DEVICE FOR LINKING CONVEYOR BELTS

Abstract

A device for linking a conveyor belt includes an upper plate and a lower plate. The upper plate includes a highly extendable armature and the lower plate includes an inextensible or quasi inextensible armature. The two plates can be fastened onto the ends of a conveyor belt inserted between the two plates, which as such transforms this conveyor belt into an endless belt.

Claims

1. A device for linking conveyor belts comprising: an upper plate and a lower plate, each of the upper and lower plate made of at least one of an elastomer and a synthetic material, the upper and lower plates comprising armatures, wherein the upper plate is arranged against outer faces of ends of the conveyor belts; and the lower plate is arranged against inner faces of the ends of the conveyor belts, wherein the armatures have properties of extendability and of compressibility, in a horizontal direction, differ, according to their arrangement in the device for linking, and in that an extendability limit of the armatures under an effect of forces of traction is not reached before, under an effect of equivalent forces of traction, a rupture of the armatures occurs.

2. The device for linking according to claim 1, wherein the armatures are at least one of inextensible and quasi inextensible and are selected from the group consisting of a weaving of at least one of inextensible and quasi inextensible metal cables, of at least one of inextensible and quasi inextensible wires, and of at least one of inextensible and quasi inextensible filaments made of synthetic material.

3. The device for linking according to claim 2, wherein edges of the weaving used for making the armatures are arranged perpendicularly to a direction of travel of the conveyor belt, with the device for linking being mounted on the conveyor belt.

4. The device for linking according to claim 1, wherein the extendability of the armatures range up to about 20%.

5. The device for linking according to claim 1, wherein the armature of the upper plate is extendable and compressible in a longitudinal direction, while the armature of the lower plate is at least one of inextensible and quasi inextensible in the longitudinal direction.

6. The device for linking according to claim 1, wherein the armatures of the upper plate and of the lower plate are extendable and further comprising a third armature that is at least one of inextensible and quasi inextensible and is integra with at least one of an upper face of a left side and a right side of the lower plate, and is integral with a lower face of at least one of a right side and a left side of the upper plate, and further comprising a slanted central portion for connecting said third armature to the upper and lower plates by forming two pseudo-hinges on connecting lines with the upper plate and the lower plate.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0025] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a device for linking of prior art, seen in perspective and as a cross-section;

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the same device for linking of prior art mounted on the ends of a conveyor belt, passing on a deflection roller;

[0028] FIG. 3 shows, in perspective, a first device for linking according to the present disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 4 shows, as a longitudinal cross-section, the device for linking of FIG. 3, mounted on the end of a conveyor belt;

[0030] FIG. 5 shows, as a longitudinal cross-section, the device for linking of FIG. 3, mounted on the ends of a conveyor belt, passing on a deflection roller;

[0031] FIG. 6 shows as a longitudinal cross-section a second device for linking according to the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 7a shows the device for linking of FIG. 6, mounted on the ends of two conveyor belts of one thickness;

[0033] FIG. 7b shows the device for linking of FIG. 6, mounted on the ends of two conveyor belts of another thickness; and

[0034] FIG. 8 shows the device for linking of FIG. 6 mounted on a conveyor belt, passing on a deflection roller.

[0035] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a device for linking of prior art. Note an upper plate 2 reinforced in this case by parallel, superposed and crossed sets 4 of cables, and a lower plate 3 reinforced in the same way as the upper plate by sets 4′. Optionally, as mentioned hereinabove, a central portion 5 connects the lower plate and the upper plate.

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the device for linking of FIG. 1 mounted on a conveyor belt, during the passage on a roller. Note the roller of radius R, the ends E of the conveyor belt, the lower plate and the upper plate provided with armatures. The distance between the upper face of the upper plate and the lower face of the lower plate is dimensioned e. It is understood that the difference in travel is roughly calculated according to the formula

[00001]$\Delta .Math..Math.\mathrm{travel}=\left[2.Math.\pi \left(R+e\right)-2.Math.\pi .Math..Math.R\right].Math.\frac{180}{360}.Math..Math.\mathrm{or}.Math..Math.\pi \left(R+e\right)-\pi .Math..Math.R$

[0039] with the travel taking place only over about 180°, not 360°.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a first device for linking according to the present disclosure, as a longitudinal cross-section. The various elements are shown as follows:

[0041] (2) upper plate

[0042] (3) lower plate

[0043] (5) central portion (recall that the central portion may either not exist, or is integral with the plates, or is added).

[0044] (7) armature extendable and compressible in the longitudinal direction

[0045] (8) inextensible or quasi inextensible armature.

[0046] It is understood that as the armature 8 of the lower plate 3 is inextensible, the effect of the difference in travel applies entirely to armature 7, highly extendable, of the upper plate 2. As the increased extension of the extendable armature is not reached before the inextensible armature reaches its limit of rupture the highly extendable armature may not be subjected to forces of traction that, otherwise, could result in deteriorating it. As the inextensible armature has been given resistances to rupture that are compatible with the forces of traction that are exerted during the operation of the conveyor belt, with of course a safety coefficient, the inextensible armature, for the transmission of force, is used as a fuse”. As such the two armatures are sheltered from deterioration and the service longevity of the device for linking is increased.

[0047] With regards to the resistance to rupturing of the inextensible armature compatible with the forces of traction that are exerted during the operation of the conveyor belt, it is understood that the latter is chosen freely by those skilled in the art according to the desired application. An inextensible armature will as such be used having a relatively low resistance for a device for linking for a light and thin conveyor belt, for example intended to transport food products, and an inextensible armature will be used having a relatively high resistance in the case of a device for linking for a heavy conveyor belt, for example intended to transport ore.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows, as a longitudinal cross-section, the device for linking of FIG. 3, mounted on the end of a conveyor belt. The armature of the upper plate 7, extendable, the inextensible, or quasi inextensible armature 8 of the lower plate are found. The fastening is provided here by clamps C.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows the passage on a deflection roller of the device for linking of FIG. 3. It is clear that the highly extendable armature 7 has yielded, by being extended by the difference in travel between that of the lower plate and that of the upper plate, with the inextensible armature 8 not being extended, or practically not. The reference R indicates the radius of the roller, the reference e indicates the thickness of the device for linking, the reference E the ends of the conveyor belt whereon the device for linking is mounted.

[0050] FIG. 6, showing a second device for linking according to the present disclosure, makes it possible to see it mounted on a conveyor belt, passing on a deflection roller, as a cross-section, an armature 7a highly extendable being arranged in the upper plate 2 and another armature, highly extendable 7b being arranged in the lower plate 3. A third flexible and inextensible armature 9 connects, by being integral with them by the material with which it is coated, the upper plate 2 and the lower plate 3, a portion 9′ of this armature 9 being integral with one of the sides, the left side 3′, of the upper face of the lower plate, another portion 9″ of this armature 9 being integral with the other side, the right side 2′, of the lower face of the upper plate 2, a slanted central portion 9′″ for connecting of said third armature 9 connecting the two portions 9′ and 9″ by forming two pseudo-hinges 10a, 10b on the connecting zones with respectively the upper plate 2 and the lower plate 3.

[0051] FIGS. 7a and 7b show, in view 7a, the device for linking of FIG. 6 mounted on a conveyor belt of a first thickness EP and, view 7b, the same device for linking of FIG. 5 mounted on a conveyor belt of a second thickness EP′, greater. It is understood that this adaptation can be made thanks to the pseudo-hinges 10a, 10b that authorise a coming together, or a separation, of the plates 2, 3. Note that this device for linking can be reversed, the notion of upper plate and of lower plate being used only for the description.

[0052] FIG. 8 shows the device for linking of FIG. 6 mounted on a conveyor belt, passing on a deflection roller. All of the elements of FIG. 6 are found, namely the plates 2, 3, the extendable armatures 7a, 7b, the inextensible armature 9 and its various portions 9′, 9″, and 9′″.

[0053] The differences in travel are absorbed thanks to the extendable armatures 7a and 7b. The transmission of force is provided by the inextensible armature 9.

[0054] As such are achieved all of the purposes pursued by the present disclosure, i.e. a certain increase in the service longevity of devices for linking according to the present disclosure and the adaptability for mounting on conveyor belts of different thicknesses of a device for linking which, in addition, has the advantage of being able to be reversed, i.e. able to be mounted without the risk of an error in positioning the plates.

[0055] A large variety of modifications have been described and more are part of the knowledge of the person skilled in the art. These and further modifications as well as any replacement by technical equivalents may be added to the description and figures, without leaving the scope of the protection of the disclosure and of the present patent.

[0056] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.