Insert for wire mesh belts

A wire mesh belt for use as a conveyor. The wire mesh belt has a plurality of links which are interlocked to form the wire mesh belt. First straight portions, second straight portions and bent portions of the links form passages which extend across the length of each link. A longitudinal axis of each link extends generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the wire mesh belt. Support inserts are provided in the passages of respective links. The cooperation of the support inserts with the links provides support to the wire mesh belt to minimize the deformation of the wire mesh belt.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to wire mesh belts. In particular, the invention relates to inserts for wire mesh belts which reduce or minimize deformation of the belts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wire mesh conveyor belts comprised of a plurality of interlocked zig zag strands or links have been known in the prior art and have been in use for many years. Such belts have found wide use in many different manufacturing processes and apparatus. In a typical application, this type of wire mesh belt is joined together at its ends to form an endless conveyor belt. The belts are driven around one or more pulleys.

Wire mesh conveyor belts are configured to provide support to the articles which carried thereon. In addition, many wire mesh conveyor belts are configured to have openings which air or fluid to flow therethrough. In use, the wire mesh conveyor belts carry the loads and have force applied thereto by the pulleys and the like, which can result in undesired deformation and/or stretching along the length of the belt. This can also result in an excessive camber, deformation or bow across the width of the belt. This is particularly evident on wire mesh conveyor belts which are used in high temperature environments. These deformations can cause the wire mesh conveyor belts to become ineffective and in need of replacement.

Accordingly, what is needed is a cost-effective wire mesh belt that is sufficiently rigid and durable to resist stretching, camber or deformation to prevent the unwanted replacement of the belts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object is to provide a cost-effective wire mesh belt that is sufficiently rigid and durable to resist stretching, camber, arching, spiral collapse or other types of deformation, thereby increasing the life of the wire mesh belt.

An object is to provide a cost-effective wire mesh belt that has an insert which cooperates with the wire mesh to provide rigidity to the wire mesh to allow the wire mesh belt to resist stretching, camber, arching, spiral collapse or other types of deformation, thereby increasing the life of the wire mesh belt.

An object is to provide such a wire mesh belt which maintains a level and consistent carrying surface and which provide sufficient air and fluid flow therethrough.

An object is to provide such a wire mesh belt which maintains its flexibility, maintains its original width and facilitates belt splicing.

An embodiment is directed to a wire mesh belt for use as a conveyor. The wire mesh belt has a plurality of individual strands or links which are interlocked to form the wire mesh belt. The plurality of individual strands or links have a plurality of first straight portions and second straight portions. The first straight portions are connected to the second straight portions by bent portions. The first straight portions and the second straight portions are spaced apart. The first straight portions, the second straight portions and the bent portions form passages which extend across the length of each individual strand or link of the plurality of individual strands or links. A longitudinal axis of each individual strand or link of the plurality of individual strands or links extends generally transversely to a longitudinal axis of the wire mesh belt. Support inserts are provided in the passages of respective individual strands or links of the plurality of individual strands or links. The cooperation of the support inserts with the individual strands or links of the plurality of individual strands or links provides support to the wire mesh belt to minimize the deformation of the wire mesh belt.

An embodiment is directed to a wire mesh belt for use as a conveyor. The wire mesh belt has a plurality of strands or links, connector rods and support inserts. The plurality of links have a plurality of first straight portions and second straight portions. The first straight portions are connected to the second straight portions by bent portions. The first straight portions and the second straight portions are spaced apart. The first straight portions, the second straight portions and the bent portions form passages which extend across the length of each link of the plurality of links. The connector rods are positioned between the adjacent links of the plurality of links to join the adjacent links together. The support inserts are provided in passages of respective links of the plurality of links. The cooperation of the support inserts with the respective links of the plurality of links provides support to the wire mesh belt to minimize the deformation of the wire mesh belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-3 and 10-12, a wire mesh belt10is shown. The wire mesh belt10is a continuous belt which is used as a conveyor belt to support and transfer items or articles from one location to another. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the wire mesh belt10includes a plurality of individual zig zag strands or links12which are joined together in an interlocking or an interlinking manner to form the wire mesh belt10.

As best shown inFIG. 12, each individual zig zag strand or link12is comprised of a plurality of first straight portions14, a plurality of second straight portions16and a plurality of bent portions18which extend between and connect the first straight portions14and the second straight portions16. A respective first straight portion14, a respective bent portion18attached to the first straight portion14, a second straight portion16attached to the respective bent portion18, and another respective bent portion18attached to the second straight portion16combine to form a loop19of the zig zag strand or link12.

The first straight portions14and the second straight portions16are spaced apart. The first straight portions14, the second straight portions16and the bent portions18form passages20which extend across the length of each individual zig zag strand or link12of the plurality of individual zig zag strands or links. As shown inFIG. 1, a longitudinal axis22of each zig zag strand or link12of the plurality of individual zig zag strands or links extends generally transversely to a longitudinal axis24of the wire mesh belt10.

As best shown inFIG. 2, each zig zag strand or link12may have a hook or bent portion26provided on either end28thereof. The bent portions26facilitates the interlocking of adjacent strands12to provide stability at the edges of the belt10.

As best shown inFIG. 12, separate lengths of the wire mesh conveyor belt10or the individual zig zag strands or links12are joined together by suitable connecting means or rods30. The connecting rods30cooperate with overlapping bent portions18of adjacent zig zag strands or links12, thereby allowing the adjacent zig zag strands or links12to move relative to each other while preventing the adjacent zig zag strands or links12from separating. The connecting rods30may have bent portions or ends32provided on the outer ends thereof to secure the connecting rods30to the respective zig zag strands or links12.

To join two adjacent zig zag strands or links12of the wire mesh belt10together, such as, for example, when constructing the endless wire mesh conveyor belt, the two adjacent zig zag strands or links12are brought together. The bent portions18of the strands12in a first strand12are brought in axial alignment with the bent portions18of the strands12in a second strand12. The connector rod30is then inserted from one edge of the belt10through all the bent portions18to join the two adjacent zig zag strands or links12together. After the connector rod30has been inserted through the bent portions18, the outer ends of the connector rod30may be bent to form bent ends32which secure the connector rod30in place in the belt10.

A support insert40is inserted into one or more passages20of the zig zag strands or links12of the wire mesh belt12. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3, a support insert40is provided in the passage20of each of the zig zag strands or links12. However, in other embodiments, the support inserts40may not be positioned in each row. For example, the support inserts40may be positioned: in the passage20of every second zig zag strand or link12(as shown inFIG. 10); or in the passage20of every fourth zig zag strand or link12(as shown inFIG. 11). Ends of the support insert40may be bent to form bent ends similar to bent ends32(FIG. 12) of connecting rod30(FIG. 12) which secure the support inserts40in place in the zig zag strands or links12of the belt10.

While the embodiments shown illustrate multiple zig zag strands or links12interlinked to form the wire mesh belt10, the wire mesh belt may be formed by using individual links or other methods known in the industry.

The zig zag strands or links12or links are formed from material having small diameters. In addition, the material used to create the zig zag strands or links12or links must be somewhat flexible to allow for the forming of the zig zag strands or links12or links. Therefore, when in use, the zig zag strands or links12or links may, over time, be deformed by, for example, stretching, cambering, arching, collapsing. The support inserts40cooperate with the zig zag strands or links12or links of the wire mesh belt10to provide additional support to prevent or minimize the amount of deformation of the zig zag strands or links12or links and the wire mesh belt10.

In the illustrative embodiments shown, the loops19of the zig zag strands or links12of the wire mesh belt10are spaced apart such that a count of 12 to 60 links are provided across a 12-inch-wide section of the zig zag strands or links12of the belt10. The zig zag strands or links12of the wire mesh belt10are spaced apart such that a count of 8 to 32 zig zag strands or links12are provided across a 12-inch-long section of the belt10.

The loops19and the zig zag strands or links12may be made of any material having the desired strength and forming characteristics required, such as, but not limited to, steel, 304ss, 310ss, 314ss, 316ss, 35-19cb, Ni V cb (or 80-20cb), Inconel 601. The diameter of the material for the loops19and the zig zag strands or links12may vary. For example, the wire gauge of the loops19and the zig zag strands or links12may vary between 4 gauge and 24 gauge. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the wire gauge is 4 with a diameter of 0.135 inches.

The connecting rods30may be made of any material having the desired strength and forming characteristics required, such as, but not limited to, steel, 304ss, 310ss, 314ss, 316ss, 35-19cb, Ni V cb (or 80-20cb), Inconel 601. The diameter of the material for the connecting rods30may vary. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the diameter of the connecting rods30is 0.162 inches.

The length of the securing insert40can be varied based on the width of the zig zag strands or links12and the wire mesh belt10. In illustrative embodiments, the securing inserts40have a length of between 2 inches and 288 inches. The width of the securing insert40may vary. In illustrative embodiments, the width of the securing inserts40is between 0.20 inches and 1.5 inches. The thickness of the securing insert40may vary. In illustrative embodiments, the thickness of the securing inserts40is between 0.020 inches and 0.25 inches. The securing insert40may be made of any material having the desired strength characteristics required, such as, but not limited to, steel, 304ss, 310ss, 314ss, 316ss, 35-19cb, Ni V cb (or 80-20cb), Inconel 601.

The securing insert40may have various configurations. In an illustrative embodiment, the securing inserts40shown inFIGS. 4 and 5have an S-configuration in which end sections50are angled (for example perpendicular) relative to middle sections52of the support inserts40. In a second illustrative embodiment, the securing inserts40shown inFIGS. 6 and 7have a V-configuration in which raised center sections54extend the length of the support inserts40. In a third illustrative embodiment, the securing inserts40shown inFIGS. 8 and 9have a planar configuration.

The cooperation of the insert with the links resists stretching and camber of the wire mesh belt. The support of the insert also strengthens the spiral links, making them more resistant to collapse. This cooperation allows for an increased belt life, helps to maintain a level and consistent carrying surface, maintains the belt original width and maintains the belt flexibility over time.