Patent GB-831134-A (GB)
Title: Belt conveyor
IPC: B65G17/02
Filed: 1956-12-12
Abstract: 831,134. Endless belt conveyers. MUSITELLI, G. A. J. Dec. 12, 1956 [Dec. 17, 1955; Sept. 17, 1956], No. 37925/56. Class 78 (1).  In a belt conveyer of the kind wherein the belt is driven by at least one endless driving element, the belt is carried on a cradle formed by a number of underlying longitudinal ropes which are maintained parallel by transverse braces secured to them at intervals, the endless driving element or elements also engaging with the transverse braces so that the drive may be transmitted by the driving element or elements through the transverse braces. In one embodiment, Figs. 2-5, the belt 7 is arranged to form a trough, the base of which rests on a set of endless carrying ropes 6a while the sides rest on sets of ropes 6b. The ropes 6a are clamped at intervals between upper and lower members 5a and 5b of wood which are assembled by bolts 14c and spacers 17a to form the transverse braces, while the ropes 6b are secured by clamps 11a to side members 5c welded to members 5a. A pair of side ropes 6c is provided for engagement with vertical guide rollers 2c. Alternatively, two pairs of side ropes 6d, Fig. 5, may be provided. The belt 7 is secured to the members 5a and 5c by bolts 10a and plates 9a. Four endless driving ropes 1 are provided in addition to the carrying ropes there being adapted to engage in grooved members secured to the undersides of members 5b. These grooved members may be either of two forms 13a, Fig. 4, or 13b, Fig. 5, the former being of sheet metal and the latter being of resilient material, e.g. rubber, bonded to a plate 19c. The ropes 1 are supported at intervals by rollers 2a journalled in the conveyer framework. Rollers 2b are also provided to support the belt 7 in the lower run, the plates 9a being preferably countersunk in the belting to avoid jolting. In another embodiment, Fig. 6, the upper members 5a of the transverse braces are each formed by a strip of spring steel to the underside of which a resilient layer 13f is bonded, while the lower member 5b is of wood and split into a number of pieces to leave gaps 13a to accommodate the driving ropes. A plurality of driving ropes may be arranged in series along the conveyer and separately driven. The belt 7 may be composed of overlapping lengths secured at one or both ends to some of the braces. The belt may be formed into a trough by folding back its side edges around an endless tube of resilient material. In another embodiment, Fig. 9, the transverse braces are each comprised by a horizontal U-section member 5f to the ends of which are pivoted side members 5g also of U-section which carry rollers (not shown) at their outer ends engaging supporting tracks arranged to maintain the side members in raised position on the conveying run. In this embodiment both the carrying ropes 1c, 6b, and the driving ropes 1d pass through apertures in the webs of the members 5f and 5g, and are secured to these members by set screws. The carrying cables may each be made up of a series of short lengths secured at their ends to the members 5f, 5g by cable nipples. In this form of construction the driving ropes are driven by engagement of the transverse braces, shown in Fig. 17, as being composed of two U-section members 5d, 5e, by a driving drum 3j formed with transverse slots 28 to receive the braces and also with circumferential grooves 31 in the intervening raised portions 27 to accommodate the driving and carrying ropes. In the form shown in Fig. 22, the belt 7 is secured to the top surfaces of members 5d and 5e and has steel wearing strips 9d secured to its edges for co-operation with stationary trough-forming side plates 38. In a further embodiment, Fig. 15, the driving elements consist of cable chains 1b, the transverse braces being formed by a pair of plate members 5j, 5k, the former having its ends looped around opposed links of the cable chains and the two plates being secured together with the carrying cables 6a between them by bolts 10b and 14f co-operating with spacers 10c. The bolts 10b also secure by means of clamping plates 9a a renewable wear sheet 8 which avoids wear of the belt 7. In a modification (not shown), the plates 5j, 5k are replaced by a transverse rope whose ends are looped around opposed links of the chains and to which the belt 7 and carrying ropes 6a are suitably secured. Specification 795,622 is referred to.