US3572498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed conveyor
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1968-09-23
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Granted: 1971-03-30
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Expires: 1988-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A variable speed conveyor having an endless conveyor member composed of longitudinally spaced load-bearing sections which are relatively movable with at least a component of relative motion parallel to the conveyor path. The conveyor member is driven endwise in a manner such that the velocity of each load-bearing section parallel to the conveyor path varies along the path between the conveyor infeed and outfeed stations to maximize the average conveyor velocity along the path and/or to provide the conveyor with different infeed and outfeed velocities. The conveyor is useful both as an article conveyance and a pedestrian conveyance.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew G Hammitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:48
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66B; B66B23/00; B66B23/02; B66B21/00; B66B21/10; B66B21/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A variable speed conveyor comprising: an endless conveyor member including a number of relatively rigid generally rectangular plates disposed in longitudinal edge-to-edge relation along said conveyor member, and slide pivot means joining the adjacent plates along the adjacent edges thereof for relative hinging rotation of the adjacent plates about parallel hinge axes extending along said adjacent plate edges transversely of the said conveyor member and relative edgewisE sliding movement of the adjacent plates along the intervening hinge axes, said slide pivot means acting to positively restrain the adjacent plates against all relative movement other than said relative hinging rotation about and said relative edgewise sliding movement along said hinge axes, whereby said hinge axes remain parallel along the entire path of said conveyor member; said conveyor member having a load-bearing run extending along a prescribed path of motion between an infeed station and an outfeed station; said conveyor path having an arcuate portion along which each said conveyor plate travels with a first component of motion normal to its hinge axes and a second component of motion parallel to its hinge axes, whereby each conveyor plate has a resultant velocity component parallel to said conveyor path; and means for driving said conveyor member in its endwise direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A variable speed conveyor comprising: an endless conveyor member including a number of relatively rigid generally rectangular plates disposed in longitudinal edge-to-edge relation along said conveyor member, and slide pivot means joining the adjacent plates along the adjacent edges thereof for relative hinging rotation of the adjacent plates about parallel hinge axes extending along said adjacent plate edges transversely of the said conveyor member and relative edgewisE sliding movement of the adjacent plates along the intervening hinge axes, said slide pivot means acting to positively restrain the adjacent plates against all relative movement other than said relative hinging rotation about and said relative edgewise sliding movement along said hinge axes, whereby said hinge axes remain parallel along the entire path of said conveyor member; said conveyor member having a load-bearing run extending along a prescribed path of motion between an infeed station and an outfeed station; said conveyor path having an arcuate portion along which each said conveyor plate travels with a first component of motion normal to its hinge axes and a second component of motion parallel to its hinge axes, whereby each conveyor plate has a resultant velocity component parallel to said conveyor path; and means for driving said conveyor member in its endwise direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein: said conveyor driving means drives said conveyor member endwise in such a way as to provide each said conveyor plate with a generally constant first velocity component normal to its hinge axes; and the curvature of said arcuate path portion varies therealong, whereby the resultant velocity component of each conveyor plate varies along said arcuate path portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein: said conveyor path has a linear portion extending generally normal to said conveyor plate hinge axes and merging tangentially with said arcuate path portion; and said conveyor driving means drives said conveyor member with a constant velocity normal to said hinge axes, whereby the velocity of each conveyor plate parallel to said conveyor path remains generally constant along said linear path portion and varies during movement of the respective plate between said path portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A conveyor according to claim 3, wherein said linear path portion preceeds said arcuate path portion in the direction of movement of said conveyor member, whereby each conveyor plate undergoes acceleration along said conveyor path during movement from said linear path portion to said arcuate path portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A conveyor according to claim 3, wherein said linear path portion follows said arcuate path portion in the direction of movement of said conveyor member, whereby each conveyor plate undergoes deceleration during movement from said arcuate path portion to said linear path portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
81 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein: said conveyor path has parallel linear portions extending through said infeed and outfeed station respectively, normal to said hinge axes; and said arcuate path portion has a generally S-shaped curvature and merges tangentially with said linear path portions, respectively, whereby each conveyor plate travels through said infeed and outfeed stations with a generally constant velocity parallel to said conveyor path and undergoes initial acceleration and final deceleration during movement along said arcuate path portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
A conveyor according to claim 6, wherein said conveyor driving means comprise driving rollers spaced along said conveyor path and disposed for successive tangential driving contact with said conveyor plates, and means for driving each roller at a rim velocity equal to the velocity of each conveyor plate parallel to said path at the position of driving contact of the respective plate and roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein: said supporting means comprise rails extending along and generally parallel to said conveyor path, and guides on the ends of said conveyor plates respectively, engaging and movable along said rails; and the spacing between said rails in plane parallel to said hinge axes remaining constant along the entire length of said rails.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
114 words
An endless conveyor member comprising: a number of relatively rigid load-bearing plates arranged in longitudinally spaced edge-to-edge relation to form an endless conveyor member; Slide pivot means joining the adjacent edges of the adjacent plates for relative hinging rotation of the adjacent plates about parallel hinge axes extending transversely of said conveyor member and relative edgewise sliding movement of the adjacent plates along the intervening hinge axes; and said slide pivot means acting to positively restrain the adjacent plates against all relative movement other than said relative hinging rotation about and said relative edgewise sliding movement along said hinge axes, whereby said hinge axes remain parallel along the entire path of said conveyor member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
An endless conveyor member comprising: a number of relatively rigid load-bearing plates arranged in longitudinally spaced edge-to-edge relation to form an endless conveyor member; Slide pivot means joining the adjacent edges of the adjacent plates for relative hinging rotation of the adjacent plates about parallel hinge axes extending transversely of said conveyor member and relative edgewise sliding movement of the adjacent plates along the intervening hinge axes; and said slide pivot means acting to positively restrain the adjacent plates against all relative movement other than said relative hinging rotation about and said relative edgewise sliding movement along said hinge axes, whereby said hinge axes remain parallel along the entire path of said conveyor member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2655250A
Cited
GB1073437A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |