Resilient link for conveyor chain
AssigneeJoy Global Underground Mining LLC
InventorsNathan M. Hannold, Joseph D. Hoover
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A link is provided for a conveyor chain that is configured to convey material in a direction of travel. The link includes a first end coupled to a first adjacent link, a second end opposite the first end and coupled to a second adjacent link, and a deformable portion positioned between the first end and the second end. The deformable portion is configured to elastically deform in response to loads exerted in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain, thereby changing a distance between the first end and the second end.
Claims24
A link for a conveyor chain, the conveyor chain configured to convey material in a direction of travel, the link comprising:
- a first end configured to be coupled to a first adjacent link;
- a second end opposite the first end, the second end configured to be coupled to a second adjacent link;
- and
- a deformable portion positioned between the first end and the second end, the deformable portion configured to elastically deform in a linear direction parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain in response to loads exerted parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain, the deformable portion being movable between an undeformed position and an extended position, wherein, while in the undeformed position, the first end and the second end are spaced apart from one another by a first linear distance, wherein, while in the extended position, the first end and the second end are spaced apart from one another by a second linear distance greater than the first linear distance.
A link assembly for a conveyor chain, the conveyor chain configured to convey material in a direction of travel, the link assembly comprising:
- a resilient link including,
- a first end configured to be coupled to a first adjacent link;
- and
- a second end opposite the first end, the second end configured to be coupled to a second adjacent link, the resilient link configured to elastically deform in response to loads exerted in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain thereby changing a distance between the first end and the second end;
- and
- a limiting body including,
- a first limiting body end configured to be coupled to the first end of the resilient link;
- and
- a second limiting body end configured to be coupled to the second end of the resilient link, the first limiting body end and the second limiting body end being configured to inhibit the distance between the first end of the resilient link and the second end of the resilient link from moving outside of a predetermined range.
A conveyor chain, the conveyor chain configured to convey material in a direction of travel, the conveyor chain comprising:
- a first flight link including a flight bar extending laterally away from a centerline of the conveyor chain;
- a second flight link including a flight bar extending laterally away from the centerline of the conveyor chain;
- and
- a resilient link including, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a deformable portion positioned between the first end and the second end, the deformable portion extending away from and perpendicular to the first flight link, the deformable portion configured to elastically deform in a linear direction parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain in response to loads exerted parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor chain, the deformable portion being movable between an undeformed position and an extended position, wherein, while in the undeformed position, the first end and the second end are spaced apart from one another by a first linear distance, wherein, while in the extended position, the first end and the second end are spaced apart from one another by a second linear distance greater than the first linear distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.