A rubber belt retracting and deploying device for a belt conveyor includes a base, mounting frames, an upper caterpillar disk, a middle caterpillar disk and a lower caterpillar disk, wherein the lower caterpillar disk is fixedly connected between the symmetric mounting frames, and the middle caterpillar disk is movably connected between the symmetric mounting frames, and may longitudinally slide along the symmetric mounting, frames, such that the lower caterpillar disk and the middle caterpillar disk form a first clamping device; the upper caterpillar disk is movably connected between the symmetric mounting frames, and may longitudinally slide along the symmetric mounting frames, such that the upper caterpillar disk and the middle caterpillar disk form a second clamping device; each of the upper caterpillar disk, the middle caterpillar disk and the lower caterpillar disk is provided with a driving part.

Disclosed herein is a method for converting energy between electric, kinetic, and potential and storing potential energy; the method comprising the steps of: providing a conveyor belt having a lower end, an upper end; the conveyor belt configured to convey conveyed material between the upper end and the lower end in both directions; providing an evaluation system configured to determine the electric power load on an electrical grid relative to the power supply on the electrical grid; a generator configured to generate electric power when the conveyor belt conveys the conveyed material from the high potential energy storage location to the low potential energy storage location; coupling a motor to the conveyor belt, the motor configured to provide motive force to the conveyor belt to convey the conveyed material from the low potential energy storage location to the high potential energy storage location.

A towable conveyor for transporting and elevating articles and a method and system for towing a conveyor and conveying articles up inclines is provided. The conveyor system has an elevating carriage and a plurality of support elements for conveying articles up the conveyor. Specifically, the towable conveyor system comprises a conveyor having a support frame, a plurality of support elements, a drive end with a motor, and an idle end; an elevating carriage having a first end interconnected to the support frame of the conveyor, a second with two or more wheels, and a support member extending upwardly from the elevating carriage; a cable system for raising the conveyor into a position of use and for lowering the conveyor into a towing position; one or more locking mechanisms; and a hitch for connecting the conveyor to a rear end of a towing vehicle.

A towable conveyor for transporting and elevating articles and a method and system for towing a conveyor and conveying articles up inclines is provided. The conveyor system has an elevating carriage and a plurality of support elements for conveying articles up the conveyor. Specifically, the towable conveyor system comprises a conveyor having a support frame, a plurality of support elements, a drive end with a motor, and an idle end; an elevating carriage having a first end interconnected to the support frame of the conveyor, a second with two or more wheels, and a support member extending upwardly from the elevating carriage; a cable system for raising the conveyor into a position of use and for lowering the conveyor into a towing position; one or more locking mechanisms; and a hitch for connecting the conveyor to a rear end of a towing vehicle.

An improved system and method for monitoring operation of movers in an independent cart system reduces the required communication bandwidth for monitoring operation of movers in a system where control is distributed among multiple controllers spaced along the track. As the mover is travelling along the track segment, each distributed controller monitors at least one operating characteristic of the mover. As a mover travels along the track, each distributed controller transmits the operating characteristic to a successive distributed controller, such the monitored operating characteristic is transmitted along the track as the mover travels along the track. At a reduced rate or upon request from a central controller, each distributed controller may transmit the status of a mover present on the corresponding track segment controlled by that distributed controller to the central controller.

An improved system and method for monitoring operation of movers in an independent cart system reduces the required communication bandwidth for monitoring operation of movers in a system where control is distributed among multiple controllers spaced along the track. As the mover is travelling along the track segment, each distributed controller monitors at least one operating characteristic of the mover. As a mover travels along the track, each distributed controller transmits the operating characteristic to a successive distributed controller, such the monitored operating characteristic is transmitted along the track as the mover travels along the track. At a reduced rate or upon request from a central controller, each distributed controller may transmit the status of a mover present on the corresponding track segment controlled by that distributed controller to the central controller.

A rubber belt retracting and deploying device for a belt conveyor includes a base, mounting frames, an upper caterpillar disk, a middle caterpillar disk and a lower caterpillar disk, wherein the lower caterpillar disk is fixedly connected between the symmetric mounting frames, and the middle caterpillar disk is movably connected between the symmetric mounting frames, and may longitudinally slide along the symmetric mounting frames, such that the lower caterpillar disk and the middle caterpillar disk form a first clamping device; the upper caterpillar disk is movably connected between the symmetric mounting frames, and may longitudinally slide along the symmetric mounting frames, such that the upper caterpillar disk and the middle caterpillar disk form a second clamping device; each of the upper caterpillar disk, the middle caterpillar disk and the lower caterpillar disk is provided with a driving part.

A wet sand delivery and conveyor apparatus ships wet proppant from a sand mine wet plant to a well fracturing site and delivers the wet proppant directly to the well site. The wet sand delivery and conveyor apparatus comprises a multi-container support frame, which is mounted on a trailer bed, a plurality of containers mounted to an upper portion of the frame, and a conveyor belt mounted on the frame below the plurality of containers and positioned to receive proppant released in a gravity pour from the containers onto the conveyor belt. An auger mounted near an end of the conveyor belt is also provided to transfer sand from the end of the trailer bed to a position extending diagonally upward and away from the trailer bed to drop sand into a vessel or sand deposit site positioned underneath an upper end portion of the auger.

A wet sand delivery and conveyor apparatus ships wet proppant from a sand mine wet plant to a well fracturing site and delivers the wet proppant directly to the well site. The wet sand delivery and conveyor apparatus comprises a multi-container support frame, which is mounted on a trailer bed, a plurality of containers mounted to an upper portion of the frame, and a conveyor belt mounted on the frame below the plurality of containers and positioned to receive proppant released in a gravity pour from the containers onto the conveyor belt. An auger mounted near an end of the conveyor belt is also provided to transfer sand from the end of the trailer bed to a position extending diagonally upward and away from the trailer bed to drop sand into a vessel or sand deposit site positioned underneath an upper end portion of the auger.

A friction-type drive apparatus and a carousel comprising the same are disclosed. A friction-type drive apparatus, according to one embodiment, comprises: a motor; a drive pulley rotated by the motor; a belt connected to the drive pulley; a driven pulley rotating in accordance with the drive of the belt; a pressing unit contacting the inner surface of the belt; and an elastic unit for pressing the pressing unit toward the belt.