Base for conveyor belt scraper

Abstract

A conveyor belt scraper (40) which includes a base (10) and a scraper element (42) which is molded to the base (10).

Claims

1. A conveyor belt scraper comprising: a base comprising an elongate body of uniform cross-section having a bridging piece with a first side and a second side opposed to the first side, first and second spaced apart legs on the first side of the bridging piece; and at least two spaced apart retention sections on the second side of the bridging piece in such that the first and second legs project from the first side and are divergent and in that the retaining formations extend from the second side, away from the legs; and a scraper element formed by over-moulding the same onto the body and over the at least two spaced apart retention sections of the body.

2. The conveyor belt scraper according to claim 1, wherein the at least two spaced apart retention sections comprise a first retention section, a second retention section, and a third retention section, and wherein the first retention section on the second side of the bridging piece is flanked by the second and third retention sections which are respectively spaced from the first retention section and which extend from the second side at respective opposed extremities of the bridging piece.

3. The conveyor belt scraper according to claim 2, wherein the second and third retention sections are shorter than the first retention section in the direction of extension from the second side.

4. The conveyor belt scraper according to claim 2, wherein only the retention sections are over-moulded by the scraper member.

5. The conveyor belt scraper according to claim 1, wherein at least one retention section includes a number of keying formations which are adapted to bond to a material used to form and being over-moulded onto the base.

6. A conveyor belt scraper comprising: a base comprising an elongate body of uniform cross-section having a bridging piece with a first side and a second side opposed to the first side, first and second spaced apart legs on the first side of the bridging piece; and a first retention section, a second retention section, and a third retention section, and wherein the first retention section on the second side of the bridging piece-is flanked by the second and third retention sections which are respectively spaced from the first retention section and which extend upward from the second side of the bridging piece; and a scraper element formed by over-moulding the same onto the body and over the first, second and third retention sections of the body, wherein at least one of said first second and third retention sections includes a number of keying formations which are adapted to bond to a material used to form the scraper element.

7. A conveyor belt scraper comprising: a base comprising an elongate body of uniform cross-section having a bridging piece with a first side and a second side opposed to the first side, first and second spaced apart legs on the first side of the bridging piece; and a first retention section, a second retention section, and a third retention section, all of which extend upward from the second side of the bridging piece; and a scraper element formed by over-moulding the same onto the body and over the first, second and third retention sections such that no portion of any of the retention sections is exposed after the scraper element is formed.

8. The conveyor belt scraper according to claim 6, wherein the second and third retention sections are straight and entirely enclosed within the scraper after the same is formed by over-moulding.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view in cross-section of a base for a conveyor belt scraper according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the base shown in FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates in cross-section a conveyor belt scraper made using the base shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a view in cross-section and a perspective view, respectively, of a base 10 for a conveyor belt scraper according to the invention.

(6) The base 10 includes a body 12 with a bridging piece 14 which has a first side 16 and a second, opposed side 18. First and second, spaced apart, diverging legs 20 and 22 respectively, which define a gap 24 between them, project from the first side 16.

(7) Three retention sections 30, 32 and 34 respectively extend from the second side 18, away from the legs 20 and 22. Each retention section, in outline as shown in FIG. 2, is generally rectangular. The section 30 is centrally positioned on the second side 18 and is the largest of the three sections. The sections 32 and 34 are spaced from the section 30 and are, in effect, at respective opposed extremities of the bridging piece 14.

(8) Each retention section is formed with a respective number of keying formations in the form of holes 36 which extend transversely through the respective section. The holes 36 in the section 30 are larger than the holes 36 in the sections 32 and 34. The holes 36 are formed in any appropriate manner, e.g. by means of a drilling process. Alternatively the holes 36 can be formed during a moulding process, if the body 12 is moulded. The invention is not limited in this respect.

(9) The body 12 can be formed in any suitable way, e.g. in a moulding process or from a suitable extrusion which is cut to length as required. The body has a length 38 (see FIG. 2) which is determined to accommodate the dimensions of an existing scraper holder.

(10) The body 12 is preferably made from a corrosion-resistant metal, or from a hard plastics material.

(11) FIG. 3 illustrates a conveyor belt scraper 40 which is made using the body 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The body 12 is inserted into a suitable mould and, using an injection moulding process, a scraper element 42 is formed by over-moulding a scraper member 44 onto the body 12. The member 44 typically is made from a polyurethane material which has properties which make it highly suitable for use as a scraping element. A leading edge 46 of the scraper member 44 defines a scraping surface. Alternatively, the leading edge 46 is shaped, eg. with an elongate slot 48, shown in dotted outline, to receive a scraper blade (not shown).

(12) The material which makes up the member 44 penetrates the holes 36 during the moulding process. The scraper member 44 is thereby secured to the body 12 in a manner which ensures that, for practical purposes, the member 44 cannot be detached from the body 12. The base 10 and the scraper element 42 thereby form an integral, composite conveyor belt scraper.

(13) In a different form of the invention a scraper element, similar to that shown in FIG. 3, is attached to the body using fasteners, notionally indicated by dotted lines 50 in FIG. 3 which pass through holes in the scraper member 44 which are brought into register with corresponding holes 36 in the body.

(14) The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 means that the use of the square base and holder described in the preamble hereof, and the use of liquid nitrogen to enable rubber inserts to be located into the triangular voids referred to, are not required.