Rail wheel chain conveyor

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail forming a first side;
• a second rail forming a second side, the second rail spaced apart from the first rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a third rail on the first side and a fourth rail on the second side, wherein the first and second rails form an upper rail path and the third and fourth rails form a lower rail path;
• a conveyor belt configured as a loop for moving along a continuous path;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another and configured to support the conveyor belt;
• a first rail wheel on a first side of each of the rocker arms, the first rail wheel riding on the first rail;
• a second rail wheel on a second side of each of the rocker arms, the second rail wheel riding on the second rail;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to the rocker arm;
• a primary drive system having:
• a primary chainring mounted on a drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail spaced apart from a second rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured in the transport area as a loop for moving the conveyor belt along a continuous path to transport material;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another along a length of the conveyor belt, wherein the plurality of rocker arms form a generally U-shaped profile to provide sides to the conveyor belt;
• a rail wheel on each side of each of the rocker arms riding on the first and second rails;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of rocker arms;
• at least one primary drive system having:
• a primary driveshaft;
• a primary chainring mounted on the primary drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the primary drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail spaced apart from a second rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured in the transport area as a loop for moving the conveyor belt along a continuous path to transport material;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another along a length of the conveyor belt, wherein the conveyor belt is attached to the plurality of rocker arms;
• a rail wheel on each side of each of the rocker arms riding on the first and second rails;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of rocker arms;
• at least one primary drive system having:
• a primary driveshaft;
• a primary chainring mounted on the primary drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the primary drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail spaced apart from a second rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured in the transport area as a loop for moving the conveyor belt along a continuous path to transport material;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another along a length of the conveyor belt;
• a rail wheel on each side of each of the rocker arms riding on the first and second rails;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of rocker arms;
• at least one primary drive system having:
• a primary driveshaft;
• a primary chainring mounted on the primary drive shaft and engaging with the chain, wherein the primary chainring engages the chain in both a first travel direction for transporting material, and in a second travel direction for returning the conveyor belt;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the primary drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail spaced apart from a second rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured in the transport area as a loop for moving the conveyor belt along a continuous path to transport material;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another along a length of the conveyor belt;
• a rail wheel on each side of each of the rocker arms riding on the first and second rails;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of rocker arms;
• at least one primary drive system on at least one end of the loop formed by the conveyor belt, the at least one primary drive system having:
• a primary driveshaft;
• a primary chainring mounted on the primary drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the primary drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail spaced apart from a second rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured in the transport area as a loop for moving the conveyor belt along a continuous path to transport material;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another along a length of the conveyor belt;
• a rail wheel on each side of each of the rocker arms riding on the first and second rails;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to a corresponding one of the plurality of rocker arms;
• at least one primary drive system having:
• a primary driveshaft;
• a primary chainring mounted on the primary drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• a primary drive motor to rotate the primary drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path;
• at least one secondary drive system having a secondary chainring mounted on a secondary drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a secondary drive motor to rotate the secondary drive shaft, thereby rotating the chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail forming a first side;
• a second rail forming a second side, the second rail spaced apart from the first rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured as a loop for moving along a continuous path;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another and configured to support the conveyor belt, the plurality of rocker arms have a generally U-shaped profile to provide sides to the conveyor belt;
• a first rail wheel on a first side of each of the rocker arms, the first rail wheel riding on the first rail;
• a second rail wheel on a second side of each of the rocker arms, the second rail wheel riding on the second rail;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to the rocker arm;
• a primary drive system having:
• a primary chainring mounted on a drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail forming a first side;
• a second rail forming a second side, the second rail spaced apart from the first rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured as a loop for moving along a continuous path;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another and configured to support the conveyor belt;
• a first rail wheel on a first side of each of the rocker arms, the first rail wheel riding on the first rail;
• a second rail wheel on a second side of each of the rocker arms, the second rail wheel riding on the second rail;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to the rocker arm;
• a primary drive system having:
• a primary chainring mounted on a drive shaft and engaging with the chain, the primary chainring engages the chain in both a first travel direction for transporting material, and in a second travel direction for returning the conveyor belt;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail forming a first side;
• a second rail forming a second side, the second rail spaced apart from the first rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured as a loop for moving along a continuous path;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another and configured to support the conveyor belt;
• a first rail wheel on a first side of each of the rocker arms, the first rail wheel riding on the first rail;
• a second rail wheel on a second side of each of the rocker arms, the second rail wheel riding on the second rail;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to the rocker arm;
• a primary drive system on at least one end of the loop formed by the conveyor belt, the primary drive system having:
• a primary chainring mounted on a drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a primary drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.

A rail wheel chain conveyor, comprising:

• a first rail forming a first side;
• a second rail forming a second side, the second rail spaced apart from the first rail to form a transport area therebetween;
• a conveyor belt configured as a loop for moving along a continuous path;
• a plurality of rocker arms spaced apart from one another and configured to support the conveyor belt;
• a first rail wheel on a first side of each of the rocker arms, the first rail wheel riding on the first rail;
• a second rail wheel on a second side of each of the rocker arms, the second rail wheel riding on the second rail;
• a chain mounted to an underside of the conveyor belt by being rigidly attached to the rocker arm;
• a primary drive system having:
• a primary chainring mounted on a drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• a primary drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, thereby rotating the primary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path;
• a secondary drive system having:
• a secondary chainring mounted on a drive shaft and engaging with the chain;
• and
• a secondary drive motor to rotate the drive shaft, thereby rotating the secondary chainring and moving the conveyor belt along the continuous path.