BELT OR BELT SEGMENT

Abstract

A belt or a belt segment has a plurality of strength members that run in the longitudinal direction (X) and are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, and has a connection element forming one end of the belt, or of the belt segment and is configured to be connected to a further connection element at the other end of the belt, or to an end of a further belt segment, or is configured to connect two ends of the belt, or of the belt segment, wherein at least one end of a strength member is connected in a force-fitting manner to a clamping body, wherein the clamping body can be held in a form-fitting manner by the connection element at least in the longitudinal direction (X) through a strength member leadthrough. A strength member leadthrough in the longitudinal direction (X) has a widening facing the clamping body.

Claims

1. A belt or belt segment defining a longitudinal direction (X), the belt or belt segment comprising: a plurality of strength members which run in the longitudinal direction (X) and are disposed so as to be mutually parallel; a connection element forming a first belt end of the belt or the belt segment and configured to be connected to a further connection element at a second belt end of the belt or to an end of a further belt segment or the connection element being configured to interconnect said first belt end and said belt second end of the belt or the belt segment; at least one clamping body; said plurality of strength members including at least one strength member end connected to said at least one clamping body in a force-fitting manner; said at least one clamping body being configured to be held in a form-fitting manner by said connection element at least in the longitudinal direction (X) through a strength member leadthrough; and, said strength member leadthrough, in the longitudinal direction (X), has a widening facing said at least one clamping body.

2. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said widening facing said at least one clamping body has a hyperbolic shape.

3. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said strength member leadthrough is configured as a bore through said connection element.

4. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said strength member leadthrough is configured as a groove through the connection element.

5. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said strength member leadthrough in the longitudinal direction (X) has a further widening facing away from said at least one clamping body.

6. The belt or belt segment of claim 1 further comprising: an elastomeric main body including a material; said plurality of strength members being embedded in said elastomeric main body; each of said plurality of strength members having respective ends; and, said ends of said plurality of strength members being exposed by said material of said elastomeric main body.

7. A connection element for a belt or belt segment, the belt or belt segment defining a longitudinal direction (X) and having a plurality of strength members which run in the longitudinal direction (X) and are disposed so as to be mutually parallel, the belt or belt section further having at least one clamping body, the connection element forming a first belt end of the belt or the belt segment and configured to be connected to a further connection element at a second belt end of the belt or to an end of a further belt segment or the connection element being configured to interconnect the first belt end and the belt second end of the belt or the belt segment, the plurality of strength members including at least one strength member end connected to said at least one clamping body in a force-fitting manner, the connection element comprising: a connection element body defining the strength member leadthrough through which the at least one clamping body of the strength member end can be held in a form-fitting manner at least in the longitudinal direction (X); and, wherein the strength member leadthrough, in the longitudinal direction (X), has a widening facing the clamping body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a belt that is closed in an endless manner, having connection elements according to the prior art, from obliquely above;

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a section in the longitudinal direction through the illustration of FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a connection element from obliquely above;

[0035] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the illustration of FIG. 3; and,

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the illustration of FIG. 3, having strength member ends and clamping bodies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a belt 1 that is closed in an endless manner, having connection elements 2 according to the prior art, from obliquely above; FIG. 2 shows a section in the longitudinal direction X through the illustration of FIG. 1.

[0038] The belt 1 is closed in an endless manner in a longitudinal direction X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as the width Y, extends perpendicularly thereto. The height Z, which can also be referred to as the thickness Z, extends in each case perpendicularly thereto. These directional indications in Cartesian coordinates apply in an analogous manner to a connection element 2 which is illustrated on its own in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0039] The connection element 2 has a main body 20 which composed of a hard or hardenable steel. On its one edge in the longitudinal direction X, the main body 20 has a plurality of crenelated protrusions 21 which each have transverse bores 22 extending in the transverse direction Y. The main body 20 has an external belt side 25 which forms the top side 25 of the main body 20. The main body 20 also has an internal belt side 26 which forms the underside 26 of the main body 20.

[0040] The connection element 2 also has a plurality of clamping body receptacles 31 which are in each case configured as a rectangular clearance within the main body 20 (cf. also FIG. 3). The clamping body receptacles 31 are configured so as to be open toward the upper side 25 and the lower side 26, and in the transverse direction Y are mutually separated by webs 33 that run in the longitudinal direction X. The webs 33 are a component part of the main body 20 and can transmit forces in the longitudinal direction X and, on account thereof, can counteract any warping of the connecting element 2 on account of stresses in the longitudinal direction X.

[0041] In each case one strength member leadthrough 30 extends from the clamping body receptacles 31 in the longitudinal direction X, counter to the direction of the crenelated protrusions 21, through the main body 20. The strength member leadthroughs 30, toward the belt 1, have in each case a widening 30 a facing away from the clamping body receptacle 31. The strength member leadthroughs 30 are embodied in the form of grooves 30.

[0042] In each case one clamping body 32 that is shaped in a corresponding manner is disposed in the clamping body receptacles 31. The clamping bodies 32 are in each case configured so as to be cylindrical and have a cylindrical strength member receptacle 34 which runs in the longitudinal direction X and in which the ends 14 of strength members 13 in the form of steel cables 13 are clamped by press-fitting (cf. FIG. 2, for example). To this end, the steel cables 13 are not covered, at their ends 14, by the material of an elastomeric main body 10 of the belt 1.

[0043] In its height Z, the elastomeric main body 10 has a lower elastomeric cover layer 11 and an upper elastomeric cover layer 12. The exposed ends 14 of the steel cables 13, conjointly with the clamping body 32 and the connection element 2, form the belt end 15. The two connection elements 2 of two belt ends 15 of the same belt 1 or of two belt segments 1 are interconnected in an articulated manner via a coupling bar 23 through the transverse bores 22 of the connection elements 2. The coupling bar 23 is secured in this position by coupling bar securing means 24 on both sides in the transverse direction Y.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a connection element 2 per se according to the invention from obliquely above. FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the illustration of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the illustration of FIG. 3, having strength member ends 14 and clamping bodies 32.

[0045] According to the invention, the opening of each strength member leadthrough 30 that faces the clamping body receptacle 31 or the clamping body 32, respectively, also has a widening 30b which in terms of the configuration of the latter corresponds to the widening 30a that in the longitudinal direction X is opposite the widening 30b. In this way, any buckling of the strength members 13 at the transitions from the strength member leadthrough 30 toward the clamping body receptacles 31, or toward the clamping bodies 32, respectively, can be avoided.

[0046] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(Part of the Specification)

[0047] X Longitudinal direction of the belt 1 or belt segment 1, respectively [0048] Y Transverse direction or width of the belt 1 or belt segment 1, respectively [0049] Z Height or thickness, respectively, of the belt 1 or belt segment 1, respectively [0050] 1 Belt or belt segment, respectively [0051] 10 Elastomeric main body [0052] 11 Lower elastomeric cover layer [0053] 12 Upper elastomeric cover layer [0054] 13 Strength members, or steel cables, respectively [0055] 14 End of the strength members 13 [0056] 15 Belt end or belt segment end, respectively [0057] 2 Connection elements [0058] 20 Main body [0059] 21 Crenelated protrusions [0060] 22 Transverse bores of the crenelated protrusions [0061] 23 Coupling bar [0062] 24 Coupling bar securing means [0063] 25 External belt side or upper side, respectively, of the main body 20 [0064] 26 Internal belt side or lower side, respectively, of the main body 20 [0065] 30 Strength member leadthrough of the main body 20, bore or groove, respectively [0066] 30a Widening of the strength member leadthrough 30, facing away from the clamping body, or on the external side, respectively [0067] 30b Widening of the strength member leadthrough 30, facing the clamping body, or on the internal side, respectively [0068] 31 Clamping body receptacle [0069] 32 Clamping body [0070] 33 Webs of the main body 20 in the longitudinal direction X [0071] 34 Strength member receptacle of the clamping body 32 or clamping bodies 32, respectively