Chain conveyor and coupler link for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10974905-B2
Application number	US-201916601086-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A conveyor chain includes a first link, a second link, and a coupler link. The first link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The second link includes a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, each protruding laterally away from one another. The coupler link couples the first link to the second link, and the coupler link is positioned laterally between the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion of each link. The coupler link includes a first joint pivotably coupled to the first link and a second joint pivotably coupled to the second link. The first joint permits pivoting movement of the first link about a plurality of axes, and the second joint permits pivoting movement of the second link about a plurality of axes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A conveyor chain comprising:
a first link including a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion each protruding laterally away from one another;
a second link including a first sprocket-engaging portion and a second sprocket-engaging portion, the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion of the second link each protruding laterally away from one another;
a coupler link coupling the first link to the second link, the coupler link positioned laterally between the first sprocket-engaging portion and the second sprocket-engaging portion of each link, the coupler link including an at least partially spherical first interior pocket and an at least partially spherical second interior pocket;
a first bearing positionable within the first interior pocket of the coupler link, the first bearing including a substantially spherical outer surface having a planar portion, the first bearing further including a first aperture extending through the planar portion, the first aperture receiving a first pin coupled to the first link, the first bearing and the coupler link defining a first joint permitting pivoting movement of the first link about a plurality of axes; and
a second bearing positionable within the second interior pocket of the coupler link, the second bearing including a substantially spherical outer surface having a planar portion, the second bearing further including a second aperture extending through the planar portion of the second bearing, the second aperture receiving a second pin coupled to the second link, the second bearing and the coupler link defining a second joint permitting pivoting movement of the second link about a plurality of axes.

2. The conveyor chain of claim 1 , wherein a solid lubricant is positioned within at least one of the first bearing and a space within the coupler link extending around the spherical outer surface of the first bearing.

3. The conveyor chain of claim 1 , wherein the coupler link includes a first end, a second end, a first planar leg extending between the first end and the second end, and a second planar leg extending between the first end and the second end, the second leg being parallel to the first leg, the coupler link further including a gusset connecting the first leg and the second leg and positioned between the first end and the second end, the gusset oriented at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end of the coupler link.

4. The conveyor chain of claim 1 , wherein the coupler link includes a first end, a second end, a first planar leg extending between the first end and the second end, and a second planar leg extending between the first end and the second end, the second leg being parallel to the first leg, the first leg and the second leg each including lateral edges having a curved profile to permit pivoting movement of the first link relative to the coupler link.

5. The conveyor chain of claim 1 , wherein the planar portion of the first bearing is one of a pair of planar portions positioned on opposite sides from one another such that the first pin extends through the pair of planar portions, and wherein the planar portion of the second bearing is one of a pair of planar portions positioned on opposite sides from one another such that the second pin extends through the pair of planar portions.

6. A coupler link for a conveyor chain, the conveyor chain including a first link and a second link, the coupler link comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first leg extending between the first end and the second end;
a second leg extending between the first end and the second end, parallel to the first leg, the first and second legs at least partially defining a first interior pocket adjacent the first end and a second interior pocket adjacent the second end;
a first bearing positioned within the first interior pocket, the first bearing including a substantially spherical outer surface having a planar portion, the first bearing also including a first aperture configured to receive a first pin for pivoting movement about a plurality of axes relative to the first end, the first pin configured to be coupled to the first link; and
a second bearing positioned within the second interior pocket, the second bearing including a substantially spherical outer surface having a planar portion, the second bearing also including a second aperture configured to receive a second pin, the second pin configured to be coupled to the second link.

7. The coupler link of claim 6 , wherein the planar portion of the first bearing is one of a pair of planar portions positioned on opposite sides from one another such that the first pin extends through the pair of planar portions, and wherein the planar portion of the second bearing is one of a pair of planar portions positioned on opposite sides from one another such that the second pin extends through the pair of planar portions.

8. The coupler link of claim 6 , wherein the first pocket includes a shape that is at least partially spherical, wherein the second pocket includes a shape that is at least partially spherical.

9. The coupler link of claim 6 , wherein a solid lubricant is positioned within at least one of the first bearing and the second bearing.

10. The coupler link of claim 6 , wherein a solid lubricant is positioned within at least one of a space extending around the spherical outer surface of the first bearing and a second space extending around the spherical outer surface of the second bearing.

11. The coupler link of claim 6 , wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the first end and the second end, the coupler link further including a gusset connecting the first leg and the second leg and positioned between the first end and the second end, the gusset oriented at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis.

12. The coupler link of claim 6 , wherein the first leg and the second leg each include lateral edges having a convex curved profile to permit pivoting movement of the first link relative to the coupler link while limiting lateral translational movement of the coupler link relative to the first link.

13. A coupler link for a conveyor chain, the conveyor chain including a first link and a second link, the coupler link comprising:
a first end;
a second end;
a first leg extending between the first end and the second end;
a second leg extending between the first end and the second end, parallel to the first leg, the first leg and second leg at least partially defining a first interior pocket adjacent the first end;
a first bearing positioned within the first interior pocket, the first bearing including a substantially spherical outer surface having a planar portion, the first bearing also including a first aperture configured to receive a first pin coupled to the first link; and
a gusset connecting the first leg and the second leg and positioned between the first end and the second end, the gusset oriented at an oblique angle relative to a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end.

14. The coupler link of claim 13 , the gusset partitioning an internal space of the coupler link into a first portion having the first interior pocket and a second portion having a second interior pocket adjacent the second end, the coupler link further including a second bearing positioned within the second interior pocket.

15. The coupler link of claim 14 , wherein a solid lubricant is positioned within at

Assignees

• Joy Global Underground Mining Llc

Inventors

• Walker Aaron Philip
• Stewart Christopher George

Classifications

• E21F13/066 Primary

  Scraper chain conveyors (in general B65G19/00) · CPC title

• B65G19/20 Primary

  Traction chains, ropes, or cables · CPC title

• B65G19/22

  Impellers, e.g. push-plates, scrapers; Guiding means therefor · CPC title

• B65G19/26

  pivotal · CPC title

• F16G13/10

  with universal joints · CPC title