US3889803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Openwork conveyor belting
Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
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Filing: 1973-11-30
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1993-11-30
Abstract
Abstract Conveyor belt comprises a series of spaced transverse struts mounted on a flexible but inextensible element. The ends of the struts are interconnected to form a substantially zig-zag configuration, the interconnected ends being adapted for engagement in slideways thereby to constrain the belt to curves in the path of the conveyor and maintain its attitude in a horizontal plane.
Inventors
- 👤 William Paul White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:56
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G21/00; B65G21/16; B65G17/00; B65G17/06; B65G17/061; B65G17/22; B65G2201/00; B65G2201/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A conveyor having an openwork endless conveyor belt having lateral edges and comprising a series of struts, each strut extending from a transverse end at one lateral edge of the conveyor belt transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor to a transverse end at the other lateral edge of the conveyor belt, and located in spaced relationship from each other in the direction of travel and interconnected at their said transverse ends to form a substantially zig-zag configuration each strut having a cross-section, viewed in a vertical plane parallel to the said direction of travel, which is thin in the said direction of travel and elongated perpendicular to the said direction of travel so that each strut is sufficiently springlike to flex, between its transverse ends, to negotiate both horizontal axis curves and vertical axis curves, spacer means disposed centrally between said transverse ends between each strut and its adjacent struts for maintaining a substantially uniform spacing between each strut and its adjacent struts, a flexible inextensible means extending in the said direction of travel and located centrally between the transverse ends for comprising and locating said spacer means, guide means for receiving the interconnected ends for confining the said interconnected ends against movement perpendicular to the said direction of travel both (a) in the plane of the conveyor and (b) perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor, and drive means for driving the belt in said direction of travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A conveyor having an openwork endless conveyor belt having lateral edges and comprising a series of struts, each strut extending from a transverse end at one lateral edge of the conveyor belt transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor to a transverse end at the other lateral edge of the conveyor belt, and located in spaced relationship from each other in the direction of travel and interconnected at their said transverse ends to form a substantially zig-zag configuration each strut having a cross-section, viewed in a vertical plane parallel to the said direction of travel, which is thin in the said direction of travel and elongated perpendicular to the said direction of travel so that each strut is sufficiently springlike to flex, between its transverse ends, to negotiate both horizontal axis curves and vertical axis curves, spacer means disposed centrally between said transverse ends between each strut and its adjacent struts for maintaining a substantially uniform spacing between each strut and its adjacent struts, a flexible inextensible means extending in the said direction of travel and located centrally between the transverse ends for comprising and locating said spacer means, guide means for receiving the interconnected ends for confining the said interconnected ends against movement perpendicular to the said direction of travel both (a) in the plane of the conveyor and (b) perpendicular to the plane of the conveyor, and drive means for driving the belt in said direction of travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, said flexible inextensible means comprising a cable extending in the direction of travel of the conveyor, and said spacer means comprises spacer elements on the cable between the adjacent struts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, said guide means comprising guide ways of channel section on each side of the conveyor, each receiving the interconnected transverse ends on that side of the conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, including a guide wheel on an inside radius of a bend and wherein the edge of the conveyor belt on the inside radius runs in contact with the guide wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the belt is driven by engagement with the guide wheel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A conveyor according to claim 5 wherein the guide wheel has teeth for engaging the interconnected transverse ends for driving the conveyor belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, including rollers operatively connected to an edge of the conveyor belt on an inside radius of a bend and including a support belt for said conveyor running on said rollers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A conveyor according to claim 7 wherein the support belt is driven by the rollers and the support belt has teeth engaging the conveyor belt between the interconnected transverse ends of the struts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, said belt being in the form of a closed loop running at each end of its operative upper surface over a horizoNtal axis roller and having a lower return section between the horizontal axis rollers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A conveyor according to claim 9 wherein the belt is driven by engagement with at least one horizontal axis roller.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A conveyor according to claim 10 wherein at least one horizontal axis roller has teeth in engagement with the belt between the struts for driving the belt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
A conveyor according to claim 9, including a swing link having a spring acting thereon, and wherein at least one of the horizontal axis rollers is mounted at its axis on said swing link so that tension can be applied to the conveyor by said spring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the interconnected transverse ends form U bends.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 having a horizontal axis curve wherein the interconnected transverse ends along the edge of the belt defining an outer arc of the curve form U bends and the interconnections along the edge of the belt defining an inner arc of the curve form V bends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the struts are formed with projections extending transversely into the spaces between struts, the projections of any one strut being staggered with respect to the projections of the adjacent struts.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein projection members are attached to the struts and arranged to extend transversely into the spaces between struts the projection of any one strut being staggered with respect to the projections of the adjacent struts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the interconnected transverse ends form V bends.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the struts are joined together and adapted for engagement with the slideways by U shaped clips enclosing the ends of the struts.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
A conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the struts are of rolled tubular form, one end of each strut being formed to a smaller diameter than the other end which is formed to a larger diameter, the smaller diameter end of each strut fitting inside the larger diameter end of the adjacent strut to interconnect the ends and adapt the ends for engagement with the guide means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A conveyor according to claim 19 wherein the tubular joined ends of the struts carry headed pins, the heads forming upper and lower bearing pads for engaging the upper and lower side flanges of the slideways.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
A conveyor according to claim 19 and having free running rollers extending across the width of the belt, the rollers being mounted on shafts extending between brackets fitted in the rolled ends of the cross struts along each edge of the conveyor belt, the brackets along one edge being inclined in one direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the belt whilst the brackets along the other edge of the belt are inclined in the opposite direction so that the shafts carrying the rollers extend transversely across the width of the belt between corresponding brackets on either edge of the belt.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein said drive means engages the struts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |