GB2163117A - Mechanical conveying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus 1, includes one or more rotatable means such as rollers 2 for conveying a load over a support surface (not shown), an inflatable elongate pneumatic bag and brake means 4 operated by inflation of the bag in the form of a friction surface 5 which is carried by a channel section 6 within which the pneumatic bag is housed. All are housed within a main channel member 8 the flanges limbs 9 of which support axes 10 by which the rollers 2 are freely supported for rotation. The rollers 2 are "staggered" as shown in Fig. 3, so that a substantially continuous conveyor surface is obtained over the length of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 can be installed in the bed or frame of a vehicle such as a container vehicle, to assist in handling materials over a floor or deck of the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mechanical handling apparatus The invention relates to mechanical handling apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided mechanical handling apparatus, comprising one or more rotatable means for conveying a load over a surface, inflatable means, and brake means, the arrangement being such that on inflation of the inflatable means the brake means acts to brake the rotatable means against further rotation.

The inflatable means may comprise a pneumatic bag.

The brake means may comprise a friction surface adapted to contact a surface of the rotatable means.

The friction surface may be part of a channel member in which the pneumatic bag is housed.

The rotatable means may comprise rollers.

The rollers may be arranged in staggered rows as considered in plan view.

The invention also extends to a load and/or materials handling floor or deck, including mechanical handling apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

The floor or deck may be part of a vehicle.

Mechanical handling apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is an end elevational view of mechanical handling apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1, with rollers removed for clarity; and, Figure 3 is a plan view, to a smaller scale, of part of the track of Fig. 1 Referring to the drawings, there is shown mechanical handling apparatus 1, including one or more, in this case a plurality of rotatable means such as rollers 2 for conveying a load over a support surface (not shown). The apparatus 1 includes inflatable means 3 in the form of an elongate pneumatic bag and brake means 4 in the form of a friction surface 5 which is carried by a channel section 6 within which the pneumatic bag 3 is housed.

The channel section 6 is inverted so that it is downwardly (as considered in Fig. 1) open, the web 7 carrying the friction surface 5, which is in the form of a planar friction pad in the embodiment shown. The channel action 6, friction pad 5 and pneumatic bag 3 are housed within a main channel member 8 the flanges limbs 9 of which support axles 10 by which the rollers 2 are freely supported for rotation. The rollers 2 are "staggered" as shown in Fig. 3, so that a substantially continuous conveyor surface is obtained over the length of the apparatus 1.

The apparatus 1 can be installed in the bed or frame of a vehicle such as a container vehicle, to assist in handling materials over a floor or deck of the vehicle.

In use, with the pneumatic bag 3 deflated, the rollers 2 are free to roll to help traverse a load over the length of the apparatus 1 and the deck or floor, because the brake does not engage them. The rollers are live when it is desired to maintain a load in position, it is merely necessary to inflate the bag 3 with air from a source such as the vehicle's own pneumatic supply, so that the channel 6 rises and hence the friction surface 5 also rises and engages the rollers 2 and firmly brakes them against rotation. The rollers thus become "dead". The load is thus prevented from movement. In order to unload, the bag 3 is deflated to release the rollers 2 once more for rotation.It will be understood that there is a bracket 11 or like means which restrain at each end of the channel 6 the brake so that the brake remains in position on the bag 3 and is not shifted to the left or right (as viewed in Fig. 2) when a load is moved over the rollers 2. The bracket 11 can be secured as by welding to a flange 9 of the main channel 8.

It will also be understood that apparatus embodying the invention can be modified, for example the brake can be disposed as to act on the axles rather than on the rollers themselves when the bag is inflated. Also, the bag may be inflated by any suitable means other than air, for example hydraulic fluid.

In every embodiment, the channel member 6 protects the bag 3 and provides a uniform frictional contact so that all the rollers are braked evenly.

1. Mechanical handling apparatus, comprising one or more rotatable means for conveying a load over a surface, inflatable means, and brake means, the arrangement being such that on inflation of the inflatable means the brake means acts to brake the rotatable means against further rotation.

2. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 1, the inflatable means comprising a pneumatic bag.

3. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 2, the brake means comprising a friction surface adapted to contact a surface of the rotatable means.

4. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 3, the friction surface being part of a channel member in which the pneumatic bag is housed.

5. Mechanical handling apparatus, the rotatable means comprising rollers.

6. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 5, the rollers being arranged in staggered rows as considered in plan view.

7. Mechanical handling apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A load and/or materials handling floor or deck, including mechanical handling apparatus according to any preceding claim.

9. A floor or deck according to Claim 8, which is part of a vehicle.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mechanical handling apparatus The invention relates to mechanical handling apparatus. According to the invention there is provided mechanical handling apparatus, comprising one or more rotatable means for conveying a load over a surface, inflatable means, and brake means, the arrangement being such that on inflation of the inflatable means the brake means acts to brake the rotatable means against further rotation. The inflatable means may comprise a pneumatic bag. The brake means may comprise a friction surface adapted to contact a surface of the rotatable means. The friction surface may be part of a channel member in which the pneumatic bag is housed. The rotatable means may comprise rollers. The rollers may be arranged in staggered rows as considered in plan view. The invention also extends to a load and/or materials handling floor or deck, including mechanical handling apparatus as hereinbefore defined. The floor or deck may be part of a vehicle. Mechanical handling apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 is an end elevational view of mechanical handling apparatus according to the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevational view of part of the apparatus of Fig. 1, with rollers removed for clarity; and, Figure 3 is a plan view, to a smaller scale, of part of the track of Fig. 1 Referring to the drawings, there is shown mechanical handling apparatus 1, including one or more, in this case a plurality of rotatable means such as rollers 2 for conveying a load over a support surface (not shown). The apparatus 1 includes inflatable means 3 in the form of an elongate pneumatic bag and brake means 4 in the form of a friction surface 5 which is carried by a channel section 6 within which the pneumatic bag 3 is housed. The channel section 6 is inverted so that it is downwardly (as considered in Fig. 1) open, the web 7 carrying the friction surface 5, which is in the form of a planar friction pad in the embodiment shown. The channel action 6, friction pad 5 and pneumatic bag 3 are housed within a main channel member 8 the flanges limbs 9 of which support axles 10 by which the rollers 2 are freely supported for rotation. The rollers 2 are "staggered" as shown in Fig. 3, so that a substantially continuous conveyor surface is obtained over the length of the apparatus 1. The apparatus 1 can be installed in the bed or frame of a vehicle such as a container vehicle, to assist in handling materials over a floor or deck of the vehicle. In use, with the pneumatic bag 3 deflated, the rollers 2 are free to roll to help traverse a load over the length of the apparatus 1 and the deck or floor, because the brake does not engage them. The rollers are live when it is desired to maintain a load in position, it is merely necessary to inflate the bag 3 with air from a source such as the vehicle's own pneumatic supply, so that the channel 6 rises and hence the friction surface 5 also rises and engages the rollers 2 and firmly brakes them against rotation. The rollers thus become "dead". The load is thus prevented from movement. In order to unload, the bag 3 is deflated to release the rollers 2 once more for rotation.It will be understood that there is a bracket 11 or like means which restrain at each end of the channel 6 the brake so that the brake remains in position on the bag 3 and is not shifted to the left or right (as viewed in Fig. 2) when a load is moved over the rollers 2. The bracket 11 can be secured as by welding to a flange 9 of the main channel 8. It will also be understood that apparatus embodying the invention can be modified, for example the brake can be disposed as to act on the axles rather than on the rollers themselves when the bag is inflated. Also, the bag may be inflated by any suitable means other than air, for example hydraulic fluid. In every embodiment, the channel member 6 protects the bag 3 and provides a uniform frictional contact so that all the rollers are braked evenly. CLAIMS

1. Mechanical handling apparatus, comprising one or more rotatable means for conveying a load over a surface, inflatable means, and brake means, the arrangement being such that on inflation of the inflatable means the brake means acts to brake the rotatable means against further rotation.

2. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 1, the inflatable means comprising a pneumatic bag.

3. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 2, the brake means comprising a friction surface adapted to contact a surface of the rotatable means.

4. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 3, the friction surface being part of a channel member in which the pneumatic bag is housed.

5. Mechanical handling apparatus, the rotatable means comprising rollers.

6. Mechanical handling apparatus according to Claim 5, the rollers being arranged in staggered rows as considered in plan view.

7. Mechanical handling apparatus, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A load and/or materials handling floor or deck, including mechanical handling apparatus according to any preceding claim.

9. A floor or deck according to Claim 8, which is part of a vehicle.