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Patent US3773167A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3773167A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Conveyor belt multiple drive system
Assignee: Goodrich Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-16
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Granted: 1973-11-20
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Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A troughed conveyor belt of the type having nearly inextensible longitudinal reinforcements in its flat margins is used for long uninterrupted transport of bulk material, or for high lifts, by providing multiple drives along its length. Each of the multiple drives engages both the load-carrying strand and the return strand of the belt by means of a pair of driven tires between the marginal portions of the two belt strands and other pairs of tires pressing the belt against the driven tires. To assure proper division of work among the individual drive motors, they are identical in operating characteristics, and are selected to have a percentage of reduction in speed as the load is increased from no load to full load at least several times as great as the percentage of stretch in the longitudinal reinforcements of the belts.
Inventors
- 👤 H Mcginnis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:11
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G23/00; B65G23/32; B65G23/36; B65G2811/00; B65G2811/09; B65G2811/091; B65G2811/092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A drive unit for transmitting motion to a conveyor belt, comprising a first pair of tires for engaging the margins only of the belt between the upper strand and the lower strand of the belt, a second pair of tires above the belt pressing the upper strand of the belt against the first pair, a third pair of tires pressing the lower strand of the belt against the first pair, and a motor driving at least one pair of the tires.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A drive unit for transmitting motion to a conveyor belt, comprising a first pair of tires for engaging the margins only of the belt between the upper strand and the lower strand of the belt, a second pair of tires above the belt pressing the upper strand of the belt against the first pair, a third pair of tires pressing the lower strand of the belt against the first pair, and a motor driving at least one pair of the tires.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A drive unit as in claim 1, including means for adjusting the pressure of the other tires toward the driven tires.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A drive unit as in claim 1, in which the first pair of tires are the driven tires.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A drive unit as in claim 3, in which the tires have a serrated tread on a flexible carcass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A drive unit as in claim 4, in which the tires are distended by internal pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A drive unit as in claim 5, in which the tires while under no external load have an essentially cylindrical tread.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A drive unit as in claim 6, in which the tires have a tread which will transmit circumferential driving forces free from lateral components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A drive unit as in claim 1, in which the driven tires are actuated by a motor having a substantial slip when operating under load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of a drive unit as in claim 1 and a conveYor belt with its margins only gripped between the driven tires and the other tires.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination as in claim 9, in which the belt has its longitudinal reinforcements essentially in its margins.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as in claim 10, in which the longitudinal reinforcements of the belt are nearly inextensible.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 9, in which there are multiple drive units on a single belt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as in claim 11, in which there are multiple drive units on a single belt.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination as in claim 13, in which a pair of tires presses the margins of the upper strand of the belt against the driven tires and another pair of tires presses the margins of the lower strand of the belt against the driven tires.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as in claim 14, in which the drive units are identical in operating characteristics.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination as in claim 15, in which the drive units include motors having a percentage of slip at full allowable work load at least several times the percentage of extensibility of the belt at full allowable tension load.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination of a conveyor belt having nearly inextensible longitudinal reinforcements located essentially only in its margins, with a plurality of similar drive units, each drive unit including at least two pairs of resilient tires pressing against the belt margins, one pair from above and the other pair from below, and a motor, having a percentage of slip at full allowable work load which is at least several times the percentage of extensibility of the belt at full allowable tension load, driving at least one pair of tires.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
88 words
The combination of a conveyor belt having nearly inextensible longitudinal reinforcements located essentially only in its margins, with a plurality of similar drive units, each drive unit including at least two pairs of resilient tires pressing against the belt margins, one pair from above and the other pair from below, and a motor, having a percentage of slip at full allowable work load which is at least several times the percentage of extensibility of the belt at full allowable tension load, driving at least one pair of tires.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 17 including another pair of resilient tires pressing the margins of the return strand of the belt against the driven tires.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-19 | 1977-05-21 | 1977-11-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-19 | 1981-05-21 | 1981-11-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-19 | 1985-05-21 | 1985-11-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |