U.S. patent application number 13/410492 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-05 for control apparatus for conveyor of particulate material.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAGUIRE SUPER-SHIELD LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Dennis R. Maguire. Invention is credited to Dennis R. Maguire.
Application Number | 20130228423 13/410492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49042192 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130228423 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maguire; Dennis R. |
September 5, 2013 |
CONTROL APPARATUS FOR CONVEYOR OF PARTICULATE MATERIAL
Abstract
A mount for operationally positioning a shield assembly above a
conveyor belt assembly. The mount comprises a pair of spaced apart
brackets attached on each side of the conveyor frame, and a pair of
linkages pivotally connecting the brackets to the shield
assembly.
Inventors: |
Maguire; Dennis R.; (Lucan,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Maguire; Dennis R. |
Lucan |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
MAGUIRE SUPER-SHIELD LTD.
Lucan
CA
|
Family ID: |
49042192 |
Appl. No.: |
13/410492 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/860.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 21/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
198/860.3 |
International
Class: |
B65G 21/00 20060101
B65G021/00 |
Claims
1. A mount for operationally positioning a shield assembly having a
first conveyor belt above a conveyor belt assembly having a second
conveyor belt, the conveyor assembly having a frame, the shield
assembly having opposing side frame elements, the mount comprising:
A pair of spaced apart brackets fixedly attached on each side of
the conveyor frame; and A pair of linkages having opposing ends,
each linkage connecting one of the brackets to one side of the
frame elements, wherein one opposing end of each linkage is
pivotally attached to one of the mounting brackets, and the other
opposing end of each linkage is pivotally attached to one of the
side frame elements of the shield wherein the shield assembly
comprises at least one axle mounted between the frame elements
having wheels for supporting the first conveyor belt, wherein the
axle is attached to the frame elements by bearing assemblies
located on the outside of the frame elements.
2. The mount of claim 1, wherein the brackets are horizontally
aligned with respect to the conveyor frame.
3. The mount of claim 1, wherein the pair of linkages are pivotally
attached to the mounting brackets and the side frame elements by
bearings assemblies.
4. The mount of claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises a
connecting rod extending between the side frame elements of the
shield.
5. The mount of claim 4, wherein the connecting rod further
comprises multiple rod segments releasably secured together.
6. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a mount for a device which
attaches to a conveyor belt to control the conveyance of
particulate matter along the belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conveyors for moving or projecting particulate material such
as stone, sand or gravel can be found in various applications. One
particular application where conveyors are used to move particulate
material is a vehicle known as a stone spreader. Stone spreaders
are used to project particulate material to a desired location
remote from the vehicle determined by the orientation and speed of
the conveyor.
[0003] A shield assembly for a stone spreader facilitates the
control of the particulate material at various conveyor belt speeds
or for high elevation applications. The shield assembly enables the
particulate material to be thrown a distance beyond the end of the
conveyor which is dependant on the speed of the conveyor and the
control offered by the use of the shield assembly. The shield
assembly can increase the throwing distance of particular material
to over four times over the traditional conveyor.
[0004] There are many different manufactures of stone spreader
vehicles and thus accordingly a need exists for an improved
mounting system that also offers a universal or standard way of
operationally mounting a shield over the conveyor belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention relates to an improved mounting system for a
shield used in associate with conveyor belts on stone spreader
vehicles. A mount for operationally positioning a shield assembly
above a conveyor belt assembly, the conveyor having a frame, the
shield having opposing side frame elements is provided. The mount
comprises a pair of spaced apart brackets fixedly attached on each
side of the conveyor frame, and a pair of linkages having opposing
ends, each linkage connecting one of the brackets to one side of
the frame elements, wherein one opposing end of each linkage is
pivotally attached to one of the mounting brackets, and the other
opposing end of each linkage is pivotally attached to one of the
side frame elements of the shield.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the
invention will become more apparent in the following detailed
description in which reference is made to the appended drawings
wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a partial side view of a shield assembly mounted
in position above a conveyor belt assembly;
[0008] FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 showing the
mount in accordance with the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of the mount according
to the present invention;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a side view of conveyor belt assembly
13 is shown in vertical spaced apart relationship to a shield
assembly 11 mounted above the conveyor belt 12 according to the
present invention. The conveyor belt 12 receives particulate matter
from the stone spreader vehicle for conveyance to a designated job
location and is pivotally attached to the stone spreader by means
of frame 50. The stone spreader includes a drive means (not shown)
to power the conveyor belt 12 so as to move particulate material
(not shown) deposited onto the conveyor belt 12 from the stone
spreader bed or from a hopper. Material may be deposited onto the
conveyor belt 12 directly from the truck bed or an additional
conveyor may operate between the truck bed and the conveyor belt 12
to transfer the material. The conveyor belt 12 may be either smooth
or ribbed.
[0011] The shield assembly 11 is comprised of a powered or
unpowered endless belt 16 having a length and width. The endless
belt 16 is mounted on wheels 22 or axles 24 attached between two
longitudinal frame elements 20 one of which is shown. The frame
elements 20 are provided with holes for receiving the ends of the
axles 24. The axles 24 are rotatably secured within sealed bearing
assemblies 33 mounted on the outside of the frame elements 20. The
externally mounted sealed bearing assemblies 33 allow for the
application of grease without disassembly of the shield assembly
11.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the shield assembly 11 includes a
plurality of pairs of wheels 22 or axles 24 positioned along the
length of the frame element 20 at suitable intervals so as to
provide adequate support therefor. The number of wheels 22 and
axles 24 between the ends of the belt 16 will vary depending on the
size of the endless belt 16.
[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the motion of the
conveyor belt 12 drives the endless belt 16 as a result of the
frictional engagement between the belts 12 and 16. The frictional
engagement may result from direct contact between the belts 12 and
16 or indirect contact, where the particulate material that is
passing between the belts 12 and 16 transfers the motion from the
conveyor belt 12 to the endless belt 16. In an alternative
embodiment of the present invention a hydraulic motor is used to
power the belt 16 independent of any frictional engagement between
belts 16 and 12. The hydraulic motor (not shown) is installed on
the frame elements 20 and drives a sprocket wheel which is
operatively engaged with the underside of the endless belt 16.
[0014] The shield assembly 11 is operationally mounted above the
conveyor belt 12 between a pair of mounts one of which is shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3. Each mount comprises two mounting brackets 31
attached to the frame 50. The mounting brackets 31 support the
shield assembly 11 therebetween by means of linkages 30 pivotally
attached to the mounting brackets 31 and frame elements 20 by means
of bearing assemblies 33. The brackets 31 have hole attachment
means to accommodate for the attachment to the frame 50 and the
pivoting linkages 30 as described. The central portion 37 of the
mounting brackets 31 may be outwardly or inwardly bent as required
to allow the top portion of the bracket 31 and linkage assemblies
to accommodate and clear the frame 50 of the conveyor to avoid
interference with the conveyor belt 12 and the shield assembly 11.
Depending on the conveyor belt assembly 13 installed on a stone
spreader vehicle, the height and width of the brackets 31 may be
easily and selectively varied so that the mount according to this
invention is in fact universal and suitable for all stone spreader
applications.
[0015] A connecting rod 32 extends between the frame elements 20 to
provide stiffness and support. As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting
rod 32 may consist of four rod segments 35 extending between the
second ends of the pivoting linkages 30 releasably secured together
by two bolted connections 36. The bolted connections 36 allow for
the disassembly of the connecting rod 32 for bearing
replacement.
[0016] The mount assembly controls vertical movement of the shield
assembly 11 and allows for up and down vertical movement of the
shield assembly 11 when particulate material passes between the
belts 12 and 16. The maximum vertical deflection of the shield
assembly 11 is limited by the vertical range of the pivoting
linkage. The mount also allows for front to back tilting and
raising as required. The mount prevents side-to-side rocking of the
shield assembly 11 by enabling that the vertical deflection of the
shield assembly 11 to be equal across the width of belt 16.
[0017] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the
apparatus of the invention can be utilized with any conveyor and
with a variety of material. For example, particulate material may
include sand, gravel, salt, rock etc. The conveyor assembly may be
associated with trucks (as described above) or with mining,
equipment, farming equipment etc.
[0018] Although the invention has been described with reference to
certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be
apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims
appended hereto.
* * * * *