U.S. patent number RE33,196 [Application Number 07/238,537] was granted by the patent office on 1990-04-10 for reciprocating channel floor conveyor.
Invention is credited to Raymond K. Foster.
United States Patent |
RE33,196 |
Foster |
April 10, 1990 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Reciprocating channel floor conveyor
Abstract
A plurality of floor members (40, 58, 106) are supported on
guide beams (16, 18, 60, 102). The guide beams (16, 18, 60, 102)
are spaced apart such that the floor members (40, 58, 106) have
spaces between their side portions. The guide beams (16, 18, 60,
102) have oppositely directed flanges (26, 78, 80, 112, 114)
secured to their tops. Bearing members (30, 116) slip over these
flanges and rest on top of the guide beams (16, 18, 60, 102).
Bottom members (20, 64, 98) extend laterally between the guide
beams (16, 18, 60, 102), to form channels in the regions between
the floor members (40, 58, 106). In one embodiment, refrigerated
air is directed through these channels. In a second embodiment, the
channel is used to collect small particles of ice and ice water. In
a third embodiment, garbage is allowed to enter into the channel
space. The sidewalls (108, 110) of the floor members (106) engage
this garbage and move it when the floor members (106) are moving
and hold it when the floor members (106) are stationary. The floor
in which refrigerated air is circulated through the channels, and
the floor in which small ice particles and ice water are collected
in the channels, is set on an insulated base. The garbage conveying
floor may be set on an incline, for lifting garbage up from a lower
level to an elevated level above the open top of a container (92)
provided for collecting the garbage (96).
Inventors: |
Foster; Raymond K. (Madras,
OR) |
Family
ID: |
26931754 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/238,537 |
Filed: |
August 29, 1988 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
680070 |
Dec 10, 1984 |
04611708 |
Sep 16, 1986 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/750.4;
198/952; 414/509; 414/525.1; 62/344; 62/378 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G
25/065 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65G
25/06 (20060101); B65G 25/04 (20060101); B65G
025/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/750,621,773-775
;222/146.6 ;414/525.1,525.9,509,304,325 ;62/344,378 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2452648 |
|
Jun 1975 |
|
DE |
|
57-83329 |
|
May 1982 |
|
JP |
|
488669 |
|
Jul 1938 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Spar; Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Dayoan; D. Glenn
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnard; Delbert J.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reciprocating floor conveyor, comprising:
a plurality of laterally spaced apart support beams, each having
opposite side walls and a top, and said top including a pair of
oppositely extending flanges, each flange projecting laterally
outwardly beyond the side wall on a side of the support beam;
slide bearing means on said support beams, said slide bearing means
including, on each side of each support beam, a top part situated
above the support beam, a lower flange part located below the
flange on its side of the support beam, and a web interconnecting
the top part and lower flange part;
a separate floor member associated with each said support beam,
each floor member comprising a top, a pair of side walls depending
from opposite side edges of the top, and flange means projecting
inwardly from the side walls, towards the side walls of the support
beams,
wherein on each side of each support beam the top of the floor
member rests on the top part of the bearing, the web of the bearing
is inwardly contiguous to the side wall of the floor member, and
the flange means on the floor member is located below the lower
flange part of the bearing;
fixed bottom wall means located between the support beams; and
an open space defined by and between the adjacent side walls of
each adjoining pair of floor members.
2. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
said fixed bottom wall means comprises a bottom member located
between each adjacent pair of support beams, and said bottom member
is integral with the adjacent side walls of the two support beams
between which it is situated.
3. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 2, wherein the
support beams and the bottom members between the support beams are
formed by interlocking extruded shapes.
4. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 3, wherein
each said .[.extruder.]. .Iadd.extruded .Iaddend.shape comprises a
bottom member, a first side wall of a first support beam connected
to one side of the bottom member, and a second side wall of a
second support beam, connected to the opposite side of the bottom
member, at least a portion of the top of the first support beam
connected to the first side wall, and at least a portion of the top
of the second support beam connected to the second side wall.
5. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 4, wherein
each shape comprises a portion only of the top of the first support
beam, formed integrally with the first side wall of the first
support beam, including the flange portion of the top on such side
of the support beam, and a portion only of the top of the second
support beam, formed integrally with the second side wall of the
second support beam, and including the top flange on such side of
the second support beam.
6. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 5, wherein the
top portion of the first support beam includes one component of an
interlock connection, and the top portion of the second support
beam includes one component of an interlock connection.
7. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 6, wherein the
interlock connection component on the top part of the first support
beam is connectable to an interlock connection component of a type
on the top portion of the second support beam.
8. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the
inwardly projecting flange means on the floor members are flange
segments spaced apart along the length of the floor member, and
separately by open spaces between the flange segments, and wherein
the outwardly projecting flanges on the top of each support beam
are flange segments spaced apart along the length of the support
beam, and separated by open spaces down through which the flange
segments on the floor members may fit, so that the floor member can
be installed by aligning its flange segments with the between
flange spaces of the support beams, and wherein the floor members
have operational positions in which their inwardly projecting
flange segments are positioned below the outwardly projecting
flange segments of the support beams.
9. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
each support beam top flange includes a downwardly projecting lock
lip and the lower flange part of each slide bearing means comprises
an upwardly projecting lock lip, positioned such that when the
slide bearing means is on the support beam the slide bearing means
upwardly projecting lock lip is located inwardly of a support beam
top flange lock lip.
10. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 9, wherein
the top part, the web, the lower flange part and the upwardly
directed lock lip portions of the slide bearing means together
define an inner space, and wherein the top flange of the support
beam is configured to snugly fit within this inner space.
11. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 9, wherein
said slide bearing means .[.comprise.]. .Iadd.comprises
.Iaddend.separate members on opposite sides of the support beam,
each said member having a top part, a web, a lower flange part and
a lock lip.
12. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 11, wherein
said slide bearing means comprises a series of pairs of said
bearing members spaced longitudinally along the support beam.
13. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
said slide bearing means .[.comprise.]. .Iadd.comprises
.Iaddend.separate members on opposite sides of the support beam,
each said member having a top part, a web, a lower flange part and
a lock lip.
14. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 13, wherein
said slide bearing means comprises a series of pairs of said
bearing members spaced longitudinally along the support beam.
15. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
said fixed bottom means comprises a bottom member located between
each adjacent pair of support beams, wherein the support beams and
the bottom members between the support beams are formed by
interlocking extruded shapes, and wherein each shape includes at
least one complete support beam between two complete bottom wall
members and a portion of a support beam on each of its sides, each
said support beam portion including a connector component by which
it may be connected to a support beam portion of an adjacent
shape.
16. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 15, wherein
the extruded shape comprises two complete support beams and three
complete bottom members.
17. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
the fixed bottom wall means comprises a bottom member located
between each adjacent pair of support beams, wherein the support
beams and the bottom members between the support beams are formed
by interlocking extruded shapes, and each said shape includes a
first support beam half on one of its side, including a first
component of an interlock connection, and a second support beam
half on its opposite side, including a complementary interlock
component, so that the interlock component on one side of a shape
can be interfitted with the interlock component on an opposite side
of an adjacent shape, to connect the two shapes together and to
complete a support beam at the connection.
18. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 17, wherein
one interlock component comprises a channel and the other interlock
component comprises a lip sized to fit within said channel.
19. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 17, wherein
each said shape comprises a support beam half on each of its sides
and a bottom member extending between and interconnecting said
support beam halves.
20. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 17, wherein
each said shape comprises at least one complete support beam
flanked by two channels, each of which is formed by a side of the
support beam, a bottom member and an adjoining support beam
side.
21. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
said fixed bottom wall means comprises a floor constructed from
metal plate material on a base, and wherein the support beams
comprise lengths of metal shapes which are spaced apart and fixed
in position on the metal plate material and which extend upwardly
from the metal plate material.
22. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 21, wherein
the support beams are lengths of rectangular metal tubing welded to
the plate material.
23. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 21, wherein
the oppositely extending flanges on the support beams are formed
from metal members welded to the tops of the shapes.
24. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 23, wherein
the inwardly projecting flange means on the floor members are
flange segments spaced apart along the length of the floor member,
and separated by open spaces between the flange segments and
wherein the outwardly projecting flanges of the top of each support
beam are flange segments spaced apart along the length of the
support beam, and separated by open spaces down through which the
flange segments on the floor members may fit, so that the floor
member can be installed by aligning its flange segments with the
between flange spaces of the support beams, and wherein the floor
members have operational positions in which their inwardly
projecting flange segments are positioned below the outwardly
projecting flange segments of the support beams.
25. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
the floor members are downwardly opening metal channel members, and
wherein the flange means on said floor members are formed by metal
members connected to inside lower portions of the side walls of the
channel members.
26. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 21, wherein
said base is a slab of concrete.
27. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
the support beams and the bottom wall means located between the
support beams are secured to a heat insulated base, so that
refrigerated air can be directed into spaces between the support
beams and the heat insulated base will minimize a downward loss of
refrigeration energy.
28. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
the support beams and the bottom wall means located between the
support beams are secured to a heat insulated base, said floor
members being supported with the side walls of adjacent floor
members relatively close together, so that the conveyor can be used
for conveying ice particles, the most of which are the size larger
than the spaces between the adjacent floor members, and wherein the
side walls of adjacent support beams and the fixed bottom wall
means located therebetween together define a collection channel for
small ice particles and water.
29. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 1, wherein
adjacent floor members are positioned so that a space is defined
between the adjacent side walls of said floor members which will
receive material that is being conveyed by the conveyor, and
wherein the said adjacent side walls of the floor members extend
downwardly a substantial distance within said space and have outer
side surfaces of substantial area, so that said side surfaces will
contact material in the space and frictionally engage said material
and move it together with the material on top of the adjacent floor
members, when said floor members are being advanced together.
30. A reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 29, wherein
the bottom wall means is set onto a base which can carry the weight
of a truck, and the floor members, the support beams and the slide
bearing means can support the weight of a truck, and wherein the
spaces that are defined by and between adjacent side walls of the
floor members are narrower than the tires of the truck, so that the
truck can be driven out onto the reciprocating floor conveyor.
31. A method of handling garbage at a transfer station,
comprising:
providing a base structure leading to a discharge level;
positioning a container for receiving garbage with its top below
the discharge level;
providing on said base structure a plurality of spaced apart
parallel support beams, each having opposite side walls and a top,
and flanges projecting laterally outwardly in opposite directions
from the top;
providing slide bearing means on said support beam of a type
including a top part situated above the support beam, a lower
flange part located below the flange on its side of the support
beam, and a web interconnecting the top part and the lower flange
part;
providing a floor member on each support beam of a type comprising
a top wall which rests on the top of the bearing, a pair of side
walls which depend downwardly from the opposite side edges of the
top of the floor member, and flange means which project inwardly
from the side walls of the floor member, below the lower portions
of the bearing means, towards the side walls of the support
beams;
spacing the floor members apart a distance that will allow garbage
placed on the floor members to fall between adjacent floor
members;
dumping garbage onto the floor members; and
moving the floor members to advance the garbage to the
container.
32. A method according to claim 31, comprising spacing the floor
members apart a distance less than the width of the tires of a
garbage truck,
using materials for the support beams, the floor members and the
slide bearing means which can carry the weight of a garbage truck,
and
driving the garbage truck out onto the floor members and then
dumping garbage from the truck onto the floor members.
33. A method according to claim 31, comprising providing an
upwardly sloping base structure with the discharge level at its
upper end, and moving the floor members to advance the garbage up
the base structure to the discharge level, and from the discharge
level into the container.
34. A method of conveying particle ice, comprising:
providing an insulated base structure;
providing on said base structure a plurality of spaced apart,
parallel support beams, each having opposite side walls and a top,
and flanges projecting laterally outwardly in opposite directions
from the top;
providing bottom members in the spaces between adjacent support
beams, connected to the side walls of the support beams to define
channels between the support beams;
providing slide bearing means on said support beams of a type
including a top part situated above the support beam, a lower
flange part located below the flange on its side of the support
beam, and a web interconnecting the top part and the lower flange
part;
providing a floor member on each support beam of a type comprising
a top wall which rests on the top of the bearing, a pair of side
walls which depend downwardly from the opposite side edges of the
top floor member, and flange means which project inwardly from the
side walls of the floor member, below the lower portions of the
bearing means, towards the side walls of the support beams;
spacing the floor members apart a distance less than the size of
most of the ice particles to be conveyed, so that such ice
particles will not fall through the space between the floor
members;
placing particle ice onto said floor members;
moving the floor members to advance the particle ice; and
using the channels to collect small ice particles and water from
melted ice and carry it away from below the particle ice that is on
the floor members.
35. A method of conveying a product that is in a refrigerated
space, comprising:
providing an insulated base structure for said space;
providing on said base structure a plurality of spaced apart,
parallel support beams, each having opposite side walls and a top,
and flanges projecting laterally outwardly in opposite directions
from the top;
providing slide bearing means on said support beams of a type
including a top part situated above the support beam, a lower
flange part located below the flange on each side of the support
beam, and a web interconnecting the top part and the lower flange
part;
providing a floor member on each support beam of a type comprising
a top wall which rests on the top of the bearing, a pair of side
walls which depend downwardly from the opposite side edges of the
top of the floor member, and flange means which project inwardly
from the side walls of the floor members, below the lower portions
of the bearing means, towards the side walls of the support
beams;
spacing the floor members laterally apart to provide a substantial
space between adjacent floor members;
placing a load on the floor members;
moving the floor members to advance the load towards one end of the
space; and
refrigerating the space, at least by circulating .[.refigerated.].
.Iadd.refrigerated .Iaddend.air through the spaces between adjacent
floor members. .Iadd.36. A reciprocating floor conveyor for moving
garbage or a like material, comprising:
a plurality of laterally spaced apart support beams;
a plurality of slide bearings on said support beams, each said
slide bearing including a top part situated above its support
beam;
a plurality of floor members, said floor members being mounted on
said support beams, each floor member comprising a top and a pair
of sidewalls depending from opposite side edges of the top, wherein
the tops of the floor members rest on the top parts of the slide
bearings;
said support beams and said slide bearings supporting the floor
members for movement in one direction to convey the material, and
individual retraction in the opposite direction,
a bottom wall portion between adjacent support beams;
an open channel space defined above the bottom wall portion, and by
and between adjacent sidewalls of adjacent pairs of floor members,
each open channel space being closed at its bottom; and
each said open channel space being wide enough to allow the
material being conveyed to enter into it and being narrow enough so
that the material in the open channel space will be moved by
contact with the sidewalls of the floor members bounding the space
during movement of the floor members in
the material-conveying direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. A
reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 36, wherein said
support beams each include a sidewall portion and said bottom wall
portion comprises a bottom member located between an adjacent pair
of support beams, and said bottom member is integral with the
adjacent sidewall portions of the two support beams between which
it is situated. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. A reciprocating floor conveyor
according to claim 36, further comprising sidewall portions
extending upwardly from the bottom wall portion, each said sidewall
portion located outwardly from said floor member sidewalls relative
to said open channel space, and inwardly from said floor member
sidewalls
relative to said floor member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. A reciprocating
floor conveyor according to claim 36, wherein each said floor
member is mounted
on a separate single support beam. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A
reciprocating floor conveyor, comprising:
a plurality of laterally spaced apart support beams, each having
side portions and a top;
slide bearing means on said support beams;
a plurality of floor members supported on said slide bearings and
support beams for longitudinal back and forth movement, each said
floor member comprising a top and a pair of sidewalls depending
from opposite side edges of the top; and
liquid-collecting channels between said floor members, each said
channel including a bottom and a pair of sidewalls, each sidewall
projecting upwardly from the bottom into a position inwardly
adjacent a sidewall of a floor member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A
reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 40, wherein said
sidewalls of said channels form side portions of said support
beams. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A reciprocating floor conveyor according
to claim 41, wherein a support beam and liquid-collecting channel
is a single integrally formed piece. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A
reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 40, wherein a pair
of laterally spaced apart slide bearings is on each said support
beam, each said slide bearing including a top portion and a
downwardly extending side portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. A
reciprocating floor conveyor according to claim 40, wherein each
said floor member is supported on a separate single support beam.
.Iaddend.
Description
DESCRIPTION
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to reciprocating floor conveyors of a type
having laterally spaced apart floor members and channel regions
between the floor members. The invention also relates to a method
of using such a floor for conveying a load within a refrigerated
compartment, to a method of using such a floor for conveying
particle ice, and to a method of using such floor for conveying
garbage.
BACKGROUND ART
Reciprocating floor conveyors are presently being used in a number
of environments. The are being installed as floors in the bottoms
of large trucks and trailers, for use in both loading and unloading
cargo. They are also being used as floors in stationary
installations.
Heretofore, in most conveyors of this type seals have been provided
to seal the spaces between adjacent floor members. A typical type
of seal arrangement is disclosed by FIG. 6 of U.S. Pat. No.
4,144,963.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,963 also discloses a conveyor which is adapted
to function as a particle .[.separater.]. .Iadd.separator.Iaddend..
This conveyor does not include seals between adjacent floor
members. The floor members are constructed to taper from regions in
which they are close together to regions whereat spaces are
provided between them. The spacing between adjacent floor members
increases progressively towards the outward end of the conveyor.
Accordingly, by the reciprocative motion of the floor members,
particulate material of diverse sizes deposited on the infeed end
of the conveyor progresses towards the outfeed .Iadd.end
.Iaddend.and falls by gravity through the variable spacing between
adjacent floor members. In this manner, smaller sizes of
particulate material will be separated adjacent the infeed end of
the conveyor, whereat the spacing between adjacent slats is at a
minimum. The large sizes of particulate material will be separated
adjacent the outfeed end of the conveyor whereat the spacing
between adjacent slats is at a maximum.
An object of the present invention is to provide a conveyor
construction in which the floor members are parallel to each other
and between which spaces and channel regions are provided for a
plurality of diverse purposes.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,905,290, granted Sept. 16, 1975, to Robert A.
Caughey, discloses various arrangements of a reciprocating slat
conveyor for conveying particulate material into and through a
press. Some forms of the conveyor utilize right angle oriented
surfaces on separate slat members for moving the material. An
object of the present invention is to utilize right angle related
surfaces on a single floor member for moving material.
Specifically, the upper and side surfaces of laterally spaced apart
from members are used to move material (e.g. garbage) which is
located both on top of and between the floor members. This
arrangement solves the problem of providing a floor which can move
very abrasive material, such as garbage, without the need of
providing a seal between adjacent floor members. The seals are
omitted, and the spaces between adjacent floor members are
enlarged, and are used in the scheme of operation of the
conveyor.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Basically, the present invention is characterized by a plurality of
laterally spaced apart support beams, each of which supports a
separate floor member for longitudinal reciprocation. The floor
members are laterally spaced apart and channel spaces are defined
between adjacent floor members.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, upper portions of
the guide beams are provided with laterally projecting flanges.
Bearings are provided which fit onto these flanges. The bearings
include upper portions which set down on top of the guide beams,
lower flanges which are situated below the guide beam flanges, and
interconnecting webs which are situated outwardly of the adjacent
edges of the guide beam flanges.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the floor members
have top walls which set down on top of the bearings. The floor
members include sidewalls which depend downwardly from the opposite
ends of the top walls, outwardly adjacent the web portions of the
bearings. The floor members include inwardly projecting flanges
which underlie the lower portions of the bearings.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the guide beams
and bottom members between the guide beams are integral parts of
extruded metal shapes. The metal shapes having interfitting lock
edges by which they are joined to form a continuous pattern of
guide beams and channels between guide beams, across the full width
of the floor.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the flanges
on the floor members are segments spaced apart to provide spaces
between the segments. The flanges on the guide beams are also
segments spaced apart to provide spaces between such segments. The
floor member is installed onto and removed off from its guide beam
by aligning its flanges with the spaces between the flanges on the
guide beams. At the same time, this aligns the flanges on the guide
beam with the spaces between the flanges on the floor member. The
floor member is then simply moved vertically, either downwardly
onto the bearings or upwardly up from the bearings. After
installation, the floor member is moved longitudinally to place its
flange segments below the bearing carrying flange segments of the
guide beam. This interference positioning of the two sets of
flanges prevents the floor member from being inadvertently removed
fom the guide beam.
In accordance with a method aspect of the invention, the
reciprocating floor conveyor is constructed on an insulative base
and serves as a floor for a compartment or room that will be
refrigerated. A load is placed on top of the floor members and
refrigerated air is circulated through the channels defined through
the floor members. The refrigerated air flows through the channels
and upwardly through the spaces between the floor members into
contact with the load.
In accordance with another method aspect of the invention, a
reciprocating floor conveyor is mounted onto an insulative base and
is used for conveying particle ice. The floor members are spaced
relatively close together so that a space is defined which is
smaller than at least most of the ice particles. The channels
between the floor members are used for collecting ice water and
very small ice particles and conveying them away from the body of
particle ice on the conveyor.
In accordance with yet another method aspect of the invention,
relatively wide spacing between adjacent floor members is used. The
floor is mounted onto a concrete pad or other substantial base and
is used for receiving and conveying garbage. Floor members, guide
beams and bearings are used which are capable of carrying heavy
loads, so that garbage trucks can be driven out onto the floor. The
spaces between adjacent floor members are narrower than the tires
of the garbage trucks. However, they are wide enough that garbage
material can fit down into the spaces. The sidewalls of the floor
members are relatively deep and provide surfaces of substantial
area in contact with the garbage in the spaces between adjacent
floor members. These side surfaces of the floor members serve to
frictionally grip and move the garbage, as the floor members are
being moved, or hold the garbage, as the floor members are being
held stationary. Garbage is particularly tough on seal material and
would very quickly abrade away any seal provided between adjacent
floor members. This construction of providing a relatively large
space between adjacent floor members, and allowing the garbage to
enter the space, results in a relatively clean floor without the
need for seals. The garbage between the side surfaces of adjacent
floor members is quite efficiently moved by the floor members.
Accordingly, the channel spaces between floor members are not left
full of garbage. Whatever little garbage remains, can easily be
washed out by use of water from a hose.
Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention are
set forth in the description of the preferred embodiments. Such
description of the preferred embodiments, and the claims which
follow the description of the illustrated embodiments, both
constitute additional portions of the description of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Like reference numerals are used throughout the several views of
the drawings to designate like parts, and:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view taken from above and towards one side of
a fragmentary portion of a reciprocating floor conveyor constructed
in accordance with the present invention, showing a pair of bearing
members spaced out from their positions on upper flange portions of
a guide beam, and showing other bearing members omitted, and parts
of the floor members cut away, for clarity of illustration of the
manner in which the floor members are supported;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a reciprocating floor conveyor
constructed in accordance with the present invention, in its start
position;
FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 2, but showing all of the floor members
advanced to an advanced position;
FIG. 4 is a view like FIGS. 2 and 3, but showing floor members "2"
and "3" stationary and floor members "1" being retracted to the
start position;
FIG. 5 is a view like FIGS. 2-4, but showing floor members "1" and
"3" stationary and floor members "2" being retracted back to the
start position;
FIG. 6 is a view like FIGS. 2-5, showing floor members "1" and "2"
stationary and floor members "3" being retracted back to the start
position;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken through a
portion of the floor shown by FIG. 1, with a foreground portion of
a support beam cut away to show a plank of heat insulation material
that is located in the space between such beam and another beam
spaced from it;
FIG. 8 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view of the upper portion
of a support beam, with fragmentary portions of two bearing members
being spaced above such support beam;
FIG. 9 is a view like FIG. 8, but showing one of the bearing
members installed, and the other in the process of becoming
installed;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of floor, with
a midsection of the floor being cut away, to indicate an
indeterminate width of the floor such view showing a manner of
constructing side boundary portions of the floor, and showing
particle ice on the floor over a space between adjacent floor
members, and showing water being collected in a channel provided
below such space, for carrying away the water and small ice
particles;
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a floor member and a
guide beam, showing a construction of the floor member, the guide
beam and bearing members which will allow the floor member to be
installed vertically downwardly and removed vertically upwardly
from the guide beams, such view showing inwardly projecting flange
portions of the floor members in vertical alignment with open
spaces provided between outwardly projecting flange segments on the
guide beams;
FIG. 12 is a view like FIG. 11, but showing the floor member
shifted in position to place its flange segments below the flange
segments of the guide beam, such view representing the in use
position of the floor member;
FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of a reciprocating floor conveyor
mounted onto an upwardly sloping surface, and showing a container
space below a discharge level at the upper end of the sloping
surface, and further showing the rear portion of a garbage truck
.[.deposition.]. .Iadd.depositing .Iaddend.garbage onto the floor,
to be conveyed up the slope and discharged into the container;
and
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the floor shown by FIGS.
11-19, showing garbage on the floor members and in the space
between adjacent floor members;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line
15--15 of FIGS. 12 and 16, showing the floor members spaced
vertically above the guide beam;
FIG. 16 is a pictorial view taken from above and one side of a
fragmentary portion of the floor shown by FIGS. 11-14, with the
floor members shown spaced vertically above the guide beam, and
with two of the bearing members shown spaced outwardly from their
position on flange segments provided on the guide beam;
FIG. 17 is a view taken from the same aspect as FIG. 16, but
showing the floor member installed onto the guide beam;
FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line
18--18 of FIG. 17; and
FIG. 19 is a view like FIGS. 11 and 12, but showing the floor
member spaced above the guide beam.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, this figure shows a first embodiment of the
invention which is adapted for conveying a load that is located
inside of a refrigerated compartment. The floor of the compartment
may include space apart floor beams 10, shown in the form of metal
I-beams. Wood timbers 12 may be supported on top of the beams 10,
and planks 14 of a good insulative material may be provided between
the beams 12. The beams 12 are both good insulators and structural
support members. The planks 14 may be good insulators but not
particularly good structural members. This arrangement concentrates
the loads of the timbers 12 and the beams 10 below the timbers 12
and not on the insulation 14.
In accordance with the invention, the floor comprises a plurality
of support beams 16, 18. The support beams 16, 18 are parallel to
each other and they are laterally spaced apart. In this embodiment
of the invention, the floor beam assembly is constructed from a
plurality of extruded sheet metal shapes which are interlocked
together to form a continuous guide beam assembly across the full
width of the conveyor. In this embodiment of the invention, each
shape comprises two full guide beams 18, and two half portions of
guide beams 16. Bottom members 20 are provided between adjacent
guide beams 16, 18 or 18, 18. The bottom members 20 are formed
integral with the guide beams 16, 18. Bottom member 20 and the
sidewall portions of the guide beam 16, 18 define upwardly opening
channels between the guide beams 16, 18. As best shown by FIGS.
7-9, the guide beams 18 each comprises a top 22, and sidewalls 24.
The top 22 includes a pair of oppositely directed flanges 26. Each
flange 26 projects laterally outwardly of the sidewall 24 on each
side of guide beam 18.
In the preferred form, each flange 26 includes a downwardly
projecting lock lip 28.
The guide beams 16, 18 are provided with bearing means which
provide on each side of the guide beams 16, 18 a top portion 30, a
lower flange portion 32, a side located web portion 34, and an
upwardly directed lock lip 36. In preferred form, the bearing means
exists in the form of pairs of bearing members, one member for each
side of the guide beams 16, 18. Also in preferred form the bearing
members are constructed in segments and the pairs of bearing
members are spaced apart longitudinally of the guide beams 16,
18.
As best shown by FIG. 9, the top portion 30, the bottom flange 32,
the side web 34 and the upwardly directed lock lip 36, of each
bearing member, defines an inner space 38. Each inner space 38 is
sized to snugly recieve the outer edge portion of a top flange 26,
and its downwardly directed lock lip 28.
As shown by FIG. 9, the bearing members can easily be installed by
pushing on them to move them laterally inwardly onto a top flange
portion 26 of a guide beam 16, 18. The sloping lower surface of the
flange 26 cams the lock lip 36 of the bearing member downwardly.
Once the lock lip 36 clears lock lip 28, then lock lip 36 snaps up
into a space below flange 26 located inwardly of lock lip 28. The
bearing member lock lip 36 engages the inside of the guide beam
flange lock lip 28, and holds the bearing member in place on the
guide beam 16, 18.
The bearing members may be constructed from a plastic material of a
type which is in common use for various types of bearings. The
material has an almost oily surface and a quite low coefficient of
friction. However, the material is quite tough and can withstand a
considerable amount of load.
As shown by FIGS. 1 and 7, the bearing members mount a floor member
40 for back and forth reciprocation on each guide beam 16, 18. Each
floor member 40 comprises a top wall 42, a pair of sidewalls 44,
and a pair of inwardly directed flanges 46.[.,.]..Iadd.;
.Iaddend.each flange 46 is connected at its outer edge to the lower
edge of a sidewall 44, and projects inwardly below a bearing flange
32.
In this embodiment the floor members 40 are spaced apart a distance
between adjacent sidewalls 44 that is less than the width of a
floor member 40, but is still substantially large. In the first
embodiment, this space 48 permits passage of refrigerated air up
from between the floor members 40. The refrigerated air 50 is blown
through the channels formed by and between the sidewalls of the
guide beams 16, 18, and the bottom members 20. The refrigerated air
flow lengthwise of these channels and then upwardly through the
spaces 48. The zone above the floor members 40 is a closed space
and the load setting down on the floor members 40 is refrigerated
by the refrigerated air. The floor insulation 12, 14 minimizes a
downward loss of the refrigeration energy through the floor of the
compartment.
The side portions of the shapes which make up the guide beams 16,
18 and the bottom members 20, .[.each is.]. .Iadd.are each
.Iaddend.in the form of a half guide member 16. As shown by FIGS. 1
and 7, one half of a guide beam 16 on one side of the shape
includes an interlock opponent 52 which itself includes a
longitudinal channel. The half of the guide beam 16 which is on the
other side of the shape includes an interlock component in the form
of a lip 54. The lip 54 snugly fits within the channel formed in
component 52, to secure adjacent shapes together and to complete a
guide beam 16.
In the embodiment shown by FIGS. 1 and 7, the shape comprises two
guide beams 18, three bottom members 20, and one of each type of
half of a guide beam 16. Of course, in other installations, the
number of guide beams 18 can change. The shape may include only one
guide beam 18, or it may include more than two. Also, the
construction of the interlock can vary.
FIGS. 2-6 illustrate the operation of all of the disclosed
embodiments.
FIG. 2 shows all the floor members in a retracted position in which
common ends are lined at a start station .[.a.].
.Iadd."a".Iaddend.. The load L is shown centrally positioned on the
floor. FIG. 3 shows the floor members after they have all been
advanced together, to move the load L forwardly, and show the
opposite ends of the floor members aligned at a fully advanced
position .[.b.]. .Iadd."b".Iaddend.. FIG. 4 shows the group "1"
floor members being retracted and the groups "2" and "3" floor
members held stationary. The load L does not move because
frictional forces exerted on it by the stationary floor members "2"
and "3" are larger than the friction forces exerted on it by the
retracting floor members "1". FIG. 5 shows the next step in the
sequence. The retracted floor members "1" and the still advanced
floor members "3" are held stationary and the floor members "2" are
retracted. Again, the load L does not move. FIG. 6 shows the
retracted floor .[.member.]. .Iadd.members .Iaddend."1" and "2"
stationary and floor members "3" being retracted. Again, the load L
does not move. In this example, the load L has moved a distance
equal to the endwise movement of the floor, viz .[.a-c.].
.Iadd."a"-"c".Iaddend. or .[.d-b.]. .Iadd."d"-"b".Iaddend..
The mechanism for moving the floor members is not a part of the
present invention. By way of typical and therefore nonlimitive
example, such mechanism may be like the mechanism disclosed by U.S.
Pat. No. 4,143,760. Or, it can be like the mechanism that is
disclosed in my companion application Ser. No. 680,356 entitled
"Reciprocating Floor Conveyor System".
The construction and arrangement of the bearing members, the guide
beams 16, 18 and the floor members 40 .[.makes.]. .Iadd.make
.Iaddend.seals unnecessary. A space is intentially provided between
adjacent sidewalls 44 of adjacent floor members 40. Any material
which drops down through the space 44 is collected in the closed
bottom channels formed by the bottom members 20, and the side
members 24. In the embodiment shown by FIGS. 1-9, the channels are
used for conveying refrigerated air. The load is a type of load
which is intended to stay on top of the floor members 40, i.e. it
is in containers or is material which is too large to fall down
through the spaces 48.
FIG. 10 discloses a second embodiment of the invention. It is a
floor designed to convey particle ice, some of which is shown at
54. In this embodiment, a space 56 is provided between adjacent
floor members 58 which is narrower than the ice particles 54. In
this embodiment, the channels formed by and between adjacent guide
beams 60 are used to collect water, resulting from melted ice, and
small ice particles, and carry it out from the region below the
mass of particle ice 54 on the floor members 58.
This embodiment also includes an insulated base 62 below the
conveyor. In this embodiment, a relatively thick plank form of
insulated material 62 is used. As shown, at least some of the guide
beam forming shapes 60 may be bolted down.
In this embodiment, each shape 60 may comprise a bottom member 64,
a pair of side members 68, and top portions 70, 72. Except for the
extreme sides of the conveyor, each top portion 70 may comprise an
interlock component 74 of a type which includes a .[.goove.].
.Iadd.groove.Iaddend.. Each top portion 72 may include an interlock
component which includes a lip 76 sized to fit within the groove.
Each top portion 70, 72 also includes an outwardly projecting
flange 78, 80.
This embodiment may include bearing members like the bearing
members described above in connection with the first embodiment.
The bearing members and the flanges 78, 80 may be like the bearing
members and the flanges described above. Or, the
.[.complimentary.]. .Iadd.complementary .Iaddend.lock lips 28, 30
may be omitted. These elements are not shown in FIG. 10.
FIG. 10 shows that at the opposite sides of the floor one of the
shapes may be altered somewhat, and a floor member may be cut and
secured to it, to provide a fixed floor member 82, 84 on each side
of the conveyor. Each fixed floor member 82, 84 may be secured in
place to a top portion 70, 72 of a modified shape. A bearing member
may be used, but strictly to provide proper spacing.
FIGS. 11-18 relate to a third embodiment. This embodiment is
especially constructed for use in conveying garbage. A floor of
this type may be made quite large in size.
FIG. 13 is a diagram of a use of the floor. This diagram shows the
floor 86 positioned on an upwardly sloping base structure 88. The
base structure 88 might start at normal ground level and end at a
discharge level 90 which is spaced above the ground level at an
amount sufficient to accommodate a garbage receiving container 92
positioned with its open top at or below the discharge level 90.
FIG. 13 shows a garbage truck 94 in the process of depositing
garbage 96 onto the floor 86. It shows the floor 86 carrying the
garbage upwardly to the discharge level whereat it falls down into
the container 92.
In other installations, a plurality of floors of this type can be
used for bringing garbage from different directions to the base of
the inclined floor. The floors may be designed so that the garbage
trucks can be brought up to one side of the floor and the garbage
dumped out of the back of the trucks onto the floor. Or, a garbage
truck may be backed out onto the floor and is contents dumped
directly on the floor.
Referring now to FIGS. 11-14, this embodiment of floor may be
constructed by first securing sheets of plate steel 98 onto a
concrete base 100, so that the entire upper surface of the concrete
base 100 is covered by sheet steel. Then, guide beams 102 may be
provided which are in the form of metal shapes, i.e. rectangular
tubing, which is welded or otherwise secured to the plate material
98. The tops of the members 102 are provided with a pair of
outwardly projecting flanges 104, one on each side of each member
102. Flanges .[.102.]. .Iadd.104 .Iaddend.may be strips of plate
material which have been welded to the upper corner portions of the
members 102.
In this embodiment, the floor members may be constructed from
lengths of steel channel material 106, each of which comprises a
pair of flanges 108, 110 and a web 112. The open side of the
channel is directed downwardly. The web 112 becomes the top of the
floor member 106. The flanges 108, 110 become the sidewalls of the
floor member 106. In this embodiment, flanges 112, 114 may be
welded to the lower inner portions of the sidewalls 108, 110.
Bearing members 116 may be used which are generally of the type
which have been described above in connection with the first two
embodiments. In this embodiment, the bearing members which have
been illustrated do not include lock lips.
In this embodiment, the floor members are quite long. To facilitate
installation and removal of the floor member, flange segments 104,
112, 114 are used, instead of full length flanges. Flange segments
112, 114 are secured in pairs to the sidewalls 108, 110. Open
spaces are provided between the segments 112, 114. These open
segments are of a length to accommodate the flange segments 104
which are welded to the members 102. The bearing members 116 are of
substantially the same length as the flange members 104.
As shown by FIG. 18, a floor member 106 is installed by positioning
it over a guide beam member 102, in a position with the surfaces
118 aligned with the bearings 116, and the spaces 120 aligned with
the flange segments 112, 114. Then, the floor member 106 is lowered
until its top 112 sits down onto the tops of the bearing members
116. Then, the floor member 106 is moved lengthwise to place the
flange segments 112 below the bearing members 116. The floor member
106 is then secured to a hydraulic cylinder which drives it
lengthwise.
The drive mechanism for the floor shown by FIGS. 11-14 is not a
part of this invention. It might be a mechanism of a type disclosed
and described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,760. Or, a
separate cylinder may be provided for each floor member 106.
Valving may be provided for continuously advancing a group of three
floor members, while retracting a fourth floor member at a faster
rate of travel. A workable embodiment of this concept is disclosed
by my aforementioned companion application Ser. No. 680,356
entitled "Reciprocating Floor Conveyor System".
Referring to FIG. 14, a space 122 is defined by and between each
adjacent floor member sidewall 108, 110. This space 122 is narrower
than the width of a floor member 106, but it is substantially
large. It is large enough that the garbage load 96 can fall down
into the spaces 122. In this embodiment, the sidewalls 108, 110 are
relatively deep. The outer surfaces of the sidewalls 108, 110
contact the garbage within the spaces 122. Then, in response to
movement of a pair of floor members 106, the garbage in the space
122 between such floor members 106 is moved along together with the
garbage on top of the floor members 106. This is because the outer
surfaces 108, 110 of the floor members 106 provide sufficient
friction to grab ahold of and move the garbage material 96.
Garbage material 96 is generally of such a composition that each
part of it interlocks with an adjacent part. Thus, the moving
garbage 96 on top of the floor members 106 will want to move with
it the garbage that is within the spaces 122. The surface area
provided by the outer surfaces of sidewalls 108, 110 enhances the
force on the garbage .[.intending.]. .Iadd.tending .Iaddend.to move
it, or hold it, depending on what the floor members 106 are
doing.
After use, a hose can be used for washing out whatever garbage
remains in the channel regions between the floor members 106. In
actual practice, it was found that the garbage in the spaces 122 is
moved along quite positively and very little remains in the
spaces.
Preferably, the tube members 102 are relatively strong lengths of
steel tubing. They are welded directly to steel plate material 98
which is secured to the concrete base 100. The channel members 106
are steel members. These materials, and the materials used for the
bearings 116 are all capable of carrying large weights. The spaces
122 between the floor members 106 are narrower than the tires of
the garbage trucks. Thus, the garbage trucks can be driven out onto
the floor. In some embodiments, it is highly desirable to make a
quite large floor and either back or drive the garbage truck out
onto the floor before dumping the garbage on it.
The embodiments which have been described above are represented for
illustration and not limitation. I am only to be limited to the
wording in the claims which follow, interpreted in accordance with
the rules of claim interpretation, including the doctrine of
equivalents.
* * * * *