Improvements in Belt Stretchers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 7th Aug., 1897
Improvements in Belt Stretchers.
.
I, HOMER B. KINDIG, residing at 13 South Mercer Greenville, in the County of
Mercer, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanic and
Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement.
This invention relates to belt stretchers, but more particularly to stretchers for
tightening and taking up the slack in the belts of grain elevators and other like
mechanism.
The primary object of my invention, is to provide a belt stretcher which may be
applied to the belts of grain elevators so as to be readily operated from without the
elevator casing, whereby portions of the belt may be removed and the ends laced
or otherwise secured in order to prevent slack and the slipping of the belt on the
pulleys while elevating grain.
Other objects of my invention are to provide an adjustable frame so as to fit
various widths or sizes of elevator casings to provide clamps adapted to engage
and rigidly hold the belt without marring or injuring its surface; and to provide
simple and effective mechanism for forcing or drawing the clamps together so as
to stretch and rigidly hold the belt; and a further object is to provide a simple,
efficient and inexpensive belt stretcher which may be used for stretching the
operating belts of various forms of machinery, and with these and other objects
in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement
of the several parts, substantially as hereinafter.described, and as pointed out in .
the claims at the end of the description.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification;
Fig. 1, is a side elevation, partly in section of a grain elevator, illustrating one
application of the invention;
Fig. 2, is a plan view, partly in section, and on an enlarged scale, of.the.
stretcher, the belt being broken away so as to permit the clamps to be brought
closer together;
Fig. 3, is a longitudinal sectional view through one of the clamps taken on the
line 3, 3, of Fig. 2;
...
Fig. 4, is a detail plan of the reverse face of one of the clamps.;
Fig. 5, 5, and 5, side views of details of the construction;.
Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification ;" and,
Fig. 7, a sectional side view of a detail thereof:
In the drawings I have illustrated the invention applied to the belt of a grain
elevator, but it is obvious that its application is not limited to this form or
construction of apparatus, and that it may be readily used to advantage in many
instances with various forms and arrangement of driving belts.
In the construction shown, A designates the frame of the stretcher provided
with arms or hooks a, pivoted or fastened to the opposite sides of the frame and.
having their lower ends adapted to engage eyes or other portions of the elevator
casing so as to assist in suspending the frame to the rear of the inner outside surface
7

page_text: of the elevator casing as indicated in Fig. 1. This frame preferably comprises
two adjustable sides or sections A', and A3, the former being provided with
socket pieces a³, while the section A2, is provided with stems a³, adapted to slide
in the sockets of the pieces a², so that the sections may be adjusted laterally with
respect to each other, in order that the frame may be made to fit various widths
of elevator casings so as to rigidly hold and prevent movement of the frame.
A set screw a*, or other suitable means is provided on each socket for engaging
the stem so as to hold the sides in an adjusted position. The sections A', and A³,
are each preferably provided with enlarged bosses a³, in which is journaled the
shaft or ends of the drum or windlass B, which is shown in detail in Fig. 5*, said
drum being preferably provided with a slot 12, through which passes a belt b, or
other suitable connection, so as to extend longitudinally of the frame on opposite
sides of the drum, in order that it may be wound thereon when the drum is
rotated, though it is obvious that the belt or connection may be secured to the
drum or otherwise engaged so as to be wound thereon when the drum is rotated.
By this means the frame may be rigidly suspended outside of the elevator casing
and a ready means provided for shortening the distance between the ends of the
belt or connection.
The end of the belt or connection b, are provided with interchangeable clamps C,
for engaging and rigidly holding the belt to be stretched. These clamps are:
interchangeable on the belt or connection b, and each preferably comprises two
members C, and c, the former of which is rigidly secured to the end of the belt and
has its outer end provided with upwardly.projecting over-lapping ends or lips,
on the opposite sides thereof, which form wedge-shape or angular guides in which
the edges of the members c are adapted to slide. The member el, has its body or
ends wedge-shaped so as to be removably held in the guides in the member or
clamping plate and to increase or decrease the space between the surface of the
clamping plate, and the opposed surface of the member c¹.
The under surface of the member or wedge el, is preierably provided with a
serrated or roughened surface so that when the member c, is placed over the belt,
as shown in Fig. 3, and the member el, placed in the guides the belt or such means
as it is wound upon the druin B, will cause the member c', to bind against the
surface of the belt to be stretched with a wedge action, and will cause the serrations
to enter or engage the surface of said belt sufficiently to rigidly hold and prevent
its slipping.
In order to rotate the drum B, I preferably provide ratchet and pawl mechanism ]),
though it will be understood that where a complete revolution of the drum may be
had, other means as a wheel, crank or the like may be employed. The mechanism 1),
preferably consists of a ratchet wheel d as shown in Figs. 2, and 5", which is
secured to the shaft of the drum B, and has its inner face provided with teeth
adapted to be engaged by the end of a pawl d. This pawl d', is pivoted to the
side A', of the frame, and connected with said frame is a keeper d³, in which is
placed a spring d, which operates to force the pawl into connection with the
wheel d, and another spring is secured to a pin d, which operates to force said
pawl in the opposite direction, the object of this construction being to permit the
pawl to be disengaged from the teeth of the ratchet wheel to permit the belt or
connection to be readily unwound.
A lever d³, is loosely mounted or arranged on the shaft of the drum B, and has
a pawl do, pivoted to the lever so as to engage the peripheral teeth of the ratchet
wheel d, said pawl being normally pressed into engagement with the teeth of the
ratchet wheel by a spring d.
The construction and manner of using the invention will be readily understood
from the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawing and the following statement thereof.
Assuming the frame to be adjusted, the arms a, engaging a portion of the
elevator casing, and the clamps C, or such means as may be provided, adjusted so
that the members or clamping plates c, will be on the inner surface of the belt to

page_text: be stretched and the members c. on the other side thereof, as shown in Figs. 1,
and 3, it will be seen that if the lever, be oscillated back and forth, the ratchet
wheel and the drum B will be rotated.
This movement of the drum will cause the belt b, to be wound upon the drum
so as to draw or force the clamps C, towards each other, causing thereby the
members c, of the clamps to rigidly bind the belt to be stretched between its
under surface and the opposed surface of the clamping plate, so that the surplus or
slack in the belt may be drawn out near an opening in the elevator casing, as at e,
as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The belt may now have portions thereof,
removed and the ends laced or otherwise secured, after which the pawl d, of the
ratchet mechanism may be released so as to permit the unwinding of the belt or
connection b, and the releasing of the clamps C, whereupon the arms a, may be
released and the frame A, adjusted so as to permit the stretcher to be readily
removed from within the casing.
I thus provide simple and effective means for stretching and tightening the
belts of grain elevators and the like, which will not injure the surface of the belt,
and which may be held within or without side of the elevator casing so as to be
readily operated.
Instead of the belt and drum, the clamps may have one of their members
provided with internally screw threaded bosses or portions which are engaged by
oppositely screw-threaded shafts carried by the frame A. The inner ends of the
shaft may be provided with bevel gears in mesh with another gear operated by
ratchet or other mechanism so as to move the clamps in opposite directions when
the threaded shafts are rotated.
It is obvious that other means than the stems a', and socket pieces a², may be
employed for adjusting the sections of the frame, as for instance two overlapping
bars or strips located at each end of the frame; and that some of the parts may
be dispensed with or other substituted without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown a modification in which the side bars a', and a³,
of the adjustable frame are indicated by the rods or bars M, and M, and mounted
on these rods or bars M, and M2, are adjustable cross heads m, and m², and passing
centrally through these adjustable cross heads is a shaft m³, the ends of which are
provided with oppositely directed screw threads as shown at m', and m³, and
centrally of the shaft m³, is a ratchet wheel mo, and I also provide an arm or
lever N, which is provided with a yoke n, through the ends of which the shaft m³,
passes, and the ratchet wheel me, is mounted on said shaft between the sides of the
voke n, and pivotally connected with the said yoke are two spring operated
pawls n³, and which operate in connection with the ratchet wheel me, as will be
readily understood, and by means of this device, the cross heads m, and m³, may be
forced apart or drawn together, and the clamps, or any suitable clamping device
may be connected with the said cross heads m, and m³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:--
1. A stretcher for elevator belts and the like, comprising a frame, two clamps
or other suitable means adapted to engage and rigidly hold the different portions of
the belt, and means for moving the clamps toward each other, said frame comprising
two laterally adjustable sides or sections which are adapted to engage the sides of
the elevator casing, and means for rigidly holding said sides or sections in an
adjusted position, substantially as shown and described.
2. A stretcher for elevator belts and the like, comprising a frame, two clamps
or other suitable means adapted to engage and rigidly hold different portions of
the belt, means for moving the clamps toward each other, and arms or hooks
extending outwardly from the frame on opposite sides thereof adapted to engage
portions of the elevator casing to assist in holding the frame suspended; said

page_text: frame comprising two sides or sections adjustable laterally with respect to each
other, and adapted to engage the sides of the elevator casing so as to prevent the
movement thereof, and means for holding said sides or sections in adjusted
position, substantially as shown and described.
3. A belt stretcher comprising a frame, a drum rotably held in the frame,
means for rotating the drum, a belt passing through said drum and extending
longitudinally of the frame on opposite sides thereof, and clamps secured to the
ends of the belt adapted to engage and rigidly hold different portions of the belt
to be stretched, substantially as described.
4. A belt stretcher, comprising a frame having two adjustable sections, a drum
rotably held in said sections, a ratchet wheel secured to the drum, a lever loosely
mouted on the drum and provided with a pawl for engaging the teeth of the
ratchet wheel so as to impart rotary movement to the drum, a pawl adapted to
prevent backward movement of the ratchet wheel, a connection passing through
said drum, and extending longitudinally of the frame, and clamps secured to the
ends of the connection adapted to engage and rigidly hold different portions of the
belt to be stretched, substantially as described.
5. A belt stretcher, comprising a frame, a drum rotably held in the frame,
means for rotating the drum, a connection extending longitudinally of the frame
and adapted to be wound thereon, and clamps arranged at the opposite ends of the
connection, each clamp comprising two members one of which is rigidly secured
to the connection and provided with wedge-shaped or angular guides and a
movable wedge-shaped or angular member fitting the guides and adapted to
clamp and rigidly hold the belt to the first mentioned member with a wedging
action, substantially as shown and described.
6. A stretcher for elevator belts and the like comprising a frame composed of
two parts or sections adjustable laterally with respect to each other, and adapted
to engage the inner surfaces of the sides of the elevator casing so as to prevent
movement thereof, and means for rigidly holding the sections in an adjusted
position, two clamps adapted to engage and rigidly; hold different portions of the
belt to be stretched, a connection between the clamps and means for operating
the connection so as to move the clamps toward each other, said clamps each
comprising two members, one of, which is provided with wedge-shaped or angular
guides secured to said connection, and a removable member fitting the guides and
adapted to clamp and rigidly hold the belt to the first mentioned member,
substantially as shown and described.
7. A stretcher for elevator belts and the like, comprising a suitable frame, a drum
rotably held in the sections of the frame, a ratchet wheel secured to the drum,
a lever loosely mounted on the drum and provided with a pawl for engaging the
teeth of the ratchet wheel so as to impart rotary movement to the drum, a pawl
adapted to prevent backward movement of the ratchet wheel, a connection passing
through the drum and extending longitudinally of the frame, and clamps arranged
at opposite ends of the connection, each clamp comprising two members one of
which is rigidly secured to the end of the connection and provided with wedge-
shaped or angular guides, and a removable wedge-shaped or angular member fitting 4
the guides and adapted to clamp and rigidly, hold the belt to the first mentioned
member when the drum is rotated, substantially as described.
8. A stretcher for elevator belts and the like comprising a frame, a drum rotably
held in the frame, a belt passing through the drum and extending longitudinally
of the frame, clamps arranged at opposite ends of the belt, each clamp comprising
two members one of which is rigidly secured to the end of the belt and provided
with wedge-shaped or angular guides, and a removablo wedge-shaped or angular
member fitting the guides and adapted to clamp and rigidly hold the belt to be
stretched to the first mentioned member when the drum is rotated, a ratchet wheel
secured to the drum, a lever loosely mounted on the drum, and provided with a 5
pawl for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel so as to impart rotary movement
to the drum, a pawl adapted to prevent backward movement of the ratchet wheel,

page_text: arms extending outwardly from the frame on opposite sides thereof, adapted to
engage portions of the elevator casing; said frame comprising two parts or sections
provided with socket pieces and stems adapted to enter said sockets so as to be
adjustable laterally with respect to each other, and means for rigidly holding the
5 parts or sections in an adjusted position, substantially as shown and described.
"Dated this Third day of May 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.