CONVEYOR BELT

Abstract: A conveyor belt, which is made of an elastic material, comprises a flat centre piece (2) which is flexurally rigid about the longitudinal axis of the belt owing to a transverse reinforcement (8, 9b) and is but slightly extendible in the longitudinal direction owing to a longitudinal reinforcement (10); two flat edge pieces (3, 4) which are each articulated to one side edge of the centre piece (2), are flexurally rigid about the longitudinal axis of the belt (1) owing to a transverse reinforcement (8, 9a, 9c), are extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, and together have a width at least equal to the width of the centre piece; and two link pieces (5, 6) which connect each edge piece (3, 4) with the centre piece (2), are flexible about the longitudinal axis of the belt (1) and extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, are resilient to enable outward pivotal or folding movement of the edge pieces from a position in which they are folded over the centre piece, and have a width substantially smaller than that of the centre piece. A longitudinal strip (11), which is fixedly connected to one side of the centre piece (2) and projects upwardly therefrom, is extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt (1). The height of the strip is smaller than or essentially equal to the width of the link pieces (5, 6), and its transverse position on the centre piece is such that the edge pieces (3, 4), when folded over the centre piece, are applied against the strip.

Description: CONVEYOR BELT The present invention relates to a conveyor belt of the type described in WO 89/05765, filed on the 18th of November 1988 by Lennart Tingskog, and in corresponding US Patent Application 07/488055, which is incorporated herein by reference. Such a conveyor belt more specifically comprises a flat centre piece which is flexurally rigid about the longitudinal axis of the belt owing to a transverse rein¬ forcement and is but slightly extendible in the longi¬ tudinal direction owing to a longitudinal reinforcement; two flat edge pieces which are each articulated to one side edge of the centre piece, are flexurally rigid about the longitudinal axis of the belt owing to a transverse reinforcement, are extendible in the longitudinal direc¬ tion of the belt, and together have a width at least equal to the width of the centre piece; and two link pieces which connect each edge piece to the centre piece, are flexible about the longitudinal axis of the belt and extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, are resilient to enable outward pivotal or folding movement of the edge pieces from a position in which they are folded over the centre piece, and have a width substantially smaller than that of the centre piece. This type of conveyor belt is advantageous by enabl¬ ing a closed conveyance of goods, belt paths with tight horizontal and vertical bends and, consequently, hori¬ zontal, inclined and even vertical belt path portions, as well aε loading and unloading at optional points along the conveying path. This conveyor belt is, in addition, of simple construction and comparatively inexpensive to mann- lacLu e, but nevertheless has a long service life even under severe operating conditions. A conveyor with such a conveyor belt can have a com¬ pact design and does not require any complicated support, guide or driving rollers. Such a conveyor is exceptionally versatile, is environment-friendly and involves low pro¬ duction, operation and maintenance costs. With a conveyor belt of the above type, there may, however, occur sealing difficulties along horizontal curves and steeply inclined or vertical path portions when conveying some types of goods, especially materials having a low internal friction, such as cement. A first object of the present invention is, there¬ fore, to improve the sealing of a conveyor belt of the above type. A second object of the invention is to enable trans¬ port of material having a low internal friction by means of such a belt, with an improved sealing function also along steeply inclined or vertical portions. According to the present invention, the sealing func¬ tion of a conveyor belt of the type mentioned in the in¬ troduction to this specification can be improved by equip¬ ping the belt with a longitudinal strip which is fixedly- connected to and projects upwardly from one side of the centre piece and which is extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, the height of the strip being smaller than or essentially equal to the width of the link pieces and the transverse position of the strip on the centre piece being such that the edge pieces, when folded over the centre piece, are applied against the strip. Each edge piece can then be applied directly against the strip, but the edge pieces are conveniently over¬ lapping when folded over the centre piece, in which case the strip should be located within the overlapping area of the edge pieces. The pressure rollers or other pressure means employed for maintaining the edge pieces in the folded-over position then urge the edge pieces within the overlapping area into engagement against the longitudinal strip, i.e. a first of the edge pieces is urged so as to be applied directly against the strip, and a second of the edge pieces is urged so as to be applied against the first edge piece or, in other words, is applied indirectly against the strip. The force exerted by the pressure means will thus be transmitted to the centre piece via the longitudinal strip, the centre piece forming an abutment to the belt-closing pressure applied. The conveyor belt according to the invention guaran¬ tees the inner volume of the conveyor belt, which enables transport of materials having a low internal friction, along horizontal bends in which the transverse direction of the belt is substantially parallel to an essentially vertical axis of the bend. By the improved sealing func¬ tion and the force transmission to the centre piece, the conveyor belt according to the invention can also be moved, with the centre piece on the outside, through bends of a comparatively small radius of curvature, not the least since the tractive force on the belt, mainly taken up by the centre piece, can be conducted through the bend without any appreciable alteration of the cross-sectional area of the belt. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second object is achieved in that the conveyor belt is equipped with driver strips which are fixedly connected to the centre piece and the longitudinal strip, on at least one side of the longitudinal strip, and which extend from the longitudinal strip to one side edge of the centre piece. Each driver strip has such a shape that, when the corresponding edge piece is folded over the centre piece, it will seal against the edge piece and the associated link piece. It will be appreciated that material of a low inter¬ nal friction can thus be conveyed along steeply inclined or even vertical portions of the conveying path, since each driver strip then forms the bottom o£ a pocket for material in the conveyor belt. To eliminate all pressure from the material in the pockets against the sealing area of the longitudinal strip, the driver strips can be so designed that the portions thereof closest to the longitudinal strip are not at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the con¬ veyor belt. The driver strip can be straight, or the por¬ tion thereof closest to the side edge of the centre piece can extend transversally of, i.e. substantially perpendi¬ cular to, the longitudinal direction the belt. The driver strips may however also extend in their entirety substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt, in which case a certain pressure from the material will be applied against the sealing area between the longitudinal strip and the adjoining edge piece. To enable a maximum conveying volume, the driver strips are preferably provided on both sides of the lon- gitudinal strip, which then conveniently is located cen¬ trally on the centre piece. The longitudinal strip may, however, also be arranged closer to one side edge of the centre piece, in which case the edge piece connected to the other side edge of the centre piece is adapted, when folded over the centre piece, to be applied directly against the longitudinal strip. In this embodiment, that portion of the inner volume of the conveyor belt which is located inwardly of the narrower edge piece can be used for collecting spillage material, i.e. material leaking through the seal between the longitudinal strip and the adjoining edge piece, and thus have no driver strips at all. The provi¬ sion of driver strips is, however, convenient also in this case. The sealing function becomes particularly reliable by the provision of an additional longitudinal strip adjacent to the longitudinal strip described above. The invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a conveyor belt according to the invention in the unfolded state; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the belt in Fig. 1 in the closed state; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a conveyor belt according to the invention in the unfolded state; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conveyor belt in Fig. 3 in the closed state; Figs 5, 6 and 7 schematically illustrate alternative embodiments of a conveyor belt according to the invention; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embo¬ diment of a conveyor belt according to the invention; and Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the belt in Fig. 8 and illustrates the distribution of the conveyed goods along a vertical portion of the conveying path. The belt shown in Figs 1 and 2 consists of a centre piece 2, two edge pieces 3, 4, and link pieces 5, 6 serv¬ ing to connect the edge pieces 3, 4 to the centre piece 2. The edge piece 3 is further connected to an extension portion 7, which however is optional. The belt 1 is made in one piece by vulcanising several layers of e.g. rubber on each other, with different reinforcing layers provided therebetween. In Fig. 2, which illustrates a preferred design of the reinforcing layers, a first reinforcing layer 8 extends over the entire width of the belt. This layer con¬ sists of transverse fibres or threads of considerable pulling and pressure resistance and is unsymmetrically arranged in the belt 1, i.e. relative to the geometric central plane of the belt. A second transverse reinforcing layer 19 consists of three parts 9a, 9b and 9c whose extent corresponds to that of the edge piece 3, the centre piece 2 and the edge piece 4, respectively. The part 9c may also extend over the extension porLion 7. The rein¬ forcing layer 9 is of the same type as the reinforcing layer 8. A third reinforcing layer 10 has the same extent as the centre piece 2 and is provided between the rein¬ forcing layers 8 and 9b. The layer 10 consists of longi- tudinal fibres or threads of a high pulling resistance. It may also be made up of conventional cord. The fibres or threads in the reinforcing layers may consist of metal, such as steel, or plastic, such as poly- ester or polyamide, or carbon fibres. Apart from rubber, the belt 1 may be made of plastic or a mixture of plastic and rubber. Thus, the conveyor belt 1 is preferably manufactured in a completely flat condition and is made up of a centre piece 2 and two edge pieces 3, 4, which all are transver- sally rigid, i.e. flexurally rigid in the transverse direction of the belt or about the longitudinal axis thereof. The centre piece 2 and the edge pieces 3, 4 will thus behave as substantially rigid plates which are arti- culated to one another by the link pieces 5 and 6. The high flexural rigidity is achieved by means of the rein¬ forcing layers 8 and 9 which are spaced from each other in the direction of thickness of the belt and which possess a considerable pulling and pressure resistance in the trans- verse direction of the belt. Unlike the centre piece 2, the edge pieces 3, 4 are extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, as are also the link pieces 5 and 6. However, the link pieces 5 and 6, which are flexible relative to the longitudinal axis of the belt, possess a certain springiness, which in this embodiment is achieved by the transverse reinforcing layer 8 and which, when the edge pieces are folded over the centre piece, forces the edge pieces to pivot or fold outwards away from the centre piece. This outward resilience should at least be strong enough to keep the edge pieces spaced over the centre piece, but is preferably such that the edge pieces are swung out to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Although the link pieces 5 and 6 thus should have a given springi¬ ness or a certain flexural resistance, this has to be much smaller than the flexural resistance of the centre piece 2 and the edge pieces 3, 4, so that a defined link is obtained. The extension portion 7 conveniently is of the same construction as the link pieces 5 and 6. According to the present invention, the conveyor belt 1 illustrated in Figs 1 and 2 is further equipped with a longitudinal strip 11 which is made of an elastic mate¬ rial, preferably the same material as the remainder of the belt 1. The strip 11 extends throughout the entire length of the belt and is fixedly connected to one side of the centre piece 2 from which it projects upwards. The strip 11 is extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt so as to allow the belt 1 to travel through bends. Fur¬ ther, the height of the strip 11 is smaller than or essen¬ tially equal to the width of the link pieces 5 and 6, and its transverse position on the centre piece 2 is such that the edge pieces 3, 4, when folded over the centre piece 2, will be applied against the strip 11. As shown in Fig. 2, the edge pieces 3, 4 will overlap when folded over the centre piece 2, the strip 11 being then located within the overlapping area of the edge pieces 3, 4. The strip 11 can be made in one piece with the top layer of the belt 1, but may also form a separate element which is fixedly connected to the centre piece 2, e.g. by vulcanisation. As described in the applications mentioned in the introduction to this specification, different pressure means are utilised for folding the edge pieces 3, 4 over the centre piece 2. In the conveyor belt 1 according to the invention, the pressure exerted by these pressure means will thus be transmitted, via the edge pieces 3, 4, to the upper free edge of the strip 11 and, via this strip, to the centre piece 2. An excellent sealing action between the edge pieces 3, 4 is thus ensured, so that goods contained in the closed conveyor belt of Fig. 2 cannot possibly escape from the interior of the conveyor belt 1. With the conveyor belt 1 in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 2, material of a low internal fric¬ tion, e.g. cement, can be conveyed in horizontal bends where the transverse direction of the belt is substan- tially vertical, since the strip 11 then safeguards the inner volume of the belt 1. Owing to the improved sealing function and the force transmission to the centre piece 2, the conveyor belt 1 according to the invention can also travel with the centre piece 2 outermost through bends of a comparatively small radius of curvature. This is, inter alia, due to the fact that the tractive force on the belt 1, which is mainly taken up by the centre piece 2, can be conducted through the bend without any appreciable alteration of the cross- sectional area of the belt 1 owing to the presence of the strip 11. Figs 3 and 4 illustrate a conveyor belt 12 which represents a second embodiment of the conveyor belt according to the invention. Like the conveyor belt 1 shown in Figs 1 and 2, the conveyor belt 12 is equipped with the longitudinal strip 11 and in addition has driver strips 13 and 14 on both sides of the longitudinal strip 11. The driver strips 13 and 14 extend substantially transversally of the longitudinal direction of the belt 12 and are fixedly connected to both the strip 11 and the centre piece 2. The driver strips 13 and 14 have such a shape that, when the edge pieces 3, 4 are folded over the centre piece 2, they will seal against these edge pieces as well as the link pieces 5, 6, as shown in Fig. 4. Owing to the provision of the driver strips 13, 14, the belt 12 will exhibit a number of pockets when in the closed state. The bottom of each pocket is formed by a driver strip 13 or 14 and Lhe sides of each pocket are formed by the strip 11, the centre piece 2 and the link piece 5 and the edge piece 3, or the link piece 6 and the edge piece 4. In the alternative embodiment of the conveyor belt 12 shown in Fig. 5, driver strips 15, 16 are not disposed at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the belt. On condition that the level of material in the pockets does not rise above that indicated in a pocket of Fig. 5, all pressure from the conveyed material against the sealing or closing area between the edge pieces 3 and 4, and between the edge piece 4 and the strip 11 is completely eliminat¬ ed, also along steeply inclined or vertical portions of the conveying path. To increase the volume of the pockets, the driver strips can be arranged as in Fig. 6, i.e. such that the portions 17a, 18a of the driver strips closest to the longitudinal strip 11 are not disposed at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, whereas the portions 17b, 18b of the driver strips closest to the side edges of the centre piece 2 are disposed so as to extend transversally of or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7, the longi¬ tudinal strip 11 is closer to one side edge of the centre piece 2, the edge piece 3 connected to the other side edge of the centre piece 2 being arranged, when folded over the centre piece, to be applied directly against the longitu- dinal strip 11. Driver strips 19 are provided between the longitudinal strip 11 and the link piece 5, and driver strips 20 are provided between the longitudinal strip 11 and the link piece 6. Although the driver strips 20 are arranged with a smaller spacing than the strips 19, they may have the same spacing as these or even be dispensed with. In this embodiment, solely the pockets delimited by the driver strips 19 are advantageously used for the main transport of the material, whereas the pockets on the other side of the strip 11 serve to intercept material escaping through the sealing area between the strip 11 and the edge piece 3. Alternatively, the strips 19 and/or 20 can be arranged non-perpendicular to the strip 11. Generally, the driver strips should, unless extending solely perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the belt, be spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the belt by a distance at least equalling that between the ends of each driver strip in the same direction. Driver strips extending completely transversally of the longitudinal direction of the belt are preferred when the belt along its conveying path moves upwards as well as downwards in steeply inclined or vertical portions. The additional embodiment of a conveyor belt accor¬ ding to the invention shown in Fig. 8 is provided, in addition to the longitudinal strip 11 and optional driver strips, with an additional longitudinal strip 21 arranged adjacent to the strip 11 and fixedly connected to the cen¬ tre piece 2. The outer one of the edge pieces 3, 4 in the overlapping area is applied against the free edge of the strip 21, thus forming yet another sealing area. This embodiment of the conveyor belt is especially advantageous since the volumes on the sides of the strips 11, 21 facing away from each other can be employed for receiving the material to be transported, while the com¬ paratively narrow space between the strips can be utilised for intercepting transported material which nevertheless escapes through the sealing area adjacent to the free edge of the strips 11 and 21, respectively. With driver strips 22, 23 and 24 according to Fig. 9, a considerable amount of the inner volume of the belt can be employed for trans- porting material when the belt is closed, as indicated in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 8, the strips 11, 21 may be form¬ ed in one piece. It goss without saying that a great many modifica¬ tions of the above embodiments of the conveyor belt according to the invention are conceivable within the scope of the appended claims

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Conveyor belt made of an elastic material and comprising a flat centre piece (2) which is flexurally rigid about the longitudinal axis of the belt owing to a transverse reinforcement (8, 9b) and is but slightly extendible in the longitudinal direction owing to a longi¬ tudinal reinforcement (10); two flat edge pieces (3, 4) which are each articulated to one side edge of the centre piece (2), are flexurally rigid about the longitudinal axis of the belt (1) owing to a transverse reinforcement (8, 9a, 9c), are extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, and together have a width at least equal to the width of the centre piece; and two link pieces (5, 6) which connect each edge piece (3, 4) with the centre piece (2), are flexible about the longitudinal axis of the belt (1) and extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt, are resilient to enable outward pivotal or folding movement of the edge pieces from a position in which they are folded over the centre piece, and have a width sub¬ stantially smaller than that of the centre piece, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d by a longitudinal strip (11) which is fixedly connected to and projects upwardly from one side of the centre piece (2) and which is extendible in the longitudinal direction of the belt (1), the height of the strip being smaller than or essentially equal to the width of the link pieces (5, 6) and the transverse position of the strip on the centre piece being such that the edge pieces (3, 4), when folded over the centre piece, are applied against the strip. 2. Conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that the edge pieces (3, 4) are overlapping when folded over the centre piece (2), and that the strip (11) is located within the overlapping area of the edge pieces. 3. Conveyor belt as claimed in claim 1 or 2, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d by driver strips (13, 14; 15, 16; 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b; 19, 20) which are fixedly connected to the centre piece (2) and the longitudinal strip (11) on at least one side of the longitudinal strip (11), and which extend from the longitudinal strip to one side edge of the centre piece (2). 4. Conveyor belt as claimed in claim 3, c h a ¬ r a c t e r i s e d in that each driver strip (13, 14; 15, 16; 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b; 19, 20) has such a shape that, when the corresponding edge piece (3, 4) is folded over the centre piece (2), it seals against the edge piece and the associated link piece (5, 6). 5. Conveyor belt as claimed in claim 3 or 4, c h a - r a c t e r i s e d in that the portion (17a, 17b) of the driver strips (15, 16; 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b; 19, 20) that is closest to the longitudinal strip (11) is not at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt. 6. Conveyor belt as claimed in any one of claims 3-5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the driver strips (13, 14; 15, 16; 19, 20) are straight. 7. Conveyor belt as claimed in any one of claims 3-5, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the portion (17b, 18b) of the driver strips (13, 14; 17a, 17b, 18a, 18b) that is closest to the side edge of the centre piece (2) extends transversally of the longitudinal direction of the belt (1). 8. Conveyor belt as claimed in any one of claims 3-7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by an additional longitudinal strip (21) provided adjacent to the first-mentioned longi¬ tudinal strip (11), so that, when the edge pieces (3, 4) are folded over the centre piece, the outer edge piece is applied directly against the additional longitudinal strip outside the overlapping area of the edge pieces. 9. Conveyor belt as claimed in any one of claims 1-7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the longitudinal strip (11) is centrally located on the centre piece (2). 10. Conveyor belt as claimed in any one of claims 3-7, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the longitudinal strip (11) is located closer to one side edge (6) of the centre piece (2), and that the edge piece (3) connected to the other side edge (5) of the centre piece is adapted, when folded over the centre piece, to be applied directly against the longitudinal strip.

Inventors: TINGSKOG LENNART, TINGSKOG, LENNART
Applicants: TINGSKOG LENNART, TINGSKOG, LENNART
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65G15
IPC codes: B65G15