GB1183023A - Improvements in or relating to Conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

1,183,023. Conveyers. HIRAM WALKER & SONS (SCOTLAND) Ltd. 8 Jan., 1969 [19 Jan., 1968], No. 2961/68. Headings B8A and B8J. Figs. 1, 2 show conveying apparatus for barrels which is laid on the floor 1 of a warehouse. The apparatus comprises end-to-end interconnected conveyer sections A, B, C, each consisting of a pair of spaced parallel boxsection tubular rails 2, 3 forming a rolling track and a pair of flat, closed, inflatable inelastic tubes 4, 5 (e.g. firefighting hoses) on the flat top faces of the respective rails 2, 3 having their closed end) ,secured thereto. A pressure-fluid supply means D provides compressed air which is connected to the tubes 4, 5 and to the rails 2, 3 respectively forming feed and exhaust trunks. Transverse feed conduit means 6 and transverse exhaust conduit means 7 interconnect the pairs of tube ends. Casing 10, 11, 16, 17 enclose valves and ducts so arranged that each pair of tubes 4, 5 is fed with compressed air at adjacent ends and connected to exhaust at the other pair of ends. A barrel deposited on the upstream end of the apparatus sealingly nips the tubes 4, 5 against the rails 2, 3 (the rails tilting inwardly to match the convexity of the barrel, Fig. 3 (not shown)). The pressure difference at opposite sides of the nip applies a rolling torque to the barrel which then travels downstream. By providing air inlet and air outlet ducting at each end of the conveyer sections the barrel may be conveyed in the reverse direction simply by operating control valve 41 to reverse the direction of circulation of the air. A series of barrels may be progressed simultaneously and there may be curved conveyer sections. In another embodiment (not shown) the runs of the tubes 4, 5 are nipped by the rollers of a load in the form of a roller carriage on which is mounted a pallet to receive material to be conveyed. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 8, 10, conveying apparatus for discrete material 53, e.g. sand or grain, includes a channel 48 of arcuate cross-section, a wide, flat inflatable inelastic tube 49, an air pump or compressor 50 and a vertically reciprocable pressure block 51 urged by a spring 54 into nipping engagement with the tube 49. A hopper 52 continuously feeds the material on to the tube 49, the block 51 co-operating with the pump 50 to produce a flow of air pulses through the tube 49. A wave motion is thus produced in the top wall 49A of the tube 49 effecting conveyance of the material along the tube in a series of hops.