Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
WO 02/44059 PCT/USO1/44761
ROLLER BED FOR A CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEM
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to conveyor belt system. More particularly, this
invention relates to a bed rail assembly apparatus for supporting a conveyor
belt.
Still more particularly, this invention relates to a bed rail assembly
apparatus that is
adapted to be inserted between industry standard carry idlers of the conveyor
system to support a conveyor belt with reduced drag and friction. This
invention
further relates to a bed rail assembly apparatus having sides that are
adjustable to
different widths and different inclinations to accommodate conveyor systems of
different configurations.
Problem
It is common to use conveyor belts to move bulk materials from one place to
another. For example, power plants transport coal from storage piles out one
location to hoppers at a distant processing area using a series of conveyor
belts.
One problem with the use of conveyor belts is spillage of material. A second
problem is air pollution from dust created by the conveyor belts. The
generated
dust may be volatile and can be ignited by any heat or spark introduced into
the
environment.
Spillage of material typically occurs at a conveyor transfer point where bulk
material is passed from one conveyor belt to a second conveyor belt. The
transfer
often involves dropping the bulk material from the first conveyor belt to the
second
belt. As the bulk material hits the second conveyor belt, the bulk material
spreads
and some falls over the sides of the second conveyor belt. Vibrations caused
by
nearby machinery may shake the conveyor belt and cause bulk material to spill
over the belt edges.
Air pollution is caused by induced air flow in a conveyor belt system. Bulk
material falling or projected from the first conveyor belt to the second
conveyor belt
forms a material stream. The individual particles in the stream impart a
frictional
drag on the surrounding air. The surrounding air begins to flow in the
direction of
the material stream and attains a velocity approaching the velocity of the
bulk
material stream. This is called an induced air flow. The bulk material is
suddenly
stopped at the end of its fall and is compacted by the impact onto the second
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
WO 02/44059 PCT/USO1/44761
conveyor belt. The velocity pressure of the induced air flow is converted to
static
pressure by the material impact. A region of high air pressure is created by
the
static pressure. Air in the high air pressure region flows to a region of
lower air
pressure. This air flow contains small particles of the bulk material. In an
open
system, this air movement of the air is evident by a dust cloud billowing from
a
loading point of the second conveyor belt.
It is common to use a housing to enclose the second conveyor belt to
prevent the billowing dust and reduce material spillage. A rubber skirting
seal
hangs on the bottom edge of the housing and drags against the top surface of
the
inclined sides of the conveyor belt to completely enclose the area. To
maintain
contact with the rubber skirting seal and the inclined sides of the conveyor
belt
surface, a support is positioned underneath the conveyor belt. The support
often
includes bars or beams that run longitudinally beneath the bottom surface of
the
conveyor belt along each side. This support may also include large rollers
spaced
apart on 4 foot centers beneath the conveyor belt. The bars or beams can cause
excessive drag or friction with the bottom surface of the conveyor belt. This
can
cause an undue load on the motor turning the conveyor belt and/or wear of the
side skirting and a wear of the belt. The drag may also generate heat that can
melt
the belt or the beams. With the use of large rollers having 4 foot centers or
greater, the belt can sag between the rollers and cause excessive clearance
between the inclined sides of the conveyor belt and rubber skirt seal. This
allows
material spillage and impingement points where material wedges between the
inclined sides of the belt and the wearliner where the belt sags between the
rollers.
This causes conveyor belt damage.
Solution
The above and other problems are solved and an advance in the arts is
achieved by the provision of an insertable bed rail assembly apparatus having
an
adjustable inclined bed of inclined rollers. A first advantage of the bed rail
assembly apparatus is that the bed cradles the inclined sides of the conveyor
belt
at an adjustable inclination to prevent spillage. A second advantage of the
invention is that the bed rail assembly apparatus has a series of inclined
rollers that
support to the bottom of the inclined sides of the conveyor belt. These
rollers
reduce friction between the bed rail assembly apparatus and the conveyor belt.
2
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
Tita rotlei~s arse positioraec! vuith reduced spacing between rollers to
prevent sag that
co:~tta rarasa n t~x~asive clearance betvreen tiw flexible rubber skirting
seals and
itli.' I#lritnCd sidra of tire canueyor bc~tt. A ittird advmntage of this
invention is that
tf~e anc~te of lncltnati~on ofi the sides of the. ratter bead rail assembly is
adjustable to
a aalta~v ttta rc>tter pfatc of thd invention to be used with a range of
industry standard
canveyar trougb~rinc~ angles with infinite angle adjustments being available
between
tlutse star~~tard ~nYeyor angles, Ttyts. tnfirrite angle adjustment
compensates for
malt wari~crtcos in aquiprrterrt that is common among different manufactures.
The
herd rail asseryibl~r apparatus is else adjustable in its width to accommodate
1 U c~iiF~:rant can ~rc~yor systems..
~A t,~ed rail assembly apparatus emha~Lying the invention inserted between
:~t~~ndar~-i carry idlers in an existing can~reyor bait is designed in the
faltowing
rnartnor. "ftro lead raft assembly apparatus has a center portion oriented
.ut~;;torrtialt~r parattel to and pen Bath the hr~ri~~arrtaf surface of the
conveyor belt. A
'( 5~ first bc~d rail n"embty on a left side of the belt Is, inclined to
support the inotined
;arrt~~ar; ot'th~: Icft sisJle of ihc~ cr~nv~ayc~r~ belt, Tfais causes the
t~ft side of the
ct~twr~yor b, it tea b~; inclined upwards and In-line with respeck to a plane
of the
ltori~antaJ carry%tng surface of tt~e c~anveyor belt. The left bed rail
assembly has
rs~ll~~rs aftixc.~cj to I!: frame With an adjustabtc~ linkage that maintains
the inclined
24 sido of ~'~o conveyer belt in crantact with to the rubber skirting seal,
This reduces
canvcyor belt drag whilca maintaining the left side of the belt art an
inclination that
c:rrart~s an e~i"acti~ro weal. A right second bed rail assembly (similar to
the left side
tier! rsil ns sc~rrtbly) function in the same manner with respect to the
inclined right
side c~Ftitc; Ganvoyor belt.
2;i A hori~:ontal center pc~tt(on of the bed rail assembly has horizontal
idlers
pasJtionid under iho befit ta~ reduce drag an the belt and provide additional
support
t~nc9er ttse toori~;onta;f Carrying surface o~ the belt.
In ordor to bc~ inserted uctdar conveyor b~alts having differ~nt designs by
f~3~sr'iUt~7Gtlli'~TS, tire brat and sec4nd bed rail assembly apparatus that
includes an
~r7 acijrjsutt~ linknc~e that chances the angle of inclination of rollers to
accommodate
ftrr; arjgle oPstan~Jard carry idlers irr the con~reyvr belt system. This
adjustable
lir~t;arrc: n~tayr tnC9u~le a base, a support that extends upwards from the
base, and a
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n~ovat~tc attac!'trrtent rner~tber that at)justs the rollers on each site tv a
desired
afii~~tc ref i~~cli~~a~ion and to a deair~d hori~orttel with,
3!'i
AMENDED SHEET
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,r
Y , The bed rail assembly apparatus may be affixed to a mounting rail by
couplings. The side rollers on the bed rail assemblies have minimal spacing
between rollers. The side rollers are advantageously smaller in diameter than
the
standard carry idlers beneath the belt. The minimal space between side rollers
and
their smaller diameter reduces that amount of unsupported area underneath the
inclined sides of the conveyor belt. The side rollers are of a small diameter
and
have sealed precision bearing to increase speed and reduce friction.
An aspect of the invention is a roller bed assembly apparatus adapted to be
inserted between carry~idlers of a conveyor belt system, said roller bed
apparatus
comprising:
a support rail oriented substantially parallel to and beneath a lower said
surface of a conveyor belt of said conveyor system;
a first bed rail assembly coupled to a first end portion of said support rail;
said first bed rail assembly having a plurality of rollers inclined at an
angle
offset from horizontal to support a first side said conveyor belt at said
angle;
a second bed rail assembly coupled to an opposite end portion of said
support rail;
said second bed rail assembly having a plurality of rollers inclined at an
angle offset from horizontal to support a second side of said conveyor belt at
said
angle; and
apparatus for adjusting that comprises adjusting means coupled to said first
bed rail assembly and to said second bed rail assembly to adjust the position
of
said first and second bed rail assemblies to accommodate conveyor belts of
different characteristics including different belt widths.
Another aspect is a roller bed assembly apparatus adapted to be inserted
between carry idlers of a conveyor belt system, said roller bed apparatus
comprising:
a support rail oriented substantially parallel to and beneath a lower surface
of a conveyor belt of said conveyor system;
a first bed rail assembly coupled to a first end portion of said support rail;
said first bed rail assembly having a plurality of rollers inclined at an
angle
offset from horizontal to said to support a first side of said conveyor belt
at said
angle;
4
AMENDED SHEET 25 06='2b02
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
a sraronti bad rail assernt~ly coupled to an a~ppc~site end portion of said
sup~~art rail;
said sr=cond bed rail assermbi~ Craving a pturaiifiy of rollers inclined at an
anfjkr 4ffs~at f'rnrn iiarizontai to srapport a second side of said cvnueyor
bait at said
'a s;crtgio; ae~d
sairll pl~rraiity Qf ralierrs are ofi ~ diameter auitsicier~fiy smatter than
tile
r.iinmetor of said carry idles and are iaasiticaned s~iisntly close to each
other
Tang the Ir.rigth ov said bait at a spacing that reduces c~rrvayor belt sag
and
ir~tot~aEis the s~~iilac~e of matetiai frarri sides of said Conveyor belt.
~lo i~'rerernt~l~ roilr.r bad assembi~y apparatus further comprises at least
one
center carry idler coupi~rd tv sattf support rail beneath said conveyor belt
to support
<~ lower i~ar'rr:orrtai surface: of said conveyor bait,
Prefc;rabiy said adjustirr~ marts includes lini~age means coupled to said
fiirst
boti rail a~~sembiy and to said second bod rail assembly to enable a change
ofi said
~ 5 untie of irWinaklarn o~F said rcrilers of sa+d first and second bead rail
a~ssembiies,
l~refc~r~rbly said adjusting means furlher comprises:
br~~cE~et weans ~rtr~e~cted to said support rail;
Skid ~F~Ck~'~ means is mov~aiale along the length of said support rail;
nn outer iir~k means oxtsnding upuvatcis from .said bracket means;
24 ~r ios~er c~r,d of said color lurk moans is rvfa#ably connect~I to said
bracket
riit.~~nS;
s;'aid ar.rter tini: means is r4talable about said bracket mean to position
said
i.r.xd rail assecr~k~lles at a desired an~ie of inclination,
P'roferabty~ said outer itn'k means comprises an end pofion having a
plurali#~r
24 of o frr:rrinr~s adapted t~o rocai~tc~ a bolt.
E'r'ofGr~biy~ said ;~djusiin~ moans camp~se;
a 9~racl~vt n~~aans conneatod to said support rail and to said bed rail
assr:mt~l~r;
ur.rld t~rackQt rrtc~ans is mo~rat,~io along if~te length c~f said support
rail to adjust
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CA 02431590 2003-05-21
the position of said first and second bed rail assembly to accommodate
conveyor
belts of different widths.
Preferably said adjusting means further comprises:
outer linkage having an upper arid a lower portion;
an inner linkage comprising a slide bar and a movable member;
said slide bar extends diagonally upward from said support rail towards said
upper portion of said outer linkage and is connected to said outer linkage;
said slidable member slidably engages said slide bar and is movable along
the length of said diagonally extending slide bar;
70 an upper surface of said movable member is coupled to a bottom surface of
said bed rail assemblies; and
iockinglunlocking means far enabling said movable member to be fixabty
coupled to said slide bar or to be movable along the length of said slide bar
to
position said inclined rollers beneath the inclined sides of different
conveyor belts.
~ 5 Preferably said adjusting means further comprises;
outer linkage having an upper and a lower portion;
an inner linkage comprising a slide bar and ~ movable member;
said slide bar extends diagonally upward from a bracket connected to said
support rail towards said upper portion of said outer linkage and is connected
to
20 said outer linkage by said bolt;
said slidable member sltdably engages said slide bar and is movable along
the length of said diagonally extending slide bar;
an upper surface of said movable member is affi~ced to a bottom surface of
said bed rail assemblies; and
25 locking/unlocking means for enabling said movable member to be fixably
coupled to said slide bar or to be movable along the length of said slide bar
to
center said inclined rollers beneath the inclined sides of different conveyor
belts.
Preferably said rollers support said first and said second inclined sides of
said conveyor belt upwards against a skirting seal and wear liner of said
conveyor
30 belt system.
Preferably said rollers are mounted on said bed rail assemblies with spacing
between rollers being less than 12.5% of the diameter of the rollers to reduce
conveyor belt sag.
B
AMENDED SHEET 25 (?fi 2002'..
. ~::.,~,:h::::_:...:..~,~.:~:,w.
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
Preferably said rollers are mounted on said bed rail assemblies with spacing
between rollers being less than 6% of the diameter of the rollers to-reduce
conveyor belt sag.
Preferably said rollers are smaller in diameter than said idlers by a factor
of
less than 1 to 3 to reduce conveyor belt sag.
Preferably said rollers are smaller in diameter than said idlers by a factor
of
less than 1 to 6 to reduce conveyor belt sag.
Preferably said apparatus for adjusting comprises:
adjusting means coupled to said first bed rail assembly and to said second
bed rail assembly to adjust the position of said first and second bed rail
assemblies
along a horizontal axis to accommodate conveyor belts of different types
including
different widths.
Preferably said apparatus for adjusting comprises:
adjusting means coupled to said first bed rail assembly and to said second
bed rail assembly to adjust the inclination said first and second bed rail
assemblies
to accommodate conveyor belts of different characteristics.
Preferably said apparatus for adjusting comprises:
adjusting means coupled to said first bed rail assembly and to said second
bed rail assembly to adjust the position of said first and second bed rail
assemblies
along an inclined axis to center said first bed rail assembly and second bed
rail
assembly beneath the inclined sides of conveyor belts of different dimensions.
Preferably said apparatus for adjusting comprises:
adjusting means coupled to said first bed rail assembly and to said second
bed rail assembly to adjust the position of said first and second bed rail
assemblies
along a horizontal axis to accommodate conveyor belts of different types;
adjusting means coupled to said first bed rail assembly and to said second
bed rail assembly to adjust the inclination said first and second bed rail
assemblies
to accommodate conveyor belts of different types; and
adjusting means coupled to said first bed rail assembly and to said second
bed rail assembly to adjust the position of said first and second bed rail
assemblies along an inclined axis to center said first bed rail assembly and
second
bed rail assembly beneath the inclined sides of conveyor belts ofi different
types.
Preferably the roller bed assembly apparatus further has:
7
AMENDED SHEET 25 06-2002:
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
hood;
vkrtac~,~nlly oriented side plates of said hood extending dvwnwardly towatds
s~ict side , ~yf said vQnveyor belt;
the (ov~ar porfiivn of said side plates are each affixed to a wear liner and a
7 ',r,~~'G91~
snit( lira silo plate anti said second side plate urge said sides of said
c:orwcys~r belt against said wear (finer and said seals to reduce conveyors
belt sag
rind to inhibit t(~c~ spi(iage of material from the s(des of said cvnve~ror
belt under
ss 1d wear (ir~ers and said seals.
1 O f'r~;fer~:~(;~ly said first plurality of rollers and said second plurality
of rollers are
mountwd an s~eid bed rail assemblies with minimal space between said rollers
to
rcc(uce Gvr~veyor heft sari;
raid rollers support said first rand second inclined sides of said conveyor
belt
u(.twarr(~a a~9:~inst a skirting and v~rear liner.
1 b Pr~f~;rabiy said asst plurality of rollers and said second plurality of
rollers are
sniZ!!cr In c9j7rrreter than said idlers of said Gonveyvr system to reduce
conveyor
br~lt sag,
Preferably said apparatus is ~odapted to support a conveyor belt in a material
roceiving it~7pact zone of a conveyor bolt system, said taller bed apparatus
is
fmlhar adnptcd ko be inserted between carry idlers positioned along the length
of
saial coryv~:yor melt to reduca conveyor belt sag, said roller bed rail
apparatus
furtljer int~hitles a hood having sitiewalls covering at least a portion of
said
corrvu~ar b.~lt, said sidewalls each I-rave a wear liner and a $eal affixed to
i(te
holtvm of salrl sidewalls to inhibit spillage of material between the edges of
said
2~i corzv~;yer L~e(t and said wear liners and said seals;
Bald taller bed jai( apparatus ~urthEr comprising;
~p(~nrat~rs for adjusting said first and said second bed tall assembly to an
ar~gf4 ref i~tolinatian rrE2tching that of the inclined sides of said conveyor
belt; and
at laast ono center carry idler coupled to said support rail beneath sold
conveyor belt to support a IQwer hQrizonta) surfece of said conveyor belt to
prevent
belt 'sag.
Fsrafc;rabty saict apparatus is adapted to support a avnveyor belt (n a
material
n~r..e9ving imlmct zone of a cane, yc~r Lrelt system, said rolisr bed
apparatus is
?l1
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CA 02431590 2003-05-21
. ~~ci~E~tad to t=a inserted between carry id~rs paosi~oned along the length
of said
eonVOyor bolt to reduce conveyor belt seg, said apparekus fiurther includes a
hood
havir~ci side~raiEs cavc~rin;~ at ic~ast a psarlion of said conveyor belt,
said sidewalis
e~a,~h hnvr, a w~aar liner and a s~cal aflixecl to the bottom of paid
sidewails to inhibit
sp~iEagr; afi rc~alarial befinreen tfve ed~ss of said corwveyQr b~ft and said
wear liner
nau~ sa:7irt sl~irti~~c~ seals; and
sa'sci ro!lc;rs are of a diameter auftroientiy smelter than the diameter of
said
c~;~rry idlers and ark: positioned sufiiclar~tiy class tv each other along the
length of
s~ai~i t~~:lt ~tt a spacing ti~at red~.rcc,s conveyor belt sag and Inhibits
th~ spillage ofi
~4U wat~:rial la~twecn tl~~e upper ed~os of said befk and said skirling seats
and said wear
iir~crs.
k~escriptl~on of the Qra~nrin!gs
'i'he above and other features cal this inrrentian are described in the
detailed
d~;~s~;rEpli~an given below and the fo~Eowtng drauvings:
T
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EmPf .zeit:0~/1G~ ~.~~ ".~+~ rmpt _nr ~=~~ ~ ~o~
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i=iG. 1 illustrates ~a conveyor system 10A including bed rail assembly
appari:3t~rs ~:3nboclying the in~rentlon;
h~tG. 2 ih~rslratin~ a sectional front view of a bed rail assembly apparatus
insr3rtc;d irit~.~ a conveyor belt system in accordance with this invention;
f:lf~. ;3 is a perspective view of !he roller bed rail assembly apparatus
c:orniZrisln~ the invention;
FIG. 4 is a lower side view of the bed rail assembly apparatus of the present
iTlv~i1#ICIn;
I"'I~S. a, 6, and 7 illustrate fuethe~r details of the apparatus that enables
the
1U i~c~I'smd silo pl.~tc; rollers to b~c adjusted to diFferent angles;
FIG. ~ illustrates further details of support rail 123 and snd bracket 207.
~?e~iled Descfiption
~.srri tien ol: F1E3S. 1, ~ and 3
~:... __.p,.~....._
ITIC~. 1 discloses the roller fad rail assembly apparatus of the present
1r in~rcntion ~rr~l~4died int4 an exlstinc~ conveyor system 100 having a top
hood 1a7, a
ht~r~d aeL~ar 100 and vertical skill sidewatls 1 d6. Vertical supports 121 are
c~~t~nected to vertical skirt side walls 106. Vcrkical supports 121 are
further
connected io horizontal skirt wall supports 109 each of which is connected at
its
cmtcr er7d Y~o vertical support elerr~ent 1U~ which at its lower end is
connected to
2E~ strin~tc~r 1 Q3 which comprises a lower bases for conveyor system 100.
l'l~G e~c~uipmcnt pr~avided in accordance with the present invention includes
tier: Genveyr~r c~iider bed apparatus '119 of which four are shown on FIG. 1.
Glider
k~~c~f apparat~~s 119 inchictes inclined rollers 110 which are shown inclined
at an
angle of to~ctinofian to support the inclined sides of belt 104.. This
inclination
2~ rc~ntains itie material transported by conveyor belt 104 while preventing
material
spilhtge avr:r the: i~~cfined sides cf conveyor belt 104. Thv apparatus
provided in
acr~fdance with the present invention further includes a series of center
carry
ieilor:y 117 ur~demeath knelt 104. Only one center carry idler 117 is shown on
FIG.
1. l-tt~wrevcr, ~:ach r~lider bed 1't J includes a Center carry idler 117. The
system of
30 F-iCa. 1 furiimr includes inclined crarrier idlers 116 which comprise a
part of the
exlstir~r~ conveyor system. Idlers '127 and 116 are positioned approximately
every
fic~ur feat atc~ng the lengtly of can~reyor belt 1a4. Head 1Q7 encloses the
top portion
ref conv~;yc~r systc:nn 100 and provents spillar~e of material over the sides
of the belt
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CA 02431590 2003-05-21
~rtd furlh~.r provents lF~c ascapc~ afi dust gener~rte~d by the mavemerrt of
the material
lo~atl. Ttte e:~cape of dust and thrr ,spttlac~e cal material is further
prevented by
naiiber l~ctt seals 11~ larasiiionad on lice lower pr~rtion of the inner side
skirt walls
1D6 ~FiG. 2~. i~ubt~cr belt seals 11f~ acrd wear iinar 125 have a lower end
which
."J fJt.''pre.~''a ac~a'snst thc~ top ot'tho incdin~zd portion of bait 104.
idler support 1'15_
sc~pprart~; inoluiod carr~r idlcar 11~a and rests ocr conveyor string~r 103 of
FIG.1.
FtG, 2 is a sectioned front viauu of r~anveyar system "I00 including conveyor
tfalt 1(1~'>'. FI~. 2 disclc~sas a de~ic 1D1, support tall platform 123, a
left side plate
'102 and 0 ric~t~t side plats 1Q~2. 4,aft side plate 102 inclln~ the Isft side
of conveyor'
1U tfait ltf~. upv~ards to prravr~nk spillage and to held conveyer bait 104
against a
rubber bait ~aa1118. Right side puke 1D2 inallnes a right side of eeanveyar
belt 1U4
t4 up~rar~Js'to prQVent spillage and holds conveyor b~:lt 1D4 against a rubber
belt
sG~~i 11 t3,
Support raft 123 I~ralds idlers 11T and a carrying surface ef conveyor belt
1D4
'15 ital. S4r~aport rail 123 suppoc~onveyc~r belt lfl4 and idler 117 fmm
buckling under
ltr~~ inynct of malarial. Suppr~rt rail 12~ has a s~uppnrt surface oriented
substx~riliaiiy paraft~ai tea the camyinc~ surface of conveyer belt 104.
Support rail 123
suphorls l~od rail assembly 72~. and tree carrying surtaee of conveyor belt
1D4. End
bcrl r,~i9 a~son~bly 12.~ inoludt~s inclined rollers 110. Inclined rollers 11D
and idlers
2U 1 'i i' aro c~upi~:c1 to support rail 92~ via strcrts 215, 244 and 2D5.
Stn~rts 215 and
21~.~ aro ~afeixo~a to support rail 123 by t~oits 206 that thread through
openings in
suyport rail 12~~, Idlors 11T are affixed 1o support rail 123 lay bracket 211
and pin
i G,
Loft r~:Je plate is on ihc Icsfl side of support rail '12~. deft side plate
102
2ti ct~rr~prisos 7 part of tho bad rail assembly 2~4 which is subsequently
described in
rorwaclfon with FIG. 3 and includes rollers 110, elements 212, 122, 204, 205
ail as
ti~acr~itW~1 i0 further draa,iied for rite. ~, FIG. 2 has right side plate 102
identical a
all r~:~pc,cts tc~ the left side apparatus 102. Bed rail assembly 124 supports
the
ir~c(iric~a iav~~er surfaces of belt 1t3~. to errclr~se ihs~ enfrappsd dust
generated by the
'D ~nvoyor' soil to prdvent the spiltar~, a of material over the sides of the
inclined belt.
i~eri r~tli asse~mtaly 12~. comprises ii~e above ertutnerated apparatus and is
,. ndj~rslc~bla as cicscribed in connection with Fll~. ~ and Later in
connection with
f7c~S. a, ~ ai~el '~ to anal~lc~ lire bad ruff ass~ambty 124 to be usable in
the dififerent
D
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CA 02431590 2003-05-21
ct~nveyor systerns having different dac~rees of inclination far the side
portions of the
canveyc~r loft
Nicrr~ber 212 is slidablc on element 205 to permit the rollers 110 of FIG. 3
to
lie adjusted tv an inclined angla carr~esponding to that of the inclined sides
of the
GanLreynr belt. .Element 212 is adustable to enable the entire array of
rollers 110
yhrawr~ on f=iG. 3 to be adjustable arid siidablQ to different positions to
~ccbon~niodate conveyor belts 10~ of different widths and different angles of
incf;nat.ion. Slidabla element 212 is rttottnted on member 205 whose left end
is
pivQtt~biy oc~rtnectc~d t4 element 20~ which comprises a part of bracket 2U6.
The
1U ridlZt onci of c4eimvnt 205 is affixed try mean$ of a bolt 211 to one of
holes 203 in
crt,rtaide lirtk~ige 122 that is a one piece olement which includes element
1228. The
lour part of 1228 is pivotably affixed by means of a bolt to element 215 which
Gornjori:~os a pert of bracket 2t36.
The bc~d rail assombiy 1 Z4. comprising the present invention is adjustable so
1a as to bo oQntpatibla with different corrveyvr systems. Both the left and
right side
plates 1t72, sns Best shown on FIG. 3, include member 2'12 which are,slidabiy
rrrauntotl ory nwmber 205. The slidable interaction between movable member 212
anti viexrl~:rit ?Q5 permit the entire bed rail assembly 1 Z~ including
rollers 110 to be
~lcl;t3stat~fa in v~idth to accon~modatv different belts, The bed rail
assembly 124 and
20 eierrrenl 212 and rollers 11 U are further adjustable regarding their angle
of
ir»,linalion. ~f izo angle of inclination is adjusted by Ivosening set screws
210 to
Go~.~i~lo elotttents 212 and 2U5 to be movabiE with respect to each other. The
outer
iinhagr~ 1?2 is then adjusted by rotating linkage '122 about its pivot point
on
et~;r~rmnt 215 and, at thQ same lima, interconnecting the bar 205 and the
vertical
25 portiar~ of ocrisicle linic~rge 122 by inserting a bolt 211 through the
appropriate hole
2013 in xt~ vertical position of outside linkage 122. Following this, the set
screws
fro rmy l~c~ then adjusted and tightened sv that movable member 212 is fixably
prrsiii.ont~ci vviti~ rasped to slide bar 2a5,
1=IC, 2 is a sectioned firvht view of the bad rail assembly apparatus 124
sEuawo in i'rarti~ter drrtail on F'IG. 3. 'fha function of the bed rat(
assembly 12~. is to
suplavrt taw lc~war IyarLztantal portion of conveyor belt 104 by means of
center carry
idlor~ 11 T i~rcwided bar the afaparaUss of the invention. Another function of
the bed
AMENDED SHEET
EmPf .zei t:04~IG~ ~~~~ t, .-,~ cmNr .nr .:r~r,r~ w _mn
CA 02431590 2003-05-21
raii assambly 92~ is to support the inc~lin~d ~id~ vfi file conveyor belt 1t3~
uvit~
mll~r~
1 Ol1
AMENDED SHEET
EmFf .~e i t :0411 f~~~uu~ ~ r : n ~
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WO 02/44059 PCT/USO1/44761
110. Each bed rail assembly 124 is adjustable in width by set screws 210 which
can be loosened to enable member 212 to be slidable along inclined slide bar
205.
The bed rail assembly 124 together with its rollers 110 may be further
adjustable in
width to accommodate different conveyor belts by means of loosening the bolts
associated with brackets 206 to slide bed rail assembly 124 to the left or
right along
support rail 123 to accommodate conveyor belts of different widths. Following
the
adjustment, the bolts associated with brackets 206 may be tightened as may be
the set screws 212. Each bed rail assembly 124 is adjustable to different
angles of
inclination by removing bolt 211 from a current hole 203 of outside linkage
122, by
rotating the one piece linkage 122 and 122B about its pivot point on bracket
206,
by rotating slide bar 205 about its pivot point connected to a portion of
bracket 206
and element 215 to position rollers 110 of bed rail assembly 124 to an
inclination of
that matches the inclination of the conveyor belt. Following this, bolt 211 is
then
inserted into the appropriate hole 203 of vertical linkage 122 to accommodate
the
desired inclination of the bed rail assembly 124. Following this, the bolts
and set
screws associated with this adjustment are tightened to fix the bed rail
assembly
124, the desired width along support rail 123, the desired angle of
inclination, and
the desired position on element 205.
Support rail 123 supports bed rail assembly apparatus as well as idlers 117
which support the horizontal carrying surface of conveyor belt 104 flat.
Support rail
123 prevents conveyor belt 104 from buckling under the impact of the material
load. Support rail 123 and idler 117 provide a support surface beneath the
carrying
surface of conveyor belt 104. Support rail 123 also supports inclined rollers
110
and its associated members.
Conveyor system 200 of FIG. 2 includes side skirt boards 107 and top
covering 108. Side skirt boards 107 and covering 108 are positioned over and
enclose conveyor belt 104. Supports 109 couple side skirt boards 107 via
vertical
members 121 to the base of conveyor belt system 200 via conveyor stringers
105.
Wear liners 125 depend from the bottom end of skirt boards 107. Wear
liners 125 engage the top portions of conveyor belt 104 to prevent material
from
spilling out of the sides of conveyor belt 104. Skirting seals 118 extend
outward
from wear liners 125 and further engage conveyor belt 104.
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FIG. 4 is a lower side view of the elements of the bed rail assembly 124. It
shows the inclined carrier idlers 116 of the existing conveyor system. It
further
shows the inclined rollers 110 of bed rail assembly 124. It further shows the
brackets 207 which are fixed to the ends of the support rail 123 shown on
FIGS. 2
and 3. It further shows the upper and lower brackets 128A and 128B mounting
rollers 110 to the rest of the bed rail assembly 124. All of this apparatus is
mounted to the frame 103 termed the "conveyor stringer" as shown on FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 also shows the carrier idlers 117 which as shown on FIG. 1 are
horizontally oriented beneath the lower surface of the conveyor belt to
provide
further support for the horizontal portion of the conveyor belt. The
horizontal carrier
idler 117 comprises an integral part of each element 119 on FIG. 1 which is
termed
the "glider bed". Each bed rail assembly 124 includes two glider bed elements
117
and thus two horizontally oriented carrier idlers 117 in addition to the array
of
inclined rollers 110.
Rollers 110 are of the smaller diameter than are the inclined idlers 116 of
the existing conveyor systems. This allows rollers 110 to be closely spaced to
minimize the unsupported belt span of the inclined portion of belt 104 between
rollers 110 to minimize sag of the inclined portion of the belt. This provides
improved material support for the inclined portion of the belt and, as best
shown on
FIG. 2, permits the rubber belt seal 118 and wearliner 125 to engage the
inclined
portion of the belt 104 to minimize the escape of dust and to minimize
material
spillage over the inclined sides of the conveyor belt 104. In a preferred
embodiment of the invention, rollers 110 are of small diameter and have sealed
precision bearings. This promotes improved sealing for the conveyor belt 104
to
prevent spillage.
FIGS. 5,6, and 7 illustrate first side plate 102 at a variety of angles to fit
under different conveyor belts. In FIG. 5, side plate 102 position 500 at a 45
degree angle with respect to the plane of the carrying surface of the conveyor
belt.
In the shown embodiment, first side plate 102 is placed in position 500 by
inserting
a bolt through a top most opening 501 in movable attachment member 122. In
FIG. 6, side plate 102 is placed in position 600 which is at a 35 degree angle
with
respect to the plane of the carrying surface of conveyor belt 104. In the
shown
embodiment, first side plate 102, is placed in position 600 by inserting a
bolt
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through a middle opening 601 in movable attachment member 122. In FIG. 7,
first
side plate 102 is in position 700 at a 20 degree angle with respect to the
plane of
the carrying surface of conveyor belt 104. In the shown embodiment, first side
plate 102 is placed in position 700 by inserting a bolt through a lower most
opening
in movable attachment member 122.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIG. 8
Figure 8 discloses further details of support rail 123 of FIG. 3 and how it
interacts v~rith the brackets 206 and their associated bolts. The single
support rail
123 of FIG. 3 actually comprises two separate rails 123A and 123B of FIG. 8. A
space exists between the rails 123A and 123B to allow bolt 301 to extend
downwardly through the space to clamp upper and lower portions of bracket 206
together when the bolt 301 is tightened. The front and rear bolts 302 on the
front
and back of the plates 206 on FIG. 3 can be tightened or loosened to control
the
clamping of plates 206 rigidly to the front and rear platform rails 123A and
123B.
The ends of elements 123A and 123B are welded to brackets 207 (FIG. 2).
F1G. 8 further shows side portion of member 204 affixed to upper bracket
206 and its bolts 303 and 304. Also shown is the side portion of the lower
segment
122B of outside linkage 122.
The structure shown on FIG. 8 permits the bolts shown thereon to be
loosened so that each bed rail assembly 124 can be slidably adjusted along the
length of platform rail 123. This adjustability is desired so that the bed
rail
assemblies 124 can be adjusted as required to accommodate the various widths
of
conveyor belts 104 to which the apparatus of FIG. 3 is to be engaged when in
use.
The above is a description of a roller bed rail assembly that is inserted
between idlers in an existing conveyor system in accordance with this
invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, idlers 127 are positioned every
4 feet along the load carrying portion of the conveyor and every 10 feet on
the
return portion of the belt. The idlers are 6 inches in diameter and the
rollers 110
are 2'~2 inches in diameter. The spacing between the outer surface of adjacent
rollers 110 is 1/4 inch. The bed rail assembly 124 is 40 inches in length.
The above dimensions are merely exemplary and may vary over a
considerable range.
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It is to be expressly understood that the claimed invention is not to be
limited
to the description of the preferred embodiment but encompasses other
modifications and alterations of varying dimensions.
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