GB2125353A - Belt conveyor support structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A belt conveyor assembly includes a plurality of base sections 13 aligned in a row in an end to end fashion, adjacent base sections being pivotally connected to one another at 18, the row of base sections collectively defining a support surface for the lower run of a conveyor belt, and a plurality of upper sections 12 aligned in a row in an end to end fashion to collectively define a support surface for the upper run of the conveyor belt, each upper section being positioned to extend across a pair of adjoining base sections and being pivotally connected at each end to a respective one of said pair of base sections. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Belt conveyors The present invention relates to belt conveyors, in particular a conveyor construction for guiding a continuous conveyor belt.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of part of a conveyor assembly according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line Il-Il in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a part plan view and part sectional view taken along line Ill-Ill.

The conveyor assembly according to the present invention basically comprises two structural components 11 and 12 which are pivotally connected to one another. Component 11 includes a base plate 13 having brackets 14 which are pivotally connected to cooperating brackets 1 5 on neighbouring base plates 13 by pivot pins 1 8. Pins such as 'Seloc' pins are suitable. Connected base plates 13 run the length of the conveyor assembly and form a substantially continuous upper surface on which the lower run of the conveyor belt 30 slides. The lower run of the conveyor belt 30 is therefore supported along the majority of its length. The base plates 1 3 also provide a substantially continuous lower surface for engagement with the ground on which the conveyor assembly is located.This large area of contact with the ground disperses the load of the conveyor assembly and resists sinkage of the conveyor assembly into soft ground.

Each base plate 13 is provided with a pair of upstanding support brackets 20 which are located centrally thereof.

The second component 1 2 is pivotally connected at each end to brackets 20 projecting from adjoining plates 13 by pins 1 8 also. Each component 12 includes a pair of side members 22 which are laterally spaced apart and joined to one another by a plate 24 the upper surface of which defines a running surface for the upper run of conveyor 30. The upper surface of side members 22 define rails extending along both sides of the conveyor assembly along which a machine may run, for instance a mineral breaker which deposits material onto the upper run of the conveyor belt 30. Deflection plates 26 extend inwardly from each side member 22 and serve to deflect material centrally onto the conveyor belt 30 as it is deposited thereon.

It will be appreciated that the above construction is compact in height, and has open sides enabling access between components 11 and 12 in order to enable cleaning of the lower run of the conveyor assembly.

Components 11 and 12 may be simply assembled to provide a conveyor assembly of a desired length. Additionally due to the pivotal connections between adjacent components 11 and adjacent components 12 the conveyor assembly is deflectable along its length within a predetermined limit, for instance 50 deflection between adjacent components. The location of the pivotal connection between components 11 and 1 2 (i.e. the pivotal connection between components 11 is centrally located relative to adjacent component 12 and vice versa), serves to give strength to the conveyor assembly should some of the base plates 13 be unsupported.

Claims (Filed on 8/8/83) 1. A belt conveyor assembly including a plurality of base sections aligned in a row in an end to end fashion, adjacent base sections being pivotally connected to one another, the row of base sections collectively defining a support surface for the lower run of a conveyor belt, and a plurality of upper sections aligned in a row in an end to end fashion to collectively define a support surface for the upper run of the conveyor belt, each upper section being positioned to extend across a pair of adjoining base sections and being pivotally connected at each end to a respective one of said pair of base sections.

2. A belt conveyor assembly according to Claim 1 wherein each base section is provided on each longitudinal side with a support bracket which is positioned centrally along the length of the base section, each support bracket associated with a base section serving to pivotally support adjoining ends of an adjacent pair of upper sections.

3. A belt conveyor assembly according to Claim 2 wherein each base section is open sided.

4. A belt conveyor assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the upper sections are provided with side portions which define rails for supporting machinery on the conveyor assembly.

5. A belt conveyor assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Belt conveyors The present invention relates to belt conveyors, in particular a conveyor construction for guiding a continuous conveyor belt. Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of part of a conveyor assembly according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line Il-Il in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a part plan view and part sectional view taken along line Ill-Ill. The conveyor assembly according to the present invention basically comprises two structural components 11 and 12 which are pivotally connected to one another. Component 11 includes a base plate 13 having brackets 14 which are pivotally connected to cooperating brackets 1 5 on neighbouring base plates 13 by pivot pins 1 8. Pins such as 'Seloc' pins are suitable. Connected base plates 13 run the length of the conveyor assembly and form a substantially continuous upper surface on which the lower run of the conveyor belt 30 slides. The lower run of the conveyor belt 30 is therefore supported along the majority of its length. The base plates 1 3 also provide a substantially continuous lower surface for engagement with the ground on which the conveyor assembly is located.This large area of contact with the ground disperses the load of the conveyor assembly and resists sinkage of the conveyor assembly into soft ground. Each base plate 13 is provided with a pair of upstanding support brackets 20 which are located centrally thereof. The second component 1 2 is pivotally connected at each end to brackets 20 projecting from adjoining plates 13 by pins 1 8 also. Each component 12 includes a pair of side members 22 which are laterally spaced apart and joined to one another by a plate 24 the upper surface of which defines a running surface for the upper run of conveyor 30. The upper surface of side members 22 define rails extending along both sides of the conveyor assembly along which a machine may run, for instance a mineral breaker which deposits material onto the upper run of the conveyor belt 30. Deflection plates 26 extend inwardly from each side member 22 and serve to deflect material centrally onto the conveyor belt 30 as it is deposited thereon. It will be appreciated that the above construction is compact in height, and has open sides enabling access between components 11 and 12 in order to enable cleaning of the lower run of the conveyor assembly. Components 11 and 12 may be simply assembled to provide a conveyor assembly of a desired length. Additionally due to the pivotal connections between adjacent components 11 and adjacent components 12 the conveyor assembly is deflectable along its length within a predetermined limit, for instance 50 deflection between adjacent components. The location of the pivotal connection between components 11 and 1 2 (i.e. the pivotal connection between components 11 is centrally located relative to adjacent component 12 and vice versa), serves to give strength to the conveyor assembly should some of the base plates 13 be unsupported. Claims (Filed on 8/8/83)

1. A belt conveyor assembly including a plurality of base sections aligned in a row in an end to end fashion, adjacent base sections being pivotally connected to one another, the row of base sections collectively defining a support surface for the lower run of a conveyor belt, and a plurality of upper sections aligned in a row in an end to end fashion to collectively define a support surface for the upper run of the conveyor belt, each upper section being positioned to extend across a pair of adjoining base sections and being pivotally connected at each end to a respective one of said pair of base sections.

2. A belt conveyor assembly according to Claim 1 wherein each base section is provided on each longitudinal side with a support bracket which is positioned centrally along the length of the base section, each support bracket associated with a base section serving to pivotally support adjoining ends of an adjacent pair of upper sections.

3. A belt conveyor assembly according to Claim 2 wherein each base section is open sided.

4. A belt conveyor assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the upper sections are provided with side portions which define rails for supporting machinery on the conveyor assembly.

5. A belt conveyor assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.