US5735386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tube and belt conveyor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-05-15
•
Granted: 1998-04-07
•
Expires: 2016-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A belt conveyor comprises an elongate tube with an upper run of the belt passing through the tube from a hopper at a lower exposed feed portion of the belt. The feeding of the material from the hopper onto the belt and into the tube is enhanced by the addition of a tapered auger flight on a shaft extending longitudinally of the belt from the bearing at the rear wall of the hopper to a hanger bearing within the tube, The auger flight assists in transporting the material through the open mouth of the tube and spreading the material over the surface of the belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Epp
- 👤 Dwayne S. Epp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 19:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/04; B65G69/0433; B65G65/00; B65G65/30; B65G65/34; B65G65/40; B65G65/42; B65G65/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A conveyor comprising: an elongate tube having a feed end; an endless belt; guide means mounting the belt such that a feed run of the belt passes through the tube for carrying particulate material therethrough and a return run passes outside the tube with a feed end portion of the belt exposed beyond the feed end of the tube; a hopper at the feed end of the tube for directing particulate material deposited into the hopper such that the particulate material is guided onto the feed end portion of the belt and is moved thereon longitudinally of the tube into the feed end of the tube; and an auger feed member mounted above the feed end of the belt and extending longitudinally therealong with a forward end of the auger feed member projecting into the feed end of the tube for assisting the feed of the particulate material into the feed end of the tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A conveyor comprising: an elongate tube having a feed end; an endless belt; guide means mounting the belt such that a feed run of the belt passes through the tube for carrying particulate material therethrough and a return run passes outside the tube with a feed end portion of the belt exposed beyond the feed end of the tube; a hopper at the feed end of the tube for directing particulate material deposited into the hopper such that the particulate material is guided onto the feed end portion of the belt and is moved thereon longitudinally of the tube into the feed end of the tube; and an auger feed member mounted above the feed end of the belt and extending longitudinally therealong with a forward end of the auger feed member projecting into the feed end of the tube for assisting the feed of the particulate material into the feed end of the tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the auger feed member comprises an elongate shaft with a flight engaged around the shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the flight is along the full length of the shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the flight gradually tapers from the remote end to the inside end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the flight gradually tapers from the remote end to the inside end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the shaft is substantially parallel to the belt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the shaft is arranged at a height such that the larger end of the flight is spaced above the belt and the portion of the flight extending into the tube is spaced from the tube.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The conveyor according to claim 2 wherein the shaft is mounted at a rear end on an end wall of the hopper and at a forward end on a hanger member located inside the tube.
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) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |