Abstract:
A novel transfer conveyor transports material from a feed point to an input section of a main conveyor. The transfer conveyor comprises a feed end, a discharge end, and a conveyance device for conveying material from the feed end to the discharge end. A connector is provided for detachably and rotatably connecting the transfer conveyor to the main conveyor such that the feed end of the transfer conveyor may be moved about the input section of the main conveyor while maintaining a gravity assisted flow of material from the discharge end of the transfer conveyor into an input section of the main conveyor. The connector may be adapted to permit rotation of the transfer conveyor about the input section of the main conveyor at each operation angle of the main conveyor.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/885,179 filed on Jun. 20, 2001, now abandoned. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an improved apparatus for conveying granular material to the input section of a main conveyor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     It is known to use transfer conveyors to convey granular material from a remote location to the input section of a main conveyor. Transfer conveyors are typically shorter than main conveyors and are often adapted to reach under bottom dumping bins or trucks. 
     Freestanding transfer conveyors are known. Such conveyors are generally manually positioned such that the input section is placed in the desired location and the output is positioned such that granular material discharged therefrom is deposited into a desired location, i.e. the input section of a main conveyor. It is known to provide such conveyors with wheels to facilitate movement. However, when entirely disconnected from the main conveyor, difficulty may be encountered in positioning freestanding transfer conveyors to ensure the material is discharged into the main conveyor without spillage. Further, such conveyors may not be easy to rotate about the input section of the main conveyor without disrupting alignment between the discharge section of the transfer conveyor and the input section of the main conveyor. 
     It is also known to permanently attach transfer conveyors to main conveyors. Typically, such transfer conveyors will have an operating position where granular material discharged from the transfer conveyor is deposited into the input section of the main conveyor and a transport position wherein the transfer conveyor is positioned along the main conveyor. One such conveyor is shown in Canadian Patent No. 2,196,475 which discloses a transfer conveyor connected to a main conveyor by means of a connection assembly mounted on a track positioned above the main conveyor. The connection assembly permits rotation of the transfer conveyor about the input section of the main conveyor when in operation. However, the transfer conveyor cannot easily be disconnected from the main conveyor for operation in a freestanding position. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an improved transfer conveyor. According to a broad aspect of the invention, the invention provides a transfer conveyor for transporting material from a feed point to an input section of a main conveyor, said transfer conveyor comprising a feed end; a discharge end; a means for conveying material from the feed end to the discharge end; and a connector for detachably and rotatably connecting the transfer conveyor to the main conveyor such that the feed end of the transfer conveyor may be moved about input section of the main conveyor while maintaining the flow of the material from the discharge end of the transfer conveyor into an input section of the main conveyor. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the transfer conveyor includes a nozzle portion mounted on the discharge end thereof and the connector comprises a male member mounted to the nozzle portion and a female member mounted within the input section of the main conveyor, the female member adapted to releasably receive the male member. Additionally, the connector is adaptable such that, at each operation angle of the main conveyor, the feed end of the transfer conveyor may be moved about the input section of the main conveyor while maintaining the flow of the material from the discharge end of the transfer conveyor into an input section of the main conveyor. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the transfer conveyor is provided with an undercarriage that is moveable between a compact storage position and a support position wherein the discharge end of the transfer conveyor is positioned at an elevated position relative to the feed end such that the transfer conveyor is operable as a stand-alone conveyor. 
     According to final another aspect of the invention, the transfer conveyor includes transfer connectors for mounting the transfer conveyor on the main conveyor in a transport position wherein the transfer conveyor is mounted under the main conveyor. 
     The invention provides an improved transfer conveyor that can be connected to the input section of a main conveyor such that material discharged from the transfer conveyor is deposited into the input section of the main conveyor. The connection between the main conveyor and the transfer conveyor permits the transfer conveyor to be rotated about the input section of the main conveyor without disrupting the alignment between the transfer conveyor output and the main conveyor input. Furthermore, the transfer conveyor can be disconnected from the main conveyor and operated in a freestanding position. Moreover, the transfer conveyor can be mounted on the main conveyor for transport. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is partially exploded perspective view of a transfer conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a right side view of a transfer conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a transfer conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a belt drive system according to an embodiment of the invention 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connection assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of the nozzle of the transfer conveyor disengaged from the connection assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of the input section of a main conveyor with the connection assembly mounted therein according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a left side view of a transfer conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective side view of a transfer conveyor according to an embodiment of the invention mounted in the transport position under a main conveyor; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective side view of the input section of a main conveyor with the connection assembly mounted therein according to a further embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective side view of a transfer conveyor according to a further embodiment of the invention mounted in the transport position under a main conveyor; and 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective side view of the nozzle of the transfer conveyor shown in FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a transfer conveyor  2  according to one embodiment of the invention, The transfer conveyor  2  as a feed section  1  and a discharge section  3  with a nozzle  5  A hopper  7  is mounted on the feed section  1  and is adapted to receive granular material from a feed source, such as a truck or hopper, and to direct the granular material onto a conveyance device. The granular material is the conveyed to the discharge section  3  and discharged out of nozzle  5 . 
     In the embodiment shown in the drawings, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the conveyance device comprises a conventional conveyor belt  31  mounted in the transfer conveyor  2  and adapted to transport granular material from the feed section  1  to the discharge section  3 . The belt runs between two rollers  33  and  35  mounted within the transfer conveyor  2  at opposite ends thereof. The belt conveyor is driven by a motor  37  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a hydraulic motor  37  is used to drive roller  35  and thus, drive conveyor belt  31 . However, it will be understood that any conventional motor or other power source may be used. The motor  37  is connected to the discharge section  3  of the transfer conveyor  2  by a motor mount  39 . The motor  37  is attached to roller  35  by a coupler  41  that transfers the rotation of the motor  37  to the roller  35 . A bearing  43  is mounted within the motor mount  39  to provide support to the roller  35  while permitting rotation thereof. It will be understood that any other conventional mounting means may be used to attach the motor or other power source. 
     Although the drawings show a specific embodiment of the conveyance device, it will be understood that alternative embodiments of the conveyance device may be used without departing from the invention in its broadest aspect. For example, the motor  37  could be arranged to drive roller  33  instead of roller  35 . Alternatively, the motor  37  could be replaced by a belt or gear driving arrangement. Furthermore, an alternative type of conveyor device such as a screw type conveyor or a belt and screw conveyor combination may be used. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, wheels  9  are mounted to the feed end  1  of the transfer conveyor  2  by a mounting assembly  11  such that the wheels caster about an axis substantially perpendicular to the ground. The rotation of the wheels  9  in this manner facilitates movement of the feed end  1  of the transfer conveyor  2  in any direction as the wheels  9  will caster into a position parallel to the direction of travel of the feed end. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 5 to  7 , the nozzle  5  is provided with a connection assembly  13  for connecting the discharge end  3  of the transfer conveyor  2  to an input section of a main conveyor  45 . The connection assembly  13  includes a bracket member  15  which is mounted within the input section of the main conveyor  45 , as shown in FIG. 7, by a set of bracket plates  17  and  19  positioned at opposing ends thereof. A set of arms  21  extend in an arc shaped configuration between the bracket plates  17  and  19 . A bushing  23  is mounted between the bracket arms  21  at the apex of the arc shaped configuration. The bushing  23  is mounted such that its longitudinal axis is set at an angle relative to the bracket member  15 . Further details regarding the selection of the angle of the bushing  23  will be discussed in greater detail below. The bracket member  15  is also positioned in close proximity to the front end of the input section of the main conveyor  45  to avoid a build up of granular material in the input section during operation. 
     It would be understood that alternative methods of mounting the bushing  23  in the input section of the main conveyor  45  could be used without departing from the object of this invention in its broadest aspect. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the bushing  23  can be mounted to a protective grating  91  within the input section of the main conveyor  45  by a bracket assembly  93 . The bracket assembly  93  is designed such that the longitudinal axis of bushing  23  is mounted at the appropriate angle as will be discussed in further detail below. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 13, the nozzle  5  is provided with a pin member  25  mounted in the center thereof by a clevis connection  27  which is secured by a bolt  28  to a cross brace  26  extending across the center of nozzle  5 . The cross brace  26  extends longitudinally across the nozzle  5  to avoid a build up of granular material in the nozzle during operation. The pin member  25  is sized to be detachably inserted within the bushing  23  while permitting rotation thereof within the bushing. Accordingly, the connection assembly supports the discharge end  3  of the transfer conveyor  2  while permitting rotation of the feed end  1  of the transfer conveyor  2  about the input section of the main conveyor  45  without disrupting the alignment of the nozzle  5  with the input section of the main conveyor. 
     The transfer conveyor  2  is disconnected from the input end of the main conveyor by lifting the discharge end  3  thereby removing the pin member  25  from the bushing  23 . 
     The main conveyor to which the transfer conveyor is connected is often operated within a predetermined range of operation angles (typically approximately 10° to 30°). Accordingly, the height and orientation of the bushing  23  will vary as the operation angle of the main conveyor is varied, thereby varying the operation angle of the transfer conveyor. As such, the connection assembly  13  is adjustable to permit rotation of the transfer conveyor  2  about the input section of the main conveyor  45  through the range of operation angles of the main conveyor. 
     In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 13, the adjustability of the connection assembly  13  is provided by the clevis connection  27  which permits limited radial displacement of the free end of the pin member  25 . As illustrated in FIG. 13, radial movement of the free end of the pin member  25  in a direction parallel to the cross brace is provided by rotation of the pin member about the bolt  28 . 
     The degree of movement in this direction is restricted by abutment of the top portion of pin  25  (contained within the clevis connection  27 ) with the cross brace  26 . As shown in FIG. 6, the holes provided in the clevis connection  27  and the cross brace  26  through which the bolt  28  is inserted are oversized thereby permitting limited radial displacement of the free end of pin member  25  in the direction transverse to the cross brace  26 . Accordingly, this configuration operates as a limited universal joint permitting limited radial displacement of the free end of the pin member  25  through a range of 360 degrees. 
     The amount of radial displacement of the free end of pin member  25  required for a particular transfer conveyor and main conveyor combination will depend upon a number of factors including the range of operation angles of the main conveyor, the positioning of the bushing on the main conveyor and the length of the transfer conveyor. For any given arrangement, the amount of radial displacement required is minimized by orienting the cross brace  26  in the nozzle  5  of the transfer conveyor  2  and the bushing  23  such that, when the operation angle of the main conveyor is at the mid-point of the range of operation angles, the longitudinal axis of the bushing  23  is vertical and the free end of pin member  25  is centered within its range of radial displacement when inserted into bushing  23 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the transfer conveyor  2  is also provided with a retractable support assembly  51  to support the transfer conveyor when disconnected from the connection assembly  13  thereby permitting the transfer conveyor to be operated in a freestanding position. The retractable support assembly  51  is used to facilitate connection and disconnection of the support assembly  13  as well as mounting the transfer conveyor into a transport position under the main conveyor as shown in FIG.  10 . Each of these operations will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the retractable support assembly  51  includes an undercarriage  53  with a set of wheels  55  mounted thereon. The undercarriage  53  is pivotally attached to pivot members  57  positioned on the underside of the transfer conveyor  2  by means of a nut and bolt arrangement or the like. An arm member  59  is mounted on the left side of the undercarriage  53  and extends up along the left side of the transfer conveyor. A support member  61  extends from the arm member  59  to the undercarriage  53  to maintain the arm member at the desired angle relative to the undercarriage  53 . 
     The arm member  59  is also pivotally connected to a jack  63  mounted on the left side of the transfer conveyor  2 . The jack  63  includes a handle  65  and a reciprocating member  67 . Rotation of the handle  65  causes the reciprocating member  67  to extend or contract along the axis of the jack  63  thereby raising or lowering the undercarriage  53 . The retractable support assembly  51  also includes a locking assembly  69  for supporting the undercarriage  53  when it is placed in a lowered position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8. As shown in FIG. 1, the locking assembly  69  includes a set of locking arms  71  that have an end pivotally mounted to the underside of the transfer conveyor  2 . The locking arms  71  each have a flange  73  extending at right angles therefrom with a handle  75  extending therefrom. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, when the undercarriage  53  is lowered, the locking assembly  69  pivots downwards where the locking arms  71  and flanges  73  engage the undercarriage. In this position, the locking assembly  69  assists in providing support for the undercarriage  53 . 
     To move the undercarriage  53  into a compact storage position, the locking assembly  69  is raised toward the underside of the transfer conveyor  2  where it is locked into position by a suitable locking mechanism (not shown). Once the locking assembly  69  is raised, the jack  63  can be used to lift the undercarriage  53  towards the underside of the transfer conveyor  2  into a compact storage position. The jack  63  also serves to maintain the undercarriage  53  within the compact storage position. 
     In addition to supporting the transfer conveyor  2  when operating in a free standing position, the retractable support assembly  51  is used to connect and disconnect the connection assembly  13 . The support assembly  51  can be raised and lowered by the jack  63  thereby moving the pin member  25  in and out of engagement with the bushing  23 . The handle  65  extends from the discharge end  3  of the transfer conveyor  2  to facilitate viewing of the pin member  25  to ensure engagement into bushing  23  as the pin member  25  is lowered. The discharge end  3  is also provided with a handle  29  to facilitate movement of the discharge end to align the pin member  25  with the bushing  23 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer conveyor  2  is also provided with a hitch assembly  77  at the feed end  1 . The hitch assembly  77  has a T-shaped configuration with the upper portion thereof having one end adapted to be inserted into a bracket  79  mounted on the feed end  1 . A pin  81  is inserted into the bracket  79  to maintain the hitch therein. The opposing end of the upper portion of the hitch assembly  77  is provided with a hitch for connection to an appropriate transporting device such as a tractor. The base portion of the T-shaped hitch assembly  77  is substantially shorter than the upper portion thereof and has an end adapted to be inserted into the bracket  79 . Thus, when not in use, the base portion of the hitch can be inserted into the bracket  79 . 
     In an alternative to using the hitch assembly  77  for transport, the transfer conveyor  2  can be mounted underneath a main conveyor  80  for transport as shown in FIG. 10. A U-shaped assembly  81  is pivotally attached to the pivot members  57 . The U-shaped assembly  81  includes a hook  83  which is attached to a bracket  85  mounted on the underside of the main conveyor  80 . It would be understood that alternative connections could be used to suspend the transfer conveyor to underneath the main conveyor. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a bolt and clevis connection  97  can be used in lieu of the hook  83  to secure the U-shaped assembly  81  to the bracket  85 . 
     A roller  87  is mounted on the undercarriage  89  of the main conveyor  80 . Positioned behind the roller  87  is a set of locking brackets  91  mounted on the undercarriage  89  which are adapted to receive the hitch assembly  77 . 
     To mount the transfer conveyor  2  under the main conveyor  80 , the hitch assembly  77  is placed with the short base portion inserted into the bracket  79 . The retractable support assembly  51  is lowered to support the transfer conveyor  2 . The feed section  1  is raised by pivoting the transfer conveyor  2  about the wheels  55  on the retractable support assembly  51  by application of a downward force on handle  29 . The feed section  1  is then positioned on the roller  87  and the transfer conveyor  2  is pushed backwards along the undercarriage  89  of the main conveyor  80  until the hitch assembly  77  engages with the locking brackets  91 . The maximum height of the retractable support assembly  51  is selected such that when the feed section  1  is positioned on the undercarriage  89 , the discharge end  3  of the transfer conveyor  2  is elevated to a height that the hook  83  can be attached to bracket  85  without the need to lift the transfer conveyor by hand or other means. Once the transfer conveyor  2  is mounted underneath the main conveyor, the retractable support assembly  51  is raised by jack  63  into its compact storage position as described above. 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous alterations, modifications and variations to the above embodiments can be made without departing from the invention as claimed.