Flexible conveyor system
AssigneeUnderground Extraction Technologies Pty LTD
InventorBrian MacDonald
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a flexible conveyor system. The system includes a supply conveyor module and a receiver conveyor module. A hitch mechanism is provided for pivotally coupling the supply conveyor module to the receiver conveyor module about a pivot axis so that the receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the supply conveyor module proximal to the pivot axis. Advantageously, the receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the supply conveyor module proximal to the pivot axis which impedes spillage between the adjacent conveyor modules on very tight corners.
Claims19
A flexible conveyor system including:
- a wheeled supply conveyor module;
- a wheeled receiver conveyor module;
- a towing hitch mechanism for pivotally coupling the wheeled supply conveyor module to the wheeled receiver conveyor module about a pivot axis so that the wheeled receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the wheeled supply conveyor module, the hitch mechanism including planar inner and outer concentric rings able to rotatably slide relative to each other;
- and wherein each conveyor module includes one or more wheels for transport along a tunnel, and the wheeled supply conveyor module tows the wheeled receiver conveyor module by way of the hitch mechanism.
A method for coupling a wheeled supply conveyor module to a wheeled receiver conveyor module of a flexible conveyor system, the method involving:
- pivotally coupling, with a coupler, the wheeled supply conveyor module to the wheeled receiver conveyor module about a pivot axis so that the wheeled receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the wheeled supply conveyor module, the coupler including planar inner and outer concentric rings able to rotatably slide relative to each other;
- and wherein each wheeled conveyor module includes one or more wheels for transport along a tunnel, and the wheeled supply conveyor module is able to tow the wheeled receiver conveyor module by way of the coupler.
A wheeled conveyor module for coupling to a like wheeled conveyor module when forming a flexible conveyor system, the wheeled conveyor module including coupling means for pivotally coupling the wheeled conveyor module to the other wheeled conveyor module about a pivot axis so that the wheeled conveyor module receives conveyed material from the other wheeled conveyor module, the coupling means including planar inner and outer concentric rings able to rotatably slide relative to each other;
- and wherein each wheeled conveyor module includes one or more wheels for transport along a tunnel, and the wheeled conveyor module is able to tow the other wheeled conveyor module by way of the coupling means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.