pieces 2~a as shown
in Fig. 2 with the horizontal pins 18 inserted in the
through-holes 21.
A seeond connecting metal itting 22 is eonstituted
of a pair of ~ra~lelpiece5 22a which are vertically
opposed to each other at a distanee slightly greater than
a height of the combining metal fitting 16, a horizon-
tally elongated mount pieee 22b and a reinforcing piece
22e for eonnecting the pair of r~r~ 1 pieces 22a with
each other at base portions thereof. A pair of eoaxial
through-holes 23 having a diameter equal to that of the
through-hole 17 are formed at free ends of the parallel
pieces 22a.
Respective mount pieces 20b and 22b of both the
first and s~cond connecting metal fittings 20 and 22 are
fixed to the opFosed rectangular frames 13.
Adjacent separate frames 8 are connected with each
other by inserting the combining metal fitting 16
pivotably connected to the first connecting metal
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fitting 20 between both the parallelpieces 22a of the
second connecting metal fitting 22, and then inserting
the connecting pin 19 from upperside into both the
through-holes 23 and 17. With this arrangement, the
5 separate frames 8 are permitted to be turned about the
connecting pin 19.
There are further provided stoppers 24 at both
ends of opposed surfaces of adjacent horizontal frames
9, and restriction bolts 25 passing through the stoppers
24, so as to restrict a turning angle of the separate
frames 8 within a range where no strain is applied to
the pipe conveyor body 11.
While the invention has been described with refer-
ence to specific embodiment, the description is illust-
rative and i5 not to be construed as limiting the scopeof the invention. Various modif.ications and changes
may occur to those skilled in the art without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by
the appended cliams.
