Conveyor pin retention system using offset openings

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a conveyor including a first conveyor element (13) having an end comprising a series of eyes spaced from each other, defining therebetween a series of spaces, and including a sub-series of centrally located eyes respectively including therein openings (29) aligned with respect to each other, and an end eye (31) adjacent one end of the sub-series of centrally located eyes and including therein an opening (43) located in partial registry with the openings of the sub-series of centrally located eyes and including an abutment area (51) located within an extended projection of the openings of the sub-series of centrally located eyes, a second conveyor element (15) including an end comprising a series of eyes spaced from each other, extending into the spaces between the eyes of the first conveyor element, defining therebetween a series of spaces receiving the eyes of the first conveyor element, and respectively including therein openings (77) aligned with respect to each other and with respect to the openings of the sub-series of the centrally located eyes of the first conveyor element, and a hinge pin (17) including a central portion (81) extending in the openings of the sub-series of centrally located eyes of the first conveyor element and in the openings of the eyes of the second conveyor element, and an end (83) located adjacent the end eye of the first conveyor element and in interfering alignment with the abutment area of the end eye of the first conveyor element.

Description: The invention relates generally to belt, chain, or conveyor construction, and, in particular, to systems or arrangements for preventing unwanted axial migration of a hinge pin connecting two adjacent belt, chain, or conveyor elements. More specifically, the axial loads on a hinge pin in a belt, chain, or conveyor are such that a hinge pin retention system is needed to prevent the hinge pin from axially migrating and forcing its way out of engagement with the axially adjacent elements of the belt, chain, or conveyor. In the past, plugs, or headed pins, or hooded link extensions have been employed to prevent axial hinge pin movement. Attention is directed to the following U. S. Patents: 4,858,753, issued August 22, 1989 4,949,838, issued August 21, 1990 4,972,942, issued November 27, 1990 5,020,656, issued June 4, 1991 5,105,938, issued April 21, 1992 5,156,262, issued October 20, 1992 5,332,084, issued June 26, 1994 In particular, US Patent No. 5,332,084 discloses a conveyor in which two conveyor elements are interengaged by a cylindrical hinge pin inserted through aligned apertures formed in a series of interdigitated eyes, eyes defined by one element alternating with eyes defined by the other element. The hinge pin is retained in position by notched tabs which are in interfering alignment with the ends of the hinge pin. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved conveyor incorporating structures for retaining in position hinge pins which interengage adjacent conveyor elements. According to the present invention, there is provided a conveyor comprising a first conveyor element including an end comprising a series of eyes spaced from each other, defining therebetween a series of spaces, and including a sub-series of centrally located eyes respectively including therein openings aligned with respect to each other, and, an end eye adjacent one end of said sub-series of centrally located eyes and including an abutment area located within an extended projection of said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes, a second conveyor element including an end comprising a series of eyes spaced from each other, extending into said spaces between said eyes of said first conveyor element, defining therebetween a series of spaces receiving said eyes of said first conveyor element, and respectively including therein openings aligned with respect to each other and with respect to said openings of said sub-series of said centrally located eyes of said first conveyor element, and a cylindrical hinge pin including a central portion extending in said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes of said first conveyor element and in said openings of said eyes of said second conveyor element, and an end located adjacent said end eye of said first conveyor element and in interfering alignment with said abutment area of said end eye of said first conveyor element, characterised in that said end eye has a generally cylindrical opening located in partial registry with said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes, and that said hinge pin has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said opening in said end eye of said first element. Preferably at least one of said first conveyor element and said hinge pin is fabricated of resiliently flexible material. The opening of the end eye of the first conveyor element may have an axis located in spaced relation from an axis defined by said aligned openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes of said first conveyor element, said spaced relation being in the direction of conveyor travel and also in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyor travel. Preferably said end eye includes a central slot defining an inner eye portion having therein a cylindrical opening having an axis in alignment with said axes of said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes of said first conveyor element and an outer eye portion in which is formed the generally cylindrical opening in partial registry with said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes and which defines the abutment area, wherein said central portion of said hinge pin also extends in said opening of said inner eye portion of said end eye, and wherein said end of said hinge pin is located adjacent said outer portion of said end eye of said first conveyor element. The said first conveyor element may include a second end eye adjacent the other end of said sub-series of centrally located eyes and including therein a central slot defining an inner eye portion having therein an opening with an axis in alignment with said axes of said openings in said sub-series of centrally located eyes, and an outer eye portion having therein an opening with an axis located in spaced relation from said axis of said sub-series of centrally located openings of said first conveyor element and including an abutment area located within an extended projection of said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes, wherein said hinge pin also includes a second end, and wherein said central portion of said hinge pin also extends in said opening of said inner portion of said second end eye, wherein said second end of said hinge pin is located adjacent said outer portion of said second end eye of said first conveyor element and in interfering alignment with said abutment area of said outer portion of said second end eye of said first conveyor element. The end opening of the outer eye portion of the second end eye of the first conveyor element may have an axis located in spaced relation from said axes of said openings of said inner eye portions of said first and second end eyes of said first conveyor element, said spaced relation being in the direction of conveyor travel and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyor travel. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a conveyor embodying various of the features of the invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary end view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2. Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description but shall be determined by the terms of the claims. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shown in Figure 1 is a track assembly or belt or conveyer 11 which comprises first and second elements or belts or tracks or links 13 and 15, respectively, and a hinge pin 17 pivotally connecting the first and second conveyor elements or links 13 and 15. The invention is applicable to any type of track assembly or conveyor, and, except as noted hereinafter, the conveyor elements can take any conventional form and can be fabricated of any suitable material. The first conveyor element 13 can be fabricated of any suitable plastic or other material which is preferable resiliently flexible and includes laterally spaced and generally rectilinearly extending sides 22, together with a first end 21 located between the sides 22 and comprising a first series of eyes 23 which are spaced from each other, which define therebetween a series of spaces 25, and which include a sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 respectively including therein openings or holes 29 aligned with respect to each other and having a given diameter or dimension. Preferably, the openings or holes 29 are cylindrical, have a common axis 30, and have a common diameter. The end 21 of the first conveyor element or link 13 also includes a first end eye 31 adjacently spaced from one end of the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 and a second end eye 33 adjacently spaced from the other end of the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27. In the preferred construction, each of the first and second end eyes 31 and 33 is split or bifurcated, i.e., respectively include axially spaced inner and outer eye portions 35 and 37 defining therebetween a central slot affording an open space enabling viewing of the slot 39 so as to permit determination of the presence therein of the hinge pin 17. The axially spaced end eye inner and outer portions 35 and 37 respectively include therein inner and outer openings or holes 41 and 43 which are generally cylindrical in shape and which have a common diameter. The openings or holes 41 in the inner end eye portions 35 have respective axes 45 in alignment with the axis 30 of the openings or holes 29 in the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 and have diameters substantially equal to the diameters of the openings or holes 29. The openings or holes 43 in the outer end eye portions 37 are cylindrical and have respective axes 47 located in eccentric or spaced relation from the axis 30 of the sub-series of centrally located openings 29 of the first conveyor element 13 and includes an abutment 51 area located within a projection of the openings 29 of the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27. While other arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, the axes 47 of the openings 43 in the outer end eye portions 37 of the first and second end eyes 31 and 33 are preferable located in spaced or offset relation from the axis 30 of the openings 29 in the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 and from the axes 45 of the openings 41 in the inner end eye portions 31 and 33 at a short distance in the pitch direction or direction of travel 61 of the conveyer 11, and are also located in spaced or offset relation from the axis 45 of the openings 41 in the inner end eye portions 35 and from the axes 45 of the openings 41 in the inner end eye portions 31 and 33 at a short distance in the direction 63 of chain or conveyor height, i.e., in the direction 63 perpendicular to the pitch direction or direction 61 of conveyor travel. However, if desired, the openings 43 in the outer end eye portions 37 of the first and second end eyes 31 and 33 could be offset in only one direction from the axis 30 of the openings 29 in the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 and from the axes 45 of the openings 41 in the inner end eye portions 31 and 33 of the first and second end eyes 31 and 33. The offset in the pitch direction 61 prevents the hinge pin 17 from walking axially when the conveyor 11 is in either of tension and compression. The offset in the direction 63 of conveyor height prevents the hinge pin 17 from walking axially when the conveyor 11 experiences height variations between adjacent links or elements 13 and 15. While the disclosed construction has been described with offset openings 43 in the outer end portions 37 of both the first and second end eyes 31 and 33, at least some of the advantages of the invention can be obtained when only the outer end eye portion 37 of one of the first and second end eyes 31 and 33 is offset. The second conveyor element or link 15 can be fabricated of any suitable plastic, metallic, or other material and includes laterally spaced and generally rectilinearly extending sides 72, together with an end 71 located between the sides 72 and comprising a series of eyes 73 spaced axially or transversely from each other, extending into the spaces 25 between the eyes 23 of the first conveyor element or link 13, and defining therebetween another series of spaces 75 receiving the centrally located sub series of eyes 23 of the first conveyor element or link 13. The eyes 73 respectively include therein openings or bores 77 aligned with respect to each other and with respect to the openings 29 of the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 of the first conveyor element or link 13. The hinge pin 17 can be fabricated of any suitable plastic, metallic or other material which can be resiliently flexible, is generally cylindrical, and has a diameter only slightly less than the diameter of the openings 43 in the outer end eye portions 37 of the end eyes 31 and 33 of the first conveyor element or link 13. The hinge pin 17 includes a central portion 81 extending in the openings 29 of the sub-series of centrally located eyes 27 of the first conveyor element or link 13, in the openings 77 of the eyes 73 of the second conveyor element or link 15, and in the openings 41 of the inner end eye portions 35 of the first and second eyes 31 and 33. In addition, the hinge pin 17 includes a first end 83 located adjacent the outer end eye portion 37 of the first end eye 31 of the first conveyor element or link 13 and in interfering alignment with the abutment area 51 of the outer end eye portion 37 of the first end eye 31 of the first conveyor element or link 13. The hinge pin 17 also includes a second end 85 located adjacent the outer end eye portion 37 of the second end eye 33 of the first conveyor element or link 13 and in interfering alignment with the abutment area 51 of the outer end eye portion 37 of the second end eye 33 of the first conveyor element or link 13. The axial length of the hinge pin 17 is slightly less than the distance between the outer end eye portions 37 of the first conveyor element or link 13. If the first conveyor element or link 13 is fabricated from resilient material, then the hinge pin 17 need not be resilient. Conversely, if the hinge pin 17 is fabricated of resilient material, then the first conveyor element or link 13 need not be resilient. In assembly of the conveyer 11, the first and second conveyor elements or links 13 and 15 are assembled with the centrally located eyes 27 of the first conveyor element or link 13 in the spaces 75 of the second conveyor element or link 15 and with the eyes 73 of the second conveyor element or link 15 in the spaces 25 of the first conveyor element or link 13 so as to locate the openings 29 and 77 in axial alignment. Thereafter, one of the ends 83 and 85 of the hinge pin 17 is inserted through the opening 47 in the outer end eye portion 37 of the first end eye 31 of the first conveyor element 13, through the opening 45 in the inner end eye portion 35 of the first end eye 31 of the first conveyor element 13, through the openings 29 and 77 respectively located in the centrally located series of eyes 27 in the first conveyor element 13 and in the eyes 73 of the second conveyor element 15, and then through the opening 41 in the inner end eye portion 35 of the second end eye 33 of the first conveyor element 13, and into abutting engagement of the inserted end of the hinge pin 17 with the abutment area 51 of the outer end eye portion 37 of the second end eye 33 of the first conveyor element 13, thus blocking migration of the hinge pin 17 in one axial direction. Such engagement withdraws the other of the ends 83 and 85 of the hinge pin 17 from the opening 43 in the outer end eye portion 37 of the first end eye 31 of the first conveyor element 13 and into position for abutting engagement of the other end 85 of the hinge pin 17 with the abutment area 51 of the outer end eye portion 37 of the first end eye 31 of the first conveyor element or link 13, thus blocking axial walking of the hinge pin 17 in the other axial direction. Such abutments hold the hinge pin 17 in place and prevent axial outward movement or walking of the hinge pin 17 relative to the assembled first and second conveyor elements or links 13 and 15. Such insertion of the hinge pin 17 into the recited openings is accomplished by bending or deflecting the hinge pin 17 and/or the outer eye portion 37 of the end eye and is made possible by the resilience of the hinge pin and/or of the first conveyor element or link. Accordingly, the use of the offset openings 43 in the outer end eye portions 37 of the end eyes 31 and 33 of the first conveyor element or link 13 prevents the hinge pin 17 from axially walking out of assembled relation to the connected conveyor elements or links 13 and 15. Furthermore, such prevention is accomplished without using additional parts other than the hinge pin itself and one of the connected conveyor elements or links 13 and 15. The split or bifurcated end eyes 31 and 33 allow for visual inspection for proper assembly, cleanliness, and pin wear, and for easy access to afford disassembly when desired. As already noted the hinge pin 17 is generally cylindrical and thus does not require any special geometry modification or secondary fabrication operation. In addition, the disclosed construction does not require any special tool for assembly of the conveyor 11. Still further, the disclosed construction serves to physically block the hinge pin 17 in two mutually perpendicularly related directions. Various of the features are set forth in the following claims.

Claims: A conveyor comprising a first conveyor element (13) including an end (21) comprising a series of eyes (23) spaced from each other, defining therebetween a series of spaces (25), and including a sub-series of centrally located eyes (27) respectively including therein openings (29) aligned with respect to each other, and, an end eye (31) adjacent one end of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27) and including an abutment area (51) located within an extended projection of said openings of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27), a second conveyor element (15) including an end (71) comprising a series of eyes (73) spaced from each other, extending into said spaces (25) between said eyes (23) of said first conveyor element (13), defining therebetween a series of spaces (75) receiving said eyes of said first conveyor element, and respectively including therein openings (77) aligned with respect to each other and with respect to said openings (29) of said sub-series of said centrally located eyes (27) of said first conveyor element (13), and a cylindrical hinge pin (17) including a central portion (81) extending in said openings (29) of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27) of said first conveyor element (13) and in said openings (77) of said eyes (73) of said second conveyor element (15), and an end (83) located adjacent said end eye (31) of said first conveyor element (13) and in interfering alignment with said abutment area (51) of said end eye (31) of said first conveyor element, characterised in that said end eye (31) has a generally cylindrical opening (43) located in partial registry with said openings (29,77) of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27,73), and that said hinge pin (17) has a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said opening (43) in said end eye (31) of said first element. A conveyor in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said first conveyor element (13) and said hinge pin (17) is fabricated of resiliently flexible material. A conveyor in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein said opening (43) of said end eye (31) of said first conveyor element (13) has an axis located in spaced relation from an axis defined by said aligned openings (29, 77) of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27) of said first conveyor element (13), said spaced relation being in the direction of conveyor travel and also in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyor travel. A conveyor in accordance with claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said end eye (31) includes a central slot (39) defining an inner eye portion (35) having therein a cylindrical opening (41) having an axis in alignment with said axes of said openings (29) of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27) of said first conveyor element (13) and an outer eye portion (37) in which is formed the generally cylindrical opening (43) in partial registry with said openings (29, 77) of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27, 73) and which defines the abutment area (51), wherein said central portion (81) of said hinge pin (17) also extends in said opening (41) of said inner eye portion (35) of said end eye (31), and wherein said end (83) of said hinge pin (17) is located adjacent said outer portion (37) of said end eye (31) of said first conveyor element (13). A conveyor in accordance with claim 4, wherein said first conveyor element (13) includes a second end eye (33) adjacent the other end of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27) and including therein a central slot (39) defining an inner eye portion (35) having therein an opening (41) with an axis in alignment with said axes of said openings (29) in said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27), and an outer eye portion (37) having therein an opening (43) with an axis located in spaced relation from said axis of said sub-series of centrally located openings (29) of said first conveyor element (13) and including an abutment area (51) located within an extended projection of said openings (29) of said sub-series of centrally located eyes (27), wherein said hinge pin (17) also includes a second end (85), and wherein said central portion (81) of said hinge pin (17) also extends in said opening (41) of said inner portion (35) of said second end eye (33), wherein said second end (85) of said hinge pin (17) is located adjacent said outer portion (37) of said second end eye (33) of said first conveyor element (13) and in interfering alignment with said abutment area (51) of said outer portion (37) of said second end eye (33) of said first conveyor element (13). A conveyor in accordance with claim 5, wherein said opening (43) of said outer eye portion (37) of said second (33) end eye of said first conveyor element (13) has an axis located in spaced relation from said axes of said openings (41) of said inner eye portions (35) of said first (31) and second (33) end eyes of said first conveyor element (13), said spaced relation being in the direction of conveyor travel and in a direction perpendicular to the direction of conveyor travel.

Inventors: STEBNICKI JAMES C, STEBNICKI, JAMES C.
Applicants: REXNORD CORP, REXNORD CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65G17
IPC codes: F16G13, B65G17