Patent ID: 6851539

Claim:
An expandable flexible conveyor for supporting a downward load, wherein the conveyor includes a plurality of lazy tong structures; comprising: a plurality of axle and yoke supports, spanning at least part of the distance between two lazy tong structures, the support comprising: an upper sleeve adapted to receive an axle; a lower sleeve adapted to receive a span member; and a support body connecting the upper sleeve and lower sleeve, the support body comprising: a bend adapted to provide resistance to a portion of a downward load placed upon the axle to which the support is connected; whereby the upper sleeve and axle help absorb a downward load placed on the plurality of rollers across the width of the support, the bend stiffens the support body to provide additional resistance to the downward load from the upper sleeve and axle; and the lower sleeve and span member maintain the support body in a substantially vertical orientation.