Patent GB-775095-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to hoists and elevators
Inventor: BURTON ROY CHARLES
IPC: B65G17/36
Filed: 1952-05-26
Abstract: 775,095. Endless conveyers; rollerways. BRITISH WEDGE WIRE CO., Ltd. Aug. 26, 1953 [May 26, 1952], No. 13287/52. Class 78 (1). An elevator comprises at least one endless chain carrying brackets inclined in a direction laterally of the plane of movement of the chain for supporting packages thereon for gravity discharge, the packages being retained on the brackets during conveyance between loading and unloading stations by stationary guide rails disposed adjacent the lower ends of the brackets and extending parallel to the conveyer for sliding engagement by the packages. As shown, the elevator comprises two pairs of chains 1, 2 driven in unison, brackets 13 being secured across each pair of chains so as to form opposed pairs in adjacent runs of the two pairs of chains to support the packages 14 for elevating or lowering between the loading and unloading stations 15, 16. The packages 14 are fed to the elevator by a rollerway 18 provided with a pair of out-of-phase stops 25, 26 operated by cams 27, 28 driven from the elevator which allow a package to pass at the correct time for receipt by the elevator. The brackets of each pair pass on opposite sides of a narrow extension 48 of rollerway 18 to pick up the packages. Each bracket has a series of rollers 17 mounted on it, the package running down the rollers until it abuts a stationary guide rail 19 along which it slides during its elevation from station 15 to station 16. At station 16 rail 19 is discontinued so that the package can run off the brackets 13 on to a rollerway 20 pivotally mounted at 21 and provided with an extension 22 adapted to be engaged by a lug 46 on an extension 44 of one of the brackets 13 of each pair so that the adjacent end of the rollerway follows each pair of brackets until discharge is complete, after which the rollerway is released and falls back under control of a damper 50 and a counterweight 51. The brackets 13 are mounted at each side by means of a gusset plate 38 to which is secured a strip 39 bushed at 42 to receive a cross-bar 40 of the chains 1 or 2, and slotted at 43 to receive another cross-bar 41 whereby allowanace is made for the reduced spacing between the cross-bars when passing over sprockets. A switch 31 is arranged so as to be actuated to switch-off the drive if a package is incompletely received by a pair of brackets 13 from the rollerway 18. A similar switch (not shown), is arranged where the package passes from the brackets 13 to the rollerway 20 to switch-off the drive if the package does not clear the brackets sufficiently quickly. The elevator may be used as a lowerator in which case descent is by gravity, the rollerways and the brackets 13 being oppositely inclined to that shown. The rollerway 20 is then biased upwardly and arranged to follow the brackets downwards and the switches are arranged to operate electromagnetic brakes. Rollerways 18 and 20 may be arranged on the same side of the elevator instead of on opposite sides, in which case brackets 13 are oppositely inclined. Alternatively the brackets 13 may be pivotally mounted and provided with means engageable at will by either of two rollerways 20, located on opposite sides of the elevator, such engagement causing the brackets to tilt towards the engaged rollerway. According to the Provisional Specification, each pair of chains may extend in the same plane instead of in parallel planes, the brackets 13 then extending in the direction of the plane of the chains, i.e. at right angle to that shown.