Improvements relating to Conveyors and Elevators and to Driving- chains therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1841
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Conveyors and Elevators and to Driving-
chains therefor.
I, JOHN STEVENSON, of the New Conveyor Company, Limited, Metal
Exchange Buildings, in the County of London, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to conveyors and elevators, and comprises improvements in
the construction of the same and in the driving-chains for use therein.
One feature of my said invention is the construction of a driving-chain with
rectangular links formed of round metal rod, and with other links formed of plate
or sheet metal, which connect the rectangular links, and each of which is made with
an opening or gap at one side thereof to permit the insertion and withdrawal of
the said rectangular links. By constructing the chain in this manner, I facilitate
the removal of worn or damaged links and the substitution of new links therefor,
and also the putting together of the chain, and the taking of the same to pieces
when necessary.
To adapt my improved chain for use in a conveyor or elevator, I secure suitable
push-plates or suitable scoops or buckets to the aforesaid plate or sheet-metal links,
at convenient intervals throughout the length of the chain.
Heretofore it has been customary to make conveyors with wheels at each end of
the push-plates, for the purpose of supporting the chain and keeping the push-plates
out of contact with the trough through which the material is to be conveyed.
These wheels are liable to have their motion arrested or retarded by the material
in and above the trough. To obviate this inconvenience, I combine with the push-
plates, at suitable intervals, central supporting wheels; the axle of each of these
wheels works in a bracket or in lugs attached to the back of the corresponding
push-plate, and the said wheels travel upon the bottom of the trough and keep the
push-plates out of contact therewith. The said wheels, if desired, can also be
arranged to travel upon a suitable support during the return movement of the chain
and push-plates, and thus relieve the chain-wheels of a portion of the weight of the
said chain and push-plates.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 a side elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a portion of a con-
veyor constructed in accordance with my present improvements.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, and
Figure 4 a plan, illustrating details of construction.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the trough through which the material is to be conveyed. B is one of the
chain-wheels, which is fixed upon a shaft C supported in suitable bearings D.
E, E are the push-plates.
a, a are the rectangular links, and b, the plate or sheet-metal links of my
improved chain. The links a are formed by bending a round metal rod to the
required shape (as shown in the drawing) and uniting the ends by welding. The
links bare formed by bending a piece of plate or sheet metal in such a manner that
the ends or cross-bars of the links a can fit into and work easily within the ends of
the links b, and so that an opening or gap b¹ is left between the ends of the said
piece of plate or sheet-metal, of sufficient width to admit the said ends or cross-bars
of the links a. The links afford a very efficient bearing surface for the links a and
also for the teeth of the chain-wheels B.

page_text: It is evident that a chain constructed as above described can be very readily put
together or taken to pieces, and that a worn or damaged link can be removed and
replaced with facility.
The push-plates E are secured, at suitable intervals throughout the length of the
chain, to links by means of pieces c of angle-iron, each of which extends across
the opening or gap of the corresponding link band is bolted or riveted to the
said link on each side of the said opening, thus considerably strengtliening the
said link. The links which have no push-plates secured to them, may also be
strengthened, if desired, by bolting or riveting thereto a plate or strip of metal
which extends across the opening or gap b
d, d are wheels or rollers for supporting the chain and push-plates. These
wheels are arranged at intervals throughout the length of the chain, and the axle
of each of the said wheels works in a bracket e attached to the centre of the
corresponding push-plate E at the back thereof, so that, in the operation of the
conveyor the said wheels will have a tendency to move away from the material
operated upon, which will accumulate in front of the next succeeding push-plate.
While the push-plates are moving through the trough A, they are kept out of
contact therewith by the wheels d which run upon the bottom of the said
trough.
I sometimes provide for supporting the said push-plates E during the return
movement or travel of the same. For this purpose, I provide a grooved rail f
which is suitably supported (by means of a frame y of angle-iron as shown or in
any other convenient manner) beneath the upper portion of the chain, and upon
which the wheels d will run in the return movement of the push-plates, as illus-
trated in Figures 3 and 4. The chain is omitted from Figure 4 to show more
clearly the rail upon which run the wheels d.
It is evident that my improved chain can be applied to elevators for various
purposes, the push-plates, in this case, being replaced by scoops or buckets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is
-
First. The improved chain wherein the rectangular links are connected by other
links of plate or sheet metal each of which has an opening or gap at one side for
the insertion and withdrawal of the rectangular links (with or without the plates
for closing the gaps in and strengthening the plate or sheet-metal links), substantially
as hereinbefore described and for the purposes specified.
Second. In or for a conveyor or clevator, a chain constructed substantially as
herein before described and having push-plates or buckets secured to the plate or
sheet-metal links, as, and for the purposes, specified.
Third. The combination, with a chain provided with push-plates, of wheels whose
axles work in brackets or lugs attached to the centre of the said push-plates,
substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. A conveyor constructed with my improved chain-gearing substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Band
19th day of
DET MINS WITH VOIP TOW
JOHN STEVENSON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.