Seal strip for reciprocating floor conveyors

An elastomeric seal (10) including a split, V-shaped upper edge (16) including first and second branches (24, 26) that angle away from each other and toward opposed sides of adjacent floor members (32) of a reciprocating floor conveyor. The elastomeric seal includes a rounded base portion (14) including a channel (18) therein defining two side rims (20, 21) that are deflectable toward each other. The central portion (12) of the seal (10) is tapered from the V-shaped edge to the base portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates to reciprocating floor conveyors having elastomeric 
seals between adjacent floor members of the conveyors. More particularly, 
it relates to the provision of improved seals for preventing material from 
passing downwardly between the adjacent floor members. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Simple seal strips for sealing gaps between adjacent floor members of 
reciprocating floor conveyors are well known and have been in use for many 
years. My prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,761 discloses a resiliently-bendable 
elastomeric seal for such a purpose. The elastomeric seal has a base 
portion received within a groove of a first side edge of each floor 
member. The elastomeric seal extends upwardly into the gap between each 
floor member and its adjacent floor member. At its upper free edge, each 
elastomeric seal is biased against the opposing side edge of the adjacent 
floor member. The seal strip of the present invention, and its relation to 
floor slat members of a particular construction, constitute an improvement 
over the elastomeric seal of my '761 patent, as well as the elastomeric 
seals of other prior art patents relating to reciprocating floor 
conveyors. 
Adjacent floor members of reciprocating floor conveyors are designed to 
have a narrow gap therebetween. An elastomeric seal is provided within 
each of these gaps for sealing the reciprocating floor conveyors. The 
elastomeric seals prevent debris and other material from falling 
downwardly between adjacent floor members. In general, the elastomeric 
seals are secured along one floor member and biased against an adjacent 
floor member. While such a design functions well in preventing debris from 
escaping between floor members, it will not necessarily prevent debris 
from getting captured between the elastomeric seal and its supporting 
floor member. Captured debris can result in increased wear and abrasion on 
the seal, therefore effectively shortening the seal's useful life. 
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved seal 
strip that seals off the gap between adjacent floor members in the upper 
regions of the gap and thereby prevents debris or other material from 
becoming entrapped between the seal and the side edge of a floor member, 
which debris tends to wear out the elastomeric seal and, thus, requires 
more frequent replacement. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The improved elastomeric seal of the present invention includes a split or 
V-shaped upper edge along the elastomeric seal. The split, V-shaped upper 
edge includes first and second branches that angle upwardly away from each 
other, forming the V-shaped configuration of the elastomeric seal. The 
first and second branches engage the opposed sides of adjacent floor 
members and are deflected toward each other by the opposed sides. Thus, 
the resiliency of the elastomeric seal material biases the ends of the 
branches against the opposed sides of adjacent floor members. 
The improved seal strip is provided for use in reciprocating floor 
conveyors that include side-by-side floor members, each having a top and 
first and second downwardly-depending opposite sides. The first side of 
each floor member closely confronts the second side of an adjacent floor 
member. A relatively small gap exists between the two sides. 
The first side of each floor member includes a longitudinal groove for 
receiving the elongated, elastomeric seal. The elastomeric seal has a base 
portion that is received within the groove of the first side of the floor 
members. The elastomeric seal also includes an outboard portion that 
extends away from the base portion and away from the first side of each 
floor member upwardly through the gap between adjacent floor members. 
The upper free edge of the elastomeric seal includes the V-shaped split. 
The V-shaped split opens or faces upwardly and is sufficient in expanse to 
span the gap between adjacent floor members. The gap between adjacent 
floor members is sufficiently narrow to cause the first and second 
branches of the upper edge of the seal to be deflected toward each other 
and biased against the opposed sides of the adjacent floor members. 
The V-shaped split of the elongated seal essentially prevents debris or 
other material from working down between the elongated seal and the first 
side of the first floor member to which the elongated seal is attached. 
Such debris, if captured between the seal and a floor member, tends to 
wear the elongated seal, thus reducing its useful life. With the elongated 
seal of the present invention, most debris is captured by the branches of 
the elongated strip and is held above the reciprocating floor conveyor. 
In a preferred embodiment, one of the branches of the elongated seal 
engages the second floor member and is greater in width than the branch of 
the elongated strip that is biased against the first floor member. The 
second floor member and the thicker branch of the elongated seal move 
relative to one another and, thus, are subject to a much greater degree of 
wear than the first floor member and the branch of the elongated strip in 
contact therewith. The increased width of the thicker branch thus 
increases the useful life of the elastomeric seal. 
The two branches tend to bias each other against their respective sides of 
adjacent floor members, which enhances the seal between the elongated seal 
and the second floor member. This enhanced seal further reduces the amount 
of debris that is able to escape downwardly between the floor members. In 
addition, as the elastomeric seal wears, the split branches provide extra 
bias for the contact between the seal and the second floor member, which 
improves the seal therebetween. 
A rounded groove is formed along the first side of each floor member. The 
elastomeric seal has a rounded, retaining base portion along the lower 
edge thereof. The seal extends generally upwardly from the retaining base 
portion to an upper free edge thereof. The retaining base is received and 
secured within the rounded groove of the first side of each floor member 
at such an angle and in such a manner that the seal is bendable upwardly 
between the floor members from its base portion outwardly from the side of 
the first floor member to an upright position substantially parallel to 
the sides of the floor members. The bend in the seal further enhances the 
biasing force of the elastomeric seal against the second floor member. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention can be seen and 
understood by examination of the appended drawings, description of the 
best mode for carrying out the invention, and the claims, all of which are 
incorporated herein by reference as a portion of the disclosure of the 
present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
My U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,868, issued Apr. 18, 1989, and entitled, 
"DRIVE/FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR A RECIPROCATING FLOOR CONVEYOR," discloses a 
presently preferred embodiment of a reciprocating floor conveyor. My U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,492,303, issued Jan. 8, 1985, and entitled "DRIVE/GUIDE SYSTEM 
FOR A RECIPROCATING FLOOR CONVEYOR," discloses a preferred support and 
guide frame construction for floor members. In general, longitudinal floor 
members are connected to transverse drive beams, which reciprocate back 
and forth longitudinally beneath the reciprocating floor. The floor 
members are supported on a series of plastic slide bearings, which in turn 
are mounted on a series of longitudinal guide beams. The longitudinal 
guide beams are mounted on a support sub-framework for the reciprocating 
floor conveyor. The plastic slide bearings snap on to the longitudinal 
guide beams. My U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,868 issued Jul. 14, 1987, and entitled 
"BEARING SYSTEM FOR RECIPROCATING FLOOR CONVEYOR," discloses plastic slide 
bearings that are constructed to be snapped into place on the longitudinal 
guide beams and which are constructed to allow the floor members to be 
snapped into place over the plastic slide bearings. The above-discussed 
patents are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
As discussed in the aforementioned patents, the floor members of a 
reciprocating floor conveyor are moved in one direction to advance a load 
along the conveyor. The floor members are then retracted in sets in the 
opposite direction. The floor members preferably are divided into three 
sets. All of the floor members are moved in the first direction to advance 
the load. The floor members are retracted one set at a time until all 
floor members are at a "start" position. The operation is then repeated to 
convey a load intermittently along the conveyor. The present invention may 
also be usable in a reciprocating floor conveyor that operates in a 
different manner, but wherein generally some floor members move in a 
forward direction to convey the load and some of the floor members move 
rearwardly to re-position themselves for a forward conveying movement. 
The features and operation of reciprocating floor conveyors are well-known. 
The present invention provides an improved seal between the floor members 
for better sealing of the gap between the floor members in order to 
prevent debris or other material from moving downwardly between the floor 
members, or getting caught between the seal and a floor member. 
In preferred form, the seal strip 10 is extruded by generally well-known 
methods and is made of a durable, but flexably resilient, material. 
Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of 
the elongated elastomeric seal strip 10 of the present invention. The 
elastomeric seal strip 10 includes a generally flat, slightly tapered 
central portion 12, a base portion 14, and a split, V-shaped upper edge 
16. The central portion 12 of the elastomeric seal strip 10 tapers 
slightly from the upper edge 16 to the base portion 14. 
The base portion 14 is generally rounded with a channel 18 defined therein. 
The channel 18 creates a pair of rims 20, 21 that are deflectable toward 
each other. 
The split, V-shaped upper edge 16 of the elastomeric seal strip 10 includes 
a first branch 24 and a second branch 26 extending along the length of the 
elastomeric seal strip 10. The first and second branches 24, 26 form a 
V-shaped groove 28 that faces upwardly from the seal strip 10. The width X 
of the first branch 24 is greater than the width Y of the second branch 
26. Preferably, the ratio of the widths is approximately 2 to 1. 
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the elastomeric seal strip 10 
mounted to a portion of a floor member 32 of a reciprocating floor 
conveyor. The floor member 32 includes a top 34, a first side 36 and a 
second side 38 depending from the lateral edges of the top 34. Bottom 
flanges 40 extend inwardly from the lower edges of the sides 36, 38. 
The first side 36 includes a rounded dovetail groove 42 extending along its 
length. The dovetail groove 42 faces outwardly of the first side 36. The 
base portion 14 of the elastomeric seal strip 10 is secured within the 
rounded dovetail groove 42. In this manner, the two rims 20, 21 of the 
base portion 14 are slightly compressed or deflected toward each other. 
This creates a secure mounting of the seal strip 10 to the side 36 of the 
floor member. In addition, the deflectable side rims 20, 21 of the base 
portion 14 allow the elastomeric seal strip 10 to be easily installed into 
the rounded dovetail groove 42 of the first side 36 of the floor member by 
sliding the seal longitudinally along the groove. 
The outboard portion of the elastomeric seal strip 10 extends from the 
dovetail groove 42 of the floor member 32 upwardly at an angle away from 
the first side 36 of the floor member. The V-shaped groove 28 faces 
generally upwardly from the floor member. As shown in FIG. 2, the central 
portion 12 of the elastomeric seal 10 is straight and has not yet been 
bent toward the first side 36 of the floor member 32. Each floor member 
and elastomeric seal of a reciprocating floor conveyor is constructed in 
the manner shown in FIG. 2. 
As discussed in more detail later, the floor members 32 are installed onto 
plastic slide bearings of the reciprocating floor conveyor. In FIG. 3, the 
floor member 32 is shown in an installed position. An adjacent floor 
member 32' is illustrated being moved downwardly into position adjacent 
the first floor member 32. Prior to the installation of the adjacent floor 
member 32', the elastomeric seal strip 10 extends upwardly from the groove 
42 along the first side 36 of floor member 32'. The elastomeric seal strip 
10 also angles away from the outer wall of the first side 36 of the first 
floor member 32'. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the two adjacent floor members 32, 32' are installed. 
The proximity of the two adjacent floor members causes the elastomeric 
seal strip 10 to bend upwardly against the first side 36. The gap 44 
between the floor members 32, 32' is slightly narrower than the expanse of 
the first branch 24 and second branch 26 of the elastomeric seal strip 10. 
This causes the first and second branches 24, 26 to be slightly compressed 
toward each other so that they are firmly biased against the second side 
38 and first side 36, respectively, of the adjacent floor members. 
In this configuration, the expanse of the first and second branches 24, 26 
is sufficient to fill the gap 44 between the adjacent floor members. The 
second branch 26 functions to prevent debris or other material carried on 
the conveyor from falling between the elastomeric seal strip 10 and the 
first side 36. Material wedged between the first side 36 and the 
elastomeric seal strip 10 can cause increased friction therebetween, which 
tends to wear on the elastomeric seal strip and therefore shorten its 
useful life. 
The second branch 26 also increases the biasing force of the first branch 
24 against the second side 38 of an adjacent floor member 32. This 
provides for a better seal between adjacent floor members. In addition, 
the increased width of the first branch 24 as compared to the second 
branch 26 increases the useful life of the elastomeric seal strip. During 
the course of operation of the reciprocating floor conveyor, the first 
branch 24 rubs against the second side 38 of an adjacent floor member. The 
frictional forces between the first branch 24 and the second side 38 of 
the adjacent floor member are much greater than the frictional forces 
between the second branch 26 and the first side 36 of the floor member 32' 
to which the elastomeric seal strip is mounted. Thus, the increased width 
of the first branch 24 allows for more wear in the elastomeric seal strip 
and, thus, increases the useful life of the seal strip. In addition, as 
the first branch 24 of the seal strip wears, the second branch provides 
extra bias for the first branch against the second side of an adjacent 
floor member, which also increases the useful life of the seal strip. 
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of adjacent floor members 
32 shown being installed for a reciprocating floor conveyor 48. The 
reciprocating floor conveyor 48 includes a plurality of longitudinal guide 
beams 52 that are rigidly secured to the frame (not shown) of the 
reciprocating floor conveyor. Plastic slide bearings 54 snap fit on the 
longitudinal guide beams 52 at various points spaced along the guide 
beams. The floor members 32 in turn snap over the plastic slide bearings 
54. 
The upward angle of the elastomeric seal strips 10 allow the floor members 
32 to be installed onto the plastic slide bearings laterally in 
consecutive fashion as shown in FIG. 5. After a floor member is installed, 
the next adjacent floor member to the left is then installed. This causes 
the elastomeric seal strip 10 to bend upwardly and be pulled downwardly 
into the gap between adjacent floor members. In this manner, the 
elastomeric seal strips do not hinder the installation of the floor 
members. 
As shown in FIG. 5, the V-shaped ends of the elastomeric seals span the 
gaps 44 between adjacent floor members 32. The branches of the V-shaped 
ends are biased against the sides of the adjacent floor members. Any 
material carried by the reciprocating floor conveyor is prevented from 
falling downwardly between the floor members by the elastomeric seals. 
Moreover, the material is also prevented from becoming caught between the 
elastomeric seals and the sides of the floor members to which the seals 
are mounted. Essentially, the material is carried above the floor members 
at all times. 
It is to be understood that many variations in size, shape, and 
construction can be made to the illustrated and above-described embodiment 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some 
of the features of the preferred embodiment may be utilized without other 
features. Therefore, it is to be understood that the presently described 
and illustrated embodiment is non-limitive and is for illustration only. 
Instead, patent is to be limited for this invention only by the following 
claim or claims interpreted according to accepted doctrines of claim 
interpretation, including the doctrine of equivalence and reversal of 
parts.