WEIGHBRIDGE CONVEYOR BELT SCALE

Abstract

This invention relates to improvements to a weighbridge belt scale, used in combination with a conveyor system, that incorporates a pair of base plates, attached to an existing conveyor structure, each base plate contains two weight sensors, which connect upon riser blocks, to provide for uniform clearance between the mount base plates, and the idler mount plates, of the conveyor system. Various rod end bearings allow for minor corrections to the assembly imperfection, and various shims can be used to make sure that the overall height of the standard idler and the scale weighbridge are adjusted to a height that matches with the other idler rollers of the conveyor belt system. This provides for more precise calculation of the parameters being detected by the weight sensors, so that more accurate determination of the weight, speed, and volume of the materials being conveyed, are attained.

Claims

1. Improvements to conveyor weighbridge, the weighbridge being mounted to a conveyor belt structure and provided for measuring the weight, volume and speed of granular material being conveyed upon the conveyor belt, said weighbridge provided for calibration of such data while the load bearing conveyor belt is in operation, comprising: an idler roller provided for supporting the conveyor belt during passage of the belt during operation said idler roller attached to the existing conveyor structure, said weighbridge containing a pair of idler mount baseplates, said baseplates affixed to the conveyor structure, each base plate at their approximate ends having a weight sensor, each weight sensor affixed to mount pads, a riser block connecting to each weight sensor, and spherical rod end bearings connect each riser block to the idler mount plates, and thereby lessen the binding of the conveyor assembly weighbridge structure, each riser block rests on an associated load cell, said load cells incorporating transducers that connect the load transmitted by the riser blocks into analogue electric signals, wherein when physical deformation of a strain gauge occurs through compression or tortional movements generated during conveyor loaded operation, creating pressure upon said strain gauges to generate said electric signals, wherein there are four load cells and four strain gauges in the weighbridge assembly for generating signals transmitted for deriving in a microprocessor the speed, volume and weight of the material being processed by the conveyor assembly.

2. The conveyor weighbridge of claim 1, and including shims provided for locating beneath the weighbridge assembly and the mount base plates to provide matching of the height of the associated idler structure when assembled for operation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In referring to the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates the weighbridge belt scale structure of the current invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the conveyor assembly, and the attachment of the idler mount plates as supported upon the weight sensors of the strain gauge of this improvement;

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the conveyor belt scale assembly of this invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 provides a top view of the conveyor belt scale assembly of this invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 provides a side view of the lateral mount for the conveyor belt weighbridge assembly as supports that supports the overall idler conveyor of this invention;

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a scaled down view of the conveyor idler roller, utilizing various shim to accommodate the adjustment of the height of the idler on the weighbridge assembly; and

[0029] FIG. 7 shows a pair of idler rollers, located to either side of the improved idler mounted in conjunction with the weighbridge assembly of this invention.

DETAILED LIST OF STRUCTURES OF THE IMPROVED WEIGHBRIDGE BELT SCALE

Patent Detail List

[0030] 1. Weigh bridge assembly [0031] 2. Mount base plate (1) [0032] 3. Mount base plate (2) [0033] 4A. Mount base mounting hole (1A) [0034] 4B. Mount base mounting hole (1B) [0035] 4C. Mount base mounting hole (1C) [0036] 4D. Mount base mounting hole (1D) [0037] 4E. Mount base mounting hole (1F) [0038] 5A. Mount base mounting hole (2A) [0039] 5B. Mount base mounting hole (2B) [0040] 5C. Mount base mounting hole (2C) [0041] 5D. Mount base mounting hole (2D) [0042] 5E. Mount base mounting hole (2E) [0043] 6. Mount base bolt (1A) [0044] 7. Mount base bolt (1B) [0045] 8. Mount base bolt (2B) [0046] 9. Mount base bolt (2B) [0047] 10. Load cell mount pad (1) [0048] 11. Load cell mount pad (2) [0049] 12. Load cell mount pad (3) [0050] 13. Load cell mount pad (4) [0051] 14. Load cell (1) [0052] 15. Load cell (2) [0053] 16. Load cell (3; [0054] 17. Load cell (4) [0055] 18. Load cell riser block (1) [0056] 19. Load cell riser block (2) [0057] 20. Load cell riser block (3) [0058] 21. Load cell riser block (4) [0059] 22. Load cell riser block bolt (1) [0060] 23. Load cell riser block bolt (2) [0061] 24. Load cell riser block bolt (3) [0062] 25. Load cell riser block bolt (4) [0063] 26. Spherical rod end (1) [0064] 27. Spherical rod end (2) [0065] 28. Spherical rod end (3) [0066] 29. Spherical rod end (4) [0067] 30. Idler mount plate (1) [0068] 31. Idler mount plate (2) [0069] 37A. Idler mounting hole (1A) [0070] 328. Idler mounting hose (1B) [0071] 32C. Idler mounting hole (1C) [0072] 32D. Idler mounting hole (1D) [0073] 32E. Idler mounting hole (1E) [0074] 33A. Idler mounting hole (2A) [0075] 33B. Idler mounting hole (2B) [0076] 33C. Idler mounting hole (2C) [0077] 33D. Idler mounting hole (2D) [0078] 33F. Idler mounting hole (2E) [0079] 34. Idler mounting bolt (1A) [0080] 35. Idler mounting bolt (1B) [0081] 36. Idler mounting bolt (2A) [0082] 37. Idler mounting bolt (2B) [0083] 38. Conveyor Idler assembly [0084] 39A. Conveyor Idler Roll A [0085] 39B. Conveyor Idler Roll B [0086] 39C. Conveyor Idler Roll C [0087] 40. Conveyor idler mounting foot 1 [0088] 41. Conveyor idler mounting foot slot 1A [0089] 42. Conveyor idler mounting foot slot 1B [0090] 43. Conveyor idler mounting foot 2 [0091] 44. Conveyor idler mounting foot slot 2A [0092] 45. Conveyor idler mounting foot slot 2B [0093] 46. Conveyor Belt [0094] 47. Idler shim plate (1) [0095] 47A. Idler shim plate (1A) [0096] 48. Idler shim plate (2) [0097] 48A. Idler shim plate (2A) [0098] 49. Riser Block Bottom screw (1) [0099] 50. Riser Block Bottom screw (2) [0100] 51. Riser Block Bottom screw (3) [0101] 52. Riser Block Bottom screw (4) [0102] 53. Load sensor screw (1) [0103] 53A. Load sensor screw (1A) [0104] 54. Load sensor screw (2) [0105] 54A. Load sensor screw (2A) [0106] 55. Load sensor screw (3) [0107] 55A. Load sensor screw (3A) [0108] 56. Load sensor screw (4) [0109] 56A. Load sensor screw (4A) [0110] 57. Proceeding standard idler [0111] 58. Proceeding standard idler [0112] 59. Strain gauge (1) [0113] 60. Strain gauge (2) [0114] 61. Strain gauge (3) [0115] 62. Strain gauge (4)

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0116] The concept of this invention is generally to provide improvements to the mounting of the weighbridge belt scale when used in combination with one of the idler rollers of a conveyor system, so as to provide for correction and to attain more accurate data, by eliminating any assembly imperfections that previously were exhibited having adverse effects in the calculations of the parameters of materials being processed upon the conveyor system, during its usage and operations.

[0117] FIG. 1 illustrates the weighbridge belt scale of the present invention shown generally at 1. Weighbridge 1 contains a pair of mount base plates 2 and 3 that are rigidly attached to the existing conveyor structure using counter sunk bolts 6, 7, 8 and 9. The mount base plates 2 and 3 contain two weight sensors each 14,15,16 and 17 that are rigidly affixed to mount pads 10,11,12 and 13 with load cell mounting screws 53,53A,54,54A,55,55A,56 and 56A. The weight sensors 14,15,16, and 17 connect to riser blocks 18,19,20 and 21 by means of screws 49,50,51 and 52. Riser blocks 18,19,20 and 21 give uniform clearance between the mount base plates 2 and 3 with idler mount plates 30 and 31. The connection of the riser blocks 18,19,20 and 21 to the idler mounting plates 30 and 31 are through spherical rod end bearings 26,27,28 and 29 that are rigidly attached by riser bolts 22,23,24, and 25. The spherical rod end bearings 26,27,28 and 29 eliminate binding and allow for minor corrections for assembly imperfections, and to obtain more accuracy of information. All weight applied to idler mount plates 30 and 31 is transferred to weight sensors 14,15,16 and 17. Mounting plate 30 is rigidly affixed to the existing conveyor structure through a combination of mounting holes 4A,4B,4C,4D or 4E that correspond to the existing idler mounting feet 40 by means of counter sunk mounting bolts 6 and 7. The spacing of the mounting bolt holes 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E allow the weighbridge to attach to the existing conveyor structure in the same manner as a standard idler 38. The mount base plate 31 is attached with the same arrangement as idler mount 30 at the opposite end of idler 38 with the same purpose and secured by means of counter sunk mounting bolts 8 and 9 through mounting holes 5A,5B,5C,5D or 5E. The standard idler 38 is rigidly attached to idler mount plates 30 and 31 with countersunk bolts 34,35,36 and 37. The use of countersunk bolts give clearance between the opposing bolt heads 34,35,36 and 37 and 6,7,8 and 9.

[0118] Through this configuration, the idler mount plates 30 and 31 bear all of the weight of material traveling across a conveyor belt. The use of idler mount plates 30 and 31 and base mounts plates 2 and 3 makes the weigh bridge assembly 1 very versatile and adaptable to most conveyors as the idler mounting holes 32A,32B,32C,32D,32E, 33A,33B,33C,33D and 33E match the base plate mounting holes 4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,5A,5B,5C,5D and 5E. These combinations then match the slotted feet shown as 41,42,44 and 45.

[0119] The existing idler 38 is not modified to fit weighbridge assembly 1, the idler base plate mounting holes 32A,32B,32C,32D,32E, 33A,33B,33C,33D and 33E are spaced to match the standard idler 38 spacing between the existing mounting foot 41 and 44.

[0120] The overall height of the standard idler 57 proceeding and the standard idler 58 following the scale weighbridge are adjusted with shims 47,47A, 48 and 48A to a height to match the idler 38 on the weighbridge. This gives uniform weight transfer on the weighbridge and lessens the effects of changes in the belt tension in the conveyor belt 46.

[0121] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 further illustrate the relationship of the component parts of weighbridge 1.

[0122] Turning now the weight sensing assemblies of the apparatus, base plate assembly 2 and idler mount 30 are shown in greater detail at FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows mount base plate 2 and the configuration of a standard conveyor idler 38. Idler foot 40 is securely attached to idler mount 30 by means of idler mount bolts 34 and 35. Spherical rod end bearings 26 and 27 rigidly attach to both ends of idler mount 30. The eyes of spherical rod end 26 and 27 are attached to riser blocks 18 and 19 respectively by load cell riser block bolts 22 and 23. Riser block 18 rests on load cell 14 and riser block 19 rests on load cell 15. The load cells are transducers that convert the load transmitted by the riser blocks into analog electric signals. This conversion is achieved by the physical deformation of strain gauge 59 which is mounted to the load cell and wired into a wheat stone bridge configuration. When a force component is applied to a load cell by compression or tortional movement, a deflection of the load cell introduces strain to-strain gauge 59. Strain produces an electrical resistance change proportional to the load. A corresponding weight sensor assembly 15 with strain gauge 60 located on the opposite end of the mount base plate 2 from weight sensor assembly 14, and is illustrated at FIG. 4. A corresponding mount base plate 3 with load cells 16 and 17 and strain gauges 61 and 62 are similarly mount on the opposite end of standard idler 38 with the same arrangement as mount base plate 2. This four-load cell, four strain gauge arrangement allows for integration of the tortional component of force as applied on the weighbridge unit. The data collected in the form of electrical signals is then converted by a microprocessor into empirical data representing speed, weight, and volume of material being processed.

[0123] Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the subject matter of this invention as described herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection issuing upon this development. The description of the invention as set forth in the Specification, and its depiction in the Drawings, are generally set forth for illustrative purposes only.