US3920115A - Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor - Google Patents

Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3920115A
US3920115A US441102A US44110274A US3920115A US 3920115 A US3920115 A US 3920115A US 441102 A US441102 A US 441102A US 44110274 A US44110274 A US 44110274A US 3920115 A US3920115 A US 3920115A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
plates
conveyor
rail
belt
main line
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US441102A
Inventor
Joseph Craggs
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Peabody Coal Co
Original Assignee
Peabody Coal Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Peabody Coal Co filed Critical Peabody Coal Co
Priority to US441102A priority Critical patent/US3920115A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3920115A publication Critical patent/US3920115A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G21/00Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors
    • B65G21/16Supporting or protective framework or housings for endless load-carriers or traction elements of belt or chain conveyors for conveyors having endless load-carriers movable in curved paths
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G41/00Supporting frames or bases for conveyors as a whole, e.g. transportable conveyor frames
    • B65G41/02Frames mounted on wheels for movement on rail tracks

Definitions

  • a'mining machine extracts from a number of interconnecting rooms, leaving between them a sufficient number of pillars to support the mine roof.
  • the maximum distance that a machine can be used to penetrate into the mine face is about 21 feet, whereupon the machine is backed out and set to work onto the mine face of another room while roof bolts are installed in the roof of the recently mined room so as to keep roof material from falling onto the miners. Then, after mining another 21 feet in the second room, the machine is backed out and set to work either on the recently roofbolted room or it may go on to still another room.
  • Coal is transported from the area being mined to the surface by a main conveyor moving along a fixed path.
  • this main conveyor runs through an upwardly inclined tunnel, and since the lower end of this main conveyor is at a fixed location, the newly mined coal must be transported from the mining machine to the conveyor terminal.
  • the coal is hauled with shuttle cars (and this is dangerous to the miners and time-consuming) or it may be transported on an endless belt conveyor which is capable of being adjusted to move around various turns in the path between the surge car and the main conveyor terminal.
  • Such a conveyor, now used in coal mining, is shown in the Payne et al patent (supra), and is sold under the trademark Serpentix.
  • the Serpentix conveyor has an endless trough-shape, accordionpleated belt supported on a vertebrae-like member which, in turn, is supported on the mine floor by stanchions.
  • the monorail functions as a static support for the belt conveyor which transports the coal
  • the input end of the latter may be attached to the surge car behind a mining machine so that the conveyor follows the mining machine as the latter digs its way into the mine face; and, by use of switches and branching monorail tracks, the input end of the belt conveyor can be made to follow the mining machine from room to room.
  • a further object is to provide for the vertebrae plates which constitute the flexible frame of'the belt conveyor, an inter-connection arrangement somewhat comparable to a spinal column, featuring rubber grommets having opposite convex faces which engage in concave sockets formed in adjacent plates.
  • a series of vertebrae plates and grommets are held together by flexible torsion bars which are pinned to the endmost plates in a series, thereby eliminating problems heretofore caused by spreading apart of the vertebrae plates.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical lay-out of the conveyor in a coal mine
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view, broken off, showing the monorail suspension of the flexible belt frame, with the belt removed;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of an end portion of the flexible frame
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the interconnections between the vertebrae plates
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a monorail switch
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of the switch shown in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 77 of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of aportion of the belt suspended by the flexible frame.
  • the subject invention is a monorail supported belt conveyor 2 which, in typical usage, is installed in a coal mine to transport newly mined coal to a main belt conveyor 4 which runs up an incline to the surface of the ground, the input end of the monorail supported belt conveyor being disposed to receive coal from a chute 6 in which runs a belt conveyor 8 so as to receive coal from a surge car (not shown) following a mining machine (not shown).
  • a surge car not shown
  • rooms 9 are cut between pillars 10, and since the mining machine not only advances into the mine face but also must move from room to room, the subject conveyor must be capable not only of advancing with the mining machine and surge car but also it must run around curves such as indicated at 12 and 14.
  • the upper and lower runs of an endless belt 26, detailed below, are supported on a flexible frame 16 which consists of a series of vertebrae plates 18 terminating at their corners 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d in channel sections which, inter alia, define inwardly facing channel guideways 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d.
  • a flexible frame 16 which consists of a series of vertebrae plates 18 terminating at their corners 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d in channel sections which, inter alia, define inwardly facing channel guideways 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d.
  • outer surface runs 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d While the channel guideways and outer surface runs appear as being substantially continuous, there is sufficient play between the individual elements to permit the flexible frame 16 to bend around curves.
  • Belt 26 (FIG. 9) is trough-shaped and formed with accordion pleats 28 so that the belt also can negotiate turns.
  • the belt is supported by chassis 30 on which are a pair of rollers 32 which turn about horizontal axis and which engage in the channel guideways 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, and another pair of rollers 34 which turn about vertical axis and which engage against the outer surface runs 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d.
  • the belt is attached to an endless chain (not shown) which nests in space 33 and which runs over sprockets at the ends of the conveyor.
  • the mechanism is substantially similar to that shown in the Payne et al patent (supra), except in that rubber end closure plates 35 are attached to the upturned outer end portion 37a of pans between the pleats 39 by means of metal angle brackets 41 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the belt pans. These end closure plates keep the coal from falling off the belt and have increased the coal hauling capacity of the belt by about 25%.
  • the further improvements are as follows.
  • each vertebrae plate 18 is prowided with an outwardly concave socket 36 through which runs a rectangular central aperture 38 (FIG. 4).
  • a flexible torsion rod 40 comprised of four lamina strips 42, the buter lamina strips being slightly longer than the inner ones and being provided with apertures 44 which register with apertures 46 in the sockets 36 of the endmost ones of the lamina ones in any given series.
  • rubber grommets 48 Engaged between vertebrae plates 18 are rubber grommets 48 which have rectangular apertures 50 for accommodating flexible torsion rod 40 and convex opposite sides 52 which seat in concave sockets 36 on the adjacent vertebrae plates 18.
  • cross channels 56 Formed into endmost vertebrae plates 18 are cross channels 56 which accommodate and are bolted to the bottom cross members 58 of supporting frames 60, the frames being, in turn, supported by trolleys 62, which run in channels 64 on opposite sides on a monorail 66, the latter of which is supported from the mine roof by flange plates 68.
  • the frame 60a at the output end of the conveyor 2 is provided with suitable bearing supports 12 for a chain sprocket shaft and is coupled as at 74 to a power car 76 which is also supported on monorail 66. Coal from conveyor 2 is either dropped directly onto the main conveyor belt 4 or diverted sidewise to such a belt.
  • the input end frame 60b is also provided with a suitable nested chain sprocket support (not shown) and is coupled as at 78 to the chute running from the surge car.
  • a switch 80 connects an on-coming monorail 66 alternatively to one or the other of two branches 80 or 82 or to a straight forward on-coming monorail 66a.
  • the switch is suspended from the mine roof by a plate 88 and consists of a switch rail 90 capable of swinging between three positions 90a, 90b or 90c about pivot point 92.
  • the pivoted end of switch rail 90 is supported by a bracket 94 engaged between upper and lower jaw plates 96 and 98 through which jaw plates and bracket runs a pivot pin 100.
  • switch rail 90 The swinging end of switch rail 90 is supported in its switched position by one of plates 101 which are rigid with the ongoing monorail section.
  • the pivoted end of monorail 90 is likewise vertically supported by a plate 101 rigid with the on-coming monorail section 64.
  • a roof-mounted monorail system extending along at least some of said paths, said system including a main line having a portion overlying said main conveyor and a plurality of branch lines extending from said main line to at least some of said different rooms.
  • switches including a switching rail pivoted at one end to an end of the rail of said main line and having its other end swingable to register respectively with ends of the rail of a branch line or a rail which is a continuation of the main line, and means on the ends of said main line rail, said branch line rail and said main line continuation rail for supporting the ends of said switching rail against downward displacement.
  • a spine-like flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt comprising V a series of generally rectangular vertebrae plates each having at the corners thereof an inwardly-facing channel portion and an outwardly-facing flat surface portion,
  • each of said plates having a central aperture therethrough, an elongate flexible member extending through said central aperture, and means on the endmost plates for fastening the same directly to the flexible member for preventing movement of the same along the length of said flexible member, the plates between the endmost ones being movable to a limited extent along the length of the flexible member.
  • a spine-like flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt comprising a series of generally rectangular vertebrae plates each having at the corners thereof an inwardly-facing channel portion and an outwardly-facing flat surface portion, said portion providing guide channels and flat surface for engagement by rollers on the endless belt,

Abstract

A flexible frame endless conveyor is supported by a monorail from a mine roof. Switching connections for the monorail permit use of a single conveyor to serve between a mining machine, which is periodically moved from room to room in a mine, and a main conveyor which runs up to the earth''s surface.

Description

14 1 Nov. 18, 1975 r e g e O r K 5/1959 Lanier, Jr. 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Primary E.\aminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-James M. Slattery monorail from a mine roof. Switching connections for the monorail permit use of a single conveyor to serve between a mining machine, which is periodically moved from room to room in a mine, and a main conveyor which runs up to the earths surface.
FRAME ENDLESS CONVEYOR [75] Inventor: Joseph Craggs, Taylorville, I11.
Peabody Coal Company, St. Louis, Mo.
Feb. 11, 1974 App]. No.: 441,102
198/109; 198/177 T; 198/204; 198/233 Int. B41J 29/54 [58] Field of Search........... 198/109, 1l6,- 204, 196, 198/89, 92, 93, 96, 97, 101, 233, 192 R, 192 A, 177 R, 177 T; 299/18, 19
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent [191 Craggs 1 MONORAIL SUPPORTED FLEXIBLE [73] Assignee:
[22 Filed:
g] 4 7. i m fi ei w US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet10f3 3,920,115
U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,920,115
U.S. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 3 01 3 3,920,115
MONORAIL SUPPORTED FLEXIBLE FRAME ENDLESS CONVEYOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In room and pillar type coal mining, a'mining machine extracts from a number of interconnecting rooms, leaving between them a sufficient number of pillars to support the mine roof. Ordinarily, the maximum distance that a machine can be used to penetrate into the mine face is about 21 feet, whereupon the machine is backed out and set to work onto the mine face of another room while roof bolts are installed in the roof of the recently mined room so as to keep roof material from falling onto the miners. Then, after mining another 21 feet in the second room, the machine is backed out and set to work either on the recently roofbolted room or it may go on to still another room.
Coal is transported from the area being mined to the surface by a main conveyor moving along a fixed path. In a typical mine, this main conveyor runs through an upwardly inclined tunnel, and since the lower end of this main conveyor is at a fixed location, the newly mined coal must be transported from the mining machine to the conveyor terminal. Sometimes the coal is hauled with shuttle cars (and this is dangerous to the miners and time-consuming) or it may be transported on an endless belt conveyor which is capable of being adjusted to move around various turns in the path between the surge car and the main conveyor terminal. Such a conveyor, now used in coal mining, is shown in the Payne et al patent (supra), and is sold under the trademark Serpentix.
The present invention is an improvement over tha shown in the Payne et al patent. In short, the Serpentix conveyor has an endless trough-shape, accordionpleated belt supported on a vertebrae-like member which, in turn, is supported on the mine floor by stanchions.
In prior art conveyors of the subject type, the stanchion supports are cumbersom and do not lend themselves to the frequent shifting of the conveyor path from room to room, and certain problems have been encountered in that the series of vertebrae are not of precise and predetermined over-all length because the vertebrae spread apart, and the interconnection between the vertebrae are subject to breaking. It is to the solution of these problems that the subject invention is addressed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object now is to provide a flexible frame conveyor suspended from the mine roof by a monorail, upon which monorail conveyor vertebrae are supported by rollers. Thus, although the monorail functions as a static support for the belt conveyor which transports the coal, the input end of the latter may be attached to the surge car behind a mining machine so that the conveyor follows the mining machine as the latter digs its way into the mine face; and, by use of switches and branching monorail tracks, the input end of the belt conveyor can be made to follow the mining machine from room to room.
A further object is to provide for the vertebrae plates which constitute the flexible frame of'the belt conveyor, an inter-connection arrangement somewhat comparable to a spinal column, featuring rubber grommets having opposite convex faces which engage in concave sockets formed in adjacent plates. A series of vertebrae plates and grommets are held together by flexible torsion bars which are pinned to the endmost plates in a series, thereby eliminating problems heretofore caused by spreading apart of the vertebrae plates.
These and other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a typical lay-out of the conveyor in a coal mine;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view, broken off, showing the monorail suspension of the flexible belt frame, with the belt removed;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section of an end portion of the flexible frame;
FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the interconnections between the vertebrae plates;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a monorail switch;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the switch shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 77 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6; and
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of aportion of the belt suspended by the flexible frame.
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numerals denote similar elements, the subject invention is a monorail supported belt conveyor 2 which, in typical usage, is installed in a coal mine to transport newly mined coal to a main belt conveyor 4 which runs up an incline to the surface of the ground, the input end of the monorail supported belt conveyor being disposed to receive coal from a chute 6 in which runs a belt conveyor 8 so as to receive coal from a surge car (not shown) following a mining machine (not shown). Typically, rooms 9 are cut between pillars 10, and since the mining machine not only advances into the mine face but also must move from room to room, the subject conveyor must be capable not only of advancing with the mining machine and surge car but also it must run around curves such as indicated at 12 and 14.
The upper and lower runs of an endless belt 26, detailed below, are supported on a flexible frame 16 which consists of a series of vertebrae plates 18 terminating at their corners 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d in channel sections which, inter alia, define inwardly facing channel guideways 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d. On the outer sides of these channel guideways are outer surface runs 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. While the channel guideways and outer surface runs appear as being substantially continuous, there is sufficient play between the individual elements to permit the flexible frame 16 to bend around curves. Belt 26 (FIG. 9) is trough-shaped and formed with accordion pleats 28 so that the belt also can negotiate turns. At spaced intervals, the belt is supported by chassis 30 on which are a pair of rollers 32 which turn about horizontal axis and which engage in the channel guideways 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, and another pair of rollers 34 which turn about vertical axis and which engage against the outer surface runs 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. The belt is attached to an endless chain (not shown) which nests in space 33 and which runs over sprockets at the ends of the conveyor. The sprockets, at least one of which is driven, drive the chain which, in turn, drives the belt. As thus far described, the mechanism is substantially similar to that shown in the Payne et al patent (supra), except in that rubber end closure plates 35 are attached to the upturned outer end portion 37a of pans between the pleats 39 by means of metal angle brackets 41 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the belt pans. These end closure plates keep the coal from falling off the belt and have increased the coal hauling capacity of the belt by about 25%. The further improvements are as follows.
The central part of each vertebrae plate 18 is prowided with an outwardly concave socket 36 through which runs a rectangular central aperture 38 (FIG. 4). Extending through the central apertures 38 is a flexible torsion rod 40 comprised of four lamina strips 42, the buter lamina strips being slightly longer than the inner ones and being provided with apertures 44 which register with apertures 46 in the sockets 36 of the endmost ones of the lamina ones in any given series. Engaged between vertebrae plates 18 are rubber grommets 48 which have rectangular apertures 50 for accommodating flexible torsion rod 40 and convex opposite sides 52 which seat in concave sockets 36 on the adjacent vertebrae plates 18. The series of lamina plates 18, flexible torsion rods 40 and rubber grommets 48 are held in backbone-like configuration by pins 54 which engage through the apertures 44 at the ends of flexible torsion rods 40 and apertures 46 in the endmost sockets 36. Hence, although flexible frames 16 may bend sidewise, the overall length of its mid portion always remains the same, i.e., the length of flexible torsion rod 40 to which the endmost plate sockets are pinned.
Formed into endmost vertebrae plates 18 are cross channels 56 which accommodate and are bolted to the bottom cross members 58 of supporting frames 60, the frames being, in turn, supported by trolleys 62, which run in channels 64 on opposite sides on a monorail 66, the latter of which is supported from the mine roof by flange plates 68. The frame 60a at the output end of the conveyor 2 is provided with suitable bearing supports 12 for a chain sprocket shaft and is coupled as at 74 to a power car 76 which is also supported on monorail 66. Coal from conveyor 2 is either dropped directly onto the main conveyor belt 4 or diverted sidewise to such a belt. The input end frame 60b is also provided with a suitable nested chain sprocket support (not shown) and is coupled as at 78 to the chute running from the surge car.
ln a typical room and pillar type mine, for each general location in which a single mining machine is working there is a network of monorails which include switches such as shown in FIGS. -8. In this example, a switch 80 connects an on-coming monorail 66 alternatively to one or the other of two branches 80 or 82 or to a straight forward on-coming monorail 66a. The switch is suspended from the mine roof by a plate 88 and consists of a switch rail 90 capable of swinging between three positions 90a, 90b or 90c about pivot point 92. As detailed in FIG. 7, the pivoted end of switch rail 90 is supported by a bracket 94 engaged between upper and lower jaw plates 96 and 98 through which jaw plates and bracket runs a pivot pin 100. The swinging end of switch rail 90 is supported in its switched position by one of plates 101 which are rigid with the ongoing monorail section. The pivoted end of monorail 90 is likewise vertically supported by a plate 101 rigid with the on-coming monorail section 64. Once the switch rail has been moved to a selected position, it is held there by eccentric dogs 102 on the shaft 104 of a locking lever 106. The fixed monorail sections are secured together by tie bolts 108.
stallation of the various curves and switches necessary for the input ends for conveyor to follow the mining machine with which it is associated. Obviously, when the mining machine backs out of one room to start another, the output end of conveyor 2 and its associated power car back up over the main conveyorbelt 4 which runs to the mine entrance; and, of course, as the mine progresses, as it may do, for several miles underground, the main conveyor belt 4 may be lengthened from time to time so as to follow the mining progression.
I claim:
1. A conveyor system for transporting coal and the like material from a mining machine to a main conveyor in a room and pillar mine, whereinthere are a plurality of straight and curved paths of varying distance between various rooms having mine face against which the machine works and the main conveyor, comprising a flexible frame for supporting upper and lower runs of an endless belt, said frame being characterized by capability of sidewise curvature sufficient to follow the curves of said paths and said belt being characterized by capability of running around the frame curves, and
a roof-mounted monorail system extending along at least some of said paths, said system including a main line having a portion overlying said main conveyor and a plurality of branch lines extending from said main line to at least some of said different rooms.
2. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, and switches between said main line and said branch lines.
3. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, said switches including a switching rail pivoted at one end to an end of the rail of said main line and having its other end swingable to register respectively with ends of the rail of a branch line or a rail which is a continuation of the main line, and means on the ends of said main line rail, said branch line rail and said main line continuation rail for supporting the ends of said switching rail against downward displacement.
4. A spine-like flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt, comprising V a series of generally rectangular vertebrae plates each having at the corners thereof an inwardly-facing channel portion and an outwardly-facing flat surface portion,
said portions providing guide channels and flat surfaces for engagement by rollers on the endless belt, each of said plates having a central aperture therethrough, an elongate flexible member extending through said central aperture, and means on the endmost plates for fastening the same directly to the flexible member for preventing movement of the same along the length of said flexible member, the plates between the endmost ones being movable to a limited extent along the length of the flexible member.
5. A spine-like flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt comprising a series of generally rectangular vertebrae plates each having at the corners thereof an inwardly-facing channel portion and an outwardly-facing flat surface portion, said portion providing guide channels and flat surface for engagement by rollers on the endless belt,
an elongate flexible member extending through said grommets and the apertures in said plates, said grommets having convex opposite sides engaging in the sockets on adjacent plates. 6. A flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt as claimed in claim 5, and pin means fastening sockets on the endmost plates in said series to said flexible mem-

Claims (6)

1. A conveyor sysTem for transporting coal and the like material from a mining machine to a main conveyor in a room and pillar mine, wherein there are a plurality of straight and curved paths of varying distance between various rooms having mine face against which the machine works and the main conveyor, comprising a flexible frame for supporting upper and lower runs of an endless belt, said frame being characterized by capability of sidewise curvature sufficient to follow the curves of said paths and said belt being characterized by capability of running around the frame curves, and a roof-mounted monorail system extending along at least some of said paths, said system including a main line having a portion overlying said main conveyor and a plurality of branch lines extending from said main line to at least some of said different rooms.
2. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, and switches between said main line and said branch lines.
3. A conveyor system as claimed in claim 1, said switches including a switching rail pivoted at one end to an end of the rail of said main line and having its other end swingable to register respectively with ends of the rail of a branch line or a rail which is a continuation of the main line, and means on the ends of said main line rail, said branch line rail and said main line continuation rail for supporting the ends of said switching rail against downward displacement.
4. A spine-like flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt, comprising a series of generally rectangular vertebrae plates each having at the corners thereof an inwardly-facing channel portion and an outwardly-facing flat surface portion, said portions providing guide channels and flat surfaces for engagement by rollers on the endless belt, each of said plates having a central aperture therethrough, an elongate flexible member extending through said central aperture, and means on the endmost plates for fastening the same directly to the flexible member for preventing movement of the same along the length of said flexible member, the plates between the endmost ones being movable to a limited extent along the length of the flexible member.
5. A spine-like flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt comprising a series of generally rectangular vertebrae plates each having at the corners thereof an inwardly-facing channel portion and an outwardly-facing flat surface portion, said portion providing guide channels and flat surface for engagement by rollers on the endless belt, each of said plates having a central aperture therethrough and outwardly facing concave sockets on opposite sides thereof surrounding said aperture, rubber grommets engaged between the sockets of adjacent plates and constituting spacing between adjacent plates, and an elongate flexible member extending through said grommets and the apertures in said plates, said grommets having convex opposite sides engaging in the sockets on adjacent plates.
6. A flexible frame for an endless conveyor belt as claimed in claim 5, and pin means fastening sockets on the endmost plates in said series to said flexible member.
US441102A 1974-02-11 1974-02-11 Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor Expired - Lifetime US3920115A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US441102A US3920115A (en) 1974-02-11 1974-02-11 Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US441102A US3920115A (en) 1974-02-11 1974-02-11 Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3920115A true US3920115A (en) 1975-11-18

Family

ID=23751521

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US441102A Expired - Lifetime US3920115A (en) 1974-02-11 1974-02-11 Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US3920115A (en)

Cited By (30)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4102550A (en) * 1976-04-20 1978-07-25 Peabody Coal Company Mining method and apparatus
US4144965A (en) * 1977-09-12 1979-03-20 Robert L. Alldredge Flexible conveyor track assembly
US4159757A (en) * 1977-05-04 1979-07-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Bulk material handling system
US4173373A (en) * 1977-08-25 1979-11-06 Peabody Coal Company, Inc. Advance method and apparatus for mining
US4205745A (en) * 1978-11-06 1980-06-03 Robert L. Alldredge Conveyor loading station
US4339031A (en) * 1979-10-01 1982-07-13 Joy Manufacturing Company Monorail suspended conveyor system
US4380288A (en) * 1976-07-02 1983-04-19 Joy Manufacturing Company Conveyor
US4387798A (en) * 1977-06-24 1983-06-14 Consolidation Coal Company Cascading conveyor system
US4773528A (en) * 1986-09-10 1988-09-27 Joy Technologies Inc. Material transfer unit for ground-mounted FCT
US4784257A (en) * 1987-11-27 1988-11-15 Consolidation Coal Company Conveyor system including a re-railer
US4896764A (en) * 1988-08-08 1990-01-30 Tg Soda Ash, Inc. Monorail advanced system for conveyors in a mining apparatus
FR2674513A1 (en) * 1991-03-27 1992-10-02 Paillet Rene Deformable structure for a conveyor with adaptable path
US5156256A (en) * 1992-01-07 1992-10-20 Joy Technologies Inc. Elevated auxiliary conveying apparatus
US5161670A (en) * 1992-01-07 1992-11-10 Joy Technologies Inc. Auxiliary conveying apparatus for elevationally selectable discharge
US5246102A (en) * 1991-01-23 1993-09-21 Vrs Engineering Gmbh Fordertechnik Closed belt conveyor arrangement
US6220427B1 (en) 1996-10-12 2001-04-24 Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft Conveyor
DE19917368C2 (en) * 1999-04-16 2001-10-11 Rheinische Braunkohlenw Ag Continuous conveyor
EP1301421A1 (en) * 2000-06-15 2003-04-16 Dynamic Conveyor Corp. Modular conveyor with radius turn module and method of assembly
US20040084286A1 (en) * 2002-10-08 2004-05-06 Damkjaer Poul Erik Flexible conveyor
US20040124069A1 (en) * 2002-12-27 2004-07-01 Benjamin Colin William Telescoping conveyor system
US20050167249A1 (en) * 2002-04-19 2005-08-04 Flexlink Components Ab Method and blank for manufacturing a bent curve element, bent curve element, curve unit comprising a bent curve element and also conveying track
US20060231373A1 (en) * 2003-12-18 2006-10-19 Taylor John S Laterally adjustable conveyor
US20070114265A1 (en) * 2005-11-18 2007-05-24 Seho Systemtechnik Gmbh Supporting device of a transport device of a soldering apparatus
US20080066640A1 (en) * 2006-09-19 2008-03-20 Swanson Industries, Inc. Over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations
US7438180B1 (en) * 2005-12-09 2008-10-21 Taylor John S Multi-axis adjustable conveyor
US20110155543A1 (en) * 2009-12-23 2011-06-30 Nc Componenti Support system for goods conveyor belts
US20130068596A1 (en) * 2011-09-16 2013-03-21 Peter D. Yohe Articulating frame for continuous conveyor
US20130327616A1 (en) * 2010-12-30 2013-12-12 Marel Townsend Further Processing B.V. Transport device with twistable conveyor belt and method of use
US20150047528A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-02-19 Jeremiah David Heaton Overhead Rail Guidance and Signaling System
US20160009496A1 (en) * 2014-04-14 2016-01-14 Gordon Gordon Monorail Conveyor Belt Advance and Structure Installation System for Underground Mining

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1833179A (en) * 1930-07-09 1931-11-24 Robins Conveying Belt Co Troughing idler for conveyer belts
US2886167A (en) * 1956-10-26 1959-05-12 Jr Sterling S Lanier Conveying apparatus
US2955699A (en) * 1957-05-09 1960-10-11 Jr Sterling S Lanier Conveying apparatus
US3107778A (en) * 1956-06-28 1963-10-22 Gewerk Eisenhuette Westfalia Conveyor belt guide assembly
US3306667A (en) * 1965-09-10 1967-02-28 Wilcox Mfg Company Coal mining apparatus including conveyor system having togglelike articulation
US3613867A (en) * 1970-09-14 1971-10-19 Richard A Kroeger Conveyor having twisted track sections
US3675758A (en) * 1970-02-03 1972-07-11 Dale Corp Van Livestock feeding apparatus
US3707218A (en) * 1970-10-26 1972-12-26 Mackey M Payne Conveyor apparatus

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1833179A (en) * 1930-07-09 1931-11-24 Robins Conveying Belt Co Troughing idler for conveyer belts
US3107778A (en) * 1956-06-28 1963-10-22 Gewerk Eisenhuette Westfalia Conveyor belt guide assembly
US2886167A (en) * 1956-10-26 1959-05-12 Jr Sterling S Lanier Conveying apparatus
US2955699A (en) * 1957-05-09 1960-10-11 Jr Sterling S Lanier Conveying apparatus
US3306667A (en) * 1965-09-10 1967-02-28 Wilcox Mfg Company Coal mining apparatus including conveyor system having togglelike articulation
US3675758A (en) * 1970-02-03 1972-07-11 Dale Corp Van Livestock feeding apparatus
US3613867A (en) * 1970-09-14 1971-10-19 Richard A Kroeger Conveyor having twisted track sections
US3707218A (en) * 1970-10-26 1972-12-26 Mackey M Payne Conveyor apparatus

Cited By (46)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4102550A (en) * 1976-04-20 1978-07-25 Peabody Coal Company Mining method and apparatus
US4380288A (en) * 1976-07-02 1983-04-19 Joy Manufacturing Company Conveyor
US4159757A (en) * 1977-05-04 1979-07-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Bulk material handling system
US4387798A (en) * 1977-06-24 1983-06-14 Consolidation Coal Company Cascading conveyor system
US4173373A (en) * 1977-08-25 1979-11-06 Peabody Coal Company, Inc. Advance method and apparatus for mining
US4144965A (en) * 1977-09-12 1979-03-20 Robert L. Alldredge Flexible conveyor track assembly
EP0001182A1 (en) * 1977-09-12 1979-03-21 Robert Louis Alldredge Flexible conveyor track assembly
US4205745A (en) * 1978-11-06 1980-06-03 Robert L. Alldredge Conveyor loading station
US4339031A (en) * 1979-10-01 1982-07-13 Joy Manufacturing Company Monorail suspended conveyor system
US4773528A (en) * 1986-09-10 1988-09-27 Joy Technologies Inc. Material transfer unit for ground-mounted FCT
US4784257A (en) * 1987-11-27 1988-11-15 Consolidation Coal Company Conveyor system including a re-railer
US4896764A (en) * 1988-08-08 1990-01-30 Tg Soda Ash, Inc. Monorail advanced system for conveyors in a mining apparatus
US5246102A (en) * 1991-01-23 1993-09-21 Vrs Engineering Gmbh Fordertechnik Closed belt conveyor arrangement
FR2674513A1 (en) * 1991-03-27 1992-10-02 Paillet Rene Deformable structure for a conveyor with adaptable path
US5161670A (en) * 1992-01-07 1992-11-10 Joy Technologies Inc. Auxiliary conveying apparatus for elevationally selectable discharge
US5156256A (en) * 1992-01-07 1992-10-20 Joy Technologies Inc. Elevated auxiliary conveying apparatus
US6220427B1 (en) 1996-10-12 2001-04-24 Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft Conveyor
DE19917368C2 (en) * 1999-04-16 2001-10-11 Rheinische Braunkohlenw Ag Continuous conveyor
EP1301421A1 (en) * 2000-06-15 2003-04-16 Dynamic Conveyor Corp. Modular conveyor with radius turn module and method of assembly
US6705461B2 (en) * 2000-06-15 2004-03-16 Dynamic Conveyor Corporation Modular conveyor with radius turn module and method of assembly
EP1301421A4 (en) * 2000-06-15 2004-10-20 Dynamic Conveyor Corp Modular conveyor with radius turn module and method of assembly
US7275638B2 (en) * 2002-04-19 2007-10-02 Flexlink Components Ab Method and blank for manufacturing a bent curve element, bent curve element, curve unit comprising a bent curve element and also conveying track comprising such a curve unit
US20050167249A1 (en) * 2002-04-19 2005-08-04 Flexlink Components Ab Method and blank for manufacturing a bent curve element, bent curve element, curve unit comprising a bent curve element and also conveying track
US20040084286A1 (en) * 2002-10-08 2004-05-06 Damkjaer Poul Erik Flexible conveyor
US6857517B2 (en) * 2002-10-08 2005-02-22 Ped Invest A/S Flexible conveyor
US6758326B1 (en) * 2002-12-27 2004-07-06 Colin William Benjamin Telescoping conveyor system
US20040124069A1 (en) * 2002-12-27 2004-07-01 Benjamin Colin William Telescoping conveyor system
US20060231373A1 (en) * 2003-12-18 2006-10-19 Taylor John S Laterally adjustable conveyor
US7222731B2 (en) * 2003-12-18 2007-05-29 Taylor John S Laterally adjustable conveyor
US20070114265A1 (en) * 2005-11-18 2007-05-24 Seho Systemtechnik Gmbh Supporting device of a transport device of a soldering apparatus
US7316308B2 (en) * 2005-11-18 2008-01-08 Seho Systemtechnik Gmbh Supporting device of a transport device of a soldering apparatus
US7438180B1 (en) * 2005-12-09 2008-10-21 Taylor John S Multi-axis adjustable conveyor
US20080066640A1 (en) * 2006-09-19 2008-03-20 Swanson Industries, Inc. Over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations
US7739959B2 (en) 2006-09-19 2010-06-22 Swanson Industries, Inc. Over/under monorail system for longwall mining operations
US8584834B2 (en) * 2009-12-23 2013-11-19 Nc Componenti S.P.A. Support system for goods conveyor belts
US20110155543A1 (en) * 2009-12-23 2011-06-30 Nc Componenti Support system for goods conveyor belts
US20130327616A1 (en) * 2010-12-30 2013-12-12 Marel Townsend Further Processing B.V. Transport device with twistable conveyor belt and method of use
US9284123B2 (en) * 2010-12-30 2016-03-15 Marel Townsend Further Processing B.V. Transport device with twistable conveyor belt and method of use
US20130068596A1 (en) * 2011-09-16 2013-03-21 Peter D. Yohe Articulating frame for continuous conveyor
US8776999B2 (en) * 2011-09-16 2014-07-15 Dyco, Inc. Articulating frame for continuous conveyor
US20150047528A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2015-02-19 Jeremiah David Heaton Overhead Rail Guidance and Signaling System
US9533691B2 (en) * 2013-08-16 2017-01-03 Jeremiah David Heaton Overhead rail guidance and signaling system
US20170057522A1 (en) * 2013-08-16 2017-03-02 Jeremiah David Heaton Overhead Rail Guidance And Signaling System
US9669843B2 (en) * 2013-08-16 2017-06-06 Jeremiah David Heaton Overhead rail guidance and signaling system
US20160009496A1 (en) * 2014-04-14 2016-01-14 Gordon Gordon Monorail Conveyor Belt Advance and Structure Installation System for Underground Mining
US9452887B2 (en) * 2014-04-14 2016-09-27 Gordon Gordon Monorail conveyor belt advance and structure installation system for underground mining

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3920115A (en) Monorail supported flexible frame endless conveyor
US4465177A (en) Elevator for a conveying system
US3637066A (en) Conveyor systems
DE3264199D1 (en) Distributing device for a conveyor
US3279584A (en) Articulated cascade conveyor system and apparatus
US3231064A (en) Articulated cascade conveyor
US4609099A (en) Belt conveyor arrangement
JPH02509B2 (en)
US4159757A (en) Bulk material handling system
US3253416A (en) Material handling conveyer
US2962152A (en) Conveyor track support
US2685375A (en) Blending and reclaiming apparatus
DE667084C (en) Endless conveyor belt carried by an overhead track intended for open-cast mining
GB2136381A (en) Equipment for transport of men and/or materials underground
US4330056A (en) Mine conveyor belt man crossover
US2958414A (en) Apron conveyor
US2776033A (en) Portable belt conveyor
US4380288A (en) Conveyor
US4565483A (en) Modular conveyor car and couplings therefor
CA1261776A (en) Materials handling system
US4202442A (en) Conveyor
SU967880A1 (en) Sloping belt conveyer
JPH03264414A (en) Vertical carrying device
DE968839C (en) Bunker system
SU582410A1 (en) Equipment-transporting device