U.S. patent application number 15/082133 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-28 for truck mounted extensible conveyor system.
The applicant listed for this patent is Custom Truck & Equipment LLC. Invention is credited to James H. Esch.
Application Number | 20170274811 15/082133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59897489 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170274811 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Esch; James H. |
September 28, 2017 |
Truck Mounted Extensible Conveyor System
Abstract
A truck mounted conveyor system for transporting building
materials to a station remote from the truck. The truck with
conveyor system comprises a base platform mounted to the truck
frame and an inner boom pivotally mounted to the base platform and
configured to extend outward of said bed platform over a range of
elevations and azimuths. The outer boom pivotally secured to the
inner boom with a continuous conveyor belt circumscribing the inner
and outer booms. The inner boom including a tensioner mechanism for
maintaining a predetermined tension in the conveyor belt wherein
the combination of inner boom and outer boom can be configured to
minimize the overall length of the conveyor system while in transit
in order to comply with applicable state overall vehicle length
regulations and also maximize conveyor system length during
conveying operations.
Inventors: |
Esch; James H.; (Georgetown,
TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Custom Truck & Equipment LLC |
Kansas City |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
59897489 |
Appl. No.: |
15/082133 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 21/14 20130101;
B65G 41/008 20130101; B65G 41/002 20130101; B60P 1/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60P 1/36 20060101
B60P001/36; B65G 41/00 20060101 B65G041/00 |
Claims
1. A mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations, comprising: a base
element secured to a frame of a vehicle; an inner boom structure
rotatably secured to the base element; an outer boom structure
pivotally secured to the inner boom; a conveyor belt extending
along the inner and outer boom and over a plurality of support
members to form an upper conveying flight along top portions of the
inner and outer booms and a return flight along lower portions of
the inner and outer booms; and a conveyor belt tensioning mechanism
disposed within the inner boom structure wherein when in a
conveying mode the inner and outer booms are capable of being
aligned with one another to increase the overall length of the
conveyor and when in a highway mode are configurable at roughly a
90 degree angle to one another.
2. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 1, wherein
a lift cylinder with a first end secured to the base element and a
second end secured to the inner boom controls elevation of the
inner boom.
3. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 1, wherein
the lift cylinder is hydraulically operated.
4. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 1, wherein
a fold cylinder with a first end secured to the first elongated
boom structure and the second end secured to the second elongated
boom structure controls elevation of the second elongated boom
structure.
5. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 4, wherein
the fold cylinder is hydraulically operated.
6. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 1, wherein
the conveyor belt tensioning mechanism utilizes shaft mounted
tension adjustable idler rollers for obtaining the desired belt
tension.
7. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 6, wherein
at least one linearly displaceable bearing housing facilitates the
application of tension to the conveyor belt.
8. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 7, wherein
a slotted bearing housing laterally translates on upper and lower
slides mounted to a housing panel secured to side panels of the
inner boom.
9. The mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages and other
objects to and from various elevated locations of claim 1, wherein
conveyor lugs are secured across the conveyor belt at spaced
intervals for preventing slippage of the packages or other objects
when the first and second elongated boom are in an elevated
orientation.
10. A truck mounted material transfer unit comprising: a base unit;
an inner boom rotationally secured to the based unit; an outer boom
pivotally secured to the inner boom; a conveyor belt circumscribing
the inner and outer boom and at least one conveyor drive pulley;
and a tensioning system for removing excess slack in the conveyor
belt.
11. A material transfer unit according to claim 10 wherein the
inner boom further comprises at least one swivel attachment
configured to rotate the outer boom.
12. A material transfer unit according to claim 10 wherein the
conveyor further comprises a tensioner assembly for adjusting
tension in the conveyor belt.
13. A truck with a conveyor system for transporting building
materials to a station remote from the truck, the truck having a
bed from which materials may be serially added to the conveyor
system and then removed from the conveyor system at a remote
station, the straight truck with conveyor system comprising: a base
platform mounted to the truck bed; an inner boom rotationally
mounted to the base platform and configured to extend outward from
the bed platform over a range of elevations and directions; an
outer boom pivotally secured to the inner boom; a continuous
conveyor belt circumscribing the inner and outer booms; and an
inner boom tensioner mechanism for maintaining a predetermined
tension in the conveyor belt wherein the combination of inner boom
and outer boom can be configured to minimize the overall length of
the conveyor system while in transit in order to comply with
applicable state overall vehicle length regulations and also
maximize conveyor system length during conveying operations.
14. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 13, wherein a first
lift cylinder with a first end pivotally secured to a shaft
extending between first and second vertical support members and a
second end secured to the inner boom, the first lift cylinder
configured to control elevation of the inner boom.
15. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 14, wherein the first
lift cylinder is hydraulically operated.
16. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 15, wherein a second
lift cylinder with a first end secured to the first inner boom
structure and a second end secured to the outer boom structure
controls elevation of the outer boom.
17. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 16, wherein the
second lift cylinder is hydraulically operated.
18. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 13, wherein a
conveyor belt tensioning mechanism utilizes shaft mounted tension
adjustable idler rollers for maintaining the desired belt
tension.
19. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 18, wherein at least
one linearly displaceable bearing housing facilitates the
application of tension to the idler rollers.
20. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 19, wherein the
bearing housing laterally translates on upper and lower rails.
21. The truck with a conveyor system of claim 13, wherein conveyor
lugs are secured across the conveyor belt at spaced intervals for
preventing slippage of the packages or other objects when the first
and second elongated boom are in an elevated orientation.
22. A mobile power driven conveyor for moving packages or other
objects to and from various elevated locations, comprising: a base
element secured to a frame of a vehicle; a support element,
rotatably secured to the base element; an inner boom structure
rotatably secured to the support element; an outer boom structure
rotatably secured to the inner boom; a conveyor belt extending
along the inner and outer boom and over a plurality of support
members to form an upper conveying flight along top portions of the
inner and outer booms and a return flight along lower portions of
the inner and outer booms; and a conveyor belt tensioning mechanism
disposed within the inner boom structure wherein when in a
conveying mode the inner and outer booms are capable of being
aligned with one another to increase the overall length of the
conveyor and when in a highway mode are configurable at roughly a
90 degree angle to one another.
23. The mobile power driven conveyor of claim 22, wherein the
support element is comprised of at least two closely spaced
vertically oriented plates.
Description
FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to boom type conveyors for delivering
packages or materials onto roofs or other elevated locations.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This disclosure relates particularly to overhead conveyors
as are used to deliver materials to elevated locations such as roof
tops. In particular, the invention applies to such conveyors which
are vehicle mounted and may be part of a delivery truck for
transporting materials such as roofing shingles. The truck is
driven to a site where roofing or other construction material is to
be utilized or building features repaired, and the conveyor is
positioned as to its elevation and azimuth using its own power
drive equipment.
[0003] Various forms of delivery trucks of the self-unloading type
are used to transport roofing materials to a building site. In
general, vehicles presently in service are flat-bed straight trucks
fitted with boom-like devices. One such device comprises a turret
mounted boom-like conveyor which can convey individual packages
from a position at the conveyor turret to a site distant from, and
commonly above, the vehicle bed. The swinging conveyor requires the
shingle packages to be carried to the discharge conveyor, where
they are conveyed to the chosen delivery site, such as upon a
roof.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present disclosure relates to those vehicles which
utilize an off-loading conveyor fitted to the vehicle body. A
vehicle, such as a flat-bed delivery truck, is fitted with a
conveyor for carrying packages of material, such as roofing
shingles, from the flat bed to the elevated location. The conveyor
can swing in an arc about its turret-type mounting adjacent the
transfer station, and its angle of incline with respect to the bed
platform can be adjusted, so as to reach a wide variety of delivery
sites, such as on a roof adjacent where the vehicle is parked, or
on the ground adjacent the vehicle.
[0005] The type of truck commonly utilized with conveyors are known
as straight trucks which are subject to Federal weight requirements
on the Interstate System and Federal width requirements on the
national network, but not to Federal length requirements. Vehicle
length regulation remains with the States. However, the most common
length restriction is a 40 foot maximum length for straight
trucks.
[0006] A state imposed length restriction limits the total length
of the boom to the state length limitation. The inner and outer
articulating boom design disclosed herein allows additional length
to be added to the overall boom length thereby increasing the
versatility of the boom truck and a wider range of projects to
which the straight truck/conveyor combination can be used.
[0007] The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to
provide self-unloading apparatus for a vehicle which can carry a
large number of loads, for example pallets of stacked packages or a
plurality of goods in cartons or cases, which apparatus can move
those loads using articulating inner and outer booms to a transfer
station where they can easily be off loaded, or transferred to a
delivery station with a minimum of lifting, and which can deliver
the packages in serial fashion to a chosen site. The disclosed
apparatus assists unloading, or in certain instances loading, of
such a delivery vehicle to the point that a single person can
control the functions of the apparatus and can also place the
packages onto the delivery conveyor from the stacks of packages on
the palletized loads, or to replace the packages on pallets on the
lift platform, with minimized effort and with substantial saving of
time.
[0008] Other objects and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings
and the appended claims. Various objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more
apparent from the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like
numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the truck
mounted conveyor system in a highway transit configuration;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the
truck mounted conveyor system in a highway transit
configuration.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the
truck mounted conveyor system in an operational conveyor
configuration;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inner
boom;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of the
conveyor inner and outer booms;
[0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a conveyor
belt tensioning mechanism of the inner boom; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the conveyor
belt inner and outer booms.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The disclosed technology relates to straight
non-articulating vehicles which utilize an off-loading conveyor
fitted to the vehicle body. A vehicle, such as a flat-bed delivery
truck, is fitted with a serial unloading conveyor for carrying
packages of material, e.g. roofing shingles. This conveyor can
swing in a full circle atop its turret-type mounting, and its
azimuth, i.e. its angle of incline with respect to the bed platform
can be adjusted, so as to reach a wide variety of delivery sites,
such as on a roof adjacent where the vehicle is parked, or on the
ground adjacent the vehicle.
[0017] Federal regulations found at 23 C.F.R. .sctn.658 govern
truck and bus size and weight; however, vehicle length regulation
remains with the State for straight trucks. The most common length
restriction, applicable in over twenty states as of 2015, is a 40
foot maximum length for straight trucks. Some states, for example
Colorado and Idaho extend that length to 45 feet. With these length
limitations a boom secured to a flat-bed straight truck cannot
exceed 40 feet. State restrictions can thereby greatly inhibit the
scope of projects that a truck mounted conveyor can support as it
relates to the available reach of the conveyor. Providing an
increase in length of approximately five feet using the inner boom
configuration disclosed herein can greatly facilitate the timely
completion of construction projects.
[0018] FIG. 1 reveals a perspective view of a straight truck
utilizing a conveyor system 10 employing the disclosed technology.
Specifically, FIG. 1 reveals a straight truck 14, the length of
which is controlled by the applicable state law. The straight truck
utilizes a frame area 16 capable of supporting building materials
or other supplies for use at, for example, a construction site.
FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the same truck 14 as
shown in FIG. 1 detailing the travel length of the outer boom
structure 18 that is limited by the applicable state law. As
discussed above, this outer boom structure 18 can be no longer than
40 feet in over twenty states. The inner and outer boom structures
20, 18 are preferably constructed of welded steel or aluminum plate
and internal tubular structural members 19, as best seen in FIG. 6,
to provide optimal strength with minimal conveyor system weight for
carrying loads when the conveyor is in operation.
[0019] FIG. 3 details the truck 14 shown in FIGS. 1-2 but in a
material conveying configuration. The outer boom 18 and the inner
boom 20 when configured as depicted in FIG. 3 reveal how the inner
boom can extend the overall length of the combined conveyor system
26 by, for example, an additional five, or more, feet. It is the
capability of the inner boom 20 to align with outer boom 18 to form
an increased working length that is very attractive to those in the
construction material sales, transport and delivery business.
[0020] FIG. 4 provides a close-up perspective view of the conveyor
system 10 detailing a base element 30 with four outwardly extending
double flanges 32 and mounting plates 33 with through holes 33A,
for securing the base element 30 to the frame 16 of the truck 14.
The conveyor system 10 is capable of rotation above the ring gear
34 and can be rotated to any orientation required for delivery of
the conveyed materials. The means for rotation of the base element
30 above the ring gear 34 is typically provided by a hydraulic
motor 31; however, electric drive motors are also contemplated. The
output shaft of the drive motor 31 utilizes a gear that engages
with the ring gear 34. As the drive motor 31 is energized the drive
gear rotates the ring gear 34 causing the integrated inner and
outer booms 20, 18 to rotate.
[0021] FIG. 4 provides further detail on the configuration of the
inner boom structure secured to the base element 30. The inner boom
structure 20 is capable of rotating about the base element 30 that
is mounted to the frame area 16. The inner boom 20 is secured to
the base element 30 by at least two vertical support elements 40.
The vertical support elements 40 extend upwardly from just above
the ring gear 34 of the base element 30. At the upward end 42 of
the vertical support elements 40 are pivot holes 44 extending
through the vertical support elements 40 that are utilized to
retain a pivot shaft 46 that extends between the two vertical
support elements 40. The pivot holes 44 functioning in concert with
the pivot shaft 46 and a first hydraulic cylinder 50 provides the
capability to readily change the elevation of the inner boom
structure 20.
[0022] As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first hydraulic cylinder 50
has an end 52 mounted to the vertical support elements 40 above the
ring gear 34 at a lower shaft member 56 extending horizontally
between openings 58 at the lowermost ends 60 of the vertical
support elements 40. The first hydraulic cylinder end 52 has a ring
member 62 that circumscribes the lower shaft member 56 allowing the
first cylinder end 52 to readily rotate as the first hydraulic
piston rod 64 housed within the first hydraulic cylinder 50 extends
out of or retracts into the cylinder 50. As seen in FIG. 5, the end
68 of the first hydraulic piston rod 64 is mounted to an upper
horizontal inner boom shaft 70 with a ring member 72. As with the
mounting of the first hydraulic cylinder 50 at the lower shaft
member 56, the same mounting technique at the upper inner boom
shaft 70 facilitates rotation, providing elevation and declination
of the inner boom 20.
[0023] FIG. 4 also reveals that the inner boom 20 and the outer
boom 18 are rotatably mounted to one another with a pivot pin 80
extending between the overlapping second end 82 of the inner boom
20 and the first end 84 of the outer boom 18. To facilitate
rotation of the first end 84 of the outer boom 18 about the second
end 82 of the inner boom 18 a second hydraulic cylinder 86 provides
the necessary mechanical advantage. A first ring member 90 at the
end 92 of the second hydraulic cylinder 86 is secured to a second
inner boom shaft 94 disposed between inner boom support flanges 96.
Extending outwardly from the second hydraulic cylinder 86 is a
second hydraulic piston rod 98. The end 100 of the second hydraulic
piston rod 98 includes a ring member 102 secured in position by a
horizontally mounted outer boom shaft 104 secured in position
between two vertical flanges 106.
[0024] The actuation of the second hydraulic cylinder 86 allows
rotation of the outer boom 18 relative to the inner boom 20. Such
that when the inner boom 20 is in a fully vertical orientation, as
shown in FIG. 5, and the outer boom is in a fully horizontal
orientation the overall configuration can be driven on roads and
highways in states where the length of the outer boom 18 may be no
greater than the state limit for straight trucks. FIG. 4
alternatively reveals the configuration of the inner and outer
booms 20, 18 when maximum extension is needed.
[0025] As best seen in FIG. 1 circumscribing the inner and outer
boom structures 20, 18 is a conveyor belt 110. As seen in FIGS. 6
and 7, the conveyor belt 110 extends over tubular support members
19 while transiting the inner and outer boom structures. Exemplary
of such support members are cylindrical rollers extending between
the first 112 and second sides 114 of the inner and outer booms 20,
18. The conveyor belt is preferably fitted with cleats 118, or
upwardly extending protrusions, of some configuration to prevent
backward slippage of materials placed on the conveyor belt 110 when
the outer boom is in an elevated orientation.
[0026] FIG. 6 details a conveyor belt 110 tensioning mechanism 120
disposed within the inner boom structure 20. The conveyor belt
tensioning mechanism 120 utilizes a shaft 124 spanning from the
first side 112 to the second side 114 of the conveyor system 10.
The shaft 124 supports a plurality of idler rollers 134 over which
the conveyor belt 110 rides. Each end 129 of the shaft 124 extends
into the mechanism used for adjusting the tension of the conveyor
belt 110. Each end of the shaft utilizes a bearing housing 144
configured with slots 148, 150 for mating with upper and lower
rails 154, 156. The bearing housing 144 is capable of longitudinal
translation along the rails 154, 156 by adjustment bolts 160 on
both sides 128, 130 of the inner boom 20. The adjustment bolts 160
extend through a housing panel 164 rigidly secured to a side panel
170 of the inner boom 20. When the conveyor belt 110 is installed
and circumscribes the inner and outer booms 20, 18 the adjustment
bolt 160 can be either advanced or retracted as needed to increase
the tension load on the conveyor belt 110 or lessen the tension on
the belt.
[0027] FIG. 7 provides an exploded view of the entire conveyor
system 10. The conveyor belt 110 is driven by a drive motor 175
that is operably coupled to a series of rollers 177 that power the
overlain conveyor belt 110. When the conveyor system 10 is in the
fully extended position, that is when the inner and outer booms 20,
18 are aligned, the conveyor belt 110 is designed to extend the set
number of feet of the outer boom length as well as the additional
number of feet of the inner boom length for a combined inner and
outer boom length. The conveyor belt 110 tension is then set at a
predetermined load. When the inner boom 20 and the outer boom 18
are in the stowed position at roughly a 90 degree angle to one
another, the conveyor system 10 is designed to allow the pre-set
tension in the belt to relax slightly. The relaxed tension in the
folded configuration serves to increase the life of the belt.
[0028] While the preferred form of the present invention has been
shown and described above, it should be apparent to those skilled
in the art that the subject invention is not limited by the figures
and that the scope of the invention includes modifications,
variations and equivalents which fall within the scope of the
attached claims. Moreover, it should be understood that the
individual components of the invention include equivalent
embodiments without departing from the spirit of this
invention.
[0029] It will be understood that certain features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without
reference to other features and subcombinations and are
contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed
in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order
described.
* * * * *