GB2042448A - Coupling device for towing conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

Coupling device for power-and- free conveyors using a towing chain (2) and trolleys rolling on rails (5) under that towing chain (2). Coupling means are provided between the trucks and the towing chain (2), wherein the movable parts of this coupling means are fastened to the towing chain (2) and engage behind roller caps (7, 8) of the trolleys. To prevent vehicles becoming free and running ahead on inclined stretches but also to allow a vehicle to be manually pushed past the drive means, a drop arm (11) of the movable coupling parts means has a cross-pin (25) which engages in a forked-end (24) of a cranked intermediate lever (12) that cooperates with a locking lever (13) that locks or releases the entrainment finger (14) according to its position and lifts the drop arm (11) when the entrainment finger (14) is moved by a trolley pushed through the movable coupling parts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Coupling device for towing conveyors The invention relates to coupling devices for towing conveyors, particularly endless types, having a suspended track arranged below a towing chain, with a rail or rails of that track supporting two roller or wheel mechanisms of each trolley as it traverses the track. Coupling means must be provided between the trucks and the towing chain, and it is of advantage, with light monorail endless towing conveyors in which the trucks may be removable from the rail at optional positions, if movable coupling parts are on coupling devices for the towing chain, and coupling parts of the trucks to cooperate therewith are fixed on the roller or wheel mechanisms.

Our previous devices, when fastened to the towing chain, have a body or housing opening downwardly in which is provided an entrainment finger and a locking lever operatively connected therewith, both pivotable about horizontal axes. The locking lever normally holds the entrainment finger in its engagement position with the coupling part on the trolley, but can release the entrainment finger and allow the latter to be swung out of the way rearwardly of the feed direction when the locking lever cooperates directly, or indirectly via further means, with a local abutment, or a coupling part of a reverse running trolley, and is pivotted from its locking position for the entrainment finger.

Such further means can include a drop arm acting through two intermediate levers on the entrainment finger. Such an arrangement is known from our German Patent No.

2,444,1 27. There, the locking lever cooperating with the entrainment finger is upwardly deflectable about its pivotal axis and lockable in a lower driving position. An intermediate lever provides an operative connection between the drop arm and the locking lever.

Then, the drop arm, on coming up against an obstacle, is swung and lifted rearwardly of the feed direction and itself lifts the intermediate lever, which then lifts and deflects the locking lever from its locking position. Such an arrangement using a drop arm serves primarily to ensure that trolleys on inclined stretches of the towing conveyor cannot be freed from their coupling to the towing chain and possibly run ahead.

Another proposal of ours, but not concerned with endless conveyors with suspended tracks, see Offenlegungsschrift 2609 371, allows a trolley to pass through the coupling means faster than and independently of the speed of the towing chain.

There, both the drop arm and the entrainment finger are capable of being pivoted so far in the feed direction and counter to the feed direction that a free through-pass of the truck is possible.

Finally, we appreciate that an entrainment finger can be restrained and released using a drop arm and an interposing connecting rod.

For pivoting of the entrainment finger out of the feed path of the trucks in the feed direction, a double-arm lever may be provided, the arms of which are arranged to extend to forward and rearward side of the entrainment finger outside the housing so as to be engaged from the rear relative to the towing chain by a faster forward-moving truck to release a locking member (for the entrainment finger) connected with the connecting rod so that the entrainment finger can be swung forwardly in the feed direction.

The present invention seeks to provide a coupling device which on the one hand has a drop arm to prevent a trolley running out of the coupling on inclined stretches, and which on the other hand, can also readily have a trolley pushed past in the direction of conveyor drive. Also, it is preferred for moving parts of the coupling device to be substantially protected within a housing, i.e. with no pivotable parts outside and below the housing except for the entrainment finger and the drop arm, thereby to guard against damage and assist in giving trouble-free operation under all conditions.

According to the invention a coupling device for powered towing conveyors having a suspended track arranged below a towing chain so that running mechanisms of trolleys can roll on the track, the coupling device having movable coupling parts to move with the towing chain and cooperate with fixed coupling parts on the running mechanisms of the trolleys, wherein the movable coupling parts are located within a downwardly opening housing or body and comprise, all pivotted on horizontal axes, an entrainment finger, a locking lever therefor to hold the finger in a normal engagement position or be raised to permit pivoting of the finger rearwardly of the feed direction, a drop arm, and an intermediate lever cooperating with the locking lever via a slotted hole and a cross-pin, and with the drop arm via a slot and a cross-pin, the intermediate lever and locking lever being medially pivoted, and the finger having a recess in which the free end of the locking lever engages in its locking position and serving to lift the locking lever and the drop arm when pivoted in the feed direction.

One embodiment of the invention and advantages thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a coupling device in side view (with cut away housing) in its towing position; Figure 2 shows a release position for the coupling device passing over a trolley; and Figure 3 shows the coupling device when a trolley is pushed forwardly therepast.

In Fig. 1, depending plates 1 of a towing chain 2 in a chain guide 3 support a mount body or housing 4 for individual movable parts of the preferred coupling device.

A guide rail 5 runs parallel to and below the towing chain guide 3, and that rail affords a runway for trolleys (not illustrated), via roller mechanisms thereof. A front roller 6 is shown covered by a roller cap 7, which serves as a fixed coupling part for the trolley and cooperates with movable coupling parts on the towing chain 2. Rear rollers 6' (Fig. 2) of the trolleys are fitted with a cap 8 of greater length. These latter serve, for stationary trolleys, a function otherwise afforded by fixed abutment pieces at any desired location for release of the operative connection between the individual coupling parts.

The movable coupling parts of the body or housing 4 comprise a drop arm 11 disposed relatively forwardly in the direction of feed, a cranked intermediate lever 12, a recessed locking lever 13, and an entrainment finger 14, all horizontally pivoted about respective axes.

The entrainment finger 1 4 serves in its perpendicular and locked position (Fig. 1) for transmission of drive from the towing chain 2 to the trolleys via front rollers caps 7. To do so. it engages on the rear 1 5 of the cap 7.

Then, the locking lever 1 3 is in a substantially horizontal position with its free end 1 6 engaged in an appropriate recess 1 7 on the upper side of the entrainment finger 1 4 above its pivot axis 1 8 and over a forward extension therefrom.

The locking lever 1 3 is pivotable medially about a horizontal axis 19, with its other end 20 operatively connected to the cranked intermediate lever 12.

For this purpose the cranked intermediate lever 1 2 has a cross-pin 21 at its end to engage the locking lever 1 3 via a slotted hole 22 in the latter. The intermediate lever 1 2 is medially pivotable about a horizontal axis 23 and has its other end fork-shaped to afford an open slot 24. A cross-pin 25 on the drop arm 11 engages in this slot 24 and the drop arm 11 is pivotable about a horizontal axis 26.

The drop arm 11 prevents the front roller caps 7 of the trolleys from running forwardly out of the coupling device on downwardly inclined stretches of the towing chain 2. If the drop arm 11 is lifted towards the horizontal by a stationary abutment piece, preferably curved, or the rear cap 8 of a stationary trolley, somewhat after the manner shown in Fig. 2. Then, the intermediate lever 1 2 is lifted and rotated counter-clockwise by the pin 25 sliding in the slot 24. That lowers the other end of the lever 1 2 and rotates the locking lever arm 1 3 clockwise. The end 1 6 of the locking lever 1 3 is thus lifted out of the recess 1 7 and releases the entrainment finger 14.The latter can then pivot away rearwardly and slide over the cap 8 thus releasing operative connection between the towing chain and the trolley. The latter can then be left standing, whether at a determined place along the endless towing conveyor or simply after release from a trolley in front of it along the rail track.

If a trolley moves faster than the chain on the guide rail 5, the entrainment finger 14 will be lifted (Fig. 3) by its front roller cap 7 of that trolley and pivot counter-clockwise, i.e.

forwardly in the direction of the conveyor, so that end 1 6 of the locking lever 1 3 is raised.

That lowers the other end of the locking lever and the connected end of intermediate lever 1 2. The slotted end of the intermediate lever 12 is thus lifted and pulls the drop arm 11 upwardly and clockwise, via the pin 25, to permit such a faster moving trolley to pass through. Afterwards, the entrainment finger 14 will drop to its perpendicular position and the drop arm 11 will also swing downwardly to resume its usual function.

The locking lever 1 3 and cranked intermediate lever 1 2 coupled to the drop arm and cranked entrainment finger enable the entire lever to be accommodated substantially wholly within the body or housing 4.

The whole lever 'arrangement functions with a very easy action and experiences little wear in satisfactorily performing the functions assigned to it in a trouble-free manner.

Claims (3)

1. Coupling device for powered towing conveyors having a suspended track arranged below a towing chain so that trolleys having two running mechanisms can roll on the track, the coupling device having movable coupling parts to move with the towing chain and cooperate with fixed coupling parts on the running mechanisms of the trolleys, wherein the movable coupling parts are located in a downwardly opening housing or body and comprise, all pivotted on horizontal axes, an entraipment finger, a locking lever therefor to hold the finger in a normal engagement position or be raised to permit pivoting of the finger rearwardly of the feed direction, a drop arm, and an intermediate lever cooperating with the locking lever via a slotted hole and a cross-pin, and with the drop arm via a slot and a cross-pin, the intermediate lever and locking lever being medially pivotted, and the entrainment finger having a recess in which the free end of the locking lever engages in its locking position and serving also to lift the locking lever and the drop arm when pivoted in the feed direction.

2. Coupling device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate lever is cranked between its ends one of which is bifurcated to afford said slot and the other of which carries a said cross-pin engaging a said slotted hole of the locking lever.

3. Coupling device arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.