GB354169A - Improvements in and relating to endless conveyors - Google Patents

Abstract

354,169. Bucket elevators ; dredgers. GRANGES, L., 145, Rue du Faubourg St. - Denis, Paris. Feb. 21, 1930, No. 5869. [Class 68 (i).] An endless chain conveyer applicable to bucket elevators, dredgers and the like wherein long pitch chains are used and the driving and idle sides must undergo deflections to allow them to follow any desired path, comprises a chain structure having a pair of chains with ball - and - socket jointed links connected by axles having ball- and-socket joints with the chains so that the chain has sufficient flexibility to allow the runs to be laterally displaced with respect to one another. As adapted for a moving stairway, double link chains 9 have their links connected bv ball - and - socket joints 13, the chains being connected by shafts 16 having hall and - socket connections 17 with the chain joints. The shafts carry rollers 18 running on tracks 27 and are fitted with slidable sleeves 19. When assembling the parts the shafts pass through the restricted openings 25 of bearing sockets 24 in the step frames 1. The sleeves 19 are then pushed into the sockets and are laterally secured by a halfround distance sleeve 21 secured to the shaft. The jointed construction of the chains allows the drums 36, 37, Fig. 12, over which a vertical run of the chain passes to have non-parallel axes. A helical spindle 43 is arranged under the lower run of the chains and engages the rollers 28 on the ends of the trailer axles thus tilting the steps so that the rollers engage a track 41 curved round to the upward run. A compensating device for the chains comprises a pinion 46, Fig. 21, driving a chain 47 engaging a polygonal drum 48 on a shaft 34 also carrying a drum 35 for the main chain 49, the faces of the drums corresponding to a multiple of the pitch of the links of the respective chains. Pinions 52 fitted with balance weights and idler rollers 51 engage the driving chain 47 and keep the chain in tension. When there is a considerable difference in level between two landings the strain on the chains may be reduced by using one or more relays. Sprocket wheels on a carriage fitted with a counterpoise may be used, or an additional drive from a motor 87, Fig. 23, driving sprocket wheels 69 engaging the chains 49 and mounted on a carriage 75 running on a track 77 and fitted with a counterpoise 78 may be used. The drums may have built-up and adjustable teeth. The teeth 88, Fig. 24, fit slots in the drum and are secured by studs 90 in slots and screw studs 91. Wedges 92 and packing plates 97 are also provided.