BELT OR BELT SEGMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a belt (1) or a belt segment (1), having a plurality of reinforcement members (11) which run in the longitudinal direction (X) and are arranged parallel to one another and which are embedded at least substantially into an elastomer main body (10), and having at least one connection element (2) which is arranged on an open end (1a) of the belt (1) or of the belt segment (1), wherein the ends of the reinforcement members (11) are each at least substantially exposed by and/or left free of the elastomer main body (10), wherein the ends of the reinforcement members (11) are each connected in a force-fitting manner to at least one clamping element (12), and wherein the clamping elements (12) are held in a form-fitting manner in a connection section (A) by the connection element (2) at least in the longitudinal direction (X). The belt (1) or the belt segment (1) is characterized in that the connection element (2) has at least one extension element (25) which directly adjoins the connection section (A) in the longitudinal direction (X) and which at least sectionally forms an extension section (B) of the connection element (2) in the longitudinal direction (X), and in that the reinforcement members (11) of the open end (1a) of the belt (1) or of the belt segment (1) are received in the extension section (B) by the extension element (25) in such a way that the reinforcement members (11) are guided at least sectionally in a rectilinear manner in the longitudinal direction (X).

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A belt segment for a belt comprising: a plurality of reinforcement members, which run in the longitudinal direction (X) and are arranged parallel to one another and embedded into an elastomer main body; an extension element positioned across a width of the belt segment, arranged on an extension region of an open end of the belt segment and having a lower extension-element and an upper extension-element arranged that releasably connected the plurality of reinforcement members; a plurality of connection elements positioned across the width of the belt segment, arranged on a connection section of the open end; each connection element comprises a leadthrough for passage of a reinforcement member, a sleeve to secure an end of the reinforcement member, and an opening configured to receive a coupling rod; and an inner edge of each connection element is adjacent an outer edge of the extension element to mitigate movement in a Z direction.

12. The belt segment of claim 11, the reinforcement members are exposed in the connection section and embedded in the elastomer in the connection section.

13. The belt segment of claim 12, the elastomer in the connection sections has the same thickness of the elastomer of the belt segment.

14. The belt segment of claim 11, the connection element further comprising projections that protrude in the vertical direction (Z). the holding elements (23) are in the form of projections (23) of the connection element (2) that protrude upward in the vertical direction (Z).

15. The belt segment of claim 11, the plurality of connection elements comprise six individual connection elements.

16. The belt segment of claim 11, the connection section having a larger width (A) than the extension region (B).

17. The belt segment of claim 11, wherein each connection element comprises two projections having openings to receive the coupling rod.

18. The belt segment of claim 11, the connection element prevents bending of the reinforcement members and the extension element is configured to permit bending of the reinforcement members.

19. The belt segment of claim 11, the plurality of connection elements enclose ends of the reinforcement members to reduce corrosion.

Description

[0042] An exemplary embodiment and further advantages of the invention will be discussed below in conjunction with the following figures. In the figures:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a connection element according to the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the illustration in FIG. 1.

[0045] The description of the aforementioned figures is given in Cartesian coordinates with a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y, which is oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction X, and a vertical direction Z, which is oriented perpendicularly both to the longitudinal direction X and to the transverse direction Y. The longitudinal direction X may also be referred to as the depth X, the transverse direction Y may also be referred to as the width Y, and the vertical direction Z may also be referred to as the height Z.

[0046] A belt 1 according to the invention is considered. The belt 1 according to the invention corresponds to a belt segment 1, too. An open end 1a of the belt 1 is considered.

[0047] The belt 1 consists substantially of an elastomer main body 10, which has vulcanized rubber as elastomer material. In the vertical direction Z, the elastomer main body 10 has a bottom side 10a and an oppositely situated top side 10b. Running parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction X are multiple reinforcement members 11 embedded into the elastomer main body 10, which reinforcement members may also be referred to as tensile members 11 and are formed by steel cables 11. The individual ends of the steel cables 11 are in this case exposed by removal of material of the elastomer main body 10 and in each case individually connected in a force-fitting manner by way of press-fitting to a clamping element 12 in the form of a metallic sleeve 12.

[0048] In order to be able to connect the open end 1a of the belt 1 for example to the further open end 1a of the same belt 1, use is made of multiple identically designed connection elements 2 which each have, for one thing, a connection-element body 20. The connection-element body 20 has a first, lower connection part 20a and a second, upper connection part 20b, which, in the vertical direction Z, are arranged one on top of the other or together and are releasably connected to one another by fastening means 20c in the form of screws 20c.

[0049] The two connection parts 20a, 20b form between them a clamping-element receiving part 22 as a cavity, in which the ends, provided with the sleeves 12, of the steel cables 11 are arranged multiply together parallel to one another and extending in the longitudinal direction X. Facing toward the belt 1 in the longitudinal direction X, the corresponding sides of the two connection parts 20a, 20b form, in an alternating manner in the transverse direction Y, holding elements 23 in the form of projections 23 protruding upward in the vertical direction Z and reinforcement-member leadthroughs 24. The steel cables 11 project in the longitudinal direction X through the corresponding reinforcement-member leadthroughs 24 to outside the connection-element body 20.

[0050] The connection-element body 20 forms, situated oppositely in the longitudinal direction X and facing away from the elastomer main body 10, crenelated projections 21 with passage openings 21a. In this way, an articulated or hinge-like connection to a similar connection element 2 of the oppositely situated open end 1a of the belt 1 can be created in that a coupling element 3 in the form of a rod 3 is guided in an alternating manner in the transverse direction Y through the passage openings 21a of the two connection-element bodies 20.

[0051] An extension element 25 directly adjoins the connection-element body 20 in the longitudinal direction X toward the elastomer main body 10. The extension element 25 has a first, lower extension-element part 25a and a second, upper extension-element part 25b, which, in the vertical direction Z, are arranged one on top of the other or together and are releasably connected to one another by fastening means 25c in the form of screws 20c. The two extension-element parts 25a, 25b are in this case arranged directly on the bottom side 10a and on the top side 10b, respectively, of the elastomer main body 10 and are pulled toward one another by their screws 25c in such a way that that region of the elastomer main body 10 which directly adjoins the exposed steel cables 11 is clamped between the two extension-element parts 25a, 25b.

[0052] At the same time, the two extension-element parts 25a, 25b are arranged directly on the two connection parts 20a, 20b of the connection-element body 20 in the longitudinal direction X, so that the two extension-element parts 25a, 25b, in the longitudinal direction X, bear directly against the two connection parts 20a, 20b of the connection-element body 20 and the two connection parts 20a, 20b of the connection-element body 20 thereby extend the connection parts 20a, 20b of the connection-element body 20 above and below said region of the elastomer main body 10 in the vertical direction Z. In this way, the steel cables 11 can be guided in a completely rectilinear manner in the longitudinal direction X away from the connection-element body 20; only when the elastomer main body 10 with the embedded steel cables 11 exits the extension element 25 can the steel cables 11 be bent, if the belt 1 runs over a diverting roller or the like of a belt system.

[0053] That section of the connection elements 2 which makes it possible for the sleeves 12 to be held in a form-fitting manner in the clamping-element receiving part 22 and for the connection to the further connection element 2 to be realized may accordingly be referred to as connection section A of the respective connection element 2. That section of the connection elements 2 which engages around, and holds, the elastomer main body 10 of the extension element 25 on both sides may be referred to as extension region B.

[0054] By means of the above-described formation of the extension region B, it is possible for bending of the steel cables 11 in the region of the sleeves 12 to be avoided, so that only tensile forces can act on the steel cables 11 in the region of the sleeves 12. Bending is possible only after the steel cables 11 have exited the extension element 25 or the extension region B, whereby these two types of load can be spaced apart from one another, or separated from one another, in the longitudinal direction X. This can distribute the loads more effectively and, in this way, reduce the maximum loads for the steel cables 11 occurring at a point or avoid a double load due to tensile forces and bending at the same point or close to one another in the region of the sleeves 12. This can increase the longevity of the steel cables 11.

[0055] Furthermore, the clamping-element receiving part 22 of the connection-element body 20 can be closed off by the two connection parts 20a, 20b in such a way that contaminants, liquids and the like cannot reach the open ends, received in said receiving part, of the steel cables 11 with the sleeves 12. This, too, can increase, for example through avoidance or through reduction of corrosion, the longevity of the steel cables 11.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS (PART OF THE DESCRIPTION)

[0056] A Connection section [0057] B Extension section [0058] X Longitudinal direction; depth [0059] Y Transverse direction; width [0060] Z Vertical direction; height [0061] 1 Belt; belt segment [0062] 1a Open end of the belt 1 or of the belt segment 1 [0063] 10 Elastomer main body [0064] 10a Bottom side of the elastomer main body 10 [0065] 10b Top side of the elastomer main body 10 [0066] 11 Reinforcement members; tensile members; steel cables [0067] 12 Clamping elements; sleeves [0068] 2 Connection elements [0069] 20 Connection-element body [0070] 20a First, lower connection part of the connection-element body 20 [0071] 20b Second, upper connection part of the connection-element body 20 [0072] 20c Fastening means or screws of the connection-element body 20 [0073] 21 Crenelated projections of the connection element 2 [0074] 21a Passage openings of the holding elements 21 [0075] 22 Clamping-element receiving part [0076] 23 Holding elements or projections of the connection parts 20a, 20b [0077] 24 Reinforcement-member leadthroughs of the connection parts 20a, 20b [0078] 25 Extension element [0079] 25a First, lower extension-element part of the extension element 25 [0080] 25b Second, upper extension-element part of the extension element 25 [0081] 25c Fastening means or screws of the extension element 25 [0082] 3 Coupling element; coupling rod