WO1991017938A1

WO1991017938A1 - Conveyor belt support apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1991017938A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Thomas Owen Couper
Original assignee: Duratech Mining Equipment Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-05-17
Filing date: 1991-05-17
Publication date: 1991-11-28
Also published as: ZA913777B

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting a conveyor belt (2) beneath a loading station, comprising a number of elongate impact assemblies placed side-by-side and each having a support beam (5) on which is mounted an elastomeric layer (6) and a friction block (7) typically of polyethylene. The friction block sits on top of the elastomeric layer (6) held transversely by guides (10) engaged with longitudinal grooves in the friction block (7), and longitudinally by an end stop (18). The guides (10) allow vertical movement of the friction block as the elastomeric layer (6) compresses during impact from material being loaded on to the conveyor. The friction block (7) can be readily replaced when worn by sliding the block longitudinally to disengage the guides (10) from the grooves in the friction block.

Description

"CONVEYOR BELT SUPPORT APPARATUS" TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a conveyor belt support apparatus and has been devised particularly though not solely to support the upper run of a conveyor belt at loading points to restrain deformation of the conveyor belt against the impact of material being loaded on to the belt.

BACKGROUND ART In the past, so-called impact assemblies have been provided beneath the upper run of a conveyor belt at loading points, typically beneath a discharge shute, to prevent the sagging and deformation of the conveyor belt under the impact of material being loaded on to the belt. Such impact assemblies have taken many forms including the use of longitudinal strips of "friction blocks" which are supported beneath the upper run of the conveyor on a convenient support structure and mounted on resilient mounts so as to absorb the impact of material landing on the conveyor belt. Such assemblies may, for example, comprise a series of longitudinally extending support beams each having an upper surface on to which is bonded a layer of elastomeric material which in turn has the friction block glued or bonded to the upper surface of the elastomeric layer. The friction block is typically formed from polyethylene material and the elastomeric layer from natural or synthetic rubber.

Such assemblies are bolted in place beneath the conveyor and require replacement from time-to-time as the friction block wears due to sliding contact with the lower surface of the upper run of the conveyor belt. In the past replacement of the friction blocks has entailed disassembling the entire support structure after lifting the upper run off the conveyor belt and then unbolting the impact assemblies and replacing them with new assemblies comprising a new friction block bonded to an elastomeric layer and in some instances also a new support beam bonded to the elastomeric layer. These procedures are extremely time consuming and involve expensive down-time for the conveyor and the cost of the replacement assemblies is also comparatively high.

It is a further disadvantage of the prior art impact assemblies that the thickness of the friction blocks of polyethylene material is limited by the strength of the bond to the elastomeric layer. Although it is desirable to provide a friction block which is as thick as possible to allow for a long wear life before the block needs replacement, thicker blocks tend to peel away from the elastomeric layer, so limiting the thickness of the friction block that can be used.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention therefore provides conveyor belt support apparatus comprising one or more elongate impact assemblies located beneath the upper run of a conveyor belt and extending longitudinally in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt, each assembly comprising a support beam, an elastomeric layer secured to the upper surface of the support beam, and an elongate friction block located on top of the elastomeric layer with the upper surface of the friction block in sliding contact with the lower surface of the upper run of the conveyor belt; characterised by the lateral location of the friction block being effected by guides extending from the support beam and slidably engaged in one or more longitudinal grooves in the friction block, arranged to allow vertical movement of the friction block relative to the support beam as the elastomeric layer compresses. The longitudinal location of the friction block is effected by an end stop mounted to the support beam and abutting that end of the friction block which is downstream with respect to the direction of travel of the upper run of the conveyor belt.

In one form of the invention the longitudinal grooves comprise a groove in each side wall of the elongate friction block and each guide incorporates inwardly extending portions slidably engaged with the grooves. The support beam, the elastomeric layer and the friction block are all preferably substantially the same width and each guide comprises vertically extending side members of planar configuration extending over at least a portion of the side walls of the friction block and the elastomeric layer. The inwardly extending portions which are slidably engaged with the grooves in the friction block are formed by flanges on the upper ends of the side members.

In one form of the invention the side members extend downwardly below the support beam and then inwardly beneath the support beam, being connected to one another by a hinge or flexible link beneath the support beam. The upper portions of the side members are restrained from moving apart by a tie member extending between the upper portions and located between the friction block and the elastomeric layer. In an alternative form of the invention the side members are connected by a cross piece located between the friction block and the elastomeric layer, and the guide is located relative to the support beam by a stud extending downwardly from the cross piece through holes in the elastomeric layer and the support beam. The stud is free t move up and down in the hole in the support beam allowing vertical movement of the friction block relative to the support beam as the elastomeric layer compresses.

In a still further form of the invention the longitudinal groove is located in the lower surface of the friction block and incorporates re-entrant edges, the guide extending upwardly from the support beam through holes in the elastomeric layer and having enlarged heads located behind the re-entrant edges of the groove. The guides typically comprise studs slidably located in holes in the support beam permitting vertical movement of the heads relative to the support beam and therefore vertical movemen of the friction block relative to the support beam as the elastomeric layer compresses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its scope, one preferred form of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of conveyor belt support apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view to an enlarged scale on the line III-III of Fig. 2 showing one elongate impact assembly of the conveyor belt support apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing an alternative form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Figs. 3 and 4 showing a further alternative form of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the preferred form of the invention, conveyor belt support apparatus is provided in the form of four elongate impact assemblies (1) located beneath the upper run of a conveyor belt (2) which is moving in the direction of arrow (3) . The elongate impact assemblies are supported on suitable cross beams (4) , typically in an area beneath a loading hopper or shute (not shown) to take the impact of material landing on the conveyor belt. Any desired number of elongate impact assemblies may be located across the cross beams (4) and the length of each impact assembly may be suitably determined according to the configuration of the conveyor.

Each elongate impact assembly comprises a support beam (5) secured to the cross beams (4) by any suitable means, eg by a clamp or by welding, an elastomeric layer (6) secured to the upper surface of the support beam, and an elongate friction block (7) located on top of the elastomeric layer with the upper surface of the friction block in sliding contact with the lower surface of the upper run of the conveyor belt (2) .

The support beam may be of any suitable section but is typically formed to the section shown in Figs. 3 to 5. The elastomeric layer (6) is typically of natural or synthetic rubber bonded to the upper surface of the support beam (5) . The friction block (7) may be formed from any suitable material such as ceramics, rubber, metal, or plastics materials but is typically formed from solid polyethylene. The friction block sits loosely on top of th elastomeric layer (6) and is restrained from lateral movement by guides extending from the support beam and slidably engaged in one or more longitudinal grooves in the friction block, arranged to allow vertical movement of the friction block relative to the support beam as the elastomeric layer compresses.

In one form of the invention, as shown in Fig. 3, th longitudinal grooves comprise a groove (8) in each side wal (9) of the friction block, and each guide (10) incorporates inwardly extending portions (11) slidably engaged with the grooves (8) .

In the preferred form of the invention the support beam (5) , the elastomeric layer (6) and the friction block (7) are all substantially the same width and each guide comprises vertically extending side members (12) extending downwardly below the support beam (5) and then inwardly beneath the support beam in portions (13) , being connected to one another by a hinge or flexible link (14) beneath the support beam. The side members are preferably of planar configuration as can be seen in Fig. 2 and the inwardly extending portions (11) are formed by inwardly turned flanges on the upper ends of the side members.

The side members (12) are restrained from moving apart by a tie member (15) extending between the side members (12) and located between the friction block (7) and the elastomeric layer (6) . The tie member may take any suitable configuration but is preferably a flat plate having its outer ends (16) passing through slots in the side members (12) , the edges of the end portions (16) then being deformed downwardly to locate the tie member in place. It will be appreciated that the guides (10) may be assembled in place on the support beam (5) by moving the inwardly turned flanges (11) apart (before the tie member is engaged) causing the two halves of the guide to pivot relative to one another about the hinge or flexible link (14) . The inwardly turned ends (11) may then be moved upwardly from beneath the support beam, on either side of the support beam and the elastomeric layer until they reach the desired position where the inwardly turned ends may be moved together to the configuration shown in Fig. 3 and the tie members engaged as described above to locate the guides in the desired position. The guides may be restrained from longitudinal movement along the support beam by way of pins (17) passing through the sides of the support beam (5) and protruding outwardly on either side beyond the side members (12) of the guides (10) .

The friction block (7) may then be installed in place on top of the elastomeric layer (6) by sliding the block longitudinally from one end of the support beam (5) so that the block sits on top of the elastomeric layer (6) and the longitudinal grooves (8) in either side of the friction block progressively engage the inwardly turned flanges (11) on the guides (10) as the friction block is slid into place. This operation does not entail the removal of the support beam (5) or the elastomeric layer (6) from the conveyor belt assembly, and in many situations will not even require the lifting of the conveyor belt run (2) . The friction block (7) may also be removed in a similar sliding operation when the block has become worn to a thickness where its replacement is required.

The friction block (7) is restrained from moving in a longitudinal direction on the elastomeric layer (6) by an end stop (18) mounted to the support beam (5) and abutting the end of the friction block (19) which is downstream with respect to the direction of travel of the upper run (2) of the conveyor belt. The end stop (18) may take any suitable configuration but typically incorporates an upper block of polyethylene material which will not cause any damage to th conveyor belt (2) when the friction block (7) has worn to a thickness where its top surface is level with the top surface of the end stop (18) .

Where two or more friction blocks are placed end to end on the elastomeric layer, their abutting ends may be aligned by a larger guide (10A) .

In an alternative form of the invention as shown in Fig. 4 the guide (20) may be provided in a different configuration from that shown in Fig. 3. While still retaining side members (21) extending over at least a portion of the side walls of the friction block (7) and the elastomeric layer (6) , and having inwardly turned flanges (11) engaged in longitudinal grooves (8) in the side walls of the friction block, the side members (21) are connected by a cross piece (22) located between the friction block (7) and the elastomeric layer (6) , and the guide is in turn located by a stud (23) extending downwardly from the cross piece (22) through holes in the elastomeric layer (6) and the support beam (5) . The stud (23) is free to slide vertically in a hole in the support beam (5) so allowing vertical movement of the friction block relative to the support beam as the elastomeric layer compresses in the same manner as the guide shown in Fig. 3. In a still further form of the invention as shown in

Fig. 5 the longitudinal groove (24) in the friction block (7) is located in the lower surface (25) of the friction block and incorporates re-entrant edges (26) . The guides are provided in the form of a stud (27) located in holes in the support beam and the elastomeric layer (in a similar manner to the stud (23) shown in the configuration of Fig. 4) and each stud has an enlarged head (28) located behind the re-entrant edges of the groove (24) . To support the head (28) at the desired height for engagement for removal of the friction block (7) , a flange (29) may be provided to support the head (28) at the required distance above the upper surface of the elastomeric layer (6) .

The conveyor belt support apparatus according to the invention has the particular advantage that the friction block (7) in each elongate impact assembly may be simply and readily removed from the apparatus by sliding the block longitudinally from its position on top of the elastomeric layer. This would normally be done by removing the end stop (18) and sliding the friction block in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt, as there is normally more access room beneath the belt in this direction. It is also possible to remove the block by sliding longitudinally in the opposite direction to the normal travel of the conveyor belt (away from the end stop (18) ) . The friction block may then readily be replaced in a similar reverse operation by a new block with minimum conveyor down time and without requiring the replacement of either the elastomeric layer (6) or the support beam (5) . Furthermore, because it is not necessary to bond the friction block (7) to the elastomeric layer (6) , the friction block may be made considerably thicker than fricton blocks used in similar but bonded assemblies of the prior art, resulting in a longer period of conveyor operation before the friction block needs replacement.

The friction block is adequately held in place against lateral movement by the guides and is restrained from longitudinal movement by the end stop (18) .

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. Conveyor belt support apparatus comprising one or more elongate impact assemblies located beneath the upper run of a conveyor belt and extending longitudinally in the direction of travel of the conveyor belt, each assembly comprising a support beam, an elastomeric layer secured to the upper surface of the support beam, and an elongate friction block located on top of the elastomeric layer with the upper surface of the friction block in sliding contact with the lower surface of the upper run of the conveyor belt; characterised by the lateral location of the friction block being effected by guides extending from the support beam and slidably engaged in one or more longitudinal grooves in the friction block, arranged to allow vertical movement of the friction block relative to the support beam as the elastomeric layer compresses.

2. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal location of the friction block is effected by an end stop mounted to the support beam and abutting that end of the friction block which is downstream with respect to the direction of travel of the upper run of the conveyor belt.

3. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the longitudinal grooves comprise a groove in each side wall of the friction block and each guide incorporates inwardly extending portions slidably engaged with the grooves.

4. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the support beam, the elastomeric layer, and the friction block are all substantially the same width and wherein each guide comprises vertically extending side members extending over at least a portion of the side walls of the friction block and the elastomeric layer.

5. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said side members are of planar configuration and said inwardly extending portions are formed by flanges on the upper ends of the side members.

6. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the side members extend downwardly below the support beam and then inwardly beneath the support beam, being connected to one another by a hinge or flexible link beneath the support beam.

7. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the upper portions of the side members are restrained from moving apart by a tie member therebetween, located between the friction block and the elastomeric layer.

8. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the side members are connected by a cross piece located between the friction block and the elastomeric layer and wherein the guide is located by a stud extending downwardly from the cross piece through holes in the elastomeric layer and the support beam.

9. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the longitudinal groove is located in the lower surface of the friction block and incorporates re-entrant edges, the guides extending upwardly from the support beam through holes in the elastomeric layer and having enlarged heads located behind the re-entrant edges of the groove.

10. Conveyor belt support apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the guides comprise studs slidably located in holes in the support beam permitting vertical movement of the heads relative to the support beam.